Back to 80: My literary life

Chapter 15 It's New Year's Eve

"Really?" Fang Minghua chuckled: "Then you tell your cousin my true situation."

"I don't want to let her guess."

The two were chatting when the dance music started playing again. A handsome young man came over and made a gesture of invitation to Song Tangtang: "Tangtang, let me invite you to dance."

The girl hesitated, but stood up.

Perhaps it was because Song Tangtang danced very well and was always invited, one song after another, but Fang Minghua never invited anyone again and just sat on the sofa and drank tea leisurely.

The dance ended at around ten o'clock, and everyone dispersed. Several young men drove away with the girl on their motorcycles, and Fang Minghua got into Zhao Hongjun's car again.

"Hey, Minghua, why don't you jump in the back?" Zhao Hongjun asked while driving.

"Dancing is just like that. I think drinking tea is good. Red Army, does your dad have any good tea? Get me some." Fang Minghua joked.

"I don't dare to take anything else, but tea. OK, I'll get you some next time. When did you learn to drink tea? I remember you didn't drink tea when you cut in line?"

"Everyone likes to drink tea at the magazine."

"That's right. As a writer, you never leave your hand with a cigarette and never leave your mouth with tea. But why don't you, kid, smoke? A cigarette after a meal is better than a living god."

"A cup of tea after a meal, I am the god's eldest father"

Zhao Hongjun laughed after hearing this.

The two chatted and laughed, and Zhao Hongjun sent him to the door of the magazine's family courtyard.

"Minghua, let's play again next time." Zhao Hongjun stuck his head out and said.

"Forget it, you are all the children of high-ranking cadres. I am going to join in the fun." Fang Minghua said.

"Look what you said, there are no disciples. You showed your hand today to shock them. Next time, continue and play other new tricks."

Let’s talk about it then. Please be careful when driving. "After saying that, Fang Minghua waved and entered the family courtyard.

With the sound of firecrackers a year old, the spring breeze sent warmth to Tusu.

Thousands of families always exchange new peaches for old ones.

The Spring Festival of 1981 has arrived.

At the beginning of New Year's Eve, the whole family gets busy, putting up Spring Festival couplets, window grilles, setting off firecrackers, and having New Year's Eve dinner in the evening.

Mom steamed the steamed buns, and also made the famous "Guanzhong Steamed Four Bowls" - millet rice, short crispy pork, braised pork with pickled vegetables, and steamed pork with rice flour.

This stuff is a rarity for ordinary people these days. Just like Fang Minghua's family, whose conditions have been relatively good in the past two years, they can only eat it during the Chinese New Year.

After the New Year's Eve dinner, there is no Spring Festival Gala these days - even if there is a Spring Festival Gala, there is no TV to watch. Fang Minghua and his sister set off a burst of firecrackers in the yard, and then the whole family gathered around the coal stove to play poker - digging holes, but these days it is called " "Gui San", we played until 12 o'clock before we went to bed.

Early in the morning on New Year's Day, after eating steamed buns and fermented glutinous rice, the whole family happily went shopping in new clothes, including East Street and Luoma Market.
  The next day, the second day of the Lunar New Year, my sister Fang Mingmei and her brother-in-law came back with their nephew, and the whole family was even more lively.

"Uncle, let me wish you a happy New Year!" The little nephew's name is Chen Yong. He is three years old this year and has a tiger-like head. He kowtows immediately when he sees Fang Minghua.

I want lucky money.

Fang Minghua was also generous and immediately took out a two-dollar "big bill" from his wallet and handed it to him. “Here you go, go buy some candy.”

But my sister saw it and quickly stopped her: "Minghua, how can you give so much? Just give me a dime."

"It doesn't matter. This is the first year I've given Xiaoyong lucky money, so I should." Fang Minghua said with a smile.

The younger sister Fang Mingli next to her interjected: "Sister, you don't know, my brother is now a writer and has earned several hundred yuan in royalties."

"Really?" My sister was surprised and happy after hearing this.

Fang Mingli told her what had happened recently, and her sister repeatedly praised Fang Minghua for being progressive and promising.

My mother, Zhang Fenglan, was busy rolling out the noodles, cursing her son inwardly for being too generous and a waste of money.

But I'm also very happy. If you don't have money, you won't lose anything if you want to lose your fortune.

I was most worried that my son, who had seemed the least promising at first, turned out to be a writer. It was like smoke was rising from his ancestral grave!
  I have to burn more paper when I go back to my hometown tomorrow.
  The whole family had a lively lunch and prepared to go out together, but Fang Minghua couldn't do it. Now he has to go to the work to see the gate until Zhang Baofu comes to change his shift tomorrow morning, and his sister will have to deliver dinner.

During the Chinese New Year, there was almost no one in the magazine office, and the door was closed. Fang Minghua sat alone in the guard room, heating up the coal stove, drinking the cheapest labor insurance tea, and first did the homework assigned by the correspondence class teacher. In the afternoon After eating, just do your own thing.

Normally I read a book, but today I have to reply to a letter from the girl named Li Li.

Before coming over, he received another reply from the girl.

The girl said that her family conditions are relatively good and she has been living in Xijing. She has hardly suffered any hardships since she was a child. Therefore, her parents often use the hardships of their generation to teach her that she should dare to endure hardships, be willing to endure hardships, be good at enduring hardships, and never forget to endure hardships. .
  Isn’t that what books and newspapers advocate?
  Hey, it seems that the other party is a very simple girl.

After thinking about it, Fang Minghua wrote this on the letter paper: "Although your parents say so, they are worried that you will be at a loss when you encounter difficulties and setbacks, or even be helpless. In fact, which parent doesn't want their children to be safe and happy for the rest of their lives?"

"I guess you think so too?"

Ha, I have become a close sister.

Fang Minghua couldn't help but shake his head.

After writing a brief letter, Fang Minghua had just put it in the envelope and sent it out tomorrow at the new address written on it, when he suddenly saw someone knocking on the iron door.

He hurriedly put the envelope into the drawer and walked out the door. It was Zhao Hongjun, carrying a yellow satchel, but he did not drive the Hongqi today.

"Happy New Year!" Fang Minghua greeted with a smile and opened the door to let him in.

"Red Army, if you are not celebrating the New Year at home, why are you coming to my place?" Fang Minghua asked as the two entered the guard room.

Zhao Hongjun did not answer, but took out an exquisite tea can from his yellow satchel.

"This is Longjing. Someone gave it to my father."

"Thank you." Fang Minghua was overjoyed.

"And this!" Zhao Hongjun took out another bottle of wine from his bag and put it on the table. Fang Minghua took a look.

Damn it, it’s Maotai!

(End of this chapter)