The three strolled leisurely through the mall, their eyes occasionally drawn to the dazzling array of goods around them. They came to a men's clothing store and, after careful selection, bought two stylish and comfortable outfits for Meng Zhiyun's younger brother.
Stepping out of the clothing store, the street was filled with the enticing aromas of various delicacies. The roadside was lined with all sorts of food stalls, the vendors enthusiastically calling out to attract passersby to sample their unique specialties.
Wang Hu struggled a bit carrying the full shopping bags, but a satisfied smile spread across his face. Meng Zhiyu, meanwhile, excitedly weaved through the various food stalls, happily offering each snack she bought to Wang Hu so he could try a bite first. As Wang Hu chewed, he thought to himself, "This girl's kindness wasn't wasted; she's so well-behaved and considerate!"
Time flew by, and before they knew it, the clock struck 10. Meng Zhiyun figured her father's IV drip should be finished, so she suggested the three of them take a car back to the hospital. Along the way, they chatted and laughed, sharing the fun and things they'd found while shopping that day.
Back at the hospital, Meng Zhiyu couldn't wait to show off the new clothes Wang Hu had bought for her to everyone. However, just as she was about to reach for the clothes, Meng Zhiyun quickly stopped her, saying, "Oh dear, don't rush to take them up there. We'll have to take them down later, it'll be such a hassle! And with so many things in your hands, it'll be hard to pack them up later!" Hearing her sister's words, Meng Zhiyu had no choice but to give up the idea.
Upon going upstairs, they found that the discharge procedures had already been completed, and everything in the ward had been neatly packed and arranged. A closer look revealed that, apart from some daily necessities, there was only a washbasin, a few bowls for eating, and a folded-down wire bed. Fortunately, Wang Hu's car had a cargo bed in the back, so all the items could be easily loaded in one go, eliminating the need for repeated carrying.
After loading the items, they drove away from the hospital. Meng Zhiyun led the way, while her parents and sister sat in the back. The back was spacious enough for three people to sit comfortably.
While driving and chatting, her parents were astonished when they learned that the car was worth 15 million yuan. Meng Laosan, the richest man in the village, only owned a Mercedes worth 200,000 to 300,000 yuan. They never expected their son-in-law to be so wealthy.
As they approached the village, having not been home for almost a year, she noticed the new roads that had been built and didn't recognize them. So, her father took the passenger seat in front of them.
When they arrived at the village, they saw a group of people sunbathing at the village entrance. These people were looking at Wang Hu's car, and then Meng's father rolled down the car window.
A man about the same age as Meng's father said, "Hey. Do you recognize this vehicle? It doesn't look like it belongs to our village. There are Red Army soldiers inside. Hey, Red Army soldiers, you're back! Whose vehicle is this?"
Meng's father said, "Hey, Aiguo, I'm out of the hospital now, this is my son-in-law's car. The couple knew I was hospitalized, so they drove all day to come. I told them not to come unless it was something important, but they insisted."
Wang Hu parked the car, and Meng Aiguo walked over. Looking at Wang Hu through the passenger seat and across his father's shoulder, he asked, "Who is this?"
Meng's father proudly introduced, "This is my son-in-law, Wang Hu." He then looked at Wang Hu and said, "Hu Zi, you can just call him Uncle."
He quickly greeted, "Hello, Uncle Aiguo." After reaching out and touching the cigarettes, he remembered they were in the passenger side glove compartment. He said to Meng's father, "Dad, the cigarettes are in the storage box. You can just pull it open."
Meng Fu took out a pack of cigarettes from the storage box. You see, it's Zhonghua brand. I feel a little sorry for you, but I took out a box from inside and handed it to Meng Aiguo. Meng Aiguo looked at Wang Hu and realized he was unfamiliar with him, but since his father had introduced him, it must be true. He replied, "Hello, nephew."
Meng Aiguo opened the pack of cigarettes, lit one for himself, and then lit one for his father. His mother quickly stopped him, saying, "Hongjun, the doctor told us when we were discharged that we can't smoke or drink. Don't forget that."
Accepting a cigarette is a matter of courtesy, and one cannot refuse when someone lights one for them. He also thought he should chat with the old folks in the village for a while. "Women, don't worry about your men's affairs. I'm going downstairs to chat with that guy. You all go home first."
Mencius' mother was afraid that Wang Hu would be unhappy. How could a father-in-law go out to chat with friends when his son-in-law came to visit for the first time? She said, "Today is the first time Hu Zi has come to our house. What are we women supposed to do if you're not home?"
Wang Hu knew what Meng's father meant. First, he wanted to shut up those people in the village who were spreading rumors about Meng Zhiyun. Second, his brother also wanted to show off.
Wang Hu said to Meng's mother, "Mom, it's alright. It's good for Dad to meet his old friends and chat. I also want to take Meng around the village to see what it's like where she grew up."
Wang Hu agreed, and she stopped trying to dissuade him. After Meng's father got out of the car, Wang Hu drove to Meng Zhiyun's house shortly afterward.
After Wang Hu drove away, Meng Aiguo asked Meng Hongjun, "This is your son-in-law, what about Zhou Yunpeng?"
Meng Hongjun said angrily, "Don't mention him to me. A son-in-law can beat his father-in-law. After my daughter Yunyun came back this time, I found out what kind of person Zhou Yunpeng is. He beat my daughter and gambled outside. He said my daughter should break up with him, right?"
Meng Aiguo said, "He broke up with Yunyun, which was perfectly reasonable. He brought a matchmaker with him at the time, and we all made a promise." Then he asked, "So how did this son-in-law come about?"
Meng Hongjun said, "My daughter told me that they used to work in the same factory and that he liked my daughter, but he was too poor to say anything at the time. Later, Hu Zi went out to do business, and when he needed people, he wanted my daughter to go. Not long after I answered the phone, Zhou Yunpeng got drunk and started hitting my daughter. He overheard it and forcibly took my daughter out."
Meng Aiguo nodded and said, "So that's how it is. What's he doing here causing trouble?"
Meng Hongjun said, "I took the matchmaker and sent the betrothal gifts he gave to my family back. Just then, someone came from outside to collect gambling debts and took the money away. They blamed me for it and came to my house to cause trouble."
"Zhou Yunpeng is a real scoundrel!"
Meng Hongjun continued, "He's really a scoundrel. My son-in-law hired a lawyer from Ningbo specifically to sue him."
...
Following Meng Zhiyun's directions, the car drove into a small alleyway lined with red brick and tile houses, a scene brimming with rustic charm. These houses, typically constructed of sturdy red bricks, had smooth, thick walls that exuded simplicity and stability. The roofs were covered with gray tiles, layered upon each other like undulating waves, both practical and aesthetically pleasing.
Bathed in sunlight, the red bricks and gray tiles complement each other, appearing exceptionally warm and welcoming. These houses are often not tall, but their layout is compact, with simple window and porch designs that blend harmoniously with the surrounding natural environment. Whenever wisps of smoke rise from the chimneys, the red brick and tile houses seem even more tranquil and serene.
However, her family's tile-roofed house was somewhat dilapidated, and with only five rooms, it was definitely not enough for so many people. Meng Zhiyu ran downstairs, took out the key, opened the door, and found a very spacious courtyard inside.
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