Stepmother: 9. On the way home
Song Zhaodi thought to herself that she would have nowhere to go if she didn’t come back: “I know, I will not delay your business.”
Liu Ling was a native of Shencheng in a previous life, and later moved to the imperial capital. Later, he traveled all over the world. He stayed in hotels for half of the year, and still had a special affection for Shencheng.
She didn’t want to stay in Shencheng for half a day for shopping, but to see Shencheng a hundred years ago.
The road conditions were not good, and the traffic was slow. It was after eight o’clock and it was dark. Zhong Jianguo and Song Zhaodi arrived at Binhai City.
The train departed at nine o’clock. Zhong Jianguo carried a large cloth bag made of rags in one hand and dragged Song Zhaodi’s arm to the train station in the other.
The two arrived at the train station. Sister-in-law Zhong, who wanted to take a good look at Song Zhaodi, quickly gave her the child in her arms and the bag in her hand.
Song Zhaodi took it subconsciously, and when she found out that there was a child in her arms with a bag on her arm, she was stunned: “Zhong—Jianguo?”
“What’s the matter?” Zhong Jianguo glanced at her, and before Song Zhaodi could speak, he said, “This basket is for you. You carry the third baby and the older baby. I carry the second baby and these few. package.”
Song Zhaodi looked down and saw that in addition to the big cloth bag she brought, Zhong Jianguo also had a big bag and two children at her feet.
Sister-in-law Zhong explained: “In the bag are the clothes and shoes of the three of them, and Sanwa’s diapers are also in it. Sister, the bag you are carrying contains the food I bought for you. There is nothing to eat on the train. Keep these for you on the road.”
“Thank you, sister-in-law.” Song Zhaodi twitched the corners of her mouth and couldn’t help thinking of a sketch “Superborn Guerrilla” in “Review of the Spring Festival Gala Classics” that she watched as a child. At the beginning, she also complained about screenwriters, sketch actors and people in the 1980s. I didn’t expect that one day I would also say, “Dad, come to my side.”
The child grabbed Zhong Jianguo’s hand and looked at Song Zhaodi timidly.
Seeing this, Mrs. Zhong walked over to Zhong Jianguo and gently pushed the child: “Dad, go to your mother’s place, be obedient, the train is coming soon.”
As if the child didn’t hear it, he turned around and gave Song Zhaodi the back of his head.
Song Zhaodi turned to Brother Zhong: “Brother, give me the second baby.”
“Let Jianguo hold it.” Brother Zhong looked at his eldest nephew, “The eldest baby is disobedient, and the uncle will not hurt you anymore.”
Song Zhaodi: “It’s alright, I often work at home, and I’m very energetic.” As she spoke, she extended her hand.
Sister-in-law Zhong was very satisfied with Song Zhaodi’s attitude and gave Zhong Jianguo a wink. This daughter-in-law was good, “Jianguo, give the ticket to your elder brother, and we will take you on the bus.”
Three children, two big bags saluting, it was really troublesome to get in the car, and Zhong Jianguo didn’t show courtesy to his brother.
Taking out the ticket, Zhong Jianguo picked up two large bags, and there was a banging sound in the distance.
Song Zhaodi turned her head subconsciously, followed the sound, her eyes were darkened, it was cold in winter and hot in summer and she was sitting on an old train, she was going to be exhausted.
“What are you looking at? Zhao Di.” Zhong Jianguo took two steps and found that his newly married daughter-in-law was not following, “Get in the car.”
With a heavy heart, Song Zhaodi set foot on the southward train with her youngest on her back and her second child in her arms. The excitement of “escape” Xiaosong Village disappeared, and the good mood suddenly fell to the bottom.
“What’s the matter?” Sister-in-law Zhong hugged the eldest baby and turned her head to see that Song Zhaodi’s expression was wrong, “Are you uncomfortable?”
Song Zhaodi squeezed out a smile: “No. I didn’t expect so many people in the car, how delicious it must be.”
Sister-in-law Zhong stood on tiptoe and looked at it: “There are not many people, and the seats are not full. If it is too much, ask Jianguo to open the window.” I thought Song Zhaodi was tired from holding the child, but after hearing her say this, I couldn’t help but feel Strangely, the smell of the car is not as strong as that of the countryside. There are thatched huts, pigsties, and manure pits everywhere.
Song Zhaodi asked, “Have you ever sat in the car?”
“Your eldest brother and I were on the same boat when we went to pick up the three of them.” Sister-in-law Zhong handed the child to Zhong Jianguo, Brother Zhong handed the ticket to the conductor, and the couple hurriedly got off the train.
