Back to my 1980s

"Xiao Zhao, make yourself at home here. Eat more and don't put down your chopsticks."

In the end, Zhao Hua stayed for dinner. One reason was that Meng Qinghe's words made some sense, and another reason was that Meng's father had already served the food before he even got up.

"Okay, Uncle."

The meal wasn't very lavish: a plate of scrambled eggs, a few pieces of mixed fish (which were pickled salted fish, probably leftover fish that Meng Qinghe had brought back), a plate of green peppers and eggplant, another plate of cucumber salad, and a bowl of tomato soup.

The eggplants, cucumbers, and tomatoes all came from Meng's father's vegetable garden, and he managed to put together four dishes and a soup. However, these dishes were cooked very quickly, and Zhao Hua couldn't tell whether they were prepared in advance to entertain him or were prepared after he arrived.

"Dad, could you tidy up that vegetable patch on the east side this afternoon? We're planning to set up the shed on the east side, near the road." Meng Qinghe picked up a piece of egg and put it in her mouth. She really hadn't eaten this much before; all the eggs laid by the chickens at home were taken by her father to exchange for food.

Before Meng's father could speak, Zhao Hua's eyes widened. Was she saying "we"?

Meng's father peeked into the vegetable garden outside. The plot on the east side was planted with cucumbers, and there were also some scallions and garlic. His expression clearly showed some heartache, but when he looked back at his daughter, he gritted his teeth and said, "Alright, after you finish eating, let me know how much land you need, and I'll clear it for you. We won't plant that plot next time."

Zhao Hua stared wide-eyed at Meng's father and said, "You?"

Zhao Hua pursed his lips. He had something to say, but for a moment he didn't know what to say. He scratched his head. Originally, he wanted a convenience store with longer operating hours, but he didn't want to open one himself, so he persuaded Meng Qinghe to open one, hoping to improve her family's living conditions.

Later, he thought about making his own beverages, whether it was purified water or sparkling water. He needed distributors; he couldn't just haul a truckload of soda to the street to sell. It wasn't impossible, but it would take too much time and he wouldn't sell many. That's why he became more enthusiastic about Meng Qinghe's small shop.

How did this suddenly become related to him? He felt something was off. He sighed and silently ate his meal while watching the father and daughter discuss their situation.

After the meal, the father and daughter had already discussed where to build the shed. Zhao Hua didn't say much, because as long as it wasn't built next to his yard wall, it didn't really matter where it was.

After the meal, the three walked to the vegetable garden. Meng's father felt sorry for the vegetables in the garden. His idea was to clear out a small plot first, and then expand the garden after the vegetables had withered and no more crops were planted.

Meng Qinghe, on the other hand, thought that if they were going to build it, they should build it right the first time. If the space was too small, the sun would shine into the shed if it was even slightly at an angle, and the things inside would be directly exposed to the sun. What would be the point of building a shed then?

As the father and daughter were at an impasse, Zhao Hua rubbed her face and said, "Uncle, you're setting up the tent here, but you've left the opening open over there?"

Meng's father turned his head and looked over, then glanced at the main gate left in front of the fence. He opened his mouth, but he was too embarrassed to say that it was the main gate. It was too shabby and did not deserve the name of a main gate at all.

Zhao Hua continued, "Uncle, if you leave a door on that side, and then open a small shop on the east side, people will walk through the east side to buy things. If you leave this door open so that people can enter from here, then is the stall opening inwards or outwards? Why not just use this side of the stall as the door and transplant the vegetables here to that side?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Zhao Ru arrived.

Seeing this, Meng's father went to the vegetable garden to ponder alone.

"Why are you here? Have you finished eating?" Zhao Hua glanced behind Zhao Ru and saw that she had come alone; her mother hadn't followed.

Zhao Ru walked into the courtyard, jumped in two steps to Zhao Hua, and said, "I've already eaten, brother, Mother wants to see you."

Zhao Hua rolled his eyes inwardly. Was his mother overestimating Meng Qinghe or underestimating him? He was worried about staying any longer.

He ignored Zhao Ru, turned around and walked behind Meng's father in the vegetable garden, watching for a few moments with him.

The vegetable garden was well managed by Mencius' father. He even dug furrows and planted cucumbers on the furrows, and they were growing quite well.

"Brother! Mother really needs to talk to you, aren't you going back?" Zhao Ru shouted to Zhao Hua from outside the vegetable garden.

"Did you say what it is?" Zhao Hua didn't turn his head. He looked up at the cucumber vine from its root. It wasn't that he thought cucumbers were new; he just wanted to see if the cucumber vine would climb up the support he had built for it, and if it would have any thoughts of cheating on him along the way.

"No, but I saw Aunt Zhao go to our house. As soon as she left, Mom told me to come and call you." Zhao Ru said as she walked to Meng Qinghe's side and then took her arm.

"Aunt Zhao? Which Aunt Zhao?" There are too many people with the surname Zhao in the village. Those older than Zhao's father are called "Grandpa" and "Grandma," and those younger than Zhao's father are called "Uncle" and "Aunt." If you call out "Aunt Zhao" on the path, four or five people will peek out from their houses to see.

"It's that guy from our village who arranges marriages!" Zhao Ru's voice had risen slightly. She knew about Hongguang Village and could guess what was going on, but there were other people around, so she couldn't say it directly.

Zhao Hua frowned slightly. She really did have something to ask him, but what could she possibly want at this hour? It was unlikely that something had changed. What could possibly change at this point? He wanted to press her for details, but Zhao Ru was already having a private meeting with Meng Qinghe and didn't even glance at him.

Zhao Hua nodded and said, "I understand, I'll be back in a bit."

Then he turned to Meng's father and said, "Uncle, these vegetables of yours look quite neat and orderly. Why don't you just move them over there? If you move them over there, the vegetables can spread out a bit."

"That won't do!" Meng's father interrupted, "The village said that a piece of land must be left for people to walk on the road in front of the gate, otherwise it will block the road."

Zhao Hua clicked his tongue and said, "The village did allow us to keep some land, but they didn't say how much land we should keep. The plot of land left at the entrance is big enough for ten people to walk side by side. Why would you want to keep such a big plot? If you're worried, just expand along with my foundation. Expand wherever my foundation goes."

Meng's father hesitated for a moment, then said, "I've seen your foundation. Won't the village cause you trouble by expanding it so much?"

Zhao Hua smiled and said, "There are only our two families in the whole educated youth settlement now. As long as the road in front of the gate is wide enough for others to pass through, who would bother with such trivial matters? Even if someone comes later, they will build along our courtyard wall and definitely won't say a word."

After he finished speaking, Zhao Hua noticed that Meng's father still seemed hesitant. His suspicions grew. Theoretically, no one should refuse such a good thing, so why was Meng's father making such a fuss? Thinking of this, he asked the question.