Only cicadas are singing tirelessly.
Like a sculpture, Lao Wei squinted and stood in the sunshine outside the tubular building, letting sweat come out from his forehead, and the accumulated water became a river and he threw himself on the ground that was about to smoke.
"You listen up, Wei Qingyun. I will give you the last three days. If you still can't get the money, I will ... I will fight with you desperately. " A middle-aged woman with a uniform radius and a cylindrical figure, with one hand akimbo, pointed to the old Wei with sparse hair, two blisters under her eyes and a depressed look, swearing. "I have never complained about you after following you for so many years, but this time my daughter will be killed by you. Why are you so incompetent? " Are you a fucking man? If you don't get the money in three days, I will divorce you! "
Lao Wei gave his wife this earth-shaking trumpet, which made her head want to burst, but she couldn't have an attack.
It's so hot that my insides are almost cooked, but there's still no wind.
The dazzling sunlight reflected from all directions, like sand, stung Lao Wei's eyes, closed, painful, open, or painful.
The roads in the street extend in all directions, but Lao Wei thinks every road is a dead end.
"Still not quick to find a way to? Waiting to die here? " After the wife yelled, she began to cry again. "My son, I'm sorry you ..."
Lao Wei thought his wife was going to hit him again, so he reached out his hand to protect his ears. He looked back and saw that his wife was far away from him, and he stopped again.
He's really desperate-he hasn't slept for two days and nights.
Two days ago, Wei Xin, her daughter who had planned to get married at the end of the month, suddenly fainted at home and was taken to the hospital for a heart attack. The doctor said that her mitral valve was severely closed, and she needed to arrange an operation as soon as possible, otherwise her life would be in danger at any time.
Hearing this, Lao Wei's wife went limp and sat down on the ground.
The doctor also said that the operation needs to replace the artificial valve, and the imported one costs 42,000 yuan.
42 thousand! Almost bought a house!
Old Wei's heart tightened and he suddenly plopped down in front of the doctor. His sparse long hair first floated in the wind, then suddenly hung down and fell limply on Lao Zhang's unkempt head.
Wei Xin's illness has its origin, which was caused by his old Wei.
A few years ago, Wei Xin, who had just worked, suddenly collapsed while attending military training at work. At that time, the doctor consulted Lao Wei privately and asked if Wei Xin had lived in a dark and humid place for a long time.
Lao Wei remembers that a few years ago, due to poverty, he lived in a bungalow with an open sewer on the ground.
The family lived there for more than three years. Unexpectedly, Wei Xin suffered from rheumatic heart disease.
The regretful old Wei immediately slapped himself a dozen times in the face. ......
Nowadays, Wei Xin's condition is getting worse and worse, and even the valve has to be replaced to ensure his life safety.
Lao Wei blamed himself for going crazy.
Wife scold right, Lao Wei hate yourself too incompetent.
Times are progressing rapidly. 1997, Lao Wei was in his fifties, and his classmates, colleagues and friends around him made a lot of money. Only he sticks to a Qingshui yamen in Jiangcheng District Cultural Bureau. His father doesn't love his mother, and he keeps hundreds of dead wages, so he goes in the spring and falls in the moon.
The wind is clear and the sleeves are clear, and the home is surrounded by walls.
In fact, he also wants to do something, but people know it. With him, he is poor, white, courageous and eloquent, so he sends money to his door? How is that possible? Therefore, he has been reluctant to give up his iron rice bowl.
Lao Wei's only strength is writing articles, but he really can't do anything else.
Over the years, although he has no great works, at least he has gained a lot in local newspapers and magazines. Therefore, in addition to serving as the deputy director of the office of the Cultural Bureau, he also became the vice chairman of a district writers association.
However, the vice chairman doesn't even have a dime salary. Even if it sounds like a big official, it's actually useless-there are more than a dozen people with the same title in the writers' association.
Now from the sky, his daughter's more than 40,000 surgical expenses are like a dark cloud hanging over his head, and he has been so anxious that he can't sleep these two days.
The doctor left Lao Wei five days to prepare. If the money is in place, Wei Xin will be operated on in five days.
Only 4000 yuan was deposited in the bank passbook. Compared with an astronomical figure of 42 thousand, the old Wei couple were completely dumbfounded.
Lao Wei's wife knelt down when she saw Lao Wei, and she cried at that time, holding the doctor's arm and kept shaking. The obese body is like a plastic bag full of water, constantly showing her inner sorrow to the doctor in waves.
"Please, doctor, please help my daughter!" Tears welled up in my wife's eyes
The director heard about Lao Wei's difficulties and immediately applied to the bureau leaders. The director quickly mobilized everyone to donate more than 3000 yuan.
"The game is also difficult." When Lao Wei went to the finance department to get money, the manager said to him helplessly.
