Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 767 Completely Dumb

Xiao Wei secured the old man in the passenger seat with the seatbelt, lowered the backrest to make him more comfortable, then got in the car, started the engine, waved to his stepmother standing by the roadside, and drove towards the county town.

Zhang Wang looked back through the car window and asked, "Dad, is Mom okay home alone? Will she be alright?"

The old man said, "Go tell your fourth uncle that your fourth aunt can go over and visit sometime, and keep you company tonight."

Zhang Wang said, "That's more like it. I should have washed the seeds in the next few days. My mom doesn't know how to do it."

There aren't many edible vegetables left in the garden this season. Unlike the south, where vegetables are available year-round, in Northeast China, only green beans, eggplants, and cabbages can last a few more days. The peppers, cucumbers, and persimmons are no longer edible; they're for seed. The cucumber and tomato seeds need to be washed.

The old man said, "You're destined to be a workaholic. You've been out here, and you're still worrying about this and that. Once you're out, stop overthinking. Just do your job well, talk less and do more. Learn from Xiaowei, and make something of yourself. Otherwise, how will you ever have the face to come back?"

Zhang Wang scratched his head and chuckled a few times.

When they arrived at Uncle Si's house, Zhang Wang jumped out of the car and ran into the yard, and Xiao Wei also got out of the car and followed him in.

Zhang Wang gave his fourth uncle some instructions, and Xiao Wei handed over the money for the mountain produce to his fourth uncle. Then the two of them got into the car and headed straight for Fengtian. The mountain produce still needed to be dried for a while, and some of it needed some rough processing. Going back to Fengtian to do this was not only inconvenient, but also difficult to find skilled workers, unlike in the countryside where any woman could do it skillfully.

At 6:30 p.m., Xiaowei and Chen Hui brought Zhang Wang and his wife, along with the old man, back to the courtyard.

The moving truck caught up with it halfway. These days, even a highway truck loaded with cargo can only go 60 or 70 miles per hour if it's an experienced driver. It would be too easy for an off-road truck to catch it.

Chen Hui jumped down and opened the gate. Xiao Wei drove the SUV into the yard and parked it in front of the annex building. Then he waved for the truck to come in and said to Zhang Wang, "You and your sister-in-law can stay upstairs for now. If you want to move next spring, you can move to this building outside. If you don't want to move, you can stay in the yard."

The old man sat in his SUV, looking around the yard, and asked, "What is this place? Feel free to use it?"

Xiao Wei said, "This is my home. I built this house myself. I also built all of these things outside. If you don't want to stay in the countryside anymore in the future, you can come out and choose any one of these apartments to live in."

Zhang Wang stared wide-eyed at everyone, looking around. "How much did all this cost? Xiao Wei, why are you building all these houses?"

Xiao Wei said, "We'll sell them. We need to buy houses in the city. There won't be any more welfare housing in the future, so we'll build some and sell them. This business is a partnership between the three of us."

Xiao Wei's parents and Uncle Wang and Aunt Wang strode over from the main building. Just as they were about to enter Fengtian, Xiao Wei called home to tell his family that his grandfather had arrived and they were going to the military hospital to get his back checked.

"Brother, how come your back is injured too?" Xiaowei's father came over and looked at his older brother and asked.

The old man gave a wry smile and said, "Your sister-in-law can't do any work either. The other day when we were drying grain, it rained, and I slipped and fell in my haste. I thought it was nothing serious, but it's gotten worse these past few days. I don't think she broke any bones, but Xiaowei insisted that I come and take a look."

Xiaowei's mother sighed and said, "Sister-in-law, oh dear, what can I say? Xiaowei, drive the car over there so your uncle doesn't have to leave. He lives over there."

Xiao Wei climbed into the car, started it, and drove it to the main building. The old man asked, "Is this whole place yours? You bought it?"

Xiao Wei said, "Yes, we bought the entire plot of land, and the property certificate has been issued."

The old man nodded: "You can do it. I never expected that you would be the most successful one in your generation. I never thought so."

Xiaowei's dad and Uncle Wang came over and helped the old man out of the car. Xiaowei's dad said, "Let's go sit in the pavilion and talk. Xiaowei, go help Xiaowang with his things." Xiaowei agreed and walked to the annex building.

The chicken coop and duck cages are already set up. Just throw the chickens and ducks in, and after a few days they'll get used to it and be able to run around the yard.

There's no need to lock the geese; just let them out in the yard. They won't go out until they've explored the yard thoroughly, even with the gate open. Once they come out, they huddle together, looking around at this new world. Since Zhang Wang and his wife are both here, they aren't flustered. They call out a few times and then begin to swagger around, inspecting the area.

The dog was funny; it was probably its first time in a car and it got carsick, vomiting everywhere and lying limply in the compartment. Luckily, it was tied to a corner when it was loaded, otherwise it would have vomited on it. I took it down, gave it some water, and tied it to one side.

Xiaowei's mother and Aunt Wang were delighted. Chickens, ducks, geese, dogs—this was what a home should be like! The only thing missing was a pig, but unfortunately, they couldn't raise them in the yard.

Several people moved their belongings to the prepared rooms, which were all the same except for being wiped down.

Xiao Wei explained to Zhang Wang and his wife how to use the bathroom. Zhang Wang was okay, but his sister-in-law's eyes lit up. Being able to use the toilet and take a shower right inside the house—could there be anything better in the world?

A large living room, sofa, big TV, refrigerator, washing machine, electric fan, gas stove, sturdy wooden bed, heating—to be honest, they couldn't even dream of such conditions at this time.

Xiao Wei said, "Just stay here for now. Next spring, we'll pick out a three-bedroom apartment for you upstairs, so you won't have to move again."

Zhang Wang asked, "How will we get the grain? Don't we have grain ration coupons in the city?"

Xiao Wei said, "It's okay, you can buy whatever you want now, there's negotiable grain. Besides, you don't need to cook anything, you can just eat in the yard, it'll be more lively with more people. The people we hire will cook and clean up, it's just a matter of adding two more pairs of chopsticks."

The sister-in-law was a little embarrassed and said, "That's not good."

Xiao Wei said, "What's wrong with that? Don't think too highly of yourself. This is just a home. Hurry up, finish up and go downstairs for dinner. Everyone's waiting." Sister-in-law and Zhang Wang sped up, put their things away, made the beds, and then the group went downstairs to the main building for dinner.

Xiaowei's mother pulled her son aside and whispered, "You and Xiaohong didn't consummate your marriage before, did you? Was yesterday your first time?"

Xiao Wei's face flushed red, and he nodded. Xiao Wei's mother smiled and slapped him on the head: "You silly boy, don't you know to be careful the first time? Xiao Hong didn't get out of bed all day, and only got a little better this afternoon. Let me tell you, behave yourself these next few days, and we'll talk when you're fully recovered."

Xiao Wei quickly agreed and asked, "Where's Xiao Hong?"

Xiaowei's mother said, "She went to Geng Hui's with Chen Xiao. She just called to ask if you were back yet. She should be back soon. She's still in school, so don't get pregnant. Keep that in mind."

Xiao Wei said, "No way, I'm not a child."

Xiao Wei's mother went off to prepare dinner with a big smile, while Xiao Wei followed behind with a bright red face.

(End of this chapter)