Zhong Jianguo didn’t even bother to say goodbye to his brother and sister-in-law, so he put his eldest son on the seat and went to pick up the second son in Song Zhaodi’s arms. After the family of five was seated, the train started.
Song Zhaodi touched the hard seat and couldn’t help but ask, “How long do we have to sit?”
“Dawn will come.” Zhong Jianguo said.
Song Zhaodi’s eyes darkened, she couldn’t believe it: “Ten hours?”
“How is that possible. Keep your voice down, everyone else is looking this way.” Zhong Jianguo noticed that the person on the opposite side raised his head and frowned slightly, “Thirty hours.”
Song Zhaodi’s face changed suddenly, and she exclaimed in a low voice: “Thirty hours?!”
“Yes.” Zhong Jianguo didn’t understand why she was so shocked. “Hurry up by boat, but there is only one direct boat from Binhai to Shencheng every two days. The boat has already been dispatched this morning.” His face was even more ugly, and after realizing it, “Are you motion sickness?”
Song Zhaodi said weakly: “My waist is not good. I’m afraid my waist will break after sitting for 30 hours.”
“If you are tired from sitting, I will stand up and walk around. You lie down on the chair and rest.” Zhong Jianguo holds the younger son in his left hand and the second son in his right hand, and turns to his eldest son, “Have you eaten dinner?” /
The child subconsciously glanced at Song Zhaodi.
Song Zhaodi has never been with children, so she opened the bag that Sister Zhong gave her, took out an egg, peeled off the shell and handed it to the child: “Do you want to eat?”
The child turns to Zhong Jianguo.
Zhong Jianguo sees the eldest son who looks like a dragon in front of him, like a sick cat at the moment, and wants to laugh: “Take it and say thank you.”
“Thank you.” The child stretched out his hand and took it away, quickly spitting out two words.
Song Zhaodi looked funny and deliberately teased him: “What did you say? I didn’t understand.”
The child was stunned, glanced at Song Zhaodi, turned to Zhong Jianguo, the stepmother you married me was deaf?
“Your voice is too low, I didn’t hear it.” Zhong Jianguo reminded, “Thank you sincerely and loudly.”
The child bowed his head and broke the egg in half, stuffed the white into his mouth, and put the yolk in Zhong Jianguo, swallowed and said, “I want to sleep, Dad.”
“Tell your mother to hold you to sleep.” Zhong Jianguo pouted at Song Zhaodi.
The child froze: “I’m heavy.”
“I’m strong, I don’t think you’re too heavy.” Song Zhaodi said with a smile, “Come and sit in my arms.” As she spoke, she extended her hand.
The child noticed out of the corner of his eye and quickly grabbed Zhong Jianguo’s arm.
Zhong Jianguo’s hand trembled, almost throwing his younger son out.
Song Zhaodi was startled, and hurriedly hugged the third child.
Zhong Jianguo, who freed his hand, slapped the eldest son on the head: “Didn’t you see me hugging my brother?”
The child was also startled, pursed his lips, glared at Zhong Jianguo and said, “You are the stepfather, I don’t want you anymore.”
“Yes, I am your stepfather.” Zhong Jianguo pointed at his third son who was sleeping, “Is he also your stepbrother?”
The child choked.
Zhong Jianguo patted his leg: “Come here, I’ll hold you. If you’re not honest, I’ll whip you with a belt.”
“Keep your voice down, everyone else is asleep.” The child was really reckless. When Zhong Jianguo taught his son, Song Zhaodi did not directly persuade him, but reminded Zhong Jianguo that it was almost done.
Zhong Jianguo nodded slightly and whispered, “You’re not used to it, just tell me when you’re tired.”
In the past, Song Zhaodi didn’t believe it. And Sister Song’s youngest son is a few months older than Zhong Jianguo’s youngest son. Song Zhaodi once held her cheap nephew to play for a while, and the next day her arms were sore that she couldn’t lift her arms up: “I know, just squint for a while. I’m not sleepy now, help you watch them both.”
Thirty hours without sleeping is nothing to Zhong Jianguo. A few years ago, he often stayed awake for two days and two nights and was highly concentrated.
Song Zhaodi was so considerate of him, Zhong Jianguo didn’t say he could hold on: “Then I’ll just squint for a while.”
An hour later, Song Zhaodi had a sore back and wanted to stand up for a walk. Seeing Zhong Jianguo’s eyes closed, she didn’t wake him up to watch the child. Put the child in your arms on the seat, open the big bag full of clothes, turn out five pieces of clothes, and make a simple baby carrier in three or two times.
