Chapter 65
"Be well, don't worry, wait for the news."
There were only six words on Zhai Hongyi's telegram. Tang Qingqing and Wang Heizi stared at these six words for a long time before looking away. They almost saw through the small piece of paper.
Wang Heizi grinned, feeling extremely relieved:
"I knew Brother Yi would be fine! He certainly wouldn't forget us. What do you mean by 'waiting for a letter'? Are you waiting for a letter, or for his letter?"
Tang Qingqing thought for a moment: "According to Brother Yi's personality, he sent a telegram just to report that he is safe. There should be more specific letters later."
"Really?" Wang Heizi smiled even more. "In fact, it's good enough for us to know that he is safe."
Tang Qingqing glanced at him: "When did you become so hypocritical?"
If Zhai Hongyi really just reported that he was safe and then disappeared without a trace, and they could only communicate unilaterally, Wang Heizi would definitely start cursing again.
"I have grown up and become sensible!"
Tang Qingqing didn't comment. She felt relieved knowing that Zhai Hongyi was safe. Otherwise, she would have spent this year in insecurity.
After Tang Qingqing returned to school and attended classes for a few days, she received a letter and a package from Zhai Hongyi.
The package contained study materials from junior high school to high school, as well as a large jar of candy, which appeared to have been brought back from abroad. It was specifically for Tang Qingqing.
Although Tang Qingqing's health has recovered and she is not as weak as before, she will still suffer from hypoglycemia if she is not careful.
Especially when tracking, it is easy to get sick because of excessive concentration and neglecting sleep and eating.
Tang Qingqing developed the habit of eating sweets at any time, and always had candies hidden in her pocket.
Most of the money she earned was spent on food, with candy being a major expense.
In order to avoid tooth decay, you have to brush your teeth frequently to keep them clean, and toothpaste and toothbrushes are also a considerable expense.
The main problem is that there are no tickets, and you have to pay extra to buy them on the black market.
This amount of candy will last Tang Qingqing a long time.
In addition to candy, Zhai Hongyi also sent Tang Qingqing a pair of leather gloves and a leather hat with velvet inside, which was particularly warm to wear.
Tracking outside in the middle of winter often made Tang Qingqing's head ache and her fingers red and swollen from the cold. This gift really touched her heart.
Wang Heizi’s gift was not light either, it was a military coat that was 80% to 90% new!
Although it was not new, a country boy would not care about that. It was good to have something to wear! Not to mention that this military coat looked like a new one.
"Brother Yi told me before that he would give me his old military coat that was too short for his clothes when he returned! Hahahaha, he really didn't forget!"
Wang Heizi took off his jacket and put on a military coat, posing in various ways, only regretting that there was no mirror beside him.
Along with the package came a letter addressed to Wang Heizi and Tang Qingqing.
There was only one piece of letter paper, and it was not filled up.
When Wang Heizi saw it, he couldn't help but complain: "Brother Yi is really something. He only wrote so few words in the letter to the two of us."
"His right hand was also injured at the time, so it was probably difficult for him to write."
Looking closely at the handwriting, it is obviously more sloppy than usual.
Wang Heizi couldn't help but worry: "It's been so long, my injuries are basically healed, is he still not healed?"
"It takes a hundred days to heal a broken bone, how can it heal so quickly? Your injury hasn't healed yet, so you should take care of yourself."
Wang Heizi stared at the letter, pretending not to hear it.
Zhai Hongyi briefly introduced his current condition. He has now been transported back to the capital for treatment and has been discharged from the hospital.
Although he woke up at first, he was groggy and slept most of the time, so he didn't think of reporting his safety to them.
Later, the situation improved, but the elderly people in the family were worried about him going out, so they kept him at home, and this situation has been dragging on until now.
Wang Heizi saw this and couldn't help but ask, "Can't he just ask his family to send us a telegram?"
But I just said it casually and didn't really pursue it.
Tang Qingqing continued to read. Zhai Hongyi said that he had recovered now and urged them to study hard and that they would have a chance to meet again in the future.
At the end of the letter, there was an address for them to send their letters to. If they did not receive a reply for a long time, they could send a telegram to another address and person.
