◎Second update◎
Xu Shengjie had just rejected Hong Saner's proposal to participate in the sports meeting, but when he returned home, he was controlled by his wife.
Liang Baozhen had just soaked her feet, and her white feet turned red. Once her legs and feet were warm, her whole body no longer felt cold. Now she lay down in the quilt. The bed already had a heat source that warmed the bedding. Xu Shengjie went to the factory health station to get an infusion bottle, filled it with hot water, and placed it on the bed. Holding it, Liang Baozhen felt comfortable.
After Xu Shengjie came back from pouring the water for washing his feet, Liang Baozhen mentioned the afternoon broadcast.
"Did you hear my radio broadcast this afternoon?"
“Yes.”
"What event are you going to sign up for?" Liang Baozhen was participating in the National Cotton Mill's athlete competition for the first time. Unfortunately, she was pregnant and couldn't actually participate. She could only be a spectator and cheer on the sidelines. But it didn't matter, because our family also had representatives. "If you participate, you will definitely win first place! I think you can, you are so amazing."
Xu Shengjie was about to say that he would not participate, but after hearing the second half of Liang Baozhen's words, he suddenly felt he couldn't say anything else.
"You want to see me participate?"
"Yeah!" Liang Baozhen had never seen such a large-scale sports meet. "Our school also had sports meets before, but they were rather simple. I heard that it's different in the factory. Everyone is fighting for the prizes."
Thinking of the inside information Huang Cui'e had revealed to her, Liang Baozhen lowered her voice and said, "I'll tell you a secret. The first place winner of this year's tug-of-war competition will win prizes one by one. The biggest prize is a bicycle ticket!"
When talking about bicycle tickets, Liang Baozhen's eyes lit up. That was so rare. She only had one bicycle and it was not enough. If she could get another ticket, she could keep it and buy another one at any time in the future.
Hearing his wife's desire for a bicycle ticket, Xu Shengjie nodded and said, "Then I'll go and buy you a bicycle ticket!"
While the spring is still chilly, the weather starts to warm up gradually in late February, the wind and snow stop, and we begin to move towards the season of spring flowers blooming.
Fang Zhibin came to Xu's house to look for someone. When he entered the house, he saw Xu Shengya doing homework with her back to him.
He tiptoed in and gently pulled her braid, "Xu Shengya~where's your brother?"
"Disgusting!" Xu Shengya turned around and glared at Fang Zhibin, then quickly snatched back her braid and held it tightly, "Get out."
"What did you go out for?"
"Playing Ping-Pong."
"Hey!" Fang Zhibin sighed heavily and sat down on the stool next to Xu Shengya. "Your brother is really crazy. He's still beating me? He's been doing this for how long!"
Xu Shengya looked up at Fang Zhibin and agreed strongly, "My brother has really changed this time."
Whenever he had free time, he would play table tennis. Except for New Year's Eve and the first day of the new year, he not only rarely played with other boys in the compound, but even his sister Xu Shengya rarely saw him.
Xu Shengwei's good brothers and good sisters reached a consensus: this guy forgets his friends/sisters when he sees the ball!
When Xu Shengwei came back from outside, he was in high spirits and was looking for his sister-in-law Liang Baozhen everywhere. Today he heard an exciting news.
"Xiaoya, where is your sister-in-law?"
"I'm resting in the house." Xu Shengya was stringing corn on skewers.
"Sister-in-law." Xu Shengwei knocked on the door and walked in after hearing Liang Baozhen's voice. "Are you busy?"
Liang Baozhen was sitting on a wooden chair reading a book. She turned around and saw her brother-in-law coming in. She knew he had something to talk to her about. "What's wrong? What's the matter?"
Xu Shengwei, whose thoughts were seen through at a glance, did not hesitate to ask for help, "Sister-in-law, I want to participate in the city's youth table tennis competition. Can you help me talk to grandma and big brother?"
He was worried that his grandmother and elder brother would not agree, and then they would confiscate his ping-pong racket.
"Youth table tennis competition?" Liang Baozhen had never heard of this competition. "Where is it held? When is it held?"
