between clouds and mud

Chapter 33
Zhang Jiaxiang has been in the army for these years, and he has retired at the age of [-]. He has been delayed until now and has no partner. In the eyes of the villagers in the same village, he is an older single man.

Hearing the chatter of the villagers, his parents were very anxious, and asked the matchmaker to introduce someone.

In his spare time at work, Zhang Jiaxiang obeyed the arrangement of his family and started blind dates.

Looking for a partner nowadays is not as good as before. First of all, there is an imbalance in the ratio of men to women.

There were few girls, and with the addition of migrant workers, the girls opened their eyes and wanted to find a partner with better conditions, who would still like a boy from a poor country.

Zhang Jiaxiang's family is poor, and his only savings are invested in pomelo planting.

In addition, his salary as an auxiliary policeman is not high, and his appearance is average, and his height is an advantage.

In the marriage and love market, Zhang Jiaxiang's family conditions seem to be at a disadvantage.

But his advantages are also attractive to women. He has the blood and sweat spirit of a soldier, and he is full of male hormones.

He can be called an upright man, and after years of wind and rain at the border, he has a resolute personality and a strong appearance, giving people a full sense of security.

After the girls learned about his family conditions, they were not very interested.

But relying on the matchmaker's three-inch tongue, after barely seeing him, he was conquered by his image and temperament, and his heart secretly agreed.

Zhang Jiaxiang knows his own conditions, he is not a picky person.

But rural candidates all have similar criteria for choosing a daughter-in-law—competent, virtuous, housekeeping, and good-looking. Zhang Hong, a childhood playmate, is a standard rural wife.

During this period of time, I met about seven or eight girls, and finally both of them saw each other right, so the two began to talk about friends.

The girl's name is Chen Xiaolan, she is neither tall nor short, neither fat nor thin, and looks very handsome in the village.

This is also one of the reasons why Zhang Jiaxiang likes her, which man is not tempted by a beautiful girl?

The more important reason is that his parents fell in love with this girl, and talked about it at home every day, Zhang Jiaxiang wanted to save trouble, so they got together.

Zhang Jiaxiang is very busy at work most of the time, and the two date once a week, which is very regular.

The town is only that big, and there are only two delicious restaurants. Zhang Jiaxiang is eating out with his girlfriend.Coincidentally, I bumped into an old acquaintance, and Zhang Fang walked in with two colleagues.

Zhang Fang deliberately stepped forward to meet each other, Zhang Jiaxiang put down his chopsticks and introduced: "This is my sister, Zhang Fang."

"This is Xiaolan."

Hearing Zhang Jiaxiang's ambiguous words, Zhang Fang's heart seemed to be clear, and she greeted with a smile: "Sister Xiaolan, hello."

Chen Xiaolan was shy, she blushed when she met her gaze, and timidly replied hello.

Before Zhang Fang left, she didn't forget to ask Zhang Jiaxiang. She went to him several times, but they were all in vain. Brother Daxiang was too busy with dates, and she didn't even have a chance to thank him.

Of course Zhang Fang knew who was silently supporting her work behind the scenes. The joint book was written by Zhang Jiaxiang who traveled to several villages and asked villagers from door to door.

"You're welcome, it's my duty." Zhang Jiaxiang smiled, his teeth shining brightly.

Zhang Jiaxiang kept silent about this matter, he knew that he was just running errands.

Zhang Fang has won the recognition of his parents and villagers with his own ability. The people he visited basically praised the female secretary comrade.

Not only does she have plans and decisions, she is decisive in doing things, and she is also personally willing to mingle with the people, implement the policies and guidelines of coming from the people and going to the people, and display the spirit of a public servant of the people.

An ordinary woman, with a thin stature, has such tenacious strength.

After Zhang Fang left, Chen Xiaolan asked in a low voice, "How old is your sister?"

Zhang Jiaxiang thought for a while: "Probably only 24 to [-]."

Chen Xiaolan is also at this age, but they are completely different. She can't help feeling: "It seems quite capable."

Zhang Jiaxiang nodded, and gave Xiaolan a piece of food with chopsticks: "Smart and capable, better than me."

Chen Xiaolan's family doesn't mind Zhang Jiaxiang's family background, both parents are very satisfied with seeing it.

The only requirement is that he can be converted into an official establishment, but how can the establishment be so easy to improve?

The first way is to take the exam. Zhang Jiaxiang didn't like studying since he was a child. If he wants to take the exam, he probably won't be able to pass the exam in his next life.

In the second way, it is basically indefinitely for the auxiliary police to become a regular, unless they make second-class meritorious service, but they are either half-dead or half-disabled if they can get credit.

Zhang Jiaxiang's daily handling of trivial disputes and trivial disputes among parents is not easy to earn.

Daxiang's parents are 1 satisfied with Xiaolan, the prospective daughter-in-law, and they are afraid that they will miss it.

So he urged his son, isn't Zhang Fang a cadre in the government?I might be able to say a few words to her.