Not only that, but a phone number was also included.
There wasn't much content in the letter, and it took only a short while to scan it.
Wang Heizi fiddled with the letter paper for a long time unwillingly, but found that there were only a few words on it, and he couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.
"Brother Yi, why didn't you mention Wen Xuelan? This woman is so scheming!"
Tang Qingqing was not surprised: "You know what kind of temper he has, why would he waste words and ink talking about these things."
"Brother Yi said we can meet again in the future. Do you think he was just being polite or was he serious?"
The capital city is tens of thousands of miles away from them. It is not easy to meet each other, let alone get along with each other as before.
"If we can get into a university in the capital, then it will be real."
Wang Heizi took a deep breath and said, "Sister Qing, you are my biological sister. You may be able to pass the exam, but there is no way I can pass it."
Wang Heizi is not stupid and learns things very quickly.
But he is not interested in this, and he is not a natural academic master. Although he can keep up now and has good grades, he also knows that he will not be able to get into university with his ability.
The competition for the college entrance examination last year was so fierce that there were only a few people who passed the exam in the entire commune, and many of them were educated youth who had been sent to work in the countryside.
Tang Qingqing knew his temper and also knew that some things could not be forced.
When Zhai Hongyi taught him his lessons, Wang Heizi could still listen to some of it, but when he went to school, he became more relaxed. Although he could still keep up, his heart was not in learning. His state of mind was different.
If you want to pass the college entrance examination these days, it is difficult to achieve without putting in 100% of your energy.
Tang Qingqing reduced the number of days she took leave and tried to schedule her field work on weekends or holidays, concentrating on being a student on weekdays.
Even if it is knowledge that you have already learned, you will not be complacent and then stop learning.
Once you learn something, you must understand it thoroughly so that you can apply it to other situations.
As for Wang Heizi, there are many paths he can take in the future and he doesn't have to stick to one path.
But I can't say such things now. It's difficult to explain, and it will make Wang Heizi give up studying now.
"It's always a good idea to learn first. Look, Teacher Zhang has always persisted in learning, and now it has finally paid off."
Zhang Yabin's admission to university meant that his future destiny was completely changed, and he would take a completely different path from other educated youth.
Wang Heizi was confused: "I know, I know. I don't know why you like going to school so much."
After receiving Zhai Hongyi's letter, the two immediately started writing replies.
Tang Qingqing's reply was not long either, but she still said more than Zhai Hongyi.
It mainly wrote about recent events and the changes in everyone after he left, expressing concern for Zhai Hongyi.
Wang Heizi wrote a lot of things in a very proud manner, a thick stack of papers, each sheet was filled with words, and no one knew where all these words came from.
I don’t know how to write some characters, so I have to use pinyin.
Normally, if you ask him to write an essay of 200 to 300 words, he would cry and beg for mercy, but when he writes a letter, he is like a great writer.
Wang Heizi also said confidently: "You all wrote so little that you have no way of understanding each other's situation. You will run out of things to talk about in the future. Just like me, even if Brother Yi is not around, reading my letter is like going through these things."
Tang Qingqing thought this made sense, "I'll write more next time."
Wang Heizi was very satisfied with Tang Qingqing's knowledge, "Brother Yi is not convenient to tell us too much about his family, but we don't have this taboo, so write more to make him happy."
"I think that since Brother Yi doesn't like to go home, he must be unhappy at home. Let's talk more about this, so that he can feel like he is living here with us, and he will feel better."
Inspired by what he said, Tang Qingqing wrote another letter, this time with much richer content.
Although he was not as meticulous as Wang Heizi, Zhai Hongyi could still feel what they were going through every day.
But when sending the letter, Wang Heizi felt a little worried again.
"Brother Yi sent us so many good things, but we don't have anything to give."
If the weather is warmer, we can still find some wild goods from the mountains, but now is the most barren time, there is nothing.
As for buying things from the supply and marketing cooperatives and sending them over, forget it. There is no shortage of those things in Beijing, and the postage would be a waste.
