grandfather's daughter-in-law

It was a rainy night when Ding Yongchang had an accident, and he went out on that old motorcycle in the evening.In front of the temple gate, Wang Yugui kept persuading him not to go, it was just an insignificant performance, and it was still so far away from Tainan, but Ding Yongchang was stubborn, saying that even if it was not for the performance, he still had to ask. The reason for the sudden cancellation of the invitation was that the other party put a raincoat on the rear rack of the motorcycle and set off.Unbeknownst to any of us, that glance was almost a farewell.

The sunset has completely faded away, the sky is dark and misty, the tall sycamore trees stretch out along the blurred road to the distance, inlaid with green circles in the black night, sometimes rustling by the night wind, also It was only for a while, and soon disappeared into the dullness.A mandarin duck and a teal fluttered their wings and flew shortly over the plains and fields, and a few dogs barked from time to time in the deep alley in the distance, making everything as quiet as a distant and hazy dream.

The theater troupe was in full swing preparing for the evening performance, and I played the little maid and little Wuxing next to Xu Hong.My kung fu is not good at all, but after I moved to Taipei, many people left the troupe for different reasons. Ding Yongchang probably also saw the gloomy situation of Gezai Opera, so he didn’t force him to stay. The remaining people were either really desperate. Or it is like Ding Yongchang who vowed to live and die with Gezai Opera.

I was clumsily applying my eyeliner when there was a sudden thunder, followed by a crackling sound from the roof.People were stunned and didn't know what happened. After a while, someone said that maybe it was hail.Such weather as hail is rarely seen in a century in the south.For a moment, there was a strange excitement in the whole backstage.Some people rushed to tell each other, and some people went out to check the live situation, and the benches were dragged and fell to the ground.From time to time, news of the cancellation of the show came.

I followed the crowd to the gate of the temple, and the people watching the theater had already dispersed.Occasionally there are theater friends in twos and threes, perhaps living far away, who huddled with us in front of the temple gate.In the open space in front of the door, a few benches that hadn't been put away in time fell alone in the violent wind and rain, and splashes of water jumped on the ground.The whole sky seemed to be shrouded in a layer of black veil, so dim and silent that no light could penetrate.Wang Yugui stood silently among the crowd, water stains appeared on her clothes, like black spots under the dim light.

It rained all night without stopping.I took off my make-up and went back to the door. The people hiding from the rain and the people watching the fun had dispersed, but Wang Yugui's desolate figure was still waiting in front of the door.Occasionally, sudden lightning and thunder flashed in front of her, forming a blurred silhouette, in the dark night, like a Chinese figure painting with splashed ink.She leaned on the door frame with her arms folded, her face slightly tilted to the side, looking into the distance.

I went up and stood beside her.The rain continued to fall, and gradually turned into a continuous drizzle, and the sky showed a faint bright color, as if the sun was trying to squeeze out from the thick clouds.After a long time, she gave me a sideways look, and I followed her gaze and said, "He will be fine."

As soon as he finished speaking, a looming figure in the rain became bigger and bigger, and finally jumped to the bottom of the eaves, shook off his coir raincoat that was dripping with water, cursed softly, panted and shouted at Wang Yugui: "Telephone! The hospital in Yilan is calling!"

At that time, telephones were not as popular as they are now. In a small town as remote as Wutong Town, ordinary people like us who can’t eat three meals a day, basically rely on the only telephone in the convenience store in the town to communicate with the outside world. machine, and it costs two yuan to answer a call.That person was from the convenience store.

Wang Yugui's figure swayed for a while, and she turned her head and quickly scanned the entire temple.I guess she was looking for an umbrella, but there was no one, and she put her hand over her head and rushed into the rain without hesitation.I hesitated for a moment, then chased after him.Wang Yugui wiped the rain off her face, and asked sharply as if reproaching, "What are you doing here?"

I just suddenly remembered that there seemed to be a lot of rain on the night when I left. I walked along that road alone, and fell down without knowing where I went.The day I woke up, I held him and cried for a long, long time.I think of his gentle eyebrows, eyes and mouth corners, which are very similar to my father.I even thought about my mother, a woman I hadn't thought much about since I was 14, and suddenly rudely broke into my mind and became clear all at once.Many, many thoughts or blurry silhouettes flashed through my mind, all seemed to be the answer, but none of them seemed to be the answer, so I had to keep my mouth shut.

Wang Yugui's footsteps only paused for a moment, and then walked forward quickly.In fact, she didn't care about the answer to this question.

The man cursed the damn weather again under his breath and walked past me.

The call was indeed from Yilan, but not from the hospital.Standing next to Wang Yugui, I vaguely heard a deep male voice on the phone.While he was talking, Wang Yugui listened quietly, thanking her again and again, her worried expression relaxed a little, but her brows were still wrinkled like the clothes on her body.Her lips were blue and purple, and a thin layer of goose skin had formed on her exposed neck.Wet clothes cling to her body in the shape of her bra straps.

I turned my eyes away, the owner of the convenience store was sitting next to us and looked at us impatiently, his wet trousers were rolled up to his knees, revealing a calf covered with dense black hair, which was limp after being wet by the rain. Sticking to the legs in a ball, like a mollusc.My stomach twitched suddenly and I wanted to vomit, but fortunately the call was finally over.

