Chapter 738

The courtyard, which hadn't been lively for a long time, was bustling again today. Everyone gathered together to see off Wang Yan and Xu Hongdou.

"Wang Laoshi, I'll toast you. This parting means we won't see each other for more than a month. Just thinking about that scene makes me reluctant to let you go," Xie Zhiyao said exaggeratedly, smiling as he raised his glass.

Wang Yan chuckled, clinked glasses with him, and said, "Look at you, making it sound like something else. My heart is entirely devoted to Hongdou."

Xie Zhiyao laughed: "Get the spirit of it, Wang Laoshi. You've almost become the spiritual pillar of Yunmiao Village now. With the New Year approaching, everything we talked about waiting until after the New Year to see has spread through the village, and everyone is worried. It's just that everyone has made money this past month, and those who were working outside have come back to help out. Having tasted the sweetness, they don't want these good days to vanish in the blink of an eye."

"It's no use looking for me; I don't know that much. The documentary becoming this popular is inseparable from your efforts. Mobilizing the masses and contacting the government—these are all hard jobs. Without these, who knows how long it would have taken to ferment to have such strong influence as we do now? What are your plans for the next step?"

"We are researching and discussing it, so it's not very clear yet. But what's decided now is to take advantage of the New Year to open a gourmet workshop, making things like flower cakes and milk fans. It can provide an experience for tourists and also sell goods. Another idea is to develop the mountain, since it's part of Cangshan after all, and our village orchard is there too. Also, we're thinking of expanding the village—expanding southward, occupying that wheat field in front of the homestay you invested in, and adding some new projects. Wang Laoshi, what do you think?"

Xu Hongdou also looked at Wang Yan beside her. She knew clearly that Wang Yan invested in the homestay precisely for that open wheat field in front and the beautiful scenery of the Cangshan snow line.

Wang Yan shook his head and smiled, saying: "This is your village's arrangement; what can I think? But personally, I believe one should eat one bite at a time and walk one step at a time; taking too big a step makes it easy to tear your crotch. Although you've earned quite a bit, the costs of new development and village expansion are not something you can support. Blindly taking out loans—if things change midway, you'll end up with a pile of bad debts, and Yunmiao Village will be ruined, and you few..."

He pointed his chopsticks vaguely at Xie Zhiyao, Xie Xiaochun, and Huang Xinxin, "will be the targets of the Yunmiao villagers' resentment. Even if you don't have to pay with your lives, you won't be able to stay in the village. After all, you know best what the people in your village are like, and this point holds true across the whole country. As it stands, the main point is to develop as many profitable projects as possible under existing conditions. As for more plans and longer-term strategies, let's wait until after the New Year to see the situation. Trying to become a fat man in one bite is impossible."

He liked the scenery, but he couldn't delay their development, and it wasn't his place to interfere. Besides, if you really talk about it, this was a result he himself had planted. If he hadn't stepped in, Yunmiao Village wouldn't have reached this level of popularity, which in turn led Xie Zhiyao and the others to conceive the idea of expanding the village on flat land.

Although they kept saying they would wait until after the New Year to see the actual situation, they actually had an estimate in their hearts. This point didn't require them, the villagers, to guess blindly; it was calculated by people from the Dali government using certain professional skills and professional measurement methods—there were experts involved.

So, the reason Xie Zhiyao was a bit carried away now was that the estimated situation was very good. Even if it didn't have the current level of popularity, it would still far surpass the previous desolation. After all, they still had hundreds of hours of footage in their hands, which they could take out and stir-fry again when they had nothing to do, thereby rekindling the previous heat.

Moreover, the Dali government had also put in the effort, working hard on the tourism experience. Standardizing operations, improving service quality, making things refined, detailed, and well-done, protecting the rights and interests of travelers—they had vigorously rectified chaotic phenomena, with multiple departments jointly enforcing the law, making it quite a grand affair. Taking advantage of this wind, the Dali government was also self-promoting and self-marketing, welcoming more people to come to Dali.

It was just a pity about the timing; the popularity came at an unfortunate time, and the New Year in the middle easily wore down enthusiasm. If Yunmiao Village had become popular in March, then, without guaranteeing too much, the heat could have been maintained at least until October through promotion, and the year's holidays are precisely within that period.

