The Third Uncle (short story)

(a)

The third uncle's crooked neck was not born, but fell crooked from the back of the kiln when he was a child.

The third uncle's crooked neck is more crooked than the common crooked neck, not only the crooked neck, but the whole head is crooked. It is as if an angular cuboid has been squeezed by an external force to form an irregular shape. The face is large on the left and small on the right, the eyes are protruding, and the mouth is almost cracked on the right shoulder, revealing crooked teeth that cannot be closed. When looking at people, I always have to tilt my body and squint my eyes, feeling that the whole person has a crooked neck, and even the voice of the voice is crooked.

The third uncle had a hard life when he was a child. After giving birth, my grandmother died of a blood collapse. Grandpa really couldn't raise it, so he "gave" the third uncle to the fourth family of Wang Lao in Hongjialing Village. Grandpa was forced to be helpless, so he gritted his teeth and "grieved" the child. Grandpa has no brothers and no brothers, he has endured all the hardships of being weak and weak, and finally gave birth to three sons, how can there be a reason to "give" people? But there are still four children in the family who want to become adults, and he has one hand, even if he has three heads and six arms, he can't be busy. When Wang Laosi took away the third uncle with a dung sowing "grandmother", the family stood by the courtyard for a long time, watching the third uncle disappear from sight.

But the third uncle is such a fateful and unlucky. When he was ten years old, because he fell into a crooked neck, Wang Laosi felt that his hope of "establishing a household" for him had come to naught, so he forcibly "retreated" the third uncle. This "retreat" thing can only be done by this Wang Laosi; But if you don't "want" people's things, grandpa can't do anything. Grandpa didn't reproach Wang Laosi, so he pulled the shy and timid third uncle home, just like accepting something returned by someone else, which was so logical. After all, it is his own flesh and blood, others can dislike and escape, but he can't. Even if the crooked melon is cracked, he still has the right to live, and he should be allowed to live in the world. However, the third uncle's two brothers and two sisters don't think so!

The third uncle was "retreated" back, and he grew into a crooked neck again, which suddenly became a lot of news in the village. Perhaps out of curiosity, people want to see what happens. But the father and siblings thought it was a shameful thing, on the one hand, they disliked the ugly appearance of the third uncle, and on the other hand, they didn't want the people in the village to come to see the prosperity. For this reason, the grandfather also solemnly held a family meeting and admonished the father and siblings: ask them to take good care of the third uncle, no matter how ugly they are, they are also brothers and sisters, and they can't be bullied by the children in the village; I have to let the third uncle do everything, he is not "reasonable" in our family, and he is not "righteous"; The people in the village want to see the curiosity and let them go, and they will get used to it after a long time......

But in fact, the third uncle was not bullied by the villagers, but was beaten and scolded by his brothers and sisters. In addition to the eldest aunt who also loves the third uncle, the other three sisters always can't get used to the family with this person. Originally, there was a lack of food and clothing at home, and if you don't have mine, it's not a matter of "adding a pair of dishes and chopsticks" at all; Somehow became a "crooked-necked" brother and sister, and I felt uncomfortable. However, the third uncle is self-aware, he knows how to raise his eyebrows and low his eyes very early, and he does not "care" with his brothers and sisters, he is always cautious, and no one dares to offend. If there is any work at home, he is always in front, and he can do as much as he can; There is delicious food and fun, but I always shrink back and don't do it first.

Many years later, my father always confessed in front of us the story of his "abuse" of the third uncle when he was a child, and often told the story of old tears, which caused us to sigh.

At that time, there were almost no entertainment activities in the countryside, and movies came to the village, which became the most lively thing for people. It is a movie in the neighboring village at night, and almost all the adults and children in the village go as long as they can run. Pulling, pulling, chattering, gangs. The third uncle naturally wanted to see such a happy event, but his father was disgusted with "shame", and secondly, he was afraid that it was cumbersome to walk at night. But the third uncle is a child after all, his father runs in front, and the third uncle follows behind. The father scolded, but the third uncle didn't listen. As soon as the father was angry, he kicked the third uncle twice in the ass and asked the third uncle to go back; But as soon as the father turned around, the third uncle followed up like a meat tail. The angry father pressed the third uncle to the ground and beat the third uncle firmly, until the third uncle kept begging for mercy and "don't go, don't go", then he stopped. The father watched the third uncle cry while going down the slope crookedly, and then he was relieved to watch the movie......

