Text: Li Jinyong
This year, my daughter and my eldest brother's two children were admitted to graduate school. The eldest brother said to me: "My mother is old and sick, while she can still walk, the children of both of us are studying in Chongqing, so we will take my mother with us when we send the children to school, so that the elderly can also see the scenery of the metropolis." I nodded again and again: "Okay, okay!"
Three generations of eight people took the train for more than 20 hours to arrive at Chongqing North Railway Station, and we stayed in a spacious, comfortable and affordable hotel in Shapingba District.
For dinner, we ordered a meal with Chongqing's strong characteristics, crispy and crispy spicy chicken; spicy sour, sour and sweet pickled cabbage fish; Spicy, fresh, and flavorful, Mao Xuewang...... Everyone ate heartily in a warm and cheerful atmosphere, but what made my eldest brother and me feel more unique was the bottle of Jiang Xiaobaijiu. Our brothers have a strong love complex, but in recent years, blood lipids have been increasing, and drinking alcohol is strictly under the control of the family, and it is not allowed to drink at ordinary times, and it cannot exceed two taels under special circumstances. So we each took a glass of wine, sipped it slowly, and drank it with a shrunken hand. As the meals on the table gradually decreased, everyone stopped eating, and the daughter burped and said that she was going to the supermarket to buy daily necessities, and someone immediately responded: "I'm really full of food, I want to take a walk, let's go together." At this time, a trace of imperceptible joy flashed on the eldest brother's face, and he said loudly: "There is still this dish, it's a pity, our brothers will accompany our mother to eat for a while, and we will go back to the hotel when we are finished." Before leaving, the niece did not forget the more than half bottle of wine, and was about to reach out to take it, when the sister-in-law said, "Let them take it, Mom, you take care of it, don't let them drink it anymore." My mother nodded solemnly, and I secretly rejoiced, and I didn't forget to promise: "Don't worry, we are conscious, not to mention my mother's supervision." ”
As the footsteps went away, I felt a lot more relaxed, there was not much wine left in the glass, and my eldest brother and I took the wine glass and drank it all. As the mellow wine swallowed, the eldest brother smacked his lips and sighed: "It's not easy for my parents to raise our six brothers and sisters with hard work, but it's a pity that our father didn't have the opportunity to come to Chongqing." When I think of my father who died, my mother would burst into tears, blaming herself for not taking better care of my father. The atmosphere was dreary for a while, listening to my mother recount how she had done something to my father and regret it, and our eyes wandered to the bottle of sparkling liquid from time to time, and although my mother had tears in her eyes, she seemed to notice the covetous look we both exuded, and she subconsciously held the bottle in her arms. At this time, the eldest brother broke the embarrassment and said with emotion: "My father has lost his ability to take care of himself for four years, although you have suffered from a variety of diseases, but you take good care of your father, he is an old man who died at the age of eighty-three, Mom, you have done your best." I continued: "My father has been ill for a few years, and you have to take care of every time he urinates, not to mention that you care about your diet and daily life. The eldest brother followed up and said, "Yes, let's wish my mother a long and healthy life." The mother hesitantly lifted the wine bottle, poured a little into the two wine glasses as if she were cooking with oil in her usual stir-fry, and then held the wine bottle in her arms. At this time, looking at the vicissitudes of life and the kind mother, thinking of the harmonious family and sensible children, my heart was warm, and the wine was booming. Our brothers and I understood and thought about how to let our mother "let go again". At this time, the eldest brother had already spoken: "Mom, your three grandsons study diligently, and it is not easy to be admitted to a graduate school in a key university this year." A comfortable smile appeared on my mother's face, and we knew that my mother was the happiest when it was also the easiest time to accept the request, so I struck while the iron was hot and said: "The children study hard, and we as children also listen to you, it is not easy for us to come to Chongqing together for three generations." At the same time, he tentatively begged, "Mom, let's drink some more to show it." It seemed that the mother was a little shaken, and the eldest brother was also anxious to say: "Yes, celebrate, celebrate." At this time, my mother slowly picked up the wine bottle, ready to pour a few more drops as before, I saw that the situation was not good, so I had an idea, reached out and grabbed the wine bottle and begged: "Mom, let me pour it, this wine is a famous wine in Chongqing, you have a bad eye, it is a pity to pour it outside." The mother reluctantly let go of her hand and said, "Pour less!" I nodded my head in agreement like a chicken pecking rice, and poured the bottom of the bottle into the wine glass with the bottom of the bottle facing up, while the eldest brother was talking to my mother passionately to distract her and cover me, while kicking the upper of my shoe with his toes as a reminder and whispering in a low voice: "Pour, pour full." When the mother reacted and snatched the wine bottle, the two glasses of mellow and clear wine had been filled, the mother held the wine bottle tightly and looked at the bottle was less than two taels of wine, as if she had lost some treasure, tears burst out of her eyes, and for the first time in recent years, she counted us in a reprimanding tone: "You are all over 50 years old, old and young, it is the time when the burden is the heaviest, how can you fulfill your responsibilities without a good body?" I know that it's not good to drink too much, and I'm still greedy for a cup...... "We both shook our heads, feeling both guilty and warm, the eldest brother raised his head, with tears in his eyes, and choked up: "Mom, our brothers and sisters can eat together with you in the red city of Chongqing, this situation, this scene is really mixed feelings, you can rest assured, we will definitely not overdo it in the future." I also had a sour nose and said in a tone of voice: "Mom, we are obedient, and we will not take an example." ”
In a warm atmosphere, we chatted happily with my mother while drinking, and before I knew it, the wine glass bottomed out again, and my mother pointed to the little wine left in the bottle and asked, "Do you still drink?" The eldest brother said hesitantly, "No, I don't dare to drink it." I also muttered, "Forget it, but it's a pity to be the rest." The mother hesitated for a while, and then said, "I can't imagine that my old bones can follow you to such a big city, and you also respect me very much on weekdays, and my grandchildren are eager to learn and progress, I am very happy, come, let's drink together." As he spoke, he picked up the bottle and poured three portions slowly, and then slowly picked up the wine glass, at this time the two brothers stood up with a swish, holding the glass in both hands, and the mother continued: "Mom knows that your life is stressful, but the burden on your shoulders is heavy, so you must take care of your body. Be sure to drink less in the future! Come, let's drink this wine today. "The eldest brother and I seemed to have something stuck in our hearts, and we couldn't speak, so we nodded vigorously, and poured a drop of wine into our mouths with our heads up.
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