Chapter 27 Return Home
◎Oh my god, something terrible has happened!◎
Hearing the name Tinglan, Zhao Xiangwan, who was putting on a cotton jacket, stopped what he was doing and looked carefully. Only then did he realize that this Aunt Lu was Tinglan's mother who was traveling with him on the train.
Wasn't Tinglan calm on the train? Why did she become like this when she got home? Zhao Xiangwan's heart tightened, and he quickly put on his clothes and shoes, and trotted after Fan Qiuhan.
The area where my aunt lived was the old town of Luo County, all simple bungalows, narrow alleys, densely covered with electric wires, and potholes on the cement road. Tinglan's house was two doors away from Zhao Dacui's house, and a large group of people gathered at the door. When they saw Fan Qiuhan coming, they quickly made way for her: "Hurry up, let Qiumei come, she's a nurse."
Fan Qiuhan studied nursing at a health school and did an internship at Chengguan Hospital this year. Although she has not officially started working yet, she is enthusiastic and willing to help. Neighbors will come to her for help when they have a headache or a fever. Now that Tinglan has committed suicide by cutting her wrists, the first person she thinks of is her.
Zhao Xiangwan followed Fan Qiuhan into the house and blinked several times before he got used to the dimness in the room.
A strong smell of blood came, and Zhao Xiangwan looked over in the direction of the smell. A skinny hand was hanging down from a camp bed in the corner, and there was a pool of dark red blood on the ground at the fingertips.
Fan Qiuhan ran over and breathed a sigh of relief after a quick check: "She's still alive!" She took out the prepared bandage and wrapped it around Tinglan's wrist a few times. After the bleeding stopped, she calmly ordered: "Hurry up and find a car to take her to the hospital."
There was a jingle from the door, and someone called out, "Hurry up, the tricycle is coming."
After a moment of panic, the enthusiastic neighbors wrapped Tinglan in a quilt, put her on a tricycle, and rushed to the hospital. When they arrived at Chengguan Hospital, Tinglan's mother slid down the snow-white wall and sat on the green terrazzo floor, tears streaming down her face as she watched her daughter being sent to the emergency room.
"I didn't expect it. I really didn't expect it. I finally found her, why would she commit suicide? I didn't say anything. I didn't say anything..."
Zhao Xiangwan stood aside in a daze.
Tinglan's mother turned around and saw her, with a trace of guilt in her eyes: "You, why are you here?"
Fan Qiuhan was doing two things at once, and answered on behalf of Zhao Xiangwan: "She is my cousin."
Aunt Lu seemed to have found a way to vent. She cried and said, "You saw it on the train. Tinglan was like crazy, right? Why did she commit suicide? Didn't we do enough for her? Why didn't she appreciate it?"
The neighbors who came with them knew something about Tinglan's family situation and were chattering about it.
"I heard that Chiang used to be a worker at a fertilizer factory, and his company even allocated him a house. Later, he suffered a stroke and applied for medical retirement, so he and his wife sold their house and moved to our poor place."
"I hadn't heard the couple mention their child before, but they suddenly brought their daughter home yesterday evening. Judging from the child's condition, she must have suffered a great hardship. This family is so pitiful. Old Jiang had a stroke, half of his face was stiff, and his left arm couldn't move. Now this has happened again. What are they going to do in the future?"
The neighbors' words made Aunt Lu feel more aggrieved, and she continued to cry.
"My daughter Tinglan was very obedient when she was little. She would do her homework after school and never run around with the other kids in the factory. Her father and I only have her as our child, and we are determined to train her to be a talent. Although we are strict with her, it is all for her own good.
She had nothing to worry about at home, and we only hoped that she would study hard and get into college to make us proud. The year Tinglan was admitted to college, Chiang set off 10,000 firecrackers in one go and invited more than a dozen tables of wine. We were so proud.
But you have seen her current state, half human, half ghost, and pregnant with a bastard. Why is our life so miserable..."
Zhao Dacui didn't have much contact with the Jiang family. She only knew that the couple were employees of the fertilizer factory. After Jiang Fugui suffered a stroke, he sold his house and retired. He had no children. Seeing their pity, the neighbors usually took good care of them.
As mothers, seeing Tinglan's mother Lu Qinglian crying out of breath, Zhao Dacui couldn't bear it. She sighed and wanted to help her up from the ground.
Zhao Xiangwan stretched out his hand to stop Zhao Dacui's action.
Zhao Xiangwan's expression was very serious: "Aunt, make her cry."
A mother who forced her daughter to commit suicide does not deserve sympathy. Let her cry. She should cry!
Perhaps it was because Zhao Xiangwan looked so stern that Lu Qinglian, who had been immersed in the emotion of "Why is my life so miserable?", was startled and stopped crying.
