Father's Land Mother's River

Chapter 42 The mystery is revealed
In mid-November, Liu Xiaonan received her first full monthly salary, 110 yuan.He spent 40 yuan to buy himself a Seagull brand mechanical watch, which felt heavy when he wore it around his neck.

For the first time, he had intimate contact with time, riding on a bus, crowded with people in the city, he felt that the distance between himself and them was getting closer.

It has been more than two months since he left home, and he still has no plans to go home.Waiting is a kind of torment, he must wait until that moment.

A cycle of eight days, four shifts and a month passed quickly.As the end of the year was approaching, Liu Xiaonan suddenly felt a little irritable, and an impatience scratched his body and mind.Is it time for his debut novel "The Teacher" to be published?He decided to go to the editorial department on New Year's Day.

This day is the second day shift, and tomorrow I will switch to the middle shift. I have free time in the morning, so I have plenty of time to relax this evening.

Liu Xiaonan considered it again and again, and said hello to Wang Aiqing in advance when she was working, and asked if it was possible to come to her house tonight.

Wang Aiqing was very surprised: "Is there something wrong? You can talk about something now."

"Can't say now."

"It's quite mysterious. Well, your elder brother and I will wait for you at home at night."

After dinner, Liu Xiaonan went to Wang Aiqing's house alone, carrying a manuscript of a short story in her arms.For more than a month, he took advantage of his free time during shifts, slept less, lay on the bed, and wrote Wang Aiqing's love story.

When he was working, he looked at Wang Aiqing's petite and busy figure from a distance, recalling the twists and turns of the love story that happened between her and her husband along the way, pretending to think about it.Weft loading is a simple and highly skilled work, which does not hinder the dual purpose of one mind.

I didn't go anywhere after get off work, and wrote all the way with a feeling of reverence and admiration. A short love story was quickly completed.

When he arrived at Wang Aiqing's house, Wang Aiqing and her husband had made tea and were waiting for him.After sitting down, he took out the draft of the novel and handed it to Wang Aiqing, saying that he had written something and asked her to read it first.

Wang Aiqing took the thick manuscript of the novel, glanced at it and stood there in a daze. The title read: Wang Aiqing's Love.Wang Aiqing asked Liu Xiaonan without knowing why, "Are you writing about me here?"

Liu Xiaonan said: "I wrote the story of you and elder brother into a novel. I came today to ask for your opinion and elder brother's opinion. Can I publish it?"

Wang Aiqing was even more surprised: "You can write novels?"

Liu Xiaonan said modestly: "I just started to practice writing, and I am still very immature."

Wang Aiqing sighed softly: "I used to love reading novels, but I can't take care of them these years. You chat with your elder brother, I will watch first, and see what kind of woman you write about your master Wang."

Wang Aiqing read quickly, flipping through the manuscript paper.The stories in it include not only her and her husband's experience, but also the characteristics of that era and the shadow of her contemporaries.Especially the ups and downs after returning to the city were emphatically described by Liu Xiaonan, and she couldn't help wiping away tears while reading, as if walking through that difficult mental journey again.

The elder brother in the village glanced at his wife who lost her composure, and whispered to Liu Xiaonan, "What did you write? There are not many things that can make your sister Wang cry."

Being able to be moved by what I have experienced is enough to show that the novel is more than half successful.Liu Xiaonan said: "I am moved by your stories, and hope to infect others."

After Wang Aiqing finished reading the novel, she was silent for a moment and asked Liu Xiaonan, "Have you published novels before?"

Liu Xiaonan said: "My first novel will be published soon, and this is my second novel."

Wang Aiqing sighed: "Sure enough, I didn't misunderstand the person! It's a beautiful thing to fulfill you, let's publish it."

Liu Xiaonan said: "Not using my real name is not enough to express my respect. If you and my eldest brother don't like this, I can make up two other names."

Wang Aiqing handed the novel draft to her husband: "Look at Xiaonan's words and novels, and tell me what you think."

The big brother in the countryside flipped through the novel manuscript and said: "My name is of no importance. No one knows my real name or pseudonym. Wang Aiqing's name should be known to the world."

