Jiang Sisi woke up very early the next day, got dressed, and went out of her room. She saw the chickens scurrying about in the yard and the pigsty behind the house that smelled terrible. Although there were only two pigs in there, it was still unbearable in the summer.
She wondered how Qian Duoduo and Qian Mao could endure such an environment. Did they want to leave such a dirty place and go to the city for further studies?
She walked out of the courtyard and looked at the not-so-clean and straight roads in the village. The only part of the street that was decent was the section with the Qian family. Some small flowers were planted outside the screen, and little bees were flying around on them. She sighed. Fortunately, Qian Mao's job was in the city. If he were here, she probably would have a hard time accepting it!
"Sisi? You're up so early?"
When Jiang Sisi heard someone call her name, she turned around and saw Qian Mao's mother. She smiled and said, "Auntie, it's my first time in a place like this, so I'm a little unaccustomed to it. I woke up and got up!"
Jin Jinxiu smiled and said, "You city kids have never seen a rural area like this before."
Jiang Sisi smiled and said, "Auntie, I used to hear Duoduo say that you cook very well, and I thought she was exaggerating. But I realized yesterday that I was short-sighted. Your cooking is even better than Duoduo said."
Jin Jinxiu said with a smile, "If you like it, come back often with Duoduo and Qian Mao. Just tell me what you want to eat, and I'll make it for you."
Jiang Sisi said with a smile, "Qian Mao is busy with work and often travels for business. I haven't seen him for a long time."
Jin Jinxiu sighed and said, "That's how it is when someone is a secretary. If the leader has something to do, he's the first one to do it. There's a saying, 'If the leader says one thing, you'll run yourself ragged to get things done.'"
Jiang Sisi nodded and said, "He is now the deputy mayor's secretary. It is said that even a prime minister's family has a seventh-rank official. Qian Mao is very capable. Many people his age did not have his abilities."
Jin Jinxiu was happy to hear Jiang Sisi's affirmation of Qian Mao. However, there were still a lot of things to do at home, so she said, "It's still a bit chilly in the countryside in the morning. You go inside and rest for a while, I'll go feed the chickens and then cook."
Jiang Sisi felt a little uncomfortable with this order, but since she had just arrived, she couldn't voice her objections, so she could only go back to her room. Seeing that Qian Duoduo had already sat up, she smiled and said, "Duoduo, you're awake."
Qian Duoduo nodded: "Why are you up so early? That's quite different from you!"
Jiang Sisi smiled and said, "This is my first time living in the countryside, so I'm still a little unaccustomed to it and that's why I woke up quite early."
Qian Duoduo nodded, got up, folded the bedding, put it in the kang (heated brick bed), then got out of bed, put on her shoes, and saw Jiang Sisi standing there, so she said, "I'm going to the toilet."
Jiang Sisi said somewhat shyly, "I want to go too."
Qian Duoduo said, "Take it."
When Jiang Sisi saw the dry toilets in the countryside, her face turned green. After watching Qian Duoduo relieve himself as if nothing had happened, she asked, "Duoduo, is this... is this how it is in the countryside?"
Qian Duoduo said with an expression that said, "This is how we've always been. You'll have to get used to it."
Jiang Sisi froze: "Duoduo, what do you mean?"
Qian Duoduo said, "Look at my family's situation. You've married my third brother, so are you not coming back? Besides, it's true that parents shouldn't travel far from home. You'll get used to it!"
After Jiang Sisi finally finished relieving herself, she quickly left the place where the five grains were used for urination and defecation. She returned to Qian Duoduo's room, sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and felt a slight change in her feelings for Qian Mao, as she thought about what Qian Duoduo had said.
When Qian Duoduo came back from washing up, she saw Jiang Sisi sitting there in a daze. She went over and asked, "What's wrong?"
Jiang Sisi snapped out of her reverie and smiled, "It's nothing." She saw Qian Duoduo turn around and rummage through her wardrobe, finding a loose-fitting short-sleeved shirt. After putting it on, she looked completely different from her college self, like a country girl. Jiang Sisi then thought that Qian Duoduo came from this village, and even living in the city couldn't change the rural girl vibe she had.
She thought for a moment and said, "Duoduo, you said last time that you wanted your third brother to buy a house in the city. Is that true?"
Without turning his head, Qian Duoduo said, "I do have this idea, but I doubt my third brother has enough money."
Jiang Sisi asked, "Will your parents give him money?"
Qian Duoduo shook her head and said, "My family doesn't have much money. My eldest brother and second brother built the courtyard, and they paid for it themselves."
Jiang Sisi was taken aback: "Aren't your eldest and second brothers living in other places? Why are they coming back to build a house?"
Qian Duoduo said, "My older brother and his family only come back to stay for a few months each year, but my dad said that no matter how far a boy goes, he must have a house at home. When he comes back, he is the master; otherwise, he becomes a guest and has no roots!"
Jiang Sisi said, "So, does that mean your third brother will also have to come back and build a house?"
Qian Duoduo thought for a moment and said, "That should be true. My fourth sister-in-law said that she will take care of my parents in their old age, so the courtyard we live in now will probably go to my fourth brother. When my third brother gets married, he will definitely have a courtyard too."
At this moment, Jiang Sisi could no longer wear that gentle and warm mask on her face. Qian Duoduo saw her cracked expression and seemed to understand something in his heart.
When Jiang Sisi saw Qian Duoduo looking at her, she quickly composed herself and said, "Your third brother is so busy, he probably won't be coming back!"
Qian Duoduo shook her head and said, "As long as my parents are here, I can't say for sure about other times, but my third brother will definitely come back for the New Year. That's our Qian family's motto."
Jiang Sisi smiled at her and then lowered her head. She was with Qian Mao and they were going to come back here to build a house. Thinking of her sudden idea yesterday, she smiled gently and said, "Duoduo, I see that your mother's medical conditions in this rural area are not very good. It would be great if your parents could go to the city with your third brother. After all, they are getting old and they are bound to have some discomfort. The medical and living conditions in the city are definitely better than here."
Qian Duoduo shook her head and said, "My dad is the village chief now, so he definitely can't leave here."
Jiang Sisi: "The village chief isn't a big shot. Your third brother works in the municipal government now. If word gets out, he's much better off than this village chief."
Qian Duoduo shook his head and said, "You shouldn't say that in front of my dad, otherwise he might call my third brother back and give him a beating."
Jiang Sisi was taken aback: "It can't be that bad, can it?"
Qian Duoduo said, "My dad used to be the brigade leader of this village, and now he is the village chief. He has been doing this for more than 20 years. He has done a lot for this village. And the fact that we were able to grow up is largely due to my dad being a village cadre. After all, when he was the brigade leader, he received work points and food. Otherwise, would our family of five children have been able to grow up?"
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