"Did you grow up here as a kid?"

Along the way, Zhou Xiaobai was curiously asking questions, the old trees in the village, the embryo house, the mill, every place left her curiosity.

For Zhou Xiaobai, who has lived in the city since he was a child, it is difficult to imagine what Li Weidong would be like when he was a child.

But judging from this village, I also know that it must be very bitter.

"Yes."

Li Weidong nodded, when he answered Zhou Xiaobai's doubts, it was equivalent to recombing the memory of the original owner.

Although many of them have become blurred, there are still some impressions to a greater or lesser extent.

Especially when he meets some old people, he can also call each other by name.

In the countryside, all of them are their own families.

Uncles and uncles, grandparents, plus peers, let alone dozens of people.

Everyone knows the roots, and they are all familiar with it.

Not long after, Li Weidong led Zhou Xiaobai to Li Zhankui's house, which was still surrounded by tree branches, and the earthen room was no different from last time.

In the courtyard, a small house that was simply made of stones on three sides, covered with some linoleum paper, broken wooden boards, and barely able to shelter from the rain was smoking everywhere, which seemed to be the kitchen of Li Zhankui's house.

The smoke from the burning branches was mixed with the smell of herbs.

Thinking of Li Zhankui's wife lying sick in bed, this decoction must have been given to him.

Through the branch wall, Li Weidong vaguely saw the figure of a little girl, who was Li Zhankui's sister, Li Hongmei.

and Sun Hongmei, who was killed in prison, the last two words are heavy.

If you really want to talk about it, whether in the countryside or in the city, there are not too many names called red plum and Yanmei.

When she came here, Zhou Xiaobai suddenly stopped talking, she was naïve, and she was not stupid.

What she saw and heard along the way has given her a basic understanding of rural life.

And the house and environment in front of me are obviously much worse.

For those who live here, life can be imagined.

"Xiaomei."

Li Weidong opened the branch door used to pretend and shouted at Li Hongmei, who was decocting medicine in the 'kitchen'.

"Brother Wei Dong?"

Li Hongmei was stunned at first when she heard someone calling herself, and after she came out and rubbed her eyes choked with tears, she saw it clearly, and suddenly called out in surprise.

At this time, Li Hongmei was not much different from the last time she saw her, although she was wearing a cotton jacket, it was worn and old, and cotton was not even seen in many places.

And under her feet, she was wearing a pair of cloth shoes that were obviously several sizes larger, which was estimated to be Li Zhankui's, although they didn't fit, but at least they didn't miss their toes.

"How's your mother?"

At the age of twelve or thirteen, thin and short, the bones on his cheeks bulged out, his hands were covered with chilblains and calluses, and his face was dirty, except for those eyes, which were unusually bright staring at the book Li Weidong was carrying.

"Ah, my mother is nothing serious, she is sick, she can slow down by taking some medicine."

Long before Li Zhankui didn't come back, Li Hongmei took on the big and small things of this family, and her mother's health has always been bad, and she has long been used to it.

And it's about slowness, not healing.

The earthen embryo room, the dilapidated wooden door, and the ventilated windows were originally soundproof, and Li Weidong did not deliberately suppress his voice when he spoke, so just after saying a few words, Li Zhankui in the house heard the movement and hurriedly walked out.

At this time, Li Zhankui seemed to have just gotten up from the bed, his hair was messy, his beard was unkempt, and his face was quite haggard.

"When did you come back?"

Li Zhankui stepped forward and looked at the things in Li Weidong's hand, his brows couldn't help frowning.

"I just came back, this is the textbook I promised to Xiaomei last time, the textbooks for each subject of the first to third grade junior elementary school, let Xiaomei learn at home first, and lay a foundation."

Li Weidong directly handed over the bundle of old textbooks to Li Hongmei.

The weight was a bit heavy, but after Li Hongmei took it, she hugged it in her arms, and she didn't know if it was the sequelae of choking on the smoke just now, or for other reasons, which filled her eyes with tears again.

"I thank you for Xiaomei."

Li Zhankui was silent for a while, and then took the bag in Li Weidong's other hand.

It is not white noodles, but stick noodles.

The bag doesn't look big, but it weighs thirty or forty pounds.

"I heard the second uncle mention your matter, what's the matter?"

Li Weidong didn't mean to enter the house, took out a cigarette from his pocket, gave Li Zhankui one, and after the two lit it, they chatted.

