Back to my 1980s

The shuttle bus engine hummed.

Zhao Hua, taking advantage of his youth and strength, managed to snag a window seat; his 1.8-meter height proved very useful at this moment.

He turned his head to look out the window. Dust was flying everywhere, and the fields were full of stubble left after the wheat harvest. Oh, and there were also grave mounds.

As the car drove forward, one could see one wheat field after another, covered with hulled wheat drying in the sun.

A group of children were chasing and playing in the wheat field, following behind the adults.

In the past, a wheat field was closer to Song Xueping's home.

At the entrance of the Song family's courtyard, Song Zhiqiang was lounging under a big tree, enjoying the cool shade. He vaguely saw a figure in his vision, and when he recognized Zhao Hua, his eyes lit up. He quickly got up and went to greet him. He had certainly consumed quite a bit of the cigarettes and alcohol that had been given to him before.

Zhao Hua carried the gifts he had just bought from the convenience store to the Song family's house. He saw Song Zhiqiang from afar, and after taking a few steps closer, he saw him get up and come to greet him.

As the two approached, Zhao Hua handed Song Zhiqiang the canned cigarettes and alcohol, smiling, "Enjoying the cool air? Where are the aunties and the others?"

After exchanging a few polite words, Song Zhiqiang said, "They've all gone to work at the threshing ground. They'll be back around noon. I'm home alone. Come on in!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Hua's expression became quite interesting...

But I don't think I was much better off than him before...

Seeing that Zhao Hua hadn't gone inside, Song Zhiqiang warmly greeted him, saying, "You've come all this way, aren't you tired? Come on in! Come on in!"

Zhao Hua handed him the gifts and asked, "Are the ladies still working? Do you need any help?"

Song Zhiqiang waved his hand and laughed, "What are you talking about? We've almost finished the work in the fields. Besides, you've come to my house as a guest. How could I let you do any work?"

The two walked into the house together, placing the gifts they were carrying on the table. Although that was what they said, Zhao Hua wasn't really there for Song Zhiqiang, but she couldn't appear too eager either...

After sitting down and chatting for a few minutes, Zhao Hua stood up, stamped his feet, stretched, and smiled at Song Zhiqiang, saying, "My legs are sore from sitting all the way here!"

Song Zhiqiang understood what was being said, but he didn't want to respond. In this sweltering heat, if he wanted to go out, he wouldn't be staying home to cool off right now.

The atmosphere was awkward for a moment. Seeing that this good-for-nothing wasn't responding, Zhao Hua had no choice but to continue, "I'm always at home casting nets, and I only grow sweet potatoes. I've never seen anyone harvest wheat before. Why don't you take me to see? I'm quite curious."

What could Song Zhiqiang say? Someone was actually interested in the wheat growing in the field. He wouldn't even think about it if he didn't go there for a year. He could only get up and say, "Okay, I'll just tell my mother you're here and have her prepare some food early."

Zhao Hua quickly waved his hand and said, "No need, no need, we're all so busy, why bother them?"

"It's alright. I treated the people I invited over to help with the chores the other day to good food and drinks every day. It's no trouble at all. Come on, come on."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Hua didn't say anything more and followed behind Song Zhiqiang toward the Song family's wheat field.

The Song family's wheat field wasn't far away; it only took the two of them six or seven minutes to walk there, about five or six hundred meters.

The sun hung high in the sky, scorching the ground; you could feel the heat rising from the soles of your feet. Hot winds swirled around the threshing floor, carrying dust and bits of chaff, making your face feel dry and parched, and even your breath felt scorching.

The poplar leaves on the distant field ridges drooped listlessly, and the cicadas chirped one after another, their calls urgent and restless, making one feel depressed as well.

Mr. and Mrs. Song were turning over the new wheat in the threshing ground, while Song Xueping bent over in the wheat pile, picking out clods of dirt and throwing them out.

As he stood up after throwing away the clod of dirt, he noticed the two of them out of the corner of his eye. He looked at them carefully for a moment, then turned to remind Mr. and Mrs. Song.

After being reminded, Mr. and Mrs. Song looked up and leaned on the wooden shovels in their hands, watching the two walk this way.

As the two walked and chatted closer, Song's mother greeted Zhao Hua with a smile, saying, "Little Zhao, what brings you here so soon? Aren't you busy at home?"

"No rush, the sweet potatoes I planted at home aren't ready to be harvested yet." She replied to Song's mother, but her eyes were glancing at Song Xueping out of the corner of her eye.

Song Xueping was dressed in a simple long gown, with the sleeves rolled up to her forearms, revealing a small section of her slender wrist. Her hands were still covered with some wheat chaff and fine dust. She was beautiful, with pretty eyebrows and eyes and regular features. No wonder she was his wife, Zhao Hua thought to himself. However, she was a little darker than when he last saw her.

Zhao Hua glanced around and then looked away, afraid of being discovered. Song Xueping only looked up once when her mother was talking to Zhao Hua, and then went back to searching for clods of earth in the wheat.

Zhao Hua glanced at her and sighed inwardly. This girl looked quiet, but she was really efficient at work. She didn't even bother to hide from the blazing sun. Even her brother knew to stay home.

Song Zhiqiang chimed in from the side, "Mom, Zhao Hua said his legs were sore from sitting in the car. He heard that we're harvesting wheat and he's very curious, so I brought him over to see."

Upon hearing this, Song's mother's smile widened: "It seems there's nothing wrong, it's just that the sun is strong. Don't stand here, go and sit under the tree to cool off, don't get sunburned."

Zhao Hua took out a cigarette and offered one to Song's father. After greeting Song's father, he smiled at Song's mother and said, "It's alright, don't worry about me. Is there anything I can help you with?"

Mr. Song took the cigarette and tucked it behind his ear. He waved his hand and said, "No need, no need. There's just this little bit of finishing work left. It'll be done in a few minutes. If you're tired from the ride, just rest under the tree. I'll have Qiangzi's mother go back and prepare some food. We'll have a few drinks at noon."

Song's mother wiped the sweat from her forehead, looked up at the sky, nodded and said, "Is Xiao Zhao alright today? He can have lunch at our house later. Just tell me what you want to eat, and I'll go back and prepare it."

Zhao Hua waved his hand and laughed, "Auntie, just make some simple home-cooked dishes. I won't dare to come again if you make such a big fuss every time. I'm not some rich young master living in luxury. As long as I have something to eat, I'm fine."

Upon hearing this, Song's mother smiled and nodded, saying, "Alright, go find some shade under the tree. What are you doing here in this sweltering heat?"

"Okay! Got it, you go about your business, don't worry about me," Zhao Hua replied casually.

Zhao Hua looked around and saw that it was indeed in the final stage. All that was needed was to turn it over and dry it. It wouldn't be ready to be put away for a while if it wasn't completely dry.

Since Song's parents were there, it was more likely to keep an eye out for theft, so Zhao Hua squatted down and found a corner to help pick through the clods of dirt.

After trying to stop him for a while, Song's parents decided not to force him to leave and let him go.

When Song Zhiqiang saw Zhao Hua squatting down to help with the work, his face contorted with embarrassment. He didn't want to do the work in such hot weather, but the customers had already squatted down, and it wouldn't be appropriate to run away now. There was no time to lose, so he could only squat down with a long face and help out.