"Let's make a note of it this time. If we have the chance to come across something suitable in the future, it won't be too late to send it to her. We know each other so well, there's no need to give gifts just for the sake of giving gifts."
Wang Heizi also agreed with this statement and stopped arguing about it.
When Tang Qingqing returned to school, she was pulled over by her deskmate.
"Qingqing, have you heard the news?"
"What's the news?"
"Oh, you don't know yet! The two-year junior high school system has been changed to a three-year system! We have to study for one more year!"
My deskmate Zhou Xiaoling was in tears and could not accept this reality.
Tang Qingqing was stunned. "Ah? Is it going to be changed this year? What about high school?"
"Yes, the changes have been made this year. High school will still be two years."
Tang Qingqing learned from the book that junior high school would be three years, high school would be three years, and elementary school would also be changed to a six-year system, so she was able to digest the news that she would have to study for one more year.
"It's actually quite good. I can learn a little more by studying for one more year."
Zhou Xiaoling cried and said, "But my family may not support me anymore. They were not happy about me going to junior high school. They wanted me to stay at home to help take care of my newborn niece. I cried and made a fuss to go."
Tang Qingqing didn't expect that this was the situation in Zhou Xiaoling's family. Zhou Xiaoling was smiling every day and looked like a carefree child.
Moreover, Zhou Xiaoling's parents are both full-time workers, and her eldest brother also works outside, so she thought the situation in his family was better.
“你成績不錯，要是能一直保持，不說大學，中專肯定沒問題。到時候畢業出來就能包分配，未來就不一樣了。”
周小玲嘆氣：“我之前都不敢想還能讀高中，現在更不敢想。我原本是打算混個初中畢業證，以後找個臨時工也容易些。”
現在的中專是大中專，需要經過高考才能考得上。
唐青青也不知道怎麽安慰她，她原本以為鄉下女孩子比較艱難，沒想到城裏雙職工家庭的女孩也不容易。
“你跟家裏好好商量，應該可以堅持到初中畢業吧？”唐青青不确定道。
周小玲此刻整個人都是灰敗的，“我這學期報名，我家裏都是拖拖拉拉才給的錢。現在多上一年……”
周小玲已經不敢想父母知道這件事後，會是什麽樣的表情，她嫂子肯定更看她不順眼了。
“你跟你媽媽商量，要是能初中畢業，以後更好找工作，到時候工作賺到錢再更好的去孝敬他們也不行嗎？”
“我媽只會說女人重要的是嫁個好男人，現在回家做家務，練習怎麽照顧侄子，學着把家裏活兒幹得好就能嫁得好。”
唐青青真的不知道再說些什麽了。
周小玲很快抹掉了眼淚，真心實意道：
“青青，我特羨慕你。你這麽有本事，能掌控自己的命運了。我什麽都不會做，只能依附家裏人，沒法為自己争取什麽。”
“你也可以的。”
周小玲只是笑笑沒說話。
“我是說真的，以後的路會越來越多的，只要肯吃苦願意動腦筋，就能過上好日子。等到你擁有一定的經濟實力，就可以繼續讀書了。”
離開校園并不意味着不能繼續再學習，除了自學，以後還會有夜校、自考等途徑。
哪怕暫時跌入泥潭，或者是走向自己不願意踏上的道路，依然有機會改變自己的命運。
不過此時的周小玲還不知道未來有多大的改變，也就難以釋懷。
初中兩年制改為三年制，有人歡喜有人愁。
可不管大家是什麽态度，政策下來之後就沒辦法再改變。
而讓唐青青沒有想到的是，沒過多長時間，周小玲就離開了學校，沒法繼續學業了。
周小玲來學校的那天，哭得特別地凄慘，完全找不到從前開心果一般的模樣。
唐青青慌了，她雖然早有預料，可這天來臨還是難以接受，尤其還來得那麽快。
“讀完這學期也不可以嗎？都交了學費了啊。”
周小玲眼淚跟一粒粒珍珠一樣砸了下來，聲音都是沙啞的。
“他們說讀不讀的都那樣，女孩子讀書也沒啥用，能認識字會算數就行。”
周小玲的學習成績好，而且家裏也不是那種貧困戶，老師也上門去勸說了，可她的家人就是不同意。
周小玲的大哥現在生了三個孩子，一個才剛兩歲多，另外兩個是雙胞胎，現在才三個月。
二嫂現在也懷孕了，再過半年多就要生了。
才剛三個多月，肚子就已經跟別人五個多月差不多了，搞不好又會是一對雙胞胎。
周家勝産雙胞胎，大哥二哥就是雙胞胎，周小玲的大伯和自己爸爸也是雙胞胎，因此這種可能性非常地大。
現在讓周小玲辍學，就是為了讓她回去照顧侄子侄女們。
周小玲的大嫂一個人照顧不來三個孩子，周小玲的媽媽又要上班，抽不開身。
“我媽說，回頭她會把她的工作給我，當做是補償。”
周小玲說這話的時候，表情很平靜，完全沒有其他人能得到一份正式工時激動的模樣。
她自己也不相信她媽會把工作給她。
為了這個工作，大嫂和二嫂沒少互相使絆子，她們都只是臨時工，為了生孩子大嫂連臨時工也丢了。
誰不眼饞有個正式編制的工作？因此互不相讓。
周小玲現在這麽說，不過是讓自己好受一些罷了。
“我，我，我借錢給你讀不行嗎？！”
周小玲原本苦澀的面容，露出了笑意。
唐青青越想越覺得有門，她的錢雖然不多，但是她可以先跟翟弘毅借錢。
翟弘毅離開得匆忙，他的東西都還留在榕山大隊，包括他之前賺到的錢。
大部分都存了銀行，還有三百多塊錢在手頭上。
唐青青沒有打開存折，但是光看手頭上都有三百多塊錢，她就能知道翟弘毅賺了不少錢。
