On a rare trip back to his hometown, Fang Hanmin took out the money and asked his two sisters to buy two bottles of liquor and some cooked food at the village canteen, preparing to add some dishes to the dinner. During dinner, the family will sit around the table. This scene has not been seen for many years.
The tableware was placed on the table. Fang Hanmin first filled the cup in front of his old father with wine. Before filling his own cup, he asked everyone for their opinions. Should his brother Fang Xinmin also have a drink?
His old father Fang Xiecheng told him that Fang Xinmin did not enter high school after graduating from junior high school. He went home to help his parents with farm work the year before last. "If your brother hadn't been at home and your sister got married, it would have been your mother and me who would have contracted the land at home." Can’t even grow it.”
"In that case, Xinmin is an adult now, so let's drink together." Fang Hanmin filled his brother's glass with wine.
After the food was served, his mother and sister also sat at the table. Fang Hanmin asked again: "Mom, do you and my sister want some wine?"
Xu Guihua waved her hand, "You three, drink. Your sister and I have never drank."
Fang Hanmin hasn't been back to his hometown for three or four years. At the dinner table, the family couldn't help but ask questions. Especially his mother, Xu Guihua, was particularly concerned about her eldest son's affairs. "Hanmin, aren't you a temporary worker in the factory? How do you celebrate the New Year?" Are you so busy that you don’t have time to go home? What kind of people don’t exist in a factory as big as theirs? Why do you want to hold on to a temporary worker and not let go?"
The host was very low-key, and Fang Hanmin, who had traveled through time, really couldn't figure out why he didn't tell his parents about such an important thing. Let the family members think that Fang Hanmin is still a temporary worker. If he doesn't tell them the truth, he won't be able to talk anymore!
"Dad, Mom, because I have been busy working all day, I forgot to tell you that I am no longer a temporary worker. The factory didn't deliberately hold on to me. I really have a job and can't get away from it. I have only been here during the Spring Festival these past few years. Didn’t go home.”
"Hanmin, are you telling the truth?" his parents and sister asked in unison.
Even brother Fang Xinmin and his two younger sisters who were studying were surprised, "Brother, are you no longer a temporary worker?"
"You can still lie about this kind of thing. I'm really not a temporary worker now." Fang Hanmin answered affirmatively again.
"The factory thinks you have many years of service, so they will make you a full-time employee, right?"
"This has nothing to do with the number of years of service. No matter how many years of service, it is not a condition for a temporary worker to become a regular worker. It is because I made some contributions to the factory at work, and the factory made me a regular worker because of my contribution." The author is not a high-profile person either.
"What contribution have you made to the factory?" The whole family was curious.
"What kind of contribution? Even if I tell you, you won't understand. Just know that it is a contribution."
Old father Fang Xiecheng nodded, "No wonder you haven't gone home for the Spring Festival in the past few years. It turns out that you have been reused in the factory. It's not easy!"
"There's nothing that's not easy. I caught up and completed the work successfully. It's that simple." Fang Hanmin said lightly.
"Oh, Hanmin is now a regular employee and his status has changed. Should the villagers know? Because they always thought you were a temporary worker." Mother Xu Guihua's vanity is understandable. After all, people in the village often mention this matter. .
"It's not necessary. It's their freedom to say whatever they want." Now Fang Hanmin has long disregarded honor and disgrace.
"Hanmin, although you don't care what the villagers say, when someone introduces you to a girlfriend, the difference between temporary workers and regular workers is huge!" Fang Wenying understands the mentality of the villagers very well.
"Introducing my girlfriend? Don't worry, I have no plans for that yet."
"Hanmin, don't say that. You are already twenty-four or five years old. If someone comes to propose marriage, we can't push them out, don't you think?"
"Okay, maybe you don't need to worry about my affairs. Let's talk about it at that time. But don't deliberately spread the news about me becoming a formal employee in the village, just let it take its course."
After taking a car in the morning and walking for two or three hours in the afternoon, Fang Hanmin was very tired. After dinner, after his mother and sister had cleared away the dishes, he fell asleep before nine o'clock.
At around eight o'clock in the morning the next day, relatives and friends invited to help at home began to arrive one after another. Some set up pot stations, some washed dishes, and some set up tables and chairs. No matter how bad the economic conditions were, when the eldest daughter of the Lao Fang family got married, the banquet would always be It's posing.
According to local custom, the bride's wedding party is arranged to be held on the night before, so the busy day is spent on entertaining the relatives and friends who came to congratulate her as well as the folks in the village that night.
Fang Hanmin couldn't help much, because his parents and family had arranged everything before he got home. In addition, Fang Hanmin knew very little about the situation in his hometown, and he didn't know where to start.
When he met relatives, friends and fellow villagers who came to congratulate him, Fang Hanmin greeted each other mechanically, because he didn't know their last name. Only to those relatives whom he was familiar with before, Fang Hanmin seemed more cordial, but he didn't know the other person's name. If asked about his work, Fang Hanmin would not go into details and would usually just talk it over in a few words.
I don't know where Fang Hanmin's second uncle learned that his identity had changed, so he pulled him aside and said, "Hanmin, you still hide such a big thing from your second uncle. It's not interesting for you!"
Although the second uncle is more than ten years older than Fang Hanmin, he has liked this smart nephew since he was a child and has always paid attention to Fang Hanmin's growth.
Fang Hanmin was confused by his second uncle's sudden action, "Second uncle, what does this mean?"
