Sunlight streamed into the small courtyard, and a gentle breeze stirred up some dust.
Standing in the crowd, Xiao Weiguo glanced at the scene before him and saw that Xiao Feng's family had just reunited, but they all seemed to be bound by invisible shackles, with a sense of unease and discomfort on their faces.
The atmosphere was like a stagnant pool, so quiet it was somewhat oppressive.
Xiao Weiguo's heart stirred, and a wise glint flashed in his eyes, which had witnessed two lifetimes of vicissitudes.
He raised his hand and waved gently to Xiao Jian, who was not far away, then shouted in a slightly hoarse but loud voice.
"Xiao Jian, it's been a long time since you've been back. Let's go to the textile factory and see how things are recovering there."
His words were like a pebble thrown into the quiet atmosphere, creating ripples.
At this moment, Xiao Feng's family members stood on opposite sides, each with their heads down and their fingers unconsciously clutching the hem of their clothes.
None of them were good at expressing their emotions. They kept their joys and sorrows to themselves. Now, in front of so many people, those words that were already difficult to say were blocked, and they just couldn't say them.
The air seemed to freeze, an awkward atmosphere lingering around everyone, making it hard to breathe.
Xiao Weiguo is an old man who has lived for nearly a hundred years across two lifetimes. His eyes have long seen through the coldness and warmth of human relationships.
How could he not understand this delicate situation?
He knew perfectly well that Xiao Feng's family had so much to say to each other, but they were too embarrassed to speak because of the presence of others.
So he hurriedly invited Xiao Jian to go to the textile factory with him, thinking of leaving the scene to Xiao Feng's family.
Let them talk it out behind closed doors. Even if Xiao Feng's family members are angry and hit him or scold him, no one will see. It's a family matter; there's no hurdle that can't be overcome, and there's nothing embarrassing about it.
The people present weren't fools. After Xiao Weiguo's reminder, they were like people awakened from a dream, and they all came to their senses.
A commotion immediately arose from the crowd.
"Me too! Me too!"
"Oh? I've never been to a textile factory before! I want to go too!"
... ...
In no time, everyone chimed in, as if they had found a suitable excuse to follow Xiao Weiguo and Xiao Jian to the textile factory.
The previously oppressive atmosphere in the courtyard became lively again because of this commotion.
... ...
Besides Xiao Feng and his family of three, even Hu Zi swarmed out of the courtyard and got into one of the cars parked at the entrance.
Before leaving, Xiao Weiguo paused slightly and shouted loudly to Gu Meiying.
"Auntie, please don't cook lunch! I already told Jiao Bai that the restaurant staff will bring the food over soon. We'll all come back for lunch, and besides, we have some great news to celebrate!"
"Oh? What's the good news?"
Gu Meiying was standing at the threshold of the courtyard house when she heard Xiao Weiguo's words. Her face was full of confusion, and she subconsciously asked him a question.
Her eyes were full of curiosity, her eyebrows unconsciously rose, and her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to ask a few more questions.
"You'll see when the time comes, Auntie. You all should catch up first. We'll go to the factory and have a look around. We'll be right back."
Xiao Weiguo deliberately dragged out his words, and gave a mysterious smile.
After saying that, he turned around and strode out of the courtyard with a group of people, leaving the space to Gu Meiying and her family.
By this time, Xiao Weiguo's impressive Crown had long been driven away by Jiao Bai and had not returned to this day.
Xiao Weiguo didn't pay any attention, and the group walked noisily toward Xiao Jian and Liu Ye's car. It was two brand-new business sedans, their bodies gleaming brightly in the sunlight.
Everyone chatted, laughed, and joked as they boarded the bus one by one.
The car door slammed shut, and the engine immediately emitted a deep and powerful roar.
The car started and sped towards the textile factory to the east. Once outside the village, a main road, specially built for the textile factory, came into view.
The road is wide and flat, like a black ribbon, connecting the textile factory and the national highway.
On both sides of the road, rows of tall poplar trees stand in neat rows, like loyal guardians protecting this important traffic artery.
This road has been a great help; since it was built, transportation to and from the textile factory has become much more convenient.
Large trucks loaded with goods roared past on the road, kicking up clouds of dust.
Moreover, most of the villagers in the vicinity now take this road when they go out.
In the past, they suffered terribly when they went out because the road conditions were terrible.
When it rains, the roads are all muddy. If you step on it, your shoes will stick to it. You slip and slide every three steps, and you'll be covered in mud.
On sunny days, there's dust everywhere. When the wind blows, yellow sand fills the sky, making it hard to open your eyes, and you're always covered in dirt.
Today, walking on this smooth road, the villagers' faces are filled with happy smiles.
They no longer have to worry about getting around. Children can happily go to school with their backpacks, and the elderly can peacefully go to the market to buy daily necessities.
Everyone is sincerely grateful to Xiao Weiguo. If it weren't for him leading everyone to build the textile factory and repair this road, we wouldn't be living such a good life now!
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