Another year's Spring Festival has arrived. 

In Suyu's hometown, every Chinese New Year, the most distinctive sign and signal is the "crackling" sound of firecrackers. From the thirtieth day of the Chinese New Year's Eve, the "crackling" sound of firecrackers will resound throughout the countryside. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, it "crackled" from 0:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. that day, and after that, the piercing sound would continue intermittently until the end of the first month. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the children always get up before dawn, put on new clothes and shoes, and jump through the streets and alleys to pick up the lonely leftover firecrackers that are isolated and unwilling to shine with everyone. Gleefully in his arms, skewering one by one. 

The children of the Pan family will not join this ranks. In previous years, because there were no new clothes and shoes, I always stayed at home, and at most I just went to my house to pick up one or two small cannons to satisfy my hunger. But the scattered firecracker paper in front of Pan's house is always the least every year, and the time for firecrackers is almost the shortest. Every time a firecracker is burned, it sinks almost before the sound begins. Therefore, the Chinese New Year is not a festival to look forward to for them. Su Yu has never been interested in the Chinese New Year, and the most important reason is that Pan Shixiong always became drunk and gambling outside during the New Year, and always turned into debts and scolded them. 

During the Chinese New Year this year, Suman Sutang finally had new clothes to wear, but on the first day of the Lunar New Year, they still didn't go out to play with those children. Because the children in the village like to bully them, and although they are young, they have a kind of arrogance since they were young, like Suyu, and would rather have fun with their siblings at home than suffer their eyes. Su Yu couldn't help but feel sad in her heart, and sighed at a certain kind of human affection in the world, even the hearts of children are divided into rich and poor! Pan Shixiong has not come back since he went out after the New Year's dinner last night, and Tang Baozhu is walking around the house, and he doesn't know what he is busy with. 

Su Yu suddenly felt an indescribable boredom, feeling that she could no longer stay in this dreary space, and every cell in her body seemed to be stuffed. So she fled from the house. Outside, there was a "crackling" sound everywhere, and in the thick smell of gunsmoke, there was also the sound of New Year's songs in the air. Su Yu felt that in addition to the endless sound of "crackling" and the smell of gunpowder smoke in the air, there was only the sound brought by these civilizations left during the New Year. There is hardly a single figure outside the village, people are either watching TV at home or playing mahjong and poker together at home, and the strange customs here stipulate that the first day of the Lunar New Year is to keep the god of wealth at home, so you can't go outside to pay New Year's greetings to others, otherwise, you will give all your financial luck and good luck for a year to others. Therefore, in other places what should be the liveliest today, here quietly hardly a single person comes out. 

Su Yu was wandering sullenly on the path outside the village, and suddenly a crisp voice came from behind: "Su Yu, why are you walking here alone?" Su Yu hurriedly turned her head, it was a girl in a red trench coat pushing a bicycle. I saw that her short hair was hot and curly, and it was pressed against her powdered forehead; The red lips were clearly lipstick-smeared; The blue eyeshadow eyes are looking at him with a smile! Su Yu was stunned for a moment, and suddenly shouted with a sudden realization: "Ah, it's Sister Ying!" How did you change so much? Have you been promoted?" 

"Where? I've already changed careers. In that factory, a month's salary is not enough for me to buy a pair of shoes! I am currently working in a foot massage parlor in Shenzhen. Not only is the salary much higher than that in the factory, but the work is easy, just helping people wash their feet and beat their backs, and they can earn more than 1,000 yuan a month! And I know a lot of people, it's much better than being bored in the factory all day!" 

"Really? But...... But I've heard that the massage parlor is a complicated place...... "

"Hey, what's not complicated in this world? Those who are clear are self-purifying, and those who are turbid are self-turbid. The key is to rely on whether you can clean yourself up. In short, a place where you can make money is a good place! Suyu, if you want to do anything in the future, come to me. I'll write you an address and phone number. As he spoke, he took out a pen and asked as he wrote, "Suyu, are you still working in a factory in the town?" 

"Yes." 

"I advise you to come out and do a good job. You can't stay in that shabby factory in town for the rest of your life, don't you say? Don't blame me for being troublesome, your home environment ......"

"The colleagues in the factory are very good to me, and I am also studying hard." 

"If you need anything in the future, you can come to me. The massage parlor where I work is still short of staff. If you're interested, it's best to come early. ”

Su Yu looked at the fluttering red back in the distance, and her heart was confused again, and she walked alone in the wind again, thinking about her younger siblings and thinking about her family, and her heart was a little chaotic. 

