As night fell, Ma Dali was still patrolling the construction site, walking around and moving around.

"Big brother!" Ma March hurried with a basket: "It's time to eat!" ”

Ma Dali responded, finished the work at hand, and hurried out.

"March, have you eaten?"

Ma March replied with a smile: "I have eaten with my little sister." I cooked sweet potato rice today, and it was very fragrant! ”

She tore the cloth from the basket and brought out a large porcelain bowl full of rice, two sweet potatoes and a lump of greens on top.

Ma Dali "Yo! He asked, "Have you all eaten?" You don't have to give me so much, you and Sifang are both growing up, and you have to keep up with nutrition. ”

"I really didn't lie to you!" Ma March explained with a smile: "My little sister and I are also a big bowl for one person. We can't eat all the rice at home now, so we won't save it, and we can eat it when we should. ”

"Haha!" Ma Dali listened to it with joy and praised: "That's right." Ling Ling gave me an advance of 100 yuan before, which is enough for us to eat rice for a long time. Remember, you have to eat enough for every meal. ”

Ma Yue giggled and whispered, "Big brother, you follow Sister Ling Ling to do a good job." Xiaomei said that she felt that Sister Ling Ling was the great fortune star of our family. Since I met her, our family's life has been much better, especially in the past few months, and we can fill our stomachs every day. When you lie down at night, your stomach doesn't have to rumble – it feels really good! ”

Ma Dali's action of chopping rice was slightly paused, and the corners of his eyes couldn't help but moisten slightly.

“…… That's good. ”

Over the years, I can't remember how many late nights I relied on drinking water to relieve my hunger and coax myself to sleep.

Now that he thinks about it, he can't help but feel sorry for his two younger sisters.

Since the second brother went to the countryside, he and his sisters have depended on each other at home. Now I've finally survived it, and I've been able to eat enough every day!

Ma March thought about the second brother from afar and asked, "Big brother, why hasn't he come home yet?" Did you tell him that the family is much better now? ”

"Yes." Ma Dali explained: "I wrote him two letters, but he never replied. ”

Ma March asked worriedly: "Could it be that the second brother really wants to stay in the countryside?" ”

"That's what he had planned." Ma Dali whispered: "He said that although the conditions over there are poor, as long as you are diligent enough, you can fill your stomach." I persuaded him that there are more job opportunities in the city and the environment is better, so it is better to go back to the city. More than 200 kilometers away, I don't have time to run to him now, so I can only wait for him to reply. ”

Ma March thought for a while and asked, "Big brother, does the second brother have a partner over there?" So - he is reluctant to come back? ”

The second brother wrote in a letter last time that he was reluctant to leave the tea garden for the time being, and said that he would follow the villagers to reclaim the new mountain land, and the future was promising, so they didn't have to worry about him.

My aunt said that he probably had someone who held him back, otherwise he would have come back a long time ago.

After all, the countryside is not as prosperous as Chongqing, and almost every educated youth who receives a notice to return to the city will come back immediately, and there are very few cases like the second brother.

"He didn't say it." Ma Dali said softly: "You don't know the inside story, don't guess." ”

A few years ago, his family was so poor that he had to drop out of school to earn money so that his second brother and younger sisters could continue to go to school.

Who knew that soon after, the second brother was assigned to work in the countryside, leaving only him and his two younger sisters at home.

The second brother was assigned to Chaocheng, more than 200 kilometers away, and only returned home once on the way, because he couldn't come back from time to time because of the long distance.

The second brother said that he and a few good classmates were in the tea mountain, picking tea every day, planting vegetables and rice, although the days were harder, but the stomach could barely fill.

Since the resumption of the college entrance examination, many young people from the countryside have returned to the city, and he is also anxiously waiting for his second brother to come back.

But the second brother kept delaying and always said to wait and see. It's been delayed again and again, and now it's almost a year, and I still can't wait for the good news of his return.

Since the beginning of the summer vacation, he has made a lot of money by Chen Xingling's side, others earn a salary a day, but he can have an extra vigil salary.

