Zhang Qiang grew up in this small mountain village surrounded by mountains, and he never imagined that the scenery in this village would be remembered by outsiders, until that early summer evening, some city people from outside the village set up tents and started his love past.
That day, the setting sun was shining on the turquoise fields, and Zhang Qiang whistled as he walked, herding cattle and returning. He looked up by chance and saw Li Fang standing by the river washing clothes, and the clear river water seemed to become brighter because of her reflection. Li Fang's long hair is shawl, her skin is slightly red from the sun, and her eyes seem to contain all the stories in the mountains.
"Zhang Qiang, help me take down the basket of clothes!" Li Fang shouted with a smile.
Zhang Qiang walked over, his hand trembling a little, and took the basket, "You... How long have you been here today? ”
"I'll be back in the evening, my mother is still waiting for me." Li Fang responded briskly.
The conversation between them was always so short, but it was enough to make Zhang Qiang's heart beat faster, and he even envied the ears of wheat fluttering in the wind, which were able to observe Li Fang up close.
When he returned home, Zhang Qiang saw his mother, Aunt Wang, busy with dinner.
"Mom, I'm back." Zhang Qiang put down the bullwhip and washed his hands.
Aunt Wang didn't look back, "When you come back, help me get food early, don't keep thinking about what you don't have." ”
At dinner, Aunt Wang suddenly spoke, "Zhang Qiang, I heard that you are with Li Fang again today?" ”
Zhang Qiang's heart tightened, but he still pretended not to care, "What's the matter, I just helped her carry the basket by the way." ”
"I haven't seen anything of your mother, the daughter of the Li family is beautiful, but she is as her name suggests, just like the wild flower, she looks good, and she will have to bear a thorn when she picks it home." Aunt Wang said earnestly.
Zhang Qiang didn't say much, just ate silently. He knew that there was a deeper meaning behind his mother's words, but he was too young to fully understand.
On the second day, Zhang Qiang herded cattle as usual, but today he insisted on passing by the river. Sure enough, Li Fang was washing there again, as if she was looking forward to something.
"Zhang Qiang, can I ask you a question?" Li Fang suddenly spoke, with a hint of apprehension in her voice.
"What's the problem?" Zhang Qiang stopped.
"I... You also know that my family background is not good, you... Would you care about this? Li Fang's eyes looked straight at him.
Zhang Qiang's heart was shocked, and he said honestly, "I don't care about this, what I care about is you." ”
Their eyes intertwined in the air, and at that moment, it seemed that even the wind in the world had stopped blowing, and only their breathing and heartbeat echoed softly in the small mountain village.
As the summer deepened, Li Fang and Zhang Qiang's sneakiness was no longer a secret. In the dead of night, the two would whisper under the old locust tree. Li Fang would bring the corn tortillas that had just come out of the pot, and Zhang Qiang would tell interesting stories about his cattle herding during the day. But the more frequent meetings also made Zhang Qiang gradually notice the sorrow in Li Fang's eyes.
"Fang, what's wrong, you seem to have a lot on your mind." One night, Zhang Qiang couldn't help but ask.
Li Fang paused and bit her lip, "Actually... My family owes a lot of debt. ”
"What's this, do you need help?"
"No, I'm afraid of dragging you down."
Zhang Qiang was puzzled, "We like each other, what's not a drag on this." ”
These days, however, Zhang Qiang is coming home less often, and his mother is beginning to notice the change.
"Zhang Qiang, you are a man now, and the land at home is still waiting for you to collect. I can tell you, you'd better not get involved in the affairs of the Li family. Aunt Wang's tone was firm.
Zhang Qiang sighed, "Mom, she's the person I like, I can't just leave it alone." ”
Aunt Wang was a little excited, "You are still young, you don't understand." Do you know the grievances between your father and the Li family? ”
This made Zhang Qiang at a loss, "Dad? What grudge? ”
Aunt Wang looked at her son with complicated eyes, "Get along with her, but don't put all your thoughts there, one day you will understand." ”
Zhang Qiang felt kept in the dark and decided to go to the elders in the village to inquire about it. Sure enough, he learned that more than ten years ago, his father and Li Fang's father had a dispute over the sale, and finally got into trouble.
Li Fang also noticed Zhang Qiang's troubles, "Zhang Qiang, is your mother unhappy because of my family's affairs?" ”
"It's none of my mom's business, it's me... Trying to figure something out. ”
"Am I causing you trouble?"
"No, absolutely not." Zhang Qiang clasped her hand.
Gradually, Zhang Qiang realized that this relationship was not only about two people, but also about the entanglement of two families. Zhang Qiang wanted to resist these external pressures, so he began to work hard and save money, wanting to prove that he was responsible and able to support Li Fang.
But whenever Aunt Wang saw Zhang Qiang's sweat, her heart felt like she had been cut by a knife, "Zhang Qiang, don't be too tired, your health is what your mother cares about the most." ”
Zhang Qiang smiled slightly, "Mom, don't worry, I know what I'm doing." ”
In the face of her son's firmness, Aunt Wang's opposition seemed to have become weak. But in her heart, that deep chasm still cannot be easily crossed. She grabbed Zhang Qiang in the middle of the night, "Child, you have to remember that in this world, you are in charge of your own life." ”
Zhang Qiang nodded silently, although he couldn't speak, there was always a voice in his heart telling him that as long as true love exists, there is always a way to overcome all kinds of difficulties and resistance.
