Chapter 478

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

"This kid has changed his nature since graduating; he doesn't keep refuting me like he used to."

On the way back, as long as he thought of Wang Xiaohua always nodding and saying agreeable things, Wang Changgen's face showed a gratified smile.

He actually couldn't tell that those words of agreement his youngest son spoke, were all said against his will.

"Xiao Hua was still young before; now that he's grown up, becoming sensible is normal too."

Zhang Zhongtian laughed heartily, driving while saying this.

Wang Changgen continued smiling gratifiedly:

"That's true, but I feel feng shui played a major role; later I'll have to go burn a stick of incense for the old man."

Zhang Zhongtian said:

"Really envy your family having such good feng shui; I had the Geography Master run all over the mountains around Shanggou Village, and still couldn't find any feng shui that would make my family prosper in both people and wealth."

Li Xiulan said:

"Party Secretary Zhang, your financial power is so strong now, it's actually already enough."

Zhang Zhongtian laughed heartily:

"That's true too."

Then he said:

"Right, that Xiao Hua's university entrance celebration — do you want me to help notify the village people?"

Wang Changgen said:

"If Party Secretary Zhang can help out, that couldn't be better."

Zhang Zhongtian said:

"How about this: I'll take care of notifying the village people; the rest you notify yourselves — neighboring village friends, and your relatives, and so on, all notified by you; how's that?"

"Great, then many thanks to you, Party Secretary Zhang!"

Soon, the small sedan returned to Shanggou Village.

Just back home, Wang Changgen sat down on a chair and started pondering who to invite to Wang Xiaohua's university entrance celebration.

And Li Xiulan, without even resting her feet for a moment, hurried off to feed the chickens clucking from hunger.

After feeding the chickens she had to go make dinner, go boil bath water.

Busy beyond measure.

Right while stir-frying, Wang Changgen walked in and asked:

"Water boiled yet? I want to shower early."

Li Xiulan said:

"Just put it on the fire; how could it be ready that fast?"

Wang Changgen immediately became unhappy:

"Everything you do is this slow and dragging; wouldn't you put the water on immediately the moment you got back?"

Facing Wang Changgen's accusation, Li Xiulan was long since used to it, or rather, long since numb.

"There's that kind of gas water heater now, isn't there? You go buy one, then from now on you can shower anytime."

Li Xiulan spoke this one sentence.

Wang Changgen said instead:

"Wait till the new house is built then we'll talk; buy one now and when the time comes we'd still have to move it into the new house, what a hassle!"

Li Xiulan said instead:

"I see you just don't want to buy one."

Li Xiulan saw right through Wang Changgen's thoughts in one go.

Wang Changgen indeed didn't want to buy.

He just thought, burning firewood to boil water is a bit more trouble than a water heater, but burning firewood costs no money!

Most importantly, he doesn't have to personally boil water either, so naturally he couldn't be bothered to buy a water heater.

Installation would need him to personally install it; Li Xiulan certainly wouldn't install it.

Installing it is a huge hassle.

Later when the gas runs out, he'd still have to personally run to town to refill gas.

Wang Changgen had his thoughts seen through by Li Xiulan, yet still quibbled:

"How do I not want to buy? How much could it cost? I'm thinking, why not just buy an electric water heater when the time comes; electricity is more convenient than gas, and it wouldn't cost much either! Zhang Zhongtian's house in the county town uses an electric water heater!"

Li Xiulan couldn't be bothered to argue with him:

"Buy whatever water heater you want, just don't come hinder my stir-frying."

Wang Changgen didn't leave, but said:

"Right, should we call Dashan and Erhai now, tell them about the banquet on the 20th."

"You want to call, you call." Li Xiulan was busy stir-frying, and busy adding firewood to the stove.

Cooking on a firewood stove is much more troublesome than a gas stove.

Wang Changgen said instead:

"I'll connect the call, then you come and tell them about this matter."

"Can't you say it yourself? You've got a mouth, haven't you!" Li Xiulan was utterly speechless.

Wang Zhanggen, however, said: "Last time I called and asked them to come back, they refused to return, making me lose all face as a father. This time I definitely won't go and bring it up myself again!"

As he spoke, without waiting for Li Xiulan to agree, he took out his mobile phone and called Wang Dashan.

Before long, Wang Dashan picked up the phone.

"Dad, have you eaten?"

"Not yet, your mom is stir-frying dishes. Have you eaten?"

"We're eating right now. Is something the matter?"

"Let your mom talk to you." Wang Zhanggen shoved the mobile phone into Li Xiulan's hands.

He still had a bit of self-awareness; between him and his three sons, there was a huge gulf in communication.

Li Xiulan still communicated with the three sons somewhat better.

"Dashan, is Erhai there too?" Li Xiulan spoke on the phone, handing the spatula to Wang Zhanggen, letting him help her stir-fry for a while.

"He is. What's up? Did something happen at home?" Seeing his parents call and speak hesitantly, Wang Dashan thought something had happened.

"Nothing, it's just that Xiao Hua scored 681 points, he's already been admitted to Tsinghua University. You know about this, right?"

"Admitted to Tsinghua? That's wonderful news! That's fantastic!"

"Yes, it's good news, so your dad and I plan to hold a university entrance celebration for Xiao Hua on the 20th of this month. You and Erhai come back then, alright?"

Li Xiulan's tone was gentle; without waiting for Wang Dashan to answer, she added:

"If you're too busy with work, it's fine if you don't come back. Work comes first."

Wang Dashan, however, said:

"Mom, rest assured, this time we'll definitely come back. For such a big event, how could we not return?"

"Good, good. The 20th, remember this date."

"Okay, I've remembered. If you're afraid we'll forget, tell us again on the 19th."

"That works too."

"Anything else?"

"No, that's it for now. I still have to stir-fry."

Li Xiulan hung up the phone and handed the mobile phone back to Wang Zhanggen.

"Dashan said he and Erhai will both come back on the 20th."

Hearing this, Wang Zhanggen's face fell, looking gloomy:

"How come last time I asked them to come back they made excuses not to return, but this time you ask them and they agree so quickly? Looks like they're still more partial to you!"

Li Xiulan was speechless:

"How is that partiality? Last time it was just Xiao Hua's ordinary final exam; this time it's the college entrance exam — completely different things. Them coming back is perfectly normal!"

Li Xiulan took the spatula from Wang Zhanggen's hands, but at this moment discovered the dish in the wok had already burned.

"I asked you to help stir-fry a few times, and you actually burned the dish. Hurry up and get back to the living room, don't get in the way here!"

Li Xiulan said in annoyance.

Wang Zhanggen, however, quibbled:

"Isn't it because you turned the heat up too high? Otherwise how could the dish burn?"

Li Xiulan didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and couldn't be bothered to speak to him anymore.

Wang Zhanggen, however, went back to the living room with peace of mind, sitting with legs crossed smoking a cigarette, watching TV while waiting for dinner.