After a simple rebirth

A group of people entered the house. Fu Ma chatted with Sixth Uncle while Fu Ying moved things into the house.

There seemed to be no change in my sixth uncle's house. The room was still furnished with a stove, stools, and an eight-person table. The only difference was that there was a small TV. When Fu Ying and her family were there, there was no TV, so they would go out to play when they had free time, and few of them were at home.

Further inside is a room with two beds. Fu Ying and her little cousin slept in that room. The bed you see near the door is where Fu Ying sleeps.

That bed also reminded Fu Ying of the awkward little Fu Ying back then.

It was actually a small thing, but it had a profound impact on Fu Ying.

It was June 08, , and it was almost Children's Day. My sixth uncle had won some money and bought a pair of white shoes for my cousin Zhao Ming. I don't know if he thought Fu Ma would buy them for Fu Ying and Fu Zhe, or if he thought the other children didn't need them, so in the end, only Zhao Ming got them.

On Children's Day, Fu Ying's class was going to sing on stage, and the teacher asked everyone to wear white shirts, black pants, and white shoes. Zhao Ming had a white shirt, so he lent it to her, and Fu Ying had black pants, but she didn't have white shoes.

The little white shoes the teacher was referring to were the old-fashioned little white shoes sold in the supply and marketing cooperative, which cost 28 yuan a pair. Fu Ying remembered seeing others buying them when she was shopping in the supply and marketing cooperative.

At that time, Zhao Ming had just bought the shoes and liked them very much. She wore them every day. Fu Ying had already borrowed a shirt and didn't dare to ask for another one. In fact, their shoe sizes were different. Zhao Ming was three years older than Fu Ying, and their shoe sizes were also two sizes apart.

It would be best to ask Uncle Six to buy a new pair, but Fu Ying didn't dare to ask him for money. If she didn't wear the white shoes, she would be the only one in the class who was different. Fu Ying was afraid of being scolded by the teacher, so she was torn and tangled.

Until the day of the performance, the junior high school was on holiday, Zhao Ming wanted to watch the elementary school performance, and waited for Fu Ying to go out together, but Fu Ying refused to move and sat on the bed in confusion. Zhao Ming kept urging her and asked her what was wrong. Fu Ying hesitated and said that the teacher asked her to wear white shoes.

Zhao Ming didn't want to borrow it at first, saying that it was okay not to wear white shoes, not everyone wears white shoes.

Fu Ying was afraid of being scolded, so she didn't dare not wear it, but she never asked Zhao Ming to borrow it.

After a long stalemate, Zhao Ming felt annoyed by her and took off his white shoes and gave them to her.

Later, Fu Ying no longer remembered whether the performance was successful, how she felt during the performance, or whether the shoes were too big and comfortable. She only remembered the awkwardness and discomfort of asking for help but not daring to speak up.

A few days later, Fu Ying received a large package from Fu Yu, which contained a new coat and new shoes that Fu Yu had bought for her. Fu Yu also stuffed thirty new one-yuan notes into Fu Ying's new coat.

The arrival of change, new clothes and new shoes seemed to make up for Fu Ying's loss on Children's Day and made her very happy to have money to spend.

Zhao Ming also borrowed Fu Ying's new shoes. Fu Ying borrowed them and used the money Fu Yu gave her to treat her to a meal as a way of repaying her.

But in the end, Fu Ying developed a more sullen personality. When she was in school, she would ask Fu's father and mother for money, but she would not ask unless Fu's mother gave it to her.

Even if I encounter problems later in my work, I still refuse to ask for help. I will solve them if I can solve them myself, and leave them alone if I can’t. I won’t ask for help from others. If someone helps me, I will return the favor and try not to owe anyone anything, no matter what the relationship is.

Since we hadn’t had lunch yet and it was almost time for dinner, my sixth uncle suggested that we go out and have a quick bite first and then cook for ourselves in the evening.

