Rebirth of the Great Era 1993

In the last few days of the old year, the ground was cracked by frost, the north wind was blowing like a knife, and heavy snow was flying all over the sky.

24cm thick.

When he got up early in the morning, Zhang Xuan deliberately put on his boots and measured the snow outside the house. It was up to his ankles and was fully 24 centimeters thick.

Last year, my uncle's family was there, and there were many people and it was lively.

But this year, there were only two people, Zhang Xuan and Ruan Xiuqin. The huge villa, except for the two dogs to add some vitality, was a bit deserted.

Ruan Xiuqin got up just after dawn and was plucking chicken feathers.

Zhang Xuan put the tape measure aside, leaned over and said in a consultative tone:

"Mom, it's just the two of us celebrating the New Year this year. I think it's enough to make 6 bowls for New Year's Eve dinner. Don't go to such trouble, and don't be so tired."

Unexpectedly, Ruan Xiuqin refused directly and said with great nostalgia: "Man Zai, when your father was still alive, he loved the Chinese New Year the most. People in their decades would lead you around like children every Chinese New Year.

There are 12 bowls for the Chinese New Year. You can’t miss any of them so that your dad can eat and drink well. You don’t know if he is cold under there. "

Hearing these words, Zhang Xuan looked at the black and white photo on the niche. He was a bit thin, with gentle eyes and thick eyebrows. He was a very kind person.

Recalling the past, my nose felt a little sore.

While helping to pluck the chicken feathers, he asked: "Mom, how much does this rooster weigh?"

Ruan Xiuqin told him: "7 pounds and 6 taels."

Seemingly knowing that her son wanted to be lazy, Ruan Xiuqin said: "Manzai, my two daughters are so good, so I can't be emotional during this New Year's celebration."

Zhang Xuan glanced at the road covered with thick snow and sighed: "I'm not in any mood.

But it is indeed a bit difficult to walk. On such a day, the 10-mile journey will take at least an hour and a half. "

Just as mother and son were chatting, there was a sudden noise at the door.

Then Yang Sheng walked in with an anxious look on his face. His whole body was covered with snow, and his shoulders and hair were covered with a thin layer of white.

Without saying a word, Yang Sheng immediately knelt down on his knees when he saw Ruan Xiuqin, tears streaming down his face, and shouted awkwardly:

"Auntie, please save my son! Save my son!"

Ruan Xiuqin was confused by the sudden situation and confused.

Wiping his hands on the apron quickly, he walked over and quickly helped Yang Sheng up and asked, "What's wrong with you? If you have anything to say, please tell me."

Yang Sheng touched his tears with his right hand and choked up: "My, my son is dying. The doctor asked us to send him to the County People's Hospital, but, but I don't have money, ugh."

Hearing this, Ruan Xiuqin panicked and asked hurriedly: "Didn't your son just give birth yesterday? Why is this happening?

How much does it cost, you say. "

Yang Sheng looked embarrassed and anxious: "Yes, yes, the doctor said that we need to prepare more, I don't know how much, aunt, wuwu"

"Okay, don't cry. I'll go to town with you now and quickly get the money to send your son to the county seat." It was a matter of human life. Ruan Xiuqin didn't think much about it and trotted to the second floor to get his bankbook.

Seeing this, Zhang Xuan had no doubts.

He remembered such a scene from his previous life.

When a Yang-born wife gives birth to a child, she originally gives birth at home.

But the delivery was difficult, and the local midwife was afraid and asked her to be taken to the hospital in the town.

At the town health center, with the help of doctors, the baby was born successfully, but something was not right.

However, at that time, Yang Sheng’s seeker of help was not the old Zhang family, but the canteen across the street.

Although the owner of the canteen usually doesn't like Yang Sheng who is used to being careless, getting money that time was very smooth, just as smooth as Ruan Xiuqin's now.

But it turns out that good things to the canteen owner are rewarded.

When the canteen owner was bedridden in his later years, his daughter who was far away in the capital could not always stay by his side to fulfill his filial piety.

On the contrary, Yang Sheng and his wife were like sons and served him wholeheartedly for two years. Serving tea and water, doing laundry and cooking, especially in the last days, I even washed my diapers without feeling disgusted.

