Zhang Hua, who was born in 1966, met He Huilan, a girl from the canteen in the spring of his eighteenth year, a sixteen-year-old girl with long black hair, big eyes and charming dimples. In autumn, a basket of chestnuts picked from the mountain became the starting point of their relationship.
In the spring of the next year, Zhang Hua helped He Huilan's family renovate the tile-roofed house, chop firewood and farm the fields, diligently trying to win the approval of his future father-in-law and mother-in-law. Although the adults of the two families did not expressly declare their engagement, they had a tacit understanding. However, unfortunately, a neighborhood dispute caused by a goose eating seedlings involved Zhang Hua in a disaster. The seedlings of He Huilan's family were eaten by the geese of his neighbor Shen Fuchun's family. He Huilan's father was angry with him and beat the mandarin duck.
The first love ended abruptly like this. He Huilan's words, "They don't allow me to associate with you, and I can't help it," became a thorn in Zhang Hua's heart for many years. He became ill for a while, and then moved away from home. He started out as a small worker on a construction site, moving bricks and mortar in all weathers. After several years of hard work, he gradually started working as a contractor, and finally founded his own real estate company and became the boss. Marry a wife and have children, and live a prosperous life.
In October 2008, Zhang Hua returned to his hometown after many years of absence to accompany his mother who had just been discharged from the hospital. At a small fish stall on the street, he met He Huilan, who was selling fish. Time has left traces on her face, and Zhang Hua vaguely recognizes the girl who made his heart beat between her eyebrows. During the chat, I learned that her husband was in poor health and could not live without people at home, so he could only make a living by raising and selling fish.
Before leaving, Zhang Hua left 1,000 yuan. More than thirty years of love-hate entanglement finally turned into a few plain greetings.
