north bird south

Winter is good for reading, Yue Lao said.

He warned Xu Zhiyuan that if he felt unconscious, he would stick his head out of the window and let the cold wind whip him.He must ensure that when facing the book, he is more energetic than ever.

Xu Zhiyuan didn't take his theory seriously, he bit the end of the brush holder, took a sneak look at Yue Lao, and found that he was roasting peanuts on the red clay stove.

He crossed his arms in front of his chest, biting a pen between his teeth and made a few crooked dots on the paper.

Elder Yue called out: "Xu Zhiyuan."

He thought he had been found out for being lazy, so he took the pen out of his mouth to make up for it temporarily, and said, "Cough... the student is here."

However, Old Yue's voice suddenly became low. According to Xu Zhiyuan's experience, this is usually the prelude to a big event. As expected, Old Yue said: "Why do you study?"

Xu Zhiyuan said truthfully, "To make my parents happy."

Elder Yue sighed heavily, as if he wanted to let out the ashes accumulated in his lungs for many years, he said: "I have been to many places, I have also been to many universities, and I have taught many students..."

Xu Zhiyuan guessed that his next sentence was "I have never seen a person with no ambitions like you", but this time Yue Lao did not do what he wanted, but after a long silence, he said, "Your father once heard I took my class. I was very impressed, because it was my first year in the south, I was alone in a foreign land as a stranger, and the water and soil were difficult to get used to, but in the first class, I heard me from the voice of an auditor Familiar northern accent."

When Xu Zhiyuan listened to the story, he was much more focused than reciting words, so he carefully asked, "Is that my father?"

"Yes." Yue Lao said, "Xu Zhenping's first impression is that he is rigorous, calm, and logically logical. I thought he was a malleable talent. It just so happened that I asked every student such a question in that class. Why study?"

"They stood up one by one, speaking impassionedly and unconstrainedly. There are those who save the country and strive for prosperity, and those who honor their ancestors. But when it came to Xu Zhenping, he said that I don't know. Just these four words, and sat down."

Xu Zhiyuan thought to himself, he deserves to be my old man.

"I'm very puzzled. I said how could you 'don't know'? If you don't even have a purpose to sit here, then the two hours you just listened to were a waste of time."

"He doesn't talk...he usually doesn't like to talk."

After the peanuts were roasted, Elder Yue grabbed a handful and put them on Xu Zhiyuan's appalling homework paper, without any hesitation, as if telling him: The rubbish you wrote can only be used as a backing board.

Xu Zhiyuan was very self-aware, so he was not angry, and by the way, he took out another piece of practice paper to use as a pad for the peanut skin, and he actually sat around the stove and had snacks with Yue Lao.

"Later, because of geographical fate, we got closer. After getting along for a long time, I asked him why he was in

Say that in the first class.Xu Zhenping told me many things. "

"He said that when he was a child, his parents asked him to study in order to grow up and become an official, so that he would not have to be bullied by the gentry and landlords. Later, when his parents died, he took his own gun and rebelled to avenge himself. His subordinates told him that it was okay to be an illiterate bandit. The way out is to go to school while young, and the road is smoother. At that time, he happened to be appreciated by high-ranking officials in Beicheng District for his deeds. He was sent to study in a high-level military academy when he was young, and met Li Anrong from Youxue, and later..."

"Later, he studied for my mother, and after going around for a while, he went south to study with Comrade Li Anrong, in order to be able to 'be a good family member'." Xu Zhiyuan said while nibbling on peanuts.

Elder Yue squinted at him coldly, and continued after a while, "I didn't expect him to have so many experiences that are considered legendary compared to his peers at such a young age."

"He said he still doesn't know what he is studying for, because no one 'tells him' anymore."

"I said, you have to tell yourself."

Xu Zhiyuan kept chattering, and never stopped, knowing that he was using Xu Zhenping as a warning to himself, since he didn't suffer, and he could come to listen to stories for free, so he accepted it happily.

"I asked him what his plans are for the future? He said that he and An Rong will settle down in Huai City and be a good husband... a good father."

Xu Zhiyuan's crisp peeling sound stopped for a moment.

"Then if your personal life is happy and complete, after a peaceful tea and dinner one day, when you see your children and grandchildren around your knees, will you stop thinking about it?"

"He was silent for a long time, as I expected, he said yes."

Xu Zhiyuan couldn't help but ask: "What is it?"

Old Yue stroked his beard.

...Xu Zhenping went around in a daze, and after being guided by a few words, he still turned his head with the light and walked back to his first childhood in the depths of the haze. The beautiful and simple wish that he looked forward to every day looking forward to the blue sky was indistinctly imprinted in it. With the shadow of his parents.

"I want people in my hometown not to suffer." Xu Zhenping said to Yue Lei, "The cripple who sells chickens and ducks at the entrance of the village, and the old woman who grows spring wheat in the field can all be people with their chests upright, and they will never be bullied by those who sit in sedan chairs. .”

……

Xu Zhiyuan went to touch the peanuts on the stove, but they were gone, and he burned his fingers, and then he woke up.

Elder Yue didn't go on talking, mocked him for his clumsiness, threw his hands in ashes, stroked his beard and said, "Okay, I'll go write when I'm full."

Xu Zhiyuan raised his head and said, "...I just finished writing."

"where?"

Xu Zhiyuan looked at the pad of paper in the stove that Yue Lao threw into the fire together with the peanut shells, opened his mouth for a long time, and said, "...It's gone now."

"Hmph, I only talk about generals," Yue Lao said, "I'll look at you this time, read it again, and write it again."

Xu Zhiyuan could only sigh, and went back to the table to pick up his pen.

……

For some reason, he never contradicted Mr. Yue again, because when he saw his brush beard, a gloomy sentence "Why do you study" echoed in his mind.

He was speechless and unable to answer. He always felt that its difficulty was comparable to that of philosophy and art, and it was a question that consumed years, so he had to shut his mouth and feel ashamed of himself.

For many days after that, Xu Zhiyuan followed Yue Lao to read the sage books, sometimes Pei Lin came to join in the fun, and Yue Lao "teached without discrimination", big and small can chatter together.

One day, Xu Zhiyuan, who sneaked out, met Xia En and Wu Tongqiu, and they came to Xu's house to visit Teacher Yu.Xu Zhiyuan only looked at Wu Tongqiu from a distance, and wanted to go over and listen to what they were talking about, but was caught by Yue Lao, who took him back to copy "Tale of Vegetable Roots".

But he finally took another look at Wu Tongqiu before he left, and saw her choking on Yu Yao's neck.Xu Zhiyuan breathed a sigh of relief, no matter what, it seemed that he was persuaded by his little uncle.

The days in winter are short, coupled with being enriched by learning, time flies by quickly.