At that time, people at the crossroads all looked at Yang Sheng with admiration and praised him, saying that although this man liked to steal things from his neighbors, he was also a man who repaid his kindness.

Many people later lamented: No matter how bad a filial person is, he can't be any worse.

Ruan Xiuqin followed Yang Sheng to the town.

Also going with him was Ouyang Yong.

There is no way around it. There are so many pickpockets during New Year's Eve. It's really uneasy if I don't have anyone to protect me.

Watching the three people leave, Zhang Xuan felt very powerless, looking at the chicken on the ground very weakly.

Come on, you have to do the rest of the disembowelment yourself.

Nawen from the canteen across the street was cracking pumpkin seeds under the eaves, watching the whole thing happen.

She gathered her clothes and walked over and asked, "Great writer, have you been to Peking University a while ago?"

"Ah, how do you know?"

Zhang Xuan couldn't tell how he felt about this neighbor who had been someone else's child since he was a child.

After all, they are not particularly familiar with each other because of the age difference.

But also familiar to a certain extent.

Why is it ripe?

When the old man's voice changed, several pairs of his pants were torn.

When I am alone at night, what I think about most is not my girlfriend Xiao Shaowan, but the sister next door.

He didn't mean it, but who said he was the most popular person in the ten miles and eight towns?

Teacher from Peking University!

He is educated, has seen the world, and is so fashionable in his clothes. He is the only Scorpion Baba in this deep mountain.

Young men and young people who have never seen the world are like eating foreign food when they see her.

If the young man misses her at night, who will he miss?

I can guarantee that during those days, this female neighbor was definitely the busiest person in the entire Shangcun Dream.

After all, there are so many singles in the village, right?

Oh, if you were not a bachelor, you would probably think even more. Because there is no harm without comparison.

Nawen sat down calmly and watched him plucking the chicken feathers, "I saw you."

Zhang Xuan didn't believe it and looked up at her.

Nawen touched her long, straight black hair with her right hand and smiled mysteriously: "I saw you walking with a girl."

Zhang Xuan was a little convinced, "What clothes should girls wear?"

Nawen smiled and said: "One is wearing white clothes and the other is wearing black clothes."

Zhang Xuan: "."

I finally understood. The one in white clothes is Mi Jian, and the one in black clothes is Seagate. They came here on purpose to cause trouble for me.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Nawen continued: "I was very happy to see you and wanted to treat you to dinner.

But then I felt something was wrong. I heard my mother say that your fiancée is Ai Qing’s youngest daughter. I didn’t say hello to you at that time. You don’t blame me, right? "

Bah, you are already a teacher at Peking University, and you still love gossip so much?

Zhang Xuan was so angry that he wanted to close the door and drag this woman to the stove to avenge his pants that were torn when he was a child.

Zhang Xuan opened his eyelids a little: "What if I blame you?"

Nawen crossed her hands and folded her knees and said, "This is easy to handle. I don't know if my analysis is right. With the temperament of the girl in white clothes, you will go to Peking University in the future, right?"

Maybe I’ll go there more often. I'll just treat you to it when the time comes. "

Zhang Xuan was speechless, patted the dead chicken with his right hand, and said quietly:

"Do you know which sentence in The Romance of the Three Kingdoms caused Yang Xiu's death?"

Nawen, who had nothing to do, thought about it and said: "My husband's chicken ribs, it doesn't matter if you eat them, but it would be a pity to discard them. I will make a decision after my return."

Zhang Xuan patted the dead chicken hard again and asked: "Then you dare to talk nonsense?"

Na Wen Dale said, "I thought you would be different when you became a great writer. You would still have the same virtues as when you were a child."

Zhang Xuan lowered his head and continued to pluck chicken feathers: "What kind of virtues did you have when you were a child?"

Nawen glanced at him and said, "I can't wait until I have a grudge. I took a chili candy from you when I was a child, but you just smashed my window and threw stones into the house in the middle of the night."

Zhang Xuan laughed when he heard this: "How dare you say that someone who is 7, 8 or 8 years older than me still robs me of candy.

Let me tell you, I would have restrained myself from smashing your windows and throwing rocks, otherwise I would have done it."

Na Wen asked smoothly: "Otherwise, what would happen to you?"

