godfather

Later, at the end of the Lunar New Year that year, the political environment became increasingly relaxed, and the front winds of reform blew.During the Spring Festival of that year, the employees of the factory and the officers and soldiers of the army set up a stage on the big playground to hold a party.

He Shaotang and his team put on a show of lining up for Sanda and practicing grappling.Shaotang performed on stage, standing in the middle of the first row, punching beautifully, and looking handsome.Every time this person flew up and kicked in the air, and then fell heavily to the ground, everyone in the audience exclaimed.Meng Xiaobei shuddered, as if he had fallen on himself, and it hurt, so he subconsciously rubbed his knee.Then he saw Shaotang jumping up from the ground with a vigorous movement, his eyes were so cool.

Several old workers in the factory sang Qin opera jokes with the accompaniment on the stage, and the officials and people in the audience clapped their hands desperately and applauded.

The trade union organized a chess competition, and Meng Jianmin won the No. 2 of the whole factory. The only one who lost in the final was an old chess fan in his 60s.The other people in their 30s and 2s couldn't beat Meng Jianmin, and they were checked to death within [-] minutes.Everyone said that Master Meng had a good brain. He was very smart and good at studying books. He was a good student back then.

……

That night, Shaotang spent the New Year's Eve at Meng's house.

In Meng Jianmin's words, Shaotang, you don't have a home in Xigou. My family of four still looks like a home. Come to my house to celebrate the New Year.

You are more than ten years younger than me, so just treat me as your big brother.

This is what Meng Jianmin said at the time.

The two men put the small table on the bed and drank at the table. They both got drunk that night and talked a lot of "nonsense".

The more Meng Jianmin drank, the redder his face became. The more He Shaotang drank, the hotter he was, sweating wildly. First he took off his military uniform, then his sweater, and finally he was left with an open shirt on his body.

Meng Jianmin was wondering if Shaotang would mind if he, a commoner, rushed to curry favor with the son of a high-ranking family; He Shaotang was wondering if Jianmin would mind if he, a so-called son of a high-ranking official, ran to someone's house all day long Running in and out with high-end things, the original identity is different, and the other party will alienate him someday.

Meng Jianmin apologized for causing Shaotang to worry a lot about Meng Xiaobei's monkey boy these days, and was injured and suffered; He Shaotang was ashamed that he lost his temper with Meng Xiaobei and yelled at that boy when something happened in the village that day. It's smoother now than before.

Shaotang comforted him: "Don't be too anxious about that matter, the central government's policy may change in the near future, and the exam may be resumed."

Meng Jianmin said: "Even if we send another group of students to college now, we old people won't be in a hurry. Who cares about us?"

He Shaotang: "Are you old?"

Meng Jianmin: "There is still an age limit for conscription in your army. Now I am too old to go to university!"

Meng Xiaojing lowered his head, picked at his fingers, and bit them.This child had this problem since he was a child, and gnawed off the edges of ten of his fingernails.To put it bluntly, this is because I have been hungry since I was a child.

Meng Xiaobei dipped his fingers in the wine and drew little figures on the table.

Meng Jianmin pointed at Xiao Bei with his chopsticks: "From now on, I will count on you two to be successful."

Shaotang said: "Xiaobei has a lively personality. He likes to learn new knowledge. He has a quick mind. He is very devoted to one thing he likes and is willing to study it. He will definitely have a bright future."

Meng Jianmin said: "Shaotang, you are kind to our children. My eldest brother sees it in his eyes and remembers it in his heart. Don't say I don't remember your kindness."

Shaotang said: "There is no need to say that."

Meng Jianmin was a little drunk that night, and his eye circles were red: "I have to say it! We have to explain everything clearly."

"Xiaobei, that bag of milk powder you drank was snatched out by your Uncle Shaotang holding it on your head in the flooded Weihe River! You have to remember!"

"Meng Xiaobei, recognize Shaotang as your godfather. When you grow up, you will know how to repay your kindness."

Meng Jianmin said every word with the smell of alcohol.

At that moment, everyone at the table was quiet. I didn't expect Meng Jianmin to say that.

Meng Jianmin didn't discuss it with his wife. Ma Baochun was taken aback, and he couldn't express his objection. He was very surprised.

Shaotang also felt a little shaken and uncomfortable, and wiped his pants vigorously with both hands, his face flushed from alcohol: "Don't, I don't have the qualifications."

Meng Jianmin: "You are not qualified, who is qualified? Does this child recognize you?"