王黑子現在時不時在她面前嘚瑟，他現在比大隊所有人都富。
唐青青雖然難以置信，可想到書裏說，開放以後，有人賣襪子賣瓜子，都能發達暴富。
有的小生意不起眼，卻能賺得盆滿缽滿。
兩人折騰了兩年多，能賺到這麽多似乎也不稀奇。
現在這些錢翟弘毅讓她先收着，不需要寄給他。
“對，我可以借給你錢，你也不用急着還我，等以後工作了賺錢了再說。”
唐青青跟周小玲的關系非常好，她只要請假，周小玲就會幫她把筆記抄好。
由于唐青青住校，學校食堂的東西不好吃不說，還不夠營養。
唐青青就委托周小玲幫她每天買一個煮雞蛋，周小玲不僅幫忙，每次帶過來還熱騰騰的。
唐青青不想自己的好朋友就這麽失去讀書的機會，她比誰都明白周小玲有多刻苦，多喜歡上學。
“青青，謝謝你。”周小玲眼睛更紅了，“可我爸媽不會同意的。”
“我去找他們說。”
周小玲搖搖頭，“你別費心了，老師也提過學校可以免我的學費，他們都沒同意。”
周小玲媽媽去上班沒法幫忙帶孫子，周小玲的大嫂非常不高興，覺得這個婆婆這個奶奶做得不稱職。
有哪個婆婆不搭把手的？她生的還是兒子，三個大胖小子，婆家一點力也不出，這也太說不過去了。
婆媳關系本就不怎麽好，現在更是雪上加霜。
周小玲媽媽舍不得放棄自己的工作，于是就把主意打到周小玲的頭上。
歸根結底，就是認為女孩讀書帶來的回報太小，又有幹得好不如嫁得好的觀念，因此認為周小玲的學業并不重要。
周小玲媽媽也是大字不識幾個，能得到這份工作，也是因為嫁得好的關系，夫家給安排的。
而和她同齡的，有不少人讀過書卻也沒有她好過。嫁得不好，也只能在家裏當老黃牛。
因為自己的經歷，周小玲媽媽也更加篤信這一點。
所以認為周小玲讀完小學更能識字算數就足夠了，最重要的還是找個好男人。
唐青青不知道再說些什麽，只能眼睜睜地看着周小玲抱着自己的書離開學校。
王黑子又一次請假跑公社，被唐青青臭罵了一頓。
“你有大好的機會，怎麽就是不知道珍惜呢！你知不知道多少人想要上學都沒法上！”
王黑子一臉懵，不明白唐青青怎麽突然發飙。
“你這是咋了？”
唐青青将臉撇過一邊，也知道這跟王黑子沒啥關系，可莫名看到他就忍不住發火。
大約是想起了王草兒，都是一家人，卻是完全不同的待遇。
好一會，唐青青才平複了心情。
“沒事，是我的問題。”
王黑子：“我帶了眼睛呢，咋了？誰惹你不高興了？”
唐青青将周小玲的事說給他聽，王黑子一下就明白了。
“等以後我發財了，專門資助女孩兒上學，建造一所女校！在這裏上學的，就能有錢拿。說啥女孩兒不需要讀那麽多的書，拉倒吧，要是讓家裏女孩去讀書有錢拿，你看他們送不送。”
唐青青再次看到周小玲時，差點沒能認出她來。
原本那個臉圓圓的小姑娘，現在臉尖尖的，眼睛凹陷，臉色憔悴。
她的背上背着一個孩子，懷裏還摟着一個，身體微弓，在供銷社門口排隊買東西。
明明還是個十幾歲的孩子，現在瞧着好像已經生過孩子一樣，頭發也有些亂糟糟的。
背上的孩子不停地扯着她的頭發，她怎麽說也不聽，懷裏的孩子也不安穩，不停地掙紮着，她還得費勁去摟着，生怕他會掉下來。
太用力了，那孩子又哭起來，一時手忙腳亂。
唐青青連忙走向前：“我幫你抱一個吧。”
周小玲擡頭看到她，第一反應竟然是扭頭跑了。
唐青青愣在原地，半晌都回不過神來。
“她跑什麽啊？”
唐青青到公安局食堂時，整個人還是懵的。
秦飒盯着個黑眼圈走進來，身上的衣服就跟剛從缸子裏拿出來的泡菜似的皺巴巴的，一看就是熬了幾個通宵。
“喲，今天我們的神眼女俠怎麽愁眉苦臉的？總不能是考試沒考好吧？”
一旁的公安聽到這話，笑道：“咋可能啊，青青一直是全年級第一，還是甩了第二名好多分的那種。”
公安局的人對唐青青一直都非常關注，也非常地關心。
有案子若是能帶上她，能大大縮減偵查過程。
只不過大家也知道她現在在讀書，成績還特別不錯，照這樣下去，今後很可能能考上大學。
所以只有遇到棘手的案子，才會叫上她，不想耽誤她的學業。
原以為她靠着碼蹤的本事就能進公安局，現在看來她會有更好的路。