Zhang Jiaxiang didn't like these twists and turns, and he didn't take this matter to heart.I am too busy with the work at hand.

He was recently involved in an electric car theft case, the amount involved was not high, and it was a case in a community in the town.

The community was newly built in the past two years, and the real estate market has been booming in the past two years. Even this remote town has built a very wealthy community - Linxi Shangfu.

Zhang Jiaxiang followed his colleagues to the community in Linxi Shangfu to investigate and monitor, and showed the approval letter in his hand.

The gate guard of the community took a look at the two, and called the leader on the phone to ask for instructions. After a few pleasantries, the guard held the phone and squinted at the person, with a somewhat contemptuous tone: "There are two security guards to adjust the surveillance."

After confirming that there was no problem, the guard pointed to the monitoring room and let the two of them in.

Zhang Jiaxiang glanced at the auxiliary police badge on his arm, it's really fucking security.

When the administrator sitting in the monitoring room saw the two, he first confirmed their identities: "Are you the security guards who came to adjust the monitoring?"

Hearing this, Zhang Jiaxiang didn't bother to argue with the lame man, he showed his work approval letter: "Please cooperate with the police to collect evidence."

After copying the surveillance, Zhang Jiaxiang and his colleagues couldn't help laughing at each other on the way back to the office. The profession of auxiliary police is indeed just a temporary worker, the salary is not high, and it is common for people to look down upon them.

The police station was not far away, and Zhang Fang, who was waiting under the tree, waved at him from a distance. Zhang Jiaxiang saw that she was still carrying two gift boxes, and trotted over.

"What's the matter?" Zhang Jiaxiang stopped, and he added: "I have to work overtime."

Zhang Fang nodded, and gave him the gift box in his hand: "I won't bother you for too long, this is from my aunt, I can't accept it."

Daxiang's mother went to find Zhang Fang early in the morning. The two pushed and shoved at the door of Zhang Fang's unit for a long time. Finally, his mother left the things and left. Zhang Fang had no choice but to return them to Zhang Jiaxiang.

Zhang Fang never thought that one day she would face such a dilemma.At this time, she can better understand Zhou Huaiming's good intentions, and also deeply understands that power is a double-edged sword.

"I'm sorry, I'm afraid I can't help you with this." Zhang Fang had a guilty expression on her face.

Zhang Jiaxiang took the gift box, didn't know what to say for a while, and comforted him: "Don't worry about it, I'll go back and talk about my mother, she is really confused."

After Zhang Jiaxiang sent Zhang Fang away, holding the gift box in his hand, his heart was empty and he couldn't tell what it was like.

When Daxiang's mother saw the returned gift box and thought about the money she had spent, her face collapsed on the spot: "Why are you pretending to be noble?"

For this matter, the mother and son quarreled a few times.In the final analysis, it was because of the establishment, Xiaolan's family was pressing hard, which made his family not very happy during this period of time.

"If you can't get married, you can't get married." Zhang Jiaxiang said: "This girl is not the only one in the world."

"You've played tricks with other people's friends, and now you can't say it. How will the girls meet people in the future?"

"My dad likes it, let my dad marry it."

When Da Xiangniang heard this, she picked up a feather duster and greeted them. Zhang Fang, who was standing at the door, saw this scene, and interrupted the two of them: "Auntie."

Zhang Fang entered the room with fruits and supplements, and expressed her apology in a polite and thoughtful manner. They sat down and greeted for a while, and she got up to leave.

After sending people away, Da Xiangniang's smiling face collapsed in an instant, and she muttered: "A woman, who is not at home to take care of her husband and teach her children, but likes to show off every day outside."

Zhang Jiaxiang didn't bother to quarrel with his mother anymore, so he went to the yard and pushed his bicycle to go out.

"What are you doing?" Da Xiangniang stopped her.

"Send off to others." Zhang Jiaxiang straddled the bicycle: "It's raining a lot recently, and the road is not easy to walk."

Da Xiangniang didn't let go anymore. She never saw her son so active when she was dating Xiaolan. She rolled her eyes and said hesitantly, "Don't you. You've fallen in love with him."

"What's the use, do people like me?" Zhang Jiaxiang beckoned coolly, and went out by bike.

The mountains and fields in spring were drenched, and bicycle tires were run over, leaving a shallow wheel mark on the soft ground.

Dengxinqiao Township also has a traditional tea plantation industry. There are many camellia trees on the mountain, and the seeds they bear can be squeezed into tea oil. Most of the villagers squeeze the oil for cooking at home.

At this time of April, in a field of pure white camellias, Zhang Fang was wearing a thin coat. She tiptoed under the tree and picked a few flowers and held them in her arms.

Zhang Jiaxiang thought of the last time on the desk in her room, there was a bouquet of flowers in a simple glass vase. Flowers are very common in the countryside, but they are very unique.

