Xia Jingshu affirmed, "With your skill, we can eat fresh meals every day without a stove. We are indeed the perfect match."
With a motorhome and no children or business to get in the way, the couple felt much more at ease on the road than usual, and they were so happy that they didn't really want to get to their destination any sooner.
As the couple drove into Shangfen Village, some acquaintances saw them and greeted them.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with acquaintances, I took out my keys and went inside. Captain Huang, who should now be called President Huang, had kept the house very clean.
Knowing they would be coming back, they even made the bed, using the blankets they had left behind.
When Director Fang was promoted to town mayor, Captain Huang succeeded him and became Director Huang.
Over the years, he has diligently managed the Shangfen Brigade, and Shangfen Village has held the leading position among eight villages for more than ten years. He is truly deserving of the title of brigade leader.
It's a bit of a shame that President Huang only attended primary school for a few years and has limited education, so this position as president is the highest he can reach.
While Xia Jingshu was familiarizing himself with the arrangement of things in the house, Yu Rujia walked into the familiar backyard, where various fruit trees were already laden with bunches of fruit.
I casually picked two bright red plums and washed them by the hand pump.
When President Huang was tending to the yard, he used a hand pump well, and the water still tasted the same as before.
Putting the plum in my mouth, the familiar sweetness with a hint of tartness made it even more refreshing.
The fruit they planted in the capital started bearing fruit last year.
Due to the weather, even with Yu Rujia's constant temperature array and the blessing of the spiritual spring water, the southern fruits grew well in the north, but unfortunately the temperature was still a few degrees lower than in Shangfen Village.
The same type of fruit ripens about half a month later than that from Shangfen Village.
When they came out, they hadn't yet eaten the plums from the courtyard in the capital.
After glancing at the various fruits in red, black, and yellow, Yu Rujia went to the kitchen, grabbed a basket, and started picking fruit.
Just as she finished picking a basketful, President Huang's signature loud voice rang out from outside, growing louder as it approached.
President Huang: "Shujing, Shujing, where are you?"
The moment the voice fell, he had already stepped into the courtyard and saw Yu Rujia carrying a basket of fruit as she entered.
Xia Jingshu changed his name back to his original name after returning to the capital, a fact unknown to many in the Shangfen Brigade.
President Huang learned about this from Erdan, but he didn't tell anyone and still habitually called him 'Shujing'.
Upon seeing Yu Rujia carrying a basket of fruit, Director Huang smiled broadly and said, "I haven't seen you for two or three years, Yu Rujia, and you haven't changed at all."
Yu Rujia: "President Huang looks better and better, and he looks younger and more prosperous. Congratulations to President Huang on reaching a new level."
President Huang is now about 10 pounds heavier than he was two or three years ago.
President Huang grinned and said, "Ah, it's all thanks to Shujing. If it weren't for his guidance in the village and his efforts to generate income for us, I wouldn't be where I am today."
"I've prepared some good wine and food at home. You've been traveling for several days, you must be tired. Come over to my place for a meal and a good rest."
What he said was true. If it weren't for Xia Jingshu, Shangfen Brigade would have been overtaken by Xiafen Brigade long ago and wouldn't have been able to maintain its leading position in the Eighth Brigade of Dongyuan Commune for so long. It's still uncertain who the new commune leader will be.
Xia Jingshu came out the moment he heard his voice.
Xia Jingshu: "We haven't seen each other for two or three years, so we really need to get together. I'll shamelessly go and freeload a meal."
President Huang: "Don't say that. I'm happy you came. Is it just the two of you who came back this time? Where are the children?"
Xia Jingshu: "The children have to go to school, so only Rujia and I come back."
The village head sighed, “When you first came to our village, you were a young man, and now you’ve become a father of several children. Your youngest child is already in school. Time really flies.”
Xia Jingshu: "Duoyi didn't go to school. We were planning to send him in the second half of the year, but we thought the journey was too far, so we didn't take him."
President Huang: "Let's not talk about that anymore. Yan Hong has prepared a meal at home. Let's go over and chat while we have some drinks."
As soon as they entered President Huang's house, they heard a series of clattering sounds coming from the kitchen, as Zhou Yanhong was preparing food.
No one told them the exact time of their return, so President Huang naturally couldn't prepare meals in advance.
When they received the news, Director Huang was still in the commune office, and Zhou Yanhong was minding the shop in town.
The two of them rushed home as fast as they could after receiving the call from the village.
One person put down their bicycle and came to find Xia Jingshu and his wife, while the other person busied themselves at home.
Xia Jingshu: "We came back too suddenly, did we cause you any trouble?"
President Huang laughed heartily, "Hey, as soon as you come back, our problems here can be solved. I wish there were troubles like this every day. Come, sit down and let's talk."
Zhou Yanhong brought out a plate of freshly fried peanuts and soybeans and greeted them warmly, "Officer Gao, Rujia, there's nothing good in the village, please make do with these for now, the food will be ready soon."
Yu Rujia: "Peanuts and soybeans are good, fragrant and crispy. When we come to Beijing, it's not so convenient to eat these."
The Xia family's courtyard is large, but with many people, they consume a lot of fruits, vegetables, and melons.
I planted some peanuts and soybeans, which I usually stir-fry as vegetables, make various snacks, and tofu is indispensable, which I make several times a month. I don't use much for deep-frying.
They do sell it outside, but we're used to eating what we make at home, so we generally don't buy their vegetarian fruits from outside.
However, this plate of fried snacks also shows that the Huang family's quality of life has greatly improved.
Before the free trade was introduced, their family used oil by the drop when cooking, but now they're willing to use it to fry snacks.
Zhou Yanhong: "Really? If you like them, take some with you when you go back. These are all grown on our own land, they smell wonderful."
Yu Rujia: "Then I won't stand on ceremony, thank you very much, Sister Yanhong."
President Huang's two children, Da Dan and Er Dan, as well as himself, all achieved their current success thanks to Xia Jingshu's guidance. Zhou Yanhong used to visit her home often, and if she were too polite, it would only make their relationship more distant.
Moreover, she brought gifts for several close friends when she came back this time, so it wasn't like she was getting her things for free.
Zhou Yanhong's smile indeed widened: "You two continue chatting, I'll go prepare the food."
Jiang Damei walked in from outside carrying some things, and said quickly, "I heard a few days ago that Cadre Gao would be coming back, and I was wondering if Rujia would come back too. Now I've seen her."
"Come to my place later. We haven't seen each other for three years, so we should definitely have a good chat."
She took over the clothing shop in town from Guo Xiaojie and the other two. Business was booming, and she was in high spirits, appearing confident and composed.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
