C13 The Mountains and Rivers of the Poor

In my memory, in this poverty-stricken countryside, the warmest thing is the smoke curling around the roof, the most touching thing is the autumn sunset, the golden figure of the peasants bowing and working …

We lived in the suburbs of the city. Neither of our parents had a job, and they used to earn pocket money from odd jobs. The only property was a few acres of land, and every year's income was nothing but expenses. Although the parents of the two families were busy, they could only barely keep their mouths shut.

In those years, our lives had been difficult, but then we had been very happy, playing together most of the time except when we were in school. The quiet sunset in the fields was warmer and more beautiful than it was now. Two small hearts like Tong Xin and I were together every day, running and laughing and making noise, forever playing. Tongxin was gentle and dexterous, and I was not as introverted as I was now. In my memory, many boys did not dare to fight me. They always became so gentle and friendly in front of me.

My father, Wu Jingxiang, and Zhu Tongxin's father, Zhu Zicheng, are hard-working and honest rural people. Our friendship has always been deep. But then they went to the construction site and worked as construction workers.

Because my father and Uncle Zhu Ziwen were always so unlucky, either they couldn't catch the business opportunity or they accidentally capsized. In the end, they could only go to the construction site nearby and work there. Afterwards, they could only go out year in and year out, constantly changing the construction site. It was very tiring and tiring.

However, the two of them had always been partners, but they still struggled to stay together. Such brother-like feelings were very common in the countryside. They were like comrades lying in the same trenches, their fates linked together. They were so busy every year that they rarely had a chance to return home and reunite with us. It was no exaggeration to say that their footprints had already traversed the entire land of our great motherland. Whenever I thought of these things, my heart would be filled with an endless sense of gratitude towards them.

Because I believe that in the minds of countless ordinary labourers, the meaning of the great motherland lies in providing them with the opportunity and equal dignity to work.

My father and Uncle Zhu had not been overwhelmed by the burden of life on this difficult road to life. Gradually they learned some real skills at the construction site, and they also got to know some builders, and they began to contact the workers for them. After a few more years of development, their careers began to get on the right track. They contracted some small construction sites and accumulated a lot of labor resources, which allowed them to have some decent income.

The two hardworking middle-aged men worked with the same workers every day. They understand the minds of these poor people and always think for them. Of course, these poor people also earned real money for them. In this way, our careers have grown, and our families have become wealthier.

Uncle Zhu was quick with his words, and he specialized in engineering. My father was a man who could get along well with the workers. He was also a man of culture, because he had attended junior high school for two years. He personally looked at the blueprints and was responsible for technical problems. He was always busy working on the construction site, and it was still very difficult for him.

In the blink of an eye, we had rented a house, bought a car, and even had some savings. However, this was still nothing compared to those real estate agents, but we were already very satisfied. As the simplest laborer, they were still living a simple life.

As I thought about this, I thought about how my father was always busy day and night after he left early and came back late. I felt a sour feeling in my heart as I lived in the sun and the wind outside.

Looking at Zhu Tong who was already walking in front of me, I suddenly felt that I was in the same boat as her …

The golden sun had already set below the treetops, and our two huge shadows overlapped on the road. The trees along the roadside stood quietly, and the fields in the distance were mottled with snow. In this quiet and peaceful world of nature, Zhu Tong's heart seemed to have become the center of the world. I thought, what is the setting sun? It gave the world a fleeting halo and warmth, but far from the people's hearts of the beautiful throbbing. I still followed behind her, so that I could stare at her figure for a long time, her beauty for the sunset decorations more graceful.

I waved goodbye to her after she had left me at the mouth of her alley. In the last rays of the sunset, I went home alone. I ride the bicycle powerfully, I feel that my body seems to have countless jumping flames, and Zhu Tong's heart is the motivation for endless hot blood.

I can feel what my heart really needs, and I don't know when it has begun its pursuit, it is full of endless energy for its prey, full of the infinite vision of the future, and I have a hundred reasons to believe that this vigorous fire of youth can melt all the difficulties on the way.

I looked up to see a flock of birds flying in the last rays of the setting sun, and I knew it was spring coming for me, and the warm sun would melt the last of the snow.