In the future, when my in-laws heard that Wei Xin had such a serious heart attack, they immediately divorced and even threatened to get back the dowry left at the beginning. If it weren't for the recent generations since the Opium War, Lao Wei's wife wiped her face to greet each other's ancestors, she would have saved the huge sum she had already got-for Lao Wei, this dowry is a huge sum anyway.
In the past, Lao Wei was ashamed to ask for money, but the pride of literati still existed. But now his life is at stake, and for the sake of his daughter, he is too lazy to pay attention to the finger poking him in the back. What's more, what's the point of telling your future daughter-in-law about your face?
Let's go through it first.
But this money alone is far from forty-two thousand! I have to borrow it everywhere.
But money is hard to borrow.
It is said that you will never be down and out once, and you will never see the people around you clearly. Lao Wei saw it clearly this time.
A friend who usually thinks he has a good relationship, when he heard that he wanted to borrow money, he immediately whined and pointed east and west, and soon became silent. He didn't expect anyone to borrow money, but he gave generously without saying anything.
In these two days, Lao Wei secretly shed tears many times, some helpless, some desperate, some happy, some moved.
Lao Wei and his wife don't have any rich relatives or friends. After running in the hot sun for two days, they only borrowed 10 thousand yuan, plus the existing one, there is still more than 10 thousand!
My wife had to urge Lao Wei to go out again to raise money, but she had asked everything she could, and Lao Wei really had nowhere to go.
When his wife saw that he was silent, she put on a show. An idiot and a loser scolded him from home to the downstairs and then from the downstairs to the street. She was neither hot nor ashamed, and scolded Lao Wei for giving birth to one Buddha and two Buddhas for nirvana.
"You are a loser. Write every day You'd better change some money! " My wife's B sound is soaring, and she really doesn't lose any contemporary singers. "If you don't do something, I'll die for you."
Lao Wei's hair is almost gone, and this worry has fallen one by one. Two watery big bags under the eyes, like two bulging pockets, swollen to the ground.
There are still three days. If we can't raise money, our daughter's operation will be postponed.
Moreover, my daughter has been lying in the ICU, and spending money is like opening a floodgate. The longer the time goes on, the more dangerous the daughter is and the tighter the money is.
Old Wei came to the station like a moving stake, shaking and sweating.
The director has approved his leave and asked him to take care of his daughter first, but now he can't enter the ICU and go home, so he has to come to the station to hide.
At the same time, the Jiangcheng District Cultural Bureau has been bombed.
Just now, the Municipal Writers Association called and said that Lao Wei of Jiangcheng Writers Association won the first prize of 1997 National Novel Essay in September. It is said that it was a phone call from the editorial department in September. The registered letter to the author has been sent for several days and will be received soon.
"Hello, I am Jiangcheng District Cultural Bureau." For the sake of prudence, the director specially called the city propaganda department to confirm the authenticity of the information. "I want to check the award-winning situation in Jiangcheng District of this essay in September ..."
"Yes, the editorial department just called in September, and we have informed the city writers association. Lao Wei, the first prize for short stories, belongs to your Jiangcheng District. " The voice on the other end of the phone is very clear. "However, the official document notice has not been received."
This is a great event.
September is the only well-known publication in China that integrates novels, poems, essays and reportage. There are many literary giants in the on-the-job editorial consultant team. Just name them, they are all big names in the current industry.
It was a great honor to win the first prize of essay writing in September, which was almost equivalent to being rated as a national model worker of a Ministry.
Also said on the phone, the city propaganda department is going to arrange for reporters to come down for an interview another day, and then ask all districts and counties to form a working group to study and study.
Therefore, the writing circle in Jiangcheng District is completely boiling.
Based on this, in order to meet the interview that may come at any time in the city, and to stimulate the creative enthusiasm of the people, the Cultural Bureau and the Writers Association immediately held a meeting with the leaders of the District Propaganda Department to study and deploy related work. The director also decisively arranged for the office to send a notice to announce the good news.
The most important thing is to set a positive cultural benchmark immediately!
As soon as the woebegone and ignorant old Wei entered the office, he was almost uncontrollable by the deafening applause of his colleagues.
The Culture Bureau went out from top to bottom, and almost all of them squeezed into Lao Wei's office, enclosing the inside and the corridor.
"Great writer Wei ... Great writer Wei ..." The roar of colleagues was neat and cheerful, and the floor of the floor almost jumped up.
The directors and deputy directors are also beaming. Finally, someone made a face at the director of the Culture Bureau-it's not such an exciting scene for a long time.
"Stop fooling around and let me sleep." Lao Wei drooping eyelids, absently moved to his seat.
He wants to know why so many people came to his office today and when did he get so much attention?
"What wei great writer? Don't tease me. " Lao Wei's thinking is about ten seconds slow.