大家看着她從個小豆芽菜長成現在亭亭玉立的模樣，都希望她以後能發展得更好。
“沒什麽，就是剛剛遇到以前的同學了。”
秦飒眉毛一挑：“你喜歡的人？”
唐青青漲紅了臉：“姐，你胡說啥呢！”
“這有什麽的，你現在這年紀會喜歡人很正常。”
“不是，是一個女同學，以前我的同桌。”
唐青青将周小玲的事跟秦飒提起，以及剛才周小玲看到她就跑了的事都全盤托出。
“她是不知道該怎麽面對你。”
唐青青心裏不是滋味。
“她無法改變自己的命運，看到意氣風發的你，心裏肯定會難受，不敢去靠近。”
唐青青低着頭沒說話，雖然也隐約猜到，可還是很難過。
“我跟以前的朋友也都分道揚镳了，不過我比你慘點，你的同學是自慚形穢，而我呢是被人嫌棄，哈哈哈哈哈！”
秦飒爽朗地笑道，非常地坦蕩。
唐青青不解：“她們為什麽會嫌棄你？”
秦飒在唐青青看來就是個巾帼英雄，年紀輕輕就破了很多的案子，每次有危險都沖到第一線。
而且她并不是逞能，而是有那個本事制服住歹徒。
“覺得我是個男人婆，不像個女人呗。還覺得我都那麽大年紀了還沒人要，生怕我帶壞了他們的孩子。”
“咋還有人這麽想呢，不都說婦女能頂半邊天嗎！”
秦飒捏了捏她滑嫩的小臉：“不是所有人都能想明白這個道理的，在他們看來，女人再能幹也沒啥用，甚至還讓男同志太過有壓力，就沒人要了。沒人要對一些人來說，一個女人的價值就全沒了。”
一旁的男公安連忙道：“這種人不包括我哈！我們飒姐是誰，警界霸王花，誰來都幹不過她！”
秦飒直接一腳踢了過去，“你可拉倒吧，當初我去一線，你還嫌棄我多餘。”
“那是我有眼不識泰山，現在對你就一個字——服！”
秦飒挑起下巴，得意道：“瞧，靠本事吃飯就是別人心裏不服，面上也只能昧着良心誇你一句好。”
男公安連忙哭嚷着自己冤枉，把唐青青給逗樂了。
唐青青後來就很少碰到周小玲了，她平時一般也都是在學校裏，偶爾請假也去追蹤了。
也就周末的時候，到公安局食堂去加餐，會在公社路上行走。
讓唐青青沒有想到的是，唐青青準備上初三的時候，她收到消息，周小玲竟然準備結婚了。
唐青青震驚無比，周小玲比唐青青還小一些，才剛十六歲。
唐青青覺得自己現在還是個孩子，沒想到周小玲都要結婚了。
現在的結婚年齡女方為十八歲，周小玲都還沒到結婚年齡呢！
雖然這種事在鄉下也沒少見，大家普遍結婚比較早，可發生在周小玲身上，還是讓人難以接受。
“也沒正式結婚，只是訂婚罷了。”跟唐青青說這個消息的新同桌寧平英道。
寧平英跟周小玲的父母是一個廠子的，他們兩家還是鄰居，所以比較了解周小玲的情況。
雖然說是訂婚，可按照當地的習俗，只要擺酒了就是一家人了，可以住一塊了。
只不過年紀還小，沒法領證罷了。
“怎麽這麽早就結婚了？她哥哥的孩子都還小吧，她結婚了誰幫忙帶啊？”
寧平英道：“都送幼兒園啊，廠辦幼兒園一歲多就能進了。你知道周小玲嫁給誰嗎？”
唐青青搖頭：“誰啊？”
“機械廠廠長的兒子，比周小玲大了八歲。”寧平英左右看了看，低聲道：“聽說他腦子有點問題。”
唐青青唬了一跳：“這種人哪能嫁啊！”
“也沒那麽嚴重啦，平常看着跟正常人一樣，就是有時候會發病。所以需要一個會照顧人的媳婦，得細心和耐心。那男人的媽就看上了周小玲這一點，所以才選了她。”
“要不然機械廠廠長的兒子，怎麽可能會看上周小玲。”
機械廠是他們公社的重頭企業，普通職工待遇都非常好，時不時就發各種福利，可讓其他廠子眼饞了。
因此周小玲丈夫的這個條件可謂是非常好了，正常情況下确實輪不到周小玲這種初中都沒讀完的女孩。
唐青青聽着依然不是滋味，寧平英又道：
“而且周小玲嫁過去之後，還會給她二嫂安排工作，還是正式工！這條件，換誰家都樂意啊。”
周家兩兄弟因為争搶親媽的職位，吵得是沸沸揚揚的，不管給誰對方都不服。
現在好了，周小玲媽媽的職位給大兒媳，二兒媳這邊也有了着落，也就不再争吵了。
這不過這是犧牲周小玲的利益換來的。
“周小玲也太可憐了。”