"It is said that the match will be held at the end of March, and it will be organized by the Education Bureau, the Sports Bureau and the Children's Palace. It will be held at the Dongshan Stadium!" Xu Shengwei found out everything clearly.
There is a city-wide youth table tennis competition every year, but not everyone can participate. You need to have some strength. Xu Shengwei has recently made friends with many classmates through playing table tennis, including senior classmates and students from other schools. They conquer the world with a table tennis ball. Now he understands what the teacher meant by "table tennis diplomacy" mentioned in class, and perhaps he understands it now too!
"Are you afraid that grandma and big brother will disagree?"
"Yeah!" Xu Shengwei hurriedly took a few steps forward. If he hadn't had to, he wouldn't have bothered his sister-in-law. But now his sister-in-law was the only one who could be his support at home.
Liang Baozhen couldn't make up her mind for a moment. Zhou Yun was quite disgusted with his grandson playing table tennis all day long. Xu Shengjie's attitude was unclear and he didn't interfere too much, but if she bumped into him, she might still get into trouble.
"If grandma gets angry, I'll feel bad too."
"Sister-in-law, what are you afraid of? You still have a baby in your belly!" Xu Shengwei had calculated it well. His sister-in-law was a pregnant woman, and pregnant women were the most important. How could grandma bear to say anything to his sister-in-law?
"So you have it all planned out, right?" Liang Baozhen smiled as she listened to his convincing speech.
"Hehe." Xu Shengwei assured again and again, patting his chest to show his determination, "Sister-in-law, don't worry, if something goes wrong I will definitely not implicate you, I will just confess and admit my mistakes immediately, and I will not delay my classes."
Liang Baozhen was so annoyed by what her brother-in-law said that she brought it up to Xu Shengjie that evening.
At that time, Xu Shengjie was massaging his wife's legs. Liang Baozhen didn't walk as much as before, and her legs and feet would get sore from time to time. Xu Shengjie would massage her every now and then, but his hands were too strong, and his wife would often reject him even if he used only 50% of her strength.
"Be gentle." Liang Baozhen sat on the bed, looking at Xu Shengjie at the foot of the bed and scolding him, "You are the kind of person that grandma is talking about."
"I'm already the lightest." Xu Shengjie cried out that he was wronged. He would be scolded if he wasn't careful. Having too much strength is not always a good thing.
"Oh, by the way, I want to tell you something, but first, don't get impatient."
"What's going on? It's so mysterious, is it worth my getting angry?"
"Xiao Wei came to me this afternoon and said he wanted to participate in the city's youth table tennis competition."
"What kind of competition? Junior high school students playing?" Xu Shengjie knew about some table tennis competitions. Even the National Cotton Mill had organized internal competitions before. His father was a good table tennis player and won first place in the factory's table tennis competition. But teenagers also have competitions?
"Well, it's said to be a very formal competition. The best elementary and middle school students in the city are selected to participate. The prizes alone are not simple. A pair of red double happiness table tennis rackets and five red double happiness table tennis balls, plus ten kilograms of meat coupons."
"Xiao Wei wants to participate?"
"Yes, he has already found out. You have also seen that he no longer skips classes. He uses his break time to play ball. He is obsessed with it. It is rare for a child to have such a hobby. I think it is not easy for him."
Liang Baozhen mainly thought of Xu Shengwei in later life. He no longer had the youthful vigor and vitality he has today. He had become numb and mediocre, mechanically repeating the same work every day. His eyes were full of fatigue with life. He was like a completely different person.
But now it’s different when he talks about playing table tennis. His eyes are bright as if there is light in them.
"He's worried that you won't agree, so let me tell you first. He promises that he won't skip classes."
"His requirements are quite low." Xu Shengjie pulled up a smile. Other children would have to set a goal for how many points they would get in the exam if they encountered such a thing. But he had a simple goal - just not to skip classes.
"Do you agree?"
"Playing table tennis is not a sneaky thing, it's a good thing. I've seen Xiaowei's brain, he's not a good student, so it's good to have a hobby."
When Liang Baozhen heard this, she knew there was a chance! Her face immediately lit up with a smile that was like a delicate rose, dazzling Xu Shengjie's eyes.