[This girl is so powerful. Who is she from Zhao Dacui's family? She yelled at me on the train and told me not to hit Tinglan. Now she is lecturing me with a long face. This is outrageous! I can hit and scold my own girl as I want. What does it have to do with you?]
Lu Qinglian was a domineering person. Although she was dissatisfied with Zhao Xiangwan, she did not dare to express it. She just looked at Zhao Dacui with grievance.
Zhao Dacui coughed. Although she felt that Zhao Xiangwan was too straightforward and did not show any mercy to others, she was reluctant to blame her because she thought that she had a thorny body because she did not have a good mother.
Zhao Dacui said, "Qinglian, I have never seen your daughter before, nor have I heard you mention Tinglan, so I thought you two had no children. Now your daughter is back, which is a good thing. You should love her more and don't force her into despair."
After hearing what Zhao Dacui said, Lu Qinglian didn't know how to respond for a moment and started crying louder.
"I didn't force her, I didn't force her! I finally found Tinglan, and I felt bad when I saw how skinny she was. But she heard a few words from others on the train, and as soon as she got back she insisted on going back to college. Study! What kind of study! If she went back to school like this, wouldn't everyone laugh to death?
Besides, she was pregnant with a bastard, why would she go to school! Her father didn't let her have a baby, so he made her have an abortion before the hospital closed for the New Year. Was he wrong? Did she still want to give birth to the baby? Why did she commit suicide just because he scolded her a few times?
I ran myself to find her, went to one police station after another to beg for help, sold my house, lost my job, and saved every penny I could to find her. I finally found her, but this damn girl didn’t even say thank you, and she wanted to commit suicide? Why is my life so miserable~~"
Zhao Dacui was stunned. After all, she was the one who gave birth to three daughters. She immediately responded, "Qinglian, from what you said, Tinglan didn't get married, but was kidnapped and deceived when she was in college? You, you, you... since you know that your daughter has suffered, how can you bear to scold her?"
When Lu Qinglian heard her confess that she was "kidnapped", she suddenly became nervous and began to stutter.
"No, no, no, no, no, I wasn't kidnapped." She blushed and slapped her thigh. "Anyway, I didn't say anything harsh about her."
Lu Qinglian and her husband Jiang Fugui were both born into poor rural families. Due to physical reasons, they only had one daughter. In their hometown, they were criticized for not having a son to carry on the family line. The two were determined to raise their child to be a talent and slap those people in the face. They even asked the most educated chief engineer in the factory to choose the name, which came from "An Zhi Ting Lan" in "Yueyang Tower Records".
Jiang Tinglan was also very competitive, well-behaved and sensible, with excellent grades. In 1989, she was admitted to Kyoto University of International Business and Economics, with a bright future. For this reason, Jiang Fugui not only sold wine at the fertilizer factory, but also went to the countryside to sell wine and perform operas, which was very glorious.
After Jiang Tinglan was kidnapped, her colleagues at the fertilizer factory and her family members all mocked her wealth, saying that what was the use of being a girl? She was kidnapped even though she had read so many books. It would be better for her to study less and marry a good family. Not to mention being sold into a deep mountain valley and unable to get out, even if she was lucky enough to find someone, her life would probably be wasted.
Jiang Fugui, who had always been a strong man, could not bear it after hearing these words so many times. He suffered a stroke in a panic and half of his body was paralyzed. He smashed pots and bowls at home and said that he would just pretend that he didn't have this daughter. The couple sold their unit house and rented two rooms in this old city last September and lived a secluded life.
She thought her life was over and the money from selling the house would be enough to support her in her old age, but she received a call from the police station saying that Tinglan had been found. Jiang Fugui was unwilling to go pick her up, so Lu Qinglian took a car to the Nanshan Police Station in Qinghe County and took her daughter back.
As soon as Tinglan came back, the fact that they had been trying to hide the kidnapping was no longer visible, and no good words were spoken at night. Tinglan could not stand her parents' dislike, so she committed suicide by cutting her wrists.
Tinglan's suicide disrupted Lu Qinglian's plan, and the more she talked, the more her true colors were revealed.
Zhao Xiangwan bluntly said to her: "It's better to die with dignity than to suffer in life."
Lu Qinglian's expression suddenly changed. She pointed at Zhao Xiangwan and trembled for a long time before saying, "Da Cui, who is this person in your family? And you don't care about it."
Zhao Dacui pushed Zhao Xiangwan behind her, like an old hen protecting her cubs: "This is my niece. She is young and ignorant. Don't blame her." After saying that, she turned around and glared at Zhao Xiangwan.
[This kid is just telling the truth! Why offend someone who has nothing to do with you?]
Hearing her aunt's inner thoughts, Zhao Xiangwan pursed her lips and lowered her head.
The neighbors tried to smooth things over and rushed over to comfort Lu Qinglian.
"Alas, it's not easy to raise a child. Now that the child is back, you two have someone to rely on, right?"