Zhang Xuan replied: "I am now a great writer and a person of status. It is difficult to express crude words clearly. You can think about it yourself."

"How old were you then?"

"The ancients could give birth to children at the age of 11. Don't tell me you didn't know?"

Na Wen tilted her head and looked at him strangely, then skimmed over the topic intelligently and asked, "The Chinese New Year will be celebrated tomorrow, and the chicken will be killed today. Are you going to the Du family to send the chicken to the New Year Festival?"

"Um."

"That's a shame."

"What's the pity?"

"The girl in white clothes should be called Mi Jian. I feel sorry for her."

"."

Ruan Xiuqin came back at noon.

Zhang Xuan didn't ask her how much money she borrowed, but went to Du's house carrying chicken, fish and meat.

Ruan Xiuqin smiled warmly and asked: "Man Zai, if you are afraid of difficulties, go to Shuang Ling's house to rest for the night tonight, and bring Shuang Ling back together tomorrow morning."

Zhang Xuan agreed with the first half sentence.

In the second half of the sentence, Zhang Xuan said: "Mom, can we be less superstitious?

It’s snowing so heavily and the Chinese New Year will be celebrated tomorrow. Could it be that the two actors have come and gone?

I think the couple will stay at home tomorrow and forget about returning home. "

Ruan Xiuqin thought about it and felt it made sense.

This is the second time in this life to send a New Year's Eve. For the Du family, the New Year's Eve is not important, but the sense of form is important.

Wu Ruiguo also came from Changshi.

After saying hello, Du Dudong asked Zhang Xuan: "Are you still busy tonight?"

Hearing Xian Zhiya's intention, Zhang Xuan hurriedly said: "The Chinese New Year is coming, I have to take a good rest for a few days."

Du Dudong said: "That's good. I often tell the two actors to let you rest more and pay attention to the balance between work and rest. Otherwise, the three of us will go fishing in the river tonight and relax."

When he heard about fishing, the old man's eyes lit up and he agreed.

For Zhang Xuan, working as a coolie may not be an option.

But when it comes to catching loaches and eels in the fields, fishing in rivers, and scoring girls in his spare time, he is definitely a good player.

It’s not a joke. This night, because Zhang Xuan has rich experience, he is familiar with what kind of waterways are easy to hide fish?

What kind of fish is hidden?

It completely excited Du Dudong and Wu Ruiguo who were following him.

Like two little fans, they were being ordered around by Zhang Xuan.

I worked until midnight and got a bucket full.

One over weighing.

Oops, 11 pounds and 3 taels!

"It's worth it, it's worth it. This is the most I've ever played in my life." Duduk Dong looked so happy that Zhang Xuan was stunned.

Bedroom, take a shower, Zhang Xuan got into the bed and started groping.

Du Shuangling endured it at first, but then she couldn't help it anymore and pressed his big hand nervously with both hands.

Angry: "Honey, stop making trouble, it's so cold, I don't want to get up and take a shower in the middle of the night."

"I'll help you wash it." Zhang Xuan leaned his head over, as enthusiastic as a pug.

"No." Du Shuangling hugged him tightly with both hands.

Facts have proved that it is convenient to take a bath if you have a bathtub at home. Adjust the water to 37 degrees and it will be very comfortable in it.

The next day, the heavy snow stopped.

But the north wind is still blowing, and it seems a bit colder than yesterday.

After breakfast, Zhang Xuan was ready to go home.

Du Shuangling planned to follow him back.

Zhang Xuan said distressedly: "Just stay at home. Walking back and forth for hours is really tiring."

Ai Qing, who was next to her, heard this and wanted to say: If you are afraid of trouble, then let the two actors come to your house to celebrate the New Year. You, mother and son, have just enough time to share the fun.

But when she thought about Zhang Xuan's identity and status now, and when she thought about her daughter going up there to celebrate the New Year before she even came home, Ai Qing was afraid that others would gossip.

I'm afraid that others will gossip about forcing my daughter on me.

Thinking like this, Ai Qing swallowed back the words that came to his lips.

…

Zhang Ping lights the fire, Zhang Xuan cooks, and Ruan Xiuqin washes and chops the vegetables.

The three of them worked all afternoon to prepare all the dishes to be prepared for the entire Spring Festival.

