Chapter 23: 23 Things in the Village

June 10, 2002, an ordinary day.

Lao Cheng's household received a guest.

The Cheng family had five children: three daughters and two sons.

All three daughters had married into neighboring villages and worked away with their husbands year-round.

Except during festivals, they came home only a few times a year.

The eldest son and his wife stayed home to care for their ailing parents; the youngest son and his wife also worked away.

Logically, on a day with no festival or holiday, how could Lao Cheng's "wild household" have any guests?

Liu Jia Cun was small; the news of Lao Cheng's guest spread from the eastern end of the village to the western end.

"Lao Cheng's got a guest—a girl, beautiful as a TV star. Just two days ago, the village chief was suing his family; I wonder how it turned out."

"Did you hear? Lao Cheng's granddaughter-in-law came back—she's a star! She's here to help fight the village chief's lawsuit?"

"What? Lao Cheng's got a star? Now they're going to take on the village chief!"

Hearing this, Liu Wenjiang's three sons trembled in fear at home.

Later, Liu Wenjiang went himself to peek beside Cheng's house and realized it was all just the village gossips blabbering nonsense.

False alarm.

"But Dad, we can't keep dragging this out—what if Cheng's got money to build a house? What about Lao San?"

The eldest son, Liu Guanlong, said anxiously.

"Useless. Even if Cheng smashed his pots and sold his iron, he couldn't build a house—I know his situation."

Liu Wenjiang scolded his son.

"Dad, Brother's right—it's dangerous to delay."

The second son, Liu Guanchang, reminded him.

Of Liu Wenjiang's three sons, Liu Guanchang had the highest education—middle school—and he was the only one whose words Liu Wenjiang ever listened to.

Liu Wenjiang crushed out his cigarette and growled:

"Beat them. If you see any Cheng family member trying to run to the county, intercept them and beat them hard—just don't kill anyone.

And Lao San, go to the county again and hound Department Director Zhang—get this settled fast. Then even if Cheng has money to build, he won't get a plot to build on!"

…

While the Liu family was strategizing, Cheng's house was surrounded tightly.

Villagers, hearing Cheng had a girl as beautiful as a TV star, all came to gawk.

"This girl's so pretty—if only my son could find a wife like her."

"Chengzi says you're colleagues from a TV drama—so you're a big star too?"

"Girl, got a husband yet? Need an old auntie to introduce you to some strong, handsome young lads?"

Gao Yuanyuan, raised in an intellectual family, had no defense against the blunt, chattering assault of village aunts and uncles.

She sat on Cheng's small stool, not knowing whether to smile or speak, and just smiled awkwardly.

"Aunties, sisters, and uncles, Yuanyuan's here to film a drama in our county and just dropped by to see me—please don't crowd her.

It's getting late; your kids will be coming home from school soon—don't delay making their meals, they've got class tomorrow afternoon."

Cheng Chen stood in front of Gao Yuanyuan and spoke to the crowd with a smile.

"Oh right, better get home and cook—my kid's got an exam this afternoon."

"Yeah, got so caught up in the show, I forgot all about the kids."

"Come on, come on—if we don't leave now, my kid'll come home and start yelling!"

Cheng Chen dismissed the gawking villagers with a few words, leaving Gao Yuanyuan astonished.

Seeing Gao Yuanyuan's gaze, Cheng Chen smiled bitterly:

"You can't just shoo them away—they'll gossip behind your back.

Everything they say twists into something else; even if I do this much, someone will still be slandering me."

」

"Chengzi's right—better offend a villain than offend the villagers."

Grandfather pulled a cigarette from his pack and smiled.

The sudden arrival of such a beautiful woman made everyone at home tense.

Mainly because they didn't understand her relationship with Cheng Chen.

This girl clearly came from the city—different from them, country folk.

What if they said the wrong thing and made things harder for Chengzi?

So they all just sat quietly, unsure what to do.

Even Cheng's usually talkative father seemed nervous.

The atmosphere was awkward.

To ease it, Cheng Chen glanced at his father, then nodded toward his grandfather.

But Cheng Mingliang didn't catch on and asked blankly:

"What?"

Cheng Chen sighed:

"Grandpa's out of light for his cigarette."

Cheng Mingliang replied directly:

"I don't carry lighters—where would I get a flame?"

Cheng Chen: …

"Pfft."

Gao Yuanyuan laughed out loud and said voluntarily:

"Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle, Auntie, I'm Gao Yuanyuan—you can just call me Yuanyuan.

This time, as Cheng Chen just said, I'm here to film a drama.

When we're done shooting, I come over to visit you. You didn't know, did you? Cheng Chen has always called me 'sister.'

So his family is my family; I'm like coming back to my own home—you don't need to be so formal."

This child speaks well and is sensible.

Grandma and Mom Lu Ling exchanged a glance, thinking to themselves.

"Oh oh, filming's great. Little Cheng… Cheng Chen was always mischievous since he was young. Thank you for taking care of him before."

Mom Lu Ling picked up the thread, glancing at Cheng Mingliang, stuck in his "lighting up but no smoke" rut.

Good-for-nothing brat!

After chatting with the Cheng family, Cheng Chen stood up and said:

"Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Mom, I'm going out for a walk with Yuanyuan-sister—she's never been here before. I'll show her around."

"Where to? Stay for lunch…"

Cheng Mingliang chimed in, but was met with simultaneous stares from his parents and wife, causing his last words to stick in his throat.

"No need, Uncle. I actually want to go out and stroll a bit—I'll be back later."

Gao Yuanyuan stood up, smiling.

Gao Yuanyuan sat on the back of Cheng Chen's bicycle, waving goodbye with a smile.

"What a wonderful child. Does our little Cheng have such luck?"

"Yes, she's beautiful and well-mannered—but our family…"

"Sigh!"

Grandma and Mom sighed together.

"Wife, daughter-in-law, what's wrong with our family? We're not bad at all! Besides, she's just Cheng's colleague. Didn't she make it clear enough? She's here to film a drama in our county…"

"Shut up!"

Mother and wife both glared at Cheng Mingliang, speaking in unison.

Cheng Mingliang felt wronged—wasn't what he said true?

"Dad…"

"Shut up!"

The old man walked off, smoking. Cheng Mingliang wanted to cry—he really wanted to ask his father why Cheng Chen brought a shovel when taking her out for a walk.

…

"Why did you bring a shovel?"

Sitting on the back of the bicycle, Gao Yuanyuan asked, puzzled.

"Hehe, I'm taking you somewhere fun?"

"What for?"

"Digging up graves!"