"No matter what difficulties the child encounters, the family should slowly bear them together. Don't push them too hard and lower your expectations."
"Alas! How pitiful are the hearts of parents in the world."
However, Lu Qinglian could not hear what these neighbors were thinking, but Zhao Xiangwan heard it clearly.
【平時還覺得這兩口子可憐，沒想到純粹是自找的。孩子被拐了又不是什麽醜事，做什麽要瞞着？】
【太要面子了。趙向晚說得對，就是死要面子活受罪，活該！】
【把姑娘都罵得自殺了，還說什麽丢不起這個臉，什麽人啊。】
公道自在人心。
有一種父母，自我感動式付出，把孩子看成實現自我價值的工具。當孩子有出息的時候，炫耀得瑟；一旦孩子讓他們覺得丢臉了，立馬放棄。這樣的父母，趙向晚覺得很可怕。
在一衆順着陸清蓮說話的聲音裏，趙向晚那獨有的清冷少女聲線很有穿透力，一下子讓在場的人集體噤聲。
“汀蘭雖然被拐，但大學學籍還在，到學校說明情況就能繼續讀書，這是好事，為什麽你覺得她讀書會丢你的臉？”
陸清蓮愣了一下，明顯不知道回答這個問題。
鄰居們一聽，好奇地問趙向晚：“汀蘭還能上學嗎？她都懷孕了怎麽上大學啊？這麽長時間沒去，學校還能要她？”
趙向晚鄭重點頭。她在公安局實習的時候聽何明玉提過一起大學生被拐案，女孩子被解救之後心理出了問題，最後由警方心理咨詢師介入才慢慢恢複，後來女孩父母和學校聯系，校方很痛快地同意讓女孩回來繼續讀書。
有這個案例在前，只要汀蘭說明情況，由警方出具證明，學校恢複她的學籍應該沒有問題。
陸清蓮根本不信一年多沒去上學還能繼續讀書，喃喃自語着：“還讀什麽書？我家汀蘭就這麽毀了啊，她這輩子完了。”
趙向晚面色一冷：“你連學校電話都沒打過，怎麽知道不能繼續上學？汀蘭才二十幾歲，怎麽就一輩子完了？”
陸清蓮顯然沒想到眼前這個姑娘脾氣這麽沖，慌得左右張望着，嘴裏不停地解釋：“我不知道啊，沒有人告訴我汀蘭還可以繼續上學的。再說了，她懷着孩子呢，怎麽讀書？”
因為趙向晚的話，鄰居們不吭聲了，下意識地後退半步，與陸清蓮保持一定距離。
是啊，哪有當媽的那麽說孩子的？就算被拐賣、懷了孩子那又怎麽樣呢？只要人還活着，那就有希望。何況趙大翠家的侄姑娘也說了，汀蘭可以繼續上學，還是個大學生呢，怎麽一輩子就完了呢？
“那個，你別怪我說話直啊。孩子吃了那麽多苦才回到家，你得好好安慰她啊，怎麽能罵她丢臉呢？”
“昨天你們把孩子接回來的時候，我就覺得她瘦得可憐，唉！我知道你們當爸媽的不容易，但是……孩子更可憐嘛。”
“把孩子逼死了，你們又有什麽好處？”
陸清蓮被鄰居們的話語說得不知道如何應對，臉色一會紅一會白，眼淚卻不知道何時止住了。
一道低沉而含糊的男人聲音插了進來：“事情沒有發生在你們身上，一個一個說得倒是輕巧。她要是有膽子死，那就讓她去！我蔣富貴全當沒生這個姑娘！”
陸清蓮聽到這個聲音，哭着撲了過去：“富貴啊，我們這一輩子都完了，都完了。”
蔣富貴用右手将妻子扶住，半邊臉不動，另外半邊臉則滿是怒意，一張嘴扯得變了形，看着模樣很是吓人。
“我們這麽用心培養她，以為能夠有出息，沒想到這麽不争氣，上個學都能走丢，被人拐了就跑。看她那人不人鬼不鬼的樣子，還讀什麽書，直接送到鄉下嫁人算了。”
趙大翠很不喜歡這句“送到鄉下嫁人”，這觸動了她的傷心事。如果随随便便嫁人，遇到個喝了酒就打老婆的怎麽辦？
“那可是你們親生的姑娘啊，怎麽能說不要就不要？只要人活着，哪怕再不堪，将來你們晚年也有靠。事情根本就沒有到無可挽回的地步，怎麽就一定要把姑娘送到鄉下嫁人？！”
