The Siheyuan of the Young Educated Youth

Qi Feifei left the department store in a hurry.

I originally wanted to visit more places and buy more things, but now I’m not in the mood.

Walking aimlessly along the road.

Scenes from childhood to adulthood appeared before my eyes.

As far as I can remember, my mother has always been indifferent to me.

I remember it was a summer afternoon. I ran back from outside with my brother. Both children were sweating and their faces were as red as ripe tomatoes.

My brother rushed into the room first and hugged my mother's waist.

Little Feifei followed behind, happily shouting "Mom, Mom."

The mother cursed, "Where have you two been in the middle of the day? Aren't you afraid of getting a heat stroke? Hurry up and take a shower."

As she spoke, she grabbed her brother's hand and dragged him to wash his face.

The enamel basin filled with water with peony flowers sparkled brightly in the sun.

Mom scooped up handfuls of water and washed my brother's face, neck, hands and arms.

Then he took a towel, wrung it dry, and wiped his brother's chest and back.

Then he washed his legs and feet.

There was love in my mother's eyes when she looked at my brother.

At that moment, the mother was gentle and kind, radiating the radiance of motherhood.

Little Feifei was very excited, and she also wanted to walk into that light.

There is warmth like the sun.

She stood in the sun and waited.

But after my mother finished washing my brother, she took his hand and went into the house.

"You've been running all afternoon. Go get some sleep and don't run around anymore."

My brother was forced by my mother to lie on the big bed with a mat.

His mother lay on her side beside him, fanning him.

Little Feifei silently lowered her eyes and pursed her lips.

But tears have a will of their own.

It jumped to the ground by itself, creating a bunch of plum blossoms. It jumped into the basin of water by itself, splashing slight ripples, and then disappeared.

Little Feifei was sweating profusely and holding his breath.

He picked up the big washbasin, staggered over to pour out the dirty water, and then fetched another basin of water for himself.

I washed my face, hands, arms, and then my hair.

By the end of washing, the clothes were wet and the child became like a drowned rat.

Mom has fallen asleep with my brother.

Little Feifei sat in the sun, wet and waiting to dry himself.

One winter afternoon, my brother came home from school, dropped his schoolbag and ran outside, having made an appointment with his friends to have a snowball fight.

Xiao Feifei also wanted to follow, so she took a step towards the door.

My mother, sitting on the bed, said as she sewed a cotton-padded jacket.

"You are not a child anymore, don't go out and have fun all the time, there are a lot of housework waiting to be done at home.

From now on, cook when you get home from school. Don’t always wait for others to tell you what to do. As a girl, you need to be smart.

After cooking, I wash my clothes. I have to wash them immediately after taking off a set of clothes, otherwise, the set will get dirty and I will have to change into something else. "

Little Qi Feifei went to the kitchen silently, drank the bone-chilling water, and her little hands turned red from the cold.

After washing the cabbage, he took the big and heavy kitchen knife and clumsily cut it into uneven shreds.

Outside the window came the sounds of children's noise, shouting and laughter.

Before I knew it, I was not only cleaning the house, but also cooking, washing clothes, and sewing...

Everything became Xiao Qi Feifei's job.

Every day when the school bell rings, Qi Feifei is the first one to rush home because there is a pile of housework waiting for her.

……

In the mother's mouth, boys and girls are different.

Boys will have to set up their own family in the future, eat well and grow up well.

As a younger sister, you should give in to your older brother in everything.

The rice and flour at home should be given to my father and brother, and the snacks at home should be given to my father and brother...

In short, all the good things at home should be given to my father and brother.

The cloth was used to make new clothes for her brother. It was her turn only when her brother had small and worn clothes.

Mom always said that the family was in financial difficulty, and Qi Feifei had always been very sensible and never asked for anything.

We lost contact until my brother went to work in a factory and I went to the countryside.

My mother clearly said at that time that all the money in the family was used to arrange a job for my brother.

In less than half a year, my brother got married, and I heard that there was another three turns and one ring.

As I recall, my father was always busy at work. On his days off, he would either work or play chess next door. He rarely stayed idle at home.

My father is a quiet person. He doesn't talk much and doesn't take care of things.

Qi Feifei could no longer remember what her father had said to her.

My brother is a simple and honest person, and he always believes whatever my mother says.

The one who loved me the most in that family was my elder brother. Sometimes he would secretly give me some of the delicious food that my mother gave him.

Do I still want to go back to that home?

Qi Feifei asked himself over and over again.

Want to go back?

Want to go back?

Want to go back?

It seems that my brother still wants to go home today, but why did I have no news from him for so many years in my previous life?

Qi Feifei waited until dark, put all her things into the courtyard, changed into her usual clothes, and took the bus back to the Qi family's home.

He was carrying two cans of food and two bottles of malted milk.

When Qi Feifei stepped into the house.

The family is having dinner.

On the table was cabbage and potato soup, steamed bread and a dish of fermented tofu.

Qi Feifei took the initiative to shout, "Dad, Mom, Brother, I'm back."

Several people stopped eating.

Qi Guoliang stood up, a little embarrassed, "Fei Fei, you haven't eaten yet? Wash your hands and eat."

He held the chopsticks in one hand, looking a little helpless.

Chen Cuiying looked at Qi Feifei and continued eating. "If you haven't eaten yet, go get a pair of chopsticks yourself. It's not like you're not eating."

Qi Dahe looked at Qi Feifei without saying anything.

Xu Xiaoping glanced at Qi Feifei from head to toe, then looked at his mother-in-law, without saying a word.

Qi Feifei, "No need, I've eaten, you guys eat now!

Brother, please sit down and eat, it will get cold soon."

Chen Cuiying, "I told you not to wait for her, just eat quickly, it's getting dark, and you still have to light a lamp and stay up late, it's a waste of money."

Several people finished their meal quickly.

Chen Cuiying picked up the bowls and washed them before coming out.

At this time, the room was quiet, everyone was sitting and no one spoke.

Chen Cuiying sat down. "You were not in the production team, why did you come back? You will be punished if you sneak away."

Qi Feifei, "I didn't sneak back here. I came here to help a friend."

In fact, she really came back secretly, without a letter of introduction. Anyway, she didn't take the train or stay in a hotel.

Everyone knew that she went to the mountains every day and never went out of the production team. It was common for her to not be seen for several days.

Chen Cuiying, "Then you live with your friend? There is no place to live at home. You can see that your brother got married and there are only two rooms. There is no place for people to live."

Qi Feifei looked at her toes and said, "I'll come back to take a look and then leave. I have to go to my friend's place later. We have to go back tomorrow."

Qi Guoliang looked at his mother and then at his wife. He wanted Feifei to stay at home for one night. It was a rare occasion for her to come back. He could go to the duty room of the unit and spend time with his colleagues.

But neither of them gave him a good look.