Undoubtedly, achieving such results, although there was an element of chance, was still an achievement, and a big one at that. For Xie Zhiyao and the others, it was a huge stimulus, and they couldn't help but get a bit carried away. After all, they were realizing their dreams, and on the road to chasing dreams, every step forward brought an unparalleled sense of achievement, not to mention the exaggerated, leap-like degree of it now.

Huang Xinxin nodded: "Yes, that's exactly what we think. It's just that long-term planning is also necessary; Yunmiao Village is ultimately a bit too small. To have major development, we must start construction and expand."

"Oh my, wear pants that fit your butt; you all need to be careful." Hu Youyu didn't really like talking about these things; after all, it didn't have much to do with him, and he didn't understand it very well. After interjecting, he raised his glass to toast.

Everyone took a sip together. He put down his glass and said somewhat melancholically: "With Wang Laoshi and Hongdou returning to Lu Province, I'll be the only one left. It's lonely, so lonely."

He had conflicts with his parents because he was messing around with music without any prospects—just barely getting by, and it was hard to talk about any future. His parents held old-fashioned, traditional ideas and didn't support him, but he insisted on it, so their relationship had become very strained. Although things had improved now that he was making short videos and livestreaming, it still wasn't something he could show off. Not to mention anything else, he didn't even have a place to pay his social insurance and housing fund, so naturally, he didn't want to go back for the New Year and get scolded.

Bai Manjun reached out and patted his shoulder, saying with a smile: "Aren't I still here? I don't plan to go back for the New Year either, and I have nowhere to go. It's meaningless, so let's keep each other company for the New Year."

Xie Xiaochun waved her hands repeatedly: "Don't make it sound so desolate. Could I really let you eat cold leftovers for the New Year? Just come to my house when the time comes; it'll be lively. You know my family—one who hasn't grown up, one who doesn't worry, and my mom who never listens. The New Year is meaningless there too. It's perfect for you two to go; it'll have an atmosphere."

Hu Youyu laughed: "That would be great, eating and drinking well every day, and it'll be lively. Right, sister?"

Bai Manjun smiled and nodded, and what flickered in her eyes as she looked at Hu Youyu was all warmth.

Hu Youyu didn't dare to meet her gaze, hurriedly turned his head and coughed, pretending to be fine, and raised his glass to toast again.

The others at the table were of course not fools; there was always some strange scent floating in the air, but everyone didn't say anything and just raised their glasses to drink.

Although everyone didn't gather often recently, there wasn't actually much to say, especially since there was a new couple of guest tenants who couldn't integrate. One person being awkward is one thing, but a man and a woman being awkward makes others feel awkward. The two of them sat there being sweet and honeyed, looking at the internet celebrities one by one, whispering to each other, which was happy enough. Although they were happy, their inability to integrate still affected the overall dining atmosphere. There was a barrier; they weren't "one of us," and many times one had to be careful with words, which was very tiring.

It was also because of this that the farewell banquet for Wang Yan and Hongdou didn't involve much drinking and didn't last very long. They started eating after nine o'clock and finished around eleven. Everyone busied themselves cleaning up the kitchen leftovers and bowls, then disbanded and all went to sleep.

Only Wang Yan and Xu Hongdou were still awake, packing things in Xu Hongdou's room. This time, the time they were going back for wasn't short, and Xu Hongdou had a lot of things. At the same time, she took the opportunity to tidy up the room, so she had been packing unhurriedly all day and still hadn't finished. Wang Yan had no choice but to help out, otherwise, it would never end.

"Wang Laoshi."

"Hmm?"

Xu Hongdou laughed: "You say Hu Laoshi and Bai Manjun, the two of them..."

"Why are you gossiping?" Wang Yan also laughed and said, "Then what do you think?"

"I think it's tough. Bai Manjun is over forty, and her daughter is already in college. Hu Laoshi is a year older than me, thirty-three. If they were both ten years younger, it might work, but the gap is too big now. There's no result."

