Faced with questions from her two ungrateful younger sisters, Zhou Chen didn't dwell on the matter too much.
He didn't want to suffer from mental exhaustion and negative emotions.
Having been given a second chance at life, all he wants is to be happier and more relaxed.
Arriving at the construction site canteen, watching his fellow workers chatting and laughing all day while eating, Zhou Chen found himself enjoying spending time with them.
Relaxed, carefree, and unrestrained.
Originally, Zhou Chen planned to deliver the chicken soup to the staff dormitory, but his master, Xu Laoqi, firmly refused, saying that he had only injured his arm and not his leg.
Many of the workers exclaimed that Zhou Chen was giving Xu Laoqi special treatment, and that his meals were much better than theirs.
Upon hearing this, Xu Laoqi was not angry at all; instead, he showed a smug look on his face. "If you are envious, then take on a disciple as capable as mine. That way, when you get injured, you will receive the same treatment as me."
"Foreman Xu, it's easy for you to talk when you're not in the situation. People like Xiao Chen, who are loyal, smart, and hardworking, are hard to find. None of the idiots who came a few days ago lasted more than a week. They were all scared away by the exhaustion."
“Young people these days are increasingly unable to endure hardship. At least, I haven’t seen any peers other than Xiao Chen who have worked with us for this long.”
When people talked about Zhou Chen, their words were full of the most genuine and unpretentious appreciation, making Xu Laoqi envious of having taken on such a good apprentice.
Zhou Chen has a gentle personality and gets along well with everyone.
Moreover, he is responsible. Almost everyone has heard that Zhou Chen dropped out of school just to give his three siblings the opportunity to learn. It is this sense of responsibility that makes many people look at Zhou Chen with new respect.
after all,
At such a young age, she shouldered the heavy responsibility of raising three siblings; not everyone can do that.
Zhou Chen stayed for a full three years.
“I remember Brother Zhou, when he first came to the construction site, in order to save money on food, he didn’t eat at the construction site canteen every day. He would take out the steamed buns and pickled vegetables he brought from home from his pocket and have them for lunch. After get off work in the evening, he would not go back to the construction site dormitory but would rush back to his home to cook for his three siblings.”
"Yes, Brother Zhou has suffered too much. If he hadn't gone back to school and started his own canteen at the construction site, I think he would still be eating steamed buns for lunch every day."
"What I remember most is that Brother Zhou always wore only two pieces of clothing. In winter, he would wear a slightly thicker one, and in summer, he would wear a thin short-sleeved shirt. I saw Brother Zhou change into new clothes every three years. When they were torn, he would mend them and continue to wear them. His frugality was not the best on the construction site, but it was certainly among the top few."
"Yes, Brother Zhou's school uniform is the only new clothes I've ever seen."
Recalling Zhou Chen's days working on the construction site with everyone else, the others had more to say. They admired Zhou Chen's hard work for a living, felt sorry for him as the eldest brother and for his sacrifices for the family, and were also somewhat relieved that Zhou Chen's life was gradually getting better.
Upon hearing the descriptions from the crowd, Li Juan and Wang Lan, who were standing nearby, looked at Zhou Chen with varying degrees of change in their gazes.
They knew Zhou Chen had a hard life, but they never imagined it would be this hard, especially considering that she ate steamed buns every day for three years to save money on lunch, let alone wear new clothes.
Liu Juan's family was also of average means, but not to the extent that Zhou Chen was.
Feeling the gazes cast upon him, Zhou Chen gave an awkward smile and said self-deprecatingly, "Brothers, please stop teasing me. A hero doesn't dwell on past glories. Please keep my glorious deeds to yourselves and just remember me as handsome. Actually, I envy you all for meeting me at such a young age."
The last narcissistic remark made everyone burst into laughter.
The entire construction site canteen was filled with laughter.
After dinner,
The others returned to their dormitories at the construction site, while Xu Laoqi, wearing a coat, stood in the setting sun, struggling to roll a cigarette with one hand.
Zhou Chen received the money from the accountant and happened to witness this scene.
He rushed over and snatched the cigarette from Xu Laoqi's hand, which he had been trying to roll for a long time without success.
"Master, could you give me some tobacco later? I'll roll some for you when I get back and bring it over tomorrow morning. If you're feeling puffed, have one."
Zhou Chen helped Xu Laoqi light a cigarette and said.
Xu Laoqi smiled and shook his head, "Your primary task right now is to focus all your energy on your studies. It's okay if your master doesn't smoke this cigarette, so don't worry about me."
By the way, how's school lately? Are you confident about getting into a good university? Have you decided where you'll go to school?
I'm waiting for you to go to university. If you become a university student, your master will have face to show off. Having a university student apprentice, who on the entire construction site is more capable than me?
As Xu Laoqi spoke, he couldn't help but reveal a hint of pride once again.
Although Zhou Chen is not a college student yet, he believes that Zhou Chen will definitely become one in the future.
“Master, I have a goal. I want to go to the best science and technology university in our country, which is also the most popular and promising major in the future.”
"Did you know that the future will be the information age, with a highly developed computer industry? Especially with the continuous expansion of the network, it will completely change everyone's life. At that time, we will be able to shop without leaving home and buy everything we need in our lives."
Only the master and apprentice remained, facing the sunset, as Zhou Chen described a glimpse of future development.
Upon hearing this, Xu Laoqi felt it was a life of paradise and exclaimed in shock, "Will our country really be this developed in the future? Will we be able to buy things without leaving home?"
"Yes, back then, we didn't even need to carry money when we went out; all we needed to do was bring our cell phones."
Zhou Chen said, gazing at the setting sun.
He didn't mind revealing some future plans to his master because he wanted to share the convenience of life ahead and let his master know that things would get better and better, giving his master more hope for the future.
"Xiao Chen, promise your master something."
Xu Laoqi suddenly turned his head, his face serious.
“Master, please speak.” Zhou Chen straightened his expression.
"No matter what happens in the future, you must live for yourself, strive to realize your ideals, and not be bound by anyone."
Xu Laoqi exhaled his last puff of smoke.
Zhou Chen was slightly taken aback, his feelings inexplicably complicated.
He knew that his master, Xu Laoqi, felt sorry for him because of his sacrifices for the three siblings and thus neglected himself. Therefore, he hoped that he could be a little selfish and think about himself instead of thinking about others all his life.
"Master, I will, I promise you."
"Haha... I'm going back now. You should also go home and study hard. No need to see me off."
Upon hearing the satisfactory answer, Xu Laoqi laughed loudly and walked away without looking back, casting a long, long shadow in the setting sun.
Zhou Chen was left behind, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
Finally, a smile appeared on its face, bathed in golden light.
...
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