When Old Wang returned to the west of the city, he was just watching the sunset!

He was carrying a bulging bag of fertilizer, with a few stubborn pieces of straw stuck to his trouser legs. When he walked, he carried with him the unique "mellow fragrance" of the pigpen.

"Oh my God!" Aunt Cai was collecting the herbs he had dried in the yard when she looked up and saw her husband's appearance.

The dustpan in his hand was about to fall over. "Are you going to castrate a pig, or are you being castrated by a pig?"

Old Wang dumped the fertilizer bag on the ground, wiped the sweat off his face and said, "Don't mention it! The piglets from Old Liu's family are all like spirits..." Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by his youngest son Wang Cheng.

"Dad, you're finally back!" Wang Cheng ran out in slippers. When he took the fertilizer bag, he was almost shaken by the eggs inside.

Aunt Cai fanned her nose and silently took a step back!

From a distance, I could smell the pig smell on Old Wang's body. He even took a few steps closer.

Aunt Cai fanned her nose as she walked towards the kitchen: "The rice is warming on the stove..."

"No hurry." Old Wang pulled an oil-paper bag from his pocket. "I ate some steamed bread on the way." He caught a glimpse of his wife's disdainful look and walked towards the well platform awkwardly. "I'll rinse it right away..."

By the time Old Wang had finished cleaning up and sat down at the dinner table, Wang Cheng and Aunt Cai had already told him everything about Li Jianghai.

Old Wang's hand, holding the chopsticks, froze in mid-air. "What? What does that kid mean?"

Wasn't it him who begged us to sign a few days ago?

"That's right!" Aunt Cai said, crunching her pickled radish. "He even came here a couple of days ago, saying, 'Please read it carefully before signing.'"

Old Wang slammed his bowl onto the table, sending rice grains flying high. "Did Li Jianghai borrow his mouth? Are you in such a hurry to return it?"

The flame of the kerosene lamp flickered, casting the shadows of the three people on the mottled earthen wall. Old Wang stroked his stubble and suddenly said, "I'll go to the neighborhood committee tomorrow to check."

The three of them talked back and forth, criticizing Director Wang of the neighborhood committee, the demolition team, and Li Jianghai.

It was late at night and the kerosene lamp in Old Wang's house was still on. The three members of the family sat around the eight-immortal table and held a "family meeting".

Meanwhile, at the Li family home in Mule Alley, the lights had already been turned off. Most people were asleep!

Oh, there is one exception!

Li Jianghai tossed and turned in bed, causing the bed to creak.

Li Guifang was woken up and kicked him: "If you can't sleep, go and switch shifts with Da Huang!"

Most of the quilt was pulled away.

"You worry more than the neighborhood committee director every day." Li Guifang sat up and glared at him in the moonlight. "You run around all day and can't sleep at night."

"You didn't see how stubborn Old Wang is..." Li Jianghai simply sat up. "I'm just worried they'll get hurt!"

Li Guifang sneered: "Do you think they are all three-year-old children? They have said everything they should say and done everything they should do.

If they still don't understand..." She yawned, "it's really hard to persuade a fool with good advice."

"But what if..."

"What are you talking about?" Li Guifang pulled the quilt over her. "I have to get up early tomorrow to knead the dough. Do you think the money will just go into my wallet?"

Outside the window, the moonlight quietly shines on the bluestone road.

The big yellow dog in the yard suddenly raised its head, barked at the moon, and then lay back in its nest to continue taking a nap.

Li Jianghai looked out the window at the moonlight and suddenly smiled: "You're right, even dogs know when to sleep."

As he said this, he lay down, but his eyes were still open, staring at the beams in a daze.

——

The next morning, Old Wang and Wang Cheng went to the neighborhood committee and saw a red tent set up at the entrance of the committee.

Several staff members are hanging a banner that reads "Special Offer on Preferential Policies for South City Renovation."

Director Wang stood on the steps and waved at him from a distance: "Comrade Wang! You've arrived just in time! Today we have a major favorable policy, and the first twenty to sign will receive a special reward!"

Old Wang walked into the neighborhood committee compound with doubt.

I found that many neighbors were already sitting in the house. The ones who were most opposed to the demolition were all there!

Sitting in the front row was Old Zhao, who ran a grocery store. He was chatting and laughing with Director Wang, and there were several documents spread out on the table.

"Dear neighbors," Director Wang knocked on the table and said with a smile, "With the approval of our superiors, we are launching a special promotion today!

The first 20 households that sign the contract will receive an additional eight square meters of space bonus in addition to the normal compensation standard!

As soon as the words fell, Lao Zhao couldn't wait to stand up, slammed the table and said, "Director Wang, this policy is too cost-effective! My family will sign it now!"

As he spoke, he pulled out a stack of materials he had prepared long ago. "My shop is in a good location. I was thinking of waiting and seeing what's going on, but if I miss this offer, it's gone for good!"

When Old Wang stared at the back of Old Zhao's shiny head, he smelled a familiar sour and calculating smell.