Chapter 158 Holding Hands
It was a rare occasion that Mr. Ye Yintong came today, so Xiangbei asked the kitchen to prepare some delicious dishes and invited Ye Yuan to have a simple meal together.
When Ye Yintong was sent down to a rural area in northwest China, he developed severe arthritis and his knees hurt whenever he bent them. Xiangbei moved the round table from the third floor down and set up a large table in the reception room on the first floor. There were fish head and fish ball soup, steamed pork with rice flour, braised fish fillets, water spinach, eggplant and beans...all of which were dishes suitable for the elderly.
Ye Yintong sat at the table, looking at the dishes. Knowing that this was Xiangbei's care and concern, he smiled and said, "I'm fine. I eat less when I'm old. You young people can eat whatever you like."
At this moment, a bicycle bell rang out and the postman delivered a thick package.
Xiangbei happily took the package and said to Ye Yintong, "Mr. Ye, what a coincidence! This package was sent right after you arrived."
He hurriedly unwrapped the package, and as soon as the sealed plastic bag was opened, the aroma of medicine filled the air.
"Mr. Mei's family's ancestral ointment recipe is very magical. Last time I wrote to the farm and explained your situation, he sent a few medicine bags and ointments. Here is also a note. Sister Ye, keep it well and apply the ointment to Mr. Ye according to the instructions."
Smelling the aroma of medicine, Ye Yintong felt more soothed and warm in his heart. Regardless of whether it works or not, he must appreciate Chong Xiangbei's kindness.
"Xiangbei, thank you for your help."
Xiangbei waved his hand, opened a pair of knee pads, bent down and tied them on Ye Yintong's knees, and patted the medicine bag: "How is it? Do you feel better?"
The thick cotton knee pads were filled with Chinese medicine and gave off a strong medicinal smell. Ye Yintong felt it carefully, his eyes lit up: "There is a heat, very warm, good stuff!"
When Ye Yuan and Ye Chu saw this scene, their eyes turned red and they both felt a little guilty. My father is suffering from the cold in the northwest. Why didn’t you think of sending him some knee pads and cotton pants? After my father was rehabilitated, he went to the hospital many times for arthritis but to no avail. Why didn’t he seek treatment from a famous old Chinese doctor?
Ye Yuan's sharp tongue lost its original sharpness, and it took him a long time to say: "Xiangbei, thank you."
Ye Chu sat next to his father, put his right hand on his knee pad and rubbed it gently, feeling the dry herbs rubbing against his fingertips. He looked at Xiang Bei with emotion: "Xiang Bei, I'm determined to be your friend!"
Xiangbei looked at the serious words spoken by the Ye siblings, and smiled as he asked everyone to sit down: "Why are you being polite? You are all Nanfeng's friends, and you support her work so much, so of course I should do a good job of serving her. Come sit down and have a meal."
For a moment, chopsticks and rice spoons were flying, and cheers and laughter were dancing together.
Tao Nanfeng rushed to the north and gave a thumbs up, his eyes moving with a little more charm than usual. Xiangbei felt a warmth in his chest. If there weren't so many people around, he really wanted to hug her and give her a big kiss.
Halfway through the meal, someone came to disturb us.
Lu Xue came over with an apologetic look on her face, feeling a little embarrassed when she saw everyone eating: "Well, I just want to say sorry to President Tao! I'm sorry that Ouyang Minxing's mother came to visit because of my matter."
Ye Yuan swallowed the food in his mouth and frowned, "You are the reporter who took the photo? How come you took photos of so many people and ended up in the newspaper without even saying hello? Is that reasonable?"
Xiangbei put down his bowl and chopsticks, walked up to Lu Xue, and said very seriously: "When you took the photo, didn't I tell you that you can't publish it without permission?"
Lu Xue replied hesitantly: "Well... there are only a few silhouettes, it's okay, right?"
Xiangbei looked into her eyes and said, "You gained attention through this photo, but it brought great trouble to our lives. As journalists, don't you have professional ethics and morals?"
Lu Xue lowered her head after being scolded by him, but still tried to defend herself: "I just took a group of photos of people from behind. I didn't make any false reports. I also got the editor-in-chief's consent to publish the photos..."
Seeing tears in her eyes, Tao Nanfeng couldn't bear it, so he walked over and tugged at Xiang Bei's clothes, signaling him not to embarrass the young reporter.
