By the rippling blue river, Li Hong's melon shed is nestled in a verdant field, and the ripe melons hang heavily on the vines, exuding an alluring sweet fragrance. The melon shed is surrounded by dense cornfields, and the melon shed is like a little secret base, quiet and peaceful. The summer sun shines through the thin clouds and dappled the ground.
"Mom, the corn is growing taller again!" Li Hong's son Xiaobao excitedly ran to the side of the melon shed, pointed to the corn next to him and said.
Li Hong looked up at him with a loving smile on his face: "Well, the weather is good this year, and the harvest should be good." ”
She is not worried, her son is about to enter primary school, tuition, book fees... Everything needed money, and she looked around, hoping that this melon field would give her a little hope.
At this time, a figure appeared at the entrance of the melon shed, it was Zhao Qiang, an electrician from the village, dressed in overalls and carrying a toolbox in his hand. He was sent by the village council to repair broken power lines in the area.
"Uncle Zhao, you're here!" Xiaobao saw a familiar figure and happily ran over to say hello.
"Xiaobao, you're getting stronger and stronger! This is for you, the sugar you brought back from the city. Zhao Qiang smiled and took out a few candies from his pocket and handed them to Xiaobao.
"Thank you, Uncle Zhao!" Xiaobao took the candy and said obediently.
Zhao Qiang looked at Li Hong and asked with concern: "Li Hong, is there any problem over the wire?" I heard from the village chief that there was always a power outage in the area. ”
Li Hong's rough hands that were originally in charge of housework hung in the air, and he was slightly stunned: "Oh, it's a bit of a problem, the irrigation system of the melon shed hasn't been working properly recently." ”
Zhao Qiang nodded: "Then I'll go and have a look." ”
The work of repairing the wires was already hard, and coupled with the scorching heat of summer, Zhao Qiang's forehead was soon covered with beads of sweat. Li Hong saw it in his eyes, and hurriedly took a chair and a few freshly picked melons from the melon shed, "Brother Zhao, when you are tired, take a break and eat some melons." ”
Zhao Qiang waved his hand: "Don't worry, finish the work first." ”
They are not familiar with each other, but the people in the countryside have a simple warmth, and it has become a habit to help each other.
After the work was finished, both of them were tired, sitting by the melon shed, eating the melons handed over by Li Hong. This simple and ordinary scene, accompanied by the warm summer breeze and the sweet fragrance of melons, gradually blended into this land.
"Brother Zhao, this year our village is going to carry out a melon and fruit festival, I am thinking about how to sell these melons?" Li Hong suddenly spoke.
"It's simple, I have a friend who runs a fruit shop in the city, I can help you get in touch." Zhao Qiang responded immediately.
A flash of gratitude flashed in Li Hong's eyes, this unexpected help meant a lot to her.
"That's great, thank you, Brother Zhao!" After Li Hong finished speaking, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, as if the burden was much lighter all of a sudden. With anticipation, she imagined her children wearing new clothes and going to school happily.
As the days passed, the relationship between Li Hong and Zhao Qiang inadvertently became closer and closer. Every time Zhao Qiang passed by Li Hong's melon shed, he would always stop to help repair the water pipes and tidy up the melon rack, and the topic between them gradually deepened from the initial weather farming to personal preferences and dreams.
"Brother Zhao, you have been single for so many years, why haven't you considered starting a family?" During a small talk, Li Hong couldn't help but ask curiously.
Zhao Qiang smiled, slightly embarrassed: "In the village, a poor man wants to start a family, and he doesn't care about it. ”
"Who said that? You are so capable, any girl who marries you will be considered a blessing! Li Hong added, revealing a bit of casual approval in her tone.
Zhao Qiang's ears were slightly red, and he changed the topic and said, "What are you talking about, let's hurry up and see how this melon is sold." The melon and fruit festival is coming, if you can sell a lot, your troubles can be solved a lot. ”
"Yes, Brother Zhao." Li Hong sighed, "I just count on these melons, Xiaobao's future depends on them." ”
Vaguely, Zhao Qiang felt Li Hong's helplessness and expectation. He silently made up his mind to help her as much as he could.
