Chapter 244

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

Shangou Village.

Li Xiulan and Wang Zhanggen are doing renovation in the Cultural Room.

The main structure of the Cultural Room is already done; now only the renovation remains.

If it weren't for Wang Zhanggen's sudden cerebral infarction earlier, which delayed things for a while, it would likely have been finished even sooner.

Since Wang Zhanggen's cerebral infarction, his movements have become much slower, and his work efficiency is far from what it used to be.

Additionally, his hands and feet, as well as the back of his neck, always feel sore and achy; he doesn't know if it's a psychological effect or a vascular issue.

These days Wang Zhanggen has been taking medicine consistently; the doctor said he'll likely have to take medicine for the rest of his life. Although he resists it in his heart, he still takes it on time like clockwork; after all, he doesn't want to die this early yet. He still wants to see his three sons all get married and have children with his own eyes; he still wants to hold grandchildren.

"Take it easy, don't just keep your head down working nonstop. Every so often you need to stand up and walk around!"

Wang Zhanggen is laying floor tiles; Li Xiulan carries in two buckets of mixed cement mortar and casually reminds him.

Wang Zhanggen has a bad habit when laying tiles: he's too serious about it. One session might take a whole morning or a whole afternoon, and he stays squatting the entire time, never getting up to move around.

His sudden cerebral infarction probably has a lot to do with this habit of his.

After all, squatting for a long time and bending his neck to work indeed puts excessive strain on the blood vessels at the back of the head; over time the vessels become deformed, and cerebral infarction occurs.

"Mm, got it. Once I finish laying this piece I'll get up and walk around."

Wang Zhanggen doesn't even turn his head, still laying tiles seriously.

After finishing laying this tile, he then braces his hands on his knees and slowly stands up.

Just as he stands up, he feels a bit dizzy and blurry-eyed; his body involuntarily sways a few times.

After pausing for a good while, the dizziness symptoms finally ease.

Ever since the cerebral infarction, whenever he squats down and then stands up, this problem occurs. He doesn't know why; it doesn't hurt or itch, just dizzy, just can't stand steady.

Wang Zhanggen walks out of the construction site, planning to take a stroll around the site perimeter, then come back and continue working.

Right at this moment, his mobile phone rings.

He takes it out to look — it's actually Wang Dashan calling.

Wang Zhanggen wipes the cement dust off his hands on his trouser leg, then taps the answer button on the phone screen.

"Hello, what's up?"

Wang Zhanggen shouts at the top of his voice.

Since the cerebral infarction, his hearing has also become not so good, so now when answering the phone he turns the volume up to max, and he also unconsciously raises his own voice to speak into the phone.

All sorts of elderly symptoms are starting to manifest in every aspect of his daily habits.

Yet he's actually only in his early forties, not even fifty yet!

One can only say that the township's impoverished life, coupled with years of mud/plaster work, has made him age much faster than city people.

"Dad, I'm coming back for Spring Festival this year!"

Wang Dashan's voice comes from the other end of the phone.

"Mm-hmm, coming back is good!"

Wang Zhanggen's reaction is very flat.

After all, coming home for Spring Festival is a perfectly normal thing; there's absolutely no need to call specially to say so.

Not coming home would be the abnormal thing; that would require a call to inform.

However, Wang Dashan's next sentence makes him, who has been keeping a straight face, involuntarily reveal a look of joy.

"Dad, I'll bring my girlfriend back with me then!"

Wang Zhanggen immediately freezes:

"What did you say?"

"I said I'm bringing my girlfriend back!"

On Wang Zhanggen's bronze-colored old face, a brilliant smile unknowingly appears. This smile squeezes the wrinkles on his face into gullies, revealing a mouthful of smoke-stained yellow teeth.

He hasn't laughed this happily in a long time.

"You found a partner? That's wonderful, that's wonderful! What does she look like?"

Wang Zhanggen asks excitedly.