After 5 p.m., Zhang Ping returned to Ouyang's house.

This year, the daughters of the Ouyang family brought their sons-in-law back to celebrate the New Year. As the only daughter-in-law, it would be a bit awkward for Zhang Ping to be away from home during the New Year.

Seeing that he was tired after a long day, Ruan Xiuqin urged him, "Man Zai, go and rest. Mom will do the rest."

After finally helping out at home, Zhang Xuan was not so pretentious. He talked to his mother and didn't leave the kitchen until seven o'clock in the evening.

It is customary to have two big meals during the Chinese New Year.

One meal was on New Year's Eve and the other was on the morning of New Year's Day.

Dishes from two meals cannot be reused.

Even if you don't use chopsticks, you can't reuse them. This is the rule.

According to the old man's saying, once the vegetables are worshiped to the ancestors, they are "eaten". If you take it out again, it will be an empty bowl to the ancestors.

"Mom, I'm going to set off firecrackers." Seeing Comrade Ruan Xiuqin lighting incense and burning paper, Zhang Xuan volunteered.

"Hey, okay, be careful."

Ruan Xiuqin took the right hexagram, knelt on the ground and muttered something, and began to occupy the servant.

"Dear ancestors, grandparents on both sides, Zhang Kai, you all come back to celebrate the New Year this year and eat more, eat more... You must bless Zhang Xuan in the new year, and make people rich and prosperous. , I am in good health, my writing is booming, my relationship with my two actors is getting deeper day by day, and I will have more fat boys in the future.”

After chanting for a while, Ruan Xiuqin finally said: "This year's Chinese New Year, you must bless me. Make a holy hexagram to bless Zhang Xuan."

After saying that, Ruan Xiuqin threw the hexagram into the air, and then stared at the two sides of the hexagram.

The side that hits the ground first is the sunny side.

The other side landed on the ground, bounced a few times on the ground, and pia made a chirping sound, the negative side.

Ruan Xiuqin was immediately overjoyed and hurriedly knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times to the shrine before going to pick up the hexagram.

Then she started to tell fortunes for the eldest daughter, the second daughter, Ruan Dezhi, Du Shuangling, and herself...

"Crack! Crack!"

After trying several times, Zhang Xuan finally lit the firecrackers under the look of Nawen across from him watching a drama.

The sound of firecrackers heralds the end of 1994.

Zhang Xuan looked at the sparks flying and felt a little dazed. It had been two and a half years since he came back, and he would never be 1994 again in this life.

After paying respect to their ancestors, the mother and son closed the door to block out the strong wind and began to eat New Year's Eve dinner.

"Manzai, have some wine with mom."

The fortune telling went smoothly tonight, it was all done at once, and Ruan Xiuqin was in a particularly good mood.

"Okay." The so-called wine was frangipani liqueur, and Zhang Xuan happily drank two large bowls with his mother.

After eating, Zhang Xuan got busy.

Busy on the phone, busy on the phone.

The most anxious one was Lilith, who called just after 8 o'clock.

"Hello, Zhang Xuan, happy New Year!"

Lilith ignored her parents and her aunt and uncle. As for Xie Qi, she didn't care even more and called directly.

There was no way, there was no need to even think about it. Everyone here already knew that he liked Zhang Xuan.

"Happy New Year, how do you feel about the British New Year?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"It doesn't feel good. I can't set off firecrackers, and I'm in a foreign country. There's no New Year's atmosphere. I regret coming here to celebrate the New Year." Lilith said this with regret in her mouth.

Zhang Xuan was curious: "With your father's identity, when did he go to London? How long can he stay?"

Lilith replied: "I just arrived two hours ago. I will leave tomorrow morning after the New Year's Eve dinner."

Zhang Xuan said: "That's quite hard."

Lilith said yes: "Yes, we originally planned to go home this year. But my aunt and uncle said they wanted to come over for a trip, so we decided to come to England to celebrate the New Year."

Due to the inappropriate situation, Lilith, a tiger girl, spoke in a well-behaved manner and did not go overboard. This made the old man breathe a big sigh of relief.

Although I have had close contact with this girl, sometimes I still can't stand it when it comes to words.

