Wang Shouren: ...
Thank you. It's really rare for someone to have such a clear understanding of themselves.
"Why don't you call her and ask her yourself?"
"Give me the phone." Xu Yuanchao didn't want to say too much to Wang Shouren, so he took the phone and turned to leave.
Wang Shouren shook his head. As he exited the airport, Qin Jingru was already waiting outside in the same car. Years had passed, but the car was still so eye-catching, and so many people were still gathered around to look at it.
He sighed.
The road ahead is long and arduous.
I opened the car door and got in.
Qin Jingru, who hadn't seen her for almost a year, immediately started gossiping: "How is she? How is she? It's been a few months, has she gained weight?"
Wang Shouren: ...
Goodness, you guys really all know this, except me, right?
Wang Shouren rolled his eyes: "Just drive properly and watch where you're going."
"Tch, so what if she doesn't want to tell me? Is she planning to give birth there? I heard that if she gives birth there, she can register her household there. Is that really appropriate?"
“She doesn’t want to come back to give birth, and there’s nothing I can do about it. It’s one option, I suppose. Having a US identity will make things easier for her over there,” Wang Shouren said, scratching his chin.
"So this is how you get your child involved?"
"Can't you say something nice?"
The couple returned to their courtyard house amidst their bickering.
“I said, now our house feels a bit deserted.”
"How about having another one?" Wang Shouren glanced at her.
"Please, please spare me. If I have another one, it'll kill me. Our whole neighborhood will become a playground for old men."
"Oh? How so?"
"An old man..."
Qin Jingru was telling Wang Shouren about the changes this year.
Back in 1979, Wang Shouren went to see an old man and brought along several equally skilled technicians to provide technical guidance to his struggling factory. Now, the technical guidance was mostly complete, and the old men were getting on in years, so they resigned. Qin Jingru tried to persuade them to stay for a while, but the old men all said that the young men in the factory were quite capable now, and they were no longer needed.
That's true; within five years of high salaries, the transfer of skills has actually been largely accomplished.
However, both Qin Jingru and Wang Shouren were willing to support these elderly men.
Unfortunately, the old men themselves had their pride. In their own words, they had lived for so many years and earned enough money. They wanted to live a leisurely life from now on, and if they had the chance, it would be nice to travel around.
After some discussion, the old man decided that their courtyard house was just right. It had three courtyards, and Wang Shouren had practically taken over the entire backyard. The front and middle courtyards were practically deserted. So, a few of them decided to buy one and live together. The cost of the courtyard house wasn't a large sum for them.
Like an old man who has worked for several years and has earned tens of thousands of yuan.
So, a group of elderly men settled down there and hired a few housekeepers to help them tidy up the house.
"Those old men said that this was probably the kind of life landlords lived in the past. Do you remember Uncle San's son?"
"I remember, Yan Jiecheng, right? Didn't he get his goods from Huai Ru to do business? I think this couple started around the 80s, they were among the first to do business, they should be doing quite well now."
These days, doing business really makes money.
As long as the goods were right, one could earn a month's wages in a single day. It's safe to say that almost everyone who followed Qin Family Village back then became wealthy. In the past few years, accumulating a net worth of around 100,000 yuan should not have been a problem.
"It's more than just good. Last time I came back, I was all excited and asked if we were going to sell our cars."
"Wow? They're even using cars now?" Wang Shouren raised an eyebrow.
Cars aren't cheap.
They're basically not sold domestically, mainly because the road conditions aren't suitable, and the price is too high. Tens of thousands of yuan isn't something everyone can afford.
"That's right, he's always so smug. I heard that his wife got pregnant recently, and the two of them were overjoyed." Qin Jingru's voice softened as she said this: "I heard that the reason they didn't have children before was because Yan Jiecheng was starving too much in the past, so his... well, his... quality wasn't good. And after he started working, he didn't have much money."
"Eighty years later, when they went to the hospital for a checkup, they finally found out what was wrong. It was then that they made up their minds to start their own business; otherwise, they really wouldn't have been able to cure their illness. When the third uncle found out, he was so regretful that he slapped his thigh and covered all of Yan Jiecheng's medical expenses. Thank goodness, they finally got pregnant."
"It's really not easy for Uncle San to be willing to spend this money," Wang Shouren remarked.
Some people's shrewdness is truly innate. In fact, after Uncle San got a job in Qin Family Village, he wasn't short of money, but he just liked to take advantage of small things. In his own words, it was just a habit, and he was fine living like that.
"That's right, let me tell you, don't be too surprised when you get to our courtyard."
“What’s so surprising?” Wang Shouren followed Qin Jingru as they walked through the alley.
He had walked this path countless times; he could get home with his eyes closed. But as soon as he stepped into the yard, he paused for a moment.
During the devastating earthquake of 1976, many people built earthquake shelters. Later, these shelters weren't demolished, and several extra rooms were added. These were considered illegal constructions. Back then, there was really no other way; people liked to have many children. For example, my third uncle's family had several children, and there simply wasn't enough room. As a result, the overall structure of the courtyard house wasn't very aesthetically pleasing.
Now, all those houses have been demolished, and the place looks much better. Even the toilets that Wang Shouren always disliked have been changed; they've been replaced with a row of old-fashioned dry toilets. They look much more comfortable now.
Walking from the front yard to the middle yard, there's an extra tree in the middle of the middle yard.
There used to be trees there, but they were cut down, and now they've been planted back.
Two old men were playing chess under a tree, and four more old men had joined them nearby, playing cards and occasionally making loud noises.
When they saw someone coming, the old men turned around to look.
"Hey, you little rascal, you're finally back!" The third uncle was delighted when he saw him. He dropped the chess piece in his hand and was about to get up when the first uncle grabbed him.
The old man calmly looked at the third old man: "Third brother, don't try to cheat. You're going to lose this game. Don't even think about skipping dinner tonight."
The third uncle's eyes darted around: "Shouren, you haven't been back for so long, how about treating your third uncle to a meal?"
Wang Shouren: ...
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