The spring breeze in 1978 blew across the country with the breath of reform, but Lao Huang received a notice of change of employment in this spring day. After many setbacks, he was assigned to work at a supply and marketing cooperative in a remote mountain village with potholed roads and old adobe houses.
As soon as Lao Huang came to the supply and marketing cooperative, he was knocked down by the rusty signboard and the few dry old trees in front of the door.
"This is your new job, Lao Huang, huh?" The old man, Xiao Zhang, walked over with his backpack and looked at him in surprise.
Lao Huang nodded, a wry smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, "Yes, it seems that the next days will not be too easy." ”
Xiao Zhang patted him on the shoulder and comforted: "Don't be so pessimistic! Maybe it's a chance to hide in this desolate place. ”
Although he didn't agree in his heart, Lao Huang still forced a smile, "I hope it is as you said, my good brother." ”
The two of them walked into the supply and marketing cooperatives together, and the goods on the shelves were sparse, and the dusty windows let in a few rays of dim light. Lao Huang began to tidy up the shelves, and in the dust, he seemed to see the end of his military career and the beginning of an unknown new life.
A few days later, the local villagers gathered curiously, exchanging words in their thick local accents.
"This is the new administrator of the supply and marketing cooperatives in our village?" A middle-aged man with a dark face asked, his name was Wang Er, and he was a farmer nearby.
"Yes, I'm the new Lao Huang." Lao Huang took the initiative to reach out his hand to say hello, trying to make his voice sound kind.
An old woman on crutches moved over, her eyes fixed on Lao Huang, "You are so young, it is not easy to come to this remote place." ”
Lao Huang hurriedly responded: "Mother-in-law has won the award, this is all within the scope of the matter." ”
A little boy came up curiously with a leather ball in his arms, "Uncle, do you know how to play football?" ”
"Of course, when I was a child, I was also the king of the village." Lao Huang smiled and leaned down, teasing the child.
In this way, Lao Huang gradually integrated into the village, and built a bridge with the villagers with his sincerity and diligence. With the passage of time, Lao Huang's life in the supply and marketing cooperatives gradually got on the right track. Every morning, when the first rays of sunlight shine through the windows onto the stale shelves, Lao Huang arrives early to clean up, put the goods in place, and make sure everything is in order.
"Lao Huang, the cloth you entered this time is really good!" A lady who often comes carries the goods and says with satisfaction.
Lao Huang responded with a smile: "Auntie, it's good if you like it." Guarantee good quality and low price, Tong Su is not deceived. ”
The eldest lady nodded and praised: "You young man is exquisite, much more reliable than those foreign businessmen." ”
In these ordinary days, Lao Huang's kindness and integrity gradually became a topic of conversation among the villagers. The villagers were willing to talk to him, about the farm work in the fields, and about the troubles of the family. Slowly, Lao Huang also knew the situation in the village well.
One day, Xiao Fang in the village hurriedly ran to find Lao Huang, with tears in her eyes: "Uncle Huang, can you help me settle the account?" My dad owes a lot of money to other people, and I want to know how much it is. ”
Lao Huang hurriedly put down the work in his hand, "Of course you can, Xiaofang, don't worry, let's figure it out together." ”
After some checking, Lao Huang found that this debt was not as huge as Xiao Fang's family said, and there must be something strange about it.
"Something is wrong with this account, Xiaofang." Lao Huang frowned, "Tell me, what's going on?" ”
Xiao Fang choked up and told the truth, it turned out that her father needed money due to illness, but Uncle Li from the neighboring village took advantage of the danger of others when borrowing money and calculated the interest more.
Lao Huang decided to help Xiaofang's family get out of trouble: "I'll talk to Uncle Li tomorrow, we have to settle this money fairly and reasonably." ”
On the second day, Lao Huang really found Uncle Li as promised, only to see his hard face, "That's what they promised themselves, and I can't lose any of it." ”
Lao Huang said unhurriedly: "Uncle Li, we are all people who go outside, reputation is the foundation of reliability, you see this, I know the real accounts, it is better for us to settle according to the actual situation." ”
After some negotiations, Uncle Li saw that Lao Huang's words were reasonable, and finally decided to settle the accounts according to the actual accounts and no longer ask for more unreasonable money.
This fair settlement not only freed Xiao Fang's family from their troubles, but also showed Lao Huang's wisdom and justice, and his reputation spread even louder in the village.
Other people in the village also began to find Lao Huang for help, Lao Huang always took the trouble to answer, carefully reconciled, and his kindness and justice slowly unraveled the long-hidden emotional entanglements and misunderstandings in the village.