She paced home in a trance. Pan Shixiong still hasn't returned. Su Man and Su Tang are having fun. She looked at the articles and poems she had scribbled in her past for a while, which reminded her of those beautiful and bitter days, and reminded her of those eyes...... For no reason, she became even more annoyed and confused, paced to the kitchen sullenly, and saw Tang Baozhu preparing lunch, so she walked over to help. There are still some absent-minded ones. Suddenly, there was a "pop", and the dish that was being cleaned had fallen from her hand to the ground, and it was shattered in an instant! Su Yu was stunned. 

Tang Baozhu also ran over when he heard the voice, and when he saw the fragments on the ground, he was immediately shocked: "Amitabha! Bodhisattva bless! What a sin!" She muttered reverently. A look of panic on his face. 

Although Su Yu did not believe in the superstitious belief that breaking objects on the first day of the Lunar New Year was a bad omen, her heart was still inevitably clouded with a layer of gloom. Watching Tang Baozhu tremble but extremely reverently and carefully pick up the fragments from the ground and wrap them in red paper. Her heart was sour, and tears almost burst out of her eyes, hoping to ...... She walked over, stroked Tang Baozhu's back and said, "Mom, don't believe it so much, we'll be fine." ”

"May the Bodhisattva be merciful and bless us with peace and security." Tang Baozhu's sad face was still extremely pious. Since Su Yu was admitted to the hospital twice, she began to believe in Buddhism. 

Su Yu didn't take the shattering incident very seriously, but for some reason, since the morning of the second day of the Lunar New Year, her eyelids actually jumped one by one. This made her even more bored. She didn't believe that. 

A new year, like in previous years, passed in a somewhat bleak mist. It's the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, and the atmosphere of the New Year has faded away. Many people have returned to their normal work. 

At noon that day, Su Yu was helping her mother peel peanut seeds at home. Suddenly, one of her cousins rushed in in a panic and shouted, "Oh no! Sister Su Yu, Uncle Xiong is fighting with someone outside!" 

"What!?" Although this was far from the first time, she still jumped all over, "Where?" 

"In the small shop in the east of the village. Go and see, there's a lot of people around him!" 

"Oh my God!" Su Yu's heart ached, she didn't have to look to know what was going on. 

She ran to the scene panting, only to see that the door of the small shop was full of people. Many people are stroking their palms on the side as if watching a cockfight, and their eyebrows are dancing one by one. Su Yu was ashamed, angry, sad and hateful, and pushed away the crowd with a broken heart, only to see that his father, who was usually majestic at home, was now being thrown around by four ruffians like little monkeys, his body was covered with mud, and his nosebleed was washed into two streams of blood on his messy beard; The blood at the corners of the mouth runs down to the neck; His eyes were blood-red, and the cheekbones under his eyes, which were already bulging, were now bulging higher, like two small green mountains, and his whole face was blue and purple; Her yellow hair was messy like a bird's nest, cluttered over her head. Although this victorious general, who was invincible at home, was obviously at an extremely disadvantageous disadvantage at this time, he had no intention of giving in at all, and his red eyes were still shining with a ghostly light. He was now being stamped on the chest by a ruffian, lying on his back on the ground, his fists fluttering in the air, and his mouth screaming and cursing in a mess, but all this only made him look more pitiful and ridiculous. The ruffian squinted contemptuously at the captive at his feet: "Gambler Xiong, you still haven't paid your debts?" No money? When there was no money, he crawled over our crotch one by one, and called us 'master' as he crawled. As soon as he finished speaking, Pan Shixiong's bruised face was distorted because of the pain, and his tongue stretched out, "I can repay the debt to you later, but if you want to call 'master', you can't do it!" Although he was in pain, he was very resolute. 

"Okay, call your mouth hard!" Saying that, with another force under his feet, Pan Shixiong screamed in pain like a pig, and almost didn't call out "master". 

"Push harder, Camel Ming!" Someone was urging him. 

"Drill, what's the matter with one or two shouts? Gambling ghosts, heroes don't suffer immediate losses, at this time, what are you still heroic?" 

The onlookers stroked their palms and laughed and shouted, "Hit!" Hit!"" Drill it, gamble on the ghost male!" In this commotion, Pan Shixiong had already received several punches and kicks, and finally showed a look begging for mercy on his face. The ruffians laughed and drank like puppets in their hands: "Drill! Bark! If you don't have money, you have to learn to gamble, you have to be fierce, and you have to be hard-mouthed!" 

"Good young man, give me a few months and I will definitely be able to pay you back. Please let me go!" 

