Chapter 64

After returning from Shanghai and receiving Lao Lao Lao Wei's letter, Wei Ming didn't reply. He thought he would be going home in a few days anyway, so it wasn't necessary.

But this made things difficult for Lao Lao Lao Wei.

Usually, he could avoid the crowds and focus on taking care of the brigade's livestock, but this was the autumn harvest season, and both he and the livestock had to rush between the fields.

Consequently, more and more people asked him: "Jiefang, where is your Wei Ming's masterpiece? Let us see it."

"That's right, I'll take it to show my grandson; from now on, Wei Ming will be his role model!"

"You wouldn't be reluctant to let us see it, would you? Don't be stingy."

After that photocopied royalty slip had been displayed countless times by him, it was basically impossible to tell what it originally looked like, and its persuasiveness was much lower than before.

Whenever this happened, Wei Jiefang could only smile and reply: "What's the rush? It's already on the way."

However, what he usually received were skeptical looks and sarcastic remarks: how long have you been saying that?

Just when Lao Lao Lao Wei was feeling anxious, the village accountant, Jia Saner, gave him hope.

That day, Accountant Jia pulled him into the brigade office, took out a newspaper, and asked: "Jiefang, is this Wei Ming your Wei Ming?"

The newspaper was the issue of "Wen Hui Bao" that was serializing the novella "The Spring River Water Warms the Duck First," and the author's name was written as "Wei Ming."

Although Wei Jiefang didn't know if his son had ever written such a novel, and this novel had neither a beginning nor an end, he didn't quite understand what it was about.

But he asserted at the time: "That's right, it's him! Haha, he's come out with a new work again. This kid only has one word for writing: fast!"

Although there might be many people named Wei Ming in the country, the possibility of being named Wei Ming and also being a writer was too small, so this Wei Ming must be his own son!

Good kid, it turns out you not only know how to write about foxes and tigers, but also about ducks!

However, after reading through these thousands of words of the novel, he didn't see a single "duck" character; he couldn't understand why it would have this name. Could it be that he was craving Quanjude's roast duck?

The newspaper was brought back by Accountant Jia from a commune meeting, and then Wei Jiefang asked for it. He showed it to everyone he met.

Compared to "The Toothless Tiger," which he felt he could write himself, Lao Lao Lao Wei felt that this novel, which he couldn't even understand, better reflected his son's level.

"Yes, this is what my Xiao Ming wrote! You don't understand it? That just shows your level isn't high enough."

When the newspaper was handed to Qi Kexiu, Qi Kexiu questioned: "Brother Jiefang, are you sure this Wei Ming in the newspaper is my nephew? This is all about things in Shanghai. Isn't he in Yanjing?"

Wei Jiefang's heart skipped a beat. Could there be another writer named Wei Ming?

But he still stubbornly said: "What do you know? You're just a substitute primary school teacher, with the same junior high school education as me."

Qi Kexiu was furious. He seriously suspected that Wei Jiefang was fooling everyone. This Wei Ming was not that Wei Ming. For the sake of showing off, was it worth it? You're even claiming random people as your son!

Shameful, too shameful!

Soon, Qi Kexiu's speculation spread throughout the village, and two voices suddenly appeared in the village. For a time, it was hard to tell the truth from the false.

At this time, Wei Jiefang's daughter, Wei Hong, returned from her vacation. After her appraisal, she confirmed that this novel was indeed written by her brother.

As for the reason: knowing the affairs of the world without stepping out of the house is the basic quality of a writer. Did Wu Cheng'en really walk the path of seeking scriptures? Isn't it all based on imagination? What's more, my big brother is naturally gifted. Even our head teacher, Teacher Zang, has said that he wouldn't be surprised at all if my big brother became a writer.

Wei Jiefang felt that this made sense, so his arrogance became even more rampant.

Until Accountant Jia took out a few more newspapers, scaring him so much he wanted to change his words on the spot.

Those newspapers were all criticizing "The Spring River Water Warms the Duck First," using very harsh language, which scared him half to death.

