Xia Wan wasn't in a hurry to inquire about the matters she was concerned about. Instead, she chatted with Aunt Cuihua about everyday things. From Aunt Cuihua's grandson's recent studies at school to the new livestock that Zhang San's family in the village had acquired, the two chatted happily.
When Aunt Cuihua talks about her grandson, her face is filled with pride. She vividly describes all sorts of interesting things that happened to him at school, such as getting good grades in exams, being praised by his teachers, and having his certificates of merit plastered all over one wall of the house.
I also participated in the school's cultural activities and gave a particularly wonderful performance. The applause from the audience was thunderous, as if those events had just happened right before my eyes.
Speaking of Zhang San's livestock, Aunt Cuihua couldn't help but sigh that life was slowly getting better. Before, her family was so poor that they couldn't even afford to raise a chicken, and the whole family had to save every penny. Now, Zhang San's family actually raises several pigs and a flock of sheep. The pigs in the pigpen are fat and plump, and the sheep in the sheep pen are also strong and healthy. Life is getting better and better, and she is sure that things will get better and better in the future. Her face is full of anticipation for the future.
As the atmosphere gradually warmed up, the firelight illuminated their faces, and the whole room was filled with laughter.
Xia Wancai asked casually, "Auntie, what's been going on in the village lately? I've been so busy these past few days that I haven't had a chance to listen to everyone's chats. I feel like I've missed out on a lot of excitement."
Upon hearing this, Aunt Cuihua immediately perked up, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She slapped her thigh and exclaimed, "That's too much!"
Did you know that the young man from Old Li's family at the village entrance went to the market in town a few days ago and actually found a rare item? It's said to have come from a faraway place, and nobody has ever seen it before. Everyone is so envious of him.
That thing is shiny and glows; it twinkles in the sunlight and is especially beautiful.
Old Li's son treasures it terribly. He gets upset if anyone glances at it too long, and he even puts it in a fancy box, placing it in the most prominent spot in the house. Rumor has it that it has special uses, bringing good luck to the family. No one knows if it's true or not, but everyone's spreading the word with great conviction.
Aunt Cuihua began to tell the story vividly, gesturing with her hands as she spoke. Her facial expressions were very rich, sometimes surprised, sometimes envious, as if she herself were the one who had obtained the rare item.
Xia Wan listened intently, occasionally interjecting with a question, her eyes sparkling with thoughtfulness.
She was actually preoccupied with the matter she cared about, but she didn't want to appear too eager, so she patiently listened to these seemingly trivial matters, afraid that her anxiety would cause her to miss any important clues.
She wondered to herself if these seemingly ordinary trivial matters might also hide clues related to those mysteries. Perhaps the truth was hidden behind these seemingly casual words.
After listening for a while, Xia Wan still didn't hear what she wanted to hear, and she couldn't help but feel a little anxious.
She took a small sip of hot tea, the scalding liquid flowing down her throat and warming her somewhat anxious heart.
After hesitating for a moment, she finally mustered up the courage to ask, "Auntie, a few days ago Sister Zhao, who works at the post office, called me and said that someone from Huaihua Brigade had fraudulently claimed my package. She reported it to the police and it was only after that it was recovered. I hope this incident didn't have any negative impact on our brigade."
It's kind of embarrassing to admit, but if I had known earlier, I wouldn't have let Sister Zhao make such a big deal out of it. Actually, all I had to do was find the things my godmother sent me!
When I found out about this, I felt really bad, afraid that it would bring shame to our brigade. Her tone was tinged with guilt and worry. As she spoke, her eyes carefully observed Aunt Cuihua's reaction, not missing any subtle changes in her expression, trying to find some clues from her answers and expressions.
She stared intently into Aunt Cuihua's eyes, not missing even the slightest hint of something unusual in them.
Aunt Cuihua waved her hand dismissively and said, "No, she's just a recent educated youth who hasn't been here long and doesn't know the rules here very well. Everyone knows she's new here, so no one took it to heart."
Besides, the items have been recovered, it's no big deal, it won't affect our brigade's reputation, so don't worry about it. The people in our village are all reasonable; they won't say anything over something like this.”
As Aunt Cuihua spoke, she gently patted Xia Wan's hand, as if to soothe her uneasy heart.
Xia Wan put on a relieved expression and said, "That's good, that's good. I was worried that my matter would tarnish the reputation of our brigade, but now I can rest assured."
A fleeting hint of relief crossed her eyes; a huge weight had been lifted from her heart. But she knew that the mysteries surrounding the village were far from being solved, and the road to uncovering the truth was still long.
She secretly resolved that no matter what difficulties she encountered, she must get to the bottom of the matter and not let these mysteries continue to plague her and the village.
Even if the road ahead is full of thorns, she will never back down. She is determined to unveil the mystery of the village and let the sunlight shine on every corner again.
She thought that perhaps the next time she talked to someone, she would be able to grasp that key point and resolve all her doubts.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