"No! Repay debts and repay debts, that must be indispensable! It's another thing to drill the crotch and call 'master'! This should only be calculated as your interest. You still want to be hard-mouthed, see if we don't clean you up!" After saying that, he raised his foot and kicked him again. 

Su Yu couldn't stand it anymore, and hated and felt pity for the father lying on the ground. I couldn't help but shout, "Stop!" 

The ruffians turned back in astonishment when they heard the cry. 

"Big brothers and uncles, please spare him, he offended you, I apologize to you on his behalf! I'm sorry! As for the repayment of debts, big brothers and uncles, please give us a little time!" 

As soon as Su Yu appeared and said this again, the field immediately became much quieter. The people looked at this bold and weak girl with some consternation. Someone whispered: "Ah, the daughter of the gambling ghost is here, this time there is a lot of fun!" 

"yes, see what they do with her." 

“……”

The ruffians were stunned by Su Yu at first, and when they saw her appearance, one of them suddenly leaned at her, and said with some ill will: "You are the daughter of a gambling ghost?" 

Su Yu nodded. 

"Okay, it's good that you're here, it's better if you can promise to pay off your debts for your son! Father's debt and daughter's repayment are fair, do you say? But......" He glanced at Su Yu, who was full of grief and grievances, raised his eyebrows, and said crookedly: "You Lao Tzu owes us a debt and beats people, and asks him to get through our crotch and call us a few 'master' He refuses, and he has no money to pay us back immediately, you say, what should we do?" He looked at her with a wicked smile. 

Su Yu avoided their gaze, and said sincerely with a pale face: "Please let my father go this time!" 

The ruffians seemed to be a little moved at first, you look at me, I look at you, and the younger one suddenly said, "No, how can there be such a cheap thing in the world?" Besides, you can't help him pay it back right away. Unless......" He looked at Su Yu's pale little face and big eyes with hidden tears, watery as if they were about to pour water, and the two rows of thick long eyelashes fanned above the eyes like two black butterflies. This face is moving! 

"Unless what?" Su Yu avoided their disgusting gaze. 

"Unless you can give a few of our brothers a few kisses in turn." After speaking, he squinted at her with fine eyes. Su Yu's face immediately turned red, and a moment of shame, annoyance, and hatred came at her. And the onlookers set off another wave of coaxing at this time. 

"Cannon two, hurry up!" 

"Ghost Ma Xiang, you guys are very lucky today!" 

"Hurry up! I want to go if you don't go!" 

“……”

These words were like a sharp knife stabbing her heart. Everyone was laughing and laughing, and some of the ruffians had already stepped forward. Su Yu's face turned pale, and she looked at them in horror and shame. Their smiles were more evil, and the onlookers cheered louder and merrier, as if they were going to do it, and the shrill laughter and whistles stifled her nerves so strongly, and she glanced around at the crowd of people who were screaming with a look of grief and despair. There had never been a time when she hated and despised those people so much. Then, suddenly, calmly, she glared at the ruffian who was about to reach out to her cheek, and calmly looked at the disgusting and lewd face, and the look of pity that swept away the pity on her face just now, and there was an awe-inspiring and inviolable aura. Under the gaze of her eyes full of righteousness and fortitude, the "cannon two" was actually stunned, and the hand that had been stretched out retracted abruptly for some reason, and he suddenly had a feeling of fear for the weak girl in front of him. Suddenly, under her gaze, he was ashamed of himself, and the hand could no longer touch it, and he was stunned on the spot for a while. A ruffian on the side looked at it and sneered dissatisfiedly: "What's wrong with your brother today!" Scared? I'm waiting for you!" As he spoke, he was about to lean over to Suyu. 

Su Yu glared at him, I don't know why, he was still upright just now, he suddenly shrank in his heart, and his movements slowed down unconsciously, at this moment of slowing down, Su Yu had quickly pulled out a sharp small steel knife from the "Cannon Two", aimed at his temple, and said with a resolute and awe-inspiring expression: "Whoever dares to come, I will die to whoever comes!" The camel unconsciously took a step back. The ruffians who usually fight and even set fire to looting things didn't dare to face Su Yu's righteous and inviolable eyes, and they all stood there blankly, none of them dared to say a word. And the people who were still making a lot of noise just now didn't dare to say a word at this time, as if as soon as they made a sound, the knife in Su Yu's hand would stab into her head. 

