Back to the prime of life

Chapter 56 Xu Weiguo

On New Year's Eve, Lu Changge followed his parents back to their old house in the countryside to stay for one night.

His grandfather liked him very much because he had been obedient and had good grades since he was a child. When he finally came home for the Chinese New Year, the old man came out to greet him with a hunched back and a smile on his face.

There is a big yellow dog in my hometown. It is not afraid of strangers at all. After seeing Lu Changge, it kept wagging its tail and circling around him.

That night, Lu Changge was the one who set off the fireworks and firecrackers at home. They crackled in front of and behind the village for several hours, and the atmosphere of the New Year was very strong.

At 12 o'clock, Zuo Shuya sent him a New Year's greeting text message, and Lu Changge picked a different one and replied. He thought that Zuo Shuya was alone in a new rented house, but he didn't say anything to show his concern.

On the first day of the first lunar month, he put on new clothes and took his cousin Lu Changqing to visit the Lu family in the same village to pay New Year's greetings.

On the second day of the New Year, I went to my uncle’s house for dinner.

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, I went to my grandfather's house with Mr. and Mrs. Lu to celebrate his 70th birthday.

When passing the cement road connecting to the county road, they saw a black car stuck in the mud on the side of the road and unable to get out.

The roads here are narrow, and the mud on the roadside becomes rotten once it thaws in winter. If you accidentally fall into the pit next to you when passing other cars, there is really nothing you can do about it.

Several people from the village and outside the village gathered around but couldn't do anything. The driver had to stay inside while the others pushed from behind.

Lu Changge glanced at the driver. He was wearing a black wool coat and thick glasses. His face was very long and a little tapered. He looked a bit like Feng Gong, but he didn't have the playful sense of comedy. Instead, he was very serious.

After he stepped on the accelerator a few times, the wheels spun rapidly, but the car didn't move, and a pile of mud splashed everywhere.

"The wheels are slipping, and the more you step on them, the slipperier they get." Lu Changge reminded with his hands in his pockets.

The man was so worried that he didn't pay much attention to what he said. Although he looked up and agreed, it was a mechanical response without any thought.

Lu Changge looked around, picked up some broken bricks and stones from the roadside, and sprinkled them under the right front wheel, which was the wheel stuck in the mud.

After we finished, he came over and said, "Back up a little and see if you can move it, then go forward. Remember to shift into reverse gear, as reverse gear has higher torque. Also, don't step on the accelerator too hard. It's easier to get out of the car at low speeds, but at high speeds, the wheels will slip violently and the friction will be gone."

He talked a lot, and the man in front was still listening. The man behind him spread his hands and said, "Why don't you try it? Give me a hand."

"No problem. I'll do it."

Lu Changge sat in directly.

He has already checked it out. It’s not a very deep pit. How can he not get out?

Just do as he did just now, step on the accelerator, but gently. At the same time, the man, Lu's father and others went to the back to push the car.

With both front and back forces exerting force, the car really climbed up slowly.

Seeing this, the man with glasses felt relieved and praised Lu Changge, "You are smart, young man, and you have a solution. Thank you!"

"fine."

Lu Changge didn't think it was a big deal and continued walking with his parents. However, when he arrived at his grandfather's house, he found that this man was also there to celebrate his birthday.

After listening carefully, I found out that he was a student of my grandfather, Mr. He, and there were many unfamiliar faces standing in the yard, so there were probably other students.

He didn't pay much attention to these people and followed his parents to call relatives everywhere.

The older generation pays attention to teaching children to call people by name, and Lu Changge also has this sentiment. Anyway, he just called out "Third Uncle" and "Second Uncle" all the way.

Not long after, he saw Xu Qiuxue emerge from the crowd and trot over to him, "Brother, you're here."

When Lu Changge saw that she was wearing an apron, he knew that she was also helping.

"tired?"

"It's okay. I did a good job today. Come here, I'll give you a taste of my fried meatballs, fresh out of the pan."

"Okay, wait a moment, I'll go see grandpa."

"I'll take you."

He brought some red wine to Mr. He, and since it was his 70th birthday, he had to go over and say a few words of blessing.

As a person with labor insurance, he will not let his children suffer.

Taking the opportunity to put the red wine back into the house, he pulled Lu Changge into the inner room and gave him the red envelope that he had prepared earlier.

Mother Lu noticed this scene. She didn't see why they went in, but she guessed it was to give money.

Lu Changge was not polite. It’s not that he didn’t want it now that he had money. After all, it was the old man’s intention.

After coming out, Xu Qiuxue's aunt came to ask him how much he had taken, and Lu Changge just said that it was the same amount as Xiaoxue.

That’s all the family stuff.

To outsiders, it looked like a group of people who were eyeing the old man's pension. Anyway, it was a bit ugly, and Lu Changge just wanted to stay away from it.

