Li Yue squatted on the threshold of the hall, holding a yellowed old photograph in her hand. In the photo, her father Uncle Li when she was young, standing straight on the ridge with his back, looking at the golden rice, his face full of satisfaction and pride. Her gaze shifted from the photo to the same golden rice paddies in reality, and unconsciously drifted to Uncle Li's grave, where a fresh incense burner was inserted and cigarette smoke was rising.
"Yueyue, what are you thinking here?" Li Qiang walked into the hall with a bucket and asked curiously when he saw his brother-in-law in a daze on the threshold.
"I'm thinking about my father's past." Li Yue replied softly, tears flashing in the corners of her eyes, "Dad is such a good person, why is he always bullied by those bullies." ”
Li Qiang's eyes suddenly became solemn, and he mumbled, motioning for Li Yue to come into the house and sit. He put down the bucket and took the conversation in his hand: "That's in the past, Yueyue." Now that the law is not responsible, and Dad is gone, we still have to look forward. ”
Li Yue looked up at his brother, and there was a stubbornness in his eyes: "Brother, I remember when I was a child, my father told you that when you live, you can't bow your head to those who do evil." We can't forget Dad's words. ”
"How could I forget," Li Qiang took a deep breath, "I remember what happened to my father better than anyone else." I remember that year, our cow was sick, and my father borrowed money from someone to treat the cow. As a result, the five bullies of the Zhang family not only didn't lend us a penny, but also humiliated my father on the street, that was angry......"
His voice grew deeper and deeper, as if he had returned to that time, and his whole person was shrouded in that painful memory.
"Hey," Li Yue sighed, interrupting Li Qiang's memories, "Brother, what's the use of talking about this now." Didn't you say the same? That's all in the past, let's look forward. ”
"But Yueyue, looking forward doesn't mean forgetting the past." Li Qiang's eyes sharpened, "We can't let Dad think that his child is weak." ”
"Oh brother, I know you have always had a knot in your heart, but you haven't forgotten it, have you? Dad explained to us when he left, let us live well, and stop worrying with that group of people. Li Yue comforted.
"How could I forget?" Li Qiang walked to the window, put his hands in his trouser pockets, and muttered to himself, "But I always feel that this matter is not over......"
Li Yue heard his brother's words, walked over, patted him lightly on the shoulder, and said softly: "Brother, Dad's wish is to hope that we will have a good life." Look at this village, how calm it is, we can be regarded as having a stable home. The five bullies of the Zhang family have long been mentioned. ”
Li Qiang turned around and looked at his sister, with a hint of tiredness and helplessness on his face: "It's just that ...... in my heart"
Before he finished speaking, the village chief's shout came from outside the house, "Qiangzi, Yueyue, come out and take a look, there is another farce at the entrance of the village!" Hearing this, the two looked at each other and hurried out—they knew that this peaceful little village had become unpeaceful again.
Li Yue followed Li Qiang to the entrance of the village quickly, and along the way, what lingered in her mind were her father's words and the shadows left by the five Zhang brothers. Li Qiang, on the other hand, was resolute, as if he was determined to end it all in his own way.
"Brother, I've been outside for so many years and I've seen a lot, we can't use those rough methods to solve the problem in the past." Li Yue said worriedly as he walked.
"I know, Yueyue. I don't plan to do it the same way my dad did it again. Times have changed, and so must we. Li Qiang's tone was firm, but his eyes could not hide his complicated emotions.
In the crowd at the entrance of the village, the five Zhang brothers were arguing with the villagers. They used to be synonymous with mischievous and oppressive weakness in this village, but now they look a little downbeat in shabby clothes.
"Isn't that the brothers of the Zhang family? Why do you look embarrassed, could it be that something happened? Li Yue asked Li Qiang in a low voice.
"I heard that they failed to invest outside, and they lost money again and again, almost losing everything." Li Qiang replied, squeezing into the crowd to see what was going on.
