Author: Yi Ying
Xiao Zhang is an ordinary migrant worker. It is said that there are 850,000 migrant workers in Beijing at present, so there are 850,000 "Xiao Zhang" in Beijing.
One in 850,000 "Xiao Zhang" is a label and a symbol. In this cold and vast city of Beijing, he is more ordinary than a steel nail and smaller than a grain of dust; So small that I still can't remember his full name.
The first time I saw Xiao Zhang was in the early winter when the north wind roared and the yellow sand filled the sky.
That day, my boyfriend and I held a shiny key tightly. The key has just been taken away from the real estate developer, and it is warm in our hands, as light as a feather and as heavy as Mount Tai.
Five years later, we finally have our own "home" in Beijing. Although hundreds of thousands of loans are on our shoulders, this city is finally no stranger to us.
We snuggled up happily and stood downstairs waiting for Xiao Zhang. Xiao Zhang was introduced by a friend and is a small leader of the decoration team.
Several days have passed since the solstice of winter, and the north wind is whistling and carrying songs. In front of the corridor that has not been completely completed, broken glass, cement bags, white ash and shredded paper are wrapped in the wind, "the devil is dancing."
It's past the appointed time. I buried my head in a thick wool scarf and said with a little displeasure, "Migrant workers are migrant workers, and have no sense of time at all!" "
Boyfriend doesn't talk. He wore an ADIDS wool hat and winked at me in a good temper.
After a long time, a person blows like a fallen leaf in the cold wind.
He was so thin, so thin and so light that we didn't notice his existence until he came to us.
Like a lonely bamboo pole, his face is yellow and dirty, his unkempt hair is covered with lime and sawdust, and a thin and thick autumn dress is tightly wrapped by him; The lower part of the body is a pair of inferior pants splashed with lime slurry, which are empty on the legs. When the wind blows, it looks like two bags.
"I'm sorry I'm late." The man bowed his head shyly, tried to squeeze out a smiling face and coughed hard.
"Are you Xiao Zhang?" I was surprised to say that my first reaction was "Aren't you cold?"
"Not bad." Xiao Zhang smiled humbly. "I walked over and it was not cold when it was hot."
Oh, no wonder, he came from the peony garden more than ten miles away. The northwest wind is so strong that it is strange not to be late.
It's just, why did he leave? Isn't there a bus and subway?
I'm embarrassed to ask. Xiao Zhang bowed his head and quietly followed us into the building.
Standing in the shiny elevator, Xiao Zhang covered his mouth and his face was flushed with dry cough.
"Xiao Zhang, are you sick?" The boyfriend asked.
"No, no-"Xiao Zhang quickly shook his head and tried to suppress his cough. "I choked on the ash. Occupational diseases, hehe, in our business, most of them are like this. "
I smiled. Just listening to his dry cough one after another, I can't help secretly worrying. But I can't say anything. If I say too much, I'm afraid he's oversensitive.
Because both sides are easy-going people, we soon settled the decoration matters. Xiao Zhang's price is surprisingly low. Facing our worries, he just smiled shyly and said gently and surely, "Leave the work to me, you don't have to worry about it."
The next day, Xiao Zhang led three other boys to move their "belongings". Almost instantly, our empty embryo room became a hot construction site. During the day, they sweated under muddy valleys, suffocating dust, flying sawdust and harsh electric drills. In the evening, they casually spread a few pieces of cardboard on the construction site and wrapped them in a piece of cotton wool as thin as an iron plate to sleep. In fact, it is impossible to live in an embryo room. Without heating, gas and sanitation facilities, poor properties often have no water and electricity. However, Xiao Zhang and others, like cockroaches in the city, adapted to all darkness and barrenness with amazing viability.
Sometimes, I ask them if they are cold at night.
They said happily that they were already very happy. The most sad thing is the construction workers in Gai Lou. They sleep in the building at night, with no hats and fresh air everywhere. When it snows, snowflakes can fill a neck.