As a newly employed reporter, it was not easy for Lu Xue to take a controversial photo and get the editor-in-chief's approval. Although her photos did cause some trouble to his family, things have passed. After going through all the ups and downs, the couple's relationship has become even deeper, and Tao Nanfeng does not want to blame Lu Xue too much.
Young people who have just entered society are afraid that if they are suppressed as soon as they achieve a little success, they will never recover.
Xiangbei patted the back of Tao Nanfeng's hand and nodded slightly. He could also see that Lu Xue had no bad intentions, but being a media reporter was a magical profession. It could make you famous, but it could also make you the target of public criticism. If you want to use her to your advantage, you must first make the rules clear.
Tao Nanfeng looked at Xiang Bei's well-defined profile and thought of the scene where he scolded Xiao Aiyu on the farm. He couldn't help but worry for the young reporter in front of him.
Xiangbei usually doesn't teach his subordinates a lesson, but if he frowns and starts lecturing, his words will lash your soul like a whip, leaving you with nowhere to hide and wishing you could dig a hole in the ground and crawl into it.
Xiangbei stared at Lu Xue, his eyes still sharp.
"Did you know that Ye Chu and I were being filmed? Did you ask for our consent? You published it in the newspaper to gain media recognition and social attention, but have you ever thought about whether Ye Chu and I, two men with children, are willing to be the men behind successful women? Does our behavior conform to traditional social concepts? Will we be criticized by people around us?"
After being questioned one by one, Lu Xue was speechless.
In fact, she was also somewhat optimistic, thinking that since the front views were not captured, just a few back views, what was there to be afraid of? What's more, the photos are so beautiful and the accompanying texts are written by the editor-in-chief, so it shouldn't have any impact.
Xiangbei said in a deep voice: "Being a journalist is a job that requires conscience. The pen in your hand can decide life and death. You have just entered the industry not long ago. Don't you have any seniors to teach you?"
Lu Xue slowly raised her head, her eyes sparkling.
Looking north, she seemed to have realized something, and her attitude became a little kinder: "Be loyal to the Party, love the people, call for justice, punish evil and promote good, and be brave enough to sacrifice for truth and justice."
Xiangbei paused and said word by word: "This is the duty and mission of a journalist!"
Lu Xue felt like she was back in the classroom. The teacher on the stage taught the students earnestly to keep in mind the mission of a journalist and to be a good journalist who speaks for the people, speaks for the truth, and has an immense love for truth, goodness, and beauty.
She straightened her back, clenched her fists, and nodded heavily: "Understood!"
Xiangbei then waved his hand and said, "Okay, we have received your apology. Remember to send the negatives to me."
Seeing that he had finished his lecture, Tao Nanfeng couldn't help but smile and said to Lu Xue, "Have you eaten yet? If you don't mind that we have already eaten half of it, why don't you stay for a quick meal?"
Lu Xue waved her hands hurriedly: "No, no, no, I came here to apologize. I have caused you so much trouble, how can I have the face to stay for dinner? I will send the negatives over tomorrow."
Ye Yuan witnessed Xiang Bei teaching Lü Xue a lesson and couldn't help but marvel at it. He poked his brother and said, "You should learn from Xiang Bei. Look how strong he is outside and how well he protects his wife and family."
Ye Chu took a mouthful of rice and nodded repeatedly while chewing. As men, and both of them are called "the men behind successful women", Ye Chu began to think about how to be as strong and gentle as Xiang Bei.
Lu Xue said goodbye and left. Tao Nanfeng suddenly thought of something and called her.
"Reporter Lu, wait a moment, I have something to give you."
Lu Xue stopped and waited for Tao Nanfeng curiously.
Tao Nanfeng walked to the next office, took out a magazine from the drawer, and handed it to Lu Xue: "This is the 4th issue of Poetry Magazine in 1979. There is a poem called "To the Oak Tree" on it. You can read it."
Lu Xue opened the magazine and looked at the poem. After quickly browsing through it, her breathing suddenly stopped, her eyes lit up with a bright light, and she couldn't help but recite it.
Her voice was clear, her Mandarin was standard, and every word she spoke was full of emotion, which quickly infected the people who were eating. They all put down their chopsticks and pricked up their ears to listen carefully, for fear of missing a word.
