A Young Woman's Heart

"Too lazy to do it." The tortoise said frankly, "Anyway, we're not short of money, so we might as well just use it for now."

The wind stirred up dust from the ground and brought the fishy smell of the river. Two middle-aged men chatted about their youthful vigor.

As time goes by, when we have a good chat, it feels like time hasn't changed and we are still the same as before.

"Being a worker back then was really great. It was like being a civil servant. We received gifts and favors every day. The salary was decent, and we were even provided with housing. It was so easy. Tsk tsk."

"It just wouldn't work after that."

"That must have been after 1993. Back then, factories didn't raise wages, so you couldn't make much money. Those who were capable went out and started their own businesses."

"I heard your factory manager emptied the factory, that's why you all lost your jobs?"

"Isn't that how it is? Shorting the market and then buying it back in an individual's name to turn it into a privately owned factory, tsk tsk." The turtle clicked its tongue. "If it weren't for the generous severance pay, everyone would definitely have made a fuss."

"Hey, I bet you guys don't dare."

"Who said that? Back then, we were young and hot-blooded, a whole bunch of young people, still full of spirit, okay?" The tortoise hammered the nail into the plank, looked it over a few times, and seemed fairly satisfied. "Is this plank wide enough? Isn't it too small?"

"That's fine, there's not much furniture anyway."

"Okay, let's do it this way."

"How many days do you estimate it will take to get it done?"

“If I were young, hey, I’d have you done in a day!” The tortoise held up one finger, then suddenly cried out in pain, clutching his lower back. “Damn it… I’ve pulled a muscle…”

"You got back up so quickly, haha."

"My legs went numb from squatting for so long, and there wasn't even a stool available. Back when I was working in the factory, it wasn't this tough."

"Come on, sit on the gasoline drum. Wait a minute, I'll put a newspaper down here..."

……

(four)

A low-key black Santana swayed gently as it drove along the muddy country road and stopped in front of a large iron gate.

"DiDi!!"

"coming!"

Mo Wenli quickly stood up, ran to the door, opened the iron gate, and the car slowly drove in and stopped next to the van.

"Oh, Turtle's here too?" Yu Liang recognized him. After all, he worked in a government agency and had heard about how this guy could get an entire region's leaders to collectively fine him. They also interacted regularly, so although they weren't close, they were friends.

"This kid dragged me here to do hard labor."

Haha! Keep it up, guys!

"Damn it, you fat, rich official, aren't you here to do any work?"

"I'm here to fish. Don't worry, if I catch anything, you can have two!" Yu Liang smiled and opened the trunk of the Santana with his key, taking out a bunch of equipment.

Not only were there bags for fishing rods, but also folding stools, buckets for fish, a large bag of bait, and even a radio to pass the time.

"Wow, you've got everything."

"Haha, turtle, are you coming?"

"Alright, next time then. I still have to rush to finish this guy's work!"

"Is this for building stairs?"

"correct."

Yu Liang looked at Mo Wenli: "Then why didn't you have the workers who were building the mezzanine build the stairs at the same time?"

“Save some money. You can use this money elsewhere. You can scavenge some junk at construction sites for free, or get some scraps from building material markets for very cheap.”

Yu Liang chuckled and said, "Fine, go ahead and do whatever you want, I'm going fishing."

He didn't care about the few fish in the small river, which wasn't very wide and could even be described as a broken ditch.

Fishing is mainly about the enjoyment of the fishing experience. It's best to have some fun, but even if you don't, it can still be a way to cultivate your mind and character.

"Hey, by the way, isn't today Monday? What's up with you, aren't you going to work?"

"I'm here for an inspection today, so I can allocate the rest of the time however I want, haha."

"Wow, you've got the potential to be a big corrupt official!"

"Go away, go away, I'm a good citizen and a good official." Yu Liang waved his hand as if shooing away flies and said jokingly, "Even if I become corrupt one day, it must be because I have no other choice."

"Don't even try that!"

"That's what corrupt officials always say!" the tortoise chimed in sarcastically.

