I was born in a remote mountainous area of Sichuan, and the county seat of my hometown is an ancient town, where not only the scenery is beautiful, the people are simple, but also there are many local snacks, and the price is cheap, which is very suitable for living.
The nearest county seat to my house had twenty or thirty miles of mountain roads, which had not yet been built at that time, and the roads were all paved with dirt and gravel.
Because there are no buses on this stretch of the road, villagers can only walk and cycle to the town, and those with better family conditions will buy motorcycles to transport goods into the city to buy and sell.
Some young people in the village also drove motorcycles to provide transportation services for rural people to the city, replacing the role of buses.
My parents were simple farmers who made a living from farming, and raised me and my brother and sister.
My sister is four years older than me, very delicate, ** also fair-skinned, and two years after my brother got married, she also got married, and married into a family that ran a grocery store in the county.
My sister was able to marry in the city, which is one of the proudest things for my parents, although my brother-in-law is also from the countryside, but they are doing business in the county, which can be regarded as getting rid of the shackles of the countryside.
In our village, except for a few hard-working boys who went to high school in the county seat, not a single girl was able to continue her education.
My academic performance was average, so after graduating from junior high school, like most girls, I went home to farm, help my parents with the land, take care of the housework, and waited for the marriageable age to be promised a suitable family.
Of course, my parents were reluctant to let me suffer in the countryside, and they always encouraged my sister to pay more attention to the county and help me find someone with good conditions.
At that time, I was already in the prime of life, and although I did farm work at home every day, and even had to go to the fields and cut rice in the muddy paddy fields, my yearning for beauty could not be erased.
In my free time, I would quietly ask my mother for some pocket money, and I would like to buy some beautiful dresses and red shoes in the county seat.
My father was more conservative and reluctant to give me pocket money, so I had to ask my mother for it.
My mother doted on me, although she was just a country woman, she had been doing housework at home all her life, and she had no financial income, but she would try her best to raise more hens, and when the hens laid eggs, she would use earthen jars to quietly put them away.
When the eggs accumulate to a certain amount, my mother will put them in a bamboo basket and let me take them to the county market**. After selling the eggs, I get some pocket money, enough for me to buy new clothes, new dresses.
It's a long way to get to the county seat, and the road conditions are not ideal, so I have to choose to get there by motorcycle. While waiting for the motorcycle at the entrance of the village, I saw Zhou Jun from my neighbor waiting for a guest on a new motorcycle.
Zhou Jun and I are neighbors, and we grew up together. At school, he always took good care of me, and I had a good impression of him, often calling him "Brother Jun".
When he saw me carrying a basket and preparing to go to the market, he immediately drove his motorcycle over and said happily, "Cuihua, are you going to the market?" I'll give you a ride. ”
I asked curiously, "Brother Jun, when did you buy this new motorcycle?" Looks so good! ”
Zhou Jun replied proudly: "I saved some money by working on the construction site, and finally saved enough money to buy this motorcycle." I love motorcycles, so I bought one to earn money and play. ”
I am very happy for Zhou Jun, he is very capable and can actually earn his own money to buy a car. In contrast, I had to sell eggs to earn pocket money, which was a bit helpless.
I happily got on Zhou Jun's motorbike and put the basket full of eggs on my chest. Zhou Jun reminded me: "Hold my waist tight, let's go!" ”
Although there was a thrill feeling in the back seat of a motorcycle, in reality, I was always nervous. I said loudly, "Zhou Jun, can you drive slower?" I'm a little scared! ”
Zhou Jun slowed down with a smile and said lightly, "I thought you also liked the feeling of fast driving." ”
I replied angrily, "I'm a girl, and I care more about security." ”
For the rest of the journey, Zhou Jun drove the motorcycle slowly, and I finally put my mind at ease and chatted with him until we reached the bazaar.
Zhou Jun accompanied me to the bazaar, and I sold some eggs. The basket was bottoming out, and I decided to go to the clothing market. Zhou Jun accompanied me all the way, and when I fancied a dress but the money was not enough, he took the initiative to pay for the difference for me.
