Time flows quietly like the river in the East. Some people grow old and some grow up.

In the short period from autumn to winter, Yangjiazhuang is quietly changing.

First, there was the locust tree at the entrance of the canteen. The leaves turned from emerald green to light yellow. An autumn wind swept by, and the yellow leaves fell to the ground. However, some were able to stand firm in the wind and rain. From bare branches to yellow leaves

The wall is connected with a spider web.

In the early morning, I often see a few drops of dew hanging on the spider web, and the crystal surface reflects the cheeks of Xiao Zhaoyang and Bai Ge.

At that time, the leaves in the poplar forest were just turning yellow and had not yet fallen. When they began to fall, the mines began to recruit workers.

The villagers in Yangjiazhuang, including the surrounding villages, will be able to dig coal in the mines soon, so workers need to be recruited and trained in advance.

Many villagers signed up, and many were unqualified.

At that time, there was no shortage of people in the Northland. There were people watching the excitement, and there were old men and women who wanted to make some money for their children and grandchildren. When they got old, they squeezed out their bodies, and they wanted to work as coal diggers in the mines.

workers.

Are you kidding me, old men and women, join in the fun? What’s the point of being a mine? All cats and dogs can come to make money. I don’t want old people, women, or half-year-old children. I only want young and strong men with strong arms.

of.

Those who successfully signed up were very happy. It means that in addition to farming, their families can have an extra income, and this income is so considerable. I heard that coal diggers are paid so much that they don’t even need to farm the land.

Male labor can support a family.

Those who failed, lowered their heads and left in a depressed mood.

When the poplar trees were covered with leaves, the locust trees at the entrance of the canteen became bare, with only a few yellowed leaves with black spots still making their final resistance to the autumn wind.

It is crumbling, but it is always hanging high on the branches, unable to form a climate. The entire locust tree looks like it is full of exposed branches, stretching out in all directions towards the sky.

On that day, Xia Sujuan came to deliver the last building materials needed for the school, which were tiles. The main frame had been raised and the tiles were capped, and the school was completed.

In Dongdi, Xia Sujuan asked Zhang Guoquan: "Wei Dahai didn't come to trouble you, did he?"

Zhang Guoquan replied: "No, he and I have never met since last time."

Even Zhang Guoquan found it strange that Wei Dahai was severely injured in public at that time. According to Wei Dahai's temperament, he should have become angry from shame, but after such a long time, he had no intention of causing trouble.

Xia Sujuan said: "That's good, it seems he didn't break his promise."

"What do you mean? Sister Sujuan, you shouldn't have made any deal with him. You should stay away from him. He doesn't seem like a good person."

Xia Sujuan smoothed back the hair below her ears and said with a smile: "No, I just had a meal with him and he promised me that he wouldn't trouble you. So he kept his word."

Wei Dahai didn't come looking for trouble. He thought it was Wei Guangming who said something about the overall situation and asked Wei Dahai not to cause trouble. Unexpectedly, it was Sister Sujuan who helped him.

"Sister Sujuan, you? You shouldn't do this. I'm not afraid of him. What else can he do to me in Yangjiazhuang? You don't have to do this." Zhang Guoquan was moved and worried about Sister Sujuan. Wei Dahai was like this

It is best to stay away from people who are as good as you can, but for him, Sister Sujuan actually took the initiative to accompany him to dinner. Zhang Guoquan felt an indescribable mixed feeling in his heart.

"It's okay, it's just a meal. He can still eat me. Don't worry, I know you are doing it for my own good. I have a sense of propriety."

She said it easily and calmly, as if she didn't take anything to heart at all, but Zhang Guoquan clearly noticed a trace of panic in her face. It was not obvious, but also seemed to be a kind of sadness. In short, it was not easy to express.

"Sister Sujuan, are you encountering any difficulties?" Zhang Guoquan asked tentatively, worried.

"Ah? No, I'm fine. Don't think blindly. I, I'll go to the mine first."

Xia Sujuan didn't seem to want to get involved in this topic. She casually chatted with Zhang Guoquan for a few words and then went to the mine in Beidi.

When she left, she was obviously in a panic. Zhang Guoquan only looked puzzled in his eyes, but didn't take it to heart. Xia Sujuan had been struggling for many years, so she probably wouldn't have been poisoned by Wei Dahai.

