Chapter 2793
He still didn't come.
Chapter 2793 He still didn't come.
Swoosh
pop
Fireworks went off, and a golden chrysanthemum burst into the sky.
Then the entire sky above Beijing became a stage for dazzling fireworks.
"These fireworks look so festive!"
Inside the courtyard, Old Ye stood to the side watching the children light the fireworks one by one, which then flew into the sky and exploded, his face beaming with joy.
Yang Xiaotao held Dudu in his arms. The little guy was actually afraid of firecrackers, which was unlike anyone else in the Yang family.
Ran Qiuye and Cui Ping stood together to the side, and laughter could be heard from time to time.
Before long, the three aunties from the front yard also came over with their group, making the whole yard very lively in front of the gate.
Miao Miao led a group of girls chasing after the boys in the yard, occasionally shouting "Stop!" The boys in front ran even more happily!
"Yes, fireworks every year, year after year!"
Yang Xiaotao responded with a smile, gazing at the brilliant night sky, and casually remarked, "It gets better every year!"
Old Master Ye nodded, then looked at the old Taoist priest and the old man beside him, walked up to them with his hands behind his back, and greeted them with a smile.
Yang Xiaotao glanced at the three of them, and thinking of the stubborn old man who had returned to Shanghai with a helpless expression, he decided it would be best to make a phone call to say hello tomorrow.
Otherwise, this old man won't have a smooth New Year.
Go find your brother and play!
After the fireworks ended, Yang Xiaotao put Dudu on the ground, and the little guy ran into the line, only to be met with a burst of laughter.
A group of children ran off into the distance. Yang Xiaotao stood with his hands behind his back, watching the fireworks that occasionally rose into the sky, then smiled to himself.
Another year has passed!
Back home, it was still early, so the old man and the old Taoist priest set up a chessboard and started playing chess again.
Mr. Ye was checking on the children's studies from the side.
Since Ran Hongbing's other side was discovered, Ye Lao's educational spirit has also soared. In his view, no child is destined to fail; the reason they haven't grown up is because they haven't found the right direction.
Here, Ran Hongbing, who was originally a negative example, has now made a brilliant transformation and become a positive example.
Ran Qiuye also began to reflect on her parenting style, wondering if she should try a more relaxed approach.
Yang Xiaotao immediately opposed Ran Qiuye's idea.
Of all the kids in the family, only Miaomiao is easy to manage; the others are all incredibly unruly. If we let them roam free today, who knows what they'll be like next year?
Yang Xiaotao tried to persuade him, and even brought up Ran Hongbing's example, saying that Ran Hongbing's success today was all thanks to her, the eldest sister. Without the foundation laid by her, Ran Hongbing would not be where he is today.
Ran Qiuye nodded happily, and the matter was considered closed.
The adults went home, but the children were still playing outside. Even the cold weather couldn't dampen their enthusiasm for playing.
Back in his room, Yang Xiaotao planned to go to his study to calm down and continue reading.
I had read books on artillery reconnaissance radar before, but I only read them superficially and didn't really understand many things.
But when I looked at it again this time, I found that many parts had been integrated and even the overall thinking had become clear.
After thinking for a long time, Yang Xiaotao finally figured it out.
This is because the previously used pager technology played a role in the detection, transmission, processing, and calculation of artillery reconnaissance radar.
Furthermore, the improvement in engineers' capabilities has significantly reduced the difficulty of manufacturing.
The combination of these two approaches allowed Yang Xiaotao to truly master the artillery reconnaissance radar.
What Yang Xiaotao needs to do now is to thoroughly understand this part of the technical knowledge and then create an artillery reconnaissance radar that meets current needs.
In this way, we can contribute to the construction of the revolution and provide new tools.
You can also earn some academic credits.
If all goes well, the computer's functions can also be activated.
This achieves multiple goals at once.
With that in mind, Yang Xiaotao naturally wanted to seize the time and make the most of every second.
Just as Yang Xiaotao was about to go to the study, Ran Qiuye called out to him.
Yang Xiaotao turned around. "What's wrong?"
Ran Qiuye nodded. "There's something I want to tell you!"
