Nongben is passionate

The arrival of an opera troupe in the village was a big event in the whole Zhoutang—at that time, there were few recreational activities in the countryside, and listening to opera was a rare thing to be enjoyed by both refined and popular. It happened that the farm work was not busy at this time, and the arrival of the opera troupe was welcomed by the whole village. warm welcome.

The old stage was redecorated, and the beams were decorated with sea blue satin that ruined the waves. It was so old and faded, but the exquisite embroidery piping could still be seen. The entire stage was set against a huge blue curtain, with the It changes with the change of the series, and sometimes two Ming Dynasty official chairs are placed.

After lunch, all the people in the village, young and old, came early to occupy their seats with chairs and stools at home, and chatted affectionately when they met acquaintances, and they were all short-sighted.Well-informed hawkers set up stalls around the stage, selling the same things - tea eggs, spiced tofu, rice cakes with sauce, melon seeds, plums... the air is filled with the good smell of melon seeds, homemade sauce The taste mixed with ingredients and tea eggs attracts greedy children to look around frequently.

Choke—a sound of gongs and cymbals, the stage immediately fell silent, and then, the soundtrack actors used all their abilities to play and sing, and the erhu, sanxian and drums came densely—this is the opening of the play——

What is sung, children don’t understand at all, and the adults next to them will explain it—this is "Jade Hairpin", this is "Five Girls Blessing Birthday", who is this——children are usually interested in it. No big deal, I’ve heard it before, I just think those painted girls look so good dancing with sleeves, and that clown with a white nose is really funny, after a while, these can’t attract them any more, they start a new kind of adventure game——

The actors’ dressing room is located in a family’s house close to the stage. In the center of the hall, there are two crude dressing tables and three large red-lacquered wooden boxes, which are filled with the actors’ clothes, heads, and props. There are all kinds of costumes hanging in rows, making the originally spacious hall cramped and full of beauty——

Shuttle among those plain silk and satin costumes, the soft and slippery fabrics slide over your cheeks and fingers, and the fragrance blows against your face, as if you are drunk in a beautiful dream-those clothes are fluttering, pulling the female lead. Looking at the coat, the sleeves are longer than the body, and when it is shaken three times, the graceful soul is floating in the sleeves.

The three-day performance made the enthusiasm for opera singing in the village unprecedentedly high. You can often hear someone singing on the way back from the opera, or a woman singing a certain piece of music while cooking. Youth seems to be reborn. Returning to their overworked bodies—Guan Xiu is a representative of them—When she was young, she was very ambitious. She once took the exam for the Yue Opera Troupe, and it is said that she almost got in. Unfortunately, the dream is hard to come true—these days , as if bringing her back to her carefree girlhood, with a happy look on her face all day long.

However, fate always deals a fatal blow when people are most defenseless.

That day, Zhou Nansheng and Xie Xuan returned home after breaking up. It was the evening when the sky was full of sunset. Normally, Guan Xiu had already returned from work at this time, but that day he watched all the cartoons alone in his parents’ bedroom and did not wait for anyone’s attention. figure.He watched the sky darken little by little, and his heart panicked little by little-this has never happened before-he began to wonder if they were finally going to abandon him, even though he felt this idea It was ridiculous, but the tears still couldn't help overflowing.He wondered if something happened to them, he became an orphan no one wanted, he began to think about his life alone, he lay on his parents' big bed and wept silently until his tears dried up.He got up, dried his cheeks, went to the tap to wash his face, and went to the kitchen with red eyes to get himself something to eat—

When Xie Xuan found him, he was digging rice crusts to eat, and his ears turned red with embarrassment.

Xie Xuan said, "Nan Sheng, my grandma asked you to come to my house for dinner."

Zhou Nansheng asked, "Why?"

Xie Xuan couldn't tell the reason.

Zhou Nansheng lowered his eyes, and said angrily: "I won't go—" He didn't know why he was angry with Xie Xuan. They were obviously best friends, but Xie Xuan's invitation made him feel ashamed, a kind of feeling that he was abandoned by his parents. The shame of forgetting.

Xie Xuan was a little surprised: "Why, your parents are not at home, no one cooks for you—"

The fact that was pointed out made Zhou Nansheng annoyed, "Anyway, if I don't go, they will come back—"

Xie Xuan was at a loss for Zhou Nansheng's stubbornness. After a moment of silence, he gently took his hand and softened his voice, "Nansheng, go—"

Zhou Nansheng shook off his hand and turned his head.

Xie Xuan couldn't convince Zhou Nansheng, but he didn't leave, and the two began to stalemate in silence.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhou Nansheng finally showed signs of softening, and pushed Xie Xuan, "Go back—"

Xie Xuan took the opportunity to grab his sleeve, "Let's go together."

Zhou Nansheng puffed his face and didn't speak.Xie Xuan pulled him out, "Let's go, I'm hungry—" Zhou Nansheng was dragged by Xie Xuan, although his face was still full of reluctance, did he step out——

It was pitch black outside, there were no street lights, and the road was uneven, but the two held hands and were not afraid.