幫着家裏把侄子們帶大了，就被嫁出去換利益，這是利用個徹底啊。
“你想啥呢，周小玲願意着呢。”
“啊？”
“雖然那個男人年紀大點，可用我媽的話說，年紀大點會疼人。雖然偶爾會發病，可大部分時間都是好的，條件在整個公社都是好的了。
現在不過是訂婚，就送了一大堆東西，三轉一響全都是配齊了的，據說光是見面禮就給了十塊呢！”
寧平英說的時候，眼底透着一絲羨慕。
“我媽說，我以後要是能嫁到這樣的人家裏，那每天能樂得晚上做夢都笑醒。”
唐青青不知道該說什麽好，只道：“你也覺得這樣的條件好嗎？”
寧平英想了想道：“老實說，我想到現在就要結婚，就不怎麽稀罕了。可這種話說出去，別人只會說我是吃不到葡萄說葡萄酸。”
唐青青嘆氣，“她什麽時候訂婚啊？我們同學一場，要不咱們一起去祝賀她……”
“別別別！”寧平英連忙打住她的話，“你可別想着過去。”
“為啥啊？”
寧平英上下打量她，“你以前跟她這麽好，你說她為啥沒有給你請柬？”
“為啥？”
“唐青青同志，請你正視自己的美貌，你要是去了還有她啥事？她這沒有扯證，不過是擺個酒，萬一黃了，那不得氣死。”
唐青青無語，“你胡說什麽呢，哪裏有這麽誇張。”
“這哪裏是誇張啊！我有時候看着你都入迷，何況是男人呢，你知道多少人看到你都喜歡你嗎！”
“沒感覺啊。”
寧平英白了一眼：“這麽多人獻殷勤，你竟然一點感覺都沒有。不過也是，你都習慣了。”
唐青青哭笑不得：“真沒有啊。”
“那是大家不敢，你長得又漂亮又聰明次次考第一，這就算了，竟然還有什麽‘碼蹤’的本事，公安局的人都經常請你過去破案。雖然你是農村來的，可你這麽有本事，而且長得好也沒有那種土氣，都只敢遠觀了。”
唐青青被說得臉燒紅，“你也太誇張了，長得好看又不能當飯吃。”
“誰說的！長得好就能嫁個好人家，不就有好飯吃了？不過長輩可能不喜歡長那麽好看的，那又怎麽樣呢，男人喜歡啊，當媽的拗不過兒子的。”
唐青青覺得再繼續這個話題，仿佛故意找人誇自己一樣。
寧平英看唐青青一臉不在意的樣子，讓她忍不住多說幾句。
“你別以為我胡說，要不然周小玲怎麽沒邀請你？要是換做我，帶着你多有面子啊！”
寧平英得意洋洋，她跟唐青青關系好，多少人都想讨好她，從而打探唐青青的各種信息。
喜歡吃什麽啊，愛看什麽書等等。
她在學校混得是風生水起，都是因為跟唐青青關系好的緣故。
嫉妒？不存在的，差距太大，寧平英連攀比的心都懶得起。
寧平英從小被她媽比到大，她現在可無所謂了，誰都別想用別人刺激自己，她只會坦然地欣賞對方的美。
唐青青不想在長相這件事上停留，可又忍不住道：
“要真是這樣就能移情別戀，那個男人也太不靠譜了吧？”
世界上漂亮的人很多，難道看到一個好看的就把自己老婆給抛棄了？這不得天下大亂了。
寧平英聳聳肩：“我媽說男人都這樣，時間長了就會收心的。”
唐青青翻了個大大的白眼，“什麽鬼思想，抱着個爛男人，還不如單身一輩子呢。”
唐青青雖然很想知道周小玲嫁給什麽樣的人，想知道她現在是否幸福，可她沒有收到請柬，也不想硬湊上去。
要是周小玲不歡迎自己，反倒會尴尬。
沒過多久，唐青青在路上遇到了周小玲。
和之前看到的周小玲不同，她整個人意氣風發，人也變得漂亮了許多。
只是從前那好似一眼能看到底的眼眸不見了，多了一些內容。
“青青！”
“小玲，好久不見，聽說你訂婚了？”
周小玲笑容燦爛，好似不經意地撩了撩頭發，“你也知道了？沒想到消息傳得這麽快。”
“你現在怎麽樣啊？還在繼續讀書嗎？”
Tang Qingqing felt that this question was a bit redundant, but she still couldn't help asking.
Zhou Xiaoling smiled and said, "Qingqing, you are still the same as before, with only books in your eyes."
