Wandering home, unable to let go of the soul.

Life without a base is like the dust of the road.

In recent years, this poem is like a photo of Zhang Xiaoxiao. 365 days a year, either meeting or going to court. Like fallen leaves in a whirlpool, it keeps turning, turning, turning. But I dare not stop. If I stop, I will be washed away and eliminated. Other leaves will quickly occupy this vortex.

Zhang Xiaoxiao longs for a life of "facing the sea and blooming in spring", but he can't, because the premise of this life is "I have a house". After several years of hard work, I am still famous in the lawyer field, with an annual salary of several hundred thousand, but I still can't afford to buy a house. This is the imperial capital, which can accommodate every free and enterprising soul, but it is difficult to squeeze out a space for placing the body.

Time is approaching the 30-year-old red line, and parents are urging them to return home for blind date. Finally, even the friendly and punctual "big aunt" began to strike, as if protesting her inaction and wasting limited eggs every month.

Finally, Zhang Xiaoxiao bit his upper lip and behaved cruelly. Leave the career that you have struggled for many years, pack your bags and return to your hometown. She thought that the fallen leaves had finally returned to their roots and no longer wandered around like dust on strangers. When I went back, I found that living in a closed, conservative hometown that is proud of conformity is like living in a transparent glass bottle, with no self and no value.

Hometown depends only on relationships.

Just like the first sentence her father said to her after returning to work: the strength of a spider never lies in its one foot more than other insects, but in its compact spider web.

1

"Please a lawyer, but that's just window dressing. I heard that my wife was invited, so I can't be worse than her. When you appear in court, your company will send three lawyers, and you must crush them in number. "

Zhang Xiaoxiao looked at each other in silence. Shorts, slippers, and legs are shaking, and the coffee cup on the table dances with them. I really have the urge to hit the wall. After returning to China for half a year, I entered the most famous local law firm, but the cases I handled were trivial. There are few major cases in small cities. Newcomers like her have a skill and the company doesn't reuse it.

The mobile phone on the desk rang twenty times in half an hour. Through the mobile phone screen, Zhang Xiaoxiao could feel her mother's angry face.

The blind date was originally scheduled for tomorrow night, and the man was temporarily on a business trip. In order to match each other's time, his mother agreed without even asking. I just told her by phone: "Meet the man in the teahouse at five o'clock in the evening." A 29-year-old girl, in a small city in her hometown, is like cabbage before the merger of the vegetable market. Wilt or not, there is no bargaining capital, as long as it doesn't rot in her hands.

Taxis in the rain are really hard to get. I waved to stop for more than ten times, but no one stopped. Whistling past the car, leaving only a few rows of irregular mud spots for Zhang Xiaoxiao's suit. The mobile phone in her pocket tirelessly sang "Growing Loneliness" to remind her that her mother was about to leave her anger.

"Deng, Deng, Deng" is running in the rain wearing high heels and carrying a leather bag. Autumn rain has lost the softness of spring and the boldness of summer, and bursts of autumn wind have crept into people's necks with the rain.

Zhang Xiaoxiao finished his business and went to the teahouse for a blind date before adding clothes. At the moment, my lips are blue with cold, so I can only wrap my feet in a suit.

Along the way, my hometown has really changed a lot. There are many high-rise buildings along the way, and the bungalow as a child has disappeared without a trace. Billboards such as "Beijing", "Manhattan Square" and "Foreigner Street" are hung on the building, representing the urban mentality. Small cities like to flaunt their internationalization with these superficial articles, but they don't change their internal isolation and backwardness at all.

Came to the door of the teahouse has been more than half an hour later than the scheduled blind date time, Zhang Xiaoxiao hurriedly wiped her hair with a paper towel and went in directly. As a result, I bumped into the man who came out of the room, leaned back, slipped and sat down on the ground. More unfortunately, the heel is broken. It's really "people are not as good as the sky, have a cold drink."

The man, tall and gentle, stood at a distance and apologized to her, but he didn't mean to help her at all. Zhang Xiaoxiao laughed at herself: The old woman is really ugly, and the classic scenes in the idol drama are blind to her. It seems that women are more suitable for her.

Zhang Xiaoxiao held the doorframe, stood in a golden rooster shape, and looked at his worn-out shoes.

"Can you go to the second grocery store on the left of the teahouse and buy a bottle of 502 glue?" Say to the perpetrator who is five meters away from him.

The man readily promised and bought glue in five minutes. Zhang Xiaoxiao has three strokes, five points and two points in making shoes. During those years in Beijing, he had to do everything himself and practiced eighteen kinds of martial arts.

Put on your shoes and wave to the man to signal that you can go. Then hurriedly ran to the private room on the second floor.