In the next few days, Zhao Qiang used his free time to help Li Hong contact the fruit stalls in the city, and even went to the school in the town to inquire about the tuition waiver. Li Hong was quite moved by his actions, and whenever he mentioned these, Li Hong couldn't help but say, "Brother Zhao, I really don't know how to thank you." ”
"Don't say that, we're neighbors, and it's natural for us to help each other." Zhao Qiang waved his hand a little embarrassed, "By the way, I contacted an old friend who opened a fruit wholesale store in the city. He said he was willing to come and see your melons, and if the quality was good, he could make the next batch. ”
"Really? That's great! Li Hong's eyes flashed with excitement, and her heart was full of gratitude to Zhao Qiang.
The following week, Zhao Qiang's old friend really came to the melon shed. He carefully inspected every corner of the melon shed, and after tasting a few pieces of melon, he nodded with satisfaction: "Li Hong, the quality of the melons you grow is good, I am willing to buy a large number of them at one time." In terms of price, we can talk about it in more detail. ”
"Thank you so much, you have the final say on the price, I just hope we can cooperate for a long time." Li Hong said, her eyes full of anticipation.
After the cooperation was negotiated, Li Hong became even busier, and she began to organize the women of the village to help take care of the melon shed and prepare for the upcoming melon and fruit festival. Zhao Qiang often comes to help carry and sort after finishing his work.
One day, Li Hong returned from selling melons, and Zhao Qiang was standing at the door of the melon shed waiting for her.
"Li Hong, can we talk?" Zhao Qiang suddenly became serious.
"Of course you can, Brother Zhao, what's the matter?" Li Hong put down the basket and was slightly curious.
"You are really working hard for your family and Xiaobao. I, I've been thinking these days, maybe I can do more to help you. Zhao Qiang's tone was full of sincerity.
Li Hong was a little puzzled, and her eyes showed a question: "Brother Zhao, what do you want to say......"
Zhao Qiang took a deep breath, he knew that his feelings could not be hidden, and said nervously and firmly: "Li Hong, I like you, I want to work with you to bear everything in the future." ”
This sudden confession made Li Hong stunned, she never thought that Zhao Qiang would have such feelings for her. She was both moved and a little confused, and she didn't know how to respond.
"Brother Zhao, I'm ......" Before Li Hong's words came out, Xiaobao's voice came from a distance: "Mom, I'm back!" ”
The innocent laughter broke the tension of that moment. Li Hong glanced at Zhao Qiang deeply, with complex emotions intertwined in his eyes, "Brother Zhao, let's talk about this matter slowly, okay?" ”
That afternoon, the sun was blazing, and the temperature inside the melon shed was even more like a big steamer than outside. Sweat continued to slide down Li Hong's sideburns, soaking through the back of her T-shirt. She fanned the wind with a fan and checked the wires in the melon shed, hoping to find the culprit who kept the irrigation system up and down.
Zhao Qiang was also on the side to help, and he was shuttling between the melon racks against the heat wave, trying to find the problem. Seeing Li Hong sweating profusely, he said with some worry: "Li Hong, it's too hot today, let's rest for a while, don't get heat stroke." ”
Li Hong shook his head: "Brother Zhao, I can't afford to delay, if the irrigation system is broken, these melons will not be saved." ”
As the temperature rose, Li Hong gradually felt unwell. She stopped, her face a little pale. Seeing this, Zhao Qiang hurriedly stepped forward to help her: "Look at you, it's all like this, and it's still hard." ”
Li Hong sighed helplessly, and then a helpless smile appeared on her face. "Hey, I really can't stand this hot day." As she spoke, she began to unbutton her overalls, preparing to take off her undershirt.
Seeing this, Zhao Qiang was stunned: "What are you doing here?" Take it easy, what if someone comes over and sees it? ”
Li Hong stopped what he was doing, "Brother Zhao, in the depths of this melon shed, it's such a hot day, no one will come." I just want to cool off. ”
Zhao Qiang hurriedly took off his work clothes and handed them to Li Hong: "You can wear this, at least you can block it." ”
Li Hong took the work clothes and was a little moved. "Thank you, Brother Zhao, you are always so careful."