"Didn't you take part in the composition contest in September some time ago?" A colleague close to him reminded him, "The notice above says that you won the first prize!"
"Old wei treat! Lao Wei treats! " Colleagues shouted in succession, and for an instant, the office was full of enthusiasm.
"How can I participate?" Lao Wei pulled up a chair, cleared a clearing on the table, and buried his head to sleep.
"You idiot! Didn't you vote for a short story? " Colleagues stared at him with wide eyes.
"It seems so! What's wrong? " Lao Wei's brain seems to be left in the distant inner senses at the moment, and has not received the signal here.
"I won the lottery, the first prize." Colleagues couldn't help rubbing the face of old Wei Muran and shouting excitedly: "Old Wei, you won the first prize! First prize! "
Lao Wei stood up and blinked gently, and his two bags under his eyes jumped up and down. Then he suddenly felt a tingle, his hands propped up, his body suddenly jumped up from his chair, his mouth opened, and he suddenly closed, so excited that he almost choked to death with his own saliva. He finally rushed out of the door before he could catch his breath.
He wants to go home at once and tell his wife the good news.
Lao Wei has been writing for almost forty years, and he has been unknown before.
More than ten years ago, he published several short stories in the authoritative newspapers and periodicals in this city through a relative of the Propaganda Department of the Municipal Party Committee, and then he won a place as a member of the District Writers Association. Then he kept on writing, intermittently produced some large and small squares, and thus got the hat of the vice chairman step by step.
Lao Wei had long wanted to take over the position of Chairman of Writers Association, but he didn't get enough good works, so he stayed in this position for seven or eight years.
However, Lao Wei never gave up his efforts. He can get a deputy director of the office in the Cultural Bureau, thanks to his own ink, otherwise, I'm afraid he will be a clerk for ten thousand years.
During the Spring Festival half a year ago, this massive essay activity was launched in September under the sponsorship of a cultural brand.
Under the vigorous initiative of the District Propaganda Department and the Cultural Bureau, the Writers Association mobilized almost all literary lovers in Jiangcheng District to actively participate.
Lao Wei also worked hard for more than three months, carefully selected words and revised them repeatedly, and finally wrote a short story "clang" and threw it out.
Many things happen. His old Wei was possessed by Wen Quxing and finally won the first prize which attracted much attention. Not to mention how rich the first prize is, nine times out of ten, the next chairman of the District Writers Association will be his, and there is even a great possibility that he will go to the city to get a vice chairman.
On the way home, Lao Wei happily hummed "Hong Hushui makes waves".
He felt that the sun was not so dazzling and fell asleep neatly.
Passing downstairs, the fierce black dog wagged his tail instead of barking at him.
"I didn't hurt you for nothing." On hearing the good news from Lao Wei, the wife's face suddenly bloomed with flowers.
Old Wei strode past with his chest out, clinging to his wife's back, sticking out his nose and smelling it in her ear.
"Don't sleep on the sofa tonight." The wife seemed to feel the wolf grinding his teeth behind him, so she smiled knowingly. "I'll let you make yourself at home."
Lao Wei was overjoyed. He immediately put his arm around his wife's waist and reached in from the bottom of dacron shirt.
"Fuck you, it's all sweat." Lao Wei said softly.
This summer night, the spring is strong in the tube-shaped apartment.
Lao Wei plowed twice with all his might. He hasn't set foot on this land for nearly ten years.
My wife lost this interest many years ago, and cracks have begun to appear in her field-but she is still pleasing to the eye tonight, and soon she put Lao Wei on the cloud. Lao Wei felt as if he were eighteen again.
At the end, Lao Wei was soaked to the skin, as if he had just come out of the water, and his wife was like a field that had just sown seeds, full of vitality and business.
"How much is the bonus?" The wife's point is here.
"It seems to be five thousand."
"It's still ten thousand short!" The wife's eyes darkened again, still burning.
"Cities, districts and bureaus will have more or less reward points, which may not be too bad in the end." Lao Wei said confidently, "But in this case, if I borrow money again, it should be smoother, right?"
"yes! I want to see the faces of those people who looked down on you before. " My wife gnashed her teeth and her expression immediately became dignified.
"One more time!" After a long time, Lao Wei suddenly appeared.
"I'm happy to accompany you." The wife giggled. "You win the first prize every day, and I can always be there."
The next day, Lao Wei got up early.
First, he went downstairs and did more than a dozen push-ups-he had planned to do it every day to keep fit, and there was still a long way to go-and then he went to the vegetable market to buy a lot of delicious things. After eating the soybean milk fritters prepared by his wife, Lao Wei went to the station again with a bunch of keys in his hand.
He subconsciously felt that today would be the most important day of his life.