"Do you know if Bai Manjun wants to eat tender grass as an old cow, or do you know if Hu Laoshi wants a small horse to pull a big cart?"

Although it's not good to talk about people behind their backs, behind closed doors, the two of them were still a couple, and messy exchanges were inevitable. Wang Yan continued, "Hu Laoshi is a singer, and he's handsome, and he's in a bar. Even if he keeps himself clean, there should always be one or two or three. As for Bai Manjun, divorced, children are grown, no serious business, lonely and empty. At this age, having experienced these things, there is an attitude of playing with life."

Xu Hongdou rolled her eyes and turned to say: "Then according to you, when we first met, going out to travel together was because you had little thoughts?"

"Of course. Whether you knew it or not, I did anyway. Don't you know how beautiful you are? I just fell for your beauty, gradually sank, and got lost in your beauty." Wang Yan, adhering to the spirit of being shameless, said whatever came to mind.

"Do you mean that if my beauty is gone, you won't sink or get lost anymore?" Xu Hongdou's eyes were a bit dangerous.

"Of course not. In the beginning, it was attraction, and later it was companionship. After all, who can stay young forever? It's just like you saying I'm very strong, but sooner or later there will be a time when I'm not."

"Go away, you're always talking nonsense. Hurry up and work, and get some rest early."

……

The next day, Wang Yan didn't let the need to travel affect his routine. He still got up early to exercise and bought breakfast back to eat. However, it's worth mentioning that it seemed many people knew the news that he was leaving. Along the way, many early risers greeted him and wished him a safe journey.

Because he was leaving, Hu Youyu got up early for a change, ate breakfast with them, and after washing up, helped Wang Yan and Hongdou carry their luggage along with Xie Zhiyao and Huang Xinxin. They went against the crowd of tourists squeezing in, reached the parking lot at the village entrance, and didn't leave until they saw them get in the car and set off.

Wang Yan and Hongdou drove back, passing through the five provinces of Yunnan, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Henan, and Shandong, a total distance of 2,600 kilometers. Anyway, they didn't have any serious business, and there was still plenty of time before the New Year, so they just strolled back unhurriedly. The estimated trip was half a month, passing through numerous scenic spots. Although it was already winter and they were heading north, which affected the scenery to some extent, Xu Hongdou hadn't been to many places in her life, so to her, everything she saw was fresh. Occasionally, they would even set up a tent in the wild for camping, which was an even more novel and strange experience.

So, along the way, Xu Hongdou was very happy. There were drawbacks, though—because they slept in separate rooms in the courtyard, now they were together every day with nowhere to run, and there was always some painful yet happy fatigue to endure.

Xu Hongdou's hometown was in a county in Zizhou, Shandong Province, while Chen Nanxing's home was in the city. It was also later that they bought a house in the city and moved, otherwise, the two of them wouldn't have had the chance to play together from childhood to adulthood. This time, Chen Nanxing's illness didn't cost too much money, so her parents' house was kept, giving them a place to settle down.

This residential area didn't separate people and cars. They drove all the way to the downstairs of the building before parking in the designated space on the ground. Chen Nanxing's parents had long been waiting downstairs and welcomed the two who got out of the car very enthusiastically.

"Hongdou, we missed you so much. Come, let Auntie take a look. This must be Wang Yan, right? The young man looks upright, tall, and looks good."

Chen's mother greeted them enthusiastically, and Chen's father also had a smile on his face, welcoming the two.

Wang Yan followed Xu Hongdou in greeting them and took Xu Hongdou's suitcase and the gifts they brought from the car.

Chen's father helped on the side, politely saying: "Look at you two, just coming is enough, treat it like your own home, why bring anything?"

"Yes, Hongdou, Wang Yan, you are being too polite." Chen's mother was a bit unhappy, truly unhappy, "We are happy that you can come; you don't need things. Stop taking them, we'll have to pack them for you when you leave."

If it were just some local specialties brought back for them to taste, that would be one thing, but now it wasn't just specialties, but a whole pile of other messy things. Xu Hongdou was Chen Nanxing's friend who played with her from childhood to adulthood. After Chen Nanxing died, Xu Hongdou cared a lot about the old couple. The old couple had a spiritual sustenance for Chen Nanxing in Xu Hongdou, treating her like a daughter, so naturally, they weren't happy about her bringing so many things.