Zhao Qiang coughed lightly, "Li Hong, actually...... I have something to say to you. ”
Li Hong looked at Zhao Qiang and nodded to let him continue.
Zhao Qiang took a deep breath, "I see that you are working so hard, and I have been wondering if I can have a greater chance to help you." In fact...... I mean, I want to take on a little bit more, I don't want to be just a bystander. ”
Li Hong's heart warmed, she knew that Zhao Qiang had done a lot. "You've helped me so much these days, I'm really grateful that you're ......"
Zhao Qiang interrupted her eagerly, "No, Li Hong, you may not understand what I mean. I mean, I'm willing to be your family and bear all of it with you. ”
Li Hong's eyes widened, she didn't expect Zhao Qiang to confess to her. "You, are you serious?"
Zhao Qiang nodded, his gaze firm. "I've never been so serious."
The two of them stood quietly in the melon shed, and the seclusion and heat seemed to disappear at this moment. Li Hong's eyes began to moisten.
"Brother Zhao, but I ...... I'm afraid I won't be able to give you the life you want. Li Hong said softly but with a little sadness.
Zhao Qiang stepped forward and gently held her hand. "Li Hong, I don't need anything, I just want to be with you and overcome difficulties together. I am willing to spend the rest of my life taking care of you and Xiaobao. ”
Li Hong held Zhao Qiang's hand tightly, looking at the person who led her through the difficulties when she needed it most, the ice in her heart began to melt.
Xiaobao's matter she had to consider, and this unexpected love also made her shake, and Li Hong knew that it would be one of the most important decisions in her life.
With the passage of time, the melon and fruit festival in the melon shed is approaching, and the relationship between Li Hong and Zhao Qiang is getting deeper and deeper. Through Zhao Qiang's help, Li Hong's melons and fruits have gained a good reputation and sales in the market, and the economic troubles have gradually been alleviated. She no longer worries about Xiaobao's tuition, but begins to plan her future education plan.
One day at dusk, the two of them sat outside the melon shed, looking at the melon field in the sunset, Li Hong was full of emotion: "Brother Zhao, thanks to your help during this time, otherwise I really don't know what to do." ”
Zhao Qiang smiled and held her hand: "Silly words, let's all say it, support each other in the future, and live together." ”
"By the way, I talked to the school in the town, and they agreed to reduce some of Xiaobao's tuition. Our lives will get better and better. Zhao Qiang said confidently.
Li Hong's eyes were filled with tears of gratitude, and she knew that all these changes were the result of Zhao Qiang's step by step: "Brother Zhao, in fact, I ...... I have decided, I am willing to accept your feelings and face the challenges of the future with you. ”
Zhao Qiang hugged Li Hong tightly, as if he was hugging the whole world.
After that, the two began to live together. The melon shed is no longer just a place to grow melons, it witnesses how two brave hearts get close, how they depend on each other, and finally condense into the power of happiness. They have eaten sour, sweet, and bitter, but they swallowed everything together. The life and career in the melon shed have become more and more hopeful and warm because of the care of two hearts.
When night fell, Xiaobao was chasing fireflies by the melon shed, and Li Hong and Zhao Qiang sat under the eaves, quietly looking at their son's laughing figure.
"Brother Zhao, do you think that if we can continue to live like this, is it the best happiness?" Li Hong snuggled up to Zhao Qiang's shoulder.
Zhao Qiang kissed her forehead gently, "Yes, with you and Xiaobao, with this sweet labor, what could be happier than this?" ”
They looked at each other and smiled, feeling each other's heartbeats and the smell of sweet melons coming from the melon shed. It's all simple and real, like the fragrance of the soil in the field, and it comes to mind.
In this simple life, they found love, found strength, and found their own ordinary in the extraordinary.
And when they look at the stars in the night sky again before they fall asleep, do they wonder if this life is not the same tranquility and joy that is depicted in the Psalms?
[This novel is fictional, no offense, please do not confuse with reality]