paddock

The house in front of me is not so much a house as it is a gap between two buildings.This place used to be used to store sundries, but later some steel bars were added and cement was added to it, making it a long and narrow home for the elderly and little girls.There are no electrical appliances in the house, and there is no separate bathroom and kitchen. There is a small stove near the door, which burns coal cakes, and there is a piece of burnt coal underneath, showing a pale earth red.

Another disadvantage of this house is that it faces the public toilet directly opposite, even though there are two sweet-scented osmanthus trees in front of the door, you can still smell the weird smell.But the room was neatly tidied up, and everything was arranged in an orderly manner. There was a small bed in the innermost place, which was slept by a little girl. There was a doll on it. The quilt was old, but it had patterns that girls loved.There is a curtain in front of the bed, which is raised during the day and lowered at night, apparently to create an independent space for the little girl.

Further outside, there is a long wooden chair with a dark layer underneath, which can be pulled out at night to make a flat bed—it can be folded up during the day without taking up space.Zhang Xiuyan pushed the stall cart into the house, and the front half of the house was so full that there was almost no place for them to stand.

The old man looked embarrassed: "Our house is narrow, and it's usually crowded when we live alone. Today, thanks to you... Otherwise, I wouldn't even have the courage to call the police. Alas, I didn't teach him well..."

While talking, the little girl's sobs suddenly came from the low cabinet in the room.That was their cupboard, with the usual bowls and chopsticks and cups.The little girl wanted to wipe away her tears with the back of her hand, but she remembered that Yuan Ning said not to wipe her eyes with her hands, she had to suck her nose to suck back the tears.

Yuan Ning squatted in front of the little girl and asked with concern: "What's wrong? Why did you suddenly start crying?"

"I can't find a good cup," the little girl looked up sadly, with tears in her eyes, "I want to pour water for my brother, but there are not enough cups." She was invited to a friend's house as a guest, and the friend's mother said: I teach my friends, but—but there are only two cups in their house, and the grandfather's one is still missing.Usually, she and her grandfather depended on each other for life, so she didn't think it was a difficult life, but——but when such a good brother came to their house, she couldn't pour a glass of water to entertain them!

"Brother is not thirsty." Yuan Ning touched the little girl's head, "When you grow up, you will earn a lot of money, take your grandfather to live in a big house, and buy a lot of beautiful cups. Then you can invite brother to your house Being a guest, pouring water for my brother--you will do it, right?"

The future that Yuan Ning said appeared in the little girl's mind, and the sadness in her heart suddenly disappeared without a trace.She nodded vigorously: "I will do it!"

The old man's eyes became hot when he heard it.He also loves this granddaughter, but they are separated by a generation, and Yuan Ning has never guided him in such a soft voice.The granddaughter is sensible, usually very obedient, and rarely asks him to worry.But it was "don't worry about it" that made him feel even more distressed - such a young child is so sensible, can he not feel distressed?

The old man thanked the three of Yuan Ning again.

Zhang Xiuyan said: "This is nothing."

Reporter Zhao quickly waved his hand: "I only helped push the cart!"

Yuan Ning said with a smile: "Anyway, my eldest brother and I have to practice calligraphy every day, and helping you write for half a day has saved us paper and ink!"

The old man felt a little relieved when he heard Yuan Ning say that.It's just that he won't take everything for granted because of this, and he doesn't need to express his gratitude.The old man's hands trembled for a while, he turned around and opened a wooden box, and took out three pens from it.The appearance of these three pens is similar to the one Yuan Ning used just now. The pen tubes are relatively ordinary, but they are also round and smooth, not too heavy and not too light, and they feel good after getting started; the nibs are still orchid-style, It looks plump and beautiful, like a blossoming magnolia.The person who got this money has not yet used it, just looking at it like this will make this money flattering.

The old man said: "I made this pen myself, it's worthless. I think you are all people who like to write. If you don't dislike it, please accept it! If necessary, I can make some more for you...but My eyes are not working very well, and my hand is injured again, so it will definitely be very slow, and I can’t do a lot.”

"So you did it yourself!" Yuan Ning was amazed, "No wonder we have never seen it before! This pen is very easy to write, even better than the one my elder brother begged from my grandfather!"

Zhang Xiuyan nodded, agreeing to Yuan Ning's words.

It was really good, better than anything he had written before.It's a pity that the number of people writing and practicing brush calligraphy has decreased over the years, and there are only a few brush manufacturers left, and the rest have given up this business because other products have more markets.As for those famous pens in the past, they have almost disappeared now. First, the inheritance has been broken for various reasons, and second, the profit-seeking and impetuous market cannot tolerate the traditional skills that take a long time and are slow to see profits.

