the other side of the fireworks

The house was chosen very quickly. The off-plan house is a high-rise community on the second ring road, with the eighteenth floor. Grandma said this floor is auspicious.Dad came uninvited and brought his younger brother.All day long, she talked about grandma buying a house for Xu An, especially to his son. Grandma pretended not to hear her, and she was not indifferent to Xu An's younger brother, Xu Qin.In terms of appearance, Xu Qin inherited many fathers, with a broad nose, lively eyes, thick and strong limbs, and a majestic look.She also has an outgoing personality, loves to play and play, and lacks politeness. This is related to the constraints of her parents, and there are also some genetic factors. Grandma said that she likes Xu An's mother's style. Although she is a bit arrogant, a woman must have airs.There is also a head and a tail when talking, and he is very hot. Xu An has inherited his mother's appearance and temperament, knows how to measure, and knows how to advance and retreat.

Xu An didn't have a deep understanding of the advantages that grandma said. She remembered her mother as chattering. Maybe she didn't have many opportunities to meet them, so she always talked as much as possible.

It is a fact that grandma doesn't like Xu Qin. The eldest son and grandson have no advantage in the Xu family. Everyone doesn't understand why the old lady is so biased towards Xu An.The purpose of Dad's trip is also known to passers-by. He wants to get something for his son, but Grandma doesn't care about it at all. Dad can only say clearly, buy a house for Xiaoqin, and he will go to the provincial capital to study junior high school next year.Grandma said that going to junior high school has nothing to do with buying a house.Dad said that he had to accompany him to go to school in the provincial capital, and grandma said that Xu An was also admitted to university in the middle school he attended in the county, and he did not accompany him.Dad said that the situation is different now, the teaching in the provincial capital is good, and the competition is so fierce, it is impossible not to send the children to a good school.Grandma said that when I brought Xiao An to my place, we made an agreement. I will take care of the big ones and you take care of the young ones. I have not reached out to ask you for anything in raising Xu An all these years.Dad said that you are in good condition, so I will order it for my grandson. Xu Qin is the blood of the Xu family!Grandma said that your conditions are good, and you have made a lot of money these years. Isn't it called a million dollars?What money do you want from me.Dad said that the fame outside is blown out, and there is no way you can't do business without blowing it up.Grandma said how big a head should be and how big a hat should be, if you can’t afford a hat, don’t wear it.

My father got frustrated, and my aunt took pleasure in other people's misfortune. She and this younger brother had never been together before.

The topic shifted to Xu An's future, but my aunt kept her promise and didn't participate in this topic. Dad analyzed the situation with a lot of saliva. The cost of going abroad was high, and the bank had to rely on relationships. Foreign companies were too strict. In the end, let Xu An give him do accounting.Xu An glanced at her aunt and saw that her lips muttered a few times. She must have had a hard time holding back the words. Grandma kept her face and let Dad play to his heart's content.Dad continued to talk about his company, which has now turned to real estate development and can be said to have a bright future.My aunt finally couldn't bear it any longer, "Do you have the money to do real estate development?"

"It's cooperation." Dad, who hasn't read much, has already paid attention to whether the words are decent enough. "I found a partner."

"Who?"

"Fatty He."

"I knew it was him." The aunt showed a contemptuous expression.

"He is the real He Wanwan, and he is no longer chasing that poor fat man like you."

"Pull it down! I don't know what he is. Is his money clean? A deceitful bastard."

"Anyway, he is a legal person, so you don't have to be jealous. His wife is 20 years younger than you. She is so beautiful. She lives in a three-story villa and drives a BMW."

"Where is his first wife?"

"I still have it. After all, the first wife is the daughter's mother. His daughter is the same age as Xiao An. She works as a financial manager in the company. Xiao An will definitely have a future."

Grandma waved her hand and said, "Xiao'an won't go back, but will look for a job here."

"What kind of job are you looking for? The date is yellow, and the job is gone." Dad said sarcastically.

Xu An said, "I want to be a civil servant."

Dad said: "That's harder than taking the college entrance examination, and it's not reliable at all."

Xu An said: "I will work hard."

Dad said: "Even if you get good grades and pass the exam, you will either be assigned to a place where you don't want to shit, or you will be squeezed out by people with connections. You won't be assigned to such a big city at all."

Xu An stopped arguing, and grandma said: "Don't use your tricks to scare the children, the world is not so dark. Xiao An, then prepare well for the exam, don't be like last time, don't even take the exam."

Xu An blushed, it seemed that grandma knew her well, but she just didn't say it out loud.

