"Hello, sister-in-law!" Tang Xiaohong answered the phone and raised an octave of voice to greet happily.

"Who are you?" When Zhang Pingping saw the call, she was inexplicably excited. Sifu finally called himself, and he no longer had to hold his breath, and he couldn't go back home.

You know, I have been worried about my family a lot in the past two years, if I didn't know the situation at home from my mother, I don't know what to do. Fortunately, Xiaotian did not drop out of school.

I originally planned to earn more money and go home, and the two of them discussed and did something, paid off the arrears in one fell swoop, and lived a prosperous life, how could it be better than this kind of worrying days.

But why not the voice of Sifu? Could it be that something happened to Sifu too? But listening to the sound of joy, it doesn't look like something has happened. Who is this man? Thousands of thoughts flashed through Zhang Pingping's mind.

"Sister-in-law, I am Brother Wu's brother Tang Xiaohong. You don't know me, and I haven't known Brother Wu for long. Tang Xiaohong said quickly in a loud voice, "Tonight, I'll have dinner at your house." Brother Wu boiled noodles, and radish kimchi. We served with noodles and had a lot of character. ”

Wu Sifu looked at Tang Xiaohong, whose eyebrows were fluttering, as if he had known Pingping for thousands of years and couldn't be more familiar. The mood that was still gloomy and dull just now also became happy with Tang Xiaohong's joyful voice.

Pingping was willing to answer the phone, indicating that she was still thinking about this home, and she should have made this call earlier. As long as she comes back, what hurdles can't be overcome? As long as she came back, he confessed his mistake to her and apologized to her. Wu Sifu thought in his heart.

This Tang Xiaohong, like a happy god, is enthusiastic and hearty, and easily makes phone calls that he has never dared to make, and speaks so smoothly and happily. Why don't you just get off the donkey and call Pingping back?

"He can only make noodles, and he can't handle any other dishes." Zhang Pingping said lightly.

"So, my sister-in-law's food is better? So, when are you coming back? When you come to the chef, Brother Wu and I will be in charge of tasting? Tang Xiaohong easily shifted the topic to sensitive issues.

Wu Sifu stared nervously at the mobile phone in Tang Xiaohong's hand, for fear that Pingping would be silent over there and not speak, or not come back directly. In front of Tang Xiaohong, not only did he lose face, but it is estimated that even the courage to live would disappear.

"I'll be back soon." Zhang Pingping hesitated for a while, but still said lightly.

Tang Xiaohong stabbed Wu Sifu with his hand, and then snuggled his mouth into the phone, laughed, and said, "It seems that I will have a good mouth soon!" Let's make up your mind, you must let me taste your craft when you come back, I'm a foodie. Tang Xiaohong was overjoyed, and said, "Brother Wu is next to me, he wants to talk to you, and he grabbed the phone a few times." I asked him to tell you, you wait. ”

Wu Sifu couldn't hide anymore, so he had to take the phone hard, borrow wine to strengthen his courage, learn from Tang Xiaohong's relaxed and happy appearance, and said, "Pingping, have you bought a ticket?" ”

As soon as Zhang Pingping heard Wu Sifu's voice, her eyes instantly filled with tears. This thing with no conscience hasn't called itself for two years. Even if I change my phone number, don't you know to go to my mother and ask for it?

"Haven't bought it yet." Zhang Pingping said in a choked voice.

"Which day are you going to buy it?" I'll order it for you online. Wu Sifu said eagerly. It was as if Zhang Pingping had already made an appointment with him to come back.

"I'm in a hurry now, and I won't be able to leave for a while." Zhang Pingping paused and asked again, "How is Xiaotian's study?" ”

"Howling heaven? This kid! Some time ago, I was told that I didn't want to study anymore, and I wanted to go out to work. I'm not an adult, what kind of work do I have! He thought there was gold everywhere outside, so he went out to pick it up. How can it be left to him. I scolded him, and he went back to school. ”

"He wants to come out and work? Definitely not. How are you doing in your studies now? Zhang Pingping asked eagerly.

"Last month, Mr. Yang asked me to go to school, saying that Xiaotian's grades had plummeted and his monthly exam results were very unsatisfactory. Teacher Yang said that parents should create a warm and good family atmosphere for their children, cheer for their children more, and do not increase the burden on their children's thoughts. Wu Sifu said babblingly.

