In late April, Fang Hanmin received a letter from home, opened it and saw that the letter was written by his brother in the name of his parents, the general content was that his sister Fang Wenying would get married on May Day, and his parents hoped that he would take time out of his busy schedule to return to his hometown to attend Fang Wenying's wedding.

After reading the letter, Fang Hanmin remembered that his sister Fang Wenying was already twenty-seven or eighteen years old, and in the remote countryside in the eighties, she was already considered an older youth!

Although the pilot summary has been completed, and the hydrogenation reduction process is about to be used for the in-depth technical transformation of the second workshop, Fang Hanmin still decided to go back to his hometown on May Day, he explained the situation to the elder Xue of the technical department, and calculated the travel time, and Lao Xue agreed to give him three days of vacation.

bought two gifts for Fang Wenying in the city's department store, and before leaving, Fang Hanmin called the Academic Affairs Office of Shuangling No. 3 Middle School, and after finding Yu Dongmei, he informed her about returning to his hometown on May Day.

"Your sister is getting married? What gift should I sell her? Yu Dongmei asked enthusiastically.

"The family doesn't know about the two of us yet, so don't buy gifts."

Yu Dongmei thought for a while, "School May Day is just going to be a day off, and I will also go back to my hometown, when will you leave?" Let's be on the same path. ”

"Okay, we'll meet at the coach station tomorrow morning."

"Ouch, I have a class at ten o'clock, what can I do? Why don't you ......" Yu Dongmei paused, "Why don't I adjust the course with another teacher, you wait for me for a while, let's leave at ten o'clock, do you think it's okay?" ”

"Yes, don't worry, I'll be waiting for you sooner or later."

At half past nine in the morning of the next day, Fang Hanmin arrived at the long-distance bus station to wait, and bought tickets for himself and Yu Dongmei, at about nine fifty, Yu Dongmei arrived in a hurry, and after meeting in the waiting room, she handed Fang Hanmin a bag, "This is a gift for the eldest sister, please bring it to her." ”

Fang Hanmin was surprised, "You ......, didn't you say that you don't need to buy gifts?" ”

"Just say you bought it, don't mention me."

"I've already bought it, here." Fang Hanmin pointed to a travel bag next to him.

"Even if you buy an extra gift, take it home."

"I'm sorry to let you break the bank." Since dating Yu Dongmei, the other party has spent money for himself again and again, and Fang Hanmin can't help it.

The host has been poor since he was a child, and he pays more attention to the reciprocity of interests when dealing with people, for more than half a year, except for eating, he has not spent extra money on Yu Dongmei, Yu Dongmei bought a suit for him some time ago, and now he is buying gifts for his sister, he feels very passive.

"What a big deal, you don't have to worry about it." ......

At about eleven o'clock, the shuttle bus arrived at the Guichun County Bus Station, and after getting off, Fang Hanmin wanted to invite Yu Dongmei to lunch, because his hometown was still 20 kilometers away from the county seat, and this distance required 10 kilometers by car, and then 10 kilometers on foot.

"Anyway, it's lunchtime, and I can't go home hungry! You also have to have lunch when you get home, so why don't you find a restaurant nearby and eat lunch before leaving. ”

"Okay, then find a restaurant and have a casual bite to eat, and then you hurry up and go home."

Coming out of a restaurant near the station, it was almost twelve o'clock at noon, Fang Hanmin agreed with Yu Dongmei that he would return to the city after the festival and go his own way, because Fang Hanmin asked for leave from the unit, and he would not return to the unit until one day later.

After saying goodbye, the two went their separate ways, Fang Hanmin walked into the waiting room again, and bought a long-distance bus ticket in the direction of his hometown, after one o'clock in the afternoon, the bus arrived at the station where Fang Hanmin got off, he walked off the long-distance bus with his luggage, looked at the direction of his hometown, and took a deep breath.

As far as the host is concerned, he has not been back to his hometown for three or four years, has there been any change in the appearance of his hometown in the past few years?

The traverser Fang Hanmin's mood is even more complicated, he often hears that the host's hometown is in a remote village, how remote is it? What is the situation in my hometown? These questions made him both curious and anxious.

Carrying two travel bags, along a sidewalk, Fang Hanmin headed in the direction of Shuanghe Village, Yumin Township. Twenty miles away, the road is not too easy to walk, less than half the distance, Fang Hanmin began to sweat, and felt some soreness in his legs and feet, because he had not walked such a long distance for several years!

Looking at the potholed road under his feet and the houses on both sides of the road, Fang Hanmin, the traverser, felt that the economic conditions here were indeed not good, if there was a little economic strength, this road should have been repaired a long time ago, and the villagers' houses would not be so dilapidated.

It was close to four o'clock in the afternoon when Fang Hanmin appeared at the head of Shuanghe Village, and a villager who knew him greeted him, "Hanmin is back?" ”

Fang Hanmin nodded mechanically and responded casually: "You're back, are you busy?" ”

When he appeared at the door, the family was busy, and I don't know which sister shouted: "Big brother is back!" ”

Everyone turned around and saw Fang Hanmin standing in place, looking at them with slightly unfamiliar eyes, and his mother Xu Guihua instructed the children, "What are you doing in a daze?" Why don't you go over and take what your brother has? Hanmin is back, are you tired? Sit back and rest for a while. ”

Fang Hanmin handed the two travel bags to his sister, who was the fourth in line, and he took a few steps forward and came to his parents, "It's just that I'm walking far, my legs and feet are a little swollen and painful, it's not that I'm tired, parents, what are you doing?" ”

"Your sister will get married the day after tomorrow, and we will prepare a little dowry for her, and we are cleaning it up."