Tang Qingqing pursed her lips and said nothing.
Zhou Xiaoling sensed her strange emotions and said seriously:
"I don't have your talent and ability, nor am I as good-looking as you. No matter how many books I read, it will only be the same. No matter how hard I try, I will never be as good as I am now."
"How would you know if you haven't tried?"
Tang Qingqing's eyes turned to the snack stalls nearby. Now that they were open, people gradually began to run out to set up stalls on the street.
Although it is not as open and aboveboard as it will be in the future, the atmosphere is obviously different from before.
Wang Heizi said that he no longer had to be as secretive in doing business as before. Although he could not publicize it, it was much more convenient.
Those who have the courage to come out and set up shop now have a high chance of becoming successful on their own in the future.
Now is the right time and there are many opportunities.
Zhou Xiaoling followed her gaze and curled her lips, "It's so embarrassing. If I have to set up a stall outside, I would rather starve to death."
Tang Qingqing was disappointed, and finally said, "Just be happy now."
"I am indeed very happy. You don't know how I managed to get through the past two years. I thought my life was over, but luckily I didn't give up."
Tang Qingqing just smiled. Zhou Xiaoling seemed to have not spoken freely for a long time and had been suppressing her emotions. She held Tang Qingqing tightly and was reluctant to let her go.
Zhou Xiaoling was indeed very happy, and Tang Qingqing could clearly feel her joy.
From Zhou Xiaoling's words, Tang Qingqing also learned that it turned out that all this was not arranged by her parents, but was more the result of Zhou Xiaoling's own efforts.
If it wasn't intentional, it wouldn't have attracted the favor of the wife of the machinery factory director.
Zhou Xiaoling now regarded Tang Qingqing as a good friend, so she did not hesitate to share how she had tried to please the factory director's wife.
"If I hadn't been more careful, I would have stayed at home for years. You don't know how hard it was for me. I couldn't even get a full night's sleep. I had to take care of the children and get up early the next morning to work. If any of my nephews fell down by accident, I would have been scolded to death.
After my mother scolded my sister-in-law, my brother was also very mean to me, saying that I couldn’t do anything right. ”
After hearing this, Tang Qingqing also understood Zhou Xiaoling's helplessness.
Her current choice is indeed the best she can think of.
Everyone has his or her own path, and one has to walk on the paths of many people.
Tang Qingqing looked down on Zhou Xiaoling as a marriage partner, but she was happy as long as she was satisfied.
"After you get married, you will also go to work, right? Your partner's family should be able to help you arrange it, right?"
Rather than worrying about whether this marriage is right or wrong, Tang Qingqing thinks this is more important.
"My mother-in-law wants me to stay at home and take good care of my husband and children. She said they will prepare everything for us and we don't need to worry about life."
"And your husband?"
Zhou Xiaoling blushed slightly, a little shy and timid: "He listens to my mother-in-law."
"I think the most important thing for a woman is to take good care of the family. If you don't have the conditions, forget it. The conditions of the family I married are pretty good, so I don't have to worry about things outside."
Tang Qingqing looked at her still childish face, but her temperament was different from before. For a moment, she didn't know what to say.
"Qingqing, you don't have to work so hard. You are so pretty. Many boys in school like you. Some of them come from very wealthy families."
Tang Qingqing smiled but said nothing. Zhou Xiaoling sensed Tang Qingqing's resistance and said earnestly:
"Qingqing, it was only after I left school that I realized a lot of truths. We live in a society based on relationships. Whether you are a man or a woman, the most important thing is to get along well with others. Ability and the like are all empty words."
Tang Qingqing smiled and said, "I think I'm doing fine now."
Seeing that she was not interested, Zhou Xiaoling wanted to say something, so Tang Qingqing used the excuse that it was getting late and wanted to leave.
Zhou Xiaoling looked down at her watch and cried out in surprise: "It's so late! I have to go back quickly!"
Then she ran away in a hurry without caring about Tang Qingqing's reaction.
Tang Qingqing never thought at this moment that this would be the last time she would see Zhou Xiaoling.