Return To 1998

After three o'clock in the afternoon, Tongdao Xu scooped a bowl of old duck soup from the pot and soaked some rice.

Originally, his mother disagreed, but he insisted, and he was also 17 years old, and he would go out to find a job to earn money in a few days, so Ge ​​Xiaozhu agreed after hesitating.

The main reason is that the fever on her body has not subsided, and the whole person is indeed very tired.

The porch that needs to be protected from floods is very long. Xu Tongdao has already asked about the porch that the people of Xujia Village need to protect. It is in the village.

And the village...he knew where it was.

On the way to the village, he thought about what he should do in the next year or two.

First go to the county to find a job and earn some money, because the county is not far away and it is convenient to take care of the family.

When I have enough money, I will find a way to start a small business. As for what business?

He also has a few ideas in his heart, but because he has no capital to do it for now, he is not in a hurry to make a decision right away. In short, the most important thing in front of him is to have a stable income.

At least it can ensure that younger brothers and sisters can continue to study, and the whole family can eat and drink without worry.

Along the way, with these things in mind, he walked a dozen miles of muddy roads, and finally came to the village he remembered.

Not long after entering the village, the door of a low earth-walled latrine on the side of the road was pushed open.

A fat guy with a round head and a round head came out of the inside while wearing his trousers. As soon as he raised his head, he met Xu Tongdao's eyes.

The moment their eyes met, Tongdao Xu was stunned.

It's not because of how special this fat guy looks, but because the moment he saw this fat man, a memory that had long been sealed by Xu Tongdao suddenly opened up.

He was very familiar with the fat man in front of him.

They used to play together when they were kids.

But then we never played together again, because in 1998, this fat man, Xu Tonglin, died.

One died a long time ago and became young, and Tongdao Xu naturally gradually forgot about it later, and it is impossible to think about it often.

But the fat man in front of him... is still alive and well.

So the moment he saw Xu Tonglin just now, the hairs on Xu Tongdao's back stood up, and a kind of day-to-day terror suddenly exploded in his heart.

He didn't turn around and run immediately, he was already bold.

Huh? Xiaodao? You're here too? Hehe, not bad! It's good that you're here now, and finally someone is with me...hehe, that's great, great!

After Xu Tonglin was stunned, he quickly walked over with a smile on his face, stretched out his hand and wrapped his arms around Xu Tongdao's shoulder, smiling very happily.

He was the same age as Xu Tongdao, and they went to school together from childhood to adulthood.

At this time, Xu Tongdao's mind has stabilized.

Knowing that Xu Tonglin is not dead at this time, it is not that he is a ghost.

Of course, seeing the still alive Xu Tonglin again, Xu Tongdao's feelings are very complicated.

There is joy, and there is regret.

If possible, of course he wants to change Xu Tonglin's fate, and does not want him to die young at the age of 17.

In his memory, although Xu Tonglin was a little fat, he was a good person.

He is cheerful all day long, has no temper, and is still warm-hearted.

When they were kids, they played crazy together and spent almost all day together.

He remembered...Xu Tonglin was on duty on the polder for his father when he stumbled and fell into the river. When he was brought up, he was already dead.

when did you come?

Xu Tongdao asked Xu Tonglin.

Because he remembered that Xu Tonglin fell into the river and drowned on the first night that he went to the polder for his father.

Speaking of drowning, Tongdao Xu felt helpless.

Their Xujia Village is close to the Xihe River, which is dozens of miles long. The boy in the village is about his age.

Almost everyone learns to swim from a young age.

For example, he himself, learned at the age of 8.

But Xu Tonglin has never been able to learn it. Every time we go to the river to play, this guy always stays in the shallow water with the girls. He soaks in the water every summer, but he never learns to swim.

I came here in the morning, and it was my dad who went home. Someone asked my dad to do things. Hehe, let me come here to hang out.

Xu Tonglin wrapped his arms around Xu Tongdao's shoulders, and walked forward while talking carelessly.

His father was a bricklayer. Occasionally, someone would find someone to do something and earn money. Therefore, his father asked Xu Tonglin to come to the polder, which Xu Tongdao fully understood.

After all, going to the polder is an obligation, and there is no money to earn.

In the countryside, the adult labor force must be earning money first.

After all, to support a family.

But Xu Tongdao thought: If Xu Tonglin's father knew that Xu Tonglin went to the polder this time, he would die, and Xu Tonglin's father would definitely not let his son come to the polder.

Are you tired? From the morning until now... If you are tired, go home first! Let your mother come over and replace you.

Xu Tongdao tried to suggest to Xu Tonglin.

But Xu Tonglin laughed and shook his head, No need! I don't have anything to do on the polder anyway, I'll just hang out here for a few days, it's good! Hehe, it was a bit boring at first, but now that you're here, it's not good Well! Hehe...

Tongdao Xu couldn't think of any other way to persuade him for a while, so he had to give up, but he had already made up his mind that he would be by Xu Tonglin's side the whole way tonight.

...

When he followed Xu Tonglin to a large courtyard, he saw many people from Xujia Village at a glance.

Some men get together to smoke and chat, and some women sit together and chat about knitting sweaters, or shoe soles.

Seeing him and Xu Tonglin appearing together, many people looked over.

Most people looked at him with a strange feeling, looking up and down and re-examining.

Inquiries and ridicules are also thrown at me.

A man asked: Huh? Xiaodao, your kid has gone to the slaughter too? I heard that you bullied Jinshan today? Hey, I also heard that you beat that kid Xu Hengbing? Really? When are you going to eat it? Ruthless shit?

The other man chuckled lightly and said, Be careful what you say, be careful that this child is working hard with you...

A woman asked with a smile, Xiao Dao, where is your mother? Why did you let your child go to the polder?

...

Xu Tongdao just glanced at them calmly and didn't answer a word.

It's the same sentence: many years of hard days have long made him develop the habit of being reticent, and he doesn't like to talk unless it is necessary.

He and Xu Tonglin walked under the eaves, found a place, and sat on the ground with their backs against the wall. Xu Tonglin was still asking in a low voice, Hey, Xiaodao! Did you really beat Xu Hengbing's tortoise son today? Hey! You That's ok! That guy is usually sloppy, if I hadn't been afraid of not being able to beat him, I would have slashed him long ago!

Tongdao Xu smiled lightly, Who asked him to rob my house?