"Xiaotian's grades have slipped? Will it affect the university entrance examination next year? Zhang Pingping heard that her son's grades had declined, and she was extremely nervous. As long as his son has good grades and can be admitted to university, he can walk out of Zhucun and out of the mountains, it doesn't matter how much hardship he suffers or how much he suffers.

"The young man has a solid foundation and a flexible brain, like me, no problem. You can rest assured. Wu Sifu replied happily.

"Good. I'll come back as soon as possible, and I can't delay Xiaotian's studies. Zhang Pingping said sincerely.

"If you come back, Xiaotian will be happy. This month, I gave him 500 yuan for living expenses. The young man has a long body, and he has to eat better. Next month, I'll give a little more. Wu Sifu said in a good mood.

When Wu Sifu talked about the phone, he realized that he had a lot to say to his wife. The previous gloomy and dreary mood seemed to run out of the clouds, and my heart was full of excitement and excitement.

Zhang Pingping listened to Wu Sifu's words and relaxed a little. After a pause, he said, "I'll go and tell my cousin that I'll go back in two days." I asked her to pay me my salary. ”

"You're in your cousin's garment factory?" Wu Sifu asked.

After talking on the phone for so long, Wu Sifu was carried away by joy, and didn't even ask Zhang Pingping where she worked and what she did.

In the past, Wu Sifu heard Pingping say that her cousin worked outside and married a Hong Kong person. Hong Kong people have opened a garment factory in Guangdong, specializing in children's clothing, and the scale is not small. Unexpectedly, Pingping went to her cousin. However, it is very good to go to my cousin, safe and secure.

"yes. I don't come to my cousin's factory, where can I find a job? When you are old, many factories don't want it. Zhang Pingping said angrily.

"You're going to tell your cousin tomorrow that you're coming back and see what she says. If the factory is really rushing now, you can help catch up first. Don't worry, I have me at home, Xiaotian is fine, it's okay. Wu Sifu persuaded.

"Good. I'll talk to my cousin tomorrow. Zhang Pingping replied obediently.

Wu Sifu felt that there was still a lot to say, and thought that Pingping would come back soon, so he didn't ramble on the phone anymore, and after telling Pingping, he hung up the phone.

After talking about the phone, he remembered the other one in the house-Tang Xiaohong. Looking around the house, where is Tang Xiaohong? I was so involved in talking on the phone that I forgot that there were still guests at home.

Wu Sifu came outside the house and saw Tang Xiaohong standing by the dam and smoking. He scratched his head and said a little embarrassedly, "Secretary Tang, why did you get outside?" It's winter, it's cold outside, come inside. ”

Wu Sifu now regards Tang Xiaohong as a bosom friend in his heart. If it weren't for him, he would definitely not have the courage to make this call, and he didn't know how long the relationship with Pingping would be deadlocked. Now that the call has been made, Pingping will be back soon, with an indescribable joy and excitement in her heart.

"Seeing that you are so engaged in chatting with your sister-in-law, the happy smile on your face is too ambiguous, I can't stand it, so I have to come out and blow a cool breeze!" Tang Xiaohong said teasingly.

"Come in, come in. I'll light the fire, and we'll talk while we make it. Wu Sifu didn't answer Tang Xiaohong's words, and directly asked him to come in and roast the fire.

"Stop the fire, I'll go back to the village. You make me a torch. Tang Xiaohong said.

"Go back blindly with a black light, dangerous. I'll spend one night at my house. Wu Sifu said.

Tang Xiaohong insisted on leaving. Wu Sifu saw that he couldn't keep Tang Xiaohong, so he had to break the dried bamboo, put it in the stove and light it and handed it to Tang Xiaohong.

Tang Xiaohong was happy when she saw Wu Sifu, and she was also happy. This visit tonight seems to have made an epoch-making great achievement. The gentleman has the beauty of an adult, and he has inadvertently done another good deed. Praise yourself. Tang Xiaohong thought excitedly.

Tang Xiaohong whistled and walked briskly towards the village office.

Seeing Tang Xiaohong away, Wu Sifu laughed happily. He didn't know what to do next, so he stood in the middle of the hall and froze for a long time before he remembered that he hadn't fed the pigs yet.

He hurriedly lit the firewood, refilled the red weed that had been stuffed in the iron pot at noon, took out a scoop of bud grain noodles and rice bran and stirred it in the iron pot, and only after cooking it did he carry the pig food to feed the pigs.