"Yo, isn't this Li Qiang? And Li Yue, what a rare guest! Zhang Datou, the eldest of the five Zhang brothers, took Li Qiang's hand and tried his best to pretend to be pleasant.
"Zhang Datou, what are you doing here?" Li Qiang was not polite and asked directly.
"It's nothing, my brothers will go back to their hometown and take a look. I heard that the old man of the old Li family had passed away, so I came to join in the fun. Zhang Datou replied indifferently.
"Lively? I don't think you've come back because you have nowhere to go! An aunt in the village interjected dissatisfied.
"Don't be like this, people are not sages, who can do nothing. Brother Zhang has fallen to this step, let's not take it to heart. Li Yue persuaded everyone and tried to calm the scene.
"Yueyue is right." Li Qiang added, "Brother Zhang, it's not easy for you. However, if you are truly repentant, you should behave well and stop causing trouble. ”
"Hey, Li Qiang, you kid is really good at talking." Zhang Datou grinned, but his smile was mixed with a bit of embarrassment and helplessness.
Li Yue looked at the five Zhang brothers, she knew that her brother's words poked at their sore spots, but she also understood that only by truly making them aware could this small village return to its former peace.
"I used to go out to study and work, and I have seen some of the world," Li Yue's tone turned gently, "Dare to ask Brother Zhang, have you ever wanted to live a different life?" ”
When Li Yue asked this, a trace of confusion flashed on the faces of the five brothers. "Who doesn't want to live a good life." Zhang Ertou took the lead and said, "But now...... Let's..."
"We're nothing now, Miss Yueyue is right." Zhang Santou said, "Let us think about how to go in the future." He looked at Li Qiang and Li Yue with a complicated plea in his eyes.
Li Yue and Li Qiang glanced at each other, and both brothers and sisters could feel the confusion and helplessness of the Zhang brothers at the moment.
"Look at you guys like this, do you really want to change your ways?" Li Qiang asked.
"Yes, yes! If possible, we really want to be good people. Zhang Sitou nodded busily.
The villagers began to whisper, some sympathetic, others still dismissive.
Seeing all this, an idea rose in Li Yue's heart, she cleared her throat and said to everyone: "If everyone is willing, we can give the Zhang brothers a chance to change their ways, give them a job, and let them earn food with their own hands." It will also help them integrate into society and avoid falling back into the mistakes of the past. ”
Li Qiang nodded approvingly: "Yueyue is right, it is better to give a chance than to force people to go to a dead end." ”
"Hey, this ......" Brother Zhang obviously didn't expect this turnaround, and he didn't know how to express his position for a while.
"Here's the opportunity, take it for yourselves." Li Yue encouraged that she hoped that justice and tolerance could go hand in hand, so that the village could truly move towards harmony.
Finally, the five Zhang brothers agreed in unison and bowed to the villagers to express their gratitude. Everyone dispersed, leaving a new glimmer of hope sprouting in the village.
When the sky is dark, the whole village is filled with a solemn atmosphere. Today is Uncle Li's funeral, and relatives and friends have come to Li's house early, ready to send the old man on his last journey.
As the crowd slowly moved towards the cemetery outside the village, a noise was heard in the distance. Everyone looked back, only to see the five brothers Zhang with a look of self-blame and shame, carrying a few bouquets of white flowers, and slowly walking towards the Li family.
"What are they doing?!" One of the villagers couldn't help but mutter.
"It's not like you're trying to make trouble again, is it?" Another villager said nervously.
Li Qiang frowned, greeted him, and asked expressionlessly, "What do you want to do here?" ”
"Li Qiang, we know that all the things we did to your family in the past made you hate you to death......" Zhang Datou spoke, his voice was a little hoarse, and he looked a little nervous, he continued, "We came to give Uncle Li a ride, which can be regarded as an apology for him." ”
"Hmph, Dao Yiqian wants to write off the past?" Li Qiang responded coldly, and there seemed to be a fire burning in his body.