I continued to walk around the market, and Zhou Jun walked behind me. Suddenly, I noticed that he was gone. I stopped and looked around and saw him coming out of a grocery store with a pink silk scarf in his hand.
He smiled and said, "I gave it to you, you can use it to cover your mouth and nose when riding a motorcycle, so that you won't be blown by the wind." ”
Zhou Jun wrapped the silk scarf around my neck, my face was flushed with shame, and my heart was also throbbing inexplicably.
On the way home, I sat on the back seat of his motorcycle, my hands tightly gripping his clothes, my heart filled with happiness. It feels so natural, as if we are part of each other.
Later, I went to the county market to sell eggs a few times, and each time Zhou Jun drove me there for free. Our relationship also deepened in the process.
When Zhou Jun earns money, he will buy me some snacks and hair accessories, and I am always secretly happy. These small details have gradually become precious memories between us.
One day, however, I was about to go to the market when I bumped into my father coming back. When he saw the egg basket I was holding, his face turned ugly.
I haven't boiled eggs at home for so long, so you secretly sold them! It's too much, you have sold out all the eggs at home, what is the reason! Father said angrily.
He blamed not only me, but also his mother. Although our family was not wealthy, my father always valued the eggs at home, and he would not let us sell them, but kept them for his own consumption.
My father looked at me and said, "Tomorrow you go to town with me, and your sister has already introduced you to a good match." His family has opened a funeral supplies store, the conditions are very good, you go to meet him, maybe you will be the proprietress in the future. ”
I was shocked, my hand slipped, and the egg basket fell to the ground. I hurriedly retorted: "I won't marry someone like that!" Dealing with wreaths every day is terrifying! ”
My father glared at me: "I'll go and see you first, marrying may not let you keep the store, maybe you can do other jobs." As long as his family conditions are good, your life will be good. ”
I kept shaking my head, firmly stating that I wouldn't go to see the man.
I turned and went into the house, ignoring my father. After a while, my mother also walked in and persuaded me, "Daughter, your father is also for your good." Farming in the countryside is not something you should do. Follow your dad to meet him, maybe the family is in good condition. ”
I stubbornly shook my head and told my mother: "Mom, I already have someone in my heart, that is, Zhou Jun, he is very good to me, and I like him too." ”
My mother looked at me in surprise and turned to talk to my father, who came in and got angry at me and scolded me.
Dead girl, Zhou Jun is just a junior high school student, and the family conditions are so poor, how do you live with him? Father said angrily.
can't let you marry him, he has a younger brother who is studying at home, and Zhou Jun's family earns that little money by running a motorcycle, and eating is a problem. ”
You listen to me, it's a good thing to marry in the county. We've eaten more salt than you've ever eaten rice, and you should trust us. ”
I didn't want to listen to my father and deliberately covered my ears. The father said to the mother, "Close the door and don't let her out." Take her to see that person tomorrow, or don't even think about going out. ”
When I heard this, I panicked. What should I do?
I stood in front of the window and saw my father pick up his hoe and walk out of the courtyard gate, ready to work in the fields. I thought to myself, take this opportunity, ask my mother to let me go out to breathe, and promise to come back soon.
My mother was soft-natured and had no choice but to agree to let me go out temporarily, but she wanted me to come back quickly, otherwise she would have to be scolded when my father returned.
I hurriedly agreed, and hurried out of the house to the entrance of the village. I happened to see Zhou Jun pushing a motorcycle there, wandering around.