Shaotang was at a loss for words, looking at Xiaobei beside him, he suddenly had a strange feeling.Usually, I often quarrel in front of my comrades in the army, saying "this is my son", but when I am laughing with Xiaobei and the other two, or chasing sheep and chasing sheep on the mountain, I really regard Meng Xiaobei as my "son" huh...how come there is a strange feeling of dislocation of identity in an instant?

Meng Xiaobei was still crouching in Shaotang's arms and rubbing blindly at that time, so he asked back, "Why do you call him father?"

Meng Jianmin was very serious: "From now on, we are not allowed to be no big or small, be more serious, and call him a godfather."

Meng Xiaobei spoke quickly: "Father, you are my father, and Shaotang is Shaotang, so he is not alone. How come they all become my father?!"

Meng Jianmin blurted out: "Because he treats you better than anyone else!"

Meng Xiaobei: "..."

Meng Jianmin pointed to the boss of his family—a sentence that was repeatedly mentioned in the following years: "Meng Xiaobei, you remember the kindness of your godfather Shaotang. He was the one who held his head against your bag of milk powder in the flood. Even if you get swept away by the water, you won’t let go! Let’s tell you the truth, if it were your own father, I would be able to do the same to you.”

"You eat it in your mouth, but you have to remember it in your heart. This is in exchange for your life."

……

The whole room was silent for a while, all of them were flushed and panting, the strong smell of alcohol surged around the table, and their mood was too impulsive.Meng Xiaobei said in a low voice: "Okay...godfather."

Meng Jianmin said, "A toast to your godfather."

Meng Xiaobei poured a glass of white, He Shaotang took it, paused, the glass was forced to stop drinking, and he drank it down in one gulp.

Meng Jianmin nodded reassuringly, and reminded Shaotang: "In the future, if the soldiers in your company laugh at you again, you should tell the big guy directly that this is your son!"

"There are two children in the family, and sometimes they are too busy. Xiao Bei will be in trouble in the future. Please take care of him and help me take care of him. Treat him as your own."

He Shaotang's eyes were stunned and shocked, his surface was calm, but his heart was darkly turbulent, and he was speechless for a long time.Invisibly, there is a gap in seniority with the child in front of him, and it feels like a big stone is on his heart. The responsibility on his shoulders is huge!

As for Meng Xiaobei, at his age at that time, he would not have much conceptual and connotative understanding of these titles.In his eyes, Guan Shaotang's name is just to change this person's skin and peel off that layer of skin. Isn't this person still Shaotang?The young master can smell who is him.

After a few years, until a certain day in the future, when he realizes the insurmountable gap in status, seniority and family relationship that the title "godfather" brought to the two of them, it may be too late.

……

After Shaotang left, Ma Baochun hurriedly asked her husband, "What are you thinking today?"

Meng Jianmin said, "That's what I thought."

Ma Baochun: "How old is Shaotang? He is ten years younger than you, and he is too young. Can he be Meng Xiaobei's father? It's not too bad to be a godfather. At most, he can call him 'Little Uncle'. Get messed up."

Meng Jianmin: "You are a woman's opinion. I think he is the most suitable person regardless of their age, they can talk to each other, and they are sincere to our son."

Ma Baochun: "What is the composition of Shaotang's family? He will definitely return to Beijing in the future, so he won't stay in this valley forever!"

Meng Jianmin said firmly in the dark: "It's because he will definitely go back to Beijing. His family has a background, and Xiaobei happened to go out with him. This father must be recognized."

Ma Baochun was suddenly surprised: "...you think so?"

Meng Jianmin's eyes were calm, and he looked up at a faint reflection on the ceiling, as if the last ray of light in the darkness represented hope: "I have no hope in this life, it can be said that the times have ruined it, and I can't let my son be ruined too. "

"My son is smart, with a lively mind. He was able to endure hardships, work hard and dare to go out since he was a child. What does he lack? He lacks a background, a 'reliance', and a chance to go out! Does he have to fight for his father? If you count on it, you will never be able to fight... In the future, when you come to society, just fight as a godfather!"

Ma Baochun was at a loss for words, staring in the dark: "This is how you think about Squad Leader He? You are, like this, it seems that we are working together to plot against others..."

Meng Jianmin said coldly, "Did I plot against him?"

The two lines of tears shed on the bank of the Wei River that day were by no means false.

"I know how to judge people, and I don't make mistakes." Meng Jianmin showed a hint of expression, and all kinds of feelings came to his heart at that time, "Shaotang is really a good person, he seems to be generous with everything on the outside, and he has a pure heart in his heart... Others Anyway, I can't reach it, so I'm just flattering this...not for myself, but for my son's future."

……