Li Zhankui first glanced at Zhou Xiaobai, who was quietly following Li Weidong, the other party smiled at him and nodded, and then quietly moved to Li Weidong's side, indicating his attitude.

Then Li Zhankui replied: "I plan to marry her." “

Li Zhankui said this sentence very lightly, but the resoluteness in it was very heavy.

"Brother."

Next to her, Li Hongmei immediately shouted dissatisfiedly.

Although she is young, it doesn't mean that she doesn't understand, the children of the poor are already in charge, and in another three or four years, she will be able to get married.

It's not that she looks down on widows, widows these days, especially widows who have given birth, are even very popular.

The problem is that even a widow refuses to marry her family.

Originally, Li Zhankui should be very happy to marry a daughter-in-law, but she couldn't be the widow who ruined her brother's future.

Not only her, but her mother's attitude was even more resolute, and she said several times that if Li Zhankui wanted to marry each other, he would be killed directly.

"Okay, brother, you take it to the house first, and then take out the wild boar meat and put it in the water to melt."

Li Zhankui handed the half bag of grain to Li Hongmei, and rubbed it on her head.

"You're really decided? What should I do with my aunt? Li Weidong asked.

The eldest aunt in his mouth refers to Li Zhankui's mother, which means aunt.

However, in the countryside, no one calls the eldest aunt, usually the eldest aunt.

"I'll find someone to persuade you when I go back." Li Zhankui said directly.

If it weren't for the fact that he was really powerless and unwilling to trouble others.

In the past, when he didn't come back, when his father was not there, if someone hadn't taken care of him, with his mother's body, dragging the two little ones, he wouldn't have been able to come back at all.

And after he came back to prop up the house, his mother often told him not to forget the great kindness of those people.

Although it is a bit unorthodox to ask these people to help persuade them, Li Zhankui will have no other way.

"Didn't you want to solve this problem at the root?"

"At the root? How to fix it? ”

"In fact, the reason why the eldest mother disagrees, in the final analysis, is because the other party has caused you to ruin your future, so no matter how good the other party is, no matter how you identify others, the bend in the aunt's heart can't be turned around.

Even if you find someone to persuade you, the eldest lady can't resist it, and reluctantly agrees, can it be settled in the future?

The eldest lady's health is not good, if she falls into heart disease again......"

Although Li Weidong's words were not finished, Li Zhankui naturally understood, so he couldn't help but be silent.

At this moment, Li Weidong was also a little speechless when he saw that Li Zhankui was like a wooden stake.

You've got to answer.

At the very least, ask: what should I do?

And then he played.

What is such silence?

couldn't help but cough lightly and continued: "Actually, it is not difficult to solve the problem fundamentally. ”

"Do you have a way?"

Li Zhankui's eyes lit up instantly, staring at Li Weidong.

Just as Li Weidong understands his character, he also knows that Li Weidong will not speak easily.

"As long as you can help me solve this problem, it will not hurt if I sell you this life."

Li Zhankui made heavy promises.

"Okay, why should I buy your life?"

Li Weidong shook his head, but he didn't continue to sell Guanzi.

"In fact, if you want to solve this problem, it's very simple, as long as the other party can have a formal job, and you also have a future, what reason does the aunt have to object?"

"Formal work?"

When Li Zhankui heard Li Weidong's method, his eyes instantly dimmed.

Nowadays, people in the countryside can only farm in the village.

As for anything else, don't even think about it.

And that woman, who left her hometown, finally came here, as a foreigner, she can't even live in the village, let alone find a job.

Therefore, in his opinion, Li Weidong's method is not reliable at all.

"Weidong, isn't your farm recruiting workers?"

Zhou Xiaobai on the side said suddenly, so that Li Weidong almost gave her a thumbs up.

Otherwise, there must be praise for cross talk.

"Farm recruitment? It's not okay. ”

Li Zhankui was happy at first, and then his heart fell again.

How heavy is a formal job that can be regarded as a family heirloom and can break the head?

Li Zhankui knows very well that Li Weidong is also because his biological father is in the city, and he has a formal job, so he finally settled in the city and became a veritable city person.

Even he himself has put so much effort into it, and he has just turned positive, how can he have the ability to help others?

Besides, even if Li Weidong really has any channels, he can't afford to pay that price.

Therefore, Li Weidong's heart, he can only understand it.