Zhang Zhongtian's son got married not long ago; now his son has also found a partner. He doesn't lose to Zhang Zhongtian; it counts as winning back face, making him proud and exultant!

"A pretty good-looking girl, great figure, very pretty face, very good temper too, and she has her own career — she started her own company, very profitable!"

Wang Dashan says truthfully.

He's not exaggerating; right now he's in the honeymoon phase, and in his eyes Du Xiaojuan truly has not a single flaw to pick at.

"Really? Is she really that outstanding? When are you coming back? Then Dad and Mom will vet her for you!"

Wang Dashan laughs:

"No need to vet; it's her. I've already made up my mind. I'll probably come back on Lunar New Year's Eve. I'll call you guys again before I come back!"

"Good good. Why don't you tell your mom about this, so she can prepare in advance? Kill a big rooster to treat you two!"

"Mm-hmm, then let Mom take the phone!"

Wang Zhanggen finds Li Xiulan and hands the phone to her:

"It's Dashan calling. He says he found a partner!"

Li Xiulan, hearing this, is also overjoyed:

"Really? That's wonderful!"

Li Xiulan took the phone and hurriedly asked:

"Dashan, your dad said you found a partner. How is she? Actually, looks are secondary. You must find someone with a good temper, who can manage a household, and who goes along with you. Absolutely don't find someone who argues!"

Li Xiulan and Wang Zhanggen had quarreled for most of their lives. As someone who had been through it, she deeply knew what harm arguing could bring to a family, so that was why she said these words to Wang Dashan.

"Mom, rest assured. She's not only beautiful but also gentle. We won't argue!"

Li Xiulan nodded with a smile:

"Good, good... What's her name? Where is she from?"

Wang Dashan said:

"Her name is Du Xiaojuan. Du as in Rhododendron, with a 'Xiao' in the middle. She's also from our province, but not the same city."

Li Xiulan said with a smile:

"That's great. Someone from our province is good. Just afraid of out-of-province — too far. Later, visiting relatives wouldn't be easy!"

Li Xiulan asked again:

"When are you coming back? Then I'll kill a big rooster for you in advance!"

Wang Dashan said:

"Should be Lunar New Year's Eve, but I can't be completely sure. Might come back a bit earlier, also not sure. The day before I go back, I'll call home again."

"Good, good. Then let us know then. Right, how old is Xiaojuan?"

"Two years older than me."

"Two years older..." Li Xiulan's tone had a subtle shift, but she still said: "I thought you'd find someone the same age or a year or two younger. But that works too. Two years, not much difference."

Then she asked:

"Has she dated other boyfriends before?"

Wang Dashan laughed awkwardly:

"I haven't gone and asked about that."

Li Xiulan laughed and scolded:

"Look at you, this kid. This doesn't even need asking. You and her, have you done that thing? As long as you've done that thing, wouldn't you know?"

Li Xiulan's words were somewhat laughable, somewhat self-contradictory. She both hoped her eldest son's partner would be clean and pure, conservative and self-respecting, but also hoped she'd do that thing with her eldest son, to understand the situation clearly in advance. If the goods didn't match the description, return them quickly.

Although this was absurd and contradictory, it was also the genuine thinking of the majority of rural parents.

Wang Dashan was extremely awkward:

"Mom, what are you saying? I don't understand!"

Li Xiulan said:

"Don't blame Mom for nagging. Nowadays, city girls, many don't cherish themselves. You mustn't let them deceive you. You must find a clean and pure one, understand?"

Wang Dashan felt somewhat speechless inside, but didn't refute.

"Okay, okay, I know..."

He suddenly thought: that night when he stayed at Du Xiaojuan's apartment, Du Xiaojuan didn't seem to have any blood traces.

The moment this thought surfaced, his heart couldn't help but tremble. An inexplicable complex feeling rose up.

Can only say, Wang Dashan's reaction is a universal phenomenon.

In this world, which man doesn't want his other half to be clean and pure?

They all care.

Saying they don't care is a lie. That's just having no choice.