My father said that there was another time when he repented for the rest of his life. At that time, the children were very popular to play "smoke", and as soon as school ended, the children found their partners and had a lot of fun. This "smoke" is a "four corners" (also called treasure) or "triangle" folded from cigarette boxes and waste paper. When playing, hold the fan in your hand, and if you fan the "smoke" that the opponent puts on the ground is turned over, it is considered a win, and the "smoke" belongs to the winner. In that era of material scarcity, most of the people in the village smoked dry tobacco, and it was not easy to get a cigarette box. My father also said that at that time, his level of "tobacco" was not high, and he always lost when playing with his classmates, and he often did not have "tobacco" at hand. One day, when he accidentally found the third uncle's "private collection" and "smoke" in the empty kiln, he went up and grabbed it. But the third uncle grabbed it tightly and tore several beautiful "cigarettes" to shreds in an instant. The third uncle cried, but his father looked disdainful and threatened not to tell his grandfather, otherwise he would have good fruit to eat...... The father walked away, leaving the third uncle whimpering alone, piecing together his tattered "smoke......

(b)

The third uncle only went to the fifth grade of primary school and dropped out of school. It's not that his grandfather doesn't let him go to school, it's that he doesn't want to go to school. Grandpa, who loves reading all his life, can't wait for all five children to be inscribed on the gold list, and become Dou Yanshan in "Three Character Classic". But the reality slapped him in the face, and the second uncle couldn't live or die in the second half of the first semester of junior high school, and he couldn't bear the suffering of starvation and cold; The reason why the third uncle doesn't want to study is mainly because he doesn't know how to read, and "drawing inferences from one another" has become a problem. Besides, he was going to the commune in junior high school, and he didn't want to go even more inferiorly.

The second and third uncles refused to study, and the grandfather agreed. The family does need manpower to help send the other three children to school.

At that time, the boys who were not educated in compulsory education and did not study herded sheep; The girl who doesn't read, looks at the child. The so-called "small rules for herding sheep and watching children for small things" is a true portrayal of the countryside at that time. Grandpa asked the third uncle to herd the sheep, and the third uncle was not embarrassed. This is the "common karma" of children at this age, and it is a normal way to survive.

The work of herding sheep seems to be easy, and there is no "technical" content, but in fact there are a lot of mysteries. A good shepherd is handy, and the sheep have established a relationship of mutual trust and become a win-win group; Crooked shepherds, sheep are disobedient, running around, people are also suffering some capital crimes, physical and mental exhaustion.

The third uncle was 14 years old at the time, he was short and weak, very "colorful", he wanted to be tall, he had no strength, and the sheep shovel was a cut taller than him. Every day, a rag rice bag is straddled diagonally, hanging behind the buttocks in a flash; A crooked face often crawls five times, recording the traces of his battle with the sheep.

First of all, the sheep was disobedient, the reason was that the third uncle had just started, and he did not have "prestige" in the flock, so it didn't count, especially when the mountains and rivers were far away, the sheep didn't pay attention to the shouting. The third uncle's use of the sheep shovel lacks kung fu, he has neither strength nor accurate head, and it is difficult for the sheep to surrender. can only chase the sheep and fight fiercely, but fortunately, the third uncle has dexterous legs and feet, and is not afraid of hardship. The third uncle is not familiar with the terrain, where there is good grassland, and how to walk, he doesn't know anything. On the contrary, sheep are "familiar" with the terrain, just like "ignorant leaders are knowledgeable", and the third uncle's knowledge reserve and skill experience are obviously insufficient!

Educating the sheep is a compulsory course for sheep herders. How to make the sheep listen to people's words and follow their own will is the most important thing in sheep herding. This is a high degree of combination of "technology" and emotional intelligence, and it is also a down-to-earth management. Otherwise, no matter how you roar and scold, the sheep will still be in the autumn breeze. Although the grandfather taught the third uncle to herd sheep whenever he had free time, "he couldn't teach the song to sing well", and he had to operate it in practice to be effective, otherwise it was just talk on paper and useless.

Once, the sheep were grazing on the hillside. The third uncle sat on the edge of the high ground, looking at the sheep condescendingly. The warm sun of early summer made people sneer, the cheerful chirping of birds in the trees, and the melodious sound of "returning to the cow" in the distant ploughing land made the third uncle doze off, and after a while, he squinted...... Suddenly, a cool breeze blew, and the third uncle was startled. When I looked around, the sheep were gone!

