1979: My fiancée is a goddess

Chapter 137: Zhao Ruixue’s expectation for the love letter, Song Shang and his wife divorce.

"We really have a great writer this time! He's the winner of the first National Excellent Children's Literature Award. The first one. Have you read this "Submarine at Night"?"

"No, I've only read "Fragrant Grass". I haven't read the children's literature you mentioned."

"I recommend you to read it. I personally think that although this work is not as ideological as "Fragrant Grass", it can better reflect the talent of Teacher Xiao Cheng and his literary talent is beyond words."

"Really? Is it that good?"

"You'll know once you've read it, but this is a work published in January, so it may not be that easy to find. If you want to read it, you can go to the library to look for it. You can't buy it in the bookstore."

In the first cafeteria of Beijing Normal University, a man and a woman are sitting in seats by the window.

The girl sat next to the boy, holding a book of Children's Literature in her hand, and enthusiastically introduced it to him, with a blush of excitement on her not-so-pretty face.

"Don't you have a copy in your hand? Can you..."

Before the boy finished speaking, the girl quickly and cautiously retracted her hand. Perhaps she realized that her reaction was too great, and she stroked the hair by her ear a little embarrassedly and said:

"I'm sorry. This is the first children's literature book in our school that has been signed. Everyone else signed theirs on 'Fragrant Grass', but mine is different. It's very precious, so I can't give it to you."

"Ok."

The boy looked at it and sighed.

……

"what's the situation?"

There were four people sitting next to me, and they were Ji Qinglan’s roommates.

It was exactly eleven o'clock in the morning, probably the time for the third class in the morning.

But Ji Qinglan and her classmates had no classes in the morning, so they came out early to have lunch, and then went back to sleep after lunch.

Ji Qinglan wore a plush coat today. It was said to be a new piece of clothing she bought during the Chinese New Year, and it cost more than twenty yuan.

She was supporting her chin with her ears perked up to eavesdrop on the conversation of the couple behind her. When she heard something about the Children's Literature Award, she asked Zhao Ruixue, Zhang Chun and Yang Mengshan curiously.

In a short period of time, there are a lot more people dating in school, and they always talk about the rules of love. I'm tired of hearing them during this period.

It's really annoying. If it weren't for the children's literature award, Ji Qinglan wouldn't have bothered to listen.

It’s all Cheng Kaiyan’s fault!
"Children's Literature Award? I've never heard of this award. Maybe it's a new award. After all, I've been preparing for the drama club recently. I wonder if it will be performed next month or on May 4th, Youth Day."

Yang Mengshan had her hair tied into a bun with a bright red hairband and was sitting by the window. The sunlight shining through the window illuminated her profile, making her look more beautiful.

Their dormitory usually organizes collective activities, whether it is last year's English poetry recitation competition or participating in clubs, they are very collective and will discuss and participate in activities as a group.

Just like this time I joined the school’s Northern Drama Club.

"It should be true. We'll know when we go to the school newsstand later."

Zhao Ruixue was also very curious when she heard the name of this award. Did Cheng Kaiyan win the Children's Literature Award?

It’s not impossible, after all, the first work is children’s literature…

Just when the four of them were surprised, a senior with short hair came over and said, "Ruixue, you guys are here. Do you have classes this afternoon? The club has prepared several plays. You can all come and take a look and see which one to choose for our performance and vote for it."

……

After lunch, I chatted with Sister Liu, the vice president of the Northern Drama Club, for a while and agreed to go to the club after class in the afternoon.

The four of them then went straight to the school's newsstand, which was located in the stairwell behind a teaching building in the middle of the school.

The small newsstand is filled with all kinds of books, and the door is always lined with people every day.

The newsstand sells books, study materials and the like, and also rents books. Many students from poor families come here to borrow books with the few cents they can save from their living expenses.

Before the four of them got close, they heard some students talking about this matter.

"Teacher Cheng from the Chinese Department is so amazing that her work was published in the People's Daily. Look at this photo. She is standing in the center of the first row. On her left is Ms. Bing Xin, and on her right is Mr. Ye Shengtao. This is a unique picture. Only Jiang Zilong, who won the short story award, can compare with her."

"Teacher Xiao Cheng won the first place in the Children's Literature Award!"

"Isn't this the most important thing? Don't you realize..."

"What did you find? He looks so handsome in his Zhongshan suit!"

A few girls were giggling and whispering. Starting this year, people felt the gradual opening up of social atmosphere. Some TV dramas and songs from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan quietly entered the country, and some imported words and buzzwords also appeared in the vision of college students.

Words like handsome guy and beautiful girl are appearing in people's daily lives and becoming common words.

"He is a hundred times more handsome than Xu Wenqiang in The Bund."

A girl said without hiding her opinion.

On March 10 this year, the Republican TV series "The Bund" starring Chow Yun-fat, Zhao Yazhi, and Ray Lui was broadcast on Hong Kong's TVB.