The lights are on in the kitchen, and warm yellow light pours out from the window and the door—the master is sitting at the table having a drink, the old lady is busy in the kitchen, and the conversation is faintly heard from inside—

The old lady said: "...such an honest person, how could such a thing happen, I can't even imagine—"

"I just said that there is such a crude equipment, something will happen sooner or later, is it right?"

"I heard that I was supposed to rest today, just to earn a few more dollars, alas—"

"Why hasn't San'er come back yet?"

"I asked him to call Nansheng's child. There is no adult in the family at the moment. You also know that Ah Song's wife is like her mother-in-law's enemy. Her mother-in-law has always been very partial. When something happens, do you remember the family's family?" Children don't know, poor children don't know anything when they're hungry—"

"As soon as the incident happened, Guoquan rode a tricycle to take him to the hospital. I reckon it should be in time—"

"As far as our small hospital is concerned, it is also a question of whether to accept it or not. Even if it is accepted, it may not be cured. I heard that it is serious, and the lungs have been punctured—"

The two children stood at the door, and Zhou Nansheng already knew that they were talking about his father. Tears welled up in his eyes, but he resisted it, and the panic and confusion in his heart did not show on his face.

Xie Xuan squeezed his hand tightly, the palm was sticky with sweat, and he yelled into the room: "Grandma—"

The conversation inside came to an abrupt end, and the old lady beckoned them in, "Come on, Nan Sheng, let's eat here today and sleep with San'er tonight, okay?" She then asked Xie Xuan, "Let's eat dinner together and take Nan Sheng away." Bring back the student's schoolbag, and we will go to school together tomorrow morning, you know?"

Xie Xuan nodded and looked at Zhou Nansheng.

Zhou Nansheng remained silent, but tears were already streaming down his cheeks.The old lady wiped away the tears on his face with slightly rough but warm hands, "Why are you crying, your parents are unable to come back today because of something, so they are staying at your grandma's house, just like your own home, aren't you and San'er the best friends?" -"

The meal was spent between the old lady's constant persuasion and Zhou Nansheng's silent cooking.

At night, the two children slept on a big bed, covered with a quilt. At that time, the sky was already getting cold, and it was raining lightly outside.The two who had always had endless conversations were staring at the top of the bed.

After a long time, it was so long that Xie Xuan thought that Zhou Nansheng had fallen asleep, so he turned around and turned his side out of the bed.Xie Xuan also turned around cautiously, and gently pushed his shoulder, "Nan Sheng?"

Zhou Nansheng didn't move.

Xie Xuan pushed again, "Nan Sheng, what are you thinking?"

Zhou Nansheng sniffed, but still didn't speak.

Xie Xuan realized that he might be crying, so she put her arms up, leaned over to look at his face, and asked hesitantly, "Nan Sheng?"

Zhou Nansheng twisted his body and buried his face completely in the mattress under him.

Xie Xuan couldn't tell what was going on in his heart, so he lay back on his seat, silently rested his forehead on Zhou Nansheng's back, and said softly, "It's okay, Nansheng, it's okay—" In fact, he didn't know that Zhou Nansheng what are you talking about.

While the two children were cuddling each other, Zhou Nansheng's father, Zhou Zhisong, died on the way to the municipal hospital.

Zhou Nansheng only learned the news after returning home from school the next day.

For Zhou Nansheng at that time, death was a very distant and unfamiliar term.He couldn't even really feel the impact and grief of the death of his close relatives, and he was in a daze, being reminded by those adults dressed up like marionettes.

Funerals in rural areas are always grand and noisy, and the cries of the mourners are carefully choreographed and have a unique rhythm. Zhou Nansheng’s mother, grandma, and aunt cried so much that they almost fainted several times, and they were supported and persuaded. Go on, but the real sadness - Zhou Nansheng really doesn't know - he didn't cry.

The grown-ups may feel that the child does not really understand that kind of grief, and they are very tolerant towards him. He still does not know what kind of ups and downs a child without a father will encounter in his future life. He just hates those sympathizers. Compassionate gaze.

On the day of the funeral, the old lady took Xie Xuan to eat the funeral wine. On her arm was a small rectangular black cloth with a small white velvet flower on it.At the wine table, all the relatives and relatives of the deceased arrived, eating and drinking, very lively.Xie Xuan found it strange that this was death——

Zhou Nansheng asked for leave, and his mother took him to live at his grandmother's house, but he couldn't leave his studies behind. A week later, he came back—as if he had lost weight a lot, and his black eyes became deeper and brighter, hiding many, many things on his mind. I can't say anything.The child who was originally flying and jumping suddenly became silent, as if he had grown up by several years.

That day, when it was raining, Zhou Nansheng came to find Xie Xuan, and the two of them came to the old stage where they had always played. The beams seem to be a bit older again.

The two sat side by side on the stage, with their legs hanging down, kicking lightly. The rain fell from the top of their heads, forming a line, and patted their sandals on their feet, washing away the mud and sand.

Zhou Nansheng gave Xie Xuan the orange candy his grandmother bought for him, and said, "San'er, I don't have a father anymore."

Xie Xuan propped his hands on both sides of his body. Hearing this, the sweet and soft orange candy in his mouth became bitter.