Finally, "Ghost Maxiang" said dejectedly: "Forget it, forget it!" Gamble on the ghost male, count yourself lucky, there is a daughter who comes forward to kowtow for you, for the sake of her and the New Year, I will spare you this time! But you still have to pay your debts!" As he spoke, he glared at Pan Shixiong, who was still lying on the ground. Gone with hatred. The crowd dispersed in a hurry, and did not forget to continue to discuss what had just happened. 

In an instant, only Su Yu and Pan Shixiong, who were still lying softly on the ground, were left. 

Su Yu looked at the scattered crowd blankly, and suddenly felt relieved, all the courage just now was gone, and she immediately fell to the ground, tears poured out like a flood that burst the embankment, and she couldn't help but hide her face and cry...... 

I don't know how long she cried, but she suddenly felt a big hand gently patting her shoulder, and a drop of cold water fell on her neck. She raised her teary eyes in disbelief, but saw a face that was bruised and swollen, full of bumps and bumps like rising hills, covered with messy beards and blood, and it was actually her father Pan Shixiong! Su Yu couldn't help but feel disgusted and sad, and was about to wave away, but found that this was no longer a fierce and vicious face, and there were two very large and crystal teardrops embedded in this yellow and black face! The look in those eyes was no longer cold and terrible, and the eyes looking at Su Yu were actually full of guilt and remorse, and there was even a strange look of love and pity! The face contorted and twitched in pain, and the two droplets rolled down, and new ones rolled out. "Ayu, I'm sorry for you! Daddy is not human! Not only does it hurt you, but it also affects you! Daddy, I'm sorry for you......" He choked up for a moment. 

Su Yu looked at her father's tears falling like rain in a daze, looking at the familiar and unfamiliar face, she was originally full of resentment towards this face, but at this time, her heart softened, and she felt a little pity for him! No matter how wrong and hateful he used to be, he was her father irrevocably, her biological father. And today, too, he has been punished, and at last he has been condemned by his conscience, and he already knows the feeling of repentance! New tears welled up in Su Yu's eyes again, "Dad, the past is over, I just beg you not to gamble in the future, and drink again!" Dad, quit gambling and quit bars! From now on, we will live in peace as a family. ”

"Ayu, I promise you! I must be a new person in the future! Ayu, I'm not human, I'm not your father! I don't deserve to be your father!" Pan Shixiong thumped his chest, painful and remorseful. 

During the days when Pan Shixiong was lying at home recuperating from his injuries, he did change, not only did he no longer shout, scold, and beat his wife and children, but he seemed to intend to atone for their sins, and he cared about them everywhere and at all times. When the whole family saw him like this, they were both happy and suspicious, and life passed like a dream every day. 

On the seventh day of the new year, Su Yu went to Lin Bei's house early in the morning because she had to go to work the next day. The weather was a little cold that day, and when she was about to go out, Pan Shixiong actually told her: "Wear one more piece of clothing, it's cold outside, don't catch a cold." Su Yu was a little unaccustomed to this strange care, but she was very comfortable in her heart. Pan Shixiong finally no longer thinks that she is a burden to his father's tired mother! 

When I arrived at the Lin family, I found that the Lin family was a little quiet today. Curiously, she pushed open the hidden door and walked into the hall, only to find Mrs. Lin sitting on the sofa in a daze, and did not react even when she came in. Su Yu's heart tightened: Did something happen? 

She gently sat down beside her and asked softly, "Godmother, what are you thinking?" 

"Oh, it's Suyu! Why so early?" Mrs. Lin woke up from a dream. 

"I'm idle, so I want to come over and talk to my godmother, and besides, I'm going to work tomorrow. Why is it so quiet at home today? Haven't they all gotten up yet?" 

"Where, they got up early in the morning today. The two brothers and sisters returned to the company, and Lin Bei sent her father to Hunan. Ay! I was against her father being the manager of the Chinese representative at the beginning, and he had to travel for more than ten or even half a month every month, all at such an age, he himself was not tired, I was tired for him! Alas! Su Yu, everyone outside envies me for not worrying about food and clothing, and I have three so filial and sensible children and husbands who know cold and pain, and they all say that I am the happiest woman in the world. Actually, isn't this world about you looking at me and I seeing you well? Who will know my suffering? Usually our family is divided into things, a family of only five people, but often divided into four places, busy with the company, busy with business trips, busy with study, leaving me, an old woman, can not be busy with anything, like a waste, want to find something to do and can't find it. I'm tired of watching TV, and I don't know a few words from reading books, who has the leisure to accompany me when chatting? I wake up every day and don't know what I'm going to do today, but where can I sleep so much? Suyu, this loneliness, who can understand? Who can understand? Tell others, and they will say that I am a blessed old woman and do not know how to enjoy it. If I had a choice, I would rather not have so much money in my family, my children and husbands not so capable, and the family would live together in a harmonious and lively way. I've been looking forward to the Chinese New Year since January, and it's so easy to look forward to it, and the family can finally get together lively! But it was not enough for ten days, and they divided their things again. Beibei will go to school in a few days, and this huge house will be empty again, and I will be left alone to guard it! Su Yu, from lively to quiet all at once, all of a sudden they all left me, I really don't get used to it, I really can't accept it for a while!" As he spoke, he burst into tears. 