"You changed from a temporary worker to a regular worker and you didn't even tell me. What do you mean by asking me?"
Fang Hanmin basically knew what was going on, but he still asked knowingly: "Who did you hear about this?"
"If you don't tell me, can your mother still keep it a secret from me?"
Fang Hanmin deliberately pretended to be innocent, "We just met, and I haven't had time to tell you yet. Second uncle, don't worry!"
"Hey, why should I worry about you encountering such a great good thing? It's too late to be happy for you. But in the past, I heard those who worked outside say that it is even harder to convert temporary workers into regular workers. how did you do it?"
Although he is an authentic farmer, my second uncle likes to listen to others bragging at the tea stalls in the market, and he knows a little about the outside world.
"I have made some contributions to the factory over the years of working. In order to praise me, the leaders decided to change my status to a formal employee, and that's it." Fang Hanmin said perfunctorily.
"Changing your identity is no small matter. It shows that the factory leaders value you."
"It doesn't matter whether you take it seriously or not, this is what I deserve."
"Hanmin, logically you are right to say this, but where can you explain so much truth? I think you should cherish this opportunity and continue to work hard." The second uncle is not very literate, but he is more orthodox and likes to listen to the radio. I also learned a lot from teaching young people a lesson.
Fang Hanmin no longer took matters seriously with his second uncle, and just dealt with it hummingly.
Today, Fang Xiecheng and his wife and their eldest daughter Fang Wenying are the focus. Although relatives, friends and villagers know that it is not easy for Fang Hanmin to return to his hometown, most of them just exchanged a few words with him after meeting.
After the banquet that night, the guests and helpers in the village all went home. Mother Xu Guihua discussed with Fang Hanmin and hoped that he, as a member of his family, would follow the procession to send his sister to the groom's house tomorrow.
The host is willing to agree to his mother's request. After all, he has witnessed the sacrifices his sister has made for the family. He and Fang Wenying are the eldest members of the family. They have shared joys and sorrows since they were young. It can be said that they have a deep love between brother and sister. His sister is getting married tomorrow, and brothers should give birth to each other. She has a ride.
But the traveler was reluctant. He was already a stranger to this family, and he had to go so far tomorrow to become a family member, so he might as well rest at home for a day.
"You can ignore my emotions, but you can't ignore my parents' feelings. When the eldest daughter gets married, their eldest son actually doesn't want to see her off. What do you want them to think? And my sister, I made a special trip home to attend her wedding. wedding, but I didn’t go to send her off. You have read so many books and should be well-educated. Why did you make her feel so embarrassed?" the host reminded.
The traveler put himself in his shoes and thought, "I not only have to consider the feelings of your parents and sister, but also your emotions. After all, we are one. Just use this opportunity to see what kind of family the man is like, and how he treats your sister. OK."
Thinking of this, Fang Hanmin agreed to his mother's request.
Early the next morning, the groom's wedding team arrived. After a ceremony of playing and playing, more than 20 members of her mother's family followed the wedding team and sent Fang Wenying to the groom's home.
According to Fang Hanmin's observation, the brother-in-law he saw for the first time was not worthy of his sister Fang Wenying in terms of height and appearance. However, he was kinder and might not let his sister suffer in the future. In addition, the man's family conditions are very average. Even if Fang Hanmin's factors are not taken into account, they may not be much better than Fang Wenying's natal family.
I don’t know what my parents and sister think about whether this marriage can happen. Fang Hanmin thinks that maybe the age of the sister is the key issue, because for older women in remote rural areas, it would be great if they can find their husband’s family to marry them off, not to mention the comprehensive quality of the man. The conditions are not too bad either.
After lunch, Fang Hanmin returned home. He had to walk more than 20 miles back and forth to see off his relatives. This was a challenge for him who had not traveled long distances for many years. After arriving home, he lay down in bed and took a nap before waking up. It was already evening.
At dinner, the family gathered around the table, except for Fang Wenying. Everyone's mood was a little low. Fang Hanmin comforted him and said: "It's natural for boys to get married and girls to get married. My eldest sister will come back to visit in two days." You guys, let’s not think too much.”
"Hanmin is right. When a daughter gets older, she has no choice but to get married. She has to get married. It's not that I can't bear to leave her. I just feel empty in my heart. It may be better in a few days." Mother Xu Guihua said with a melancholy expression.
In this large family, who has the deepest relationship with the eldest daughter Fang Wenying, of course it must be her mother Xu Guihua, because her daughter's family is very careful, and with Fang Wenying as her helper, Xu Guihua has been able to worry less about major and minor matters at home these years. Although the second son Fang Xinmin has basically grown up and become sensible, apart from being strong enough to work, he is not much help to his mother in other aspects.
Fang Hanmin decided to return at noon on the third day, and his mother left him to stay for another two days, waiting for Fang Wenying to return to her parents' house and meet her before leaving.
"My boss gave me three days off, which is considered an exception. If I don't return to the unit on time, it will be a violation of factory rules and regulations. I also want to meet my sister before leaving, but time does not allow." Fang Hanmin explained.
"Okay, Hanmin's work is important, and the siblings will have a chance to meet in the future." Fang Xiecheng has always disliked the love between children.
This morning, neither Fang Xiecheng nor Xu Guihua went to work in the fields. They stayed at home with Fang Hanmin for half a day because they needed to discuss some things with their eldest son.
