Chapter 701: Rural Absurd Past Events Chapter 701: Liu Xiaoli Actually Came Too?

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

That evening, Liang Xinghua finished packing his luggage.

Early the next morning, he went to find the landlord to settle the water, electricity, and rent, moved out, then bought some gifts at a nearby supermarket before taking his wife and children, dragging their heavy luggage, and setting off on the journey home.

Along the way, his mood was very heavy.

He had left home to work in the city at seventeen; thinking back to those days, young and reckless, he had always felt that no matter how bad things were, he could at least find a foothold in the city.

But after drifting for so many years, he had not achieved anything, and instead found it harder and harder to get by, until finally he had to accept reality and return to his hometown to start over.

If he had not had a wife and children, he might have been able to persist for a few more years in the big city, but now that he had a wife and children with such large expenses, he truly could not hold on any longer.

Back then he had not sent his child back to their hometown for his mother to look after, simply because he did not want his own child to become a left-behind child, yet he never expected that the fate of returning to the countryside would eventually still bring him back to the countryside.

When young, Liang Xinghua did not quite believe in fate, but now past thirty, he had gradually come to believe in it.

To be precise, he had not only come to believe in fate, but had also begun to resign himself to it.

After transferring between several vehicles, he returned to Shanggou Village, already past three in the afternoon.

The old home, unoccupied for less than a year, had already fallen into ruin beyond recognition.

The courtyard was overgrown with weeds, the black tiles on the roof leaked, the floor was moldy, cracks appeared in the walls, and the hanging light overhead was covered in cobwebs.

Rural houses are like this—they need people living in them to keep them from falling apart so quickly.

A house that is lived in, no matter how broken or old, will not collapse even after decades.

But as soon as no one lives there, within just a year or two, it will rapidly decay, even collapse.

This is strange to say, and I do not know the principle behind it.

Liang Xinghua and Lan Menglian returned to their old home and had not a moment's rest, immediately tidying up the rooms.

Their daughter Liang Jia Hui had just learned to walk; facing this novel environment, she looked left and right, her eyes full of curiosity.

She had no feeling at all about the cruel fact that she was about to become a rural child.

Only when an ant in the courtyard bit her little foot did she wail loudly and go to find her mother.

Lan Menglian could only put down her work and patiently coax her.

After Liang Xinghua finished cleaning the house and simply cooked some dishes, once the family of three had finished dinner, he immediately took the gifts he had bought in the city and rushed to Wang Zhanggen's home to visit, not a moment to spare.

"Brother Changgen, Sister-in-law Xiulan, you're eating dinner."

When Liang Xinghua arrived, Wang Zhanggen and Li Xiulan were eating dinner.

"Xinghua, come sit, have you eaten dinner? Want to eat together!"

Wang Zhanggen held his bowl and chopsticks, quickly standing up to welcome Liang Xinghua.

"No need, no need, I've already eaten, you all eat."

Liang Xinghua had a simple, honest smile on his face as he handed over the gifts:

"Brother Changgen, this is for you."

Wang Zhanggen took a look and saw it was a pack of cigarettes and a package of tea leaves; he quickly said politely:

"Why are you giving me these? Take them back and use them yourself; I don't lack cigarettes or tea leaves here!"

"I want them, I want them—this isn't to come and learn masonry work from Brother Changgen? At least there needs to be some sincerity. I'm in a tough spot now, the things I'm giving aren't worth much, so please don't dislike them, Brother Changgen."

Liang Xinghua's face was full of sincerity.

He had always been this character—sincere and honest.

But it was precisely because of this character, not knowing how to navigate social situations, that led to him drifting in the city for so many years without achieving anything, finally returning to Shanggou Village with his head bowed in dejection.

Wang Zhanggen looked at Liang Xinghua, that face weathered and tired.

His heart was involuntarily moved.

For a moment, he thought of himself many years ago.