When Xu An decided to take the civil servant exam, he thought of Xia Fengshu, civil servant is a career that can take care of writing.Xu An didn't agree with Xia Fengshu's novel, but he recognized her writing talent.She doesn't think that Xia Fengshu can write a good novel. Based on her story, readers can't understand the author's mind at all, or even understand what the story ultimately expresses.That said, her novels are as elusive and unapproachable as her people.The publication of this novel should be attributed to Xia Fengshu's extraordinary writing skills, and many gaudy words have taken on a new look in her pen.Readers will read these gorgeous words and sentences in one go, but they can't remember or figure out what the novel expresses after reading it.

My father and younger brother left, and before they left, they still said that there was no future in being a civil servant, and that they would earn 2000 yuan a month, and they would not be able to eat enough to die of starvation for the rest of their lives.The younger brother took away Xu An's CD player and pestered Xu An to buy a game console.Xu An promised one by one that she really wanted to be a good sister, but she really had too little communication with Xu Qin.The relationship is very weak, so they can only be as affectionate as possible on the surface to create a relatively harmonious atmosphere.

Family relationships are sometimes like a buffet. I always feel that I should eat more after spending money.

Xu An fell on the bed and looked at the lights on the ceiling, and suddenly turned over the trash cans of memories, and those memories that were thrown away as trash came back to his eyes, mom, dad, elementary school classmates Dali, always criticizing his math Teacher, lost her position as class monitor in fifth grade, younger brother, younger sister, got their first menstruation on a stool in junior high school, joined the basketball team, was knocked unconscious by a basketball during a game, good friend Xie Lili transferred to another school, grandma took her to collect rent, terrible In high school, I studied eighteen hours a day, participated in a speech contest and forgot my words, failed in English, received my first love letter, was admitted to university in Black July, and my grandma burst into tears holding the admission notice and said "I" to the portrait of my grandpa. I'm sorry for you, the old Xu family's grave is smoking.Xu An didn't understand why grandma said that. My aunt also went to normal university.A strict aunt, a kind uncle, and a good time in college, Xu An has more and more expectations, and the expectations are getting higher and higher.Getting to know Jie Chu led a more carefree life, and later, meeting Xia Fengshu... her world was overturned.

Xu An sighed, and grandma said, "I have something on my mind!"

Xu An sat up quickly, "For a little while, I was thinking about what to do in the future."

"Grandma agrees with you being a civil servant and eating imperial food, so you can take the exam, and if you fail the exam, you can find another job. If you want to start your own business in a few years, grandma will support you."

"Grandma, you are so kind to me, I feel a little sorry."

Grandma touched Xu An's face, then her shoulder, with indescribable love. "Your grandfather is a shrewd man. He spent his whole life planning carefully and bought up the family property. In fact, the old Xu family has been poor for generations, and few of them have ever studied. Now that your grandfather's conditions are better, your grandfather wants to make your father an educated man. Yes, I will become a state cadre in the future. Your father is not up to the mark, his brain is not good, he can't read well, so he hangs out with others, and almost got into prison several times. Your mother was chosen by your grandfather himself, and she gave a lot of dowries. Your grandfather said that your mother is beautiful and dignified. I hope she can win over your father's heart and live a good life. Your mother is indeed dedicated to living a good life, but your father will never change. When your grandfather left, he said, The family business cannot be handed over to your father, but it must be handed over to your aunt."

"Auntie is fine."

"Your aunt is very competitive, she is good at school, and even became a teacher. But she is not your grandfather's child, she was born to your grandma and her former husband."

Xu An was surprised.

Grandma continued: "We were all engaged at that time. Your grandpa's dowry was so small that grandma married someone else. She married someone else knowing that he was in poor health. She became a widow within three years. Your grandpa waited for me. For three years, he said that he would never marry me in his life." Grandma's wrinkled face had two beautiful blushes, and her dim eyes were shining brightly. "I said your grandpa, have you been expecting that person to leave early these three years? Your grandpa said yes, wishing to punch him to death. If you say your grandpa's temper is really domineering, it's hard for him to wait for three years."

"Grandpa is so romantic."

"Your grandpa likes you very much. When your father was a child, he never hugged you. He said that it is a joke for elders to hug children, but after you are full moon, he has to hug you first as soon as he comes home. He is not close enough. Your name is you Grandpa gave it to me, although it wasn’t a boy’s name, he gave it a boy’s name, he said that you will be promising when you grow up.”

"What does grandpa want me to do?"

"He just wants you to be admitted to university. Your grandfather envies people with knowledge all his life."

"That's why grandma treats me so well."

"If your father hadn't divorced, grandma wouldn't have taken you by my side. At that time, grandma would have been so mad. Our Xu family was sorry for your mother. When your mother left, grandma gave her a house. No matter what you say , It’s your father messing with women outside. At that time, I made up my mind that I can’t hand over the Xu family’s family business to your prodigal father. After I took you, I gave it to him and you Auntie's sum of money is regarded as a division of the family. Whoever has the ability will let the money have cubs, and don't ask me if you don't have the ability to die poor."

"But my aunt is not like my father, and grandpa also said to let my aunt..."

