Story A classmate was seriously ill and donated 5,000 to the class president
My name is Lao Zhang, and I am 57 years old this year.
Looking back, in 1986, I was admitted to a junior college, and at that time, it was really not easy to be admitted to a junior college, and I became the second college student in our village to go out.
The school was hundreds of miles away from our home, and I remember it vividly, and on the eve of the start of school, my mother went to the market to buy several feet of cloth and found someone to tailor a coat for me.
I actually want a new pair of pants, after all, both of my pants are almost worn out at the knees.
But when I thought about my family's financial situation, I suppressed this thought.
There are eight brothers and sisters in the family, and the family burden is already very heavy, especially since I have a younger brother who is in junior high school. Considering my family's situation, I can't bear to add to the financial pressure on my parents, and I am very grateful that they can support me in college.
My mother comforted me and said, "Si'er, it's okay if your pants are old, the first thing people look at is your face, at most they will notice your coat, and they won't go out of their way to look at your pants." ”
In order to prepare my bags, my mother also washed the used fertilizer bags at home and sewed them into a large travel bag, which also helped me pack the quilt and pillows.
Because although the school provides mattresses, students need to bring their own bedding.
So, I carried the big bag of fertilizer on my back and took the bus to the school.
When we arrived at our destination, the school arranged a truck with a big sign to pick us up and take us back to school.
When I arrived at the dormitory, because I arrived early, only one classmate named Li Lei had already arrived.
Li Lei looks very neat, tall and thin, and when he is dressed, he knows at a glance that he is a child who grew up in the city.
Sure enough, after a few words, he shared with me that his parents both worked in the public service and that he was the only child in the family.
I was a little embarrassed and said, "We have a lot of children, plus I have a total of eight brothers and sisters, counting my parents, there are a total of ten people in the family." Add the grandparents, and it becomes twelve. ”
Li Lei was stunned when he heard this, and said in surprise: "Wow, your family is really lively, the number of people in one family is worth several families." ”
I can only smile bitterly, because although this big family of twelve people is lively, in fact, our family's economic conditions are quite tight, and we can barely ensure that we are fed, and there is little room for the rest.
After making our beds, the school cafeteria was not open that day, so we went out together to find a place to eat.
There was a famous fire shop around the school, and although I was tight on my pockets, I still knew how to be generous.
I hurriedly paid for a treat to buy a fire, but Li Lei stopped me, "Let me come, my mother stuffed me with a thousand yuan before I went out, which is enough for my expenses this semester." My dad also said that if he didn't tell them enough, he would send me another money. ”
A thousand bucks! Oh my God, that's less than what our family earns in a whole year. Our family has eight acres of land, and every autumn we are busy harvesting corn and growing wheat, and the grain we have worked hard to harvest all year round is barely enough for our family to eat, and we are not willing to sell it at all. At the end of the year, my father could only squeeze out time to sell Spring Festival couplets at the market to make a little money for the New Year.
Li Lei bought a basket full of fire, he looked at my height and strength, and said to me with a smile: "Look at you like this, there must be a lot of food, you have to eat enough, to ensure that you are full." ”
We also went out of our way to ask for an extra bowl of egg soup for each of us.
Honestly, the taste of that meal still lingers in my mind, it was so delicious.
Eating the crunchy roasted meat, the oil and water flow with a bite, and the mouth is full of pure pork filling, fat and thin, full of fragrant, it is really delicious.
Since I started working, I have eaten the fire I don't know how many times, but I have never been able to find the special taste of that time, and I still remember the taste of that meal vividly.
In the three years of college, my deep friendship with Li Lei began with that sharing fire.
Although I was born in the countryside, I was always the class president in high school, and in this new environment, I also challenged myself to be a part of the student council.
And Li Lei is not interested in this kind of thing, his interest is all in the guitar.
On weekends, he would take his guitar with him, find the old willow tree in the school, and play it gently.
I advised Li Lei: "University life is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, where we must not only acquire knowledge, but also cultivate our own ability and hone ourselves to be better, so that we can be comfortable in our future work." Therefore, we need to actively join various clubs and strive to become a member of the student union. ”
Li Lei asked in surprise: "Wow, old friend, where did you get these views?" You don't feel like a student from the countryside at all. ”
I replied a little shyly: "This is what our homeroom teacher taught me before, and before I came, he specially talked to me and gave me these suggestions." ”
Li Lei admitted that he did not have this kind of consciousness before, he has had a strong interest in ** since he was a child, in addition to studying, he is playing electronic piano and guitar at home.
He thought my advice was insightful and grateful, and he took me as an example and listened to me.
After some persuasion from me, he participated in the election and successfully joined the art department of the student union, and began to actively participate in organizing various evening parties and performances, becoming more lively and cheerful.
When Li Lei's parents visited and learned that I had prompted Li Lei to join the student union, they were very grateful, brought me a large bag full of snacks, and also made a special trip to buy a pair of sneakers for me as a thank you, which made me feel a little embarrassed.