Back then he had also drifted in the city for many years, not getting a single cent of the era's dividends, finally returning to the countryside with his head bowed to do masonry work.

The Liang Xinghua of today, how similar his fate was to his own.

Also drifting in the city for many years, unable to achieve anything.

Also not getting a single cent of the era's dividends, finally resigning himself to return to the countryside.

Also returning to the countryside with his head bowed, finally choosing to become a mud worker.

The only difference was that back then Wang Zhanggen already had three sons.

Whereas Liang Xinghua today had only one daughter.

"Fine, fine, I'll accept the things."

Wang Zhanggen finally accepted the gifts Liang Xinghua brought, and also said:

"Actually masonry work isn't hard; first follow along as a small worker, keep your eyes sharp, pay attention and learn, and after a while you can start laying bricks. Once you learn to lay bricks, you can learn to apply putty; once you learn to apply putty, you can learn to lay tiles, install doors and windows. If you work harder, you can even learn electrical and plumbing installation. By then you'll know everything and be able to renovate your own house yourself."

Liang Xinghua showed a simple, honest smile and asked:

"When can I start learning?"

He was already eager to begin.

Wang Zhanggen said:

"On the first day of next month, my house's construction starts, and you can follow along and learn. Now, until the first day of next month, there are only three days left."

Liang Xinghua quickly thanked him:

"Thank you, Brother Changgen, you're truly a good person!"

"What politeness is needed between us? We're all from Shanggou Village, helping each other when in trouble is only natural." Wang Zhanggen wore an expression of great loyalty and righteousness.

Liang Xinghua hurriedly said:

"Once I earn money in the future, I'll pay you back at the first opportunity!"

Wang Zhanggen, however, waved his hand:

"No, I don't lack that bit of your money. Once you have money, fix up that raw house first and move in. Leaving that raw house sitting there is such a pity!"

Hearing this, Liang Xinghua was even more deeply moved.

"Brother Changgen, you're truly a good person!"

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

Zhou Hongwei brought an excavator over to break ground and dig the foundation.

As for the other two Big Workers and two Small Workers in his team, they would only come to start work once the foundation pouring began later; today was only digging the foundation, and after digging the foundation it had to sit for several days before work could begin, so they hadn't come along together.

It was only then that Wang Zhanggen told him there was another person who wanted to work as a Small Worker for him.

Hearing this, Zhou Hongwei couldn't help but frown, somewhat displeased:

"Why didn't you say so earlier? I've already arranged enough Small Workers on my side. Adding one more Small Worker means I'd have to pay an extra share of wages, wouldn't it?"

Wang Zhanggen had committed his old fault again—acting on his own initiative without communicating in advance, just like before when he went to Li Yuncui's home to propose marriage for Wang Xiaohua.

But this time it was a small matter, after all, the building to be constructed was his own.

He wanted to insert a Small Worker into the crew, and Zhou Hongwei had nothing to say about it—after all, the wages were paid by Wang Zhanggen, not by him.

"It's fine, it's fine, just one Small Worker. How much wages could that cost? He's from Shanggou Village, just returned to the village, and is in difficult circumstances. Besides, he's very honest and very capable. Show him the ropes."

Wang Zhanggen said this to Zhou Hongwei.

Zhou Hongwei, however, said:

"It's not that I'm unwilling to take him on, but I already have two Small Workers on my side. Adding another Small Worker would truly be a waste of that unnecessary money. If you'd told me earlier, I would have just hired one fewer Small Worker on my side."

Wang Zhanggen then asked:

"Who are your two Small Workers? Why not dismiss one?"

Zhou Hongwei hurriedly waved his hand:

"How could that work? One is my nephew—I still need to teach him the trade. That one definitely can't be dismissed. The other is an old workmate of many years; I can't bring myself to let him go."

"Who is the other one?"

"You know her—Liu Xiaoli."

Hearing this, Wang Zhanggen's inner heart couldn't help but tremble.

Liu Xiaoli had actually come too?