In that quiet alley, the afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on every inch of old green bricks, and the locust trees at the entrance of the alley looked particularly old. On the bench under the locust tree, Uncle Zhao's figure looked a little lonely, his complexion was not as ruddy as usual, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes seemed to be a little more than last month.
"Uncle, why is your face so bad today?" Passing through the alley, Liu Hai couldn't help but ask with concern.
Uncle Zhao smiled bitterly and shook his head: "It's nothing, maybe the old mistake has been done again." ”
As a long-time friend in the neighborhood, Liu Hai has long heard that Uncle Zhao has liver disease. Liu Hai knew that whenever the disease attacked, Uncle Zhao would fall into a deep helplessness, and the heavy burden of medical expenses made this approachable old man even more anxious.
"Uncle Zhao, I have some savings, do you want me to help you put some on first?" Liu Hai asked tentatively, his eyes revealing sincere concern.
Uncle Zhao smiled reluctantly and sighed: "Bangs, this month's medicine fee is almost out of order, and I don't want to trouble you." ”
Through the silent snort, Liu Hai felt Uncle Zhao's hesitation and helplessness. In this alley, which is not wealthy, every family has their own livelihood to be busy, and although there is warmth between them, few people really idle so much cash.
On a few idle afternoons, Liu Hai often accompanied Uncle Zhao to bask in the sun at the entrance of the alley, listening to him tell interesting stories about his youth in the past, and the ups and downs of the old days. Uncle Zhao's stories are always full of emotions, including joy, regret, and reluctance. Now, looking at Uncle Zhao's withering figure, Liu Hai really can't bear it.
Finally, late one night, Uncle Zhao knocked on Bangs' door. He held the thick medical record in his hand, and his voice was a little choked: "Bangs, I really can't help it, this time the doctor said that if you don't treat it quickly, I'm afraid it will..."
Liu Hai was silent for a while, and then firmly interrupted Uncle Zhao's words: "Uncle, don't say it, I'll go to the bank with you later." ”
In the morning light, the two walked into the door of the bank one after the other. The ATM made a "buzzing" sound, accompanied by the counting of freshly baked hundred-dollar bills. Liu Hai handed the money to Uncle Zhao and only said, "Uncle, you can rest assured that you can treat your illness." ”
Uncle Zhao's hand trembled slightly, and he was just about to speak, but Liu Hai interrupted with a smile: "Don't be in a hurry to speak, hurry up and go to the hospital, let's go, let's go together." ”
Uncle Zhao looked at the back of his bangs fading away, and his moist eyes couldn't hide the gratitude and reluctance in his heart. At the end of the alley, the warmth of friendship grows stronger in the morning dew. Three years have passed in a hurry, and in this quiet alley, many things seem to be the same, but Uncle Zhao's bedside no longer has his warm smile. The sad news hung over the alley like a haze. Uncle Zhao passed away unexpectedly due to complications from liver disease.
When Liu Hai received the news, he didn't know what to do for a while. Years of neighbors, full of human feelings, now only memories remain. He collected his emotions, and with a heart full of sadness and a bouquet of white chrysanthemums, he walked on Uncle Zhao's way home.
When I arrived at Zhao's house, there was an endless stream of people who came to mourn. Zhao Qiangsheng was busy greeting relatives and friends who had come to mourn, and although he had just experienced the heaviest blow in his life, he still tried to maintain his composure.
"Zhao Qiangsheng, your father...... He's a good guy. Bangs stepped forward, and the sad words were almost choked.
When Zhao Qiangsheng saw the bangs, a trace of complexity flashed in his eyes, and then he said: "Uncle Liu, my father always mentions you, saying that you are the best neighbor he has ever met in his life." ”
The two looked at each other speechlessly, and the air seemed to be filled with unspoken silence. A son's nostalgia for his father, a neighbor's remembrance of a friend, at such a moment, all words seem so powerless.
After the funeral, Zhao Qiangsheng found Liu Hai and had two thick envelopes in his hand: "Uncle Liu, this is what my father specially explained before his death, and he said that he must give it to you personally." ”
Bangs fluttered for a moment, and a strange premonition rose in his heart for no reason. He sighed heavily and took the envelope: "Your father...... Does he have any other instructions?"
"Dad has been thinking about the 80,000 yuan, and he has been working hard in the past few years to pay you back as soon as possible. Zhao Qiangsheng's voice was firm and full of respect.
Liu Hai was moved in his heart, he knew Uncle Zhao's personality, honesty and integrity, and he valued love and righteousness. He opened the envelope gently, thinking that it would be some of the repayments that Uncle Zhao had saved during his lifetime, but he didn't expect that everywhere he looked, there were neat hundred-yuan bills. He looked at the contents of the envelope in astonishment, and his heart was filled with indescribable emotion.