They also said that although they are rural children, they are all brought up by their parents. Just since I went to work in the city, I have to exercise an invulnerable body and numb all my feelings.
However, Xiao Zhang did not do it. His cough is still not good, and his hearing has dropped a lot, which is estimated to be related to living in the harsh voice of the electric drill every day. I was flustered when I saw him coughing violently while working next to smoking cement.
I have repeatedly advised Xiao Zhang to take a few days off and see a doctor. However, he always said nervously, "Occupational disease, it doesn't matter." Then, try very hard to suppress the cough. I know that the competition in the decoration industry is fierce, and he is afraid of being fired by his employer because of illness; So I never advised him again, only occasionally bought him some cough medicine, sent some masks and sent some winter clothes.
Xiao Zhang was indifferent to my kindness and didn't even say "thank you". However, behind his back, he will tell his friends that we are the best bosses he has ever met in Beijing.
I don't like the word "boss", let him be called "sister"; He resolutely refused, and the principle was simple: "The boss is the boss".
Like all decoration workers, Xiao Zhang is always untidy and untidy; The body always has a pungent smell; The face is always dirty and dry; Just like dehydrated and air-dried fruit, it is sad and even ridiculous. This gives people in the city too many reasons to despise and dislike them.
As the renovation date went on, some owners began to live in this apartment building. A few days later, these "noble" owners proposed to the property: "drive away the decoration workers." Their reason is that decoration workers from rural areas are dangerous elements of society.
As a result, many decoration workers had to pack up and leave. In the cold winter in the north, they are like a flock of sparrows that are about to freeze, looking for tiles to shelter themselves from the wind and rain.
Human feelings are like deserts. "Don't forget to dig people when you eat." I wonder who decorated their ugly embryo room into a warm and beautiful home.
We didn't let Xiao Zhang go Comfort them, this is our home, rest assured and live boldly.
However, one stormy night, the harsh ringing of the telephone woke us up from sleep. It's Xiao Zhang On the phone, he told us that they were evicted from the property and now they are stuck downstairs.
We'll take a taxi right away. Haven't entered the community, far away, then see the rainstorm, four thin * * * figure holding a piece of plastic paper standing at the gate of the community shaking.
We were so angry that our boyfriend almost flew into a rage. He punched the security guard's desk and said angrily, "They are my brothers. How dare you treat the owner like this? ! "
I heard that it was a relative of the owner. These security guards were frightened and quickly brought hot water and brazier. They kept apologizing, saying that they were ignorant and offended, and never dared again.
Looking at this farce and listening to Xiao Zhang's cough, I am very sad. But Xiao Zhang comforted me that they had experienced too many such things. It's a blessing to go back to my room. Many times, they just spent the night on the road, and at the same time they should be wary of the police arresting them as "blind people".
Why are the same people living in this land so different?
Xiao Zhang has a very correct sentence: "Leave the work to me, don't worry."
It is often heard that friends are worried, insomnia, angry and even in court about the decoration, but these things have never happened to us and Xiao Zhang. He doesn't paint, cut corners, slow down or be lazy. Sometimes, watching them work hard day and night, I advise them to stop work and rest for two days. But Xiao Zhang always said, how can people who work know the word "rest"?
However, one day, they finally rested.
One night near the New Year, I visited my new house. To my surprise, Xiao Zhang and others are not as busy as usual. Instead, several people sat around a plate of peanuts, a plate of dried radish and a few bottles of Erguotou. When they saw us come in, no one stood up and looked cold and glassy-eyed.
Xiao Zhang didn't drink, sitting on the balcony alone in a daze. When I asked him what happened, he simply said, "I'm not happy."
"Why?"
"Someone just died."
"What? ! Dead people? ! "I exclaimed.