Fu Ma didn't want to spend money recklessly. Sixth Uncle didn't have a job, and he didn't know where the money came from, so it must not be much. It's better not to spend money recklessly. If Sixth Uncle didn't pay the bill, Fu Ma would pay the bill, she would be even more reluctant. She kept spending money when she came home, but she didn't make any money, so she had to save money.

But Sixth Uncle insisted on going out, and Fu Ma agreed, because when Fu Ma was about to light a fire to cook something to eat, she found that the fire had gone out.

It would take at least an hour to wait for the fire to be lit and then cook. They had only drunk sweet wine dumpling soup in the morning and were very hungry now. If they waited any longer, they were afraid they would not have the strength to move the pot.

So Sixth Uncle locked the door and the four of them walked towards the market.

The layout of Zhaojiatun was also simple, so Fu Ying still remembers that there was a main road that led to other towns, and then there were various small roads in the middle that led to different households, one of which led to the market. Although it was called a market, there were no fixed stalls. People would come early to set up stalls when the market was open. Those who had cars put their goods on cars or shelves, and those who didn't had to sell their goods on the ground.

Sixth uncle wanted to order a few stir-fried dishes to eat together, but Aunt Fu wouldn't let him. They went straight to a rice noodle restaurant and each of them had a bowl of rice noodles.

Sixth uncle still wanted to save face and insisted on cooking. Fu's mother ignored him, so he asked Fu Ying and Fu Zhe whether they wanted to eat stir-fried dishes or rice noodles. Fu Ying said rice noodles, and Fu Zhe said either was fine.

Fu Ying really wanted to eat rice noodles. She liked rice noodles in the first place, and there were not many small restaurants in the countryside that were delicious or unique.

Fu Ying had eaten so-called mutton hotpot in the county town. There was not much meat but a lot of vegetables. The soup base was not the broth cooked in advance. It was just like eating ordinary hotpot. The dipping sauce was also ordinary. There was really no surprise. She also had barbecue in Gumang. It was also mediocre, not as delicious as the fried skewers on the roadside.

So Fu Ying doesn't look forward to having a big meal outside. It's better to have a bowl of rice noodles like Fu's mother does. Every family makes delicious food, it's cheap and filling.

The boss brought four bowls of rice noodles, and they began to eat. Occasionally, someone passed by and recognized my uncle, and even called him "Sixth Brother" out of respect. It was because of such respect that my uncle developed a good feeling that he could walk sideways in Zhaojiatun.

No matter how respectable the Sixth Brother was, he still had to pay for meals. Fu Ma and Sixth Uncle argued over who should pay. Sixth Uncle said that he had to pay when they came to Zhaojiatun, while Fu Ma said that the three of them ate too much and she should pay.

In the end, my sixth uncle paid the bill.

At this time, no one went out to buy vegetables because there was no market, so they went back home after eating.

The way back was a small road, which was the road through the village and parallel to the main road. It was not paved with cement yet, so it was a dirt road, but it was still flat.

Passing by Zhu Xue's house, Fu Ying was not sure if it was hers, but after a careful look, she saw that it was a traditional yellow mud house. Because other families had built small bungalows, but hers had not, and the houses near her were all built diagonally, hers was straight and facing the road, so it was easier to recognize.

But I didn't see anyone coming in or out, maybe they were not there or were working.

Continuing walking, they could see that several of the houses were new, with bright white walls. Fu Ying had no idea who they belonged to, and had also forgotten all of her former friends except Zhu Xue.

Fu Zhe remembered that he told her that someone's house was demolished and rebuilt, while someone else's house was still the same. Fu Ying was confused.

Maybe it was the National Day holiday, and a lot of children were running around. Some older people were watching outside, and some even asked my sixth uncle where he was going. My sixth uncle answered with a smile.

Strangely enough, Fu Ying has been wandering for many years and has experienced many cultures and living environments, but Zhaojiatun is the place where she can feel the most unity and rural harmony. Even in eastern Guangdong, where clans are so important, she doesn't feel it is very harmonious and peaceful.