In the morning, when smoke rises, the town's tranquility is shattered only by the occasional rooster. Li Ming stretched lazily, and the scenery outside the window made him unconsciously hang a smile, this is the tranquility he has lived with the town for five years. Once, this peace was what he longed for, but now, there was a little restlessness in his heart.
Along the way, Li Ming met several neighbors, and they greeted each other cordially, "Xiao Ming, you have to go to the factory early today, right?" ”
"Yes, Auntie, there's a lot of work on my uncle's side." Li Ming smiled a little while responding, but he was thinking about the days in his heart.
Today is the end of the month, the day of payroll. In this small town, the workers of the porcelain factory can be regarded as a stable income group, and Li Ming is no exception. The salary I get every month always makes people feel the comfort of hard work in the past. But along with the comfort, there is also a subtle grievance.
When Li Ming pushed open the heavy wooden door of the porcelain factory, he was surrounded by a wave of heat. People are already busy, the kiln fire in the corner is blazing, and the clay is turning into lifelike works in their hands.
"Xiao Ming, you have to work harder today, the customer will come to inspect the goods next month!" Uncle Li Qiang encouraged him while holding a cigarette.
"Uncle, don't worry, I will definitely do a good job." Li Ming replied, but the corner of his eye involuntarily fell on the salary bag that was about to be distributed in the administrator's hand.
The time of the afternoon is always in a hurry, and as the sun sets, the caretaker begins to pass the pay packets. On the faces of the workers, some were satisfied and some were expectant, but in Li Ming's eyes, it was a little more complicated.
"It's yours." The administrator handed Li Ming a slightly bulging envelope, "I've told Lao Li many times, you work so hard, your salary has to be increased..."
"It's okay, I know my uncle knows it." Li Ming interrupted the administrator's unfinished words and picked up the salary bag, but he was thinking about the numbers in his heart.
Back at home, Li Ming spread out the envelope that was hiding his unwillingness, and found that the number had not changed at all - it was still three thousand.
He tried to decipher the "special consideration" in his uncle's eyes, but the more he thought about it, the knots in his heart tightened. In his five-year part-time career, Li Ming has always wanted to prove that he is a person who can take charge of himself, not just "Xiao Ming" in his uncle's mouth.
The next day, the sky was slightly bright, and Li Ming got up early. All the things of last night were repeated in my dreams, like a heavy stone pressed against my chest.
"Uncle, can I talk to you?" At the breakfast table, Li Ming finally mustered up the courage to speak.
"What's the matter, Xiao Ming?" Uncle Li Qiang asked with concern while nibbling on fried dough sticks.
"It's this month's salary..." Li Ming spoke slowly, but firmly handed the envelope to his uncle, "I think the salary is still the same as last year." ”
"This..." The uncle was silent, as if he wanted to say something, but stopped talking.
Li Ming looked at his uncle's expression, and his heart sank even more, "Uncle, do you think I..."
"Xiao Ming, wait a minute about the salary, let's have a good chat after lunch." His uncle interrupted him, and there was something inscrutable in his eyes.
Li Ming nodded, but the entanglement and injustice in his heart seemed to have something to say. After lunch, he didn't know whether his uncle Li Qiang would give him a satisfactory answer, but at least, he found the courage to speak out.
The afternoon sun shines through the windows on the porcelain, casting dappled light and shadow. The hustle and bustle of the factory was gradually swallowed up by the blinding light and the summer heat, but Li Ming tried to stay calm in the heat, he knew that today was an important day.
"Attention everyone!" Li Qiang's voice echoed in the factory, looking particularly solemn, "Today, we have welcomed an important customer, and his requirements may be very high, but this is a huge opportunity for us. ”
The workers immediately stopped what they were doing, and the chatter gradually turned into a solemn silence, and everyone's eyes flashed with anticipation.
Seeing everyone's attention, Li Qiang continued, "In order to cope with this challenge, the factory decided to introduce new incentive policies. The next order completion will directly affect your bonus, and everyone has the opportunity to get a lot more than usual! ”
This sudden announcement caused excitement on the faces of the workers. Li Ming's heart also became restless, he had worked hard in his uncle's factory for so many years, but what had not changed was the fixed salary slip, and now, maybe it was a good opportunity to prove his worth.
"This time, I'm going to get what I deserve!" Li Ming secretly swore in his heart and began to devote himself to the new process. He is more focused than usual and works hard to be the best he can be in every finished product.
A few days later, the pace of production began to pick up as the customer's order volume exploded. Everyone is like a chicken in the blood, and the productivity is higher than ever. In the dead of night, many workers are still brightly lit and working diligently. Li Ming is also one of them, and he wants to show his uncle with practical actions that he is not only a competent worker, but also more competent for higher duties.
The night before the new salary was paid, Li Ming finished working overtime in the factory and was about to leave when he overheard a voice from his uncle's reluctant office.