After chatting with Lilith for a while, the receiver fell into the hands of Liao Yun and Wen Zheng.

"Happy New Year to uncle and aunt!"

"Hey, happy New Year!"

Wen Zheng had heard his name for a long time but not seen his person. This was the first time Wen Zheng heard Zhang Xuan's voice.

In the past six months, he could see information about Zhang Xuan every day and pay attention to it every now and then.

Being polite to this couple is nothing but polite, and there is a natural feeling of unfamiliarity.

How can I put this feeling? It may be caused by the status of both parties.

As the thumb of Shao City, Wen Zheng has been in a high position for a long time. He is naturally very calm in speaking and doing things, and he cannot be enthusiastic at all.

Liao Yun was a little enthusiastic, but when she thought about her daughter mindlessly pushing it into Zhang Xuan's mouth, and considering the speculation in her heart, her enthusiasm was limited, and she could only express a few words.

After a few minutes, the microphone finally fell into Xie Qi's hands.

This time the atmosphere of the conversation between the two was much more relaxed.

Zhang Xuan first sent a New Year's greeting, and then asked with concern: "Do you still feel comfortable with your current job?"

Does this adaptation mean that you get along well with Tao Ge?

Xie Qi said happily: "Not bad, thank you."

"Okay, okay, don't be polite between us."

After Zeng had been with her day and night for a month, Zhang Xuan no longer stuck to formalities when talking and doing things with her.

Then he asked, "I've been busy lately, so I didn't ask you about your situation. How is "Clockwork Girl" doing?"

Xie Qi glanced at the pricked ears on the sofa and said: "Currently, it has been submitted to 9 publishing houses.

Including Cambridge Press, Oxford Press, Penguin Press, etc. "

Zhang Xuan asked: "What's the result?"

Xie Qi said: “Two companies refused, and two companies responded positively.

Others are still waiting.

Tao Ge seemed dissatisfied with the conditions offered by the two companies and said he would have to wait and see what happens. "

reject?

Such a classic science fiction novel has been rejected?

Zhang Xuan found it unbelievable!

You must know that in the past life, "Clockwork Girl" swept all major science fiction awards as soon as it came out.

So the degree of popularity has nothing to do with "rejection", right?

Besides, although the original "Wind-up Girl" was a hit, it was logically flawed.

The "Clockwork Girl" written by me in this life makes up for this shortcoming.

The content is deeper, the levels are richer, and the logic is more complete and reasonable. It should be more attractive than the original work. Is there no reason to refuse?

Could it be?

Zhang Xuan felt nervous and asked quickly: "What is the reason for rejection?"

Xie Qi was vague, "I said I don't like science fiction novels."

Bullshit!

Play that fucking bullshit!

Tao Ge and Xie Qi's submissions are selective and accurate. How could it be possible that he didn’t even know that the publisher was not optimistic about science fiction novels?

Unless it's because of my identity as a writer.

The old man suddenly realized that it must be a matter of identity.

China has become so powerful in later generations, but there are still things in the West that look down upon others.

It’s even more common these days!

Grandma is a bear!

Damn it!

Zhang Xuan felt depressed and couldn't help but cursed in his heart.

He figured it out now. No wonder Tao Ge didn't take the initiative to contact him for so long after going to England. It turned out that he encountered such nonsense.

With Tao Ge's temperament, if there was no good news, he would probably be embarrassed and embarrassed to announce it.

Zhang Xuan asked: "Which two publishing houses rejected it?"

Xie Qi hesitated for a few seconds and then said: "Cambridge Press and Oxford Press."

Two of the top five major publishing houses in the UK, no wonder, no wonder!

At this time, Zhang Xuan felt very unhappy, very unhappy!

But he still comforted me by saying, "If you refuse, just refuse. It doesn't matter. You should relax and have some rest during the New Year."

I know the good and bad of the books I write, and good things will definitely be waiting for me later, so don’t be impatient yet. "

The author himself said so. Even if Xie Qi wanted to perform well, no matter how anxious she was, she would not show it. She said with a smile:

"Okay, I'll let you know as soon as there's good news."

"Well, I'll wait for that day. Then greet your parents for me and wish them a Happy New Year. I'll hang up now. It's quite busy here."

"Thank you, hang up first."

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