Nowadays, few people in rural areas feed pigs, especially even less cooked food. There are many farms near the city, which are slaughtered in three or four months, and the meat stalls in the city and countryside sell meat all year round, and it is convenient and economical for the villagers to buy meat. As a result, the villagers rarely feed the pigs themselves.

Wu Sifu thought that he had no sideline business, and he fed two pigs when he was idle, not only did he eat at ease, but from an economic point of view, it was much more cost-effective than selling grain directly. Now the two fat pigs in the pen are fat and strong, oily and slippery, half of them are left for the New Year, and the rest are sold, and they can also leave enough for their son's tuition and living expenses for next year.

Pingping soon returns, and the family can be happily together again. As long as the family can live together and live in harmony, what difficulties can't be overcome?

Thinking of Pingping coming back soon, Wu Sifu felt indescribably happy and excited in his heart; The whole body seems to be full of energy, and there is an endless amount of energy.

He even thought proudly, what is the debt of more than 20 yuan, as long as Pingping and Xiaotian are by his side, I will definitely be able to pay off those debts. I don't believe it, I'm a big man, I'm afraid I can't pay it back? Although he didn't have a good way or a good way to repay his debts, he had such a strange confident thought in his heart.

The next day, Wu Sifu got up early, cleaned up the house, and prepared to go to the mountains and forests to cut bamboo. Uncle Wu came to him with a cigarette stick.

"Third uncle, so early?" Wu Sifu asked briskly.

"Sifu, the old man of the second team has passed away. His nephew just called and said that he was going to invite a group of gongs and drums to his uncle's funeral. Your father is gone, and we haven't played suona in our class. I see, you come to take over for him. You can also earn some money back. Third Uncle Wu said to Wu Sifu.

"Third uncle, I haven't played suona." Wu Sifu said worriedly.

"Musical instruments, everything. Suona is not difficult. If you can play the flute, you should be able to play suona. Why don't we call a few members of the gong and drum team to practice today? Uncle Wu asked Wu Sifu for advice.

Wu Sifu thought that he had no important work to do, so he responded cheerfully: "Okay, call them here, I'll try it." Wu Sifu thought to himself, if he can learn his father's suona skills well, follow the third uncle to catch up with the red and white happy events, and make money, why not?

Third Uncle Wu smiled and said, "Okay! I'll let them know right away. ”

After a while, Uncle Wu recruited a group of people such as Pan Shaoxiang of the big gong, Pan Fugui of the baogong, Feng Qiang, the cymbal player, and Uncle Wu, another suona player, to his yard and prepared to start practicing blowing.

Uncle Wu is a drummer and the leader of the gong and drum class. Uncle Wu is the cousin of Grandpa Wu Sifu and the cousin of Uncle Wu. is not much older than Uncle Wu, but he is of high seniority.

According to the previous practice, a group of people first practiced a gong and drum, and then began to practice playing suona.

The drummer is the head of the gong and drum class. The drummer takes the lead in the tune, also known as the introduction, and the big gong, the bag gong, and the cymbals are then struck according to the tune set by the drummer.

In the new century, marriages are newly held, and gongs, drums, and suona are generally no longer invited for happy events. There are only funerals, and the customs of gongs and drums and suona funerals are still retained in various parts of eastern Sichuan.

Some people, such as those who have many relatives and have wealthy relatives, will invite several classes of gongs and drums and suona at the same time. Some gong and drum classes keep pace with the times, adding electronic organs, speakers and other equipment, and there are electronic piano accompaniment when blowing, and there are speakers to assist, and the music effect is often better.

Wu Sifu took his father's suona in his hand, looked at it carefully, and remembered his father's appearance before his death, and couldn't help but feel sad.

Sure enough, as Uncle Wu said, musical instruments communicate with each other. After he asked Uncle Wu about the skills of playing suona, he groped for it and played.

After practicing for a while, Wu Sifu has basically mastered the blowing skills of suona. It's just that when playing with Uncle Wu, the rhythm of the two is inconsistent. Besides, Wu Sifu can play tunes, but Uncle Wu can't; Uncle Wu will blow it, but Wu Sifu will not. Wu Sifu couldn't help but be secretly anxious in his heart.

Rural artists, beating gongs, drums, and suona have no formal training, nor do they have a musical score reference, and they are self-taught by following radios, tape recorders, and televisions with their own musicality, and they often play inseparably from ten.

Third Uncle Wu commanded Wu Sifu and Uncle Wu to practice for a while, and seeing that noon was approaching, everyone dispersed.