In the summer of 1989, it was so hot that it was breathless. That day, as usual, I ended the day's work, covered in wheat dust and sweat. My house is not far from the river, the river is cool, and it is the best place for the village to go in summer. I decided to go to the river to take a shower and wash away the tiredness and dust of the day.
I took my clean clothes and walked alone to the river. Night had fallen, and the river was silent, save for the occasional sound of frogs and water. I thought to myself, at this time, no one should disturb me, so I took off my clothes and prepared to go into the water.
Just as I was about to step into the river, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in the back of my head, followed by a high-pitched female voice: "Stinky rascal!" I barely turned my head and saw a girl wearing a belly pocket, holding a wooden stick in her hand, looking at me angrily.
I was stunned and didn't react for a while. When the girl saw that I was not moving, she raised her stick again to beat me. I hurriedly raised my hands and explained loudly: "Don't fight, don't fight, I'm Sun Yunjie from the village, I just finished my work, and I just want to take a shower." ”
The girl listened to my explanation and hesitated, but still looked at me warily. At this time, the people in the village heard the movement and rushed over. I was like this, naked, surrounded by a group of people, and I was extremely embarrassed.
The women of the village began to snicker and talk. My father also came, and when he saw me like this, he was angry and funny. My mother quickly got my clothes and put them on, explaining to the girl as she dragged me home.
The girl's name was Li Hanzhang and she was an orphan in the village. Her background is very pitiful, her father died very early, and her mother took her to remarry, but her stepfather treated her very badly. That night, she also came to the river to take a bath, and she didn't expect to meet me.
Although I was beaten with a stick, I didn't resent Li Hanzhang in my heart. I know she's only doing it in self-defense. It's just that this matter spread in the village, and I became the talk of everyone after dinner, which made me embarrassed.
After this incident, I was in bed for a week. Li Hanzhang and her mother came to my house to apologize and brought a basket of eggs. My mother is a kind-hearted person, and when she saw Li Hanzhang's pitiful appearance, she forgave her.
After Li Hanzhang left, my mother said to me: "Yunjie, don't blame Hanzhang, she is also a hard-working child." You're a big man, what's the point of being wronged. ”
I listened to my mother's words, and most of the resentment in my heart disappeared. I know that Li Hanzhang didn't mean to hurt me, she was just afraid. Since then, I haven't mentioned this incident again, but occasionally I met Li Hanzhang in the village, and I would be a little embarrassed.
Time passed day by day, and three years passed in the blink of an eye. I am still that ordinary rural youth, doing farm work every day and living an ordinary life. And Li Hanzhang has also grown from a young girl to a beautiful big girl.
During this period, Li Hanzhang would occasionally come to my house to help and do some housework. My mother liked her very much and often kept her to eat. I also gradually discovered that Li Hanzhang is actually a kind-hearted, hard-working and capable girl.
However, the good times did not last long, and Li Hanzhang's stepfather fell to his death after drinking because of alcoholism. The death of her stepfather made life even more difficult for Li Hanzhang and her mother. The people in the village said that Li Hanzhang was a disaster star and killed her father. Her mother also believed these words and decided to marry Li Hanzhang so that she would not bring misfortune to the family again.
Li Hanzhang's mother found her a second-married man, and the man's first wife was beaten to death by him. When Li Hanzhang found out, she was so frightened that she knelt on the ground and begged her mother not to marry her to that man.
Li Hanzhang's mother was determined to marry her, and Li Hanzhang had no choice but to come to my mother. She knelt in front of my mother, rolled up her sleeves and trouser legs, revealing her body full of scars, and cried, "Auntie, I know I'm not worthy of Yun Jie, but I really don't want to marry that man." I am willing to be a cow and a horse for the Yunjie family, I just ask you to take me in. ”
My mother was very distressed when she saw the scars on Li Hanzhang's body. She knew that if Li Hanzhang married that man, it would definitely be a dead end. My mother hesitated for a long time, but finally agreed to Li Hanzhang's request.
When Li Hanzhang heard the news, he cried excitedly. She ran up to me and said loudly, "Sun Yunjie, do you want to marry me? If you don't marry me, I won't live!" I looked at Li Hanzhang's desperate eyes, and my heart was mixed.
I know that if I don't agree, Li Hanzhang really has no way to live. I don't have much affection for her, but I can't watch her jump into the fire pit. I took a deep breath and plucked up the courage to say, "I'll marry you." ”
When Li Hanzhang heard this, his whole body was paralyzed. She didn't cry or laugh, she just stared at me blankly and then silently shed tears. I knew that this decision could change the fate of both of us.
In order to save Li Hanzhang, my mother took out all the family's savings, a total of 800 yuan, as a bride price to Li Hanzhang's mother. This money was originally left by my mother for me to marry my daughter-in-law, but I didn't expect it to be used on Li Hanzhang in the end.
Li Hanzhang moved into my house and became my wife. I know that she didn't really want to marry me, just to escape that terrible marriage. I said to her, "Hanzhang, if you don't want to marry me, I won't force you." The 800 yuan is regarded as the freedom I bought for you. ”
Li Hanzhang listened to my words and cried even more. She said: "Yunjie, I know that you are a good person, I am willing to marry you and live a good life." ”
In this way, I married Li Hanzhang. The wedding was simple and there weren't too many ceremonies, but I felt like it was enough. After getting married, Li Hanzhang behaved very well, she was diligent and capable, and kept the house in order, which made my mother a lot easier.
My mother was very satisfied with Li Hanzhang, and she often said to me: "Yun Jie, you are really blessed to marry Hanzhang." "I also gradually discovered that Li Hanzhang is actually a very good woman, she is not only hardworking and capable, but also kind-hearted and understanding.
Two years later, Li Hanzhang gave birth to a son. The birth of our son has brought more joy to our small family. My mother and father were very happy, and they thought that Li Hanzhang was a capable and good daughter-in-law.
Although at first, I didn't have much hope for this marriage, but as time went by, I felt more and more that marrying Li Hanzhang was the most correct decision I made in my life. She not only gave birth to a lovely son for me, but also made me feel the warmth and happiness of the family.
Li Hanzhang also gradually came out of the shadows of the past, she became much more cheerful, and often had a smile on her face. I know that all this is not easy to come by, and I should cherish it.
Nowadays, our lives are uneventful, but full of happiness and contentment. I know that true happiness is not how much money and status you have, but having a warm home, having a partner who loves you, and having a group of lovely children.
This is my story, the story of an ordinary rural youth. Although there is nothing earth-shattering, it is real, simple, and full of fireworks in the world. I believe that everyone's life is wonderful in its own way, and as long as we feel it with our hearts, we can find the beauty of life.