"Sister Xu, look at this land, how about we make a vegetable garden?" the neighbor led me to the open space under the hillside. This land has been barren for many years, but with a little care, it will surely turn into a good vegetable garden. The land was originally owned by the neighbors, but when they moved out, it was deserted. When I saw it, my heart was filled with joy, and I quickly thanked my neighbor.
So, with the help of my neighbors, I started to tidy up the garden. I plan to plant some common vegetables, vegetables and fruits to make life greener. Just as I was sweating profusely and weeding, my phone rang. At first glance, it was the daughter-in-law calling. I hesitated, but picked it up anyway.
My daughter-in-law asked on the phone about the weather, how my health was, and about my neighbors. I answered them all one by one, smiled and said yes. After chatting for a few words, she finally got to the point: "Mom, my mother went back to her hometown today." Juanjuan and Xiao Lei are asking when you will come back. When I heard this, my heart sank, and I didn't know how to answer.
I think of my life, I was born in 1962 in a small mountain village surrounded by green mountains, and my parents were hard-working farmers who lived on a few acres of thin fields. The family conditions are not good, there are many brothers and sisters, and I have never been to school since I was a child. In my memory, there is only the green field and the busy figure of my parents. When I grew up, I also started to help my parents work, support the family, and take care of my younger siblings. Although life is hard, I always hope that life can get better and better.
Later, I met my current husband, a simple farmer's child. Although we were not from a good family, we loved each other and soon got married. In 1987, we had a son, and in order to give him a better future, we went to Zhengzhou to work. I have worked in a factory, made clothes, and opened a restaurant, although it is hard, but thinking about my son makes me motivated.
It's a pity that my son is not a student and his results in the college entrance examination are not satisfactory, so he only went to three universities. We were worried that his income would not be high in the future and he would not be able to marry a daughter-in-law, so we had to continue to stay in Zhengzhou to make money. Who knows that fate makes people, in 2011, my husband was terminally ill, and we tried everything we could not save him. After he left, the family was even worse. But I know that I can't collapse, and I still have a son waiting for me to raise. So, I cheered up, worked harder, and saved money for my son's wife.
In 2013, the son finally got married. The bride price and the house are huge expenses, but for the sake of my son's happiness, I gritted my teeth and emptied my savings, and even sold the house left to us by my in-laws. Looking at my son's happy smile, I feel that everything is worth it.
Later, my grandson was born, and I quit my job to take care of him wholeheartedly. Watching him grow day by day, from a baby to a mischievous child, my heart is full of joy. Last year, my granddaughter also started school, and I thought it would be easier, but my daughter-in-law said that the expenses were too high and the salary was not enough to spend, and she wanted me to go out and find a job to help them pay off the mortgage. I thought about it and agreed. Now I work in the factory, and although it is hard, I feel satisfied that I can help my family.
Whenever there is a dead of night, I think of the old days, both bitter and sweet. But no matter what, I will continue to work hard for my family. It's just that sometimes, I feel homesick, I think about the newly opened vegetable garden, and I think about the familiar neighbors. Maybe one day, I will go back, to that small mountain village surrounded by green mountains, to the land that belongs to me.