Yang Xiaotao walked to the side and sat down, while Ran Qiuye sat on the other side. The two of them were patting each other by the stove.
"The third auntie just came over and told me something."
Ran Qiuye spoke softly, her voice not loud, but in the quiet room, the others could hear her clearly.
"What did she say?"
Yang Xiaotao asked, and Ran Qiuye immediately replied, "This morning, Qin Huairu came to the alley and said that an old lady had passed away, and she came to deliver the news!"
"An older woman?"
"give obituary notice?"
"How did it disappear?"
Yang Xiaotao raised his eyelids, quite surprised.
He forgot the exact time when the old lady in the movie or TV series died, but it certainly wasn't now.
In other words, you changed someone else's fate?
"What Qin Huairu said today probably means it was gone yesterday."
"My aunt knows you don't like these things, so she told me about it."
"They didn't say exactly how he died, they just said he passed away and came to announce the death."
At this point, Ran Qiuye looked at Yang Xiaotao again, "Third Auntie came over and said it was also Uncle Yan's idea."
"He said that when his father-in-law passed away, everyone in the courtyard gave a monetary gift! If you don't remember, you can check the records!"
“It would be impolite not to tell us about this! We were also afraid you would be unhappy, so we asked Auntie to come and tell you.”
Everyone in the courtyard knew that the Yang family and Yi Zhonghai were at odds. Over the years, some people had disappeared from the courtyard, but when they talked about family matters, they still talked about those things back then with great relish.
Of course, what has been passed down from generation to generation is the entanglement between the Yang family and Yi Zhonghai, and Sha Zhu, as well as their complete estrangement from the Jia family.
I'm saying all this partly to pass the time and add some variety to my monotonous life.
Secondly, it serves as a warning to future generations not to repeat the same mistakes, not to be arrogant, and to understand the principle of not looking down on the poor when they are young.
Thirdly, never get close to certain people, no matter how beautiful they are!
Hearing Ran Qiuye say this, Yang Xiaotao's expression softened, and then he sneered, "They did take the money, but they ate just as much."
"How dare you say that!"
Ran Qiuye nodded. Yang Xiaotao always made the decisions about important matters at home, but he rarely got involved in other matters.
But this matter, though not a big deal, is still significant because death is a serious matter, and it's not insignificant either.
Just as Ran Qiuye was about to speak, the old man sighed and then looked at Yang Xiaotao.
"Good news won't come unless invited, but funerals will arrive uninvited!"
"When your father passed away, people came to see his character, and also for his sake."
"No matter what, you have to cover for your father!"
After the old man finished speaking, the old Taoist priest nodded.
"This matter could be a big deal or a small deal!"
"Although we are now in a new era of revolution, the ethics and morality passed down from ancient times cannot simply disappear."
"Some things, if you do them, no one will say anything, but if you don't do them, people will keep an eye on them."
After the old Taoist finished speaking, he continued playing chess with his grandfather. Yang Xiaotao sat in his chair and pondered for a moment before asking, "How much money did they give?"
"piece!"
Ran Qiuye spoke up, and then Yang Xiaotao said, "The person won't go; let Yan Fugui take them!"
"Whatever he gives, we'll pay back!"
That's settled then!
After saying that, Yang Xiaotao got up and walked towards the study.
He didn't want to talk about those years anymore.
He can't repay evil with kindness.
Yang Xiaotao went into the study, while the old man and the Taoist priest continued playing chess. Ran Qiuye took a dollar and went to the front yard.
……
East of the city.
The night was deep, and the occasional sound of firecrackers made the alley seem even more secluded.
Qin Huairu dragged her heavy steps into the room.
Behind her, Qin Jingru returned to her residence with a similarly mournful face.
After the two moved here, they accepted the arrangements made by the neighborhood office along with the other residents of the compound.
I usually work in street appearance and sanitation, which doesn't pay much, but it's enough to meet my daily needs.
Of course, it's nothing like the old days.
Even in this freezing weather, they still have to go out to shovel snow and clear ice, leaving early and returning late every day, exhausted beyond recognition.
The two of them have worked here for over a year, and their expressions are no longer what they used to be.