Under the influence of Lao Huang, the atmosphere in the village gradually improved, and the relationship between people became more and more harmonious, and all of this was an unexpected surprise. On that quiet afternoon, many people suddenly gathered at the door of the supply and marketing cooperative, and the voices of anger and worry were endless. It turned out that Lao Lin in the village could not repay the money borrowed in time due to illness, and the creditor not only came to the door, but also threatened to mortgage all his family business.
"How can this be! Lao Lin's family is so pitiful, and they still want to drive others to a dead end? A villager said indignantly.
"That's right, Lao Lin's son is still studying, what should I do in this family?" Another villager also became anxious.
When Lao Huang heard the news, he couldn't bear it, so he walked over to see if he could help. "Don't worry, let me know the situation."
He came to Lao Lin's house and saw Lao Lin and his wife anxiously arguing with the creditor.
"I said it, give me some more time, and I will definitely pay you back!" Lao Lin's voice was hoarse, obviously extremely anxious.
The creditor was unmoved, and said with a sneer: "Time? You've been delaying for more than a day or two, do you still want to pay off your bills? ”
Lao Huang stepped forward to play a round game: "Uncle Li, can we talk about it in private and see if there are other solutions?" ”
The creditor frowned, but finally agreed. When several people arrived at the backyard of the supply and marketing cooperative, Lao Huang began to mediate: "Uncle Li, you also know that Lao Lin has always been a hardworking and good person, and when encountering such difficulties, the people in our village should help each other." ”
"However, I am also a person who talks about the rules, and the money must be repaid." The creditor said dumbfounded.
Lao Huang smiled slightly, and took out the account book he had prepared when dealing with the debts of Xiao Fang's family before, "I have sorted out some common loan situations in the village before, and I also know a little about Lao Lin's situation. I promise that Lao Lin will pay you back, but the interest you add is too high to meet the rules of the village. ”
Under Lao Huang's patient mediation, the atmosphere gradually eased. The creditor finally relented and agreed to accept the repayment according to the original amount, and no more interest would be charged.
But at this time, Lao Lin's son suddenly ran in, with excitement on his face: "Dad, Mom, I won a scholarship, and the money is enough to pay off our debts!" ”
This news is like a stone stirring up a thousand waves, Lao Lin and his wife were full of tears, and the creditor was also moved, it turned out that there was such a touching story behind the family.
In the end, the matter was satisfactorily resolved, and Lao Huang once again became a hero in everyone's hearts. The supply and marketing cooperatives have not only become a place for villagers to shop, but also a place of comfort for their souls. Lao Huang looked at all this with a smile, and his heart was also warm, he knew that everything he did was so worthwhile. With the successful resolution of the problem of Lao Lin's family, the villagers' admiration for Lao Huang is like a trickle of rivers that continue to end. When the villagers met him on the street, they would nod their heads or warmly invite him to their homes.
"Lao Huang, next time you have time to come to my house for a meal, I'll make you bacon!" Wang Er said loudly to Lao Huang as he walked.
"Yes, I'll try your wife's craft when the time comes!" Lao Huang laughed and agreed.
Even some children began to use their own small conflicts to ask Lao Huang to help solve them. "Uncle Huang, he grabbed my ball and didn't return it!" Xiao Qiang complained and pointed at his friend Xiao Ming.
"Xiao Ming, did you really snatch Xiao Qiang's ball?" Lao Huang asked gently.
Xiao Ming lowered his head and whispered, "Yes, Uncle Huang, I was wrong. Xiaoqiang, the ball will be returned to you. ”
Although the children's conflicts are small, Lao Huang always patiently mediates, so that they can learn to share and forgive. All this ,... made Lao Huang feel unprecedented warmth and happiness.
On a star-sparse night of the month, Lao Huang walked alone on the path home, looking up at the bright stars in the sky, and his heart was full of emotion. He is no longer the obscure and sorrowful man he was when he first came to the supply and marketing cooperative. Now he has a home—an imperfect but loving village.
"Lao Huang, you're here, come and play tomorrow, I'll tidy up the lawn under the old pear tree, we can play a game of chess." Lao Chen poked his head out of the door and greeted Lao Huang.
"Okay, I'll come over tomorrow." Lao Huang should admit it, and his heart is as warm as spring.
Lao Huang's life has since become the envy of many people. In his own way, with delicate emotions and unremitting efforts, he made the supply and marketing cooperatives a harbor of nostalgia, and he also became an "invisible hero" in this harbor.
He couldn't help but think of Xiao Zhang's original words, "Maybe chance is hidden in this desolate place." As it turned out, Zhang was right. He is old and yellow, and he really found his treasure in this land.
When he got home in the evening, Lao Huang sat on the wooden chair in front of the door, looking at the starry sky, he was calm and full of gratitude, and whispered to himself: "Isn't this kind of life exactly what I have been pursuing?" ”