Colleagues who looked down on him before bowed to him, and even a deputy director told him to be much kinder and never called him Lao Wei again.
"Qingyun, are you so early?" Deputy director of Lao Wei grinned. "Come to my office later and try my best Maojian."
Shit, Lao Wei suddenly thinks this life is too fucking exciting.
After all, the director's hand-eye is the fastest and most flexible.
The director has arranged for a teenager to guard at the entrance of Lao Wei's office, and agreed that if Lao Wei doesn't come to work, he will go home and invite him.
"Director, you wanted to see me?" Lao Wei knocked on the open door of the director's office.
"Qingyun, didn't you ask for leave? Quick, come and sit down. " Director at ordinary times that heroic face is full of smiles at the moment, "not to say that things at home are very important. Don't worry about the work at hand, don't worry. "
Seeing that the chair was too close to the director, Lao Wei felt insecure and stood respectfully.
"Sit down, what are you polite about?" The director smiled again and pressed his palm down.
Lao Wei just sat down slowly and put his hands on his knees stiffly.
"Come on, burn one of my cigarettes!" The director handed a "Yuxi" brand cigarette.
"Oh, sorry, I can't." Lao Wei first blocked his hand, then quickly took it and put the cigarette back in the cigarette case.
Mama, good director, smoking such expensive cigarettes, Lao Wei thought.
"Very well! Very good! " The smile on the director's face never left. "I haven't had time to congratulate you yesterday! Good grades! "
"Thank you for your cultivation!" Although Lao Wei's level is not high, the official will still leave. "If it weren't for the opportunity given by the director, would I be here today?"
"I have something to do later, so I won't beat around the bush." The director gave a light cough.
Lao Wei realized that he was going to get down to business, so he straightened up and sat up straight at once.
"You have been a deputy director for almost ten years, right?"
"Director, you have a vision! Yes, it has been nine years. " Lao Wei's heart was in my throat.
"Do you have any ideas?" There seems to be a lot of meaning in the director's smile.
"My work is not good enough. Please criticize and correct me. " Lao Wei pressed and pressed on his heart, pressed and pressed.
He felt that he could not be impatient and looked down upon by the director.
"Are you moving?" The director is outspoken.
Old Wei's heart seemed to suddenly rise a flush, and he fell silent.
Lao Wei knows that at this time, it is neither hypocritical nor true, and everything can only depend on the mood of the leader.
Since the leader talked to you and said he didn't want to, it will inevitably leave an irresponsible impression on the leader, and at the same time it will live up to the good intentions of the leader. However, if you answer directly, it will be too arrogant and ungrateful.
He must answer artistically and skillfully.
Lao Wei is also a veteran. He understands that no matter how capable a person is, all opportunities for progress are given by leaders who respect him.
"Thank you, Director!" Lao Wei was bored for a long time before answering: "Everything is up to you!"
The director naturally has his plans.
After so many years, a national first prize suddenly appeared in the bureau, and his high-profile focus is sure to seize the opportunity. According to the official practice, the city or district is likely to let Lao Wei "move". In that case, why didn't he do something private first and let Lao Wei "move" ahead of time?
"By the way, has the daughter's surgery fee been solved?" The director asked Lao Wei.
"Er ... this ..." Old Wei's eyes suddenly slipped round, but Nuo Nuo didn't speak after all.
"Are you still short of money?" The director lit another cigarette and then casually complained, "I'm not criticizing you." If you have difficulties, ask the organization! " "
In the afternoon, after Lao Wei went to the hospital to pay the operation fee, he returned to the station. He was swaggering with several colleagues about winning the first prize when a man came out.
This man's skin is very dark. At first glance, he was cultivated all the year round. He is wearing a pair of white liberation shoes. Although his clothes are worn out, they are also neat. If he is not wearing a pair of glasses, it is hard to believe that he can have anything to do with the Cultural Bureau.
The glasses were blocked by the doorpost.
"What do you do?" Past life rapped out.
"I'm here to ask about the award." The glasses were startled by the past, and they hung their heads slightly, even afraid to lift their eyelids.
"What award?" The past was taken aback and my eyes turned into bells.
"The first prize of September novel essay." Glasses wiped the sweat from his face and his head hung lower.
"Are you kidding? This award belongs to our director Wei. " In the past, I laughed and said, "He will soon become the director of our cultural center!"
Lao Wei was a little carried away, and several other colleagues giggled.
"This ... how is this possible?" Glasses suddenly lifted, eyes bulging, eyebrows piled into two graves, and a white envelope rushed out of my pocket. "This registered letter was sent to me by the editorial department in September, and it was only received this morning, so I came to the Cultural Bureau for consultation. Look. "
"What's the name of your novel?" Lao Wei suddenly a fiercely in my heart, asked in a hurry.
"Old Wei."