Before Xu Hongdou could explain, Wang Yan took the initiative to speak: "Auntie, Hongdou treats you and Uncle Chen like her own parents. As Hongdou's boyfriend, how could I come to visit without bringing anything? Don't worry, the things I brought for you are the same as those for Hongdou's parents. You must give me two extra points and tell Hongdou to cherish me well."

Chen's mother laughed when she heard this: "You child speak so nicely. Her father, what are you standing there for? Take the things and hurry inside; it's quite cold outside."

Chen's father smiled and nodded, wanting to help carry the suitcase, but it was too heavy. Wang Yan didn't let him, shared a lot of things with him, and the group went upstairs and entered the house while talking and laughing.

As soon as they entered, they first looked at the various things Wang Yan brought. Finally, he put a jade bracelet on Chen's mother and changed Chen's father's watch, making the two of them grin from ear to ear, and only then did they start cooking. Wang Yan had nothing to do, so he went in to help cook, leaving Xu Hongdou to talk to Chen's mother.

The old couple had just lost their daughter; actually, it was a time of sadness, and seeing the lively Xu Hongdou made them even sadder—seeing people reminds one of the departed. It's just that they didn't show it, looking all happy and laughing, holding on hard.

From meeting to eating, they kept talking about Xu Hongdou and Wang Yan's time in Dali. The old couple also watched short videos and knew how awesome Wang Yan was, praising him fiercely. But they just didn't mention Chen Nanxing, because once they mentioned her, they couldn't hold it together.

Fortunately, enough things happened for them in Dali that they really couldn't finish talking about it for a while. Wang Yan accompanied Chen's father to drink a glass of white liquor and two bottles of beer. After eating, it was already dark.

After drinking tea and chatting for a long time, Wang Yan said: "Hongdou, Auntie, Uncle, it's getting late, I'll go first."

Chen's father had drunk too much and talked more, very much like a Shandong man: "What are you leaving for? You and Hongdou can just stay at home; it's not like there's no room."

"Yes, stay. Why bother going out so late?" Chen's mother also persuaded from the side.

Only Hongdou didn't speak; this was all discussed beforehand. She would sleep here, and Wang Yan would find a hotel himself. There were always some things they needed to say themselves.

Wang Yan laughed: "It's no bother. There's a hotel not far from our home, and I've already booked a room there. Let Hongdou accompany you and have a good talk. Don't worry, I won't drive; I'll just take a taxi when I go out, it's very convenient. I'll come over again tomorrow morning, it's the same."

Hongdou nodded in agreement: "Yes, Uncle and Auntie, just let him go, I'll stay here and accompany you."

Since they had said so, Chen's father and mother naturally didn't try to keep them anymore. Wang Yan didn't need anyone to see him off; he went out the door and took the elevator down himself.

After exiting the unit door, Wang Yan lit a cigarette. He didn't need to listen to know that Xu Hongdou was now talking to Chen's father and mother about him. The old couple were vetting Xu Hongdou, expressing their feelings. They still had to chat about his background and such, and whisper together. After that, without thinking, they should be crying, because it was impossible not to talk about Chen Nanxing forever, just like in the original drama.

Wang Yan's departure was to give them space to talk about these things; after all, he was ultimately an outsider...

They stayed at Chen Nanxing's parents' place for a total of five days. Wang Yan and Xu Hongdou accompanied Chen's father and mother to go shopping for new clothes, go to restaurants to eat, and take walks outside. Persuasion is the most useless thing; after all, everyone understands the big principles, and only the parties involved know how painful it is. It was mainly about giving some companionship and some spiritual comfort.

However, Chen's father and mother were very generous. Of course, it also had to do with the fact that the things Wang Yan gave weren't cheap. Chen's mother insisted on dragging Xu Hongdou to buy gold jewelry, and it was only after Xu Hongdou refused with all her might that they gave up.

Just like this, under the reluctant gaze of Chen's father and mother, Wang Yan and Xu Hongdou left this place and returned to Xu Hongdou's real home to see her real parents...