That night was the first time Fang Yang let go of everything and went to bed early, breathing in the fresh scent of laundry detergent.
Knowing that Fang Yang was going home for the Chinese New Year, his aunt and grandmother cleaned the room thoroughly, and rearranged the sheets and quilts, leaving no musty smell of a place that hadn't been lived in for a long time.
Perhaps his uncle's family didn't have much money, but the warmth of his relatives still made Fang Yang feel the warmth of humanity. Since his parents passed away, the lonely Fang Yang had some of the comfort of home.
After a good night's sleep, Fang Yang slept until after eight o'clock the next day before lazily waking up. After washing up, he went to his uncle's house and ate some warm seafood porridge and steamed buns. Then he drove to his maternal grandmother's house in the next village.
My maternal grandparents and my uncle live in the same small courtyard. That's how houses are in the countryside, especially those near the sea. Since you can't grow many crops in the fields, the houses are built very large, with a big courtyard, which is convenient for drying nets and cleaning fish.
When Fang Yang drove into the yard, everyone was at home preparing for the New Year. They were all a little at a loss when they saw a car drive in. It was his uncle Liu Jun who was stunned for a moment before coming out to greet him. As the head of the family, he should show the proper manners when guests come to visit.
Fang Yang parked the car in the corner of the yard. Seeing his uncle coming to greet him, he quickly opened the car door and got out, saying, "Uncle."
Upon seeing that it was Fang Yang, Liu Jun burst into laughter, "Oh, it's Xiao Yang! I was wondering who it was. You didn't even give me a call beforehand. Have you eaten yet?"
Fang Yang and Liu Jun hugged. "I've eaten, Uncle, have you eaten yet?"
The grandparents and aunt inside the house had already seen Fang Yang through the window and happily opened the door to come out. "Little Yang, my good grandson, let Grandma see if you've lost weight?"
Fang Yang hurried over to greet them, "Grandpa, Grandma, Aunt!"
“My dear grandson, you’re getting more and more handsome. Your uncle told me you’ve even become a celebrity now, which makes Grandma so happy. But you’ve lost weight. Look at your face, it’s all so thin. This time when you come back, Grandma will help you get some nourishment. Eat more meat!”
"Grandma, I exercise regularly, it's not that I don't eat meat! Grandma, you all need to take care of yourselves, eat more meat, and stay healthy!"
"Listen to my good grandson. Come on, it's cold outside, let's go inside and have some fruit."
"Grandma and Grandpa, you go in first. I still have some things to take in from the car. Don't go out in the wind, you'll catch a cold."
Fang Yang asked his uncle and aunt to open the trunk, and the trunk was full of gifts, which stunned them both. "Xiao Yang, you have too much stuff. Even the supermarket wouldn't have enough for you to carry."
"There's not much stuff. Everyone just needs to prepare a little, plus New Year's goods. Let's hurry up and move it. Is Xiaoyun still sleeping?"
"That brat doesn't go to bed until midnight every day after she comes back from vacation, and she won't get up until lunchtime if she doesn't sleep. I don't know where she picked up that bad habit."
"It's okay, that's how young people are these days. If they don't sleep in now, they won't have time to sleep in when they're working."
"Sigh, Xiaoyang, you're so sensible. If Xiaoyun were half as sensible as you, I, as her mother, would be laughing in my dreams."
The three of them, each carrying a large pile of gifts, entered the main room. The biting cold wind was kept out by the curtain. Fang Yang presented gifts, clothes, and other items to his maternal grandparents, as did his uncle and aunt.
My cousin Liu Yun, still half asleep, ran out of her bedroom. "Cousin, where's my gift?"
Fang Yang handed a huge pile of cosmetics, clothes, cell phones, and computers to Liu Yun, saying, "You didn't even do anything for the family when you came home for the New Year. Don't just spend all your time online. You only have one year left until graduation. Have you decided where you want to work?"
Liu Yun, her hair disheveled, let out a shriek as she gathered the gifts, "Are all these for me? Ahhh, they're even the same cosmetics as Zheng Xiuli's! Cousin, I love you to death! I've wanted to buy these for so long, but they're too expensive. And this outfit, it's the same one as Zheng Xiuli's too! I have to take pictures, I'll make all my girlfriends so envious!"
Like a crazy girl, Liu Yun hugged a huge pile of gifts, turned around and went back to her bedroom, slamming the door shut. She was off showing them off, no one knew how.
Auntie rubbed her forehead. "This brat will drive me crazy sooner or later. Xiaoyang, sit down. I'll go get you a cup of hot water."
Fang Yang sat down with his grandparents with a smile, and his uncle also took out some snacks from home and invited Fang Yang to have some.
We chatted until almost 10 o'clock before my little cousin finally woke up, still half asleep. The little guy is only five years old. He was born to my uncle late in life and is spoiled rotten. As soon as he woke up, my aunt started fussing over him, serving him his washing and meals.
Liu Yun had also finished breakfast and was asking Fang Yang about Zheng Xiuli. Fang Yang was helpless about this. He was usually so busy that he didn't have time to pay attention to Zheng Xiuli's affairs. It was rare for him to see her once a month.
Lunch was cooked by the eldest aunt, with the maternal grandmother helping out. Fang Yang chatted with the maternal grandfather and the youngest uncle, saying, "Grandpa, why don't you and the youngest uncle move to my place next year? My grandparents will also be moving there then, so you'll have company!"
"You mean Shanghai? No way. There are too many cars and people there. I wouldn't be used to it at all. I'd rather stay home and grow some vegetables to keep my body active."
“It’s not Shanghai. I’ll be moving to Xihu City next year. I’ll allocate you a plot of land there, where you can grow vegetables or something. I’m also building a school and a hospital there, so it will be more convenient for Xiao Jian to go to school. Plus, the land there is fertile, much better than here.”
Grandpa was tempted. "West Lake City, that's a good place, but how big is your land? What if they don't let you plant there?"
“There are three thousand acres of land in the suburbs. You can plant whatever you want. Your aunt and uncle will also move over, and we can live together. We can also dig a fishpond. Don’t you like fishing? You can raise a pond of fish and fish whenever you want. Wouldn’t that be great?”
"Sure, but why do you want such a large piece of land? It must be expensive."
"It's fine. The company is building its headquarters there, so it's more convenient to move there. Plus, a park will be built nearby, so the air will be fresh and there won't be much pollution. It'll be better than here."
“Sure, no problem. As long as you’re doing well, Grandpa has no objections. Many people in the village have moved out now, and it’s getting harder and harder to farm. There’s always a strange smell by the sea. The government says it’s marine pollution, and there aren’t many fish in the sea anymore.”
Fang Yang was overjoyed. He exchanged a glance with his uncle. His grandfather was a stubborn old man, and it was extremely difficult to persuade him. Unexpectedly, he agreed this time. Perhaps he didn't want to keep his uncle's family from suffering in the countryside. After all, it was too difficult to grow good crops in this saline-iodized land!
"Uncle, you can come with my eldest uncle and manage a school or something. There are many positions available, it just depends on what you are interested in."
Liu Jun had no objection to this. There was no longer much value in staying here. Those with connections had already moved out. Most of the villagers were elderly, and most of them were reluctant to leave this land that their ancestors had guarded for generations. Perhaps one day, when there is a way to make the land more fertile, it will attract people to return!
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