Chapter 153: Group Picnic in the Compound (Part 1)
It was late spring and the dew was heavy. As soon as the sky was getting light, the third uncle got up to clean the toilet.
The public toilets in the compound are usually cleaned every other day. Now that the sun rises earlier, it is better to go out and work than in the middle of winter.
Liewazi on the bed was still sleeping, and the child looked much better than before.
The third uncle tucked in the corner of the quilt for someone and tiptoed out to the yard to work.
After a busy period, she came back after washing her hands, shook off the water and went into the house to prepare cooking. She saw Liewazi already sitting there watching the water boil on the stove.
The third uncle said distressedly: "Why don't you sleep a little longer? Children won't grow tall if they don't get enough sleep."
"Third Uncle, I'm fine. The water on the stove is boiling. Add some hot water and wash your face."
Song Chenlie is still learning to cook, so he didn't have any free hands. He got up in the morning and lit the stove in a daze to boil some hot water.
"Hey, let's have some grits porridge this morning. Thank you, Grandma, for sending us some elm seed steamed bread. Let's have one each."
"Third Grandpa, I found this on the windowsill."
Thinking of this, Song Chenlie ran to the kitchen, took out an oil-paper bag from the steamer, and showed it to his third grandfather.
"That girl Qian Yu sent it over again, right? Just keep it. An old man like me still benefits from you."
The third uncle knew it at a glance. Ever since Lie Wazi came to live in the compound, Qian Yu didn't dare to come over. She only sneaked over some food every now and then.
She now works as a temporary worker in a state-owned restaurant with her father Qian Baozhu. Every time she does so, she delivers rice or noodles on the door handle or windowsill.
Today, Song Chenlie got up and saw an oil-paper bag through the window. He reached out his little hand and touched it and it was still warm.
Inside were two big hot meat buns. Song Chenlie couldn't help swallowing his saliva. He hadn't eaten big meat buns for a long time since the incident in his family.
He was afraid of the cold, so he took it back and put it in the steamer to warm it up.
Now that he heard what Third Grandpa said, he felt a little emotional.
She pursed her lips and said nothing, just lowered her head and looked at her toes.
"Child, don't punish yourself for the mistakes of others."
"Okay, Third Grandpa knows you're a smart kid and you know what to do."
The third uncle touched Song Chenlie’s little head.
"Let's eat. By the way, your grandmother Xie and the others are going out to pick wild vegetables today. You can come with them."
"All the kids in the compound are going out today, so you might as well go out and play."
Upon hearing this news, Song Chenlie's eyes lit up, and he said hesitantly, "Would it be bad if I went?"
The third uncle knew what the child was worried about, so he took his hand and said:
"We just went to dig wild vegetables. This is also a way to remember the good times and bitter past, and it can be considered as labor education."
…
After breakfast, each family packed up and set off, otherwise they would miss the bus.
The adults first took things like bamboo baskets, snakeskin bags, ropes, scissors, and small shovels.
Stand in the yard and wait, calling the children out of the house.
Hu Tou and Wu Jiabao don't have classes today, Saturday, and they are pestering their parents to go out and play together.
Listen, Zhang Dazui said in a loud voice: "Tiger Head, are you ready? Let's go."
"Grandma, I'm coming, right now."
Hu Tou responded from inside the house and ran out in a hurry.
He was wearing rubber boots and carrying an army green backpack, looking very impressive.
"Jiabao, my god, Jiabao, eat one more bite before you leave."
In the west room of the Wu family, Diao Yulian was still holding a bowl to feed Wu Jiabao.
Wu Jiabao became impatient and dodged a few times.
"Mom, I'm full. Let's go out quickly. Just leave the dishes for my dad to wash."
Wu Shengli, who had just come out of the house to get rubber boots for his son, heard this as soon as he walked out. He was so amused that he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
I thought to myself: Son, you are such a good son to your father.
"Diao Yulian, hurry up or we'll be leaving."
Jin Qiaofeng in the front yard had already cleaned up. She waited and waited, but no one came out, so she urged them to come out.
"I'm coming, don't rush me."
Gao Xiulan and Lin Xiaotong, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law of the Xie family in the east, had also packed up early and were waiting outside the house.
I took the bus today and put all my things in a bamboo basket. It was more convenient to go there empty-handed.
Lin Xiaotong's hair has grown longer recently, and she tied it into a short ponytail, which is neat and tidy.
Both the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law are now wearing cloth shoes and carrying two pairs of rubber shoes in a bamboo basket.
There is water where water celery is cut at the small river beach in Cherry Valley, so it is more convenient to wear rubber shoes.
The third uncle asked Zhang Dazui and Gao Xiulan to take care of Song Chenlie. He had to herd one sheep or three sheep.
So they all nodded in agreement. Song Chenlie squatted alone on the steps of Xie's house and gently touched Xie Xiaoju.
No one was at the Xie family today. Xie Xiaoju was lying down under the eaves and sleeping. When everyone in the compound left, he would close the gate.
Yu Afen went out alone. Her son Qian Yu was taken away by Old Qian to help someone today and was not at home.
Yang Shujuan and Xia Yue also went out together. Xia Yue didn't have class today.
When Wu Jiabao saw the gentle and beautiful teacher Xiao Xia coming out, he finished his meal honestly, wiped his mouth, and came out carrying a small army green water bottle.
He ran to Hutou, glanced at Song Chenlie, and suddenly shook Hutou's little hand. He leaned over and said, "Hutou, he has grown so tall."
I can't hide my envious look anymore.
Wu Jiabao thought he was speaking in a low voice, but in fact, everyone around him could hear it. When Song Chenlie heard this, the tips of his ears turned red.
Diao Yulian suppressed a laugh and said, "Jiabao, Mom has already told me that if you just eat well, you will grow taller, right?"
Wu Jiabao thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll eat two bowls tomorrow."
Faced with this answer, Diao Yulian forced herself to hold back her laughter and held Wu Jiabao's little hand.
"OK."
Song Chenlie and Hu Tou walked together, the two little ones holding hands.
After walking out of the alley, Wu Jiabao looked back, broke free from his mother's hand, and ran to walk with the child.
The three little ones were holding hands. The tallest one, Song Chenlie, was walking in the middle, with both of his hands being held.
The corners of my mouth unconsciously turned up, and I felt my body light.
I thought to myself: I love spring so much.
They were not idle on the road either, everyone was still chatting.
Jin Qiaofeng was craving for fish. "I wonder if we can catch any fish in Cherry Valley today? Grilled fish would be good too."
Gao Xiulan said, "It's hard to say, but it rained a while ago, so the water on the riverbank should be quite deep now."
Diao Yulian clapped her hands and said, "Fortunately, we brought rubber shoes. We can even find some snails and other things."
Diao Yulian and Jin Qiaofeng walked in front, with three children holding hands in the middle.
Then came Lin Xiaotong and Xia Yue, hand in hand, with Gao Xiulan and the other three following behind.
This is safer and there is no need to worry about losing the child.
The group got on the bus and there were seats available.
The sunlight outside the car window is warm and not dazzling at all.
Lin Xiaotong fell asleep with her head leaning on the chair. When she opened her eyes, she was almost at Cherry Valley.
There were fewer people in the car. Gao Xiulan and the others had just woken up, and the three children looked quite energetic.
They gathered in front of the window, chattering, and when they saw a bird, they would pull each other's shoulders.
"We're at Yingtaogou Station." The ticket seller shouted after arriving at the station.
"Go, go, go, watch the road, and take everything with you."
Zhang Dazui, who was sitting in the front, got off the car first and waited outside.
The group hurriedly carried their things down and walked towards the river beach.
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