Chapter 1545

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

In the blink of an eye a week passed, and Du Xiaojuan really did set off on her trip as scheduled.

She not only brought along her husband and son, but also planned to bring Li Xiulan, this mother-in-law, along too.

However, before departure, she and Li Xiulan agreed on three rules:

First, once we go, you can't make a fuss about turning back halfway.

Second, all hotel lodging and meal expenses will be arranged by Du Xiaojuan; Li Xiulan is not allowed to ask too many questions about them.

Third, enjoy the journey properly; don't make yourself suffer just to save money.

Li Xiulan hesitated a bit, not because she disagreed with Du Xiaojuan's three rules, but because Wang Erhai's side had just had a baby, and she felt that if she didn't go help take care of things, she was afraid Zhang Yueran would have opinions.

"Xiao Juan, how about I just don't go after all."

Li Xiulan said this one sentence.

Du Xiaojuan's brows furrowed slightly, but she still communicated patiently.

She held Li Xiulan's hand:

"Mom, whatever opinions or suggestions you have, just speak openly. Are you afraid of spending money?"

Du Xiaojuan still remembered, long ago when she took Li Xiulan and Wang Zhanggen to Beijing to find Wang Xiaohua, it was because Li Xiulan disliked all the various expenses being too high, resulting in not eating well, not staying well, not playing well.

"Mom, we don't lack money now; it's time we went and enjoyed ourselves!"

Li Xiulan, however, hemmed and hawed:

"It's not this matter……"

"Then what's the reason?"

"Erhai's wife just gave birth; she might need me to go help take care. If I leave, I'm afraid his wife will have opinions in her heart."

Du Xiaojuan said:

"How about this, let's go to the County Town to see your second son and second daughter-in-law first. We won't mention the travel matter for now; you just ask them whether they want your help or not."

Li Xiulan nodded:

"Good, good, that couldn't be better! Xiao Juan, you have to put in a good word for me more. I'm afraid I won't be able to communicate with Erhai's wife; after all, I'm this old, and there's probably a generation gap with her. Just afraid a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflict will arise!"

Du Xiaojuan laughed:

"Rest assured. Yueran isn't that kind of selfish, stupid woman. She's very easy to communicate with. You and her absolutely won't have a conflict!"

Li Xiulan, however, still worried:

"That's hard to say. TV says female teachers are originally harder to deal with; after giving birth they become even more sensitive!"

Du Xiaojuan comforted her:

"Rest assured, with me there, there won't be a problem. If at that time they want you to stay and take care of the child, then you stay. If they don't need you to take care of the child, we'll go travel together!"

Du Xiaojuan spoke with Wang Dashan, saying today she would take Li Xiulan into the County Town to visit Wang Erhai and Zhang Yueran, letting him stay home and take good care of their son.

Wang Dashan's face was full of puzzlement:

"We just went a trip not long ago, right? Why go again now? Why don't you let me and Xiao Jin go together too!"

The main thing was Wang Dashan didn't want to take care of the child alone. The child eating was a big problem. Although he knew how to prepare it, preparing it was terribly troublesome, and he didn't want to do it!

Du Xiaojuan, however, said:

"You stay home. If you have time, tidy up a bit. We depart tomorrow!"

Wang Dashan wore a gloomy face:

"It's hard enough for me to take care of the child alone. Where would I have time to tidy up?"

Du Xiaojuan said:

"Then tidy up when I get back. You take good care of the child!"

"Okay, okay……" Wang Dashan sighed.

A look of utter reluctance.

As a result, after Du Xiaojuan and Li Xiulan left, he immediately said to Wang Xiaojin:

"Xiao Jin, want to go out and play?"

Wang Xiaojin immediately cheered and jumped:

"Dad, want, play, go out play!"

Then Wang Dashan took a small dip net and brought Wang Xiaojin to the small stream outside Shangou Village to play in the water.

Feeling for fish, catching shrimp, picking up shells, digging for stones!

Now there are fewer rural people, and the fish in the small stream have increased too.

Wang Dashan used the dip net to stir the water weeds a bit, and in no time caught several small fish.

There were mudskippers, there were minnows, there were small river shrimp, there were pond loaches, and there were loaches!