The third uncle immediately panicked, and ran around the neighborhood to find a few back and forth, but he couldn't find it. Inadvertently, I looked up, and in the wheat field across the ditch, the sheep were feasting. The third uncle's head was hot, and he ran violently, downhill, through the ditch, and up the mountain, and a series of combined actions made him panting. After a short pause, he pulled a sheep shovel and drove the sheep out of the wheat field. But this place was driven out, and the other place went in again, and he played hide and seek with the third uncle. The third uncle scolded and beaten, sweating profusely, and finally knocked the sheep out of the wheat field one by one, but the whole flock ran to the bottom of the ditch again with yellow dust.

went down to the ditch, and the third uncle gathered the sheep to the bottom of the stone cliff and carried out a real "discipline rectification". The third uncle took the shovel, like a general punishing disobedient soldiers, pacing around domineeringly, and from time to time he knocked the sheep hard, and many of the sheep were so frightened that they dodged and screamed. Then he pulled the most hated sheep out of the hind legs, flung left and right, the sheep knelt on the front legs, he rode on the back of the sheep like Wu Song beating a tiger, pressed his head with his left hand, picked up a stone with his right hand, smashed it down with his head and face, and shouted: "Tell you to eat, tell you to eat, tell you to eat again......

Doing his best to "repair" the sheep every day has become a compulsory course for the third uncle. When he went home in the afternoon, the third uncle was often as tired as a wilted cucumber, weak, and couldn't carry a sheep shovel, but he still had to drink sheep and circle sheep to complete the day's routine tasks.

In fact, the hardships of sheep herding are not limited to these, such as padding, shearing, washing, giving birth, and caring for sheep cakes...... There are also a lot of supporting work, driving sheep to the hillside to graze, which is just a part of it. Fortunately, with the help of his grandfather and his timely pulling, the third uncle successfully grew into a veritable shepherd in more than two years, and took on the important task of assisting the family.

Father said that the third uncle's sheep has brought a big deal to the family. The daily expenses of the three of them are all exchanged for sheep. Father also said that your next generation is now "blessed", which is inseparable from the contribution of your third uncle back then. No matter what your third uncle is doing now or in the future, you must be filial, even if I am no longer there in the future, you must take good care of your third uncle, this is a "political" task. Taking care of your third uncle is equivalent to taking care of your father, people must have a conscience and know how to be grateful.

(c)

The third uncle never married. It's not that the grandfather dislikes it and doesn't want to marry, but the cruel reality makes it impossible for the third uncle to marry. The family is poor, ugly, and rigid and stubborn, all of which have become the shortcomings of marrying a daughter-in-law. Originally, it was difficult to find the object of the disabled, no matter whose home or where, it was always a fragrant neck, there were always people who asked, and there were always people who did not hesitate to spend a lot of money to want to marry. What squinted eyes, toddlers, back-to-backs, and even can't take care of themselves, there is nothing left.

In fact, after the father and sister worked, there were still certain conditions for marrying a daughter-in-law for the third uncle. At that time, he had already moved from herding sheep for his father and sisters to go to school, and smoothly transitioned to his father and sisters feeding the family.

The third uncle couldn't marry a daughter-in-law, first because of his grandfather's heart disease, and then because of his father's heart disease. In the concept of the older generation, if you don't marry a daughter-in-law and don't get married, you are not an adult, you are an adult, you are green apricots and rotten dates, no one can afford to look down on you when you are born, and you can't be buried in the ancestral grave after death. They think long-term, both for this life and for the Hereafter. Therefore, children with disabilities often devote more effort to them, and in the short life of the third uncle, most of the time is either on the way to ask his daughter-in-law, or on the way to see his daughter-in-law.

To tell the truth, with grandpa's ability, ability to write and martial arts, and the strength to be a father and mother, after the death of grandma, grandpa still had the opportunity to marry his wife, but grandpa did not marry - mainly for his "navel" (incapable) son. He was afraid that marrying his wife would not be good for the third uncle, and he wanted to save some money and marry the third uncle when he had the opportunity.

Regardless of whether the dishes are good or bad, the ones that are picked up in the basket are the vegetables. The third uncle didn't have no chance to marry a daughter-in-law, but by mistake, he always dropped the chain at a critical time.

Once, the matchmaker introduced the third uncle to Han Ruru from a nearby commune. This Ru Ru is not ugly, tall and tall, and it is more than enough for the third uncle. Grandpa was very satisfied, and happily called his father and asked him to prepare some money, saying that the third uncle would have a daughter-in-law soon. Hearing the news, the whole family was very happy, no matter what, the third uncle can finally become a family, and once he has lived in the world, he should have a woman, so he can also rest assured, and everyone can rest assured.