"No, no, no, we know it'......s impossible," Zhang Ertou quickly explained, "We just want to atone for our sins." Old man...... Uncle Li, his old man has worked so hard all his life, we ...... At the end of the day, it's the same village. ”
Li Yue heard this beside him, but gently pulled Li Qiang's sleeve and said in a low voice: "Brother, perhaps, this is their sincere repentance." Everyone is watching, don't make Dad's funeral unpleasant. ”
She turned her head and said to the Zhang brothers: "If you really want to apologize, attend the funeral well, mourn in silence, and don't add to the chaos." ”
The villagers present watched this scene, and the discussion became louder and louder, some began to accuse the Zhang brothers of being shameless, and some thought that people who were not saints and sages could do no wrong, and should be given a chance.
A flash of struggle and uneasiness flashed across the faces of the five Zhang brothers, and then they glanced at each other as if they had made a decision.
"Li Qiang, Li Yue, and everyone present." Zhang Datou led the brothers and bowed and said, "We sincerely repent and hope to make up for our past mistakes with practical actions." Today, we are willing to use all our savings to make a little contribution to Uncle Li's funeral. ”
This sudden statement stunned everyone present, and the villagers' voices became complicated.
Li Qiang's mood was very complicated, he looked at the Zhang family brothers, and seemed to see the sincerity of repentance in them, he nodded slowly: "Okay, since you have this heart, then you can attend the funeral well." But that doesn't mean anything, it's all about time to tell. ”
At the funeral, the Zhang brothers did not cause any more turmoil. They stood silently on the sidelines, their faces devoid of the former arrogance and rampantness, replaced by a solemnity and remorse. Together with the villagers, they sent Uncle Li on his last journey.
A small spark ignites in the hearts of everyone, perhaps, some hatred can really be forgiven and relieved over time.
As the days passed, the five Zhang brothers slowly changed their behavior under the supervision and self-reflection of the society. With the help of Li Qiang, they began to participate in public welfare activities in the village, and also tried to do some small businesses and live a new life.
"Zhang Datou, do you remember this ledger?" Li Yue held the account book, sat at the table in the village office and said to Zhang Datou.
"This ...... I'll check again. Zhang Datou looked at the accounts seriously, looking a little clumsy. By the way, Yueyue, thank you for teaching us this. ”
"Oh, that's what you want to learn." Li Yue smiled, "You have reformed your ways, and we welcome it, as it should be." ”
The rest of the village gradually accepted the Zhang brothers. They began to greet the villagers, occasionally helping to carry buckets of water or selling small goods at the market.
One day, Li Qiang saw that the Zhang brothers were playing football with a few children, and couldn't help but say, "It seems that they have indeed changed a lot." ”
"yes, brother, I also think they really want to be people again." Li Yue replied, "You have seen that Zhang Ertou donated some books to the school yesterday. ”
"That's right, the village has become more united because of this." Li Qiang nodded, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes.
At this moment, the five Zhang brothers finished their day's work, sweat soaked their clothes, and they gathered together, as if discussing something.
"Dude, do you think we can go on like this?" Zhang Xiaotou couldn't help asking.
"Of course," Zhang Datou patted him on the shoulder, and said confidently, "We are confident people." ”
As time went by, the Zhang brothers did it. In fact, they not only did it, but also earned the respect of the other villagers. Through their actions, they proved that people can change, and they are no longer just spurned village tyrants, but the hard-working and honest Zhang family brothers in everyone's hearts.
Li Qiang and Li Yue stood on the ridge, watching all this, and smiled at each other. They knew that their father, Uncle Li, would definitely feel comforted when he saw such a scene in the spirit of heaven.
"Yueyue, you say, does everyone have a chance to mend their ways?" Li Qiang suddenly asked Li Yue.
Li Yue turned his head and looked at his brother with a smile: "Brother, do we still need to ask this question again?" ”