When frost fell on the withered weeds in the river ditch, often accompanied by heavy fog with extremely low visibility, Liangzi came to Zhang Guoquan and asked him if he had signed up to be a coal digger.

"Brother Liangzi, seeing that you are so happy, have you signed up?"

"Yeah, so I'm here to ask you. I'm not as strong as you. You can definitely do it if you sign up."

Zhang Guoquan said: "I won't go."

"Then why? It's not enough for others to want to go, but your body is perfectly fine."

Zhang Guoquan took one look at the white dove at the door of Aunt Wang's house, and Liangzi understood.

He patted Zhang Guoquan on the shoulder and said, "You, Miss Bai Ge, she is really lucky to have a husband like you."

"Brother Liangzi was joking, I am lucky to have a white dove."

After Liangzi left, Baige came and asked: "Brother Liangzi is here, what do you want me to do?"

"Ah, just asking me if I'm going to dig coal?"

"Yes, I want to ask you too. I see that many people in the village have signed up. Why don't you go?"

Zhang Guoquan tilted his head and thought for a moment and said, "It's too hard to dig coal. I don't want to go."

Bai Ge stared at him, knowing that he was obviously lying. If Guo Quan found it hard, there would be no one in the world who didn't find it hard. He worked harder than anyone else, so how could he find it too hard?

Bai Ge looked at her legs and understood. Without Guoquan saying anything, she knew that Guoquan had made up his mind and would not dig coal in the well no matter what. She turned the wheelchair very close to Zhang Guoquan and hugged him.

Zhang Guoquan's arm, leaning his head on his arm.

The heavy fog had not yet subsided, and the cold air of late autumn seeped through his clothes. Zhang Guoquan reached out and stroked Bai Dove's hair, which felt warm and warm.

When the fog slowly receded, Aunt Wang was watching this warm scene from a distance of ten meters.

Zhang Guoquan coughed, and Bai Ge turned around and blushed immediately.

"Guoquan, if you don't want to go, you won't go. Why are you digging coal? It's been dark all day long. It's not like we won't be able to eat. When I die, this house and the land will be left to you."

How could that work? Although Aunt Wang had no son, she had two married daughters and an uncle's nephew, so it was never her turn to give him Zhang Guoquan.

Zhang Guoquan smiled and said: "This is not possible, Aunt Wang. You have already taken good care of me and Bai Ge. No matter what, I can't ask for your things anymore."

"What's the matter? It's my stuff. I can give it to whoever I want, and no one else can say anything about it."

Aunt Wang is very stubborn, and this is what is in her heart. Zhang Guoquan understands, but things like the house and the farmland are not trivial, not a bowl of burnt meatballs, nor a basket of steamed buns.

"Aunt Wang, I understand what you are thinking. You have done enough. Don't think about those things anymore. Just forget what you should forget. None of us have ever complained about you. That is Guozheng's fate. We all

Are you proud of him?"

Only now did he know what Grandma Yang meant by letting go. Letting go didn't mean forgetting. Letting go only allowed the living to be freed from pain and move on better.

The days are still long, and he also hopes that Aunt Wang can let go of Guozheng and stop living in that kind of shadow. He has always known that Aunt Wang is not having a good time.

"Guoquan, please stop talking." Bai Ge saw Aunt Wang holding the little guy and turning her back, secretly wiping her tears.

Zhang Guoquan stopped talking. He knew that not everyone can get out of pain, and Aunt Wang was that kind of person.

Therefore, the arrival of Xiao Zhaoyang was such a blessing. Otherwise, he really couldn't guarantee that Aunt Wang could survive for several years.

Especially in the cold and long winter, many old people died on such winter days. There were short graves in the ground and they were covered by a heavy snow.

This winter seems to be even colder than in previous years. Even before winter begins, you can already feel the bone-chilling chill brought by the north wind.

The adults couldn't bear it anymore, so they took out the cotton-padded clothes accumulated underneath and put them on their bodies early, without having to dry them in the sun, because they couldn't bear it anymore.

Some children wanted to carry it, but were scolded, beaten and scolded by adults, and had to wear thick cotton clothes.
Chapter completed!