Siheyuan: The road to counterattack for the little transparent

"Zhang Qiuxiang, no, to be more precise, it's your mother. She grew up under our noses. She is a diligent and sensible child, and she is good at doing housework."

"At first the matchmaker told her about the marriage in Mencheng. After she got married, she went back to Zhangjia Village several times. But after she had a child, she seldom came back. Later, I learned that she was not well off after marrying in the city and had to do odd jobs every day to supplement the family income.

I didn’t know the reason at first, but because she seldom came back to Zhangjia Village, I scolded her in the village for being an ungrateful person. Now I think I shouldn’t have done that! ”

As the old man spoke, his eyes became wet. He stretched out his dark hand to wipe his eyes and continued:

"After your parents passed away, I wanted to go to the city to see you two, but God was blind. The harvest was so bad that we couldn't even afford food, so how could we take care of you? Alas!"

The old man sighed, wiped his eyes, and looked at Lin Donglai with tenderness: "If I remember correctly, your name is Donglai, and your sister's name is Dongyi, right?"

Lin Donglai was a little skeptical at first, but after hearing the old man say his and his sister's names, he realized that what he said was true.

The original owner's parents were really pitiful people. His father was the only son in three generations and had no sisters. His parents also died early, and his mother was in a similar situation. No wonder after their parents passed away, the brother and sister had to stay at home alone and did not receive any care from any relatives.

Lin Donglai quickly replied: "Uncle, I am Donglai, Lin Donglai, and my sister is Lin Dongyi. How should I call you?"

"My name is Zhang Fugui. You should call me uncle according to seniority. You are a very sensible and polite child. Not bad! Zhang Qiuxiang and her husband have taught you well." The old man sighed and asked him, "Dongla, how about your uncle take you back to the village to have a look?"

This suggestion was exactly what Lin Donglai wanted. His uncle had been reminiscing and sighing, and he was too embarrassed to interrupt and bring up the matter. He smiled and politely asked, "Uncle, will this delay your work?"

"We can do this little work in the fields anytime. Let's go back to the village and I'll ask your aunt to make us a good meal."

"Then I won't be polite. Uncle, you see, I didn't know I would run into you today. Would your empty-handed aunt..."

"Haha...you think too much, kid. Don't worry, your aunt is not an unreasonable person. I have the final say in the family."

As the uncle spoke, he packed up his things, put them on his shoulders and asked everyone to walk together. Lin Donglai pushed the cart and followed him. The two of them walked forward while chatting.

It turns out that the path on the far right of the fork in the road leads to Zhangjia Village. If there hadn't been someone to lead the way, Lin Donglai would have just walked left based on his feeling, and he had no idea where that place led to.

After the two chatted for a while, he learned that Zhang Fugui and his mother were from the same clan and the same generation. That's how the generations are, and it's common to see huge age differences among people of the same generation in the village.

During the conversation, I learned that Zhang Fugui is fifty years old this year, ten years older than Lin Donglai's mother, but his appearance does not match his age.

Due to working in the fields all year round, he has a hunched back, a thin body, dark skin, and many deep wrinkles on his face. Upon closer inspection, his finger joints are thick, and he looks at least ten years older than the city people.

Lin Donglai couldn't help but think of a phrase: environment nourishes people. There is a big difference between people who do rough work and those who sit in offices, both in their mental outlook and personal temperament.

When the uncle learned that Lin Donglai had entered the purchasing department of the steel rolling mill with his own abilities, he praised him non-stop along the way, even to the point that Lin Donglai felt a little embarrassed.

Finally, he said, "Donlai, your factory values ​​you very much. I have never seen a buyer riding a new bicycle. Some of them don't even have a bicycle to ride. They walk from door to door in the village to beg people to sell things."

Hearing this, Lin Donglai smiled and said, "Uncle, you are right. The factory has really treated me well, so I have to work hard to complete the task to live up to the trust and cultivation of the factory in me."

The two walked along the path for about ten minutes and finally arrived at the entrance of the village. In his impression, there would be a few people sitting and chatting at the entrance of the village, but the scene in front of him was beyond Lin Donglai's expectations. There was no one at the entrance of the village, and it was surprisingly quiet.

Although Lin Donglai was confused, he still followed his uncle's footsteps and walked towards the village. Along the way, he saw no adults except two children playing in the mud with urine.

After walking for a while, my uncle stopped in front of a small courtyard and shouted inside: "Old woman, come out and see who's here."

Hearing the noise, a white-haired woman slowly walked out of the house, wiping her hands. She looked towards the door curiously and asked, "Old man, this young man looks unfamiliar. Who is he?"

"Dongli, come on, let's go home. Old lady, quickly catch the old hen at home and kill and stew it. We have to have a good meal at noon today."

Lin Donglai pushed the car into the yard and parked it, then went into the house with his uncle and aunt to sit and chat.

"I forgot to mention, Donglai, this is your aunt." Lin Donglai quickly greeted: "Hello, aunt!"

"Old lady, this is Qiuxiang's eldest son Lin Donglai. Do you still remember Qiuxiang?"

The aunt was a little emotional when she heard the name of Lin Donglai's mother. Before Lin Donglai's mother got married, they got along very well and often worked in the fields together. Later, when she heard that the Lin family was in trouble but her family was unable to help, she cried several times.

Seeing that his aunt was standing there, Zhang Fugui urged her, "Hurry up, old woman. What are you still standing there for? Go catch a chicken."

When the old man said he was going to kill the only hen in the family, my aunt was reluctant to let him go: "Old man, there is only one hen in the family and we are counting on it to lay eggs. If you kill it, we will have no eggs to eat in the future."

"How about I fry some peanuts, mushrooms and cabbage for you?" The aunt suggested to the uncle, her tone clearly pleading.

As soon as he finished speaking, his uncle's face became even darker. Before he could lose his temper, Lin Donglai quickly said, "Uncle, just listen to your aunt. I just happen to want to eat mushrooms."

"Alas!" The uncle sighed and said, "Donlai, I'm sorry to have embarrassed you." He glared at the aunt and said, "Go away, old woman. Donglai has finally come back. Fry more peanuts and don't be so stingy."

The aunt smiled with relief: "Donlai, don't blame me, I have no choice. When the harvest is good, I will definitely..."

"Okay, old lady, go and cook." The uncle probably thought she was too nagging and urged her impatiently.

After his aunt went to the kitchen, Lin Donglai could not help but ask, "Uncle, I just looked around and saw that there were not many people in the village. Did they all go to work in the fields?"

"Yes, farmers have to dig in the soil all day long, and villagers gradually return to the village at noon. By the way, Donglai, do you want to buy something in our village?"

"The harvests have been poor in the past two years, and there is not enough food to eat. I'm afraid it will be difficult..."