……

(Fives)

As the sun began to set, Mo Wenli and the tortoise worked together to complete most of the staircase. All that was left was to add a handrail, which could be done tomorrow.

They walked towards the river, drinking water. Yu Liang was leisurely shaking his leg, and the water bucket next to him was still empty.

"Hey, what's wrong? Didn't catch a single one?"

"I released all the small fish."

"Just blow it."

"Here it comes, it's taken the bait!" Yu Liang suddenly became excited. He stood up from the folding stool with his fat body, then slowly reeled in the line. When he saw that the situation was about right, he suddenly pulled.

The green river water shimmered like jewels in the sunlight, and a dark, shadowy object was dragged aboard.

"Hey turtle, you've caught your kin!" Mo Wenli joked from the side, making Yu Liang burst into laughter as well.

"Haha, they really are relatives."

"Go away! That's a bastard, not a turtle."

"Turtle and tortoise are relatives, haha."

"Come here, turtle, take this tortoise home and nourish your body, so your wife won't keep running off with you."

"That won't do. If I eat turtle, what will I become?"

"Fighting among their own kind?"

"Go! Go! Go!"

Several middle-aged men were still pushing and shoving each other like young people, laughing loudly, as if the years had not quietly slipped away.

"Come on, Ah Liang, let me do it. You haven't caught a single fish all afternoon. Watch closely, I'll get you a big one."

"You're just bragging, Ali."

"I'm a first-rate fisherman, you know what I mean, just watch!"

"Oh, you came right away after going down?"

"Don't rush."

"I'm coming!"

"Holy crap, that's huge!"

"Wow, that's big! Ah Liang, hurry, hurry, your fishhook is no good, it's about to break free!"

"Where's my net... Turtle, lift your foot, you're stepping on the net."

"oops!"

Just as Mo Wenli cried out in regret, the silver perch flicked its tail and plunged back into the river, splashing up a shower of clear water droplets, leaving only ripples.

In the afterglow of the setting sun, the three middle-aged men exchanged glances, but instead of blaming each other, they all burst into hearty laughter.

He seemed exceptionally happy.

……

Chapter 298 Leisurely Days at the Fruit Shop

(One)

It was another Saturday afternoon.

As the day of the college entrance examination draws near, time seems to speed up all of a sudden.

Mo Xueyao originally wanted to stay in the band classroom a little longer today, but she didn't expect everyone to have their own things to do, so she could only return to the fruit shop with Li Wanyan.

It was still early, the summer sun was high in the sky, and the electric fans in the shop were already on.

My father is busy. Business is especially good during holidays. The fruit baskets he made yesterday seem to be completely sold out today.

Mo Xueyao put down her schoolbag, moved a stool and sat at the back door of the fruit shop. Su Tang insisted on coming out and circled around her feet.

"You fat cat need to lose weight," she muttered, picking up the fluffy cat and placing it on her lap. The cat lazily squinted its eyes, looking like it was about to fall asleep on the spot.

Li Wanyan was busy in the back. Since her parents were both in business, she was washing and chopping vegetables. If her mother didn't have time, she would cook a meal.

In fact, this has happened more than once or twice; it has become a habit in this family.

"Sister Xiaoyao!" Just as Mo Xueyao was about to ask Li Wanyan what dishes she was cooking today, she saw a little girl, about half a year old, suddenly emerge from behind the corner of the wall, raise her hands, wave them, and rush towards her.

"Meow—" Worried about being crushed into a meat patty, Su Tang was the first to jump down and curl up under the stool.

The little girl who was so short three years ago has now grown into a rather graceful young woman, though her face is still quite chubby, probably because her family eats so well.

"Ah... Xiaoyu."

"Long time no see, Sister Xiaoyao!"

"Are you alright...?" Mo Xueyao tilted her head and couldn't help but reach out and pinch her soft cheek. "You've grown so much taller now, what grade are you in?"

"I'm in fifth grade now, and after summer vacation I'll be in sixth grade, and then I'll graduate from elementary school!"

In her words, it was as if graduating from elementary school was the end of a long journey in life, and that the rest was her own free world.

"Wow, that's fast!"

"Right, right? I'll be an adult soon!"