He had come from that era. Back then, his mother and Pingan's mother had partnered to set up a tofu workshop to make life easier for the family, but later they weren't allowed to do it.

Fortunately, his family's elder wasn't without a foundation, so they had passed through safely. At this time, the brigade leader, Zhao Chunlai, also popped up to scare Wei Jiefang: "Your son's thinking is very dangerous. You'd better advise him. Don't write any more novels in the future. Isn't it good to go home and farm? Farmers are so glorious."

Zhao Chunlai was a classmate of Wei Pingan. Because he was jealous of Wei Pingan's achievements but couldn't reach his level, he could only secretly make things difficult for Wei Jiefang.

Wei Jiefang seriously suspected that these newspapers were specifically collected by Zhao Chunlai. He had never seen so many newspapers in the brigade office before. When did you, Zhao Chunlai, become so fond of studying? What's the matter, are you going to take the Peking University entrance exam too!

And after these newspapers appeared in the brigade office, rumors immediately spread throughout the village, saying that Wei Ming's novel had caused trouble, the whole country was criticizing him, and there were even rumors that Wei Ming had already been arrested, and they were told with such vivid detail.

Fortunately, at this time, Qi Kexiu still insisted that this novel wasn't written by Wei Ming. He also found the doubt: "How could Wei Ming know how to film advertisements?" Villagers these days didn't even know what an advertisement was.

How Wei Jiefang wished that Qi Kexiu's broken mouth was telling the truth. Then he would be losing a bit of face, which was better than his son's future being damaged.

Now Wei Jiefang's strategy was to turn a deaf ear to whatever others said. I'll just play dumb, that should work, right? But Wei Hong couldn't stand it.

This 13-year-old girl hadn't inherited her mother Xu Shufen's gentleness at all. She was more like a Sichuan-Chongqing girl than Xu Shufen, and was nicknamed "Red Chili."

Today was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and a few little brats ran outside their house shouting: "When will Wei Ming be released? He won't be shot, will he!"

When Wei Hong heard this, she walked out carrying a basin of boiling water: "I'm from Sichuan, are you going to get lost or not! One! Two!..."

!

As soon as "Three" came out, the boiling water splashed out from the low fence. Although it didn't splash on anyone, it scared the little brats half to death.

Her mother hurriedly pulled her back into the house and sighed: "It seems they are all surnamed Zhao."

Zhao Chunlai had five brothers and over a dozen cousins. Those children were all his nephews. In the countryside, if you had many men, you could walk sideways, so he was as stable as an old dog as a brigade leader.

Wei Jiefang said to his daughter: "Hong, you must get into Peking University in the future, just like your Uncle Pingan. Look at how Zhao Chunlai tucked his tail when your uncle returned to the village!"

Wei Hong nodded heavily with a small face, and then Wei Jiefang asked expectantly: "Tell me, is it possible that the novel wasn't written by your brother?"

Wei Hong scratched her head: "I've seen the essays of my brother that Teacher Zang kept. It seems the use of punctuation marks is indeed a bit different."

"Really!" Wei Jiefang was overjoyed.

Wei Hong nodded unwillingly. She felt that the novel was written at a high level and inwardly still hoped that it was written by her big brother.

Seeing Wei Hong nod and thinking of Qi Kexiu's claims, Wei Jiefang felt much more relaxed, feeling as if the dark clouds over his head had dispersed.

Later, Geng Dazhu called him, saying that a cow was sick and asking him to go over and take a look. Wei Jiefang hurriedly went over.

He wasn't a veterinarian, but he had learned some basic livestock knowledge from Old Dai at the commune veterinary station. If he couldn't handle it, he would go to the commune to invite someone.

He was busy until dark, and Wei Jiefang only returned then, without even eating.

Before he even entered the house, he saw a motorcycle with its lights on approaching from far to near, the light particularly blinding.

Wei Jiefang felt a joy in his heart. It seemed the post office had been equipped with a motorcycle. Could it be a letter from Xiao Ming?

As a result, after the motorcycle drove closer, it wasn't a letter from Wei Ming at all; it was simply Wei Ming himself!

No, where did he get a motorcycle!?

(End of chapter)