"If I loved you—
It is not like the climbing trumpet creeper.
Show off yourself with your high branches;
…
I must be a kapok tree near you,
As the image of the tree stands with you.
…
We share the cold waves, winds, thunderbolts;
We share the mist, the clouds and the rainbow.
As if separated forever,
But they depend on each other for life.
This is great love.
Here is the faithfulness:
like--
I not only love your tall and majestic body,
I also love the position you insist on,
The land beneath your feet. ”
After reading it, the taste lingers in your mouth and the aftertaste lasts for a long time. Lu Xue seemed to be nailed to the ground and couldn't move at all for a long time.
So this is love! This is the most faithful love between husband and wife. It’s not about who is in front and who is behind, who makes the sacrifice and who benefits, but rather, we stand shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand, and work together to move forward.
Let us face the test of wind and rain together and appreciate the splendor of the rainbow together.
There was no need for Tao Nanfeng to say another word, Lu Xue had already read every word she wanted to say from the poem.
Everyone at the dinner table was also in deep thought.
This poem interprets equal love so perfectly that it is really desirable.
It turns out that the love between husband and wife is not just about lingering, dependence, or contrast, but more of a tacit understanding of blood ties and a love of mutual respect.
I am not your vassal, nor am I the silent contributor behind you. We are both equally high-spirited and great.
Fan Yajun sighed softly and leaned her head gently on Ye Chu's shoulder: "Ah, it's great to have you by my side."
Ye Chu put his arm around her shoulders and stroked her head with his chin, full of tenderness.
Lu Xue felt her whole body trembling, driven by an urge to talk. She wanted to write down all her feelings.
She had a hunch that if she wrote it down, it would become a very good social commentary!
Thinking of this, Lu Xue held the Poetry Magazine in her arms and looked at Tao Nanfeng with sparkling eyes: "Tao Nanfeng, thank you! This poem is so well written, I must promote it in the newspaper. I have a request, I wonder if you can agree to it..."
Looking at the energetic Lu Xue, Tao Nanfeng seemed to see himself when he first took over the construction of a brick house. Be brave to take responsibility, not afraid of failure, and be full of creativity and enthusiasm.
She smiled and said, "What request?"
Lu Xue took out her camera and said to Tao Nanfeng, "I want to take a picture of you and Comrade Xiang... Oh, don't worry, I want to take a picture of you holding hands, just clapping. Next I will write a poem review, and this picture will be used as a picture to respond to the previous picture. I want to tell everyone that the men behind successful women are not weaklings, they are lovers who respect women and fight side by side with them!"
Tao Nanfeng turned and looked toward the north.
I thought Xiangbei would refuse, but unexpectedly Xiangbei nodded, walked over and interlocked his fingers with Tao Nanfeng, love flowing in his eyes: "Okay!"
Xiangbei was very happy to be able to hold Tao Nanfeng's hand openly and show their love without showing it.
The author has something to say:
The article quotes 141 words of Shu Ting's "To the Oak Tree" (this chapter has 3328 words, 160 more than the stipulated 3168 words, so don't accuse me of padding the word count), which was published in the 4th issue of "Poetry Magazine" in 1979. The full text is as follows:
If I love you——
It is not like the climbing trumpet creeper.
Show off yourself with your high branches;
If I love you——
Never learn from the infatuated bird,
Repeating monotonous songs for the green shade;
Nor is it merely like a fountain,
Bringing cool comfort all year round;
It is not just like a dangerous peak,
Increase your height and highlight your majesty.
Even the sunlight,
Even spring rain.
No, that's not enough!
I must be a kapok tree near you,
As the image of the tree stands with you.
roots, clenched in the ground;
Leaves touch each other in the clouds.
Every time the wind blows,
We all greeted each other,
But no one,
Understand our language.
You have your copper branches and iron trunks,
Like a knife, like a sword, and like a halberd;
I have my big red flowers,
Like a heavy sigh,
It is like a heroic torch.
We share the cold waves, winds, thunderbolts;
We share the mist, the clouds and the rainbow.
As if separated forever,
But they depend on each other for life.
This is great love.
Here is the faithfulness:
like--
I not only love your tall and majestic body,
I also love the position you insist on,
The land beneath your feet.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