In Guangdong, Fujian and other regions close to Hong Kong, people can already search for TV stations there using herringbone antennas.

Although it was not introduced to the mainland until 1985, the TV series had already spread in coastal areas such as Guangdong.

When the four people in the dormitory heard these words, they looked at each other and quickly went up to the stall owner to buy a copy of People's Daily.

"It's true."

"If he really wins the award, wouldn't Cheng Kaiyan be extremely proud?"

Ji Qinglan held the newspaper in her hand and spoke curiously, with a sense of inexplicable loss in her tone.

"Probably... but he's not an arrogant person."

Zhao Ruixue understood what Ji Qinglan meant and explained subconsciously.

You have to know that the five of them knew each other before Cheng Kaiyan first came to work at the school.

After the winter vacation, he has obviously become a great writer, and now he has won an award. It can be said that there is a world of difference between them.

"No wonder I haven't seen him in school these past two days, and I couldn't find him in the library either. It turns out he went to receive an award! Ruixue didn't even know about such a big thing, and he didn't even say a word? Let's meet him later and ask him to treat us and give him a good meal!" Ji Qinglan suggested.

"that is!"

This proposal was unanimously agreed by everyone, only Zhao Ruixue couldn't stop smiling bitterly in her heart, thinking:
"I'm not someone, how can he tell me everything... But he did tell me about the romance novel a long time in advance... April 1st? I'll take a look then."

Zhao Ruixue felt both anticipation and anxiety. Ever since Cheng Kaiyan told her what the story was, she had some guesses in her mind.

Maybe it’s the story from our school days that we can never go back to?

"Regret and unrequited love, maybe it's better to make it clear... at least it can stop me from thinking about it."

She took a deep breath, her heart firmed up at this moment, and she warned herself like this.
-
Cheng Kaiyan doesn’t know yet that he has been targeted by several girls. In fact, he is indeed being targeted now.

It's a man, Song Jianming to be precise.

Under the bicycle shed, Cheng Kaiyan squatted on the ground and untied the bicycle chain, thinking.

He hadn't seen Song Jianming show off much during this period. Except for some necessary meetings in the college, Song Jianming basically never appeared under Cheng Kaiyan's nose.

Cheng Kaiyan guessed that it was probably because she was the only person in the school who knew about Song Jianming's scandal.

Song Jianming felt timid and fearful of himself, like a mouse seeing a cat.

"Heh... come out, Assistant Teacher Song, I've already seen you."

Cheng Kaiyan collected the chain and put it in the basket. Holding the handlebars with his hands, he kicked the standing frame away and shouted without turning his head.

"Comrade Cheng Kaiyan..."

From the bamboo forest behind him, a thin man wearing a thin jacket walked out and appeared in front of Cheng Kaiyan.

Song Jianming's height seems to be not much different from Cheng Kaiyan. He has a dark beard on his chin, and his cheeks are a little sunken, revealing his high cheekbones. His dark eyes are bloodshot, and the sides of his eye circles are covered with a light black color.

He looked decadent and depressed, yet he also had an indescribable calmness.

Even though he looked extremely decadent now, Cheng Kaiyan could still feel a different kind of temperament and charm from him.

No wonder Sister Shang traveled thousands of miles to Beijing to find him. "Congratulations on winning the National Outstanding Children Award and being featured in the People's Daily. You are indeed a genius. I am not as good as you."

Song Jianming calmly admitted that he was inferior, and looked at the young man in front of him who was ten years younger than him with cloudy eyes.

He had to admit that Cheng Kaiyan was the most talented person he had ever met.

Compared with Cheng Kaiyan, a person like me who thinks he is noble and a man of talent...

Song Jianming himself felt ashamed of himself, perhaps he was not even worthy of carrying someone's shoes?

It was my fault that I didn't take him seriously before. I was just looking at the world from a narrow perspective.

"Thank you. I won't treat you to candy. If you don't have anything to do, don't block my way here. I'm busy going home for dinner." Cheng Kaiyan said lightly.

"I think Comrade Cheng Kaiyan must have known about me through Cuicui, otherwise he wouldn't have written that work. This time..." Song Jianming's eyes became clearer, and he said sincerely:

Cheng Kaiyan interrupted him halfway through his words, "What do I know about you? Your affairs have nothing to do with me."

After saying that, Cheng Kaiyan pushed her bicycle and left, avoiding Song Jianming.

But Song Jianming stood there and watched for a few seconds, then gritted his teeth, chased after and stopped Cheng Kaiyan.

"What are you doing, let go."

"No! Unless you tell me where she is?! You must know where they are, tell me... I'm kneeling down for you..."

Song Jianming stood in front of him, and with a plop, he knelt on the hard concrete floor.

"You should kneel to them, not to me."

Cheng Kaiyan dodged it early and said expressionlessly.

Song Jianming was overjoyed when he heard this, and hurriedly pleaded, "As long as you can tell me where they are, I will kneel for a year. How can they survive in such a big city like Beijing? I know Comrade Kaiyan must have helped them a lot, but you can only help people temporarily, will you help them forever..."