Zhang Qiang made up his mind that he would leave this small village full of strife with Li Fang and go to the place where they could love freely. At night, under the old locust tree that they had met countless times, two young figures plotted about their future.
"Fang, let's go to the city and start over." Zhang Qiang held Li Fang's hand tightly.
Li Fang had tears in her eyes, but she was more determined, "I listen to you, Zhang Qiang." ”
"We'll leave tomorrow night, take the necessary things, nothing else matters."
Li Fang nodded, "Understood." ”
But on the eve of their planned elopement, at home, Aunt Wang suddenly called out to Zhang Qiang, who was about to go out.
"Zhang Qiang, come here, Mom has something to tell you." Aunt Wang's face was more serious than ever.
Zhang Qiang stopped, with an ominous premonition, "Mom, you... You got it? ”
"Got it!" Aunt Wang said in a deep voice, "You're going to elope, aren't you?!"
Zhang Qiang was silent, not knowing what to do.
Aunt Wang looked at him and sighed, "I didn't want to say it, but for you, I have to tell you the truth." ”
"What truth?" Zhang Qiang's heart tightened.
"The Li family, their family's debts... There's more to it than what you see. Aunt Wang sat down with a solemn expression, "The debts owed by the Li family are not something that can be paid off in a few years, and..."
Zhang Qiang was nervous, "What else?" ”
Aunt Wang's eyes flashed with sadness, "Li Fang's father once had business entanglements with your father, and in the end, our family suffered a loss. I don't want you to be caught up in it. ”
Zhang Qiang was stunned, the contradiction between love and reality weighed heavily on his shoulders, he wanted to resist, but he was powerless.
He asked, "Mom, then we... Should I just give up? ”
Aunt Wang hesitated, but finally said in a trembling voice: "I only want you to be happy, but I don't want you to bear the burden of a lifetime for a moment of obsession." ”
Late at night, Zhang Qiang returned to his room, his heart struggling. In the end, he decided to see Li Fang again.
The two met again under the old locust tree, Zhang Qiang did not hide it, and told Li Fang his mother's words as they were.
"Zhang Qiang... I—" Li Fang's tears rippled and her voice choked, "I don't want to be a burden to you. ”
Zhang Qiang hugged her tightly, "Fang, I don't care about this. ”
Li Fang looked up at him, her tears flashing with determination, "I want to solve the problems at home by myself, I can't let you get involved." ”
Time flies like a white horse, and ten years have passed in the blink of an eye. With his wisdom and hard work, Zhang Qiang has become a successful entrepreneur, and he has transformed the emotional ups and downs of the past into a driving force for progress. And Li Fang, she has experienced difficult struggles, and finally let the family get rid of the cloud of debt and live a happy life.
By chance, Zhang Qiang returned to that small village.
"Auntie, it's been a long time." In the field, Zhang Qiang met Aunt Wang, who was busy.
Aunt Wang looked up in surprise, and then smiled, "No, Zhang Qiang, you are soaring." ”
Zhang Qiang smiled, "It's okay, Mom, it's all your education." ”
They looked at each other and smiled, and then he asked, "Li Fang... How is she? ”
Aunt Wang looked at him, "She's doing well, and she's not the girl who needs others to worry about anymore." ”
A trace of warm pride swept through Zhang Qiang's chest, and he walked side by side with his mother on the country road, his heart surging with thoughts of Li Fang.
When he happened to return to the village, it was the annual temple fair in the village. The sound of music and laughter filled the air, and Zhang Qiang searched the crowd for the familiar figure.
Finally, under the lantern, he saw Li Fang, she was still beautiful, and time didn't seem to have left a trace on her face.
When Li Fang saw him, surprise and shyness intertwined on her face, "Zhang Qiang? ”
"It's me, Fang, you've changed a lot."
"You too, more and more attractive to men." Li Fang said, and both of them laughed softly.
They walked to the old locust tree, the tree that witnessed their youthful love.
"I heard that you got out of the predicament at home and are doing well." Zhang Qiang said gently.
"yes, that's all thanks to your support back then."
Zhang Qiang looked at her, "Back then... We made choices and ended up allowing each other to grow. ”
Li Fang nodded with satisfaction, "Yes, I also understand your mother's hard work back then." ”
"So—" They both spoke, then laughed.
In the reunion after maturity, they once again regained the emotion of the year. They stood under the old locust tree, admiring each other's growth and changes, and their hearts were full of emotion.
Zhang Qiang's eyes were affectionate and firm, "Fang, if time can be repeated, do you think we will..."
Li Fang smiled slightly, looked up at the starry sky, and lightly placed his hand on the back of his hand, leaving him with an unfinished sentence and a deep meaning.
This content is a fictional short story, please read it rationally, and do not sit in the right seat