After that, he and Xu Qiuxue went to the kitchen to eat meat balls.

There are many people here today, so she helps her siblings, and her grandmother doesn't want her to light the stove.

But if other workers go against the old lady's wishes, she will not forgive them. Lu Changge and Xu Qiuxue were in the kitchen when they heard the noise coming from outside.

"If you can't study, then you should work harder. Even the King of Hell likes hardworking people. If you have no brains and don't work, which boss will want you if you go out to work?" She was talking about another junior, Lu Changge's cousin, named He Qingqing.

"My grandma really is..." Xu Qiuxue seemed a little apologetic.

This kind of thing was a mess, but Lu Changge didn't care. He commented on the meatballs and said, "The saltiness is just right, quite flavorful, and delicious. Did you really fry them?"

"Of course, I got up early in the morning to prepare."

"I'll have two more."

"Okay, I'll serve it to you."

Lu Changge handed the bowl to her.

At this time, the old lady walked in from outside and smiled at Lu Changge. It was not because Lu Changge was a good person, but because he had given her money after all.

"Changge is here."

"Here I am, Happy New Year, Grandma."

"well."

The old lady happened to see Xu Qiuxue serving the meatballs and then placing them in front of Lu Changge. Her expression froze, but she didn't say much. She just urged her granddaughter, "Xiaoxue, why are you still in the kitchen? Your grandfather is looking for you. Some of his students are here, go talk to them."

"Those people are in their thirties and forties. What am I supposed to talk to them about?"

"You're a college student, so you must know a lot. You can chat whenever you want. I think you've just returned from a big city. As for Changge, just let him eat here by himself."

Just then, Mother Lu appeared at the kitchen door. "Oh, I was wondering where you'd been. Turns out you were hiding here eating. Hurry up, your grandpa's calling you."

"Okay, okay, I'll come." Lu Changge stuffed two meat balls into his mouth, and his mouth was so full.

When they reached the door, Mother Lu spanked him lightly on the buttocks and said, "You've never eaten meatballs before."

In fact, how could parents blame their children for eating? She said this to the old lady.

"Xiaoxue, you should go too. I've told you several times that you're in college now, so don't stay in the kitchen all the time."

"Grandma," Xu Qiuxue couldn't bear it any longer. She said seriously, "Don't always talk about college and gossip about the school I went to. Besides, my brother didn't do well in the college entrance examination, so he must be concerned."

"You went to a good university, so why can't you tell me what happened?"

"That doesn't make sense. I won't talk to you anymore."

She didn't stay here and went out to look for Lu Changge.

A little later, the old lady's own daughter came in and said, "Mom, it seems my dad has a student who has become a small leader. I see Lu Weijun and his wife are very happy and are concentrating on setting up a relationship with their son."

"What about Xiaoxue?"

"That person is a leader in Jiangzhou, and Xiaoxue is not in Jiangzhou."

"Tsk, just listen to what they say."

The old lady could no longer sit still, so she wiped her hands on her apron and hurried out of the house. This time, she walked with much more agility.

In the main room, Father Lu was indeed very happy to "promote" his son to others, and kept urging Lu Changge to say hello.

"Your Uncle Xu has been in Jiangzhou for many years. It just so happens that you are also studying in Jiangzhou. Let's toast him a few more times. You can learn more from him when you have the chance in the future."

Lu Changge had just heard the introduction. This Uncle Xu was a director of the Jiangzhou Environmental Protection Bureau. Although he was called a director, he was actually a section-level leader.

This is the first time I have come to see the former principal in recent years. It is understandable. After all, he has been promoted now. If he does not return to his hometown when he is rich and powerful, it is like walking in the night in fine clothes.

After the introduction, Mr. He reacted and mentioned that he had a grandson studying at Jiang University of Technology. When Mr. and Mrs. Lu heard this, they became more serious and hurried to find their son.

Coincidentally, this Uncle Xu was the one whose car just got stuck.

He had some impression of Lu Changge, so he politely said to Mr. He: "Your grandson is very smart. He helped me a lot just now. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to drive here."

"Oh, really?"

"We met by chance. You're welcome, Uncle Xu." Lu Changge expressed basic courtesy and asked to meet him.

In fact, he knew in his heart that no one would take him, a freshman, seriously.

The essence of a relationship is the exchange of interests, not anything else.

Just like he would come to see Mr. He, the teacher-student relationship is just a bond. He has met many teachers since he was a child. Does he visit every one of them?

Fundamentally, it is because Mr. He, as the old principal, has extensive connections in his hometown.

Nowadays, every household will encounter the problem of children going to school. Director Xu’s own child must be studying in Jiangzhou, but he is also followed by a large group of relatives and friends.

However, before they could chat for a while, the old lady came in.

Lu Changge grinned. As soon as he saw the old lady's flattering smile, he knew that something funny was going to happen.

(End of this chapter)