Su Yu looked sympathetically at the lonely old woman in front of her. What a happy woman this is in the eyes of many people! Alas, every family has a scripture that is difficult to read, and the details of it are only clear to the person who recites the scriptures, and the ups and downs in it can only be understood by the person who recites the scriptures. Is life and family so wonderful? Could it be that so many things that seem perfect are empty inside? It can be seen that happiness is actually just a feeling of people, just a kind of view and requirements of people on their own life. 

She really didn't know how to comfort her. After a while, he said, "Godmother, don't be too sad." If you have time, you can rest more, you can also go out and walk around, or raise flowers at home, feed the fish or something, and you can also raise more chickens, cats and dogs, and the day will soon pass. I think Lin Bei, they will definitely come back to see you often when they are free. ”

"Well, what else can a man like me say? When the swallow grows up, it will naturally no longer stay in the nest, and it will naturally fly out, which is the law. It's the same with people. When the children have not grown up, they always look forward to him growing up, and when they grow up, they will fly. I don't want anything now, I just hope that all of you will have success in your careers, and that you will live happily and peacefully, and I will be satisfied. As for my old woman, I don't have a few years to live anyway, so it doesn't matter what......" she burst into tears as she spoke. 

Su Yu was about to say something, but Lin Bei's screams outside interrupted her, "Mom-I'm back!" I saw her standing at the door a little dejected, her eyes were red, and she flattened her mouth: "Mom, it's just the two of us left!" Mrs. Lin's nose was sour. I want to shed tears again. Seeing this, Su Yu hurriedly said, "Who said that there are only two of you left, isn't there still me?" She was very afraid of this solemn and somewhat bleak atmosphere, and quickly broke this situation, "I've been here all day today, is it okay?" 

"Absolutely! But how long can you stay with us? Aren't you going to leave tomorrow?" Mrs. Lin said as she wiped away her tears and went into the kitchen. 

Lin Bei looked at her mother's back, felt sad for a while, and couldn't help but sigh: "Alas-" "Actually, godmother, she is quite pitiful." You'll want to come back to spend more time with her in the future. ”

"I also know that I want to come back with her more. It's just that every time I come back, she will cry with joy on the first day, and when I am about to leave the next day, she will have lunch in tears and see me off in tears...... I was really scared to see her teary-eyed. So, sometimes it's better not to come back, so as not to upset both. "But if you don't come back, won't she be more upset and lonely?" It's because you don't go home often, so when you finally go home once, she will cry with joy, and the days when you go home are so short, of course she will cry because of reluctance. If you come back often, she won't be like that. ”

"I want to come back often, too, but where do I have so much time? Now my homework is not like it used to be. You know, Suyu, I must not fail, I must catch up with my homework and get back to my original me! As for my mom, I just had to make her as happy as I could. Lin Bei sighed again, turned her head and asked Su Yu, "Are you going to work tomorrow?" 

"Yes." 

"Alas! How the days go by! A new year has passed. I was always looking forward to the New Year when I didn't celebrate the New Year, but in fact, it was nothing more than that. It's just a little more sorrowful. ”

"The moon is cloudy and sunny, and people have joys and sorrows. If there is joy, there will be sorrow, and if there is gathering, there will be dispersion, this is an inevitable thing in life, and the so-called feast will be dispersed. Because everyone has their own world of life. And it is precisely because of the pain of separation that there will be joy when we are together. Lin Bei, I wish you progress in your studies!" 

That day, Suyu didn't return home until the evening. Unexpectedly, I saw Su Tang sitting on Pan Shixiong's lap, and Su Man standing beside Pan Shixiong, listening to him tell some interesting stories about his childhood. This is a scene that Su Yu didn't even dare to imagine in her dreams before. And the love on Pan Shixiong's face is even more unreal. The harmonious atmosphere at home made Su Yu both strange and happy, and there was a sense of trembling. She secretly prayed that this would last a little longer, and longer!