His body was hunched over, his skin was rough, and his face had lost its oily sheen.
My once smooth hands have been damaged and developed cuts; it hurts whenever I touch them while washing clothes.
To be honest, life now is no better than it was in the countryside.
At the very least, in the countryside, on such a cold day, the whole family would huddle together on the kang (heated brick bed), and no one would come out to work!
Despite this lifestyle, the two never intended to return to the village.
I will always stay in the city.
Back home, Qin Huairu saw Xiao Dang and Huaihua huddled together on the kang (heated brick bed) and couldn't help but sigh. "Mom, I'm hungry!"
When Huaihua saw her mother return, she rushed over and hugged her leg.
"My sister said we're almost out of flour at home and won't let me eat!"
Huaihua immediately began to complain, "But she ate two cornbread buns herself!"
Xiao Dang glanced at Huaihua and said, "You're small, so you have to eat less!"
"You're talking nonsense, you're just bullying me!"
"Alright, you two stop arguing, Mom's going to cook!"
Qin Huairu had no interest in the two sisters and went to the stove to prepare a meal.
She has now realized that these two children of the Jia family have fully inherited the family's meanness, and each of them only cares about themselves.
Now, one can see the shadow of Jia Zhangshi in Xiao Dang.
I felt a growing unease. What if these two grow up and don't take care of me in my old age?
She looked up at the two sisters, forcibly suppressing her unease, and then heard footsteps coming from the doorway.
"sister!"
Qin Jingru's voice came through, and Qin Huairu hummed in response without looking up.
"Sis, are you going to see Sha Zhu tomorrow?"
Qin Huairu nodded, "Yes, I asked the captain for a day off. I need to tell him about the old lady's matter this morning! I also have to be busy with the funeral this afternoon."
"An old man has no children, and Huaihua is his goddaughter. We have to go and help him!"
Qin Jingru nodded, "I made a pair of gloves for Da Mao, could you take them to him for me?"
As she spoke, she placed a knitted glove on the table. Qin Huairu glanced at it and frowned.
If this is taken, and Xu Damao has it but Shazhu doesn't, what will Shazhu think?
Moreover, given Xu Damao's personality, he would definitely show off to Sha Zhu, and in the end, she would be blamed for it.
In the end, you're caught in the middle, pleasing neither side, and you're the one who gets hurt.
"Sis, could you ask Da Mao again? When is he coming out?"
“It’s been 71 years already. Last time he said he would reduce my sentence if I behaved well, but he didn’t say how much!”
"I...I can't hold on any longer!"
By the end, Qin Jingru's voice was trembling with emotion, and she was even crying.
Upon hearing this, Qin Huairu felt a pang of sadness.
She was waiting for Xu Damao, but wasn't she also waiting for Shazhu?
Now, their only support is their respective men.
Unfortunately, they are all trapped inside and can't get out!
The two sisters are in the same boat when it comes to this matter!
Thinking this, Qin Huairu nodded, "I'll go early tomorrow morning and ask for you!"
"it is good!"
Qin Jingru walked to the side, picked up the locust flowers, and then asked, "How is the courtyard house?"
"Who did you see when you went back?"
Qin Huairu's expression changed again upon hearing this, and then she sighed, "They didn't even get through the main gate!"
She didn't say that the people at the entrance wouldn't let her in, but only that she could talk in the alley.
It wouldn't be good for the child to hear it if I said it out loud.
"I ran into the three older women at the door and talked to them about it."
"Oh!"
Qin Jingru looked up at the back window with disappointment, as if she wanted to see the courtyard house.
Will they go?
"Who knows!"
The two fell silent again, but at the same time, the leisurely and fulfilling days they spent in the courtyard house came to mind.
The people in the courtyard appeared in my mind like characters from a movie, and then familiar yet unfamiliar figures surfaced in my heart.
In an instant, Qin Huairu felt her eyes fill with tears.
If he could come, she would definitely let go of all her insistence, give up everything, and beg for his forgiveness.
But will he go?
Nothing happened that night. The next day, Qin Huairu took the two sisters, Xiaodang and Xiaodang, out early in the morning.