"What happened?" I asked her.

Wang Yugui whispered, "Let's talk when we go back."

She took out a small stack of banknotes from her sticky trouser pocket, and before she unfolded the wet banknotes, the shop owner snatched them away, "It's raining and the road is slippery, so I'll pay you five yuan every time you come."

Wang Yugui was taken aback, took out five yuan silently, and handed it to the shop owner while apologizing, "I came too quickly, I got wet, I'm sorry."

The store owner didn't care, he took the five yuan, swept the water and put it on the counter, turned around and went in.

It was half an hour after Wang Yugui and I returned to the troupe.After Wang Yugui changed his clothes, he called a meeting and briefly explained the general situation of the matter. As soon as he stopped talking, Ding Jianye hurriedly asked, "Is Dad seriously injured?"

"Well, he injured his right leg and head, and he is still under observation. I will go to see the specific situation tomorrow and find out. Fortunately, a kind person sent him to the hospital, and his life should not be in danger."

Hearing the words that her life was not in danger, Xu Hong took the lead, "Since it's all right, there's no need to worry too much."

Wang Yugui nodded silently, "I can only hope so. I will rush to Yilan tomorrow, and I asked everyone to make arrangements for my time away."

Xu Hong echoed, "That's right. It's hard to maintain the troupe without a host after you leave. How to put it, we Jianjun are the most suitable to take on this responsibility."

Xu felt that Xu Hong's words were too naked, so Ding Jianjun called out "Ah Hong" a little bit critically, but it didn't help much.Xu Hong turned her lips back and said, "Am I wrong? In terms of seniority and seniority, who else can take on this position besides you?" She said with a pair of sharp eyes and swept everyone one by one. Dare to take responsibility, and being too modest becomes hypocrisy.”

Looking around, there is indeed no more suitable candidate than Ding Jianjun.After Ding Jianjun married Xu Hong, he was a typical strict wife in the troupe, so he just kept his head down and didn't speak.

Wang Yugui seemed to be waiting for a voice of rebuttal. She looked at Ding Jianye, but Ding Jianye was really immature and could not give her any response.After a long silence, the people present seemed to acquiesce to this decision.She breathed a sigh of relief, and said, "Since everyone has no objections, the theater troupe will be temporarily handed over to Jianjun during my absence. If you have any questions, just ask him. Jianjun I have been in the troupe for so many years, so there shouldn’t be any major problems.”

"That's right, you can rest assured that the theater troupe is entrusted to us, and I promise that nothing serious will happen." As soon as Wang Yugui finished speaking, Xu Hong took over, with the joy of getting what she wanted.

"Don't worry, mother." Ding Jianjun followed suit, and Wang Yugui smiled and said nothing.

Ding Jianye suggested: "Mom, let me go to Yilan with you. If anything happens to Dad, I will take care of you."

Wang Yugui refused, "You should stay in the troupe and manage the troupe well with your elder brother. The troupe is your father's hard work. I hope that whether it is good or bad, you will manage it with your heart and don't ruin it for unnecessary disputes. Once." Wang Yugui looked at Xu Hong pointedly, but Xu Hong remained silent.

Ding Jianye still refused: "But Yilan is not close to here, I am really worried."

Ding Jianjun echoed: "Mother, let Jianye go with you, as long as there are multiple people to take care of you. It's enough for the troupe to have me."

It's not that Wang Yugui has never thought about it, but the theater troupe not only needs to manage, but also to act.The core character of a play is Xiaosheng Xiaodan, the clown, who is the role of Ding Jianjun, Xu Hong and Ding Jianye. If either of them leaves, how can this play be performed.It's not that the troupe has no other substitute actors, but all of them are not doing well, and those who can play the top role have left the troupe.Looking at this group of old, weak and disabled soldiers, Wang Yugui felt helpless, "No need, the theater troupe is important, and your task is not light. Before the scheduled performance is over, you have to learn to find plays by yourself. I can do it alone with your father."

Ding Jianye thought for a while, and then suggested: "Why don't you ask the second brother to come back?"

This was Ding Yongchang's original intention, but Ding Jianguo's ambition is not here, so he can't force it.Now that his business is bleak, it is the best time to propose it.Wang Yugui still refused.The reason is very simple. Firstly, Ding Jianguo never formally mentioned this matter, which shows that his business may not be able to make a comeback; secondly, she needs to discuss it with Ding Yongchang before it is safe.

The crowd dispersed immediately, Ding Jianjun hurriedly assured Wang Yugui, and left with Xu Hong.I said nonchalantly: "Tomorrow, shall I go with you?" I was inexplicably anxious, and I couldn't remember when there was such a polite alienation between us, and I never said anything more personal.

Wang Yugui looked at me, those dusty eyes seemed to be much clearer after being washed by the rain.She didn't answer me, but Ding Jianye spoke, "Mother, since we can't leave, it's better to let Ah Feng accompany you." He was speaking for me, with a tone that seemed to be protecting his own woman.

Wang Yugui glanced at him, then let go and said, "That's fine."