Chapter 625: Rags
April 29, 1984, Sunday.
Ning Weimin, who was used to being busy, did not want to waste time and stayed at home to rest.
On this day, he made an appointment with someone from the ancient construction team to look at the house in No. 5 Dongsisi Tiao Yard, and asked for help in calculating the cost and duration of the yard project.
I didn’t expect to catch up with the Zhai family moving.
As Ning Weimin drove his car far away, he saw a 130 truck parked at the door of No. 5 Courtyard. Several strangers were coming in and out, moving furniture onto the truck.
There are no professional moving companies these days. Needless to say, it goes without saying that they should all be people hired by the Zhai family to help.
Wait until Ning Weimin and the people from the ancient construction team entered the hospital again.
As expected, I saw Old Man Zhai’s sons and daughters-in-law, all busy packing up the remaining scattered things.
They were still packing the things they were going to take away into cartons, which were all packaging boxes brought back from commercial units.
There is "Ta brand" soap, "White Cat" washing powder, "White Rabbit" milk candy, and "Chun brand" glue...
The Zhai family has become like Ning Weimin at this time. They were very familiar with each other. The eldest son of the Zhai family and his wife outside the door greeted Ning Weimin cordially when they saw him entering the hospital.
In their eyes, Ning Weimin is no less than a god in the sky, a noble person who specializes in bringing them wealth and blessings.
However, the strange thing is that Uncle Zhai was not very happy to see him, the donor who had been paying him money every month since then.
He just nodded perfunctorily, and turned around and entered the house without saying a single polite word.
It was as if Ning Weimin had offended him.
Ning Weimin was confused, and just as he was wondering, the sound of conversation coming from inside the room made him understand what was going on.
“Dad, it’s a shame that we had to move and we didn’t know that there was so much garbage hidden in our house. Look at you, why do you keep everything? You can’t even throw away an empty cookie box! After eating the sauce tofu, put the bottle away After cleaning it, stuff it under the bed! Why don't we clean it up for you and sell it for scrap..."
"Nonsense, it's worth it. Wan Guan. Are you going to throw away such a good pot? Are you like this?"
"Oh, my dad, look at this pot for yourself. The bottom is almost leaking. Besides, this is a big pot for a country stove. I wonder why you kept it in your home. Let me count them for you one by one. This bundle is full of rags. These are the rags we wore when we were young, as well as our shoes, bibs, and curtains, as well as this tattered sheepskin coat, this is my grandfather. You used to wear sheep outside your mouth, right? They attracted bugs..."
Judging from the voice, the person who had a dispute with Uncle Zhai over the issue of keeping old things was the second son of the Zhai family.
Their conflicts obviously arise from the different life attitudes and values of the two generations.
There are some things that the younger generation thinks are useless and they want to throw them away, but Uncle Zhai is distressed and refuses to agree.
Needless to say, Uncle Zhai must have a bad look because Ning Weimin was the initiator of this move.
Soon, the second son of the Zhai family not only talked about it, but also started to throw it away.
He opened the door and saw tattered clothes, tattered shoes, tattered socks, old iron boxes, cotton covers, expired pills...
One by one they flew into the courtyard.
Ning Weimin couldn't help but feel ridiculous when he saw the patches on those broken things and smelled a musty smell at the same time.
Naturally, he was on the side of the second son of the Zhai family.
Xin said that these things cannot be kept.
No wonder the second son of the Zhai family took such action to deal with this stubborn old man.
Otherwise, this place will become a scrap station sooner or later.
But Uncle Zhai’s voice in the room became even more excited because of this.
"You bastard, you are rebelling! Pick up all the things for me!"
"Dad, if you don't get rid of the old, you won't get the new. I'm not saying that it's not good to be thrifty. But you These things are of no use at all. What are they? Let me clean it up for you and make this house clean and spacious. What do you want? I will buy you new ones later..."
"The new ones are new, and the old ones can't be thrown away. These things have been with me all my life, why do you just throw them away at my request! You guys are too lenient. You move your own things when you move, don't touch me. What are you doing?"
"Dad, you are so confused! You really take people's kind words seriously. This is not our home from now on, Manager Ning. You're just here to look after the house. If we can't even save the house we built ourselves, we'll have to tear it all down. You don't think you can keep these rags, do you?"
Ning Weimin felt a little embarrassed when he heard that he was involved.
Wondering whether to open the door and go in to explain something and help smooth things over.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he reached the door of the house, another small shoe worn by a child flew out and hit him.
What was even more unexpected was that immediately after, Uncle Zhai tremblingly chased him out.
