Chapter 101 Chapter 101 Beating
Wu Yaoguo entered the room nervously. Chen Xiulian heard the noise at the door and thought it was Jiang Xi: "The chicken is already stewed. We are waiting for you to come back."
Finding no one responding, Chen Xiulian looked up and saw her youngest son, who had been missing for years and whose fate was unknown. Chen Xiulian dropped the things in her hands to the ground with a clang. She stood there in a trembling voice, "Are you a human or a ghost?"
Wu Yaoguo slumped to his knees and said, "Mom, it's me. I'm Yaoguo. I'm back."
Chen Xiulian couldn't believe it: "Who do you say you are?"
Wu Yaoguo's face was filled with tears: "Mom, I am Yaoguo. I am unfilial and have made you worry!"
Chen Xiulian finally realized what was happening. She ran over and said, "You still remember to come back? What have you been doing all these years? Do you know how worried I was?"
Wu Yaoguo knelt down and said, "It's all my fault, it's all my fault."
Chen Xiulian looked around, picked up the broom on the ground and hit Wu Yaoguo on the back several times. She did not reduce the force at all. Wu Yaoguo groaned in pain, but remained motionless.
He was afraid of being beaten, but now that he was beaten by Chen Xiulian, he felt relieved. Chen Xiulian hit him, which showed that she still cared about him. Wu Yaoguo burst into tears: "It's all my fault, hit me!"
Chen Xiulian struck Wu Yaoguo twice, her age and her emotions swirling. She was a bit unsteady, and Wu Yaoguo, who was standing nearby, quickly supported her. "Mom, I was wrong. Don't be angry. It's not worth it to get yourself hurt. Save your strength for later."
Only then did Chen Xiulian take a good look at Wu Yaoguo. This youngest son was her favorite, and Wu Yaoguo was always good at coaxing people.
She was worried when Wu Yaoguo left home, but the family was in real financial difficulty, and there was no reason for her not to support her son as he wanted to go out and make a living.
Chen Xiulian took out half of the money she had saved for half her life and gave it to Wu Yaoguo. At first, Wu Yaoguo would send her letters, but later he had nothing.
During that period, Chen Xiu Lian went to the post office every day to wait, fearing that the postman had left Wu Yaoguo's letter behind. However, no matter how much Chen Xiu Lian hoped and waited, there was still no news from Wu Yaoguo.
Chen Xiulian was heartbroken and gradually stopped talking about Wu Yaoguo with others. Even her family rarely discussed him. This was a thorn in their hearts. How could a good person just disappear like that?
Chen Xiulian didn't mention it, Wu Youli didn't mention it, and Wu Yaqin didn't mention it either. They always held on to a hope that maybe Wu Yaoguo got lost and didn't have time to come back, or maybe his letter was already on the way.
Now he finally sees the son he has been thinking about day and night. Wu Yaoguo has become thinner and darker. When he went out, there were no wrinkles on his face, but now there are wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and his skin is rough.
Chen Xiulian's eyes were slightly red: "What's wrong with your leg?" Chen Xiulian noticed that one of Wu Yaoguo's legs was bent unnaturally.
Wu Yaoguo quickly shook his head: "It's okay, maybe my legs are just a little numb from kneeling for so long."
Chen Xiulian didn't believe it: "How is that possible? Your legs are numb, so you shouldn't be like this. Stand up and let me take a good look."
Wu Yaoguo insisted on not getting up. He took out a handful of money from his pocket, some of which were dimes and some were cents, and handed it to Chen Xiulian: "Mom, this is the money I have saved over the years. I give it all to you."
The money was about twenty yuan. Wu Yaoguo felt very guilty for taking Chen Xiulian's money. Even though he couldn't go back for a while, Wu Yaoguo saved the money given by Chen Xiulian.
No matter what, he couldn't lose all the money that Chen Xiu Lian had worked so hard to save. He had to return the money to Chen Xiu Lian. Now, finally, the money was back in Chen Xiu Lian's hands.
Chen Xiulian took Wu Yaoguo's money with trembling hands, and only at this moment did she realize that her little son had really returned.
Moreover, her little son has grown up a lot. In the past, even if he got a little skin broken in front of her, Wu Yaoguo would scream and make Chen Xiulian feel distressed. But now his legs are in this state, but he keeps silent about it in order not to worry her.
Chen Xiulian couldn't help crying and choked up, "Get up first, let me see your legs."
Wu Yaoguo was helped up by Chen Xiulian and finally couldn't hold it back anymore. He hugged Chen Xiulian and burst into tears: "Mom, I miss you so much. I want to come back, but I don't dare. It's so good to see you again!"
Wu Yaqin was also very upset and stood aside, secretly wiping away her tears.
Jiang Xi's expression was also a little moved. Qi Yu'an walked behind Jiang Xi and said softly, "Everything will be fine in the future, don't be sad." Jiang Xi nodded, turned his head and smiled at him.
Chen Xiulian was still concerned about Wu Yaoguo's leg and asked worriedly, "What's wrong with your leg? Tell me quickly."
Wu Yaoguo had no choice but to tell Chen Xiulian, "I went to Shanghai and couldn't find a job or money to eat. I was so hungry that I went to the trash can to look for food, but there were some stray dogs there. I finally found something edible, but the stray dogs wanted to snatch it away. I didn't want to give it to them, so the dogs kept chasing me. In my haste, I didn't see the road clearly, so I accidentally fell."
Chen Xiulian became more and more sad as she listened: "You have suffered, my son."