During the October holidays, I curled up on the top bunk all day reading. Before leaving, Li Lei curiously asked me why I was not in a hurry to go home.
I replied lightly that I was planning to leave the next day, citing the fact that the station was overcrowded that day and many students were rushing home.
Actually, I didn't have the money to buy a ticket home. I had sent a letter to my family before, hoping to get some money for the journey, but after receiving a reply from my father, I learned that the pig that the family had raised was supposed to be **.
Suddenly suffering from swine fever, the original plan to pin on it fell through.
When I received my father's letter, I was devastated and confused about how to spend the next few days of the holidays. Although the cost of travel was saved, the cost of eating was still a large expense, not to mention that the school cafeteria was also closed.
After Li Lei left, I lay alone in bed immersed in books, feeling heavy, I was the only one left in the dormitory, and the loneliness came like a tide.
Soon, I forced myself to cheer myself up and decided to go for a walk in the playground. While making the bed, I accidentally found an envelope under the pillow containing 80 yuan and a small note. It was left to me by Li Lei, and it read: Brother, you can use this money as travel expenses. I don't have a lot of money in my pocket, but I still want to help you.
A few simple words brought tears to my eyes, this brotherhood is deep, needless to say, Li Lei didn't need me to speak, he already understood my predicament.
In our class, everyone knows that I have a very strong relationship with Li Lei, where he is, I am there; Where I am, he is always waiting not far away.
On the free weekends, if the student council doesn't have any activities scheduled, we go to the playground together, sit back to back, and listen to him play the guitar. Sometimes I sang along softly, sometimes I sat quietly and listened to his singing.
Our youth is like a song, floating freely on the wide playground. I looked up at the birds in the sky, and my thoughts drifted far away, looking forward to how wonderful my life would be after graduation.
For me, finding a job after graduation and earning money to support my family is the goal I desire the most.
In the blink of an eye, three years of college life have passed. After graduating, I was assigned to work in a department in the county.
As far as I know, Li Lei was assigned to work in their county's cultural bureau. He loves ** so much, he will definitely find a stage to display his talents in the Cultural Affairs Bureau.
In the early days of graduation, we kept in touch by letter, and at that time the means of communication were far less convenient than they are now.
But as our respective lives have become busier and busier, so has the connection between us.
On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of graduation, the class president initiated a class reunion in the city where we used to go to school.
But at that time, my unit was busy with inspections from my superiors, and as a section chief, I was in charge of the focus of the inspection, and I was busy with preparations day and night, and I couldn't take time to attend the meeting.
Last fall, the class president initiated another gathering.
When I saw the group message, I still couldn't go out because I was sick.
During this time, I had been feeling stomach discomfort and occasionally had diarrhea, but I didn't take it to heart until one day I tossed and turned in bed because of abdominal pain, and I broke out in a cold sweat, and I couldn't help it, so I went to the hospital.
After a gastroscopy, the doctor told me what was growing in my intestines, not sure if it was good or bad, the doctor was quite familiar with me, and he suggested that I should go to the municipal hospital for another examination.
So I immediately went to the city hospital, where the doctor said I had to have surgery immediately.
Luckily, my condition was detected early and only a small portion of my bowel was removed and had regular follow-ups.
After I was discharged from the hospital, I felt extremely weak, I couldn't even walk, and it obviously took a long time to recover.
I deeply felt that once a person turns 55, his body may have problems at any time, just like a long-running machine needs to be repaired, and I console myself in this way.
After I was discharged from the hospital, my wife wanted to buy half a catty of sea cucumber to help me replenish my body, but I refused.
I knew that our family was really struggling, and after graduating with a master's degree, my son settled in a coastal city where housing prices were expensive, and when we bought a house, we used up almost all our savings and borrowed some money.
This illness, even after reimbursement, cost tens of thousands.
Although it is an exaggeration to say that I am so poor that I can't open the pot, I really hope to use every penny to the extreme. Our family is from a rural area, and our family is not wealthy, and we have done everything we can to buy a house for our son, and now this illness is really worse for a small family like us.
Whenever the news of a class reunion came, I had to shake my head regretfully, it was too difficult for me to participate.
The class leader personally called me this time, mentioning that I missed the last meeting, and everyone missed me, emphasizing that I had to be there this time.
I can only smile bitterly, with my condition, it is simply more difficult to go out. I had to make up an excuse that I really couldn't move away and missed the meeting with my classmates again.
Frankly speaking, I didn't get to this party, and I really didn't feel good. I also miss those old friends very much, especially Li Lei, who I haven't seen since graduation.
On the day of the party, the group was very lively, and **and** was endless. I looked closely and saw those familiar faces, some fat, some bald, and the years had left their mark on them, after all, we were all almost sixty years old.
But I couldn't find Li Lei's shadow.
I was worried about Li Lei and wanted to know why he was absent, so I sent him a WeChat message, but there was no news, maybe he was also entangled in trivial matters in life.
At this age, most of us focus on our families, and I don't pay much attention to it.
In February this year, just after the Spring Festival, the squad leader suddenly announced a message in the group, saying that Li Lei was sick and needed everyone's help.