The old man's current embarrassment has something to do with this general trend, as well as his soft-hearted and kind-hearted temper.

Zhang Xiuyan sympathizes with the old man for raising a white-eyed wolf, but he sees it as clearly as Yuan Ning: this old man is a bit stubborn, he is willing to help others, but accepting help from others makes him restless.Like today, if they give money directly—or if the people watching donate directly, the old people will probably refuse to accept it.

In the eyes of the older generation, it is a very shameful act to have hands and feet but not to find a way to support themselves, but to beg for help from others.

This kind of persistence cannot be said to be wrong, and sometimes this kind of persistence is even precious.But for Yuan Ning, who wants to help them, things are a bit tricky.Zhang Xiuyan took Yuan Ning away from the old man's house, and returned home with Reporter Zhao separately.

Early the next morning, Yuan Ning told Zhang Xiuyan that he was going out.Zhang Xiuyan glanced at him and didn't ask any further questions.Yuan Ning encouraged himself and asked Driver Li to drive him to the home of Zhang Zhihan, the vice president of the Calligraphy Association.Vice President Zhang's wife recognized Yuan Ning, and when she saw that it was Yuan Ning who knocked on the door, she warmly invited him into the house.

The wife of Vice President Zhang said with a smile: "Ning Ning, how do you think the flowers you sent last time look like? I kept them like this, right?" Vice President Zhang placed the potted plants in a conspicuous place in the living room , the light is sufficient, the water is sufficient, and the flowers grow very well.

Yuan Ning said: "If you are so careful, you will not make mistakes!"

"Your mouth is so sweet," Vice President Zhang's wife's face suddenly filled with melancholy, "If my son can learn one ten-thousandth of yours, he won't be single in his thirties. What do you think I am? What kind of evil did you do! I gave birth to a son when I was almost 30 years old. I waited for 30 years and hoped for 30 years, but I couldn’t wait to have a grandson. Let alone a grandson, I didn’t even have a daughter-in-law! You, Mr. Zhang, are The only Miao Miao in the family, is it true that the incense of the Zhang family is really going to be cut off at our place?"

Yuan Ning was stunned for a moment.This kind of question is too far away for him, are you married?Only the eldest brother told him that they were all going to get married...

Yuan Ning didn't know how to respond.

Vice President Zhang's wife didn't want Yuan Ning to answer the conversation, so she sighed and continued to sleep: "He is not with us, and we can't control him. He is not talkative, and he will always be a boring gourd. Thanks to his little brother Fang is by his side. Xiao Fang, you have seen him too. Last time we came to our house for the Mid-Autumn Festival together. He was there when you came to see your teacher Zhang. Xiao Fang is far more successful than your brother Zhang in this respect. Girlfriends even talk about it. I picked up a few. Alas, I have to ask him to help and pay more attention, and if I meet a good one, I will introduce you to Brother Zhang."

Yuan Ning was quite impressed with that "Brother Fang", nodded and said, "Brother Fang is indeed very popular!"

Hearing Yuan Ning's childish voice, Vice President Zhang's wife realized that she had started a complaint with a ten-year-old child.She smiled embarrassingly, and hurriedly pulled Yuan Ning to sit down: "Look at me! I actually told you this. Are you here to see your teacher Zhang?"

"Yes," Yuan Ning asked, "Mr. Zhang, isn't he at home?"

"He went out for a walk, but he will be back soon, you sit down first." Vice President Zhang's wife got up to squeeze juice for Yuan Ning.

When Vice President Zhang's wife brought out the juice, the door was opened from the outside.Yuan Ning looked up, and it turned out that Vice President Zhang had returned!Yuan Ning stood up and shouted: "Teacher Zhang!"

Vice President Zhang smiled kindly: "Ning Ning is here? What's the matter?"

Yuan Ning took out the pen from his backpack and put it on the table: "Mr. Zhang, I think this pen is very similar to the 'Wuxi pen' you mentioned to me."

Needless to say, Yuan Ning, Vice President Zhang's eyes were also attracted by that pen.The "Wuxi brush" mentioned by Yuan Ning used to be a famous brush, with a history of more than [-] years. It has been passed down from generation to generation, and each generation is better than the next. The most famous period after the "Wuxi brush" was established in Huaguo was when it was spread all over Huaguo with the Baichuan Society - at that time, everyone in the Baichuan Society held a "Wuxi brush".It's just that the people of Baichuan Club died and scattered later, and never got together again.

Back then, the pen maker was also good at writing, and he was a good friend of his.

It's just that the man died desolately and lonely in the cotton field far away.

His restrained corpse.

He was going to bring good news, but he only brought back bad news.