I beckoned to him, we found a secluded place to sit down, I stared at him and said seriously, "Zhou Jun, are you willing to marry me?" ”
Zhou Jun was at a loss for a moment, looked at me carefully, and saw my serious expression before he replied solemnly: "Of course, as long as you agree, I will immediately propose marriage." ”
I said with a bitter face: "My sister introduced me to a person in the city, and I am going on a blind date tomorrow, and my parents will definitely not agree to me marrying you." ”
Zhou Jun was also anxious when he heard this, grabbed his scalp and thought, and said, "Then what should we do?" I'm going to beg your parents, is that okay? ”
I shook my head: "It's useless, you know my dad's character, he can't listen to him." He locked me up in the house, and I snuck out. ”
Zhou Jun looked at me blankly, and said with a distressed expression: "Cuihua, I like you, I don't want you to go to the city, if you leave, I will go crazy." ”
I grabbed Zhou Jun's arm tightly and said excitedly: "Brother Jun, if you really like me, let's leave here and go to the big city to work together." Wait until we earn the money and come back. At that point, my dad wouldn't have stopped us. ”
Zhou Jun hesitated a little and said, "Is this really good?" ”
I nodded firmly: "That's all there is to it." In the evening, we pack our luggage, and at 5 o'clock tomorrow morning, you wait for me at the entrance of the village, and we will go to the provincial capital to work together. ”
I had never left my hometown before, but at that moment, I made up my mind. I didn't know until now, but I could be so brave.
Zhou Jun was still a little hesitant and asked, "Can I tell my parents?" ”
I thought about it for a moment and said, "Tell them you're going out to work, but don't say you're going with me, or my parents will blame them." ”
After Zhou Jun left, I also hurried home. My father hadn't come back yet, and only my mother was waiting anxiously at the gate of the courtyard. She let out a long sigh of relief at the sight of me.
Kid, you're back, stop running around. If your dad knows about it, and wants to say that I dote on you, you are always disobedient. ”
I said to my mother seriously, "Mom, I'm 19 years old and can take care of myself." You don't have to worry about me like a child anymore. ”
Mother sighed, shook her head and said, "You are too impulsive, how can Mom not be worried?" I just hope you don't get into trouble. ”
I said, "Mom, don't worry, I just want to work now, I don't want to get married." You persuade Dad, don't let me go on a blind date, okay? ”
The mother sighed: "Why are you so stubborn? Our girls here should have a family at the age of 20. ”
When I recalled what my mother had said to me, I couldn't help but sigh: "Mom, this is not your time anymore. Although Dad has a short temper, he can only get along with him if you are as submissive and obedient as you. I don't want that. ”
I want to be with the person I love, whether he is poor or not, I am willing to go through hardships with him, we will work together and we will definitely be able to live a good life. ”
Mother sighed: "You are really the same as your father, they are both so stubborn and refuse to listen to advice. Alas, it's really frustrating. ”
I went back to my room, closed the door, and started packing. After packing the two large bags, I thought it would be difficult to walk in the field, so I cut some more clothes, leaving only a few of my favorites, and put them in a black canvas case, and then hid the boxes in the cabinet.
After thinking about it, I picked up my pen and wrote a few lines on a piece of homework paper:
Mom and Dad, I'm going to work in the provincial capital, don't come to me. Rest assured, I will live on my own abilities. In the future, I will choose my partner myself. You have to take care of yourselves, and when I earn money, I will come back and repay you. Daughter: Cuihua".
In the evening, it was business as usual. I went back to my room to sleep after eating, and I heard my father asking my mother in the living room, "Cuihua didn't lose her temper, did she?" ”
The mother replied, "Sooner or later she will understand, just like her sister." ”
I set the alarm clock, and I thought it would wake my father up in the middle of the night, so I turned it off. It's better to go to bed early so that you can wake up earlier tomorrow.
At first, I was so excited that I couldn't sleep, and I kept staring at the clock until I finally fell asleep at some point.
Suddenly, there was a "thump" from the glass window next to my bed, as if something had fallen on it.
It was a small sound, but it was enough to wake me up from my dream. I looked up and it was still pitch black outside the window, and I didn't see anything.
Anyone? I muttered under my breath.
One glance at the alarm clock, wow, it's almost five o'clock. My heart started to beat faster, could it be that Zhou Jun came to me?