Liu Feng, of course, had no idea that his wishful thinking had been seen through. He was still figuring out how to seduce Xu Xiangyang into going to a card game with him.
But no matter how much they think about it, no one will fall for it.
A week passed in the blink of an eye, and Xu Xiangyang wanted to go back and see Xu Guangtian and his wife since it was the end of the month.
They came over last time and left in a hurry. Now that spring planting is over, they're probably free again.
He made his preparations, bringing along the things he had bought at the supply and marketing cooperative, and also took out some meat from his spatial storage.
Now that the weather is hot, fresh meat generally doesn't keep for very long; it spoils easily in a day or two.
Xu Xiangyang prepared a pound of fresh meat and a few cans of meat. These things don't keep for long, so he could open them whenever he wanted to eat them.
Carrying a basket on his back and riding his bicycle, he leisurely made his way home.
The bicycle is old, so if anyone asks later, he can say he borrowed it or bought it secondhand.
If I don't ride this thing, when will I ever get home? Anyway, I'll save myself the trouble if I can.
When we got back to the brigade, it was lunchtime. There was no one on the road; everyone was at home waiting for their meal.
Xu Xiangyang returned home, parked his car in the yard, and went inside with his basket on his back.
"Oh, Gou Dan is back." Wang Xiumin was cooking when she looked up and saw someone come into the house.
Upon hearing this, Xu Guangtian, who was lying on the kang, sat up abruptly. "Xiangyang is back? I've told you so many times, call him Xiangyang, but you just can't remember."
Xu Xiangyang watched them talk with a smile, then went inside and put the basket on the kang (a heated brick bed).
"Xiangyang hasn't eaten yet, has he? I'm making some, it'll be ready in a bit." Wang Xiumin wiped her hands, preparing to make a few more pancakes.
Xu Xiangyang nodded, then saw potatoes stewing in the pot, so he took out a can of pork belly and poured it in.
He put the jars aside, saying that they could be washed and used to store things, and then said to Wang Xiumin, "There are a few more jars in the basket. You can keep them for stewing later."
The couple were no longer surprised by the things he brought home each time; even if Xu Xiangyang pulled a pig out of his basket, it was just a normal occurrence.
"Make a couple more pancakes," Xu Guangtian called out. With meat and vegetables, of course, everyone should eat more.
Wang Xiumin rolled her eyes, but her hands didn't stop; she stuck the pancakes together twice.
Everyone was eating inside when they heard voices outside, and people were walking this way.
Wang Xiumin peeked out the window and asked, "Why is the brigade leader here?"
She asked in confusion, but seeing that the person was about to go inside, she couldn't just sit on the kang forever, could she?
Xu Guangtian was pushed by Wang Xiumin, then got up and left.
"The team leader is here. No work today?" he greeted them, then led them into the house.
They've already fenced off their own yard, so they only go out after others have entered. Otherwise, wouldn't it be awkward if the brigade leader went to someone else's house?
The captain was a man in his fifties, wearing a hat and holding a pipe.
After the two entered the house, Xu Xiangyang greeted them with a smile, "Grandpa Liu is here."
According to seniority, he should address everyone as "Grandpa".
Captain Liu Hai nodded and said with a smile, "Xiangyang's back. How's work?"
He had heard all about it; Xu Xiangyang was now a driver and owned a house in the city—he was living a very successful life.
He just entered the yard and saw a bicycle parked there. He's really something, he even has a bicycle.
Actually, the brigade headquarters also has a vehicle, which was bought specifically for their own use and doesn't belong to Liu Hai.
It's rare for a family to own a bicycle; they usually walk or ride in an oxcart when they go out.
Xu Xiangyang nodded, "It's pretty good. I just happened to be on holiday, so I came back to see my dad and the others."
Looking at the food on the table, especially the large chunks of pork, everyone knew that the family was doing well.
Liu Hai couldn't help but click his tongue. "See? The Xu family has severed ties with them, and they're still eating big chunks of meat."
Life is getting better and better, but looking at the Xu family, they are nothing now.
I heard I can't go to university anymore, so my only hope is to work as a work point recorder in the brigade.
"That's great, Xiangyang has made something of himself. You two are really living a good life now," Liu Hai said with a sigh.
Xu Guangtian agreed with this and then boasted about it to others.
Seeing that he was getting more and more excited, Liu Hai quickly changed the subject.
"Oh, I just came to see Xiangyang and wanted to ask if there are any things outside that don't require tickets, so I can bring some back for us. I'm sure I'll pay them well."
He had actually been thinking about this for a long time. He had heard that Xu Xiangyang could go on business trips and must have been to many places. If he came across something that didn't require a ticket, he could bring it back and everyone could give him more money.
Xu Xiangyang hadn't expected that he had come for this reason, so he hesitated for a moment.
He hesitated because he couldn't travel for work recently, since he was still in the recovery period and it was definitely impossible for him to drive.
Everyone else looked at Xu Xiangyang, wanting to hear his answer.
Xu Xiangyang paused for a moment and said, "Uncle Liu, I haven't been able to drive lately because of an arm problem. How about this, I'll start driving again next month. I'll bring back some things then, and you can see what everyone needs and keep it. Of course, the price can't be low."
You can't put in all that effort to make money, can you?
Even if he's a high-ranking official, let alone a brigade leader, he'd still have to buy things and pay money.
Liu Hai wasn't upset by his words; instead, he smiled and said, "Alright, Xiangyang, I'll leave this to you. I've always thought you were capable!"
Xu Xiangyang rolled his eyes inwardly. Come on, he's never really looked at anyone properly since he was a kid.
But since we've already started this collaboration, let's not say anything unpleasant.
He smiled and nodded, then saw Liu Hai off. Xu Guangtian saw him to the gate before turning back.
Xu Guangtian saw two people peeking into the Xu family's yard. Upon closer inspection, he realized they were Xu Guangshan and Zhang Xiufen.
He pretended not to see it and went back inside.
Since Zhang Xiufen made a scene last time and declared that the two families were severing ties, they haven't spoken to each other again.
After returning, Zhang Xiufen told others that they had broken off their relationship.
For a time, many people were laughing at the Xu family. Giving up such a promising grandson and keeping a grandson who couldn't even graduate from university—what was that if not foolish?
Xu Guangtian ignored them. If they wanted to cut ties, so be it. After all these years, they had never really cared about these three people.
Inside the house, Wang Xiumin kept praising Xu Xiangyang, saying he had become successful and capable, and now even the brigade leader was asking his family for favors.
Of course, in her heart, her son was definitely more capable.
Xu Xiangyang smiled as he watched her proud expression, thinking that there was nothing wrong with helping someone like this.
He stayed at home for the night and set off at six o'clock the next morning, since he still had to go to work.
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