The once prosperous and now slightly dilapidated alley in the downtown is Uncle Sun's home. With gray hair and a wrinkled face, the 64-year-old always carries a toolbox on his back and repairs all kinds of old things for a living. It's not that his craftsmanship is not perfect, it's just that his personality makes it difficult for business to prosper. Uncle Sun doesn't like to socialize with people, more often, he likes to be alone and be with those old things.
In the alley, everyone is used to Uncle Sun's taciturnity. Even when the children saw him, they just said hello from a distance and continued to play. Next to Uncle Sun's repair shop is Aunt Zhao's small courtyard. She is an amiable middle-aged woman, mixed with the barking of chickens and dogs, and her warm shouts can be heard: "Xiaoqiang, don't run outside, there are many cars, danger!" ”
This morning, life in the alley began as usual. Uncle Sun opened his repair shop as usual, and the courtyard door of Aunt Zhao's house was also open, and she was busy preparing breakfast.
"Xiaoqiang, come and have breakfast, don't let your mother shout a second time!" Aunt Zhao shouted while placing the steamed buns.
"Got it, Mom! I'm looking for a homework book, I'll be right in a minute! Xiaoqiang's voice came from inside the house, and with a muttering sound, a little kid with a schoolbag jumped up and appeared at the kitchen door.
"Aunt Zhao, morning!" When Xiaoqiang went out to school, he saw Uncle Sun and said hello to him as usual.
An old man shaking empty bamboo
"Xiaoqiang, stay safe." Uncle Sun always responds like this, with a hint of gentleness in his voice.
After noon, Uncle Sun was repairing an old-fashioned sewing machine, and Aunt Zhao came back from the market with a basket of vegetables. She noticed that Uncle Sun's brows were tightly knit, and his expression became even darker.
"Uncle Sun, has something happened? This look is not quite right. Aunt Zhao asked with concern.
Uncle Sun sighed and said earnestly: "Alas, Aunt Zhao, my job is getting more and more difficult to do. In this day and age, who is going to fix this rag? ”
Aunt Zhao put down the vegetable basket and comforted: "Uncle Sun, it is normal for the world to change, but your craftsmanship is really good, and there will always be a time when it will be useful." ”
While chatting, Aunt Zhao's mobile phone rang, she took out her mobile phone and looked at it, and her expression immediately became anxious: "Ah, it was a call from the hospital, saying that my mother's condition is serious again, and she has to pay the medical bills immediately." ”
Seeing this, Uncle Sun asked, "How much?" ”
A trace of helplessness flashed in Aunt Zhao's eyes: "There is still 2600 left, I have to think of a way." ”
Uncle Sun was silent for a while, and suddenly said, "Aunt Zhao, otherwise, I'll lend you 2,600 yuan, but..."
Looking at Uncle Sun's nervous expression, Aunt Zhao hurriedly interrupted: "Uncle Sun, I'm so grateful that you can lend me money, you said, you can do whatever you want me to do." ”
Uncle Sun hesitated, and said his wish with difficulty: "You... Can you have a chat with me? I haven't spoken to anyone in years. ”
Aunt Zhao was stunned for a moment, and then smiled softly: "Uncle Sun, it turns out that you are so lonely, what's so difficult about this." No money, I'll talk to you. ”
Since that day, Uncle Sun's life seems to have changed somewhat. Whenever night fell, Aunt Zhao would find some excuse to tell her family to go out for a walk, and then she would go to Uncle Sun's house to sit. They sat under the porch, talking about the people and things in the alley, and about their pasts.
"Uncle Sun, how were you when you were a child?" Aunt Zhao asked curiously.
