Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 160 really is about changing the boiler.

Everyone in the restaurant looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh. Sister Zhang said to Li Bing, "Your Hongliang seems pretty shrewd, but looks like he can't beat Xiao Gengsheng." Li Bing blushed and didn't say anything, but her confidence was growing. It seemed Liu Hongliang was going to suffer. The two of them were officially together now. That ex had miraculously disappeared from Li Bing's life after Liu Hongliang went to see him once, and had never appeared again.

Aunt Wang sat outside drinking hot water, listening to everyone talking, and said with a smile, "It's so lively, so nice."

Uncle Wang glanced at Zhang's father, who was still looking around, and said, "Xiao Wei is a smart guy, and he's capable. Old Hai is in luck now."

Xiao Hong held a cup of hot water, looking at Xiao Wei's profile with a hint of pride, her little face flushed.

Chen Hui said to Xia Maosheng, "Xiao Wei is definitely better than the two of us in this respect. He can get along with anyone and he's not pretentious."

Xia Maosheng glanced at Chen Hui and said, "Don't drag me into this, just say it's you."

Chen Hui didn't take it to heart and said, "Don't be unconvinced. Look at it's only been a few days, and all these people at the restaurant, Master Zhai, Master Chang who repairs the boiler, and the three carpenters this morning, think about it, aren't they all getting along really well with Xiao Wei, as if they've known each other for a long time? They're working so diligently."

Xiao Hong smiled and said, "That's not how you compare them. You all grew up in different environments, so it's natural that your ways of dealing with people will be different."

Zhang's father walked around and returned to the table, sitting down. He said to Uncle Wang, "It's settled. You two go back, I'll stay here. I'll go back with Xiaowei and Xiaohong during the New Year, and then we'll have the mother and daughter come over after the New Year."

Uncle Wang laughed and said, "What? Your son's doing well, so you think you're all that now? You even have to tie my daughter down with you."

Xiao Wei happened to walk over and said, "Dad, why don't you go back with my uncle and aunt this time? When you get back, pack up and sell or give away whatever you need. Let my fourth uncle farm the land; don't ask for money. And my eldest brother from my uncle's family still has nowhere to live after his wedding, right? Let him stay in our house. Come over as soon as you're done packing; don't wait until the New Year."

Mr. Zhang thought for a moment, then frowned and said, "Isn't there a need to be in such a hurry? There are only a few days left until the New Year."

Xiaowei sat down, took Xiaohong's cup, took a sip of water, and said, "It's not that we're in a rush. Things over there aren't important, but arrangements here are. Xiaobing, come over and get things settled at school quickly. Just stay for a few days, and classes will resume normally when the next semester starts without any hassle. My mom is worried, so coming earlier will put her at ease. There are still two months until Chinese New Year. How will my mom and Xiaobing get by at home if you leave?"

Uncle Wang said, "Xiao Wei is right. Lao Hai, you have to listen to Xiao Wei. If you ask me, you should go back and sell the pigs. Give the chickens and ducks to Xiao Wang; they're not worth much. Let him live in the house, and don't worry about whether you'll give him the house or not. Just consider it as him looking after the house for you. Give the land to your son. You and your sister-in-law should hurry up and get ready to come help Xiao Wei. Look at that big courtyard over there; it's not lively without people."

Mr. Zhang asked, "So you're not bringing anything?"

Xiao Wei said, "We'll pick out some clothes, but we don't need the old ones here. We'll buy new luggage here, and just make sure Xiao Bing has all his things. Auntie, if you have time, could you come over? My mom's got that kind of temper; she'll bring everything over, even the ground."

Xiao Hong giggled, and Zhang's father slapped Xiao Wei on the head, scolding, "How can you talk about your own mother like that?"

Aunt Wang looked at Uncle Wang and said, "Let's get a car. I'll go with her. What Xiaowei said is true. With Xiaofen's personality, things might really turn out that way. Coming here is like moving to the city. From now on, we'll be city people. Many of our old habits won't work anymore, and our belongings too. What's the point of bringing useless things?"

Chen Hui squeezed in next to Xiao Wei and said, "I'll get the car ready, I'll drive there to get it, okay?"

Xiao Wei asked, "Driving there? That's hundreds of kilometers round trip, are you crazy?"

Chen Hui said, "How about I just follow along and take a look, instead of driving? I've never been to a place like yours before. Old Xia, do you want to come?"

Xia Maosheng shook his head and said, "I'm not going. If you want to go, go in the summer. I'm not going now. You go by yourself."

Xiao Wei said, "Alright, stop making things worse. You can go next summer if you want. You've never been to my mountain village before. You can't go in winter; it'll be too much of a hardship."

Chen Hui asked, "Suffering? What suffering? It's just a flat-roofed house with an earthen bed, what's so suffering about that?"

Xiao Wei said, "After getting off the train, you still have to take a bus. I won't go into details about the buses where I live. They're drafty and noisy everywhere. After that, you have to walk for another hour and a half, crossing two mountains. There are no roads, just tracks made by people walking on them. The snow is thigh-deep. If you think you can handle it, then go ahead."

Chen Hui blinked, thought for a moment, then turned to Xiao Hong and asked, "Is what he said true?"

Xiao Hong nodded and said, "Yes, it really takes that long to walk and cross two mountains, but the mountains aren't very high, just a bit steep. The snow isn't as deep as he said. Just be careful and follow the path; it's all compacted."

Chen Hui asked, "How about we go that way anyway?"

Xiao Hong frowned, thought for a moment, then shook her head and said, "I don't know, I've never dared to do that."

Uncle Wang laughed and said, "In winter, no one dares to deviate from this path. The snow is so deep that it's not just thigh-deep, it can be as deep as a person. If you go in, you're basically thrown in and can't climb out. There's no way to rescue you."

Chen Hui pursed his lips, shook his head, and said, "Forget it, I'm not going. It sounds too scary."

Uncle Wang said, "Go there in the summer. In late summer and early autumn, you can catch fish and crayfish, pick fruit in the mountains, and there's plenty to do. You won't be able to handle it in the winter. I can't even go back now; I've been away for too long."

Aunt Wang said, "Whose fault is it? Look at your belly. When Xiao Hong has a child in the future, it will be so convenient for you. You won't even need your hands to hold your grandson; you can just put your hands on your belly."

Everyone burst into laughter, and Xiao Hong blushed and chuckled softly.

As soon as the door opened, Xiao Bin walked in carrying a shoulder bag. He went straight to the radiator, hissing as he took off his glasses to wipe them, and asked, "Has anyone had lunch yet?"

Xiao Wei stood up and said, "Brother Xiao is here. There are three tables for lunch. What's up?"

Xiao Bin put on his cleaned glasses and said, "Let's have a table too. It'll cost around 500 yuan including drinks. Get ready."

Xiao Wei handed him a cigarette and said, "You went to all this trouble? You could have just called."

Xiao Bin said, "It's not just this. There's also this." He leaned back on the radiator, looked down, and rummaged through his bag for a while before pulling out a document and handing it to Xiao Wei, saying, "You and Xia sign this, and I'll go back and get you a check."

Xiao Wei took it and looked at it: "What's this?"

Xiao Bin said, "The boiler fee. Didn't you replace the boiler over there? When you submitted the order, you filled in 'new installation,' and the labor bureau transferred the boiler fee to you. But Master Chang's work order reported 'replacement,' which resulted in tens of thousands of yuan in extra charges. Now that you two are the persons in charge there, we need your signatures to get a refund."

Xiao Wei had figured it out by now. The boiler cost 37,800 yuan, and he asked, "Can you refund the money?"

(End of this chapter)