旁邊鄰居們也紛紛站在趙大翠這邊，仗義直言。
“沒見到你們這樣的父母，太狠心了！”
“向晚說得沒錯，你們就是死要面子活受罪！被拐賣的女孩子那麽多，年年報紙上都有報道，怎麽的，按你們這說法，都得一死了之？”
“要罵，就去罵那些不要臉的拐子、買賣人口的畜牲天誅地滅、斷子絕孫，你們罵她做什麽？”
“我真是第一次見到這樣的人。警察同志好不容易才把你家姑娘解救出來，你們卻拼命地要把她往死路裏送！”
蔣富貴面孔抽搐了一下，胸脯劇烈地上下起伏，惡狠狠地瞪着衆人。因為半邊身體僵硬、半張面孔木然，整個人看着有些恐怖。
陸清蓮被罵得擡不起頭來，整個人瑟縮在蔣富貴身後，一時之間不知道如何應對，只弱弱地辯解：“不是，不是……”
護士從急救室匆匆出來：“病人失血嚴重，孩子保不住了，家屬趕緊過來簽字。”
蔣富貴嘴雖然硬，但到底是自己的獨生女，心中一痛，閉上眼睛長嘆一聲。陸清蓮咬着牙說：“保不住就保不住，正好我們也不想要！”
紛亂的搶救開始。
鄰居們等了一會看沒自己什麽事，陸續離開。
趙大翠昨晚熬好了大骨湯切好了酸菜、肉絲，準備一大早六點出米粉攤子，現在耽誤了時間，心中有些發急，看一眼趙向晚：“回家吧。”
趙向晚搖搖頭：“大姑，我等表姐。”
趙大翠知道她自小就有主見，只要是她拿定主意的事，沒有人能夠左右。交代幾句，給了她一片房門鑰匙便匆匆離開。
三個小時之後，汀蘭終于從急救室推出來。
跟着出來的範秋寒看到安靜等在門口的趙向晚，愣了一下，将她帶到一旁：“你怎麽還在這裏？吃早飯沒？”
趙向晚搖了搖頭。
範秋寒急得跺了跺腳：“你這人！和你又沒什麽關系，你一直守在這裏做什麽？”
趙向晚偏過頭，看一眼躺在推車上汀蘭那張毫無血色的臉，輕聲說：“表姐，你還沒吃飯，我陪你。”
範秋寒沒好氣地白了趙向晚一眼：“得了吧，我還不知道你？你就是善心大發，想幫汀蘭吧？她現在麻藥還沒醒，我先帶你去吃點東西，等會再來。”
兩人在城關醫院門口的早餐攤吃了點東西，再一次回到汀蘭所在的病房，還沒走近就聽到蔣富貴夫妻倆的聲音。
“先在醫院養養，這個年算是廢了，就在醫院過吧。孩子沒了就沒了，反正本來就不該生下來。”
“真是磨人，早曉得從老家抱養個兒子，也比只守着個姑娘強！”
範秋寒聽得皺起了眉毛。作為女孩，聽到這種姑娘不如兒子的言論，很難不起反感。
趙向晚知道像這樣的父母，想讓他們轉變思想非常困難，沒必要浪費時間與精力。她沖範秋寒呶了呶嘴：“你把他們帶到醫生那裏去，我和汀蘭說幾句話就行。”
範秋寒點點頭，換上護士服，走到汀蘭的病房：“陸姨、蔣叔，有些字需要你們簽，請過來一下。”
穿上護士服的範秋寒自有一股令人信服的力量，陸清蓮應了一聲，扶着蔣富貴往外走。
趙向晚趁着空走進病房。
雪白的被單之下，汀蘭那張臉被襯得更加慘白，她微閉雙目，睫毛邊沿還挂着淚珠，顯然剛剛哭過。
“汀蘭。”趙向晚走到她身邊，彎腰輕聲呼喚。
汀蘭緩緩睜開雙眼，那雙大而空洞的眼睛裏滿是絕望。認出趙向晚之後，她閉了閉眼，兩行眼淚順着臉頰滑落。
【是你啊……對不起，讓你失望了。我想上學的，可是他們不讓。】
失血、流産，原本就受盡虐待的汀蘭感覺自己整個人被掏空，非常虛弱，根本說不出話來。
趙向晚從口袋裏取出一張嶄新的百元大鈔，對折之後塞在汀蘭枕頭邊。
汀蘭掙紮着想要推辭，無奈沒有力氣，整個人一動就氣喘籲籲，只能用嘴說話：“不，要——”
趙向晚看着她，眼神堅定：“我叫趙向晚，是湘省公安大學91級刑偵專業的學生。我在星市公安局實習的時候接觸過一個案例，被拐賣大學生只要拿着派出所的證明到學校找教務處，說明情況之後就能恢複學籍，繼續讀書。”
汀蘭的眼睛裏忽然綻放出極亮的光芒。
“你別放棄，先養好身體。我問過護士，按照你現在的情況，估計要在醫院住半個月。你別和父母争吵，該吃吃、該喝喝，身體第一。等到可以出來走動了，和你要好的大學同學或者老師打電話，說明情況，讓他們幫忙提前和學校那邊打招呼。什麽時候身體養好了，你就去派出所補辦身份證、打證明、回學校讀書。”
