My name is Li Fang, I am 55 years old, and I have recently stepped into retirement. My husband is a year older than me and still works at work, while my son is in college out of town, so I am often the only one in the family and I often feel bored.
I used to look forward to retiring soon, imagining that I would be free to do what I loved after retirement. But when I actually retired, I found that without the busyness and pressure of work, my life seemed much empty.
One day, I went out for a walk and happened to meet my neighbor, Sister Dong. She wore a brightly colored sunhat and carried a small bucket and a gardener's shovel, looking very comfortable.
Sister Dong, where are you going? I asked curiously.
Oh, Li Fang, don't you know? There is a vacant piece of land near the community, and a few of us old people have converted it into a vegetable garden. I also got a piece of land there, and I'm getting ready to water it. Sister Dong said with a smile.
Oh? That sounds really good. Can you show me there? "I was intrigued and thought it was a good idea. Growing vegetables is a great way to exercise, enjoy fresh vegetables, and kill time, so why not?
Of course, you can come with me. Sister Dong took my hand and walked towards the vegetable garden together.
After walking for a while, we came to the vegetable garden. I saw that there were seven or eight old people who were busy. Each of them occupies a small plot of land and grows a variety of vegetables. Some people are planting new seedlings, some people are weeding and loosening the soil, some people are watering and fertilizing, and the scene is very lively.
Sister Dong put down her things, pointed to a piece of empty space and said, "Li Fang, what do you think of the land over there?" If you want to grow vegetables, you can go there. ”
Why is there no one planting the land over there? I asked curiously.
The land actually belongs to the Lord. Originally, it was Aunt Li's land, and she only turned over the soil two days ago to prepare for sowing. But her daughter gave birth in another place, so she rushed to take care of her daughter and grandson, so the land was idle. ”
If you want, you can use that plot of land first. When she comes back, she won't mind. You'll save yourself the trouble of digging the ground. ”
After listening to Sister Dong's suggestion, I think it's appropriate. So I agreed. Since then, Sister Dong and I have become frequent visitors to the vegetable garden.
Every morning, I take a bucket and shovel and go to the vegetable garden to tend to my little vegetable patch. I grow some of my favorite dishes, such as beans, bok choy, chrysanthemum, coriander, and so on. Watching these vegetable seedlings grow day by day, the mood is becoming more and more happy.
In addition to growing vegetables, I can also chat and joke with Sister Dong. They are all very good people, some are my old colleagues, some are old neighbors, and some are new friends. We exchanged vegetable planting experiences with each other, shared interesting stories about life, and felt relaxed and happy.
During this time, several more elderly people joined us. Among them, there was an old man named Uncle Wang, who always liked to come to my side to chat.
Uncle Wang is a resident from out of town, although he does not live in our community. He lost his spouse last year and spent time alone. Although he is still physically fit and has a cheerful personality, he has a habit of telling stories. He often recounted his experiences when he was younger, and I listened with relish.
At first, I thought Uncle Wang was an interesting old man. But then I realized that he was a little too enthusiastic about me. He would often come into my vegetable patch to help me remove insects, loosen the soil, etc., and then find an opportunity to talk to me alone.
Whenever I finished working in the vegetable patch and was about to go home, Uncle Wang would come over and care about me: "Li Fang, are you tired?" Need a break? ”
As he spoke, he tried to wipe my sweat. I hurriedly waved my hand and said, "No need, I'll just come by myself." ”
Seeing Uncle Wang like this, I began to feel a little uneasy in my heart. Did he have something to do with me? But he didn't say it explicitly, but only showed intimacy in action. I couldn't refuse directly, so I could only tell him euphemistically: "Uncle Wang, you don't need to water and fertilize me, I can just come by myself." ”
Besides, I just grow vegetables to relax. If you're all doing it for me, what's the fun for me? ”
However, Uncle Wang seems to have completely disobeyed me. Later, he actually went to my vegetable patch early every day to water and fertilize it, and then waited for me to arrive. Whenever I appeared, he would smile and say, "Li Fang, look how good your dishes are!" It's all thanks to me for watering and fertilizing you! ”
Then he expects me to give me a look of gratitude or praise. It's a pity that he is always disappointed, because every time I see him like this, I feel very uncomfortable inside.
Eventually, I couldn't take it anymore. That morning, I went to the vegetable garden with a pair of scissors. One by one, I cut off all the vegetables that Uncle Wang had taken care of, and threw them into the soil as fertilizer. I turned away and never looked back.
I haven't been to that vegetable patch since. Occasionally, when I met in the community, Sister Dong always asked me strangely why I didn't grow vegetables anymore. She also told me that Uncle Wang still asked me about me from time to time. I had to find an excuse that my back hurt a little and I didn't want to go.
One afternoon a few days later, I was watching TV at home when I suddenly heard a knock on my door. I opened the door and was surprised to find that it was Uncle Wang. He was carrying a big bag of fruit in his hand, with a smile on his face, and shouted: "Li Fang, you let me find it!" ”
Seeing that he came to my house so shamelessly, I immediately straightened my face and said angrily: "Lao Wang, why are you still bothering me? ”
Before the words fell, Uncle Wang interrupted me: "Li Fang, don't be angry, don't be angry. I'm not what you think. I ......I'm here to apologize to you today. There was a misunderstanding between us, and it was my fault. ”
Hearing Uncle Wang say this, I thought to myself what tricks this old man was going to play. Then, he quickly explained what happened.
It turned out that after Uncle Wang lost his wife, his old friends wanted to introduce him to a partner so that he could take care of him. They asked around if there was a suitable candidate.
One of my friends learned that there was an Aunt Li in our community, who was also widowed and lived alone, and was hardworking, so he suggested that Uncle Wang contact him to see if it was suitable.
Unfortunately, this information is passed down by word of mouth, without a direct introducer. Uncle Wang didn't know the appearance of this Aunt Li, only that she liked to grow vegetables in the vegetable garden in the community.
Aunt Li happens to be the former owner of the vegetable plot I am planting now. She had just turned over the soil two days ago to prepare for planting, but her daughter had given birth prematurely in the field, so she rushed to take care of her daughter and grandson, resulting in the land being empty.
My surname is Li, and I also like to grow vegetables, so I took over her land. This made Uncle Wang mistakenly think that I was the widowed Aunt Li.
During the contact, Uncle Wang had a good impression of me, and felt that I was gentle and lively, so he liked me very much. He was very proactive and wanted to show his love through his actions, but I was cold and even hostile.
I asked him, "I have already told you that I have a husband." This is obviously not the person you are looking for, why are you still pestering me? "
Uncle Wang said embarrassedly: "Yes, I also wonder why you still have a husband." Later, I asked my friends, and they said that this Aunt Li was indeed widowed.
They suggested that I might not like you and deliberately find an excuse to have a husband to shirk it. So I want to impress you with practical actions, help you water and fertilize or something. Unexpectedly, you cut off all the dishes ......”
Then I thought about it and felt that something was wrong. I went to ask Sister Wang next to you again, and then I figured out that it was a misunderstanding.
Thinking about my performance during this time, I guess I have caused you a lot of trouble. So buy some fruit to apologize to you. By the way, lest when you see me in the future, you will point your nose and scold me for being improper! "
Alas, what a shame! "Uncle Wang said frankly, and I couldn't help but laugh when I heard his words. The depression and anger in my heart dissipated in an instant.
Alas, it turned out that everything was a misunderstanding, but unfortunately I cut the vigorous and vibrant beans and cabbage in my vegetable field! What a pity!