Meanwhile, Qin Jingru also shrank back and went to the neighborhood office to report.
The surrounding area was open and spacious, with a high wall separating it from the outside world.
After submitting the visitation documents and taking out the certificate from the neighborhood office, the three of them waited at the gate for half an hour before finally going inside.
Upon arriving at the visiting area, after waiting for a while, we saw Sha Zhu walk out from the side with his hands in his pockets.
"Pillar!"
"Silly Dad!"
The three of them stood up and were very excited to see Sha Zhu.
Sha Zhu was also delighted to see the three of them. "Oh my, my daughter's here too! What a beautiful day!"
While inside, Sha Zhu wasn't entirely unaware of what was happening outside.
At least we know that Qin Huairu and Qin Jingru left the courtyard house, and we also know that the old man went to live in the countryside.
Previously, only Qin Huairu had come; this was the first time these two daughters had met.
However, Sha Zhu did not resent his two daughters. They were here to learn, and over time they would realize the awful things they had done.
They also know that their current status will only jeopardize their future.
It's better to have fewer entanglements.
Sitting on the stool, Sha Zhu looked through the glass at the person in his heart, and suddenly felt a lump in his throat.
"Huai Ru! You've gone through so much!"
Sha Zhu felt heartbroken seeing Qin Huairu like this.
The two had been husband and wife in name and in reality, but their only regret was that they had no children.
As for his memories of his time in the countryside, the more beautiful they were, the more painful it was to learn the truth.
"It's alright, at least I have a job and can earn money, so the kids won't go hungry..."
Qin Huairu forced a smile, but as she spoke, tears began to fall in a steady stream.
Little Dang, standing to the side, kept shouting, "Silly Dad, when are you coming home?" which made Sha Zhu feel heartbroken.
"Come on, come on!"
"Silly Dad serves everyone well, has a good attitude and good skills, and gets his sentence reduced quickly!"
Sha Zhu said confidently, "That's right."
Currently, the best performer here besides him is Xu Damao.
The two had been fighting in the courtyard for years, and now they've become brothers in misfortune!
Qin Huairu wiped away her tears and nodded, then asked about the sentence reduction.
Sha Zhu scratched his head, still without any definite answer.
However, Xu Damao's project was originally scheduled to end in 1976, but he'll finish it a little earlier, around 1975.
But a reduced sentence requires good behavior. He may think he has done a good job, but others may not think so!
But it's only been five years; just hang in there and it'll be over.
Sha Zhu couldn't explain, so Qin Huairu gave him the gloves that Qin Jingru had asked her to bring, asking him to pass them on to Xu Damao.
As for Xu Damao's situation, it's probably similar to Sha Zhu's—unpredictable.
Time was limited, so Qin Huairu briefly explained her purpose for coming.
Upon hearing that the old lady had passed away, Sha Zhu stumbled and almost fell off his seat.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
“An elderly man and an elderly woman, I promised to take care of them when they pass away.”
But now…
Sha Zhu put his hands behind his head and pressed them against the glass...
After a long while, he took out his savings from this period of time from his pocket and gave them all to Qin Huairu.
"Tell the old man that I'll take care of the old woman when she passes away after I get out!"
Qin Huairu clutched a handful of money, and immediately counted it after leaving the gate: fifty-two yuan and fifty cents.
Take out ten yuan, and put the rest in your pocket.
After explaining things to his two daughters, Xiao Dang and Huaihua naturally knew what to say.
After taking a bus and walking for a while, we finally arrived at Caojiagou.
Before they even reached the village, they saw Yan Fugui riding his bicycle into the village.
Qin Huairu hurriedly stepped forward to greet him, "Uncle Yan, what brings you here...?"
Yan Fugui glanced at Qin Huairu, then smiled and said, "I'm here on behalf of the courtyard to see off this old lady."
"Just you alone?"
Yan Fugui smiled as he listened, but he knew Qin Huairu's plan all too well, so he nodded and said, "Yes, everyone's busy!"
Saying that, he walked forward!
Qin Huairu suddenly felt a strange sense of loss.
In the end, he and I will never see each other again!