My name is Lin Wan, an ordinary rural girl. The village is not big, so every family knows the roots, and my neighbor Xiaofang and I have played since we were children, like sisters. Xiaofang has a sweet appearance and a lively personality, and has been the focus of the village since she was a child; I, on the other hand, am relatively quiet, like to read, and often immersed in my own little world. Despite our different personalities, our friendship is like a river at the edge of the village, flowing slowly and uninterrupted.
Time flies, and in a blink of an eye, we have all reached the age of talking about marriage. Coincidentally, Xiaofang and I got married on the same day, which became a beautiful conversation among the villagers after dinner. Xiaofang married the son of a wealthy merchant in the city, and the wedding was beautiful; As for me, I chose Zhang Ming, a college student from my village, who was simple and unpretentious and took good care of me. Although my wedding was not as lavish as Xiaofang's, it was also full of warmth and blessings.
Life after marriage is like opening a new door for me and Xiaofang. Xiaofang moved to the city with her husband, lived in a mansion, and lived the life of Mrs. Kuo. I, together with Zhang Ming, opened a small bookstore in the village, and although I was poor, I was full of books and laughter.
At first, Fang often came back to visit me, and each time she would bring me something new from the city. She talks about the bustle of the city and her new life, while I share the bookstore and my dreams of writing. However, as time went on, Fang came back less and less often, and our contact gradually drifted apart.
Ten years have passed, and Xiaofang's lives and I have changed dramatically. Xiaofang's husband owed a huge amount of debt because of the failure of his business, and their mansion was seized, and their life plummeted. And Xiaofang has also changed from the former Mrs. Kuo to a woman running for a living. She had to return to the village and face the strange eyes of those who had once admired her.
In the past ten years, I have realized my dream step by step. My bookstore became a cultural landmark in the village, and I published my first book** and became a well-known local author. What's more, Zhang Ming and I are still in the same relationship, we run a bookstore together, raise a pair of children, and live a life that is not rich, but full of happiness and satisfaction.
On the day Xiaofang returned, there was a drizzle in the sky. She stood at the door of the bookstore, looking at me inside, her eyes complicated. I put down the book in my hand and walked out the door to meet her. We looked at each other speechlessly, but we both understood the vicissitudes of each other's eyes.
Wan'er, are you okay? Xiao Fang opened her mouth first, her voice trembling a little.
I'm fine, Fang'er. What about you? "I took her hand and found her hand cold and rough.
I ......I am not good. Xiao Fang's tears slid down, "I lost everything, and now I have nothing." ”
I hugged her tightly and let her cry in my arms. At that moment, I remembered the days when we played together as children and remembered those carefree times. I know that no matter what Xiaofang has been through, she will always be a good sister to me.
Don't be afraid, Fang'er. You still have me, and this home. I comforted her softly, "We can start over and face life's challenges together." ”
Xiao Fang raised her head and looked at me with red and swollen eyes: "Wan'er, don't you really hate me?" Back then, I left so beautifully, leaving you alone ......”
Fool, how could I hate you? I smiled and wiped away her tears, "Everyone has their own choices and lifestyles, I bless you with your choices, and thank you for giving me another possibility." ”
Since then, Xiaofang has regained her strength. She helped out in the bookstore, began to learn to write and draw, and regained her joy in life. And I, too, continue my writing career, documenting our story and the bits and pieces of this land in words.
Today, ten years later, when Xiaofang and I stand under the old locust tree at the entrance of the village again, we look at each other and smile. Although the years have left marks on our faces, our hearts are still young and strong. We know that no matter how many storms and challenges lie ahead, we will move forward hand in hand because we are good sisters forever.
This is the story of me and Xiaofang. Ten years have changed our faces and the trajectory of our lives, but it can't change the innocence and friendship in our hearts. Whenever I think of those twists and turns of the past, I feel extremely fortunate and satisfied. Because I know that in this world, there is an emotion called "forever".
And now I cherish the friendship with Xiaofang even more. We support and encourage each other to move forward side by side on the road of life. I believe that in the days to come, our story will continue, and it will be more exciting and warm. Because no matter what life gives us, we have the courage to face it, to embrace it, to love it. This is the life creed of Xiaofang and me, and it is also the strength and hope that we want to pass on to more people.
The old locust tree in the village witnessed the reunion of Xiaofang and me, and also witnessed the very different fates of the two of us. Ten years is enough for a person to experience countless ups and downs, and it is enough to see the essence of life.
Xiaofang found a new direction in my life. She began to participate in the day-to-day work of the bookstore, helping to organize the shelves and receive visitors. She also regained her younger hobby – painting. Her paintings are full of perception of life and love for nature, and they are soon loved by the villagers. Whenever someone compliments her paintings, I can see the glint in her eyes, the light of rediscovering who she is after being lost.
And I have also achieved my dream in the past ten years. My ** has been published one after another and has been loved by readers. The bookstore has also become a place for cultural exchanges among the villagers, and reading clubs and poetry recitals are often held here. I feel very relieved because I feel like I have made a little difference in this village.
However, life is always full of unexpected twists. Just when Xiaofang and I thought we could spend the rest of our lives in peace, a piece of news broke the silence - the village was going to be demolished in order to build a new industrial park.
This news was like a bolt from the blue for us. The bookstore is our heart's work and the link between us and the villagers, how can we say that we will tear it down? Xiaofang and I decided to join forces and work hard to keep the bookstore.
We went around and reported the situation to the relevant authorities to try to preserve this cultural landmark. We also launched a signature campaign to call on the villagers to support us. However, things didn't go as smoothly as expected. The construction of the industrial park is a big project for the village, which can drive economic development and increase the income of the villagers. Therefore, many people, although they have feelings for our bookstore, still choose to support the demolition.
Faced with such a predicament, Xiaofang and I felt extremely frustrated. We sat in the bookstore, looking at the familiar bookshelves, tables and chairs, thinking that this place was about to become a ruin, and our hearts were full of reluctance and helplessness.
Just then, an unexpected turning point occurred. A teacher who often holds reading clubs at our bookstore learned about our predicament and offered to help us. He contacted some people in the cultural circle and ** friends, and launched a public welfare activity of "Save the Bookstore".
The event quickly became a sensation online. More and more people are learning about our stories and the plight of bookstores. They have expressed their support for our desire to keep the bookstore and are willing to contribute to it.
With the support and help of everyone, things finally took a turn for the better. The authorities reconsidered our request and decided to re-plan a place in the industrial park for us to rebuild the bookstore. When the news came, Xiaofang and I hugged each other excitedly and burst into tears.
A new bookstore was soon built. It's more spacious, brighter and more versatile than before. In addition to the book reading area, a cultural exchange area, a children's reading area and other areas have also been added. It has not only become a place for villagers to learn and communicate, but also a window for foreign tourists to understand the culture of our village.
And Xiaofang and I have also gained more growth and insights in the process. We learned how to face adversity, how to stand up for what we believe in, and how to work together with others to achieve our dreams. These experiences have strengthened our love for life and confidence in the future.
Today's bookstore is not only a place to sell books, but also a gathering place of culture, a place of emotional sustenance, and a starting point of dreams. When night falls, the bookstore lights up, bringing warmth and hope to the land.
And Xiaofang and I are still sticking here, using our enthusiasm and wisdom to contribute our own strength to this land. We believe that as long as we have dreams and love in our hearts, nothing can stop us from moving forward.