Uncle Sun took a sip of tea and said slowly: "I was very naughty when I was a child, but the family conditions were not good, I came out to work at the age of fourteen, and I didn't read much." ”
Aunt Zhao sighed, "Today's children are much happier, they can go to good schools and live a good life." ”
Uncle Sun looked at the stars in the sky, with envy in his eyes, "Yes, I also hope to have a good job, but that's all for this life." ”
Aunt Zhao couldn't bear to see Uncle Sun so depressed, so she changed the topic and said, "Uncle Sun, your craft is so good, how did you learn it?" ”
Uncle Sun was a little proud, "Oh, that was taught to me by my father, he is a craftsman, I have been learning from him since I was a child." It's a pity that there are few people who have this craft now. ”
Aunt Zhao's eyes lit up, "But I think your craftsmanship is very meaningful." Many objects carry the memories of the older generation. We can try to find the market, and maybe there will be unexpected gains. ”
Uncle Sun smiled slightly, "Aunt Zhao, I feel a little hopeful for you to say that." ”
In this way, two ordinary neighbors, because of an unusual request for borrowing money, began an unusual exchange in their later years. Uncle Sun's loneliness was touched by Aunt Zhao's warmth, and they gradually opened their hearts in coexistence.
However, the good times did not last long, and Aunt Zhao's husband began to suspect the reason why his wife went out at night. One night, he decided to follow Aunt Zhao and found her entering Uncle Sun's house.
"What are you doing here?!" Aunt Zhao's husband asked angrily.
Aunt Zhao panicked and hurriedly explained, "I'm here to repay the money, and we have nothing to do!" ”
Uncle Sun stood up and explained to Aunt Zhao's husband, "Brother Zhao, you misunderstood. She borrowed the money to treat her mother's illness. I just want someone to talk to. ”
Aunt Zhao's husband looked at Uncle Sun with distrust, "Even so, why didn't you tell me?" As an outsider, do you ignore your family's reputation? ”
Aunt Zhao cried bitterly, "I don't want to embarrass my family, I will find a way to solve it myself, I haven't done anything to be sorry for you." ”
The atmosphere was suddenly tense, and Uncle Sun looked at everything in front of him helplessly, "Brother Zhao, I'm sorry for you, it was I who caused a misunderstanding between your husband and wife." I've been withdrawn all my life, and now I don't even have a friend to talk to, and I really just want someone to listen to me. ”
Aunt Zhao's husband looked at his wife's tears and Uncle Sun's haggard face, the anger in his heart slowly cooled, embarrassed and guilty, "I... I may have really misunderstood. ”
Aunt Zhao wiped away her tears and said firmly: "I didn't do anything, I just wanted to help." Uncle Sun is a good person, and none of us should misunderstand him. ”
The husband took a deep breath, "I... I need time to digest all this, sorry for the interruption. Then he left without looking back.
Aunt Zhao turned her head to look at Uncle Sun, sad and resolute, "Regardless of him, we are still friends." She insisted on her decision to choose to help Uncle Sun, although she knew that there would be more difficulties ahead, but she believed that such difficulties were the family and life responsibilities she had to bear.
Uncle Sun shook his head, "Aunt Zhao, don't affect your family because of me. I'll figure it out myself. My heart was full of gratitude, but I couldn't bear to trouble Aunt Zhao anymore.
On a stormy night, the alley was unusually quiet. Aunt Zhao's mood was like this fierce rainstorm, unable to calm down. She decided that this night, she was going to go to Uncle Sun to clarify everything.
When she knocked on Uncle Sun's door, her hands were trembling slightly. "Uncle Sun, it's me, Aunt Zhao." She called out loudly.
The door creaked open, and Uncle Sun stood at the door, still holding repair tools in his hand, obviously woken up. "Aunt Zhao, it's raining so hard, what's wrong with you?" There was concern and surprise in his voice.
"Uncle Sun, I'm here to make it clear. My husband, he misunderstood us. There's nothing between us, and I can't let this misunderstanding continue. Aunt Zhao's tone was firm, and the rain mixed with tears and flowed down her cheeks.
Uncle Sun couldn't help but be a little excited, and hurriedly opened the door, "Aunt Zhao, come in, don't get rainy." I know you're innocent, and I can't let you be wronged because of me. ”
The dim light inside the room contrasts with the thunder outside the window. The two old men sat in the small living room, watching the pouring rain outside.