"Why not? Wei Dong is now the vice captain of the new farm, just recruiting two people, it should be no problem, right? ”

Zhou Xiaobai was a little puzzled.

When Li Weidong went to the Third Farm to find Wang Zhenyi's dignitaries, she knew that Xu Zhiqiang was asked to leave, and even became an officer.

Regardless of the regulations, the prison is uniformly arranged, and even the captain of the farm has no right to decide between the workers and the prison guards.

But regulations are regulations, and reality is reality.

No matter what era it is, it is impossible to put an end to such a thing as human relations.

What's more, in a place like the farm, as a captain, if you don't have a few trusted people, how can you manage the farm well?

Therefore, there will definitely be a few places in the hands of each captain and vice captain, which is a tacit thing.

Therefore, in Zhou Xiaobai's opinion, it is really not difficult for Li Weidong to do this.

"Vice-captain of the farm?"

Li Zhankui's mouth opened wide in shock.

Last time Li Weidong came back to get the certificate and settle down, he knew, how long has it been?

Even if you add the time when Li Weidong just entered the farm, it was only a few months before and after?

In such a short period of time, he has changed from an ordinary worker to a vice captain?

This vice-captain, there should be a small one in front, right?

Or did Li Weidong make up nonsense and deliberately brag in order to chase other girls?

couldn't help but glance at Li Weidong quietly, signaling him to stop, otherwise the girl would know the truth, and she would definitely not pay attention to him again.

But the problem is that Li Weidong didn't seem to receive his signal, and even nodded, looking approving.

"Yes, there is a new farm over there, and I am currently the deputy captain there, if you want, go back and let the village issue two certificates, and I will hurry up and try to let you go before the year."

The reason why Li Weidong is in such a hurry is not that he is worried that Li Zhankui will run away, but that this matter is not resolved, I am afraid that his family will not want to live well this year.

In addition, when he came, the second uncle also reminded him to try to hurry up, after all, it didn't seem like that woman had been living there.

The sooner it is resolved, the less trouble it hassle.

Seeing Li Weidong speaking so loudly, Li Zhankui really didn't know what to say.

In the past, Li Weidong was not like this.

It's definitely all because of women.

After all, he himself is the best example, for the sake of a woman, the future is gone, and even his mother is angry.

Sometimes he asks himself, is it worth it?

But there was no answer.

"Forget it, I actually have a way to solve it, so I still don't bother you."

Li Zhankui shook his head.

How can he do it, it's just that he doesn't want Li Weidong to brag about it.

After all, Li Weidong has helped his own family enough.

Even if he knew that it was not good to deceive girls like this, he was reluctant to expose it, but he thought about turning back and privately reminded Li Weidong that it was not good to deceive girls.

At this point, Li Weidong can also understand that Li Zhankui's feelings have been bragging about himself.

Obviously, although his second uncle didn't know where to get the news, he never said it, even to Li Zhankui.

But it's normal to think about it, he has experienced too many mysteries, as long as he is a normal person, he probably won't believe it.

"I'm not kidding you, I'm really the vice captain now, and I still have a few places in my hand, otherwise why do you think the second uncle told me about you? As for this one, his name is Zhou Xiaobai, and he was my colleague when I was in the Third Farm. ”

Li Weidong is colorful.

"You're really the vice-captain? Cadre? ”

Li Zhankui looked at Li Weidong, then at Zhou Xiaobai, and after seeing the other party nodding, he still had a dreamy feeling and couldn't believe it.

Since this girl and Li Weidong are colleagues, there is no such thing as bragging and deception, they are all from the same unit, whether Li Weidong is the deputy captain or not, how can she not know?

And Li Weidong also said Li Shuquan, so there is almost no doubt about the authenticity of this matter.

But the more this happened, the more powerful the shock in his heart became.

When he used to be a soldier, he ranked first every year, and his performance was outstanding, but if he wanted to be promoted, he had to endure the years.

Although the prison unit is different from his previous one, the weight of the word cadre is equal.

"Yes, deputy section level, cadre."

Li Weidong nodded vigorously.

"Can you really help her with her work?"

Li Zhankui asked anxiously again.

"It's not just her, it's you."

Li Weidong smiled slightly, from beginning to end, his target was only Li Zhankui, as for the widow, it was just piggybacking and used to envelop Li Zhankui's heart.

"Me? What can I do? ”

(End of chapter)