You know, when I was a kid taking a winnowing basket to the small stream to catch, catching a whole day might not yield as many as caught now!

Wang Xiaojin held a small bucket at the side, playing in the water while watching Dad catch fish, having a great time. Wang Dashan also had a face full of smiles.

They played until nearly twelve noon, when Wang Dashan finally remembered the meal problem:

"Damn, forgot to make lunch!"

Just then Yao Aina happened to pass by the old bridge over the small stream:

"Dashan, taking your son to play in the water?"

Yao Aina was already so old her back was hunched.

This had something to do with age, but the bigger reason was that ever since her husband Zhang Zhongtian died, this family had been barely supported by her, a lone old woman.

Her son Zhang Zhiqiang was crippled in a car accident and lost his ability to work; her daughter-in-law Li Xiaohe had hanged herself years ago because Zhang Zhiqiang fooled around outside; her grandson Zhang Jiajun had only just started primary school this year.

Zhang Zhiqiang had a disability subsidy, but neither she nor Zhang Zhiqiang could receive the minimum living allowance, because the villa they lived in exceeded the residential area limit for low-income households.

Before, she had reported the situation to Wang Xiaohua, and Wang Xiaohua had reported it upward, but there had been no follow-up ever since.

These past few years she had been working at the farm Wang Erhai opened; later Wang Erhai transferred the farm to Zhang Gui, and Zhang Gui compressed her wages from 1500 yuan a month down to 700 yuan a month, but she still accepted the job.

Because she had no other choice.

Now the work Zhang Gui made her do was far more than what Wang Erhai had made her do before.

Every day she worked until her waist ached and her back hurt, yet she dared not utter a single complaint, afraid that if she spoke up, Zhang Gui would stop letting her work.

So, she had been busy until nearly twelve noon before she finally had time to go home and cook lunch!

Her son at home had both legs ruined and couldn't cook; her grandson was still small and couldn't cook either.

"Auntie Aina! Good noon!"

Wang Dashan greeted her.

Then he told Wang Dujin to greet her:

"Call Great-Grandma good!"

Wang Dujin, bewildered:

"Great-Grandma good!"

Yao Aina looked at Wang Dujin, a little boy, yet fair and tender, her eyes full of envy:

"Good, good, city children are just different, so fair and clean, not like my Jiajun, black as a lump of coal!"

Yao Aina hurriedly said:

"Not chatting anymore, I'm going home to cook lunch!"

Wang Dashan hurriedly stopped Yao Aina:

"Auntie Aina, my son and I caught some small fish in the river, I'm not too good at processing them, can you help me cook a fish congee? I'll pay you firewood money!"

Yao Aina laughed warmly:

"Good, good, no problem, firewood money and such, no need to give, your Erhai treated me well, I can't in good conscience take your firewood money!"

Wang Dashan hurriedly said:

"Yes, yes, can't let you work for nothing, come on, let's go to your place now!"

Wang Dashan carried Wang Dujin in one arm, held the dip net and small bucket in the other, and followed Yao Aina toward her home.

Arriving at Yao Aina's place, he saw the villa before him was already mottled and dilapidated, wild grasses grew thick before the gate, the courtyard was alright — though also looking run-down, at least no weeds grew there.

"Grandma, you're back! I've already rinsed the rice, the vegetables are washed too, just haven't stir-fried the dishes yet!"

A filthy little child came out from the firewood room nearby, a red scarf still hung around his neck.

This person was Yao Aina's grandson Zhang Jiajun.

Seeing Wang Dashan and Wang Dujin, Zhang Jiajun couldn't help but be a bit shy.

His eyes instinctively dodged with inferiority, and he didn't know how to greet them.

Yao Aina hurriedly said:

"This is your Brother Dashan, hurry up and greet him!"

But Zhang Jiajun turned and bolted into the firewood room like a puff of smoke, and didn't greet them.

"This child!" Yao Aina's face was full of embarrassment, "Dashan, don't mind it, usually I haven't disciplined him enough, you know his father's condition, and I have no time either, so he lacks upbringing."

Wang Dashan hurriedly said:

"It's fine, it's fine, which rural family's kid isn't like this? When I was little, I was also naughty and didn't know manners, it's normal, once he grows up a bit he'll know!"