The old man hurriedly picked up the shoes from the ground as if he were grabbing them. The moment he raised his head and met Ning Weimin's eyes, the old man sighed.
Ning Weimin saw that the old man's eyes were red, revealing unspeakable grievance and desolation.
He couldn't bear it, and just when he was thinking of saying something to the old man, Uncle Zhai cursed into the room full of anger.
"Asshole! You beast! How dare you throw away these shoes! Your deceased mother made them for you with her own hands. She sewed until two o'clock in the morning every day, lit a lamp and boiled oil for three days before making them. Which of you brothers didn’t wear it when you were young! If you dare to touch my things again, I will sever the relationship between you and my son today!”
Seeing the old man stroking the shoes lovingly in his hands, he walked into the house reluctantly and heartbroken.
Ning Weimin froze instantly. He no longer thought there was anything funny about this scene. I just felt my nose was a little sore, and I felt a heavy pressure on my heart.
He could no longer say any nice words to reassure people, or to look away.
At this moment, someone suddenly greeted him at the second door.
Ning Weimin turned around and saw that it was the old lady's family who sold him the house.
Today, it’s not just the old lady’s eldest daughter who is accompanying her.
The old lady’s second daughter’s family, as well as her grandson, son, daughter, and a dozen or so people all came.
Ning Weimin was a little confused about such a massive move. He didn't understand until he came over to greet him and chatted for a few words.
After the old lady Qingqing completed the real estate transaction, she felt terribly uncomfortable these days and was reluctant to part with the house.
Later I heard that everyone in the courtyard had almost moved out, so today I brought my whole family here to say goodbye formally to the courtyard.
I want my two girls who grew up in this hospital to have a look at the environment they lived in when they were young.
Also like letting the grandchildren see the place where their mother grew up.
No, the old lady, surrounded by her children, had just made her final inspection of the courtyard.
Probably because he was touched by the scene, there were still tears on the old man's face.
Her two daughters also looked lonely and sad.
However, children's emotions are obviously different from adults.
Not knowing the cause and effect, they just regarded this visit as a normal visit.
I was even a little impatient with the old, stale and empty courtyard, and they all clamored to go home.
"Grandma, let's go home. This is not fun."
"Yeah, where is the park for fun? Let's go home, I still want to watch TV..."
"Grandma, I'm hungry, we should go back to eat..."
The old lady couldn't take care of these little ones for the time being, and solemnly entrusted her to Ning Weimin.
"Mr. Ning, you are more capable than us. It is also a blessing for this yard to fall into your hands. We will not let us ruin it. I can rest assured that this yard will be entrusted to you from now on." I heard that you are going to repair this small courtyard? Then I have a cruel request. After the repair is completed, can I...can I come and see it again? "
The old man's words revealed life. The helplessness and emotional attachment made Ning Weimin unconsciously feel the sourness of pity.
He quickly promised happily.
"No problem, aunt, you can come anytime you want to see this yard. From now on, Uncle Zhai will help me and stay to take care of this yard. We are not strangers. It can happen at any time. It's very convenient for you to come..."
"That's good, that's good," the old lady forced a smile, then looked back at the hanging flower door and the crabapple tree in the yard.
At the end of April, it is the time when the two Xifu crabapples are in full bloom.
The empty courtyard, with butterflies flying and sparrows chirping, is already a scene of bright spring and abundant flowers.
The old man murmured to himself, "What a wonderful courtyard, what a wonderful courtyard. Children, you should all take a good look. This was once a home, our home..."
As he said this, another two lines of tears fell.
"Auntie, you..." Ning Weimin asked with concern.
"It's okay, I'm okay...Mr. Ning, let's meet again."
The old lady rubbed her face, supported by her two daughters.
This time he really turned around and ran towards the courtyard door.
Looking at the old man's trembling back, Ning Weimin felt really confused and uncomfortable.
Looking at the chaotic scene in front of Zhai's house again, he suddenly realized that the happiness he was pursuing did not actually exist, and his self-feeling was a bit too good.
It is difficult to achieve a complete relocation at all, at least the old people will not be as happy as the young people.
He couldn't bear it, and suddenly he had an idea and chased after him again.
"Auntie, please stay. We are bringing a camera to take pictures of the house today. You can also take a few photos to keep in mind..."
This sound was like a magical spell, making the old man stop immediately. Turn around.
"Mr. Ning, you...you...thank you, thank you..."
Soon, the old lady and her family returned to stand in front of the Chuihua Gate.
The camera, controlled by Ning Weimin himself, freezes a family portrait in the lens.
The old man's sad expression finally eased, and he showed a smile that was either relief or gratitude.
(End of this chapter)