"Hello." Zhang Jiaxiang rang the bell: "Go back to town, I'll pick you up along the way."

Zhang Fang took the flowers and walked down carefully: "I have to go to Wutong Village and then go back to the town."

"You didn't rest today, why did you go to inspect?"

Zhang Fang nodded: "It rained a few days ago, and the mountain in Wutong Village was slightly landslide. Today I have time to go and have a look."

"By the way, I'll make a detour there."

Zhang Fang smiled: "This is also on the way."

Zhang Jiaxiang looked at her thin coat, narrowed his eyes invisibly, and took off the coat on his body and gave it to her: "It's cold in the spring, wear more next time."

The coat was draped over her shoulders, and his body temperature was still there. Zhang Fang sat sideways in the back seat.

The road in the country is not easy to walk, the road is bumpy and bumpy, she clutched the back seat hard, trying to keep her body balanced.

After going through a very bumpy road section, Zhang Fang would inadvertently rub against his back. Zhang Jiaxiang was wearing a sweater with a broad and solid back.

Thinking of Chen Xiaolan, Zhang Fang couldn't help sitting up straight, and moved away slightly.

When they passed Wutong Primary School, the two stopped and pushed their bicycles.

"This school is even more desolate." Zhang Jiaxiang sighed, the grass around the school was overgrown, and the houses were more mottled than before.

When I was in elementary school, I arranged for a general cleaning. The children had to clean up the classroom and clean up the weeds in the yard.

The little bean dings pretended to be working, and the teacher started to fight as soon as he turned around and took the broom.

Recalling the past, the two put their bicycles aside, rolled up their sleeves and started weeding.

The two adults worked very neatly, and cleared half of the open space in a short while.

Zhang Fang raised her head, looked at the arched blood vessels on his arm, and couldn't help being slightly moved.

She patted the dirt off her hands, walked over, folded her fingers into the shape of a gun, and pressed it against the back of his head: "Bang, you're dead!"

Faced with her provocation, Zhang Jiaxiang squatted down and swept his legs to turn from defense to offense.

He raised the corners of his lips slightly, watching Zhang Fang about to fall, turned to one side, supported her with one hand, and pushed her gently with skillful strength.

"Sister, don't forget what your Brother Daxiang has been doing these past few years."

After Zhang Fang stood firm, the two couldn't help laughing.

This is a gunfight game that my friends used to play when I was young, but now standing in a familiar place, I still feel childish.

After pulling out the weeds on the playground, Zhang Fang stood under the crude flagpole and said, "Brother Daxiang, this place will change in the future."

The flagpole is a simple wooden pole stuck in the dirt.

The red flag at the top is fluttering in the breeze, and it is a bright color in the blue sky.

"En." Zhang Jiaxiang nodded, looked at the girl in front of him, and said sincerely, "I believe in you."

In addition to leading the pomelo planting work, Zhang Fang is also sorting out applications for school renovation.

There are six villages in Linxi Town, with only two primary schools and one middle school.

But it is not easy to implement this plan. First of all, the country has been rectifying educational facilities, but so many places in the country need to be built, Linxi Town seems very insignificant.

Secondly, there is a serious brain drain in Linxi Town, and there are not many students left in the village. If it can't drive young people to return to their hometowns for employment, is this necessary?
Zhang Fang applied for half a year. She knew that the possibility of approval was very slim, so she could only do her best and obey the destiny.

Although the application was rejected again and again, Zhang Fang was never discouraged. She would resubmit the report and plan in more detail.

The weather in Linxi Town was not very good that day, with a hazy drizzle falling.

Zhang Fang held an umbrella and stood at the bus station in the county seat, waiting for about half an hour.

A red and white bus pulled into the station, and after the bus stopped, two smiling girls came out.

Jiang Lele let go of Zhou Song's arm, and she rushed into Zhang Fang's arms in the rain, hugging her tightly.

Jiang Lele has returned to China, and Zhou Song specially took her to Dengxin Bridge to play, to make up for the regret of the summer vacation of the year of the college entrance examination.

There was a strange man and a woman standing by Zhang Fang's side, Zhou Song stared blankly for a while, then nodded politely.

Zhang Jiaxiang came to pick her up under an umbrella, grinning: "Xiao Liu."

Zhou Song was even more confused, her eyes were a bit puzzled, she thought for a while, and then said belatedly: "Brother Daxiang?"

This unexpected reunion received a positive response from the other party.

Zhou Song rushed forward impatiently and happily.The two hugged for a while, Zhou Song touched his firm chest, and couldn't help being a nympho: "Brother Daxiang, you are so handsome."

"Xiao Liu really belongs to the Appearance Association." Zhang Fang joked at the side: "I never saw you like Brother Da Xiang so much when I was young."

Standing next to Zhang Jiaxiang, there was a pretty girl, Zhang Jiaxiang took the initiative to introduce: "This is Xiaolan."

The two stood side by side with a somewhat intimate gesture.

(End of this chapter)