A few days later, my father returned to the village with some money. But when I came back, I was depressed, and when I asked, I realized that my daughter-in-law, who had been making trouble for a while, was in the soup. It turned out that this girl was not only naïve, but also unable to take care of herself, and she had to be taken care of by others. This is a person in the village who knows the bottom of the matter and secretly warned his grandfather: "You must not marry, how can you serve her after marrying your two big men?" When Grandpa heard this, he was disheartened......

After another two or three years, there was another similar "stubble" (object). A disabled woman whose husband has passed away wants to find a loyal, honest, hard-working disabled person to support her family. Grandpa valued it very much, and found a branch secretary in the village who could speak well to talk about the matchmaker, wanting to succeed in one fell swoop, but he had a wish for many years.

The branch secretary went on a trip and came back and said that people were going to see me, and they couldn't shout across the mountain. It's a deal, and it depends on the goods, how can there be a marriage that is made without seeing each other? It's a matchmaker or not, it has to be two or three times! Before leaving, he said to his grandfather, "You are ready, and I will take you there in a few days." ”

After a few days of preparation, there was finally an "effect". The third uncle got a haircut, made a new set of clothes that fit well, and prepared a lot of "interview plans" to teach the third uncle, for example, what are you? How many brothers do you have? What kind of craftsmanship do you know? …… Let the third uncle be prepared, so that he will not be in a hurry; Grandpa also put on the new clothes that his aunt bought during the Chinese New Year and shaved his beard that he hadn't shaved for a long time. They also bought biscuits, snacks, canned food and sorghum wine from the commune and packaged them into a "four-color ceremony".

I went to the disabled woman's house, and with the ability of the branch secretary to speak, things seemed to be going well. The lame woman took the initiative to talk to the third uncle at first, and the third uncle answered smoothly without showing any feet. But the woman's mother asked carefully, making the grandfather sweat. At first, the third uncle could still deal with it, such as "How many sisters are there?" "What is your birthday?" …… But when asked, "Where is your Yu family (毑jiě family is your grandfather's house)", the third uncle was stunned all of a sudden, and he couldn't find the answer in the "plan" at all. The third uncle looked at his grandfather, and his grandfather bowed his head and was silent. There is no way, you can only rely on yourself to play on the spot. So the third uncle was "clever" and blurted out: "Wen Jiagou!" (It should be Liu Jiashan)" After answering, I felt very satisfied. Grandpa was so anxious that he blinked and frowned, so angry that he couldn't speak. The mother smiled and asked, "What are you?" "Monkey!" The third uncle replied neatly. Then he asked, "And what will you belong to next year?" The third uncle hesitated for a while, blinked, and said timidly: "It should still be a monkey, my father didn't sue me......

Needless to say, the third uncle didn't pass the interview. In fact, the third uncle is okay with everything else, but he doesn't understand the relationship between his in-laws and ethics, which has become a shortcoming of his life, and it has also buried his dream of marrying a daughter-in-law.

On the way home, the branch secretary felt embarrassed for him, so depressed that he didn't talk much, and he didn't have the sea and sky when he went, so his grandfather had to accompany him all the way with a smiling face and pick good things to say. When he arrived at the entrance of the village, his grandfather also stuffed the returned things to the branch secretary, which was regarded as a little compensation for the branch secretary Zhang Luo.

Later, there was no more good "stubble".

(iv)

The third uncle can't marry a daughter-in-law, the grandfather doesn't marry a wife, and the father and son have become a typical "single" combination in the village. My father and uncle wanted them to come to live in the city, but my grandfather didn't come, and my third uncle didn't come either. They are accustomed to their free life, and do not want to come to the city to be bound in a frame of steel and concrete. In my memory, when my grandfather and third uncle came to my house, they often came and went in a hurry, and never stayed overnight.

To tell the truth, with the third uncle by his grandfather's side, the father and sisters saved a lot of worry, and the brothers and sisters just usually bought some things to visit, chatted on the phone in their spare time, and had nothing to worry about. It really responds to what people in the village often say, a good child is born for the country, and the "neck navel" is his own. That's true, grandpa's old age's eating, drinking, and lazing, every move depends on the third uncle's meticulous care. Among the children, the third uncle is the most incompetent, but he does the best job in honoring the elderly.

A special illness caused his father to pass away before his grandfather, which not only made his grandfather anxious, but also his third uncle. The third uncle knelt down in front of his father's spirit, tears flowing. Because of the third uncle as an adult, he received a lot of care from his father. Especially after my father got sick, he often mentioned the third uncle, repented of his past, worried about the future of the third uncle, and settled us must take care of the third uncle after the death of his grandfather. Because my father knew that it was impossible for my grandfather to grow old with my third uncle, I was afraid that after my grandfather's death, the third uncle would have no one to take care of and wander the society.