趙向晚說一句，汀蘭就點一下頭。仿佛有一股力量注入到她身體裏，她的臉頰慢慢多了一絲血色。
說完這些話，趙向晚指了指汀蘭的枕頭：“這錢，你先拿着。買火車票、打電話、□□這些都要錢，你爸媽要是不同意你讀書，你就自己去！不要在意他們的想法。等你到了學校，想辦法勤工儉學，總能養活自己。”
汀蘭的大眼睛裏噙滿淚水，安靜地流淌着。淚水滑過她生了凍瘡的臉頰，無聲地浸潤到枕頭邊。火車上，趙向晚告訴她被拐不是她的錯，現在，趙向晚再一次過來，指給自己一條更加清楚的路。
這世間，還是好人多。
趙向晚看她聽明白了，加快了語速：“我是趁你爸媽不在過來說話，我得走了。你要記得——活着，才有希望。”
說完這一句，趙向晚提步要走。
剛一挪步，衣角被人拽住，趙向晚低頭看向汀蘭。
汀蘭使出全身的力氣，卻沒有發出聲音。
【你放心，我不會再尋死。我會去上學，好好讀書。這錢，我會還你。】
聽到她的心聲，趙向晚眼眶有些發熱，輕輕點了點頭，柔聲說道：“好，我聽到了，我等着你還錢。”
汀蘭枯瘦的手緩緩垂落在床上，趙向晚說得對，活着才有希望。她若是死了，哪裏對得起這些年自己的努力。
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趙向晚回到老房子，拿出剛從菜場買的大草魚、老母雞，利索地開始處理食物。
趙大翠是這裏的老住戶，趙向晚上高中的時候寒暑假偶爾會住在這裏，認得她的鄰居不少。看到趙向晚娴熟的動作，隔壁鄰居都熱情地打着招呼。
“趙向晚，上大學了還這麽勤快啊，殺魚宰雞的動作麻利得很。”
“今天你說陸清蓮那句死要面子活受罪可真痛快啊，不錯不錯，比你大姑嘴利。”
“陸清蓮和蔣富貴他們兩口子是去年九月搬來的，這還是你們第一次見吧？趙向晚上了半年書，越來越有出息了。”
善意的話語之下，其實也藏着一些腹诽。
【小小年紀嘴巴這麽利，将來怎麽得了。】
【女孩子書讀多了也不知道是好事還是壞事，你看趙向晚，連大人都敢罵。】
【過小年了不回家往大姑家跑，也不知道她爸媽是怎麽想嘀。】
趙向晚沒有在意鄰居們心中所想，這樣的話，她聽得太多，早已免疫。
沖洗幹淨手上、砧板上的血水，把魚放在一旁瀝幹淨血水，将雞剁成塊放進砂鍋開始炖，再到地裏拔了幾根大蒜，摘了把菜苔。準備停當之後，将魚和菜苔拿回屋裏飯桌上放着，等待表姐和大姑回來。
範秋寒本來是今天休息，因為送汀蘭去醫院，臨時被護士長叫去幫忙，所以趙向晚就先回來了。
“三妹子！”一個驚喜的聲音從小巷那頭傳來。
趙向晚轉過頭來，看到一個敦實的身影，眼睛一亮：“大哥！”
趙伯文左手
拎着兩斤奶糖，右手提着一網兜蘋果，加快腳步趕過來，咧着嘴傻笑：“三妹子，你終于回來了，我還怕你今年留在學校過年咧。”
趙向晚不言不語，只輕輕笑了笑。
對她而言，上大學就是為了擺脫養父母控制。因此到了星市之後，除了寫信給範秋寒，趙家溝的任何人她都沒有聯系，趙伯文不知道她會回來很正常。
半年不見，并不知道趙向晚身世的趙伯文分外高興，憨厚的國字臉上滿是笑容，将奶糖塞到她手中。有心想要摸摸妹妹的頭，但知道她不喜歡別人碰觸，左手在空中劃了個圈又回到原點。
“回來就好，回來就好。我們醫院要到大年三十才放假，到時候我來接你一起回家過年吧？爸媽雖然對你不好，但那總是我們的家嘛。”
【三妹子不會恨爸媽恨到連家也不肯回吧？她從小在趙家溝長大，哪怕上了大學也是趙家溝的人，她的根在那裏啊，怎麽能說丢就丢呢？不行，我得好好和她說說。我媽這個人，唉！明明對我和弟挺好，連不是親生的晨陽都時不時念叨，怎麽就偏偏和三妹子過不去呢？現在搞得她連過年都不想回家團圓，真是，唉……】
趙向晚接過用油紙包着的大白兔奶糖，聞到那股甜甜膩膩的香味，思緒被帶到小時候，大哥從學校回來之後悄悄往她嘴裏塞過一顆奶糖，那麽甜、那麽香，讓她記了很久、很久。
