快过年了,爹刚想歇口气,城里的远房亲戚捎来口信,说要搬新屋,让爹过去打个帮手。爹为人厚道、老实,做事舍得力气。亲戚家有什么重活累活,都会想到爹。我嚷着要去。爹说,大冷天,路又远。娘说去吧去吧,娃崽还没进过城呢。爹没再言语。大清早,娘叫醒爹和我。娘在我脖颈上围上条她出嫁时戴的红绸布,再往我兜里塞了三个刚出锅的糯米饭团。 As the New Year approached, Yao just wanted to take a rest. Relatives from the city’s distant homes came to me and said that they wanted to move a new home and let him use a helper. He is kind and honest and works hard. What kind of livelihood and relatives of your relatives will think of you. I am eager to go. He said that in the cold days, the road is far away. Gossip, go and go, baby girl hasn’t been to the city yet. I didn’t speak again. Early in the morning, my mother called her and I. My mother put a red silk cloth on her neck that she wore when she was married. She also stuffed three freshly-baked glutinous rice balls in my pocket.