I remember that on the last night of the wake in front of my father's mourning hall, the second and third uncles had a long talk with several of our juniors, reminiscing about my father and remembering the past. When talking about what happened to the third uncle as a child, the third uncle looked calm, as if he was talking about someone else. The third uncle just said that his life was not good, and he deserved it, and I was surprised that he had a good attitude. I asked the third uncle: "My dad 'abused' you when you were young, do you remember?" "Who knew that the third uncle said, I don't remember it, what are you doing with it? I only remember the good sisters. Besides, it's normal for sisters to fight together, one punch and two kicks, and the donkey pen can't kick the donkey. I've been inphysical since I was a child, I'm stupid and stupid, and I'm very reasonable to be taught by your father...... Your father didn't say anything about filial piety, but among the sisters, your father was careful and took care of his grandfather. I often think about me, now that your dad is gone, who still cares about me so much...... As he spoke, the third uncle cried, and we cried too. This cry converged into a long river of gratitude and longing, flowing in the lonely and empty night......

may have aggravated the grandfather's cerebral infarction because of the loss of his son in old age, and half a year after his father's death, his grandfather also closed his eyes. Grandpa's death did not cause excessive grief among relatives, because grandpa was in his seventies, and it was time for him to die. And the saddest thing is the third uncle who serves him day and night. Due to excessive grief, the third uncle once had spasms in his hands and feet, and he couldn't help himself......

In the few days of the memorial for his grandfather, the third uncle was groggy for a while, talking to himself, as if he had become another person, traveled to another world, and did not talk to mortals. In order to settle the third uncle's heart, the second uncle and our juniors specially came to the third uncle to talk, so that the third uncle should not worry about his future life, there are so many relatives, there is always his food and drink, let him rest assured. The third uncle seemed to accept this arrangement, and his mood seemed to be much brighter.

After burying the grandfather, when he was about to let the third uncle go to the city, the third uncle showed a very happy look, arranged the inside and outside of the door in detail, and ironed the post. When locking the door, the third uncle said with a smile that he was going to go out now, so he had to lock it well, and he didn't know when he would come back. The third uncle put on his rag rice bag on his back, wore his favorite forward hat, got into the front seat of the car, and sat in the car angrily.

At noon, everyone had a dinner at the restaurant. One is that everyone is tired these days, relax and relax; Second, the third uncle is in town, welcome to welcome the third uncle. At the dinner table, our juniors toasted the third uncle one by one, and drank the third uncle until his face was ruddy, he couldn't close his mouth, and he couldn't talk about it...... After dinner, I went to work and asked the third uncle to go to the second uncle's house to rest first, and see you in the evening.

When I got off work, I passed the No. 1 Middle School Bridge and saw a large group of people standing by the bridge and looking down, saying that someone had jumped off the bridge. "Who wouldn't think this was?" I muttered to myself, squeezed into the crowd and looked, ah! It's amazing, isn't it the third uncle under the bridge? Yellow pants, a blue shirt, a colorful rice bag, and a black forward hat were thrown not far away......

My mind was buzzing, and I didn't know how to get to the ditch. - This is my poor third uncle, who fell beyond recognition, and blood flowed. I knelt down, took the third uncle into my arms, and touched his nostrils with a trembling hand, only to realize that the third uncle was out of breath. I screamed all at once, stroking the rough hand of the third uncle, and everything was lost......

When the second uncle came, he crawled to the third uncle on his knees, and beat his chest in repentance: Third brother, just said that you would go out for a while, how can you do such a stupid thing, how can you let the second brother explain to his relatives...... The pain made the second uncle tears ripple and his voice was hoarse. At this time, the third uncle's neck was soft, and the second uncle gently straightened his head and put it on his chest. Alas, this head has been crooked all his life, and then he has returned to the right position, and his eyebrows and eyes seem to be in the right place, and they are no longer crooked......

That year, the third uncle was only 37 years old.

Author: Zhang Fenping, born in 1970. He is currently working in the Shilou Supervision Branch of the State Financial Supervision and Administration Bureau. Advocating traditional culture, he loves literature and literature. He has published literary works in journals such as "Lvliang Literature", "Lvliang Daily", "Shanjin Metropolis Daily", "Life and Partner", "Writer", and is the author of the novel "Mugengen".