Wang Aiqing happily said to Liu Xiaonan: "Then use your real name. Master Wang will become famous through your novels, and you may attract countless suitors."

The elder brother in the countryside said to Liu Xiaonan: "You put elder brother in crisis."

Wang Aiqing couldn't be happier, she poured tea for her husband and Liu Xiaonan happily.She said to Liu Xiaonan: "After the novel is published, show it to me as soon as possible, okay?"

Liu Xiaonan said: "Definitely, but I have a small request, don't tell anyone about my novel writing."

Wang Aiqing asked puzzledly: "Why is that? If you give full play to your strengths, you will get the attention of the factory, and it may change your life. It's not something shameful. Is it necessary to keep it secret? "

Liu Xiaonan said: "I have a friend in my teenage years. She said that I can only meet her if I am admitted to university or become a writer. I suspect that she works in a textile factory. She doesn't want to see me, and I have no face." See her, I don't want her to know everything about me."

"Who is she? I have worked in the factory for a long time, maybe I can know her."

"Her name is Gu Yu."

Wang Aiqing pretended to be surprised: "It's her! I don't know her very well, but I know her. I've met her a few times before. She is a warm and easy-going pretty girl who works as a publicity worker in the Youth League Committee of the factory."

Sure enough!Liu Xiaonan suppressed her beating heart, and because she had a premonition, her expression was calm: "Master Wang, please keep it a secret for me. If it is not for this novel to use my real name, it must be approved by Master Wang, and I will not let others know that I am writing a novel."

Wang Aiqing smiled and said: "I understand, this is you young people playing romance."

Liu Xiaonan shook her head lightly: "Master Wang, this is not romance but reality. I am too far away from her due to the disparity in status."

"Maybe, the girl is not what you imagined. After all, you have a deep friendship."

"No matter how deep the friendship was when I was a teenager, I'm afraid it will fade after so many years. To tell the truth, Master Wang, I look forward to meeting her, but I must wait until I have enough qualifications and my shoulders are at the same level."

The rural elder brother who had been listening to their conversation interjected: "Xiaonan, I agree with your idea. The old man often says that the family is right, and there are very few people like your sister Wang. Even so, I still feel a lot of pressure. I owe you all my life It’s not enough to pay back what others have done.”

Wang Aiqing was dissatisfied with her husband's remarks, and encouraged Liu Xiaonan, saying: "Don't listen to your elder brother's dejected words. You are so talented, you will definitely get true love."

The big brother in the countryside advised Liu Xiaonan: "We are all rural people, don't be fooled by the dazzling external appearance. What is true love? Like your sister Wang, true love is true love who lives with you sincerely. Mosquitoes fly around like you. Smelly latrine, she won't dislike you, and she can eat the food brought by the black hands of the rural mother-in-law, that's our family."

Wang Aiqing poked her husband's forehead and said, "It's okay to be unreasonable, but what are you talking about? I'm not afraid of Xiaonan's jokes."

The couple talked very lively, Liu Xiaonan smiled wryly: "Master Wang, brother, you have misunderstood. The purpose of meeting Gu Yu is to end our childhood friendship, and I have no other ideas."

When I came out of Wang Aiqing's house, the bus had stopped running, and the streets were deserted with few pedestrians.The cold wind has weakened, and there seems to be nothing, and the dim street lamps have a little warmth.

Liu Xiaonan thought while walking, what Gu Yu did was correct.Meeting at this time is extremely cruel, it will only make oneself feel ashamed, and the friendship in youth will deteriorate.

On the day when the class was empty, Liu Xiaonan came to the editorial office early to present her second novel to Mr. Zhao Guangzhi.He came at just the right time. The first special issue of his debut in [-] had already been printed and started to be distributed.

There was also a stack on Teacher Zhao Guangzhi's desk, and he picked up one and handed it to Liu Xiaonan to read and enjoy, without gossiping, he immersed himself in reviewing the novel manuscript he just got.