Wu Yaoguo quickly said, "It's okay, I just sprained my ankle. It will be fine after a while. Don't worry, I can run so fast now that even wild dogs can't catch up with me."
Wu Yaoguo tried to lighten the mood, but Chen Xiulian didn't find it funny at all. She patted Wu Yaoguo on the shoulder and said, "Come back and be down-to-earth. Your eldest brother is setting up a stall now. He should be very happy to see you when he comes back."
Wu Yaoguo heard Jiang Xi say that Wu Youli was doing business, so he was not surprised. He hummed, "I miss my brother too." He looked at Wu Yaqin who was standing silently and crying beside him, "Sister, I'm sorry, I miss you too!"
Chen Xiulian supported Wu Yaoguo and saw Qi Yuan and said hurriedly, "Comrade Xiaoqi, I didn't see you just now and didn't greet you. Don't mind. Since you are here, let's have dinner together."
Wu Yaqin also said: "Yes, thanks to you for accompanying Jiang Xi to Shanghai and bringing Yaoguo back."
Qi Yu'an smiled and nodded: "Even if you didn't invite me, I would still be shameless enough to come and eat. I think I can smell the aroma of food. It's chicken soup, right? I want a big bowl. Aunt Chen's chicken soup is the best."
Qi Yu'an's words instantly brightened the atmosphere, which had been somewhat sad just now. Chen Xiulian smiled faintly and said, "I'll serve you some right away."
Wu Yaqin also hurried to the kitchen to get other dishes: "I made a lot of dishes today. If you like them, eat more. I also prepared some dried radish for you to take back."
Qi Yu'an nodded with a smile. Wu Yaoguo looked at his empty arms. Chen Xiulian was holding him just now, but now there is nothing. Is everyone's concern for him so short-lived?
However, feeling the cheerful atmosphere in the yard, Wu Yaoguo felt a lot more relaxed. Now that he was finally back, he no longer had to live a life of wandering and competing with wild dogs for food. Wu Yaoguo smiled.
The food was served on the table. In front of Jiang Xi, Qi Yu'an, and Wu Yaoguo were all bowls of chicken soup. There was also a chicken drumstick in Jiang Xi's bowl. Jiang Xi passed the drumstick to Wu Yaoguo and said, "Second uncle, you eat it."
Wu Yaoguo hadn't eaten chicken legs for a long time, but as an elder, he couldn't snatch food from Jiang Xi. Wu Yaoguo swallowed his saliva and said with difficulty: "I don't want to eat it, you eat it."
Jiang Xi put the chicken leg directly into Qi Yu'an's bowl: "Second uncle, just eat it. Now that our family is well off, we can eat meat every few days, so we don't need it."
Chen Xiulian also said, "Jiang Xi gave it to you, so just eat it. When you have money in the future, buy more things for Jiang Xi. Our family can be more relaxed now thanks to Jiang Xi. When you see your eldest brother, he will tell you in detail."
Just now, Chen Xiulian served the chicken leg to Jiang Xi because she felt sorry for Jiang Xi who had to go to such a far place like Shanghai at such a young age and had no one at home to help him. Now that Jiang Xi took the initiative to give the chicken leg to Wu Yaoguo, Chen Xiulian felt that Jiang Xi was even more sensible.
Qi Yuan picked up a piece of chicken from the bowl and gave it to Jiang Xi: "Eat this."
Jiang Xi didn't want it, but Qi Yu'an still gave her the chicken. Qi Yu'an didn't care about courtesy or not, Jiang Xi wanted to eat the meat anyway. Since Jiang Xi gave the chicken leg to Wu Yaoguo, he had to give the meat in the bowl to Jiang Xi.
Jiang Xi couldn't refuse, so he took small bites and found it very delicious. Even if he had eaten it hundreds of times, he would still think the meat was delicious.
Qi Yu'an smiled when he saw her eating, and silently picked up the bowl and took a sip of the soup. It was delicious.
Wu Yaoguo also took the chicken leg and took a bite. The aroma of meat filled his mouth. Wu Yaoguo chewed it carefully. The more he chewed, the more fragrant the chicken leg became. As he ate, Wu Yaoguo couldn't help but burst into tears.
Chen Xiulian and Wu Yaqin were also very sad, and their eyes became red again.
Seeing the atmosphere about to turn sad again, Jiang Xi hurriedly asked, "Second Uncle, what on earth has happened to you over the years? Can you please tell me?"
Chen Xiulian didn't care about her sadness anymore and asked, "Yes, Yaoguo, what happened in these years? Why didn't you even send a letter home?"
Wu Yaoguo swallowed the chicken leg, wiped his tears, and slowly recalled what happened that year.
"I went to Shanghai with Gangzi. We were unfamiliar with the place, so he told me that money could be stolen. I was terrified. Gangzi said he had experience and could keep it for me. I was too naive and trusted him too much, so I gave him the money. But after a few days, Gangzi disappeared. I couldn't find him at all, and I didn't have the money to return. Luckily, I hid two yuan so I didn't starve to death."
"Then I went to work for someone else. I don't know why, but I was doing well at work, but after a while I was fired. After being fired, I had to move to another job. I couldn't save any money at all. Things in Shanghai were much more expensive than at home. A steamed bun cost two cents more. I had no money and had to live frugally. When I could find a job, I would work. When I couldn't find one, I would pick up food from the trash can."
Since he was already back, Wu Yaoguo didn't care about the embarrassment of picking up trash cans. Even if he didn't tell his family, they would keep asking questions, so he might as well tell them directly to prevent them from thinking more seriously.
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