Seeing her, my mother's ugly face sank again, turned her face and smiled awkwardly.

"Zhang, let you laughed. The child's leader asked him to work overtime temporarily. He was in a hurry and had no time to clean up. Never mind, it's usually quiet. "

Zhang Zhiyuan is about 50 years old, with short hair and thick upper lip. Zhang Xiaoxiao remembers that the psychology teacher in the university once said that women with full upper lips are usually more controlling.

"Xiaoxiao, sit down. My Xiaodong had an emergency and left early. He listens to me, let's talk first. "

Zhang Xiaoxiao's fingers kept drawing circles on the glass window of the teahouse, the trees outside the window were competing with the autumn wind for dead leaves, and the pedestrians under the street lamp hurried to the warm home.

The mother next to her is like a rotten cabbage salesman, diligently and comprehensively introducing her things to buyers. The two of them are very excited to talk to each other, and Zhang Zhiyuan has arranged to take care of his grandson. On the contrary, she, the client, is not allowed to make a complete speech.

"Next Monday, XiaoDong free in the evening. Let's go to the movies together. " Zhang Zhiyuan ended the meeting with a positive sentence, which satisfied both parents.

2

The words "Monday morning" have made office workers feel heartbroken and shudder. If another mother tells you what to wear to the movies, this morning will be even worse.

After that meeting, my mother announced to all relatives and friends at home that her daughter was going to be the daughter-in-law of the president of the court. Those relatives and friends who will ask her if she has a boyfriend during the holidays are all sour at the moment. Congratulations: Your family is really fragrant and burning, and you can climb such an in-laws at such an age.

Zhang Xiaoxiao is really speechless. Why can his mother paint a vivid picture of the wedding at the end of the year when they have never really met?

Happiness never comes in pairs, but it never rains alone.

When I first entered the unit, I was called to the office by the leader. Mr. Li has a big belly, and his pink shirt is inserted in a dark blue belt, revealing the crocodile trademark on the belt buckle. Every time I see this leader, Zhang Xiaoxiao will think of the doll he played with as a child. His head and stomach make up the whole body.

General manager Zhang's purpose in looking for her is very clear, that is, to announce that the economic dispute case between the owner and the developer that she was in charge of before is now being handled by.

This is an aboveboard robbery. Zhang Xiaoxiao has collected all the information about this case. With her experience in this kind of lawsuit in Beijing, she is sure that the owner of this lawsuit will win. If the lawyer's fee is charged at 4% of the compensation, it will be a considerable bonus. More importantly, this kind of lawsuit won by the owner against the developer can easily attract the attention of the society and greatly improve the visibility of lawyers.

Zhang always looked flustered, smiled disapprovingly, and silently approached her with a big belly. "Xiaoxiao, you also worked in the capital, you should know what kind of people can be good lawyers. First, the relationship with the imperial government leaders is the most severe. Secondly, a harmonious relationship with company leaders is the second most important thing. Finally, strong working ability. " With that, Manager Zhang raised his arm and put it on her shoulder with a little effort.

"You can only calculate the third type now, but with your comprehensive ability, you may become the second type." At the same time, the hand began to swim from the shoulder to the hip.

This picture is really ironic. A senior lawyer was sexually harassed in the workplace.

Zhang Xiaoxiao angrily picked up the cup on the table, held it to his chest, hesitated again, and finally took a hard sip at his mouth. The process of swallowing tea is extremely difficult, just like swallowing a mouthful of evil spirit and a fly, which is disgusting as hell. But in the end, I swallowed it, my throat was comfortable, and my internal organs began to rise.

"I have always won the best lawyer in Beijing by professional strength." After saying this, she escaped from the leadership office. Running away is the only thing she can do now.

This evil soul haunted Zhang Xiaoxiao's mind all day, until a strange phone call appeared on his mobile phone on the eve of his work. It was Ma Zhidong on the phone, the blind date I had never met. At first, I didn't have much interest in Zhang Xiaoxiao as a blind date, but at this moment, I thought of Zhang Zhiyuan's radiant identity, as if I saw the outlet of evil spirit.

When I saw Ma Zhidong sitting in the black Audi A6, Zhang Xiaoxiao was really scared, because he was the one who broke her heel at the door of the teahouse. The blind date is tall and handsome with a golden halo. Finally, I opened a window in my depressed heart, and those gloomy and moldy things accumulated in the morning quickly disappeared a lot.

Of course, Zhang Xiaoxiao opened the co-pilot's door, but the files, briefcases and suits piled up on the seat left her no room.

"Sit in the back."

This is the only sentence that Ma Zhi said along the East Road, and the rest of the time was spent in silence and embarrassment.

