Chapter 503

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

Regarding the matter of reporting to university, Wang Xiaohua had actually considered whether to communicate with his parents in advance, but the decision he ultimately made was not to tell them.

Because telling them wouldn't enable them to help him with anything; going together would instead require him to take care of them. He was already unfamiliar with the place, and adding the need to look after them — wouldn't that exhaust him to death?

If they really wanted to go see the university, that wasn't impossible either. They could just come over during the National Day holiday on October 1st. By then, Wang Xiaohua would be familiar with the university environment, and even the environment of Beijing, so hosting them would be more relaxed and not so frantic.

Additionally, he didn't need to ask his parents for money for plane tickets or anything; he already had plenty of money on hand, so he felt his making the decision himself was completely fine.

He just didn't expect his father Wang Zhanggen's reaction to be this big.

If it were the previous Wang Xiaohua, he would likely have confronted Wang Zhanggen head-on, even had a huge fight.

Now Wang Xiaohua merely let out a long sigh, then patiently placated:

"I don't mean to disrespect you. I just thought it'd be better to have you come to Beijing for a visit during National Day. If we go together now, I'm unfamiliar with Beijing, you're unfamiliar with Beijing, and I have to start military training for school soon, so I can't take you around sightseeing. Traveling all the way to Beijing but not getting to tour anywhere — wouldn't the plane ticket money be wasted?"

After Wang Xiaohua said all this, the atmosphere finally eased slightly.

Li Xiulan hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over. She said to Wang Zhanggen:

"Xiaohua has considered things very thoroughly. Isn't it fine if we go during National Day? Don't you always throw a fit at the slightest disagreement!"

Wang Zhanggen said coldly:

"So what if I throw a fit at the slightest disagreement? This stinking brat doesn't respect me as his father at all. What's wrong with me giving him a piece of my mind?"

However, Wang Zhanggen immediately shifted his tone:

"But what you said does have a bit of reason. If it's National Day then it's National Day. In the future, for matters like this, don't just decide on your own. No matter what, you must discuss it with your dad and mom. We're your parents — would we ever harm you?"

Wang Xiaohua laughed dryly and said:

"This time was my fault. Next time I'll definitely discuss it with you."

But in reality, if a similar situation happened next time, he still wouldn't discuss it with his parents.

He knew better than anyone what his parents' level of understanding was like.

Discussing any important matter with them could potentially hinder his decision-making.

For example, when he was a child he wanted to buy a tape recorder, wanted to buy an MP3, wanted to use these advanced tools to improve his English learning efficiency, wanted to get his teeth fixed, and so on. The result of discussing them with his parents was obstruction after obstruction, disappointment after disappointment.

Fortunately, he had developed independent consciousness very early on, and was also fortunate to have a rebellious streak in his heart that prevented him from becoming an obedient son who listened to his parents in everything. That was how the current him came to be.

"Dad, don't blame Little Brother. He puts all his energy into studying and doesn't understand many things. It's normal for a small oversight to happen this time."

Wang Erhai also stepped in to smooth things over, speaking up for Wang Xiaohua.

Wang Zhanggen snorted coldly:

"Hmph, I think he's read himself stupid — just a bookworm!"

Though his words were cold, in his heart he had already forgiven Wang Xiaohua.

Wang Xiaohua, meanwhile, sneered inwardly, dismissing his father's statement with contempt, but on the surface he remained honest and obedient, not refuting a word.

The so-called generation gap is nothing more than this.

Father and son had already completely lost normal communication; opening their hearts and treating each other with sincerity was even more impossible.

Poor Wang Zhanggen didn't perceive any abnormality at all. He had long since taken everything for granted. Seeing Wang Xiaohua hanging his head with the look of someone admitting fault, he felt inner satisfaction and wore a smug expression.

The next day, Li Xiulan rose very early. Before the sky was even bright, she went to boil water and kill a chicken.

Today the youngest son was going to report to university; she absolutely had to kill a big rooster to worship the gods, to bless him with a smooth journey and academic success.

Ever since last time she followed Wu Banxian's instructions and went to worship at the contracted temple, averting the blood-light disaster at the university entrance celebration, she believed in the whole immortal/god business even more firmly.

As long as the heart is sincere, the gods will manifest.

The shenpo once said that after she endured a period of bitter days and repaid her past-life karmic debts, good times would come. Isn't her life getting better and better now?

All three sons had become promising. This made her, as a mother, have sweet dreams even when she slept at night.

She boiled a pot of water in the big iron wok, then found time to wash clothes. By the time the clothes were washed, the water was boiling. Then she went to the chicken coop to pick the biggest rooster.

While selecting the chicken, the chicken coop was stirred into clucking sounds.

The big rooster had just been grabbed when — whether it was because the rooster's strength was too great or because Li Xiulan had grown old and her strength had diminished — the big rooster actually broke free from Li Xiulan's hand in one go and fled outside in a flash.

Li Xiulan could only hurry to chase after it. She chased for a good long while but couldn't catch it.

The big rooster would run a stretch, then stop, clucking and pecking at the mud and sand on the ground, as if provoking her.

Li Xiulan took out rice bran, wanting to lure the big rooster over with it, but discovered this big rooster was practically becoming a spirit — it actually saw through her scheme, forcefully resisted the temptation, and stubbornly refused to come over.

Just then, Wang Xiaohua came out of the house.

Three years of high school had cultivated his habit of rising early. This habit hadn't been abandoned because of summer vacation, so he had also gotten up very early now.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

Wang Xiaohua saw his mother outside, helpless against a rooster, and asked this one sentence.

"Xiaohua, you're up? That's perfect. Help Mom catch this big rooster. Today you're going to university to study. I have to take this big rooster to worship the gods!"

Wang Xiaohua said:

"Okay, I'll help you corner it!"

Thus mother and son went together to corner this big rooster.

Under the front-and-back encirclement, they were just about to catch the big rooster when it flapped its wings and actually flew up, flying six or seven meters away, landing on the firewood pile where firewood was stacked in front.

"Mom, why don't we switch to another chicken!"

Wang Xiaohua smiled bitterly. This big rooster had probably been raised for a long time; it seemed to understand human nature a bit. Knowing it was about to be killed, that's why it struggled desperately.

Li Xiulan, however, said:

"No, the rooster at home is the biggest and best-looking; using it to worship the gods is most appropriate!"

Wang Xiaohua saw he couldn't persuade Li Xiulan, so he could only think of a way to catch this big rooster.

Li Xiulan said:

"You go call your second brother out, we'll catch it together, I don't believe we can't catch it!"

Wang Xiaohua felt it was unnecessary, but Li Xiulan had already turned around and gone into the room.

Before long, she had called Wang Erhai out, his face full of sleepiness.

The three of them joined forces to surround and block it, and finally caught the big rooster.

However, this wasted not a little time; the subsequent killing of the chicken, worshiping the gods, making breakfast, and so on, all had to be pushed back.

Wang Xiaohua saw this and sighed inwardly; clearly killing another rooster would have avoided wasting so much time, the family didn't only have that one rooster, so why insist on catching it?

But he didn't say anything, just hurried to help kill the chicken and help make breakfast.

Because he knew, even if he said more, it would be of no help.

The only way to set out earlier was to hurry and help his mother share some of the housework.