這一點一滴的溫暖趙向晚都記得。
趙向晚沒有回答要不要回家的問題，推開門招呼趙伯文進屋：“大哥，我給你帶了禮物。”
趙伯文聽說有自己的禮物，開心地笑了，跟着趙向晚走進大姑的屋子，看着趙向晚從包裏拿出一條淺灰色羊毛圍巾，歡天喜地接過來。
“三妹子，你真貼心。這圍巾是星市最流行的吧？又軟又輕，真好。你有心了啊，大哥收下了。”
趙伯文展開圍巾，圍在頸脖之間。輕柔的觸感、溫暖而舒服，他笑得合不攏嘴。妹妹上大學不容易，他似乎也沒幫上什麽忙，沒想到她過年回來還記得給自己帶禮物，真好。
趙向晚知道自己這個大哥，心腸軟、人老實，有沒什麽主意。以前在家的時候就是悶着頭幹農活的那一個，爸媽說什麽他就做什麽，全家的心眼子全給了二哥趙仲武。
趙仲武最會偷奸耍滑，學習不肯上進，幹活也總推給大哥，讀到初中的時候學會了打牌賭錢，不知道偷拿了多少家裏的錢。要不是趙向晚用讀心術把他制住，只怕早就變成個賭鬼、二流子。
想到這裏，趙向晚問：“大哥，二哥現在怎樣了？”
趙伯文皺了皺眉，輕輕搖了搖頭：“唉，老二去了羊城，在大飯店學廚，還沒出師呢，就又開始賭錢了，被他師父給趕出來了。前兩天回了家，在和爸媽磨呢，說手藝已經學到，要在羅縣開家飯館。”
趙向晚搖了搖頭，心裏想着果真是三歲看大、七歲看老，二哥趙仲武這個愛賭博的毛病還沒治斷根呢。
趙伯文戴着圍巾左看右看，心裏美得冒泡。等到擡起頭，看到妹妹那張小小的蘋果臉，不知道為什麽既歡喜又心疼，再一次提起剛才的話題。
“三妹子，年三十那天和我一起回家吧？你放心，大哥現在上班了，每個月工資六十二塊呢，再也不怕爸媽了。要是爸媽再拉臉子，我護着你。”
有錢，才有底氣。
趙伯文1968年出生，讀了一年高中之後辍學在家務農，因為不掙錢，每天埋頭幹活，有什麽吃什麽，需要買點什麽都得找母親錢淑芬要錢。以前晨陽還在家的時候，一回到家就看到三妹子在幹活、四妹子在偷懶。到晨陽走了之後，三妹子初中、高中讀寄宿，母親一提起她就罵，每次她開學要錢都會被打。趙伯文不敢和父母對抗，只能私下裏悄悄給她送點小零嘴、塞幾個小零錢。
現在趙伯文上班了，自我感覺有了說話的底氣，看到趙向晚送來的圍巾，他開始自我反省，覺得以前做得不夠好，沒有怎麽幫助趙向晚，有些慚愧。
趙向晚卻搖了搖頭：“大哥，我不想回家。”
哪怕趙伯文想要反抗父母，但錢淑芬的強勢與刻薄趙向晚是領教過的，好脾氣的大哥根本沒有持續對抗的勇氣與能力。而自己，還沒想好應該如何面對他們。
養育之恩嗎？也是有的。至少把她養大、沒有讓她餓死、病死，不像趙青雲、魏美華，剛滿月就将她抛棄。可是這點養育之恩，在把她與趙晨陽調換、刻意打壓她成長的時候，已經蕩然無存。
趙伯文見勸不動妹妹，有些沮喪地坐了下來，唉聲嘆氣了老半天：“唉，三妹子啊，爸媽對你是不太好，可是村裏好多人都念叨你咧，真的連過年也不回家看看嗎？你還記不記得，為了讓你能夠上初中，村委主任海叔、婦聯主任桂嬸專門過來批評教育爸媽，後來你上高中的時候，海叔、桂嬸他們都悄悄給你塞了錢？”
趙向晚安靜地看着趙伯文，沒有說話。
範秋寒推門進來，沒好氣地回了一句：“表哥，你想盡孝你就去，別扯上向晚。向晚回去做什麽？繼續聽舅媽罵她沒良心、舅舅唠叨她不懂事？讓他們再把她的身份證扣下、衣服燒了，阻止她繼續讀書？”
趙伯文越聽臉越白，尤其是那什麽扣身份證、燒衣服的話，聞所未聞。他下意識地為父母辯護：“那個，我爸媽雖然嫌三妹子是個女孩不想讓她讀書，但也不至于這麽……這麽誇張吧？”
範秋寒哼了一聲：“還有更誇張的呢！你知不知道向晚為什麽要報公安大學？因為這個大學不要學費，提前批次錄取，還因為這個大學的錄取通知書舅媽不敢撕！舅媽幾次阻撓向晚高考不成，就放下了狠話，說只要收到錄取通知書她就撕，堅決不同意向晚再繼續讀書。”
Zhao Bowen began to tremble all over, mumbling, "I, I don't know."