"Uncle Sun, I said that no matter what, I will be on your side. You are a good person and should not be misunderstood like this. Aunt Zhao's tone was resolute.
Uncle Sun said with emotion: "Aunt Zhao, in fact, I have always been a very lonely person, maybe because of my character, maybe because of the blow that life has given me. ”
"You... Do you have anything on your mind? Aunt Zhao asked softly, she could feel Uncle Sun's loneliness and sadness.
"I have a son who lost contact with me many years ago. Family conflicts, he didn't understand my hard work, thinking that I was a failed father. Uncle Sun's voice trembled, and there were complicated emotions in his eyes.
Aunt Zhao was shocked by his honesty, "Uncle Sun, it's okay. People are born with regrets, and the key is to face the future. Look at the two of us, maybe these misunderstandings are the fate that prompted us to come together and chat. ”
Uncle Sun sighed, "Yes, if it weren't for you, I might have been..."
"Don't say that, Uncle Sun." Aunt Zhao interrupted him, "Look, this heavy rain can't break us, and there are still difficulties in life that we can't overcome!" ”
Uncle Sun showed a heartfelt smile for the first time, "Yes, Aunt Zhao, you're right." In my life, I have been busy cultivating things, but I have forgotten to mend my heart. But now, I feel less empty. ”
"Uncle Sun, we are neighbors and friends. After the wind and rain, it is a clear sky that we care about each other. Aunt Zhao's words seemed to bring some warmth.
The chat between the two in the wind and rain, although there are vicissitudes of life, is more about understanding and support for each other. From that night on, their relationship was no longer a simple borrowing of money, but a deep friendship that allowed them to rediscover the value of existence in the twilight of their lives.
On this night, the wind and rain could not destroy their strong hearts, but brought their hearts closer. Uncle Sun and Aunt Zhao spent the most sincere time together, and understood that in the journey of life, sincere companionship is sometimes more precious than money.
After in-depth communication, Aunt Zhao and her husband finally cleared up the misunderstanding between them. Uncle Sun's story was also told over and over again between the two of them. Aunt Zhao's husband was finally touched by this simple neighborly feeling.
"Auntie, I'm really sorry, I misunderstood you. Lao Sun, we are neighbors, and we will bear any difficulties together in the future. Aunt Zhao's husband sincerely apologized to Uncle Sun.
Uncle Sun nodded with emotion, "It's okay." I don't blame you, there are too many misunderstandings in this society. We're still good neighbors. ”
Aunt Zhao looked at the two old men and couldn't help laughing, "You two big men, how much heart do you have to bear for me." But now, we're all family. ”
Aunt Zhao's husband came back to his senses, and on the weekend, he took Uncle Sun to a nearby vegetable market. "Lao Sun, I heard that your craftsmanship is good, let's go to the market to have a look, many people like retro old things, maybe they can find a good way to do business."
Uncle Sun asked puzzledly, "Is there really a market?" ”
Aunt Zhao's husband patted him on the shoulder, "Won't you know if you try it?" People are not old, and they have to be ready to learn new things at any time. ”
Time is like a trickle, and since then, Uncle Sun has really found his place in the market. His craftsmanship and love of old things attracted many young people who were looking for individuality. The plight of Aunt Zhao's family was also slowly solved through the mutual help of several families.
In the small courtyard in the alley, the homes of Uncle Sun and Aunt Zhao have returned to their former harmony. Young people have become regulars, listening to the stories of the old people and learning about the forgotten warmth in this changing era.
The evening breeze was blowing, and Uncle Sun and Aunt Zhao were sitting under the porch, and the two of them were quietly sipping tea. Uncle Sun sighed with emotion: "Aunt Zhao, there are still many good people in this world. ”
Aunt Zhao nodded, "Indeed, Uncle Sun." We all grow up in this alley, isn't this the most real life? ”
Uncle Sun smiled, he looked at the children running around, and his heart had unprecedented peace: "Yes, life is to help each other and move forward together." ”
The night in the alley is gradually deepening, and the stars are shining, as if to confirm to everyone that the true meaning of life is not to find happiness in mutual support.