There are two houses separated by a wall. Lao Liu is a "lattice-climbing" little intellectual who lives in a small yard with his wife and daughter. On the other side of the wall, I heard that there lived a director.
At that time, materials were not abundant. Every family likes to grow something in the yard, not only for daily intake, but also for yard decoration. The joy of ordinary people's life is often hidden in a corner of the yard. There are loquats, peppers and vegetables. When there is no rest all year round, the whole yard is full of excitement and lively life.
There are beans in Liu's yard, which grow luxuriantly. The vines kept climbing along the corner, the green ones climbed on the white wall, and then ran over the wall to another house.
Another kind of loofah, melon seedlings climbed along the wall to Liu's yard, and the long loofah swayed in the breeze.
Neighbors in the 1980s liked to visit each other. No matter how many people come, people come to visit every day, even a simple meal, and they enjoy themselves.
Lao Liu is not familiar with the director's family.
In the evening, the Liu family turned off the lights early, and there were elegant insects and moonlight in the huge yard, which didn't look lonely. On the other side of the wall, the director's house is brightly lit. At the wedding, the sound of laughing and cursing spread all over the wall. It seems that the Liu family is deserted.
When the director's family first moved here, Lao Liu and the director also met and greeted each other politely.
The director of that carriage smiled and said, "Hello, Teacher Liu!"
This old Liu replied stiffly: "Hello! Hello! "
When I finally came in, I sincerely added, "Come home and play sometime."
Neighborhood affection in the 1980s lasted for a long time, relying on respect both far and near. It's normal to meet for the first time, but after a long time, the two families naturally become a family.
The old director's family is probably not a good family, Liu suddenly thought. However, no matter what the host family, the beans and loofah of the two families have become one.
The director's door is also busy during the day.
Liu entered the house several times and saw the director warmly welcome the guests in and out. At first I could say hello, but later I didn't even have time to nod to my neighbors. Later, when we met again, the director's greeting was also avoided, and his arrogant head could not be lifted, and his face was expressionless like a wax figure.
"The director next door seems to be getting a promotion." Liu's friend Ma Lao is also a literary lover. He works as a penholder in the education department. While he was speaking, Ma Lao was observing the growth of Liu's beans. Green beans and long loofah are intertwined, and the green leaves sway slightly in the breeze.
Lao Liu didn't answer the phone.
The old horse took the words himself. "It is said that the official position above is empty."
On the other side of the wall came the sound of the guests' glasses colliding and colliding.
"Listen," repeated the old horse. "Listen!"
Lao Liu picked beans and went to the kitchen to cook.
A few days passed.
One day, the director's house suddenly became quiet. Liu wondered that half a month had passed and the next door seemed empty. The traffic in front of the door disappeared, and the endless stream of visitors seemed to disappear at once.
Although Liu was curious, he didn't care too much. Later, when I came to Malaysia, I talked about it.
"I was investigated." The old horse disdained, "What other reasons can there be?"
"However, I heard that," the old horse caught a pair of chopsticks and beans, "someone may want to beat him."
Ma Lao and Liu set tables and chairs in the yard for dinner. It's all superficial, but it's also delicious.
"In any case, he is always better than the last director, at least he has the ability." The old horse finally commented.
The towel gourd on the wall is ripe and hangs heavily on the branches, so the breeze can't blow.
The director seems to have been idle at home for some time. Old Liu Can occasionally ran into him, walked in the alley and sighed occasionally.
The director didn't pretend not to see Lao Liu this time. He greeted Lao Liu kindly. "Teacher Liu is back."
As always, Liu said, "Oh, yes."
When I came in, I added, "Come and play at home sometime."
The director nodded with a very serious expression.
A few days later, Lao Liu climbed to the table by the window and heard a knock at the door.
He went to open the door, and the result was the director next door, with a faint smile on his mouth and a bag of melon beans in his hand.
Lao Liu welcomed him into the door.
On that day, there was a simple table of tea and vegetarian rice, green loofah and beans in the small courtyard, which was beautiful and appetizing.
Fin.