Return To 1998

There were footsteps behind him, Xu Tongdao looked back and saw that it was Xu Changsheng walking towards him. Seeing him turn back, Xu Changsheng squeezed out an unnatural smile and shouted Xiaodao!.

Tongdao Xu had seen a lot of similar smiles when he returned to the village this time.

When most people in the village saw him, they subconsciously squeezed out a smile to greet him.

It's just an unnatural smile anyway.

It's not the kind of smile that comes from the heart, it's just that when they see him, those people seem to think they should give him a smile.

Kind of like trying to win his favor.

This kind of feeling reminded Xu Tongdao of those shy girls in his student days. In his impression, those shy girls were used to smiling a little when they met people.

It was also from that time that Tongdao Xu himself stopped laughing very much.

Because he saw from those shy smiles that those people lacked confidence in their hearts and always wanted to please others with their smiles.

And his fellow Xu did not want to be such a person.

You came to find me?

Xu Tongdao asked Xu Changsheng.

After asking, after thinking for a while, he took out his cigarette case and handed one to Xu Changsheng.

It has been almost two years since he was reborn, and he has not stopped himself, and has created a career that makes everyone who knows him look at him.

But Xu Changsheng... has not changed in the past two years.

The most obvious change is probably the present Xu Changsheng, whose face is a bit darker than two years ago.

In the past two years, the news that Xu Changsheng has occasionally heard about Xu Changsheng has not changed. Xu Changsheng still sometimes goes to the construction site to do small jobs, earn money and turn it in, or he just stays at home to do laundry, cook, etc. Doing everything, serving his father, his stepmother, and the children born by his father and his stepmother.

Saying he is a servant is a flattery.

Because the servant was paid, and Xu Changsheng was doing the servant's work, and he had to go out to earn money.

Simply a slave.

When you come back this time, how many days are you going to stay?

Xu Changsheng lowered his head and lit his cigarette and asked in a low voice.

Tongdao Xu also ordered one.

Leave tomorrow morning, what? Do you need my help?

For Xu Changsheng, Xu Tongdao always mourned his misfortune and angered him.

He sympathized with Xu Changsheng psychologically, but Xu Changsheng's old scalper-like temperament made him not want to help him.

Because he knew that even if he gave Xu Changsheng a chance to earn money, he would still take it back and hand it over to his father and his stepmother when he turned around and made money.

At most, he could only help Xu Changsheng win a few smiles and a few compliments from his father and his stepmother.

Maybe Xu Changsheng would be happy.

But Tongdao Xu felt that this would harm him instead. He didn't want to see Xu Changsheng in this life, just like the previous life, silently paying for that family until he was in his thirties. When it was time to get married, he gave it to his father before. And the money from his stepmother, he can't get a penny back.

He hoped that Xu Changsheng could jump out of that deep pit and recognize the reality sooner.

Unfortunately, he persuaded Xu Changsheng two years ago, but it was useless more than once.

Now that two years have passed, Xu Changsheng still doesn't seem to wake up.

In this regard, Xu Tongdao was quite disappointed with him.

This is probably the old saying: poor people must have something to hate, right?

Xu Changsheng lowered his head and blew his cigarette, looked up at Xu Tongdao, and asked hesitantly, Xiao, Xiaodao, do you still need someone there? Can I, I, can I go to work at your place?

There was hope in his eyes.

Tongdao Xu paused while pinching the cigarette, squinting at him, and after a few seconds, Do you still hand in the money you earn now?

Xu Changsheng was stunned, nodded silently, and hummed.

Tongdao Xu smiled slightly and shook his head slightly, Then I don't have any work for you here. Isn't it good for you to do small jobs? You can still exercise.

Saying that, Tongdao Xu also stretched out his hand and pinched the muscles on his arm, and said with a smile, Look, these muscles are strong, such a good job, do you still want to change? You are not blessed when you are in happiness?

Xu Changsheng looked embarrassed, his face flushed with embarrassment, he opened his mouth, and finally said in a low voice, I'm too tired, I want to change to a lighter job.

how old are you?

Tongdao Xu suddenly asked him.

21 ah

Xu Changsheng thought it was strange, but he answered smoothly.

22 years later?

Yes! I'm two years older than you, have you forgotten? Xu Changsheng felt even more strange.

Tongdao Xu smiled and raised his chin slightly at him, Then, when you go back later, tell your parents that you have talked about a person, get married next year, and ask for 10,000 yuan as a dowry, see what they say. , to see if they give you money.

Xu Changsheng was stunned.

He frowned slowly, then shook his head, No way, my family doesn't have much money now, and life is not easy. They definitely don't have any money for me, so there's no need to ask, really!

Xu Tongdao was silent for a while, thinking that this was reasonable.

Then he asked, How many years do you think your family will give you money to get married? Three years later? Five years later? Or ten years?

Xu Changsheng opened his mouth, but he was speechless, and the sadness on his face became heavier.

Some things, in fact, he just didn't think about it, or he didn't want to think about it. If he really thought about it, he actually knew the answer in his heart.

After a while, Xu Changsheng lowered his head and said in a muffled voice, It is estimated that after my brother gets married, the family will have the money to marry me...

Tongdao Xu knew that the younger brother he was talking about was the child of his father and his stepmother.

He was at least six or seven years younger than Xu Changsheng, maybe more than that.

Xu Changsheng is now 21 years old, and his younger brother seems to be still in junior high school. He will not be able to marry him until his younger brother gets married... One can imagine how many years it will take.

Tongdao Xu sighed softly, raised his hand and patted Xu Changsheng on the shoulder, People don't kill themselves for their own sake, Changsheng! We are brothers, that's why I told you this, you should plan for yourself, you always turn in whatever money you earn. , have you thought about what you will do in the future? You are already 21, it's time to mature! Don't be too naive, don't entrust your destiny to others, do you know what I mean?

Xu Changsheng was speechless, lowered his head and smoked a cigarette, one puff after another.

After a long time, he whispered: I don't want to pay it either, but every time I earn money and go back, the whole family forces me to pay it, otherwise I can't do it, Xiaodao, you are not me, you don't know I have How difficult...

Tongdao Xu shook his head, You are all excuses. If you are really determined, no one will do anything to you. What position do you have in that family? Do you really want to serve them all your life? Be a servant. feel so good?

Xu Changsheng continued to lower his head and smoked a cigarette. After a few seconds, he raised his head and looked at Tongdao Xu, Xiaodao, then tell me, what should I do? I'll listen to you, can you show me the way?

Xu Tongdao was a little surprised, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he looked at him firmly, Do you really listen to me?

Xu Changsheng nodded vigorously.