"How could I do that, your aunt is not from the blood of the Xu family, she is my child."

Xu An looked at grandma, she could understand grandma's difficulties and practices, and gradually understood this unique family relationship and grandma who overshadowed the sky.

"Grandma's body can't see Xu Qin's future, but at the age of three, he looks like your father. Fortunately, you are a generous child. Grandma believes that you will take care of your younger brothers and sisters in the future. Your mother Life is so-so, and if you have any difficulties in the future, you have to help, as long as you don’t overdo it.”

"Grandma, I feel so hard."

"You have a generous personality, and it's not difficult to do these things. Only those narrow-minded children will be reluctant to part with this and that, and feel tired."

"I'm afraid I can't take care of it."

"It's enough to have a clear conscience. Grandma believes in you. You have always been an optimistic child. These days, you are frowning. Is grandma putting pressure on you here?"

"No no."

"It's fine if you don't have one, don't worry, the road is going step by step."

Xu An, who doesn't go to work, gets up earlier every day, does morning exercise, and then starts reading to prepare for the civil service exam.

Grandma walked around the house with a fan, and my aunt tried her best to persuade her to go out and have fun. There are many scenic spots nearby, including mountains, rivers and historic sites.Grandma doesn't go here or that, saying that she is old and can't stand tossing.But as long as Xu An is with her, grandma is willing to go anywhere.Auntie said very unpleasantly, Xu An has become your heart.

The civil service examination is a time-consuming, labor-intensive and expensive exercise. The reference books alone are so high that they can bury Xu An. Today's edition will be tomorrow's set.Going to the bookstore has become a major part of Xu An's life. She usually goes to the Xinhua Bookstore in the afternoon and lingers until the evening before returning home.This bookstore has been running for more than a month, and this afternoon, she ran into Xia Fengshu.I can't remember how long we've been apart, too long to dare to recognize each other.Xia Fengshu went down the stairs, and she went up the escalator. For a few seconds, Xu An was blank.Xia Fengshu also saw her, and turned his head as a stranger.When Xu An got off the escalator, Xia Fengshu was already at the door, paid the money and left.

This afternoon, Xu An didn't buy a single book, and didn't read a single word.After three hours of air-conditioning in the bookstore, she was woken up by a phone call. It was from Jie Chu, who said in his usual gentle tone that we should meet up.

They met at a coffee shop near the bookstore.

Jie Chuqing has lost a lot of weight, her hair is a bit long, her eyes are still so big, and she is wearing a dark gray jacket, looking very dull.

"I'm glad you came out to meet me."

Xu An smiled.

Jiechu said: "I hope you can give me an answer."

"what?"

"Who are you in love with? What kind of person?"

Xu An pursed his lower lip and did not speak for a long time.

Jie Chu said: "Can't you tell me? Tell me, you don't need to mention the name, just let me know what kind of person he is, and how he made you love him so persistently when I didn't realize it at all."

"It doesn't matter who you are, and it's not that you are not good enough. I insist on breaking up because I don't want to cheat your feelings." Xu An was unusually calm.

Jie Chu smiled wryly, "If you love him so much that you can't help yourself, you should understand my feelings."

Xu An felt that his stomach was put in ice, and it was freezing and painful, "Jie Chu, what else can I say except I'm sorry."

"You said you would not be with him, and refused to give me a chance, so you will be happy?"

Xu An didn't know how Jiechu knew this, but after thinking about it, it wasn't difficult to get the answer. Aunt is a super undercover agent. "I'm not happy, even painful, but I have a clear conscience, I didn't take things that don't belong to me."

"You took it."

Xu An looked at Jie Chu in puzzlement.

"You took my feelings away." Jie Chu was very excited, her eye circles were a little red, Xu An hurriedly turned to the window, she didn't want to be sad or soft-hearted.

An unknown love song was played in the coffee shop, the atmosphere was sad and silent, Xu An's mood cooled down like coffee, and then the coffee and water were peeled off, and the essence of things became more and more clearly presented in front of his eyes.

Finally, Jiechu stood up, "I heard that you are going to take the civil service exam, I wish you success."

"Thank you." Xu An looked at Jie Chu again and smiled.

Jie Chu said: "Is entanglement useful? If it is useful, I will brazenly entangle you."

Xu An felt sad, and reached out to shake hands with Jie Chu, "I'm a terrible woman, please forgive me."

"I will try my best to understand your feelings, but I really don't want to give up. There is nothing about you that does not attract me. I will give you time, and you will give me a chance."

Xu An was speechless, but Jie Chu said, "I promise, I won't hurt you again."

"Jie Chu, if the breakup process takes longer, you will feel better. I am willing to cooperate with you, but you have to believe that we definitely have no future. I can even say that I have never really loved you. I have never loved you, but I just like you. like a friend."

"I think I did something stupid again." Jie Chu left.