Back to 1984: I built a chicken farm on a barren mountain.

Duck-flavored steamed buns are expensive.

These five words left Wu Jiajun and Feng Jianguo both bewildered.

They racked their brains; is there some story or deeper meaning behind this?

Duck flavor may be a spice, and this spice is valuable when used in steamed buns.

Is turning steamed buns a technique for making incense?

Looking at the expressions of Wu and Feng, Chen Wenfeng recalled that he himself had been troubled by this poem for a long time.

All Wu Jiajun said was:

"I concede defeat, I surrender and lose half, I'll punish myself with half a cup."

Feng Jianguo was unwilling to give up, and after thinking about it for a while, he finally gave up.

He reluctantly drank half a glass of wine and said to Chen Wenfeng:

"Brother Wenfeng, reveal the answer."

Chen Wenfeng smiled and said:

"Actually, I was also stumped by this poem at first, because it is not the language of poetry at all, and can be explained in the way of a four or five-year-old child."

"The roast duck is too expensive, so I can't afford it and end up eating steamed buns instead."

Wu and Feng were silent for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, let's drink!"

"drink wine......"

Inspired by Chen Wenfeng, Feng Jianguo also recalled two lines of poetry he had once read, and said:

"I'll also mention one, which is said to have been written by Emperor Qianlong:"

The daughter-in-law's hairpin was beautiful, but the son's books were ruined; the brother heard the sound of the jar and the sister-in-law was beaten.

Old Wu, Brother Wenfeng, can you guess what it means?

Wu Jiajun felt the difficulty level had suddenly increased.

Chen Wenfeng roughly guessed what it meant, but not wanting to steal the spotlight, he pretended to be thinking seriously.

Seeing that Wu Jiajun and Chen Wenfeng were also stumped by him, Feng Jianguo was very pleased and couldn't wait to reveal the answer.

The meaning of the two lines of poetry is as follows:

The daughter-in-law is beautiful, and the book is ruined.

The daughter-in-law's jewelry is very beautiful, and the son stares at her all the time, so much so that he doesn't even want to study anymore.

Brother Guan heard that his sister-in-law was injured by a beating:

My brother planted a flower in a jar. The flower was so fragrant that he would go up to smell it every day. My sister-in-law was unhappy about this, and in a fit of anger, she took a stick and smashed the flower and the jar to pieces.

Upon hearing the answer, the three men laughed and drank, all the while mocking Qianlong's nonsensical poem.

Feng Jianguo felt sorry that Chen Wenfeng did not pursue a career in literature, but he understood what Chen Wenfeng meant.

Chen Wenfeng was afraid of making mistakes like "Ya Xiang Gui Zhuan Man" and "Ge Guan Wen Yan Sao Bang Shang" and becoming a laughing stock.

This young man is quite clear-headed.

Literature is a great hobby!

"Wenfeng, is there anything else fun? Tell me about another one."

Wu Jiajun continued to ask.

Chen Wenfeng thought for a moment and said:

"That's all, but there's one thing I just can't figure out."

Chen Wenfeng's words undoubtedly piqued the interest of Wu and Feng again.

Feng Jianguo blurted out:

"What's the problem?"

Why is Du Fu called "Old Du" while Li Bai isn't called "Old Li"?

Yes, Du Fu is called Lao Du, but Li Bai is usually called Tai Bai or the banished immortal. Nobody calls Li Bai Lao Li.

How come I never thought of that? This kid's questions are always so strange and interesting!

Feng Jianguo fell into deep thought again.

After a long while, Wu Jiajun said:

"Because Old Li is with me."

Seeing Feng Jianguo's puzzled expression, Wu Jiajun felt he had finally won a round, and said to the door:

"Old Li, bring me a bowl of mutton soup."

Manager Li, who was waiting outside, responded and went downstairs.

Hahahaha...

Sure enough, Old Li was with him...

The air in the room felt even more cheerful.

The three of them drank until the afternoon.

Chen Wenfeng was unable to hold his liquor, so Wu Jiajun arranged for him to sleep in a room.

When he woke up, Wu and Feng pulled him aside and made him drink tea for a while.

As the sun began to set, Chen Wenfeng once again said it was time to go back.

Wu Feng then prepared to let him go and agreed to meet once every now and then.

It wasn't until he was leaving that Chen Wenfeng remembered there were wild pine mushrooms in the bag on the back seat, which he had prepared in advance.

I forgot about this because I was arguing with the old gatekeeper.

He took it out and handed it to Wu Jiajun, saying:

"I only brought one portion of the things from the mountains. I didn't know Brother Feng was coming today. I'll make another portion next time."