Zhong Jianguo didn’t dare to sleep with the two children in his arms. He opened his eyes when he heard the rustling sound. The lights in the carriage were turned off, and Zhong Jianguo couldn’t see what she was doing, feeling that she was serious and didn’t say a word.
After a while, seeing Song Zhaodi tying her little son to her chest, Song Zhaodi began to beat her waist and rub her back, stretched her arms and kicked her legs, Zhong Jianguo smiled silently, and closed her eyes again.
Song Zhaodi has only ridden the subway and the school bus in her previous life, both of which are smooth and stable, with little noise and no heavy odor in the car.
In today’s old trains, there is a lot of banging and banging. There is no smell in the car, and the backs of the seats are straight without any curvature. Song Zhaodi glanced at the seat, and would rather stand than sit down.
Zhong Jianguo bought three tickets, and the entire bench was theirs. Song Zhaodi did not sit, so half of the bench was vacant. Song Zhaodi stared at the vacant seat for a while, then put the child in her arms on the chair again, opened the big bag and took out two pairs of pants and a cotton coat.
Zhong Jianguo heard the rustling sound, and then saw Song Zhaodi squatting on the ground, very speechless. It’s past ten o’clock, isn’t this woman sleepy?
Song Zhaodi’s biological clock is from twelve o’clock in the evening to six in the morning. Ten o’clock is the time when Song Zhaodi is at his best. Song Zhaodi, who is bored, wraps his trousers around the bench and puts Sanwa in her arms. Then he gently put the eldest child in Zhong Jianguo’s arms on the chair, and then put the second child next to the eldest.
Zhong Jianguo’s arms are empty, and he can’t hold it any more: “What are you doing?”
“Awake?” Song Zhaodi asked in surprise.
Zhong Jianguo thought to himself, you have tossed around and didn’t play, and the dead were woken up by you. Knowingly asked: “Where are the eldest baby and the second baby?”
“Here.” Point to Zhong Jianguo, “I was afraid that they would fall off, so I took out the cotton-padded coat and put it between the two pairs of pants. No matter how they rolled, they wouldn’t fall off.” Song Zhaodi said to her The work is quite proud, “You go to sleep.”
The whole bench, Zhong Jianguo sits on the innermost side, and the two sons sleep side by side outside, with trousers and cotton coats blocking them, the two sons will not fall off, “Where do you sit?”
“There are a lot of vacancies in the car.” Song Zhaodi is not worried, “I will find a place to sit down and rest when I get tired. By the way, the three of them are called Dawa, Erwa and Sanwa?”
Zhong Jianguo said: “The eldest was born in 1962, when there was a famine in the whole country. My former mother-in-law said that a cheap name would make a living, so she named the eldest Jian Jian. To the south. The second and third sons got their **** names.”
“Your former daughter-in-law really knows how to name her.” Song Zhaodi pointed out.
Zhong Jianguo glanced at her: “It’s not as good as you, Zhao Di.”
Song Zhaodi choked: “Then why do you call them the big baby, the second baby and the third baby, instead of calling them strong, resistant and Xiangnan?”
“Since you’re in such good spirits, go to the conductor to pour me a glass of water.” Zhong Jianguo’s expression changed slightly, and he took out a slap-sized porcelain jar from his bag like a conjurer.
Song Zhaodi snorted, “I was so angry that I became angry.” She took away the half-used porcelain jar, poured out the biscuits in the cup, and went to the conductor.
Zhong Jianguo watched his two sons sleep soundly. He really wouldn’t fall, so he closed his eyes and relaxed.
Song Zhaodi came back with hot boiling water and saw Zhong Jianguo closed his eyes, his head against the glass, and threw two fists at Zhong Jianguo.
The man opposite was happy: “What’s your relationship with him?”
“His second daughter-in-law.” Song Zhaodi is not afraid that others will know, “Xi is the mother of three children. I haven’t seen it before.”
The other party: “I haven’t seen it. However, I think you are very happy.”
“You’re wrong.” Song Zhaodi listened to Zhong Jianguo’s snoring, and made sure that he had fallen asleep, and didn’t dare to be careless, “I can’t help it either. Hey, comrade, are you going to Shencheng too?”
The man was awakened by Song Zhaodi just as he was about to fall asleep. Later, Zhong Jianguo spoke again. The man was completely drowsy, so he sat inside, pointed to the outside and signaled Song Zhaodi to sit down and say, “I’ll get off at the next stop.”
“Very good. It’s not like I have to sit for thirty hours.” Song Zhaodi couldn’t help but sigh as she spoke.
The man is curious: “Why don’t you say ‘I’?”