From that time on, he and his two younger sisters began to not have to eat and starve, and their lives gradually improved day by day.

The situation at home has improved, and he has also been admitted to university, and he has been urging his second brother to come back to school soon, and strive to be admitted to university next year or the year after.

Who knew that the second brother always delayed replying to the letter, and he seemed to be unable to make up his mind.

A while ago, he also remitted 30 yuan to his younger brother for the journey, worried that he might not have enough money around him for the passage.

But the money was sent, and my brother still didn't hear from him at all.

In fact, he was also secretly worried in his heart.

However, he is the backbone of the family and the pillar of the family, he can't mess up, he can only stabilize himself at the same time, and tell his sister not to guess and think.

"Maybe he hasn't received the letter yet, or he lost it." Ma Dali said: "Next week, I will send a telegram to ask for clarification. ”

In this era of backward communication, sending letters and telegrams were the most common means of long-distance communication. The price of telegraphing is on the expensive side, unless it is a very important event or urgent matter, otherwise you will not choose to telegraph.

Sending a letter is the most convenient and cheapest, and you can send it far away with a stamp. However, there are occasional cases where there may be leaks. After all, the place where the second brother is located is a small town in the mountains, and the transportation is inconvenient, and the letter may be missed or sent incorrectly.

Ma March nodded hurriedly and replied.

Ma Dali quickly ate his fill and handed the dishes and chopsticks to his sister.

"I'll take a shower, and then I'll go to Ling Ling's house."

Ma March couldn't help but ask: "Big brother, don't you have to guard here?" ”

Ma Dali explained: "Now people are coming and going, but I am not afraid. I'll come as long as I go, and I won't be delayed for too long. ”

The cement had run out this evening, and there was nothing to steal but sand and heavy slates.

The sand was cheap, and the stone slabs were too heavy for a few people to lift, so he wasn't worried about thieves stealing them.

In addition, it is only six o'clock, and the time is still early, and the streets are full of people who take a cool walk, and no matter how bold the thief is, he will not dare to come blatantly.

Ma Dali is a local, and as early as the age of a child, he ran every street and alley in the urban area of Yucheng with his eyes closed, and soon went around the north of the city.

When it came to Shuiyue Road, it was getting late, and there were fewer pedestrians on the road, so he relied on his good eyesight and was reluctant to spend batteries, so he didn't take out the flashlight in his trouser pocket.

Suddenly, he heard a quarrel!

I saw that not far from the gate of the Third Garden, two women were holding a bicycle and were arguing with two young men.

"The surname is Pan! If you do this again, we will go to the police station and call the police!" ”

"Go and report it! What's wrong with us? This road is not your family! The road is up to the sky! You don't care what we do! ”

"Don't be arrogant! Sooner or later, God will take you gangsters! ”

"Li Nishang! It's cheap, it's cheap, and it's good! I'm worried that you're in danger on your way from work, but I'm kind enough to pick you up? You little conscience! ”

"Get out!" Li Nishang was furious: "What are you pestering me all day long?!" I've said it all! If you can't afford to marry, don't dwell on me! ”

Pan Zichong rolled his eyes and sneered: "It doesn't matter if you can't marry now, it won't necessarily be in the future." You tell me? ”

"Fuck off! Don't touch me! I don't care about you! Li Nishang collapsed and screamed, waving her hand desperately: "Pan Zichong!" You bastard! Get out! Get out! What the hell are you going to do to let me go! Ahh ”

Pan Zichong sneered, but his hand grabbed her very irregularly.

"Ni Xiang, don't don't. Don't do that! Don't shout, I'll take you home. ”

The woman on the side was also stopped by another man, and she was so anxious that she almost cried.

"You've gone too far! Don't touch the dress! Don't touch her! Someone! Yes......! Help me! Help me! ”

Ma Dali originally thought it was just a dispute and quarrel, but at first glance he heard the woman shouting "Help!" He rushed forward.

"What?! How can you bully women comrades?! ”