Wu Jiajun said with a smile:

"We can just split it between the two of us."

Then he opened the bag, and a fragrant aroma of dried mushrooms wafted out.

Feng Jianguo said:

"This is good stuff! I bought some at a state-run store last year; it cost over 8 yuan a pound!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Wenfeng silently made a note of it, because the village's supply and marketing cooperative only offered two or three yuan as a purchase price.

Just as he was about to say goodbye, Wu Jiajun hung the two roast chickens on the handlebars of his bicycle.

He grabbed the handlebars, asking Chen Wenfeng to wait a little longer.

A short while later, Manager Li came over carrying a case of beer.

Beer is the most fashionable drink these days. Zhou Guangrong, the owner of Guangrong Convenience Store, went to town to ask, but there was no beer there yet.

Wu Jiajun said:

"There wasn't much new stuff in the shop, so I took a few bottles of beer home to drink. The beer was refreshing, but not very strong, so I didn't bring it out with the meal."

Chen Wenfeng smiled and said:

"I'm really in deep trouble now. At this rate, Angkor will make me move the whole restaurant next time."

Wu Jiajun burst into laughter upon hearing this.

Feng Jianguo said from the side:

"He should be emptied out. He didn't even leave a phone number when I wrote to you last time. But I'm convinced you'll come to our appointment."

"Do you know that I wrote the letter? Old Wu's handwriting is terrible! The ugly handwriting at the end is what he wrote."

Wu Jiajun said with a hint of reproach:

"Old Feng, if you keep doing this, I won't invite you next time we drink."

Chen Wenfeng sensed the slightly awkward atmosphere and quickly tried to smooth things over:

"Angkor Wat was right not to leave a phone number; even the village committee doesn't have phones now!"

"Oh, look, Brother Wenfeng really knows how to talk..."

While the three were talking, Manager Li had already tied the beer bottles to the back of the bicycle.

He also thoughtfully installed a large flashlight on the handlebars, which was obviously used in the mine.

Wu Jiajun instructed:

"Brother, drive carefully on your way. Even though it's getting dark, please be safe."

This flashlight is very bright, but I can't charge it at home. Bring it back for me next time we get together.

"good!"

The three of them chatted and tugged at each other for a while before finally saying goodbye.

Chen Wenfeng got on his bicycle and felt that the way the three of them had been being all lovey-dovey just now really resembled a young couple parting ways.

Watching Chen Wenfeng's departing figure, Feng Jianguo's face was full of appreciation.

At only twenty years old, such composure, maturity, and humor are truly rare.

Moreover, he is so talented, insightful, and knowledgeable; he's really to my liking.

He said to Wu Jiajun:

"This young man is really good. You keep saying you're short-handed, aren't you planning to hire him to help you?"

Wu Jiajun kept staring at Chen Wenfeng's back until the figure disappeared into the night, then replied:

"I'd like to, but it feels a bit hasty to say it now. There's plenty of time!"

.......

Chen Wenfeng felt that this trip was very rewarding.

They arrived alone in one car.

On the way back, we added two chickens and a case of wine.

The sky grew increasingly dark, and the moon rose over the field ridges, but quickly hid behind the clouds again.

He glanced at his watch; it was already past 7:30.

Fortunately, the light that Manager Li helped install was very bright, and it tore a hole in the night.

Chen Wenfeng was still under the influence of alcohol, and since it was dark and he wasn't very familiar with the roads, he accidentally turned a corner too early.

By the time he realized it, they had already walked quite a distance.

It's okay, as long as you're heading in the right direction, you'll get home eventually.

This route avoids passing through towns and simply involves going through a few more villages.

When Chen Wenfeng rode his bicycle to the vicinity of Kaoshantun, he saw figures moving around at the road intersection ahead, and more than a dozen flashlight beams searching in the roadside bushes.

What happened?

While he was wondering what was going on, Chen Wenfeng discovered that someone was hiding in the bushes ahead!

The man was half-crouched, initially only his back was vaguely visible, but as the sounds of the crowd in the distance drew closer, most of his body was now sticking out.

It's a woman!

At this moment, the woman in the bushes also noticed Chen Wenfeng's bicycle gradually slowing down.

"Hey buddy up ahead, we're from Tiger Valley. Your headlights are on, could you lend us your light?"

"Have you seen a woman? She's the wife who ran away from our village!"

Someone in the crowd shouted to Chen Wenfeng to explain the situation.

The woman's eyes revealed pleading and despair.

Chen Wenfeng instantly understood what was going on and immediately replied:

"I didn't see it!"