Fang Hanmin looked at it, maybe because the family was too poor, the dowry given to Fang Wenying was so simple, it was too shabby! "Mom, I bought three gifts for my sister, which can be regarded as dowry, and I brought them all to her."

Xu Guihua took out the gift that Fang Hanmin brought back from his travel bag, which was much better than the dowry prepared at home! Especially the set of sheets and quilts given by Yu Dongmei, which is worth a lot of money at first glance, although Xu Guihua is from the countryside, she also understands the value of fabrics, "Hanmin, you spent a lot of money on these things, right?" ”

"My sister is an older young man, she got married so late, and she has contributed a lot to the family over the years, so it is appropriate to spend some money on him."

I haven't been back to my hometown for three or four years, and in the face of these somewhat strange family members in front of him, the traverser Fang Hanmin couldn't find a feeling of being close to them for a while, and naturally he was less enthusiastic when he spoke.

Father Fang Xiecheng felt a little different from before when his eldest son entered the door, and several brothers and sisters also felt that the eldest brother had returned to his hometown this time, and his expression had changed a little, but his mother Xu Guihua understood Fang Hanmin, she was bent on asking long and short questions, shushing the cold and asking for warmth, and she didn't notice anything unusual about her eldest son at all.

The host reminded the traverser, "Brother, isn't it a way for you to keep a straight face like this, what do your parents and family think of me?" You know, in their minds, I have always been a sensible and good young man! ”

"Dude, you have to give me a little time to get used to it, in the face of such a big family, I have to be familiar with them one by one!"

Relieved, Fang Hanmin had a little smile on his face, "Mom, Dad, and a few brothers and sisters, I haven't been back to my hometown for three or four years, this time I came back, except for buying a few gifts for my sister, I didn't have time to buy things for you, don't worry about it!" ”

Fang Xiecheng saw that his eldest son had regained his former expression, and also put aside the doubts just now, "Hanmin, it is not easy for you to take time out of your busy schedule to go home, we are a family, what is there to worry about?" ”

"Yes, your sister got married, you can go home, and buy her so many gifts, we are not happy enough, what kind of heart!" Ever since his eldest son entered the door, Xu Guihua has always had a smile on his face.

"Big brother, we haven't seen you for three or four years, we're so happy that you can come back this time!" The brothers and sisters present followed.

Fang Hanmin gradually adapted to the atmosphere at home, and he asked with some curiosity: "Why didn't you see my sister?" ”

"Your sister went to say goodbye to her best friends, and will be back in a moment."

As soon as Xu Guihua's words fell, Fang Wenying came back from outside, and when she saw Fang Hanmin's back, she deliberately asked in a loud voice: "Yo, who is coming back?" ”

"Wen Ying, Han Min is back, I asked you where you went just now, come and take a look, this is a gift that your brother bought for you." Xu Guihua greeted happily.

Hearing the voice behind him, Fang Hanmin turned around and saw Fang Wenying coming over, he hesitated for a few seconds and asked, "Sister, are you coming back?" ”

"Hanmin, I haven't seen you for several years, I heard that you have been very busy, how can you have time to come back this time?"

"Your happy event, I have to come back no matter what, look at these three things, I don't know if you like it or not?"

For the gift given by Fang Hanmin, Fang Wenying couldn't put it down, "It must have cost me a lot of money to buy me such a good gift, right?" ”

"Mom is the same, compared to the contribution you have made to the family over the years, this gift is not worth mentioning at all. I never heard that you have a boyfriend before, and my parents told me in the letter to go home for your wedding, and I was surprised, how is it, how is my brother-in-law okay with you? What village is he from? Are you in free love, or are you introduced to each other? "Being away from home for a long time, Fang Hanmin is very concerned about a series of issues.

Fang Wenying gave a general introduction to the situation, "At our age, where did we get free love!" ”

While talking, the sun was gone, and it was already evening, Xu Guihua and his eldest daughter went into the kitchen to prepare dinner, Fang Hanmin accompanied the old father and talked for a while, he went from the yard to each room, and returned to the yard.

This is a three-room house facing north and south, the kitchen is located on the side of the side room, the middle hall is divided into two rooms, because the family can not live in it, the left and right rooms are also divided into the north and south houses, even if measured by local conditions, the area of the living room is too small, plus the room is piled up with some sundries, each room is particularly crowded.

From the exterior, it is not difficult to see that the house is at least 30 years old, and the mottled walls indicate that the house may not have been repaired once since it was built.

Although the economic conditions of the local villagers are generally not good, as far as the eye can see after walking this 10-kilometer distance, Fang Hanmin feels that the house in his hometown, at least judging from the exterior wall, should basically belong to the worst local dwellings.

No wonder Fang Wenying found her in-law's family at such an age, and rushed to such a family, even if the introducer came to her, she was afraid that she would not want to enter the door.

Just now, my sister Fang Wenying said that her object was introduced by someone, what are the man's family conditions? Does my sister continue to suffer when she marries? Was that person nice to her? Isn't a loveless marriage boring?

Thinking of these problems, Fang Hanmin shuddered, if he hadn't met Liu Gong at the reservoir construction site and was recommended by that kind-hearted person to go to the Red Star Pharmaceutical Factory as a temporary worker, his current situation is probably worse than that of his sister, Fang Wenying married outside, and the other party would dislike her for having less dowry, if Fang Hanmin was in his hometown, with conditions like his family, which girl would follow him?