Chapter 2174

Zhou Andong raised his hand and lightly tapped the second child: "In this scorching heat, moving a little makes you sweat all over, I don't want to move, so you'd better disappear from my sight right away."

The second child glared, opened his mouth to say a couple of harsh words, but seeing Zhou Andong's smiling, narrowed expression, he swallowed the words that had reached his lips.

In Tanghezi, the second child is a pile of stinking dog feces; even if you walk around him, he disgusts you.

If someone's chicken is missing, duck gone, dog disappeared, ninety-nine percent of the time he stole it.

If you go look for him, this guy will play the rascal with you, kicking your door at midnight, smashing your windows, dumping manure in your courtyard.

So, most people don't want to provoke him, fearing they'll bring bad luck and trouble upon themselves.

But Zhou Andong and Zhou Anbei are among the few; don't even mention chickens at home, even if an egg is lost, they go straight to find the second child.

Upon seeing him, without asking, the two brothers press the second child to the ground and beat him; only after the beating do they talk to him, and if he doesn't admit stealing the eggs, they keep beating until he admits.

If the second child dares to retaliate, let him come; as long as you're in Tanghezi, I'll find you every day and clean you up. Once, the second child was beaten by Zhou Andong and Zhou Anbei so badly he didn't dare go home for over two months.

So, in Tanghezi, the second child fears neither heaven nor earth, not even the village chief and party secretary can do anything to him, but he fears the Zhou brothers.

Because these two brothers are even more unreasonable than him, or rather, they don't reason with you at all; they see you and start fighting, wanting to talk only after you've taken the beating.

Seeing Zhou Andong's smiling, narrowed expression, the second child instantly wilted. A few years ago, when he saw the Zhou brothers, he still dared to say a couple of harsh words, but facing the current Zhou Andong, he truly dares not say a word.

The second child silently walked past Zhou Andong, hearing the footsteps behind him grow fainter, he turned and spat with a "pah," then his body froze in place.

Because Zhou Andong hadn't walked away; he was just over ten steps away, smiling at him.

This guy had no hesitation, he took off running. Based on past beating experiences, if he didn't run, he'd definitely get cleaned up.

The second child ran all the way to the village entrance, panting, turned to look around, saw Zhou Andong hadn't chased him, put his heart back in his belly, and was about to curse Zhou Andong's ancestors eighteen generations.

But before he could speak his curse, the corner of his eye suddenly noticed two small cars parked under the old locust tree not far away; he didn't need to think to know they were definitely Zhou Andong's cars, and he swallowed the curse that had reached his lips.

As he prepared to leave, he suddenly saw Zhou Xiaode returning with a hoe on his shoulder.

The second child's eyes rolled, he quickened his pace: "Zhou Eldest, it's so hot, you're still working in the fields?"

These past two years, Zhou Xiaode's heart has been uneasy; before, his few mu of land were tended by his old father and mother, he lay on the kang doing nothing, waiting for autumn harvest to sell the grain and get money.

But these two years, his old father and mother no longer care for him; last year, Zhou Andong's dead calf took them to Jingcheng and they didn't return, so he has to tend the land himself.

Every day after returning from the fields, after eating, he sits on the kang cursing Zhou Andong; if it weren't for that dead calf meddling, not letting his old father and mother help him, how would he be this tired?

Then his younger son, Erlei, is disobedient, married a widow with a child, the whole village knows, so he can't lift his head in the village.

Also, Zhou Andong and Zhou Anlei, during festivals, give gifts to the whole village, but not to him, this paternal uncle; how could he not be angry?

Moreover, thinking of his two sisters now driving small cars, seemingly having bought apartments in the city, how could his heart be balanced? Especially the old Ga family, all taken to Jingcheng by Zhou Andong's dead calf, surely they drive cars, live in apartments, eat well and dress finely, while only he, this paternal uncle, suffers hardship in the village.

This morning, he hoed two ridges of land; no matter how much or little work, in this heat, his inner anger naturally wouldn't be small. If it weren't the second child who came up, he would surely have started cursing.

"What's it to you?" Zhou Xiaode suppressed the urge to curse, stepped forward to leave.

"Zhou Eldest!" the second child said with a smile: "Just now in the village I saw Zhou Andong, I'm very curious, your family members all got rich, your sister, your brother, how come only you stay in the village guarding those few mu of land?"

