Chapter 17: Wang Changguang's Undertaking

Xixi said, "My dad's health is fine. I haven't seen him for a few days either. Uncle, guess what my dad is up to."

I said, "Your dad isn't working at the museum; where did he run off to act crazy? When I see your dad later, I'll definitely tell him off. Not working properly just won't do."

"Uncle, you've misunderstood my dad; he's gone to do something big," Xixi said proudly.

"What big thing could your dad possibly do?" I couldn't believe my ears.

"Uncle, my dad told me recently that he wants to do something big, something unprecedented, with no parallel before or after."

"That is, to rescue village history," Xixi said.

"Rescuing village history? What is that?" I didn't understand.

"Uncle, look how fast the city is expanding—so many villages near Beishan have been demolished."

"Some ordinary village histories are two or three hundred years old; I've read the village histories my dad wrote,"

"one of them called Wangzhuang Village, originally named Wanzhang Village, founded by the ancient figure Wanzhang; the village's history spans over two thousand years. Uncle, do you know who Wanzhang is?"

I shook my head,

"Who is Wanzhang? I really don't know."

"He was a senior disciple of Mencius, with eighteen chapters of his sayings in the seven chapters of the Mencius. The historical records state: 'Mencius went to Qi, ran out of food in Zou and Xue, retreated with Wanzhang's followers, compiled the Book of Songs and Documents, expounded Confucius's meaning, and composed the seven chapters of the Mencius.'"

"Wanzhang Village is near Beishan; in ancient times it was part of the Xue territory. Anyone who could enter the Records of the Grand Historian is no ordinary person."

"Uncle, you know? Recently Wanzhang Village was forcibly demolished. Over two thousand years of history just vanished like that. I went to Wanzhang Village and saw only ruined walls and broken remnants."

"I felt heartbroken; the inheritance of over two thousand years of history just disappeared."

"It's easy for a village to disappear, but hard to establish one."

"Seeing how fast urban development has been these years, my dad wanted to collect the histories of some villages."

"At the very least, this would let future generations remember these villages and their history."

"Otherwise, what could we leave behind for posterity? Uncle, I want to ask you: what's the point of building all those houses?"

"They're all cookie-cutter,"

"Is all you're leaving for future generations just these rows of bricks and tiles?"

Faced with Xixi's questioning, I suddenly didn't know how to answer.

I had never thought about these questions,

My impression of villages isn't great; I'm stuck in the past—aside from the low stone houses, there's also the village's filthy garbage.

My dream is to demolish all old villages and then build new skyscrapers.

Only then would I be keeping pace with the times.

Otherwise, villages would forever remain stagnant and out of step with the era.

Village history— a village actually having over two thousand years of history, that's so long. I never imagined that.

I looked at Xixi and said, "Xixi, you know, some things require destruction before construction. Villages held an important place in past history, but we must always develop. If we don't develop, what can we do? We can't just stay in the past."

Some villages, due to urban development needs, were demolished, but the new villages built afterward are even more beautiful than before.

What I want to say is, village history hasn't disappeared; it merely exists in another form.

Xixi, I know your dad has long objected to urban expansion and village demolitions. But many things need to look forward. Xixi, am I right?

Xixi laughed: "Uncle, you're partly right and partly wrong. It's true that development requires sacrifice, but while developing we must also leave something behind. A village's history will become pale due to demolition and may be forgotten by later generations."

What my dad does is write books about villages, preserving their history in written form so future generations know where we come from and what our history is. I admire what my dad does.

Hearing Xixi admire Wang Changguang left me feeling uneasy.

I wish Xixi could admire her uncle; her uncle founded the Da Heng Group— isn't that worthy of admiration? Wang Changguang just writes a bit about villages, and Xixi admires him.

I felt a bit resentful,

I said to Xixi, "Your dad is the kind of person I don't know what to say about— he's prone to nitpicking. Back then, over a piece of rotten bronze he almost went crazy, constantly asking me for treasures."

Now he wants to write village history,

In short, what your dad does isn't normal.

Xixi said, "Uncle, how far can you see? What will the future be like?"

How far can I see? I really haven't thought about that. What I can see right now is that the Da Heng Company will settle unpaid wages in three days.

Seeing me silent,

Xixi pushed up her glasses and continued, "Uncle, with such a big enterprise, you need to look higher and farther, bear more social responsibility. You need to see ten years ahead, even decades ahead— only then will you have the stature to face all your problems."

This niece of mine is no ordinary girl; the ink I've drunk these past years hasn't been wasted— she dares to give me lessons.

I haven't envisioned the future, but in the past I'm always lost in memories.

I then turned to Xixi and asked, "How far can your dad see?"

Xixi laughed,

"'My dad can see ten years into the future,' Xixi said proudly."

"'What will it be like ten years from now?' I asked."

"'Ten years from now, we'll be even wealthier than today, everyone will live in apartments and drive cars, but life's pressure will be greater because every family will have to pay a mortgage.'"

Life won't be happy.

"'Ten years from now, as we become wealthy, we might even clash with the world's top-ranked country. My dad often reminds us to guard against the infiltration of American imperialism,' Xixi said seriously."

After hearing Xixi's words, I almost laughed out loud.

This Wang Changguang still seems not back to normal, needing to guard against American imperialism's infiltration.

What nonsense.

I still remember Wang Changguang on Niushiling discussing world affairs with a senior technician.

They frothed at the mouth, arguing nonstop.

Xixi wore a serious expression, which worried me; I really fear she'll follow in Wang Changguang's footsteps, nitpicking.

I said to Xixi, "Xixi, these major affairs of the world are not for us to discuss; we just need to live our own lives well.

Xixi, you have ideals, I'm quite pleased.

So having ideals means putting them into action; I support you going to Beishan to be a teacher, only then can you closely engage with society and truly feel that life is not easy.

If you ever feel unhappy at work, think about coming to work at your maternal uncle's company, or at another unit in Zaocheng, and let your maternal uncle know; your maternal uncle will immediately help you make it happen."

Xixi nodded, just about to say something.

All I heard was Xiao Hua's voice coming from behind,

"Yo, Xixi's here, let little uncle have a look, have you gotten fat?"

Upon hearing Xiao Hua's voice, Xixi,

she showed a look of contempt.

Wang Changguang's dissatisfaction with Xiao Hua was also conveyed to Xixi.

Xiao Hua walked up to Xixi,

took out a handful of money from his pocket,

"Xixi, this money, take it to your mom; I haven't had time to return to Lanling to see your mom lately, so give this money to my sister."

Xixi, however, did not take the money,

Xixi said to me, "Uncle, take care," then went up to Xiao Hua,

spoke softly, "Little uncle, I smell your stench of copper."

"This girl, how rude!" Xiao Hua said angrily.

I heard it clearly from the sickbed; I really like Xixi.