"yes. This afternoon, in the front building, a migrant worker jumped off the scaffold. Because he can't get his salary, he has no face to go home for the New Year. "
"Why didn't report? Where is the reporter? How come there is no report on TV or online! " I shouted excitedly.
Xiao Zhang's face was horribly calm: "Boss, what's the big deal about dying a migrant worker in Beijing?" We used to work on the construction site, and we could kill and kill people almost every day. Who cares? "
I am speechless. Xiao Zhang is right. In the human desert, the death of a migrant worker is as common as the death of an ant.
I always thought that Xiao Zhang had been flattened by this cold city. Unexpectedly, however, one day, I caught a glimpse of a soft and warm heart through his hard and rough outer core.
That evening, Xiao Zhang and I came out of the building materials market. When he passed the brightly lit McDonald's, he suddenly stopped.
He watched the happy people in McDonald's waiting for a while, and suddenly timidly asked me, "Boss, what are all the things in McDonald's?"
"It's all junk food."
"Are you? What's that smell? " He asked cheerfully.
"Squeezing French fries and hamburgers means squeezing chicken, beef and fish into bread; There are chicken pieces and all kinds of pies ... "I said angrily, and finally concluded:" It is not as delicious as the sweet potato corn in your hometown. "
Xiao Zhang suddenly realized and smiled easily. Only then did I realize that he turned out to be a beautiful young man with a big smile.
"Why, do you want to eat?"
"No, no," he said quickly. "I just asked about the taste, and Xiaomei asked me to write and tell her."
"Xiaomei?"
He smiled shyly again, thought about it, and took out a photo from his close-fitting shirt. It is an artistic photo of a girl with long hair, wearing a princess hat on her head, her fingers sticking up on the brim, smiling and expecting.
"It's so beautiful, the flowers in your village!" I sincerely thank it.
"Hey, how do you know?" Xiao Zhang looked at me in surprise, and then smiled shyly. "Now it's my fiancee."
"Well, when she comes to Beijing, I'll treat you to McDonald's." I agreed easily.
Xiao Zhang's work efficiency is high. In just one month, our bare embryo room put on new clothes like a princess.
I will always remember the moment I opened the door, all the lights were on, including roses, crystal beads and cartoon lights. The walls are painted light purple, light pink and light yellow; The ground is covered with warm maple boards; Romantic bamboo curtains hung on the balcony; Brilliant flowers are floating on the window. ...
I was so excited that I ran from room to room kicking my shoes. He ran and shouted, "Xiao Zhang, are you a magician?" I can't believe I can build such a beautiful room! "
Xiao Zhang is also very happy. In our two-bedroom apartment, he devoted himself to everything from a nail to a board. He also looked from one room to another, his scarred hands gently touching the walls, floors and windows; Finally, he straightened up and smiled a little sadly: "It's beautiful. However, beautiful, we should go. "
After passing the property inspection, Xiao Zhang slowly tidied up the sundries. When he came to the balcony, he saw a pile of abandoned boards on the balcony and suddenly said to me, "Sister Ying, there are still some wood here. It's a pity to lose it. Let me make you a small stool. "
My heart was so warm that I was almost moved to tears by his "Yingjie". He finally stopped calling me "boss" coldly.
That day, it was a rare fine weather in Beijing. The temperature is very low, but the sun is very strong. Through the bright French windows, it shines in warmly, spilling all over the room and everyone.
Slowly plane, slowly polish, slowly nail, slowly brush. ...
Perhaps moved by the quiet sunshine, introverted Xiao Zhang actually spoke slowly: "I am the boss, and there are two sisters below." My family is poor and I still live in a mud house. But I don't want them to go out to work. It's too painful. Many women who make toys in Dongguan in the same village have a strange disease for no reason, such as death and disability. Decoration in Beijing, although bitter, is better than anyone else. Over the years, I have accumulated a little money and experience. After the New Year, I'm going to find a partner to open a decoration company, .............. "
"Decoration company? ! "I'm a little surprised. I didn't expect migrant worker Xiao Zhang to have such a dream. But in Beijing, where talents are abundant, is it impossible for a rural child to open a decoration company?