Ma Zhidong went to the ticket office alone to buy movie tickets. Seeing the movie "Horror Express", Zhang Xiaoxiao was filled with hope. All the signs in the car made her feel that this man didn't look at himself at all. But now the other party will accompany her to watch horror movies. Is there any meaning in it? When I was in college, male students liked to take girls to watch horror movies, which gave them a chance to get into boys' arms. It seems that Ma Zhidong is a boring person.

This movie is really scary. In some bloody scenes, Zhang Xiaoxiao had to cover his eyes with his hands. But she has never been in the arms of Ma Zhidong, not reserved, but out of reach. There is a couple who are madly in love.

When seated, Ma Zhidong deliberately explained that there was no seat next to a good viewing position.

"By the way, have you selected the tickets in advance?" Zhang Xiaoxiao asked the couple who were 10 minutes late.

"Just bought, we don't want to see a movie, just want to find a place to stay together. Just in time for this movie, I bought a ticket and came in. "

The little bud that was about to break out of the ground was stepped back into the soil.

After the movie, Ma Zhidong wanted to send Zhang Xiaoxiao home, but he was refused. Since there is no such meaning, there is no need to waste each other's time.

After the rain, the yellow tree returned to people at night under the lamp.

Walking on the way home, I watched the lonely shadow reflected by the stagnant water, windbreaker, long skirt and deliberately blurred makeup. Is this still her? When I graduated from college, my father was still in court and didn't retire. Although I am not in power, I have worked all my life, and it is no problem for my client to arrange work for my daughter.

At that time, Zhang Xiaoxiao was high-spirited and ambitious, and decided to stay in Beijing to start his own life. But now she began to fantasize about the relationship that she once despised. In fact, Zhang Zhidong's performances in the car are already obvious, and he is desperately trying to make excuses for this behavior. The reason is not that he has a mother who is a dean, which makes her always calm and rational lose her normal judgment.

Zhang Xiaoxiao bit her lower lip hard: You must make it clear to your parents when you go home. Don't spread this unrealistic dream everywhere, it will become a joke for everyone after dinner.

three

"Daughter, why are you back?" As soon as I entered the house, my parents' faces were all smiles. The cold water in my heart should be poured on them now, or when they are happy and energetic.

Zhang Xiaoxiao hesitated, but her mother couldn't restrain her joy and spoke first: "Zhang Zhiyuan called and said that their Xiaodong is very satisfied with you. She was anxious to have grandchildren and said that if everyone didn't mind, she would get married first. Your father and I are 100% satisfied, and you won't have a problem. "

Cold water didn't spill, but it was splashed into a fog.

"Mom, you got the meaning backwards!"

"How is it possible, dean zhang asked our family what bride price. This may still be wrong. "

If something goes wrong, there must be a demon.

What is a demon? Zhang Xiaoxiao thinks he can't sit still any longer, or he will get married in chaos. Take the initiative and catch this demon.

"Ma Zhidong, this is Zhang Xiaoxiao. Do you think we can continue to develop? " Xiaoxiao went straight to the topic on WeChat.

"You are very good, my mother and I are very satisfied. She is already planning to get engaged. I don't mind, and you don't mind if you want to Let's get married next month. "

"Don't you think it's too early to get engaged once?"

"Didn't you work in Beijing for many years? Still so conservative. I think flash marriage is normal. "

A normal ghost likes to ignore each other when he meets, and now he wants to get engaged immediately. It is impossible to be incompetent. Zhang Xiaoxiao bit his lip and decided to use his killer.

"Before getting engaged, you need to know more. At eight o'clock tonight, we will go to KTV. I have booked a private room, so I have to arrive. If I can't, I can only call Zhang Zhiyuan to find out about you. If you don't talk, the phone will automatically shut down when there is no power. " Without giving Ma Zhidong any chance to refuse, Zhang Xiaoxiao turned off his phone immediately after sending WeChat.

Facing the glass on the wall of KTV box, Zhang Xiaoxiao pulled down the tight V-neck skirt again, and the shiny cleavage made people drool. The clock on the wall has pointed to 8 o'clock 10, and Ma Zhidong hasn't arrived yet. This is quitting without a fight.

Just thinking, the balcony door was opened from the outside, and Ma Zhidong and a handsome man came in talking and laughing. The man walked into the room, looked at Zhang Xiaoxiao with disdain, and then whispered in Ma Zhidong's ear for a long time.

This man named Wang Yuan is Ma Zhidong's best friend. At first, the three of them sang a song in an exemplary way, and later they became two people. You give me some, I give you some, or they sing together. Zhang Xiaoxiao is just a high wattage light bulb.