I was taken aback, thinking that it had only been a few months since the last meeting, so it was no wonder that he didn't make it, and he didn't even respond to my WeChat.
I didn't know anything about Li Lei's condition, and it was inconvenient to ask in the group, so I privately contacted the squad leader to understand the situation.
The squad leader sent news and told us that Li Lei was suffering from severe lung cancer, which was the news that he had just learned of Li Lei's condition. When we had the class reunion, Li Lei was undergoing surgery in Beijing**.
When I heard this, I was anxious, and although my health was not good, compared to Li Lei, my illness was obviously much milder.
A few days later, I noticed that the students in the group began to donate one after another, and everyone participated, usually donating 50 yuan, some donating 100 yuan, and a few even contributed 200 yuan.
The class leader announced in the group that he would visit Li Lei on behalf of the whole class and convey everyone's blessings and thanks to him.
After seeing the donation news in the group, I was silent for a long time and thought deeply.
Looking back on my college days, Li Lei helped me a lot, and the deep friendship between us made it impossible for me to donate only a few hundred yuan. However, given my own financial situation, it is impossible for me to donate much.
It just so happened that I just received this month's salary, totaling 5,200 yuan. After discussing with my wife, I decided to donate 5,000 yuan.
Soon, the squad leader called, and he said: "Lao Zhang, everyone knows that you have a strong relationship with Li Lei, and if you don't register in the group, it means that you will donate a large number." Tell me, how much are you going to donate? Turn it to me quickly, and I'll take it. ”
I replied: "Squad leader, I just paid my salary, a total of 5,200, and I plan to donate 5,000 to Li Lei." Please help hand him over and say hello to him. ”
I heard the squad leader say: "Only 5000? For the sake of you and Li Lei, it has to be at least 10,000, don't you think it's not interesting enough to give only so much? I heard that you have quite a status in the government unit, and this amount of donation is really hard to see. ”
The squad leader's words made me feel angry, how much I am willing to donate is my freedom, can he control it?
Most of our classmates went to public offices, and only a few people felt that the salary given by the private company was higher, so they chose the private company, and the class leader also chose this way back then.
But as time went on, they now began to find the public service more attractive. Even though I work in the public service, my salary is just over 5,000, which is not as much as they think.
The 5,000 I donated was the maximum amount I could give, not to mention, with my current situation, I am a patient myself, and I really can't get more.
Money is not a measure of friendship between classmates, even if some classmates only donate 50, we have no reason to dislike it, people are mindful.
The reason why I donated 5,000 is because I have a good relationship with Li Lei and want to donate more, but I didn't expect the squad leader to feel that it was not enough, so he insisted that I donate 10,000, which made people very unhappy.
I retorted to the class leader on the spot: "You don't have to worry about it, you can help transfer the donations from other students, and I will visit Li Lei in person." We haven't seen each other since we graduated, I miss him so much, and my donation, I'll give it to him personally, it's between us, it's not about you. ”
As soon as the squad leader hung up, he didn't leave a word of farewell, I was so angry, the most unbearable thing was that others forced him to donate, to put it ugly, this was just to give the squad leader a long face.
I thought to myself, if I donate 10,000 yuan, the squad leader will definitely be happy, after all, everyone in the group will donate three or four thousand, and if you donate not much, the squad leader may feel faceless.
I felt more and more uncomfortable, and just quit the group chat. No matter how much you donate, it should be out of your heart, how can he force me to donate 10,000? Especially since I just experienced a serious illness, and the medical expenses are quite a lot.
That weekend, my wife and I drove to visit Li Lei.
I haven't seen each other for a long time, and as soon as we met, we hugged each other tightly, and tears couldn't stop flowing.
I remember that when we graduated, we were in the prime of our youth, and in the blink of an eye, we were all gray-haired.
Especially Li Lei, he was already thin, and his illness made him even more haggard, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes when he smiled reluctantly were particularly conspicuous.
Li Lei mentioned to me that the squad leader sent the donation a few days ago.
He felt that everyone's donations made him unhappy, and everyone at this age has their own burdens, such as buying a house for their children, and life is not easy.
Li Lei was grateful for everyone's help, and he said that even if he donated ten yuan, he would keep it in his heart, hoping to have the opportunity to repay this friendship in the future.
He said it was about the students' concerns, not about the amount of money.
Li Lei also mentioned that when he saw that my name was not on the donation list, he guessed that I would come to see him in person.
When I took out 5,000 yuan, Li Lei resolutely refused to accept it.
He said, "Brother, it's enough for you to come from afar, don't worry, I have enough money on hand." There is an old house at home, and selling it can basically cover the ** fee, so you better get the money back. ”
After speaking, Li Lei stuffed the money back into my pocket. When I left, I secretly put the money under the sofa cushion and told Li Lei later.
When encountering difficulties with classmates, it is right to lend a hand, but it is not right to impose one's personal will on others and impose a hard donations amount. Everyone's situation is different, donating is out of emotion, not donating is instinctive, what matters is the heart.
What do you think about this?