I don't want to hit him, so I have to encourage him with a smile: "OK, when the decoration company opens, we will post an advertisement for you online."
"Really?" Xiao Zhang looked up in surprise. He was so excited that his hand was almost cut by the plane. "If I start a decoration company, I can marry Xiaomei." He muttered to himself.
I don't know why, but I'm a little sad to see the dreamy eyes on his face.
Xiao Zhang has been carving this small stool all afternoon. It was not until dark that the small stool was finally finished. This is not so much a stool as a handicraft: a white face, lavender legs, and four purple and white-edged morning glories vividly climb on the legs of the stool.
Xiao Zhang told me that on the wall in front of my hometown, this purple white morning glory is always covered with dew, which makes people feel distressed. ...
Xiao Zhang finally left.
After smelling it for a month, we moved into a new home. When everything is all right, we can't change the lock without authorization.
I kept saying "Xiao Zhang", but because I was busy, I never called him again.
During the Spring Festival, I received a short message from Xiao Zhang: "Good people are safe all their lives."
I didn't reply. I received many short messages during the Spring Festival. Xiao Zhang's is the most humble one.
After the Spring Festival, I mentioned Xiao Zhang again because there were some cracks in the wall. After a few days, the cracks disappeared automatically. "Xiao Zhang" disappeared from my mouth.
Sometimes when I see a decoration worker with disheveled hair and an electric drill knife on the bus, I think: How is Xiao Zhang now?
One day in March, I suddenly received a short message from Xiao Zhang: "Sister Ying, Xiaomei has come to Beijing, and I am very happy."
I am very happy, too. I didn't forget my promise and replied, "Great. When I'm free, I'll invite you to McDonald's."
But I never found "empty". First change jobs, then get sick, then go on a business trip. ...........................................................................................................................................................
I have never been free.
Autumn has passed and winter has come; However, this winter is not the winter last year.
One day, I was cleaning the wardrobe and suddenly found a plastic bag in the corner. When I opened it, it turned out to be a small stool! White face; Purple legs; Four purple morning glories with white edges bloom tenaciously. ...........
I was shocked, so I quickly picked up my mobile phone, called Xiao Zhang's name and dialed.
The phone has been ringing for a long time. Finally, a hoarse voice sounded: "Who are you looking for?"
"Excuse me, is Xiao Zhang there?"
"Which Xiao Zhang?"
I paused and thought about it carefully, but I couldn't remember Xiao Zhang's full name. So, I struggled to explain, appearance, age and all the relevant details.
Finally, the other party understood and shouted, "I know! Stop, that Xiao Zhang is dead. "
"death? ! "I was so surprised that I almost sat on the ground.
"yes! Lung cancer. I started coughing up blood this spring. Later, I found out lung cancer and went home immediately. It wasn't long before I died .............. "
"How?"
"Why not? ! Living in the mud every day, why not? ! "
The phone fell out of my hand; I sat softly on the ground. ...
Touch the small bench in your hand and look at the four ordinary stubborn morning glory; In the hazy tears, Xiao Zhang, still unkempt, came to me with a big smile-
"Sister Ying, leave the work to me, don't worry."
"Sister Ying, what's the smell of McDonald's?"
"Elder sister, I want to open a decoration company. In this way, you can marry Xiaomei ........... "
"Elder sister, the fence in front of our house is covered with this morning glory with white border. ..........................................................................................................................................................
Xiao Zhang, you shouted wrong. In the city, there are only "bosses" and no "sisters".
Today, I shuttle through the colorful and modern steel forest in Beijing every day. Countless high-rise buildings rise every day; Countless "nobles" move into expensive new homes every day. Look at the happy and expensive expressions on their faces; I can't help thinking of that poem-
"Those who are covered in Luo Qi are not sericulturists".