The next morning.
After breakfast, Ye Beiping and Tao Shengli drove to town.
They said they were going to Pingba Village to see how the houses were being renovated, but Ye Beiping still remembered the promise he made to his grandmother last night.
"Beiping, this isn't the road to Pingba Village." Tao Shengli, who had been curiously touching things around in the car, realized the road was wrong and immediately spoke up to remind them.
Ye Beiping naturally knew this, and casually said, "Let's go to town first."
"Oh." Tao Shengli didn't ask any further questions, assuming that Ye Beiping wanted to buy something.
It's normal to buy things during the Chinese New Year, especially since having a car makes it very convenient.
Upon arriving at the town's small market, Ye Beiping took Tao Shengli for a stroll, where they bought a considerable amount of firecrackers and calligraphy practice books.
These are all essential items for the Chinese New Year.
I bought three of each item, afraid it wouldn't be enough.
"Beiping, you've bought too much." Tao Shengli had been frugal his whole life, and he really couldn't get used to Ye Beiping's way of spending money.
Unable to bear it any longer, he finally spoke up to stop her.
Ye Beiping didn't mind and laughed, "Uncle, buy more just in case. Besides, it's not like we won't use it all this year. If we don't use it all this year, we can use it next year."
Helpless, Tao Shengli felt he couldn't argue with Ye Beiping, so he could only let the other party spend the money.
After walking around, Ye Beiping showed a slight regret on his face.
Tao Shengli asked, puzzled, "What's wrong? Is there something you forgot to buy?"
"No." Ye Beiping sighed, "The seafood I promised Grandma last night isn't available in town, so I had to ask someone from Hangzhou to bring it over."
I never expected that Ye Beiping would make a special trip to the town for this matter.
Tao Shengli also comforted her, saying, "Grandma was just joking with you. You really can't eat that stuff. We're all rough men; we can't eat fine food."
Ye Beiping did not answer this question.
After all, changing the mindset of someone who has been thinking for over thirty years is not something that can be done overnight; it can only be done gradually.
Afterwards, Ye Beiping drove to Pingba Village.
Because it was morning, there were no aunties or grandmas gathered at the village entrance chatting. They usually chatted in the afternoon when the sun was out.
After the car stopped, a group of children wandered around it.
Seeing so many children, Tao Shengli was afraid that someone would damage the car, so he immediately started to drive them away, his face turning red with anger.
Unable to bear it any longer, Ye Beiping stepped forward and pulled Tao Shengli toward the old house.
"Beiping, why don't you go? I'll watch the car here for you." Tao Shengli was still worried.
Ye Beiping didn't let go, and said with a smile, "Uncle, this car is made of metal. What can a few kids do? They can't be tougher than iron. Besides, the car is locked. I just locked it, so no one can take anything out of it."
This statement only applies to the previous life, when surveillance was everywhere.
In the 1970s and 80s, it was very dangerous to park this kind of car in the countryside, as the windows and other parts of the car might be smashed at any time.
But Ye Beiping was only trying to comfort Tao Shengli and didn't think much of it.
When we arrived at the old house, we saw Wu Guangfa directing people to work.
"Be careful, everyone, and don't fall."
“Over there, it’s bound to be drafty in winter. You should seal up that hole.”
"Hey, don't touch that tile yet. The new tiles haven't arrived yet. Why are you trying to remove them?"
...
Seeing the four people working busily and Wu Guangfa almost losing his voice from shouting, Ye Beiping could only shake his head helplessly.
He stepped forward and called out, "Uncle Wu."
Hearing someone call his name, Wu Guangfa turned around and saw Ye Beiping: "Hey, Beiping, you've come."
"These people work really hard; they've only done this much work so early in the morning."
Upon noticing another person beside Ye Beiping, he frowned and asked, "Beiping, who is this?"
"Oh." Ye Beiping took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, which he had bought in town, and explained, "This is my uncle. You've forgotten, he used to come to our village quite often."
Wu Guangfa's eyes widened when he saw the imported cigarettes.
Ye Beiping didn't hesitate and handed the whole bag to the other party.
"Uncle Wu, please keep an eye on things here. These cigarettes are specially bought for you. Just tell me how much they cost, and we'll calculate it all together. As for the materials, whatever amount you need, I can give them to you right now."
Upon receiving a pack of imported cigarettes, Wu Guangfa was overjoyed, his smile widening even further.
“These are all minor matters. We’ll settle them all together later. Once you’ve made a lot of money with Wu Di, it’s fine if we don’t give you these scraps.”
In high spirits, Wu Guangfa opened a pack of cigarettes and handed one to Tao Shengli: "Uncle from Beiping, it's been many years, haven't we? Do you remember me?"
Knowing that Wu Guangfa was just being polite, Ye Beiping naturally didn't believe that not giving money would actually make the other party happy.
Tao Shengli nudged Wu Guangfa's hand as he offered him the cigarette: "You're the village chief of Pingba Village, right? How could I not remember you? But forget about the cigarette, I don't smoke."
They're so poor, yet they still smoke.
If I keep smoking, I won't be able to afford food, let alone get married.
After inwardly grumbling to himself, Tao Shengli watched the three people jumping around near the house and said to Ye Beiping, "Beiping, I'm going to take a look. Call me when you're leaving."
"Mhm." Ye Beiping really didn't know anything about repairing houses, but with his uncle overseeing things, he was definitely at ease.
After Tao Shengli's figure disappeared into the courtyard, Wu Guangfa lit a cigarette and said, "Beiping, I heard from that kid Wu Di that Qiu Mingyue went to Hangzhou to cause you trouble?"
Ye Beiping was surprised for a moment, but in the end he just nodded.
"Damn it." Wu Guangfa spat angrily and said with some resentment, "I told your Uncle Hou back then that this woman's trip to Hangzhou was bound to be bad, but he said it was an order from above and he couldn't do anything about it."
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