Liu Xiaonan sat opposite Teacher Zhao Guangzhi, her face was hot, her hands were trembling, her eyes were moist, and her heart was beating waves of heat.Several photos of the authors of this issue are published on the second cover. He, Liu Xiaonan, is on the list. He wears people's clothes and cloth shoes, and he feels rustic at first glance.

But what does that matter?
The female college student with a pair of small canine teeth was also among them. It turned out that her name was Yue Xuelian, and she was still cold and arrogant in the photo.

"Teacher" was published on the first page, and Liu Xiaonan couldn't help but feel a little flustered. His eyes stayed on the table of contents for a long time, and he searched down one by one.I found Yue Xuelian's name and looked through her works. It is a lyrical prose written with delicate, fresh and timeless writing style, completely different from her name and image.Interestingly, her inner world is not cold.

Mr. Zhao Guangzhi finished reading Liu Xiaonan's "Wang Aiqing's Love", rubbed his sore eyes, looked at Liu Xiaonan and said: "For the sake of love and not abandoning, it is very touching. The characters are both representative and unique. However, from digging the hearts of characters From the perspective of the depth of the world, compared with your "Teacher", there is not much breakthrough, and you need to work harder on this aspect in the future."

Liu Xiaonan said, "I'll take it back and revise it according to your requirements."

Teacher Zhao Guangzhi smiled and said: "No need, this novel can be published. Your experience is far from enough, your understanding of love is not comprehensive and in place, and the description of love is still very rough, only staying on the surface. Re-edit I am afraid that the more you draw, the more dark it will be, and the effect will not be as good as your first impression. The reason why I put forward higher demands on you is because I have seen the potential in you. Keep working hard, accumulate thick and thin hair, and avoid frivolity and impatience, stamina insufficient."

The editor was very busy in the morning, so Liu Xiaonan left after sitting for a while, took two copies of the special issue of his debut work that Mr. Zhao had given him, and received a manuscript fee of 98 yuan.

Almost a month's salary!Liu Xiaonan stood on the street and looked around in a daze, unable to think of anyone with whom she could share the joy of success, who could soothe her heart disturbed by dreams.

He remembered that he once told Guan Xiaoyun that he would buy new clothes for her when he earned the manuscript fee. Is that still necessary now?
The sky was getting dark, and the cold air was damp, probably a precursor to snow.The sound of horns and the sound of traffic on the street, pedestrians shrank their necks and walked in a hurry.

Liu Xiaonan urgently needed to cool down her surging blood, so she took a bus without thinking.Only when he was in the crowd of people did he feel his real existence.

At the end of the ride was Xinghai Bay, Liu Xiaonan got off the car and went straight to the coast, maybe the sea could understand her heart.

There was no one on the coast, and the thick black clouds were impenetrable, and they were getting lower and lower.Cotton-like snowflakes float down sparsely and lightly from the distant sky, blend into the earth silently, and melt into the embrace of the sea.

As if infected by the snowflakes that fell and melted earlier, more large and flaky snowflakes scrambled to fall down, flying and fluttering all over the sky for a while, and the sky became brighter.

Liu Xiaonan looked up at the sky: countless black spots broke free from the embrace of the dark clouds, and quickly became larger and whiter like an elf, as if someone had shaken down a pear tree in the sky.

Snowflakes fell on the hair, stuck to the eyebrows, melted on the cheeks, and got into the neck. Liu Xiaonan was intoxicated in the white and flawless world, and his restless heart gradually calmed down.

The snow is getting bigger and bigger, and the coast is covered with a layer of soft white goose down; through the continuous snow curtain, the sea surface is blurred and dark, but the coastline is clear and picturesque, black and white.The waves beat against the shore feebly, and the whimpering waves sounded like weeping.
Is the wave obsessed with the shore, or is the shore vainly embracing the wave?They have been kissing and hugging endlessly for thousands of years, but they belong to two different worlds. They will never blend together and never be at peace. Liu Xiaonan's mind suddenly popped up a few lines of poetry:
Silently waiting for nine hundred and ninety-nine years
I just saw you Shanshan
the clouds

It's the faint thoughts that are drifting away

(End of this chapter)