It's clear that Ma Zhidong is a homosexual, so he asked her to be Zhang Xiaoxiao as a fig leaf.

"Zhang Xiaoxiao, let the waiter order something to drink. Remember not to have any alcohol. Wang Yuan is seriously allergic to alcohol. "

The waiter brought drinks, shouted at the three people who had been singing for more than two hours, and drank them all at once. Looking at Wang Yuan, who broke out in a rash at once, Zhang Xiaoxiao laughed internally: It's a pity not to be a traffic policeman because of this sensitivity. If you don't check drunk driving, you don't need to use measuring instruments. Blow directly into his face. If you are allergic, you can judge whether you drink alcohol.

"Zhang Xiaoxiao, I told you not to drink. Didn't you hear? " Ma Zhidong yelled at her in disgust.

"The music was so loud that I didn't hear that he was allergic to alcohol." Zhang Xiaoxiao shrugged innocently.

"You did it on purpose."

"Yes, I did it on purpose. It's okay for gay people to cheat, but not for me to play pranks. Allergies don't kill people. "

"You old woman, you tease me on purpose." Wang Yuan rolled up his sleeves and was about to begin when Ma Zhidong stretched out his hand and stopped him.

",play Yin, right? Yes, I'm gay. I just made up with Wang Yuan. Today, I will put aside my words and you will be my wife. " Say that finish holding Wang Yuan ran to the hospital.

Be sure to show your cards to your parents this time. Most pies that fall from the sky have been poisoned.

"How dare you get engaged!" Zhang Xiaoxiao didn't say that finish the reason, always taciturn father in anger, put his hand in the cup fell to the ground. Mother tried to convince her father publicly, but she only said that she was not sensible.

"Zhang Zhiyuan said your father just called in sick and didn't go through the formal retirement formalities. When he officially does it next year, he can be promoted to half a level. Zhang Zhiyuan also said that your brother's civil service interview would be fine, and she would say hello in advance. You said your parents didn't embarrass you, and they didn't let you marry any dementia.

"Ma's family is powerful, young people do a good job, and people's spirit. You say people are gay. Don't eat salt in a big city for a few years, and you will become a foreigner. I've never seen a gay man in my life.

"I am an old maid. It would be nice if someone got married. "

An old girl, her father's pension and her brother's good job completely blinded her parents. In fact, this marriage is also good, except that there is no love. She can use her mother-in-law's power to show off at work, and she can find any lover and husband without any problems.

Zhang Xiaoxiao bit his upper lip hard this time. Biting his lower lip is cruel to others, and biting his upper lip is cruel to himself.

four

Through the bathroom mirror, Zhang Xiaoxiao saw her nominal husband Ma Zhidong coming out of the men's bathroom, and they smiled at each other.

"The day after tomorrow is my mother's birthday. She is optimistic about a bag and will transfer the pictures and money to your mobile phone later. "

"Ma Zong, now purchasing is to charge, what's more, I not only want to buy things, but also act in front of your mother. Give at least 50% benefit. "

"Well, I like your haggle over every ounce. Otherwise, how can it show that we have no feelings?" Ma Zhidong walked out of the bathroom with a smile.

Zhang Xiaoxiao came to the hotel for a company party today, and colleagues from the law firm toasted her one by one. Zhang, the general manager of the company, sat next to her, ostensibly praising her work ability seriously, but the hand under the desk swam around her leg.

Zhang Xiaoxiao looked up at her figure in front of the French window of the hotel, with long curly hair, high-end clothes, the mother-in-law of the dean and the lover of the boss.

What a winner in life.

However, where has Zhang Xiaoxiao, who is constantly striving for self-improvement, gone?

Watching, the figure on the glass gradually turned into Zhang Xiaoxiao with short hair and a suit and tie. She slowly floated out of the glass and held the real Zhang Xiaoxiao with both hands.

"Ah" with a loud cry, Zhang Xiaoxiao woke up from a dream. Look at your watch. It's past four in the morning. It's time to get up in the morning and get ready for court. Before going to work, lie in front of the window and have a glass of red wine to wake up. Remembering the day of engagement, when Ma Zhidong suddenly admitted that he was gay on the big screen that played the sweet picture of the two, Zhang and his mother looked like they had eaten dirty things, which made people happy.

Zhang Xiaoxiao has found a new job in Beijing before, and bought a 40-square-meter commercial and residential apartment with a loan from South Sixth Ring Road.

It's early spring, and the buds are struggling to break branches.

The light in the opposite house suddenly turned on, and a man with the same glass in his hand appeared in front of the window. They laughed from a distance.

Who says an old maid can't have spring? Spring is coming in Zhang Xiaoxiao.