"But I have a request." Xu Shengjie added.
"What?"
"Don't play if you can't get first place."
"What? First place?" Xu Shengwei was shocked when he heard what his sister-in-law said. His elder brother was too bold. He had heard from others that the students in the table tennis class at the Children's Palace were very good and some had practiced for many years. How could he get the first place?
Xu Shengjie passed by and patted his brother on the head, "If you don't have the determination to win first place in the competition, just quit."
This is what he learned when he was in the army. If you don't have confidence, just don't go. If you go, you must aim to be the first, and no one will give in to anyone else, and no one will submit to anyone else.
Xu Shengwei was inspired by his elder brother and stood at attention, saluting, "Comrade Xu Shengjie, I'll take first place!"
"You dare to call me by my full name?" Xu Shengjie rubbed his brother's short hair fiercely, "You are so disrespectful."
"hey-hey!"
Zhou Yun has been watching Xu Shengwei's performance these days. Her grandson has other advantages, but he is a man of his words. He never skipped classes again. As for participating in competitions, she did not interfere. She only had one requirement, that he must finish junior high school successfully.
The next day, when Liang Baozhen and Xu Shengjie took Xu Shengwei and Xu Shengya to the Children's Palace for swimming lessons, they also asked about the registration for the city's youth table tennis competition. There was a registration point at the Children's Palace, which Xu Shengwei had seen before. Registration required paying one yuan and taking a passport photo, and the child had to be accompanied by a parent and sign for confirmation.
"Comrade, we want to sign up for the city's youth table tennis competition. Should we sign up directly here?" Liang Baozhen asked at the front desk of the Children's Palace.
"Table tennis competition? Registration closed this morning."
"Ah? The deadline has already come?" Xu Shengwei suddenly became anxious, grabbing the edge of the front desk with both hands, looking nervous.
He clearly remembered that he had said the deadline was today, so isn't there still half a day left?
Not many people know about the city's youth table tennis competition, and even fewer are qualified to participate. In fact, the registration quota has not been filled yet, but there is only half a day left. The Education Bureau official who was waiting for registration here left early. No one else will come in half a day. Who knows... But she looked at the people in front of her. She didn't expect that there were still people coming to register at this time.
"Didn't we say the deadline is today? It's only a little after 1:00." Xu Shengjie patted his brother's head. "This kid loves playing table tennis and is looking forward to participating in this competition."
"Yes, Auntie, beautiful Auntie, can you help me?" Xu Shengwei's voice changed with anxiety. He just wanted to have a competition.
The female staff member at the Youth Palace couldn't help laughing when she was called "pretty auntie". She still shook her head and said, "There's really nothing I can do. The person in charge of registration has already left with the registration form. I really can't register now."
If she had known earlier, she would have persuaded people to stay for half a day longer. Who would have known that someone would actually come to sign up.
"So the next time will be this time next year?" Liang Baozhen asked.
"Yes, once a year."
"How long will it take?" Xu Shengwei sighed heavily, and the light in his eyes disappeared again.
Liang Baozhen wanted to ask her to think of a solution. According to the regulations, there was still half a day left, so why did they cancel the registration point first?
"Comrade Liang Baozhen?"
While they were talking, someone suddenly walked in from the gate of the Children's Palace. Liang Baozhen heard the voice and turned around to see that it was Yang Yan bringing her son Chaochao to class.
"Comrade Yang Yan, Comrade Chaochao, hello." Liang Baozhen greeted them and introduced them to Xu Shengjie. Xu Shengjie nodded at them. Xu Shengwei and Xu Shengya had met the mother and son several times before, so they greeted them obediently.
It’s just that Xu Shengwei was hit hard and was in a low mood, so his voice became much deeper.
"Hello, beautiful auntie!" Chao Chao also called out excitedly when he saw Liang Baozhen.
"Why are you here?" Yang Yan held her son's hand and saw Liang Baozhen standing at the front desk with her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, and next to them was a tall and handsome man.
Liang Baozhen explained the situation with some regret, "They said that we can't register. Look how depressed Xiaowei has become."
Yang Yan took a look at Xu Shengwei and found that he really looked like an eggplant hit by frost, wilted.
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