Chapter 432: Distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors

After a few words of chat, Wu An said goodbye and prepared to go home.

Lao Mai started the car over here.

Mai Hangyu suddenly remembered something, opened the door, got out, walked over, and said, "Brother An, I just recalled that Director Chen said the village's interest‑free loan application has come through."

Only fifty thousand.

Director Chen's idea is for you to bring the documents and go to the town to ask about it.

Wu An raised his eyebrows: "Wasn't it said the maximum was fifty thousand before?"

That difference is quite a lot.

Does Director Chen mean that things are stuck in the town?

Mai Hangyu nodded.

Wu An pondered, then said, "Alright, let's do it tomorrow."

The town wants to hold a Seeing Justice and Courage commendation ceremony for me.

I'll also check with the leadership about the situation.

Mai Hangyu felt a bit envious: "There's still this good thing?"

Wu An said, "The titles keep piling up, but it's not really meaningful."

Mai Hangyu: "……"

These days the 'versailles' meme hasn't appeared yet, but the meaning of his look is already clear.

Wu An finished installing and left.

……

Back in the village.

He went to the small shop for a look, saw everyone still discussing Chen Gui's matter, and having no objection to Father acting as village chief, he finally put his mind at ease.

Afternoon.

He had planned to take a nap, but thinking his sister‑in‑law was still helping at Aunt Juan's place, he felt awkward not to go, so he bought a lot of ice pops and headed over.

He worked until it was almost dark.

Wu An and A Qing sat drinking tea, watching Li Juan and Mei Yueqin tug at each other.

"Aunt Juan, we're back."

"What do you mean go back? Stay and eat."

"No, no."

"Mei Yueqin, listen to Auntie, come on, come on."

"This Ah Ping and my dad…"

"You're talking, and Auntie might get angry—what's wrong, can Auntie still be so unreasonable?"

"No… it's too much trouble for you…"

"No trouble, it's settled like this: A An, call your dad and older brother, come home to eat tonight."

Wu An laughed and replied, "Okay, Auntie."

Li Juan added, "Don't let your dad and older brother bring anything; we've got wine and dishes at home."

Wu An answered again.

He watched Mei Yueqin and Li Juan pulling at each other, still finding it quite interesting; in his previous life in the city, he hadn't seen such a scene for years.

Helping to tidy up.

Wu An brought A Qing to the dock to buy vegetables; besides seafood, villagers had stalls selling chickens and ducks, also vegetables—almost like a small market.

A Qing shouted, "Brother, there are far fewer fishing boats."

Wu An looked over.

Indeed.

Some large fishing boats went out to sea; the wind was much weaker than before, and the big ships, unable to hold back, thought the danger was controllable and rushed out.

A Qing asked, "What about us?"

Wu An said, "Listen to Lao Fu."

A Qing gave an "oh", he and Lao Fu had spoken on the phone; Lao Fu's meaning was to wait and see tomorrow, after all the boat isn't big—if the weather changes it could be very dangerous.

Better to be steady.

After buying some seafood and beef, Lao Xie saw him greet him and came over to chat a bit.

Lao Xie sighed.

He said business has been bad these days; fishermen aren't going out, so they bring no catch, and these stall‑holders can't get any haul, naturally they can't earn money.

The fishermen are upstream.

Wu An comforted him, "Don't worry too much; there are always ups and downs, and later there will be… down, down, down, down, down…"

Marine resources keep shrinking; nobody's doing well.

Lao Xie praised him, saying he really knows how to joke.

Wu An smiled, said nothing, and couldn't bear to tell Lao Xie the truth—that he actually wasn't joking.

Back home.

A Qing set down the seafood, beef, and some vegetables; Li Juan and Mei Yueqin started pulling at each other again—"You sit, I'll come, you're a guest, don't be polite"—and in the end both went into the kitchen together.

A Qing scratched his head: "Brother, why is that?"

Wu An shrugged.

Never mind.

As long as there's food and drink at night, that's fine.

Not long after, Wu Ping and Wu Yingwei both came.

It was just over half an hour, the food and drinks were served, Li Juan told everyone to sit and eat first, she asked A Qing to pour drinks for everyone, and Wu An went to shout: "Aunt Juan, don't be busy, there are already so many dishes."

Li Juan waved her hand: "There's still one dish, it'll be here once it's stir-fried."

At the wine table.

Wu An talked about the matter of people coming to congratulate and have a feast later, Wu Yingwei heard that not a single one of A Qing's uncles had come forward to help, and he got so angry his face looked awful.

What an unsightly way of eating!

Fortunately Li Juan looks gentle but is strong as a mother; over the years she occasionally puts up a fight, so A Qing's uncles haven't been able to take much advantage.

Wu Yingwei said: "Fine, I'll handle this."

"When the time comes, we don't need to set up too many tables, just have close relatives and friends."

Wu An interjected: "Old Meng, Old Jiang..."

Wu Yingwei glared: "So disrespectful, not even adding 'uncle'."

Wu An shook his head, pretending not to hear.

Having called Old Meng and Old Jiang all his life, it's really hard for him to change his way of address; even if he really calls them "uncle", they might not be used to it.

Li Juan was overjoyed, couldn't help drinking some wine, smiling while secretly wiping away tears.

Wu Yingwei saw Wu An drinking quite a bit, couldn't help saying: "Drink a little less, tomorrow you still have to go to town to attend the commendation ceremony; what would you look like if you're drunk?"

Wu An said: "Okay, I won't drink much."

Li Juan asked: "What commendation ceremony?"

Wu Yingwei knew quite a bit, and briefly explained the situation.

Wu An wondered: "Dad, how do you know this so clearly?"

Wu Yingwei took a puff of a cigarette, then said: "The leaders know I'm your father, so they chatted with me."

Wu Ping laughed: "Dad, you've also gotten some of A An's glory."

Wu Yingwei didn't deny it, looked at Wu An, and said: "Keep working hard, do a good job."

Wu An nodded.

No need to say more.

Father was very restrained, but he could feel that Father was happy for him.

"Come, this is a good thing."

"Let's have a drink together."

"Wish A An gets better and better."

Li Juan raised her wine cup.

Father, elder brother, and elder brother's wife also raised their cups.

Wu An also hurriedly raised his.

After drinking and becoming slightly tipsy, the sister-in-law didn't let him return to the old house, but followed him home; just as he lay down on the bed, the sister-in-law called him to wash up, he was unwilling, so the sister-in-law brought a washbasin into the room.

Seeing this, Wu An dared not let the sister-in-law serve him; he quickly got up and tidied himself.

After washing up.

He lay down and fell asleep.

The next morning.

He woke up in a daze, his head a little sore; there was a cup on the bedside table, he picked it up and drank it all in one go, belched, then felt better.

He got up.

He pushed open the door.

A gentle breeze brushed his face; the home is in the village, without the heavy dampness of the old house.

The sister-in-law was sweeping the courtyard, calling out: "You're up, wash up and eat; I've made porridge, drink something soothing."

Wu An nodded.

After washing up.

He sat down, playing with his phone while eating porridge.

Gu Anran sent many messages; these past two days she hasn't been idle, constantly communicating with the tenants—aside from the two that clearly gave notice to move out, the other tenants actually also have thoughts of leaving.

Only two households aren't leaving; their businesses are doing alright.

Gu Anran's meaning was to talk it over again; Wu An thought it unnecessary, and asked her to explain the situation of next year's rent increase; if that fails, he'll step in.

Gu Anran quickly replied, saying this doesn't need him; she can handle it well.