Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 477 Reservoir

Xiao Wei and his friends had already entered Xiao Hong's house and were cleaning it. After being empty for so long, the house was covered in a thick layer of dust. Fortunately, it had been cleaned properly before, and there was no mold or foul smell.

The group worked together to clean the house thoroughly before sitting down to rest. Xiao Wei went to the neighbor's house to boil water and brought it back for everyone to drink.

Chen Hui said, "Oh dear, I haven't worked in a long time, I'm too tired to move. Why don't we just stay here? There are three rooms, so we can all fit."

Xia Maosheng nodded and said, "Okay, I also don't think the reservoir is that interesting, and besides, I really don't want to move."

Chen Xiao's gaze suddenly fixed on Chen Hui's face. Chen Hui blinked and said, "Forget it, it's not like we're walking, so what's the big deal? Besides, living by the water is so comfortable, and we can eat fresh river food. Imagine waking up in the morning and opening the window—that feeling would be amazing, wouldn't it, honey?"

Chen Xiao looked away and said awkwardly, "Really? I don't know either. Oh dear, Lao Xia and the others are all tired, why don't they stay here?"

Geng Hui glanced at Xiao Hong, who was also looking at Geng Hui. Xiao Hong couldn't hold back and burst into laughter. Geng Hui smiled too, then turned to look at Chen Xiao, who had a look of "I don't understand what you're doing."

Xiao Wei chuckled and said, "Never mind, it won't take long to drive here. We've come all this way, let's go."

There was a knock on the door. Xiao Wei stood up to open it, and the newly appointed deputy director of the agricultural machinery station, Li, appeared at the door. He glanced inside and said with a smile, "It's you guys back. I thought it was your dad and the others coming back to move. Is there something you need?" He went inside.

The group shoveled some food and invited Li Wenhua to sit down. Xiao Hong went to get a bowl and poured him some water. Xiao Wei offered him a cigarette and said, "It's nothing. I've had some free time these past few days, so I brought Xiao Hui and the others to the water cave to take a look. I'll tidy up a bit when I get back. How's it going?"

Li Wenhua took the cigarette, lit it, and said, "What else can we do? We'll just have to make do. It's better than farming anyway. We can't compare to you guys. You and Xiao Hong are really something now."

Xiao Wei introduced them: "This is my buddy Chen Hui, from the power bureau. This is Xia Maosheng, from the Longcheng Government Administration Bureau. Old Xia, Xiao Hui, this is Brother Li. We used to be from the same fort, at the agricultural machinery station, where I was the deputy station chief. That's Uncle Wang's old workplace."

Xiao Hong poured Li Wenhua a bowl of water and placed it in front of him, saying, "Shouldn't I call him brother-in-law? I remember."

Xiao Wei laughed and said, "We should call him brother-in-law. If I introduce Xiao Hui and Lao Xia like that, won't they be confused? Where's the sister?" Xiao Hong then realized what he meant and chuckled a couple of times, feeling embarrassed.

Li Wenhua shook hands with Chen Hui and Xia Maosheng one by one, introduced themselves, and then asked, "Have you been to the water cave?"

Xiao Wei said, "We went this morning, and this afternoon we're planning to take them to the reservoir. Is the reservoir fun there now?"

Li Wenhua said, "We rarely go there. The scenery is definitely beautiful, but there's not much to do. You can just take a boat ride and fish, that's about it. Do you like fish? If you do, you definitely won't regret going. It's pure wild river fish, and the flavor is truly amazing. It's just not cheap."

Xiao Hong said, "If there's a water cave, then the restaurant must be expensive!"

Li Wenhua said, "No, how many people come to the water cave every day? The reservoir gets fewer people, so it's only slightly more expensive than a regular hotel. We mainly make money from accommodation. People usually stay for a few days, and with food and lodging, it breaks even. Why don't you go soak in the hot springs?"

Xiao Wei pointed at Chen Xiao and said, "She's almost due, and Geng Hui is pregnant too. Let's skip the hot springs for now; we can go another time. It's not like we can't get away with it; it's something we can do whenever we want."

Xiao Hong pouted and said, "I didn't get to soak in the water at Wulongbei last time. Xiao Xiao, you've ruined so many of my good things. When your son comes out, I'll be nibbling on him every day."

Chen Xiao said, "Fine. I'm angry too. He ruined so many of my good times. I'll beat him up in the morning, and you beat him up in the afternoon." Everyone laughed. Li Wenhua flicked his cigarette ash and said, "Alright then, I'm going back. I just heard someone was coming back and came to check. Xiao Hong, when are your parents coming back?"

Xiao Hong said, "Around the end of October, I guess. It's definitely not possible now. My dad is now the director of the provincial construction bureau, and he's very busy."

Li Wenhua was stunned for a moment, then immediately asked with delight, "Really? Provincial Urban Construction? Director? Deputy or Director?"

Xiao Hong said, "That's right. I just happened to have the opportunity to go. In the future, if you have time, you can just go to Fengtian and find my dad there."

Li Wenhua considered it for a moment and asked, "Is that a full-fledged department head? It must be, right?"

Chen Hui said, "The deputy director-general level is equivalent to a deputy director-general level position. The chief bureau chief is equivalent to a deputy director-general level position, and the deputy bureau chief is equivalent to a division chief position."

Li Wenhua grinned and said, "My uncle's on a plane now! He's a deputy mayor now, that's incredible! I'll find some time to go to the provincial capital to congratulate him. Okay, I'm heading back now. If you're going to the reservoir, Xiaowei, have Uncle Li give you a call; he's got connections."

Xiao Wei said, "I've already called. I went to Uncle Li's place at noon."

Li Wenhua nodded and walked out, saying, "Okay. If you're not in a hurry to leave and can stay for a few days, let's come back and have a meal together."

Xiao Wei agreed, and Li Wenhua went downstairs and left.

Chen Hui asked, "Who's this? Is he here to watch your house?"

Xiao Hong nodded and said, "Yeah, everyone's gone, so someone has to help look after them. My brother-in-law Yan is from our village, and he's related to Xiao Wei's family. My dad even helped him get into the agricultural machinery bureau."

Xia Maosheng said, "That's how it is in the countryside. Everyone is related by marriage, and they can lend a hand to each other if anything happens. They also visit each other a lot. It's different from the city."

Chen Hui glanced at Xia Maosheng and said, "You talk like you're from the countryside."

Xia Maosheng said with a smile, "Our Chuanzhou used to be a rural area. If it weren't for the mining bureau, it would be even worse off than this place."

Xiao Hong said, "Alright, alright, you've made the house smell like smoke after I just cleaned it. Let's go to the reservoir and cause some trouble there."

Several people got up, arranged the stools, washed and put away the drinking bowls, locked the door, and went downstairs.

At this time, Guanyinge Reservoir was just being built, and it didn't have the wide water surface that would later become several kilometers wide. There were also no hotels or clubs. If you wanted to have fun, you could only go to Guanmenshan Reservoir.

The Guanmenshan Reservoir doesn't have as much water storage as this one; its surface is less than 600 meters wide and only a few kilometers long. However, it boasts stunning scenery, with rugged mountains covered in maple forests. Especially in autumn, it's a truly breathtaking sight, with fiery red hues illuminating the crystal-clear mountain streams. Walking on the moss-covered stones and watching the ever-changing white clouds drifting among the peaks is absolutely beautiful.

After calling Li Zhongguo to let him know, the group drove south along the river, heading straight for Guanmenshan Reservoir.

(End of this chapter)