Zhou Xiaode frowned: "Did Zhou Andong's little calf return to the village?"

"What am I lying to you for?" the second child's smile grew brighter: "I just met him, we chatted for a while."

Zhou Xiaode's brows knit tighter, he pondered: Zhou Andong returned to the village, will his old grandfather and grandmother come back too?

At this moment, the second child continued: "Zhou Andong brought his aunt and uncle to get rich, yet left you, this paternal uncle, to suffer hardship in the village; this is too unfair to you.

Speaking honestly, I think Zhou Andong is really not a good person, I wanted to speak up for you, but I'm just an outsider, only mentioned it slightly, yet Zhou Andong scolded me for meddling!"

After saying that, the second child sighed, shook his head and walked. But after two steps, he stopped again, turned to look at Zhou Xiaode.

"Zhou Eldest, if I were you, I'd definitely go find Zhou Andong for an explanation. One stroke can't write two Zhou characters; you are his paternal uncle, not someone picked up by his old father.

Why? The family can get rich with him, but you, this paternal uncle, can't? If he can't give you an explanation, then go find his old father and mother to reason.

If his old father and mother also can't give you an explanation, then there's no need to save face for Zhou Andong; go to the newspaper office, find reporters, let all of China see his ungrateful, heartless rich man's ugly face."

Looking at Zhou Xiaode standing there, lost in thought, the second child's eyes flashed with a malignance, his face revealed a gloomy smile.

He doesn't know how many anonymous letters he's written reporting Zhou Andong and Zhou Anbei, but every one sank like a stone in the sea.

At this time he finally understood, the times have changed, it's no longer over ten years ago when an envelope, a stamp, a name could investigate for half a year.

He hasn't thought of real-name reporting or going to the newspaper office to find reporters to smear Zhou Andong's reputation, but in the end he backed down.

He is a rascal, no doubt, but not lacking in cunning; he firmly believes there's no wall in this world that doesn't let wind through.

Moreover, nowadays, whether it's Zhou Andong or Zhou Anbei, their power is terrifyingly great.

Once discovered reporting them everywhere, it won't be as simple as a beating; worse, he might be sent to the prickly fence prison for several years.

He feels so wronged in his heart; every time he sees in the news Zhou Andong springing forth proudly, he recalls being brutally beaten by the Zhou brothers, and the envy, jealousy, hatred will wildly spread in his heart.

But no matter how much he resents, he has no recourse; for so many years he's been afraid of being beaten, his heart has a shadow, openly going to find Zhou Andong for trouble, he truly doesn't have that courage.

While everyone in Tanghezi knows the Zhou second and eldest brothers don't get along, the second child certainly knows this too; at this moment, suddenly encountering Zhou Xiaode, this guy's evil thoughts begin to stir, provoking Zhou Xiaode to cause trouble for Zhou Andong.

Although doing this can't substantially harm Zhou Andong, but thinking of being able to disgust him, add obstacles, make his family uneasy, the second child gets excited, gets happy.

Zhou Xiaode, head down, carrying his hoe home, his steps growing faster, his mind constantly pondering the second child's words, the more he pondered, the more reasonable it seemed.

Since you, Zhou Andong, are so heartless and unjust, rich but unkind, then don't blame me, this paternal uncle, for finding reporters to expose you, letting the nation judge right from wrong.

Of course, he also saw the two small cars parked under the old locust tree, which confirmed the second child didn't lie to him, Zhou Andong's little brat really returned.

And the Gu Bing sitting in the car is not unfamiliar to Zhou Xiaode; this old guy caused a ruckus at the winery, even intercepted his car, then was sent by him to detention for a week.

Now seeing this old thing return, still full of vigor, running into the village all the way, he knows there's excitement to watch, then he pushes open the car door, gets out, unhurriedly walks toward Zhou Eldest's home.

Zhou Xiaode entered the village, he still had a suspicion, didn't go straight home, but walked toward the old father's house direction, because he suspected the old father and mother had returned.

When he arrived at the old father's house gate, seeing the always-locked gate now open, he suddenly felt very excited.

Then he leaned on the gate bracket, peered into the courtyard; there were shadows moving inside, but the distance was a bit far, he couldn't make out the appearance.

However, only his two sisters could open the old father and mother's gate lock, but he didn't see a car, so he was certain it was the old father and mother who had returned.

Zhou Xiaode stepped forward, his legs ran home, those legs moving so fast, as if stepping on a fire wheel.