Liu Hai looked up at Zhao Qiangsheng, his eyes were complicated: "Qiangzi, this... That's too much. I remember what your dad borrowed, but it didn't pay it back. ”
Zhao Qiangsheng's eyes were also firm: "This is my father's decision before his death, he said that his credit must not be stained, let alone to friends." He also said that it was his integrity and gratitude. ”
The wind outside blew the curtain of the door, as if I also felt the warmth and silence in the house. Bangs couldn't continue to explore, he was silent for a long time, and then said, "Okay, I... I took it first. ”
Liu Hai walked out of the door of the Zhao family with the envelope, but found that his mood was not excited because of this sudden wealth, on the contrary, the heavy weight made his mood even heavier. The lingering sound of mourning in the air is not dissipated, just like the last praise of Uncle Zhao, but also the emotion of the impermanence of life. Bangs returned home, sat on the sofa and was silent for a long time, with mixed feelings in his heart.
He opened the envelope, and sure enough, it contained a thick stack of yuan, which turned out to be 160,000. He opened the letter attached to the money, and Uncle Zhao was full of deep gratitude for Liu Hai.
The letter reads: "Brother Liuhai, in the past few years, it was you who gave me hope for healing. I want to be able to pay you back twice as much money, even though I'm no longer there. Your help is the biggest fluke of my life. Please accept this heart. - Uncle Zhao"
Along with the letter, there is also a will that Uncle Zhao had written before his death, clearly taking 160,000 cash as a repayment for Liu Hai.
Bangs couldn't help but have a hot current in his heart, and his eyes were moist. He thought of Zhao Qiangsheng, who was still struggling with kindness and pressure, and his heart couldn't help but ripple. The next day, he called Zhao Qiangsheng to his home.
"Qiangzi, I can't take all this money. Bangs said solemnly.
Zhao Qiangsheng's expression revealed puzzlement, "Uncle Liu, this is my father's intention, why are you..."
"I know," Bangs interrupted him, sighing, "but I know your situation too." Not only do you have to deal with the loss of your father, but you also have to deal with the pressures of life. ”
Zhao Qiangsheng was silent, and two lines of tears slipped quietly: "Uncle Liu, I... I really didn't know what to do anymore, the mortgage was overwhelming. ”
"So," Liu Hai took a deep breath, "I only got back 80,000 yuan of this money, and the remaining 80,000 yuan, I want to leave it to you to reduce your burden." ”
Zhao Qiangsheng was dumbfounded, not knowing what to do, such generosity made him unacceptable, but at the same time, it also deeply touched his heart.
"Uncle Liu, I can't do this... This is not right. His tone was firm, but his eyes were confused.
That's right. Liu Hai insisted, "Your father is a man of integrity, but he also wants you to live a good life." And I, I just want this kindness and hardship to have a good outcome. ”
The two looked at each other for a long time, and the air was filled with complex and deep emotions. This money has become Liu Hai's oath of innocent friendship to Uncle Zhao, and it is also his transmission of his true kindness to life to Zhao Qiangsheng.
In the end, Zhao Qiangsheng took 80,000 yuan with tears in his eyes, "Uncle Liu, your love, my strong son will remember it all my life." ”
Liu Hai patted Zhao Qiangsheng's shoulder, feeling both relieved and relieved: "Your father is in the spirit of heaven, and he will also want to see you well." ”
The two sat in a quiet room for a long time, without more words, only the heavy emotions and the true feelings of the world that were passed on. Zhao Qiangsheng left Liu Hai's house with the 80,000 yuan, his heart was full of gratitude and uneasiness, and he didn't know how to face Liu Hai's great kindness. Liu Hai looked at Zhao Qiangsheng's distant back, but his heart was relaxed, as if he had let go of the burden in his heart.
As the days went on, the neighbors in the alley knew about this heartwarming story. Whenever they get together, they will always mention Uncle Zhao and Liu Hai, and mention the trust and righteousness that have been precipitated by the years, but have become more and more precious.
"Bangs, I heard that you helped Zhao Qiangsheng a lot?" Liu Hai's friend Aunt Li suddenly accosted him in front of the small supermarket.
Bangs smiled: "Where, just did what I was supposed to do." ”
"Not everybody can think that way, and not everybody can do that. Aunt Li said approvingly, "Your approach is really heartwarming." ”
Liu Hai put away his smile and looked serious: "In this world, good and evil always coexist, but if more people are willing to pass on kindness, won't this world be better?"
Looking at the back of the bangs fading away, Aunt Li paused, and a warm current surged in her heart, she believed that the world was a better place because of the existence of people like bangs.
Zhao Qiangsheng used the 80,000 yuan to alleviate the pressure of a lot of mortgages, he worked harder, and his life gradually improved. He knew that the course of his life had been changed by a simple act of kindness.
In this way, a vow conceived in grief evolved into a story of love and warmth. The choice of bangs not only retains Uncle Zhao's dignity and integrity, but also makes a family regain hope and conveys the great love of the world in the alley.
There is a crack in everything, and that's where the light comes in. When we witness the imperfections of life and the faltering of our hearts, can we find the light that shines through the cracks in sharing and helping each other?