As soon as I entered the door, Aunt Li was sitting in front of the fire pit and taking a nap. A small color TV was still playing the Spring Festival Gala. A kitten was snuggling in her arms. When it saw a stranger coming in, it immediately jumped off and ran away.
Aunt Li was awakened.
"Auntie, we're here to visit you." Tang Xiaobao called out affectionately.
Aunt Li just noticed that there were guests. Seeing that it was Tang Xiaobao, she immediately stood up enthusiastically, brought two stools, and asked them to sit down. She also put out some melon seeds, peanuts, and walnuts on a plate, and said a little embarrassedly: "Xiaobao, there is no one at home except you, so I didn't prepare much for the New Year. I didn't even buy any fruit. I'm sorry, but you must cook the glutinous rice balls. You guys sit and watch TV, I'll go make the glutinous rice balls."
Tang Xiaobao quickly pulled her aside and said, "Auntie, I just had a meal and I'm feeling really full. How can I eat more? Please sit down and we'll chat with you for a while."
"Don't you like roasted sweet potatoes? Auntie will pick some sweet potatoes for you."
Aunt Li went to prepare "delicious food" for Tang Xiaobao with a smile on her face.
Tang Xiaobao's face turned green, and he quickly said, "Auntie, there's really no need. I just ate."
"That won't do. You rarely come back, and you only come to visit me if you think I'm great. I don't have much else at home, just sweet potatoes."
Aunt Li insisted on going.
Tang Xiaobao was also drunk, so he had to hold back, almost crying: "Then Auntie, please pick up less."
Seeing Tang Xiaobao's face turn ugly, Liu Qingqing almost laughed out loud.
"What's going on?" Chen Mengyao asked curiously.
"He hates sweet potatoes the most, but last night, he told Auntie that he loves roasted sweet potatoes the most." Liu Qingqing said in a low voice, trying not to laugh.
Chen Mengyao was also amused and said with a smile: "You are courting death."
Tang Xiaobao said with a sad face: "You have to save me later."
"Honey, then tell her." Alice didn't understand.
Tang Xiaobao coughed and said, "You don't understand the etiquette of our Chinese country. Don't talk nonsense later."
Alice seemed to understand and said, "It's okay. I'll help you eat something later."
Soon, Aunt Li came back with a basin full of sweet potatoes.
Tang Xiaobao bit his lip, wanting to cry but unable to: "Auntie, you picked up too much, didn't you?"
"If you like it, Auntie will make you some sweet potatoes."
After saying that, Aunt Li put the sweet potatoes into the fire and started roasting them.
Tang Xiaobao swallowed and broke out in a cold sweat.
There are more than ten sweet potatoes here. If he really eats them all, it would be better to kill him.
First of all, he had just finished eating and was very full.
Secondly, he really hates sweet potatoes. He ate too many of them as a child, and now he feels like vomiting just looking at them.
But there’s nothing I can do. Once words are spoken… they’re like a daughter who’s married off. You can’t take them back!
Liu Qingqing coughed, took out a red envelope from her pocket, and handed it to Aunt Li: "Auntie, this is this year's bonus."
Aunt Li was shocked when she saw the thick red envelope and quickly waved her hands: "Didn't we give out bonuses this year?"
"The base is doing well and making money, so I'll give it out again." Liu Qingqing said.
"Don't give it to me. I just go to help you plant medicinal herbs occasionally. I go there very rarely. I'm not a formal worker. I said it last time. How can I take this money?" Aunt Li was very honest and declined.
"Take it, Auntie, everyone will have a share." Tang Xiaobao advised.
Chen Mengyao also advised: "Yes, Auntie, you are so old, save some money, it will be convenient if you have a minor illness or pain."
Aunt Li burst into tears and choked out, "I have no children, so this money is useless. Besides, Boss Yu also gave us money during the day. I have saved 30,000 yuan this year. This money is enough for my retirement."
After a pause, Aunt Li held Tang Xiaobao's hand and said, "Xiaobao, I know you are a good boy. Now that you have made a living, you haven't forgotten me, but I don't want to cause you any trouble. I am already half buried in the ground, and asking for money is useless. If that incident hadn't happened to my family, I would have a grandson in my arms, and maybe he would be in college. Alas, it's all fate."
The old lady cried very sadly.
Tang Xiaobao felt very sad.
Aunt Li has been hardworking and simple all her life. She's always the first to help anyone in need. She often says she needs to do more good deeds now, so that when she passes away in the future, there won't be anyone to collect her body and bury her. "Auntie, don't be sad. You've watched Xiaobao grow up, and you've raised him single-handedly."
Tang Xiaobao's words were a bit exaggerated, but he continued, "Auntie, don't worry. As long as I'm here, you don't have to worry about the future. When you're old, I'll take care of you and see you to the end. When you can't work anymore, you can come live with me. I'll even build a nursing home in the village. I won't let you suffer any grievances in your old age."
These were Tang Xiaobao's true words.
Going home for the New Year, Tang Xiaobao had a lot of feelings.
He was deeply moved by the simplicity and kindness of the villagers.
So he suddenly had an idea. There are many elderly people in the village, and there are two or three families in the same situation as Aunt Li. Why not set up a nursing home so that these elderly people who have been poor all their lives can enjoy a peaceful life when they are old.
For other people, Tang Xiaobao wants to help them get out of poverty and become rich, but for someone like Aunt Li, getting rich or not is actually not important at all. For her, having someone to rely on and being taken care of in old age, and being able to enjoy the care of family when she is old, are what they value most and what they look forward to most.
"That's a good suggestion." Chen Mengyao said.
Aunt Li was also very moved. She took Tang Xiaobao's hand and said excitedly, "Xiaobao, it's enough that you have such a heart. I haven't loved you in vain over the years. But you are here to see me off to my grave. It doesn't make sense to tell anyone about this. It's even more impossible for me to live in your house. I can't trouble your family with my affairs. I am old, but I have something to say to you. Good people will definitely be rewarded. Take this money back. You can open a company and do business. You have to support so many workers. You have to spend money everywhere. Auntie, you really can't use it."
Tang Xiaobao was almost in tears. He stuffed the money into the aunt's hand and said, "Auntie, Xiaobao is not at home all year round. You can keep this money and buy some food and daily necessities. It can be regarded as my filial piety. Besides, every household has money. It's not specially given to you. Don't worry, Xiaobao has money now. This little money can't help me much. I feel better after giving it to you. Didn't you also say that good people will be rewarded? I just want to be a good person."
Chen Mengyao and Liu Qingqing also came up to persuade her, and Alice was so moved that she burst into tears.
In the end, Aunt Li accepted the money.
Wiping away her tears, Aunt Li said with emotion: "Good people, you are all good people, and you will all be rewarded."
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