Chapter 257

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

"Hey, let me ask you something..."

Du Xiaojuan dialed Wang Dashan's phone.

At this time Wang Dashan was still waiting for the bus.

"What is it?"

"What kind of gifts do your parents like, and are there any taboos? I want to buy some gifts for them."

Du Xiaojuan said this.

Wang Dashan's first reaction was actually:

"You haven't set off yet?"

His reasoning logic was very simple: only buying gifts at this hour meant they definitely hadn't set off yet; otherwise they'd already be on the road, so how could there still be talk of buying gifts?

So in his heart he at once felt a bit angry again.

"I'm already on the road. Isn't it because I set off too hurriedly and forgot to buy gifts? I plan to buy some gifts for your parents when I get to the county town; otherwise showing up empty-handed, I'm afraid the two elders won't be happy!"

Du Xiaojuan explained patiently.

Only then did Wang Dashan let out an "Oh," hurriedly stowing away the resentment in his heart, but then he said:

"As for what they like, I'm not too clear either. Not afraid to tell you the truth: from childhood to now I've never bought them a gift. Our family was poor; before, every penny had to be split in two. A gift, to us, was something you didn't even dare think about. You just buy whatever; it doesn't need to be expensive. They'll definitely be very happy no matter what they receive."

Du Xiaojuan nodded, then asked again:

"Then what taboos do they have? You ought to know those, right?"

Wang Dashan thought for a moment, then said:

"They don't seem to have any taboos. Oh right, if you must speak of taboos, it's just that they're rather superstitious. Whatever they encounter, they'll go ask the Shenpo in town before making a decision."

Du Xiaojuan could only smile at this, not disliking it. The older generation indeed tends to be more superstitious; her parents are the same. When facing difficulties they don't think about how to solve them, but go pray to gods and ask Buddhas.

"Alright then, I'll just buy as I see fit."

Du Xiaojuan hung up the phone.

The traffic jam on the expressway still showed no sign of improvement.

The taxi moved in stops and starts, shaking her until she felt a bit irritated and restless.

In her heart there was a faint, vague worry, afraid that this trip to Wang Dashan's home might produce some unexpected trouble.

And at this time, on the other side, Wang Dashan and Wang Erhai boarded the 4 p. m. direct bus to Shanggou Village.

There were many people on the bus: old people, children, some carrying big bags and small bags, some shouldering baskets.

There were even people carrying two cages of chickens. The chickens clucked and clucked. Snake skin bags were padded under the cages; though it prevented the chickens from shitting on the bus, the smell of chicken manure still spread through the whole carriage.

The bus was very crowded, everyone talking at once.

Everyone seemed to have long since become used to the chicken-manure smell on the bus.

When an old person got on, Wang Dashan immediately stood up to give up his seat.

Wang Erhai sat listening to music and didn't want to move, but was also yanked up by Wang Dashan to give up his seat to another old person.

Back when he was in the army, the Class Monitor had told him: once you enter society you must know to respect the old and cherish the young, protect the weak. If you see lawless villains, you must step forward and uphold justice.

Now society's economy is developing very well, a scene of peace everywhere. Lawless villains Wang Dashan still hasn't encountered, but on the bus he has run into old people several times, and he gave up his seat each time.

The bus first returned from the county town to the town, then from the town headed toward Shanggou Village.

Passengers on the bus got off one after another.

By the time they reached the town, more than half had already gotten off.

On the stretch from the town to Shanggou Village, quite a few seats on the bus had already emptied out.

Wang Dashan and Wang Erhai finally had seats to sit on.

The two sat side by side, silently without a word.

The bus drove along the winding provincial road.

The setting sun descended from red clouds, shining on the mountain highway, as if gilding a coiling giant dragon.

The surrounding hills and mountains, even in winter, were blue-green. The south is like this: winter is also full of vitality, without any sense of desolation.

Around 5 p. m., the bus finally arrived at Shanggou Village.

Wang Dashan and Wang Erhai got off carrying their suitcases.

Walking into the depths of Shanggou Village.

Strange little dogs in the village barked woof-woof at the two of them.

Hearing the barking, villagers came out of their houses. Seeing Wang Dashan and Wang Erhai, they smiled and hurriedly greeted them.

Returning to the front of their home, they saw Mother Li Xiulan squatting in front of the courtyard gate killing a chicken. She had brought a basin of hot water, put the big rooster whose throat had just been cut and bled into the hot water, dipped and scalded it a few times, then took it out and began plucking the feathers.

"Mom, we're back!"

Wang Dashan shouted.

Only then did Li Xiulan raise her head to look.

Seeing Wang Dashan and Wang Erhai had returned, her face immediately showed delight.

"You're back, back is good! I'm just killing a chicken!"

At this moment Li Xiulan shouted toward the inside of the living room:

"Dashan and Erhai are back!"

Wang Zhanggen, who was watching an anti-Japanese divine drama in the living room, hurriedly stood up and walked out.

Originally he was also full of delight.

But seeing only Wang Dashan and Wang Erhai, two people, his face immediately fell.

"Dashan, didn't you say you'd bring your partner back together?"

Wang Zhanggen hurriedly asked.

Originally it was agreed to bring the partner back, but now only the two brothers returned; what's going on?

Wang Zhanggen had already boasted to other villagers, saying his son not only had the ability to earn money, but also found a very beautiful girlfriend.

If Wang Dashan's girlfriend suddenly didn't come to his home, then his previous boasting to other villagers, wouldn't it become a joke?

So Wang Zhanggen's face turned black at once.

Wang Dashan gave a bitter laugh and hurriedly explained:

"Dad, Xiao Juan has a bit of a matter, she'll come back a bit later……"

"Later is when? You better not say she'll come after the New Year is over!"

Wang Dashan hurriedly said:

"No, she's already on the road, should arrive tonight, just the road is jammed now, might be a bit late……"

Wang Zhanggen heard these words, the serious expression on his old face only then eased somewhat.

"Then alright, later is later, as long as we can eat the New Year's Eve dinner together tonight, your mother even specially killed a rooster for her! Also bought fish, bought beef and pork."

Wang Dashan felt some uncertainty in his heart; he actually also didn't know when Du Xiaojuan would arrive, after all the road is jammed badly now, so he said:

"Actually we don't need to wait for her; wait until evening when the rice and dishes are cooked, we'll just eat ourselves first."

Wang Zhanggen however said:

"How can that do? No matter what, we must wait until everyone is gathered before eating; she's coming to our home for the first time, we must give her full respect, otherwise face can't be saved!"

Wang Zhanggen having said this, Wang Dashan also couldn't say anything more.

Wang Zhanggen at this time spoke again:

"Right, your Uncle's family also returned to celebrate the New Year this year, but his old house has no place to cook anymore, the firewood room even collapsed, so tonight his whole family will come over and eat New Year's Eve dinner with us!"

Wang Dashan and Wang Erhai hearing this, both couldn't help being surprised.

"Uncle, didn't he buy a house in the county town? Their family hasn't returned to celebrate the New Year for many years; even if they return to Shanggou Village it's after the second day of the New Year before they come back for a trip; how come this year they returned so early?"

Wang Zhanggen said:

"How would I know? There must be some matter to handle, right!"