Fan Qiuhan said unhappily, "You are the son, and the eldest son, so your uncle and aunt must be good to you. You are so blessed, how could you know how difficult it is for Xiang Wan!"
Zhao Bowen's forehead began to sweat.
"Cousin, was it Xiangwan who reminded you to take the adult college entrance examination in 1986? Was it Xiangwan who helped you find your review materials? If it weren't for Xiangwan, you would still be farming in the countryside. How could you have the good job you have now? People should have a conscience. Don't always impose your ideas on Xiangwan and force her to do things she doesn't like."
Once Fan Qiuhan started to lecture people, it was like a machine gun, crackling, and Zhao Bowen's head was buzzing. He nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, yes, I was wrong, I won't force the third sister."
"As for Uncle Hai and Aunt Gui, let's go buy some New Year gifts together later. Can't you just bring them to Xiang Wan and say a few words of thanks? Why does Xiang Wan have to go back? If Xiang Wan has to do everything, what is there for you, the eldest brother, to do?"
Zhao Bowen nodded again: "Yes, yes, yes, okay."
The sound of a car's wheels rolling over the concrete road came from the door, and Zhao Xiangwan stood up quickly: "Aunt is back!" The three of them went out to greet her. It turned out to be Zhao Dacui who had returned home after finishing her breakfast business.
Zhao Bowen hurried forward and helped unload the coal stove, iron bucket, bottles and cans, bowls and chopsticks from the cart. Zhao Xiangwan and Fan Qiuhan helped wash the bowls and chopsticks. The family was busy for half an hour before they cleaned up the cart and put it back in the utility room.
Zhao Dacui dragged out a chair with an armchair, pounded her waist and sat down slowly. After a long time, she let out a long breath: "Oh... I'm so tired." When she was young, she could bend over and cut rice all day without complaining of being tired. She didn't expect that now she would feel back pain after just setting up a rice noodle stall.
Seeing this, Fan Qiuhan's eyes were red with heartache. He walked over and squatted beside his mother to massage her back, complaining, "Mom, I told you not to work in the stall anymore, but you didn't listen! Pushing carts, carrying buckets, standing for hours at a time, it hurts your back. You are fifty years old now, and your back muscles are so severely strained, but you still don't rest. Do you want to lie in bed and be unable to get up when you are old?"
Zhao Dacui did not refuse this time. She raised her hand and stroked her daughter's head, sighing: "Sister Qiu feels sorry for mom, mom knows it."
Last night, Zhao Xiangwan had urged his cousin to support his aunt. Now, after seeing this situation, he understood: "Aunt, you are old now. It is too hard to run a stall by yourself. Why don't you take in an apprentice and open a rice noodle shop?"
Zhao Dacui asked with a smile: "Xiang Wan wants to give my aunt an apprentice? Who is it?"
Zhao Xiangwan: "Zhao Zhongwu."
Zhao Zhongwu, who was sitting by the fire in the old house in Zhaojiagou, thinking about how to get his mother to agree to give him money to open a shop, suddenly shuddered.
He looked around and started to wonder: The school is on winter vacation, will the third sister come home? Her eyes seemed to have X-ray vision, and she could not hide any little thoughts. He was scared when he saw her. But this person is just a mean person. He really misses her after not seeing her for such a long time. If she helps him when gambling, he will definitely kill everyone.
Thinking of gambling, Zhao Zhongwu's hands began to itch again.
Suddenly there was a commotion at the door, mixed with the mother Qian Shufen's scream of surprise and delight: "Fourth sister, fourth sister, you're back."
Then came the overly enthusiastic voice of his father, Zhao Erfu: "Hurry, hurry, hurry, please come in."
"Zhongwu, Zhongwu, come out quickly, your fourth sister is back, Chenyang is back."
Zhao Zhongwu was stunned when he heard his mother shouting for help. That lazy guy Zhao Chenyang is back? He has been gone for so many years and there is no news at all. What's so strange about him coming back at this time? He stretched his waist, stood up slowly, walked out of the west room, and walked into the main room.
In the middle of the main hall of the old house, there are two side rooms on the east and west sides. The stove room is on the east side, and the toilet and pig pen are on the west side. Now a group of people crowded into the main hall, surrounding a man and a woman.
The girl is Zhao Chenyang who has grown up. She is wearing a yellow cashmere sweater with a dark chestnut short wool coat, tight black moccasins and brown boots. She looks very fashionable among a group of rustic country girls. She has short curly hair, an oval face and big eyes. She looks pretty.