“He can’t get used to it. My father, my mother, and my sister all said that. I will often deal with him in the future. I have to let him get used to it sooner.” Not really. Song Zhaodi did not have the problem of trusting strangers, so she changed the subject, “Are you a comrade worker?”
The man waved his hand: “No, I’m an accountant in a state-owned factory. I received a telegram from my family a few days ago, and there are ‘red soldiers’ making trouble over there. I plan to take my parents to Binhai.”
“Your family—” Song Zhaodi suddenly paused and lowered her voice, “Is there a problem?”
A man is a talkative master, and Song Zhaodi’s purpose is to Shencheng, and with a litter of children, even if he knows where his family is, he can’t hurt him: “My father is the young master of the landlord’s family, and my mother stayed there. Ocean.”
“Have you stayed abroad? Then you bring people into the factory, and if you can’t protect them, you will be implicated.” Song Zhaodi pointedly pointed out, “You underestimate the world.”
The man sat up subconsciously, with a wary expression on his face, and asked in a low voice, “Do you know something?”
“I don’t know, I guess.” Song Zhaodi said, “If you want to save your parents, find someone to send you all to rural labor camps. It’s good to go to our village, Xiaosong Village, Hongya Town, not Dasong Village. It’s Xiaosong Village.”
The man looked at Song Zhaodi, but because it was too dark in the carriage, he couldn’t see Song Zhaodi’s expression clearly, so he tentatively asked, “Why help me?”
“The hand that gives a rose to a man has a fragrance that lasts for a long time.” She didn’t believe it when she said it.
Liu Ling was lucky enough to meet a noble person in a previous life. Later, she tried to repay the noble person. The other party told her that helping others is the best reward for her.
Liu Ling sneered, not wanting the nobles to disappoint her, so she told herself to help others when they encountered difficulties, “Your mother stayed abroad, and our village’s primary school lacks a foreign language teacher. I, a university graduate, know very well. Knowledge is the only way for rural people to change their destiny. I am changing their destiny through knowledge. People in our village respect the learned people very much.”
The man is incredible: “You change your destiny to be a stepmother? When I am the child in your arms.”
“My hobbies are different.” Song Zhaodi smiled indifferently, “don’t believe me.”
Men always think that she runs the train with her mouth full, but she can even say the ancient Indian proverb, and she doesn’t think she is aimless.
Bang!
Song Zhaodi suddenly got up, followed the sound and approached. Seeing Zhong Jianguo rubbing his head in a daze, he was overjoyed: “Drowsy?”
“Why haven’t you slept yet?” Zhong Jianguo raised his eyes and saw a pair of bright eyes, like stars outside the window, “What time do you usually rest?”
Song Zhaodi said nonsense: “Three watch. The chicken wakes me to sleep, the pig wakes me to sleep. Hey, your son wakes up.”
Zhong Jianguo wants to say, how do you curse? When the words came to her mouth, she saw the child in her arms move: “Maybe I’m hungry.”
“I have no milk.” Song Zhaodi took out the child and handed it to Zhong Jianguo, “You feed.”
Zhong Jianguo: “I don’t have milk either!”
“What should I do then?” Song Zhaodi blurted out.
The man opposite can’t stand it anymore: “What do you usually feed him?”
“By the way, there are biscuits.” Zhong Jianguo said, “Where’s the water you poured? Make biscuits for Sanwa to eat.”
Song Zhaodi suddenly thought: “Yes, there are biscuits in the porcelain jar, next to the big baby.” After speaking, she went to look for it, took out a biscuit, and put it in the water with the moonlight, “Hey, it’s all melted? “
“These biscuits melt in water,” the man said. “Don’t you have a spoon? Take a spoonful of water, break some biscuits and put them in the spoon, and then give them to the child.”
Zhong Jianguo also thought of how his former daughter-in-law fed the children: “Zhao Di, there should be a spoon in the bag.”
“Dad, are you here yet?”
Zhong Jianguo heard the voice of the eldest son: “No. Don’t move, Dad is feeding the younger brother.”
“Dad, I want to pee.” The child plans to get up by himself, “Dad, I can’t move.”
Zhong Jianguo: “Zhao Di, give me the spoon and biscuits, and also give me the pocket on your body. You can take the big baby for convenience.”
Song Zhaodi pulled the child out, took the child to the bathroom, and helped the child take off his pants. Seeing the child bowing his head and never looking at her, he raised his brows and deliberately asked, “Dad, am I treating you well?”
“I won’t call you mother.” The child is afraid that Song Zhaodi will call him mother next sentence, “I only have one mother.”