He kicked the base of the wall hard, wincing in pain.
I can't live like this anymore!
As he went downstairs, all he could think about was his father's cold face.
The old man used to dote on him so much, giving him whatever he wanted. Now look what's happened, they're making a huge fuss over a little money.
What's wrong with three thousand yuan? He's the eldest son. If he doesn't spend the family's money, who else should he spend it on? His wife's family isn't well-off, so it's only right that he helps them out.
In the bicycle shed, his old-fashioned bicycle leaned against the wall all alone.
This old car was bought when I got married. The paint has all chipped off, and the seats are worn shiny.
Su Mingqiang grew angrier the more he thought about it, and kicked the car wheel.
"Even you're going against me!"
The wheel creaked and spun twice, as if mocking him.
When I rode out of the residential compound, the breakfast stalls had already been set up.
The aroma of fried dough sticks wafted into Su Mingqiang's nose, and his stomach rumbled.
He touched his pocket—he only had two cents, not even enough to buy a bowl of soy milk.
"Pooh!"
He spat on the ground and pedaled so hard he almost broke the pedals.
It's all that old bastard's fault! If he hadn't suddenly gone mad, would I have ended up like this?
Once outside the city, the roads became increasingly bumpy.
Su Mingqiang's buttocks were sore from the pressure, and beads of sweat streamed down his forehead, making it hard for him to open his eyes.
The more he thought about it, the more aggrieved he felt. From childhood to adulthood, when had he ever suffered like this?
As we passed through several villages, we saw some villagers working in the fields.
When they saw him riding by, they all straightened up and greeted him.
"Hey, isn't this the eldest grandson of the Su family in Sujiatun?"
"Going to see your grandfather? Why are you empty-handed?"
Normally, Su Mingqiang would definitely stop and show off.
He would take out his pack of cigarettes, offer them to everyone, and boast a bit about his life in the city, basking in the envious glances of the villagers.
But today.
"I'm busy!"
Without looking up, he shouted something and pedaled even faster.
Without even looking, I knew those old guys were definitely whispering and pointing fingers behind my back.
"Judging from his appearance, something must have happened."
The sun climbed higher and higher, making the asphalt road sizzle with heat.
Su Mingqiang's throat was parched, and his vision blurred.
When he passed a small ditch, he couldn't hold on any longer, so he threw down the car and rushed to the water's edge, where he lay down like a wild dog and drank his fill.
"Cough cough."
He choked on water and collapsed on the shore, panting heavily.
His crotch was soaked with water, making him look like a fool who had wet his pants.
Su Mingqiang suddenly felt a lump in his throat.
He's a respectable steel mill driver! When has he ever been this disheveled?
After riding for another half hour, Sujiatun finally came into view.
The old locust tree at the village entrance is still as lush and leafy as ever, and several old men are playing chess under it.
Upon seeing him approach, they all stopped playing chess and stared at him intently.
"Mingqiang, why are you back at this time?"
The old Party Secretary squinted and asked.
Su Ming forced a smile.
"I missed my grandpa, so I came back to visit."
Visiting an elderly person empty-handed?
Accountant Lao Li curled his lip.
"Are you city people all so particular these days?"
These words pierced Su Mingqiang's heart like a knife.
His face burned, and after stammering a few words, he hurriedly rode back to the village.
I heard the old men muttering behind me.
"Something must have happened."
"Look at his face."
Turning past the threshing ground, Grandpa's small courtyard with blue bricks came into view.
Su Mingqiang's legs went weak, and he almost fell off the car.
He staggered as he pushed open the courtyard gate and bumped into his grandfather practicing Tai Chi in the yard.
"Master!"
Upon hearing this shout, Su Mingqiang almost burst into tears.
Grandpa Su is over seventy years old. He came from the battlefield in his early years, and his back is still very straight.
His eyes lit up when he saw his eldest grandson.
"Qiangzi? Why are you back at this time?"
That one call of "Qiangzi" made Su Mingqiang's heart ache.
He knelt down with a thud, grabbed his grandfather's leg, and wailed.
"Sir! You have to do me justice!"
The old lady ran out of the house upon hearing the noise, and when she saw her grandson's condition, she slapped her thigh in distress.
"Oh my dear grandson! What's wrong? Get up quickly! Grandma will go boil you some eggs!"
Grandpa Su, on the other hand, was much calmer and slowly helped Su Mingqiang up.
The old man had two children. The eldest was Su Mingqiang's father, Su Jianguo. Su Mingqiang, as the eldest son and grandson, was always the old man's favorite.
In particular, Su Mingqiang became a truck driver at the steel rolling mill.
You have to understand that back then, if a rural area produced a worker, it was a very important thing.
The Su family produced two of them!
Just as Old Master Su was about to ask what had happened...
The courtyard gate creaked open.
Su Mingqiang's second aunt, Wang Guixiang, was walking into the yard carrying a bamboo basket.
A blue cloth covered the basket, but it couldn't hide the aroma of freshly cooked chive dumplings, which wafted straight into people's noses.
"Oh, isn't this the precious grandson of the Su family?"
When Wang Guixiang saw Su Mingqiang, her triangular eyes narrowed into slits, and the corners of her mouth turned down.
"Why are you back now? Isn't work in the city busy?"
Su Mingqiang swallowed hard, and his stomach rumbled loudly.
He'd only drunk some river water since last night, and now, smelling the aroma of the chive dumplings, his stomach felt like it was on fire.
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