Zhao Guifen had just finished cooking the rice, took out the tofu bought this morning from the cold water, was about to stew it, when the door was pushed open with a bang, startling Zhao Guifen into a shudder.

Looking up, I saw Zhou Xiaode, and I was so angry I shouted: "Did your dad die or your mom die, that you're rushing around like this?"

Zhou Xiaode caught his breath, wiped the sweat from his face, didn't even have time to drink water, and hurriedly said: "My dad and mom aren't dead, they're back."

"Ah?" Zhao Guifen threw the tofu back into the cold water basin with a splash, water flying everywhere: "What did you say? The two old immortals are back?"

"Right!" Zhou Xiaode said through gritted teeth: "Zhou Andong that little calf also came back, I saw his car parked at the village entrance."

"Let's go!"

Zhao Guifen took off her greasy apron, wiped her damp hands, then threw the apron onto the stove and strode outside.

At this time, Gu Bing had already pushed open the old man's door, entered the outer room and shouted.

"Grandpa, Grandma!"

The old man was excitedly looking at the self-heating meal box steaming with hot air, when suddenly hearing someone shout "Grandpa" from the outer room, he was stunned.

Next, the door curtain was lifted, and seeing Gu Bing come in, a smile appeared on his face.

"Little Gu is here, come in quickly."

Meanwhile, the old lady was tidying clothes; actually, the old couple's clothes weren't lacking at all, but they couldn't bear to throw away the clothes at home, and since they had come back, the old lady wanted to sort out the wearable ones and take them upstairs.

Seeing Gu Bing come, she put down the clothes in her hands: "You're so hot, sweat all over your head, I'll turn on the electric fan for you."

"Grandma, you sort your things, I'll do it myself."

Arriving here, Gu Bing treated it as his own home, found the socket, turned on the fan, then stood in front of the fan blowing air, with a look of enjoyment on his face.

"Much cooler now."

Zhou Andong snorted and said: "Looking at the sweat on your face, you're clearly kidney-deficient, hurry to the hospital."

"Nonsense!" Gu Bing cursed: "You're the one who's kidney-deficient."

Zhou Andong ignored him, looking at the self-heating meal box and said: "Almost done, Grandpa, try it."

The old man nodded, eagerly picked up his chopsticks, clamped a piece of braised pork into his mouth, then slowly chewed, his eye sockets gradually moistening.

"Good, really good, with this kind of meal box, our border soldiers can eat a hot meal even in winter."

"What is this?" Gu Bing curiously looked, then immediately understood: "Old Zhou, this is the self-heating meal box you mentioned, you made it?"

Zhou Andong nodded: "A few days ago, Zhang Chaoming sent me several boxes, originally I wanted to give you and Huilin two to try, but in the end Qing took them away."

Gu Bing opened another box: "How does this thing work?"

Zhou Andong picked up the water ladle on the kang, which still had some cold water, then poured the water into the heating box, white smoke immediately rose, and soon the water boiled.

Gu Bing stared wide-eyed: "That fast?"

Zhou Andong laughed: "Exactly that fast."

After the meal box heated up, Gu Bing, like the old man, couldn't wait and took a bite.

"Although the taste isn't as good as freshly stir-fried dishes, this thing for the border troops, especially in Ali and Xinjiang, is simply a mountain delicacy and seafood."

After saying that, Gu Bing looked at Zhou Andong, with a serious expression, and said: "Old Zhou, if you can make this thing, though I won't say it merits eternal glory, it is at least beneficial to the present age."

The old man nodded as well, looking at Zhou Andong and asked: "When can this meal box be mass-produced?"

"Mass production will have to wait until next year." Zhou Andong said: "But before October this year, we can make about twenty thousand boxes, which can first be sent to the Ali region."

To the old man, twenty thousand boxes was too little, but he also knew, this can't be rushed.

"When are you returning to Jingcheng?"

"The 25th!" Zhou Andong knew what the old man wanted to say: "I had the farm prepare 200 boxes, after returning to Jingcheng I'll send a few boxes to Grandpa Zhang for him to try."

"Dad, Mom, when did you come back?" Zhao Guifen's shout came from outside, then she entered the house: "You say, you old couple, left without telling me and your eldest son, making us worry to death.

Now you're back, yet you didn't tell us, is it that in your hearts you no longer have your eldest son and me, your eldest daughter-in-law?"