Zhao Zhongwu whistled and raised his eyebrows: "Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, look who this is. She has really changed a lot since she grew up. The dwarf Zhao Chenyang is back. She hasn't even sent a letter back in seven or eight years. Why is she willing to return home now?"
Zhao Chenyang looked towards Zhao Zhongwu following the sound, and rolled his eyes at his weird tone: "Er Gouzi, it's been so long since we last met, and you're still so annoying!"
Zhao Zhongwu was thick-skinned and not afraid of being scolded. He smiled and said, "It's better to be disliked than to have no conscience. You have been lazy and idle in Zhaojiagou for ten years. After your biological parents took you to the city, there has been no news since then. You have no conscience, no conscience."
Qian Shufen couldn't stand it any longer, so she walked over and slapped Zhao Zhongwu on the head: "If you don't speak, no one will think you are dumb!"
The middle-aged man standing next to Zhao Chenyang was very tall, wearing a long light gray woolen coat, and looked very authoritative. He smiled and nodded to Zhao Zhongwu: "Are you Zhao Xiangwan's second brother? Hello."
The other person was elegant, gentle, and approachable, and he was obviously an important person. Zhao Zhongwu was a little flattered, and hurriedly stepped forward and stretched out his hand: "Hello, hello, I am Zhao Zhongwu, may I ask who you are?"
"Zhao Qingyun." Zhao Qingyun shook hands with Zhao Zhongwu and glanced around the room. "Is Zhao Xiangwan back?"
Zhao Zhongwu felt a breath of cold wind blowing into his neck. He retracted his hand and blew out a breath of warm air: "The third sister didn't come back."
Zhao Qingyun glanced at Qian Shufen in confusion: "I heard that Zhao Xiangwan was on the train yesterday."
The daughter came back but refused to go home right away. Qian Shufen was a little embarrassed and laughed: "She must have gone to her aunt's house in the county. You have come from a long way, so please sit down and have a rest and some tea first."
Qian Shufen turned her head and looked at Zhao Chenyang, tears flashing in her eyes. This was her flesh and blood, and she missed him every day after not seeing him for eight years. Seeing how good Chenyang looked, Qian Shufen could no longer control her emotions and hugged her with open arms: "Fourth sister, you are such a heartless sister. I have raised you for ten years, why did you come back so late..."
Zhao Erfu was also a little excited, looking his little daughter up and down, his eyes full of joy. Chen Yang is smart, she has grown up really well after replacing Xiang Wan's identity and going to the city. The climate and soil in the city really nurture people!
Zhao Chenyang was hugged by his own mother. He could smell the wood smoke on her body and felt a little breathless. He pushed her away irritably, fixed his hair, and forced a smile: "Um, when will Zhao Xiangwan come back?"
Seeing that Zhao Qingyun and Zhao Chenyang only cared about Zhao Xiangwan, Qian Shufen was a little at a loss, feeling that things were not developing as she expected.
Qian Shufen thought that Zhao Qingyun, who was driving a car with lots of gifts, must be accompanying Zhao Chenyang back to Zhaojiagou and thanking him for raising her. But as soon as they met, before they even sat down, they both asked Zhao Xiangwan why.
Zhao Xiangwan, that disobedient girl, never returned after she was admitted to university. She never called or sent me a letter. She didn't go home even after her train arrived in Luo County yesterday. It seems like she has grown independent and doesn't want to recognize her family anymore.
Zhao Erfu chuckled and said, "Xiang Wan has a good relationship with her aunt. She must have gone to see her aunt first. I'll ask Zhongwu to pick her up by bike later. You guys can sit first."
Zhao Qingyun did not sit down and did not smile. He glanced at the villagers who were gathered at the door of the main hall and said something in a neither loud nor low voice.
"Zhao Chenyang is your daughter, I sent her back. Zhao Xiangwan is my Zhao Qingyun's biological daughter, I came to take her back."
As soon as these words came out, everyone's eyes widened in shock.
What? Zhao Chenyang, who was taken to the city to enjoy a good life, is the biological child of Zhao Erfu and Qian Shufen, and Zhao Xiangwan, who has always been beaten and scolded, is the daughter of a wealthy family in the city?
A buzzing sound arose. This news was indeed a shocking secret to the people of Zhao Jiagou. It was too shocking.
"No wonder Zhao Xiangwan's grades are so good, but Erfu and his wife refused to let her go to school. It turns out she is not their biological daughter!"
"Look carefully, the cadre from this city looks quite similar to Zhao Xiangwan."
"Mrs. Qian did this on purpose, didn't she? She's the mother, she must know best which one is the biological one. This... this is too unkind!"
Amid the discussion, Zhao Zhongwu's eyes widened. Oh my god, something terrible has happened!