After saying this, he stared at Cheng Kaiyan nervously, silently waiting for his verdict.

Yes, at this moment, his heart felt like a prisoner accepting the final verdict, it was excruciating.

He stared into the young man's eyes for a long time, showing his determination.

After a long time, Song Jianming, who was in agony, finally heard a cold sigh, "It's just one meeting. No matter what the result is, you will bear the consequences at your own risk."

In the blink of an eye, he seemed to be resurrected, kneeling on the spot, crying and laughing, looking extremely funny.

Cheng Kaiyan watched silently. This person was not afraid of death, but had no heart to take responsibility. What was wrong with this world?
"Let's go."

Cheng Kaiyan suddenly laughed. Perhaps this was good news for the mother and daughter who were trying to make a living in the capital?
Thinking of this, he didn't care whether the man behind him could keep up or not, and rode away on his bike.

Song Jianming behind him followed him and ran as fast as he could.

Beitaipingzhuang is not far from Beijing Normal University.

After the two of them left the school gate, they turned left and right in the alley and finally came to the large courtyard where Sister Shang Cui rented.

"We're here. You go in by yourself. I won't go in."

Cheng Kaiyan stopped the car and pointed at the dilapidated wooden door in front of him. The red paint was incomplete and there were even several boards missing. The door swayed back and forth in the wind, making a squeaking sound.

"I know."

The bearded man looked at the yard in front of him in a trance. Looking to the north, he could see the outline of the old teachers' dormitory of Beijing Normal University.

He had been here before. After seeing the book that day, he shouted around like a madman.

But nothing was gained.

What I never expected was... that it would be here, in this slum right under my nose.

Song Jianming looked back at Cheng Kaiyan, took a deep breath, and walked into the courtyard.

Through a corner of the wooden door, he saw leaves scattered all over the yard, with no one cleaning it. Several children with runny noses were playing in the yard. Among them, a little girl with clean and simple clothes, a shirt that was washed so white, caught his attention.

At this moment, emotions such as pain, guilt, and longing came over him like an overwhelming tide, impacting his emotions.

He pursed his lips and looked up, the thin muscles on his face trembling as if they were powered by springs, and he could hardly control his emotions.

He knew that the little girl in front of him was his daughter, Song Zhiwei.

This name was naturally chosen by Song Jianming, who was knowledgeable and talented.

Zhi is a kind of fragrant herb, an annual herb, also known as Angelica dahurica. It is often used by Qu Yuan to describe beautiful qualities in his works. The fragrance of Zhi is consistent with the beautiful qualities of human beings.

Wei is also a kind of plant. In people's names, it usually symbolizes flowers and refers to simple beauty.

The two words "Zhiwei" together are very beautiful and have extraordinary meaning.

Song Jianming looked at his daughter who was sitting on the ground playing with a few other kids, and opened his mouth, about to speak.

But then I heard a wooden door creaking in a narrow room on the right, and a woman in coarse clothes came out.

It made his whole body tremble.

“Cui Cui?!!”

"Old... Song Jianming?"

The two looked at each other from a distance and shouted in extremely complicated tones.

……

When Cheng Kaiyan came back from the store after buying candy, Song Jianming was no longer in the yard.

In the small room, there were faint sounds of crying, laughing and quarreling.

"Wow~"

Cheng Kaiyan pulled aside a piece of candy wrapper, revealing the red fruit candy inside, and stuffed it into the mouth of Song Zhiwei, a little girl who was leaning on his legs with her head tilted and a confused look on her face.

He asked, “Is it sweet?”

"Sweet." replied the little girl.

"Uncle, why did Dad want to leave us in Southern Xinjiang..."

I felt the warmth of a little girl's cheek and her puzzled voice on my legs.

Cheng Kaiyan smiled and said, "It's enough to have something sweet, why bother thinking so much?"

The little girl nodded blankly. She felt the fruit candy spreading in her mouth as it was broken down by her saliva. Her pink tongue gently pressed it against the bottom of her tongue, which made it sweeter.

“In fact, life is never as good as expected, nor as bad as expected.”

When she heard her uncle say this, although she didn't quite understand it, she still remembered it clearly.

How did things end anyway?
Song Jianming left. Although there were traces of tears on his face, judging from his expression, his thoughts should be clear.

Cheng Kaiyan took the little girl's hand and walked into the house to learn the details.

Sister Shang Cui, a simple and kind woman, realized how difficult it is to survive in the capital after suffering so much, and it is difficult for her to survive on her own.

But forgiveness cannot get over the hurdle in my heart.

So the two reached an amicable divorce and had no further contact, but Song Jianming had to pay child support every month.

All wages.

That is fifty dollars.

It seems that Sister Shang’s kindness and gentleness also have their edges. At least she knows how to fight for her own interests.

Cheng Kaiyan thought to herself.

(End of this chapter)