Cuilian lives in Baimadu by the Yangtze River. Jianguo has been fishing with her parents on the ferry since she was a child. They are about the same age and have come and gone, and they know each other.
When Cuilian was free, she often steamed a few snow-white steamed buns and gave them to Jianguo. Jianguo would also give her some dried fish and shrimp, or take out a few pieces of yellow tiger candy from her pocket as a reward.
"For you to eat."
"So sweet."
"You like to eat, I'll buy it for you when the merchant comes."
Cheap tiger candy was the best gift Cuilian received when she was young.
At the age of 18, Jianguo looked for Cuilian Netfish and shouted a few times, but no one responded, so he lifted the curtain of her bedroom and took a look. A white figure, like a peeling lychee, made him unable to move his eyes, but he had to close his eyes.
Cuilian exclaimed.
The statue of the founding nation did something wrong and escaped. He leaned against a large stone, holding a soft pampas reed in his hand, and couldn't sleep at night.
Soon Jianguo's parents had an accident on the boat, and the corpses could not be retrieved from the river. Jianguo had to pack up his parents' personal clothes and make a tomb.
It was a sad and painful day, and Cuilian was always with him.
When the villagers saw the two of them often walking together, they all thought they were a couple, and they both asked Cuilian's father for wine. Cuilian's father's face sank and he shook his head in a rattle, "They just grew up. My daughter is kind-hearted and sympathizes with him."
Soon, Cuilian's father set up a marriage for his daughter, Liu Hongbing, from the village next door. He worked as an accountant in a factory, which was a serious profession.
Cuilian didn't want the marriage to be arranged, so she made an appointment to meet Jianguo on the slope.
Jianguo held the thatch root in his hand and listened in silence.
Cuilian left sadly.
Jianguo's inferiority complex, he has no confidence. He likes Cuilian, but what can he use as a betrothal gift? Who can rest assured to marry a good daughter to him, a duckweed with no job, no education, and no house?
On Cuilian's wedding day, he still went to watch the excitement, bought a few catties of tiger candy, and asked someone to give it to her. Cuilian picked up a piece and put it in her mouth, her eyes red.
Jianguo turned around and went to the construction site to pull out the steel bars. It's tiring work, but the wages are high.
He was desperate to save money to build a house and buy a big car.
Cuilian gave birth to a daughter. When the daughter was five years old, Hongbing contracted pancreatic cancer and died within three months.
During that time, as long as passers-by passed by Cuilian's house and stopped to listen carefully, they could hear her low cries.
After a heavy snowfall, Jianguo came back from work at the construction site and met Cuilian in town. He was startled. Cuilian was not yet thirty years old and looked very haggard.
Cuilian was also taken aback. It was the first time she had seen Jianguo after the wedding.
"Long time no see." Cuilian took the initiative to speak.
The two looked at each other, and a warm heat flowed through their chests.
After that, Jianguo came to Cuilian's house every day. When he came, he brought a lot of tiger candy and other gadgets. This time, he didn't plan to miss it again.
After a long time, Cuilian's mother-in-law was moved. She inquired about the situation of Jianguo, and in turn persuaded Cuilian to say, "Jianguo is quite real and reliable."
In the evening when the crickets were called, Cuilian's mother-in-law asked Jianguo to stay for dinner. Cuilian picked up the tiger candy sent by Jianguo and wiped her tears while eating.
On the moonlit night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Cuilian and her mother-in-law carried incense candles as offerings and went to the cemetery behind the village.
Seven years passed in a flash. Jianguo became the team leader of the construction site, and his salary went up, but the salary was still as difficult to get.
It was getting dark, and he hesitated to go home.
When he joined Cuilian's in-law's family, he patted his chest and made an oath to support the Liu family. But his salary was calculated once a year, and he was ashamed to rely on Cuilian for his usual expenses.
The neighbor's dog barked, and Jianguo bit the bullet and walked into the yard.
As soon as he entered and exited, he collided with Cuilian and her daughter.
Jianguo's eyes were astringent, he rubbed his hands, lowered his head and said, "Cuilian, I... didn't ask for my wages back."
Cuilian smiled and went to take Jianguo's hand and turned to cover the courtyard door.
"It's okay, eat first."
The family was eating hot dumplings, and Jianguo's heart was also warm.
He took a sack from his bag and handed it to Cuilian. "What is this?" Cuilian asked as she opened it.
Jianguo was a little embarrassed: "Tiger candy, I'll eat it for you, be happy."
"Dad, I'm already in junior high school, and I only eat tiger candy." The daughter pouted.
"What's this, your dad eats it too. Tiger candy is a good thing, the construction site is miserable, and the workers chew it while working hard, relieving fatigue and energizing, and it's over in a day."
Jianguo stuffed a piece of tiger candy into his mouth, chewed it slowly, and instantly regained his confidence. Wages will definitely be paid sooner or later.
Cuilian turned on the lights, the house was full of glow, and the family continued to eat.