"Lao Li," the administrator whispered, "Should we give Li Ming more bonuses this time?" He did work a lot of overtime this month. ”
"I know," Li Qiang sighed, "but you also know the recent situation at home. In this way, other people's bonuses will be distributed according to the plan, and Li Ming's will be given as usual. ”
Li Ming's body seemed to have been hit by a heavy hammer, and the water cup in his hand almost slipped to the ground. He felt a wave of vertigo, and the lights in the hallway began to distort. He has already given so much, why does his uncle still treat him like this?
The next day, when the administrator handed Li Ming the salary bag, Li Ming's hands trembled slightly. He didn't even look at it to know how much money was inside, and it was fair that his hard work and sweat couldn't buy.
After lunch, while the workers were talking about their bonuses, Li Ming quietly packed up his belongings and walked straight to Li Qiang's office.
"Uncle," Li Ming's voice trembled a little, "I want to quit." ”
This sentence is like a stone thrown into the surface of a calm lake, stirring up endless ripples. Those grievances and grievances that have not been vented are all revealed at this moment.
Li Qiang looked up at him in surprise, "Wait, can you tell me, why?" словно Everything has not happened yet.
Li Ming's voice echoed in the office, like a lonely echo, and no response could be found. "Uncle, why do I work so hard and get so little in return?"
Li Qiang was stunned, as if Li Ming's words had touched a long-hidden switch in his heart. He eagerly got up from his chair and walked in front of Li Ming, his eyes full of anxiety and incomprehension.
"Xiao Ming, listen to me, there may be any misunderstanding, we can talk about it." Li Qiang stretched out his hand and wanted to wrap his arms around his nephew's shoulder, but Li Ming subconsciously took a step back.
"Misunderstanding?" Li Ming sneered, "I heard you talking, I know how you arrange my salary." You can hide it from me, but you can't lie to me! ”
Looking at the anger in his nephew's eyes as if he had been betrayed, Li Qiang's heart swelled with unspeakable pain. The scenes of the past replayed in his mind, and he opened his mouth to stammer, and his words were choked.
"Xiao Ming, you don't understand, these years ......" Li Qiang tried to explain, but found that there was no way to start.
"Other people's salaries are 5,000, but I only have 3,000, and it's always been like this!" Li Ming tried his best to keep his voice calm, but those words were like knives, cutting through the air, taking away a piece of warmth.
At this moment, Li Qiang let Li Ming see an uncle who usually does not show it, with helplessness and sadness written on his face. Uncle seems to have too many secrets, and these secrets are related to his salary.
"Xiao Ming, you know what kind of feelings I have for you," Li Qiang said with difficulty, "Every step I have done over the years is what I think is the best arrangement for you." ”
"The best arrangement? Do you think that's best for me? Li Ming's heart lake rippled, "Then you should at least tell me the truth!" ”
Li Qiang finally sat back in his chair, let out a long sigh, and looked up at the window, the light that came in suddenly seemed dazzling and painful.
"Xiao Ming, things ...... It's not that simple. There was a slight tiredness in his voice, as if he had unloaded the burden that had been accumulated for a long time, "It's something about the family, and I've always been ......."
At this point, Li Qiang stopped, as if struggling with whether to continue. In the office, the tense atmosphere gradually turned to solemnity. Li Ming looked at this uncle, who was a round older than himself, and an ancient and heavy question emerged in his heart - what does family really mean?
The atmosphere in the office suddenly fell silent, and his uncle Li Qiang slowly told the family secrets that he had never mentioned to Li Ming. It turned out that in the years that Li Ming didn't know, his family had experienced a series of changes, and his uncle Li Qiang had been secretly using his salary difference to help solve the family's difficulties.
Listening to his uncle's choked voice, Li Ming's heart swelled with complicated emotions. The anger seemed to dissolve at this moment, replaced by deep guilt and gratitude for the uncle.
"You...... You have ...... for so many years" Li Ming's tone was no longer as firm as before, and his heart was experiencing unprecedented shock and emotion.
Uncle Li Qiang didn't speak, just nodded silently, with a relieved smile on his vicissitudes of life, as if the burden had been lifted, although he was tired, his heart was much lighter.
"Uncle, I'...... I was too impulsive before. The corners of Li Ming's mouth rose slightly, and his expression was full of apology, "You do this...... It's all for home. ”
Li Qiang stood up, walked over and patted Li Ming's shoulder, with a hint of tiredness and satisfaction, "Xiao Ming, between family members, you don't need to say sorry, you have to understand that home is wordless support and giving." ”
Li Ming understood, at this moment, he really felt the meaning of home for the first time, it is not only about blood and fame, but also a long-standing emotional bond and invisible gentle care.
"I've decided not to quit." Li Ming held his uncle's hand and looked firm, "I want to stay here, work hard, and learn to be a truly responsible person like you, uncle." ”
A glimmer of relief flashed in Li Qiang's eyes, and a new power spontaneously arose in Li Ming's heart. He knows that in the future, he will continue to live and grow together in this small town and with the warmth of this home.
In the evening breeze of the setting sun, two figures walked side by side on the path next to the factory, and the unforgettable emotion made this simple scene extremely moving. Family affection, sometimes silent, can show its warmest power at critical moments.