Seeing that Wang Guihua didn't seem reluctant at all, Liu Jiaxiang felt half relieved. It wouldn't be good if the lady of the house didn't welcome him. Although most men could make the decision, visiting someone's home meant getting a cold shoulder, and nobody wanted to be treated poorly.
“Brother, eat up, don’t be shy. There’s nothing fancy, just eat up. Once you’ve eaten and warmed up, then you can go over. They were so tired yesterday and freezing. When we went to put some warm food on the kang this morning, they weren’t even awake yet. If you go too early, they might even complain that you’re there too early.”
Liu Weimin also sat down.
"Eat first, don't rush. I've had someone watch over the kang (heated brick bed) over there so they can get some rest."
After eating, Liu Jiaxiang warmed up and relaxed. The conversation turned to everyday things, including the person the old man had taken in.
"That was in the spring, or just as summer was beginning. The old man and a kid from the village went into the mountains, and they happened to run into a man who was barely clinging to life. The old man and the kid actually managed to bring him back. That man was Liu Gang."
Later, Liu Gang moved in with the old man. The old man was very stubborn and, despite his advanced age, absolutely refused to let anyone else accompany him. It was only after much difficulty that he finally agreed, and we didn't dare to say anything.
After a while, we realized that this person was alright; at least he could stay close to the old man. With someone there, we could feel a little more at ease.
That's right, this person seems to remember nothing about the past, has no impression at all, just like a blank person. He does whatever the old man says, and is incredibly obedient.
It's been almost half a year since then, and he's been doing well. He accompanies the old man wherever he goes, and I've heard that he's saved the old man several times. People in our village have also become much closer to him.
Who would have thought that this old man would go up the mountain in such heavy snow?
"You knew it was the old man who wanted to go?"
Liu Jiaxiang waved his hand.
"Is that even a question? We've known the old man for years. Everyone in our village, from the oldest to the youngest, knows his personality. Humph, he's the kind of person who'd risk his life for medicinal herbs."
"Tell me about this, Liu Gang."
I won't lie to you, in our village, right at the beginning of summer, there was a guy named Dazhuzi who went up the mountain and never came back. Yesterday, when I saw him, I was shocked. He looked exactly like Dazhuzi.
Dazhuzi is also a man with a hard life. His father went into the mountains last summer and never came out, leaving only his mother. Logically speaking, the mother and son should be able to live together. He is already so old and hardworking, so his life shouldn't be too bad.
But unfortunately, his mother is muddle-headed. When her husband was alive, she was a little better and could keep him in check.
Once her husband left, she felt like no one could control her anymore, so she did whatever she wanted.
If there was anything to eat at home, whether it was wild vegetables or wild fruits that Dazhuzi dug up from the mountain, or a small wild pheasant that he was lucky enough to catch, she would send it all back to your village, to her parents' home.
She said she couldn't bear to see her nephew go hungry.
"Our village?"
Liu Jiaxiang paused for a moment, then it dawned on him.
"Ah, I was wondering. During the autumn harvest, there was a time when the old man led Liu Gang to argue with that family. It was the old man, I suppose. If it were anyone else, no matter who it was, the trouble would never end."
"Let me tell you, that was the first time. I saw how angry the old man was, so I immediately shut that family up. Even now, I avoid them whenever I see them; I'm terrified."
After thinking about it, Liu Weimin figured it out and guessed it was probably the same person.
"Hey Lao Liu, how's that Da Zhu Zi's mother doing now?"
Liu Weimin waved his hand repeatedly.
"Without manual labor, what else can we do but work?"
During the autumn harvest and the mountain climb, I didn't fall behind in either; I kept up quite well.
As long as she doesn't send any more out, this winter won't be a problem.
Liu Jiaxiang's eyes darted around, and he leaned closer.
"Old Liu, um, don't say I'm unkind."
I think these two people we're talking about have nothing to do with each other, right?
Liu Weimin looked back at him, then after a long while, he picked up his bowl, took a sip of porridge, and finally spoke.
"Who said they were related? They're clearly from two different villages, why are you linking them together?"
Liu Weimin isn't stupid. Right now, Second Grandma is doing just fine, supporting herself and working with great enthusiasm. If Dazhuzi were to come back, she might just revert to her old ways, which would really make things even harder for Dazhuzi.
Isn't it better for everyone to be at peace like this?
Besides, who can be sure that they are the same person?
"Hey, hey, you're right, Lao Liu, you're wise!"
Liu Weimin snorted, finished the porridge in his bowl, picked up some pickled vegetables and placed them in the middle of the half-eaten ration in his hand, and prepared to get off the table.
Liu Jiaxiang also put down his chopsticks, rubbing his stomach. He'd been talking so much that he'd relaxed and eaten too much; the small basket of dry food was already more than half empty.
"Hey, Lao Liu, I didn't bring any food, so I just mooched a good meal."
"Get lost, don't tell me that!"
Knowing that Liu Jiaxiang was anxious, Liu Weimin took him out the door after finishing his meal, taking the remaining dry rations with him.
"Let's go! It's about time they woke up."
Liu Jiaxiang stopped resisting and followed along eagerly.
"Hey, here I am."
The two old men walked slowly from one end of the village to the educated youth compound, and they were also completely frozen.
When I entered the house, the firewood under the stove was burning brightly. The person who was burning the firewood was not there, but the aroma of porridge was coming from the pot. At this moment, there was some noise inside the house.
Liu Weimin coughed once.
"Grandpa, we're in."
The old man's answer was quite forceful, at least to Liu Jiaxiang, who was more familiar with him.
"Come in, come in, I'm starving."
Hearing this, Liu Weimin decided not to go inside. He opened the door and let Liu Jiaxiang in, then borrowed a curtain from the educated youth. He put the dry rations he had brought back into the pot, as they had almost cooled down along the way. Putting them back in would help them warm up a bit.
He checked the fire before pushing the door open and going in.
"Grandpa, how are you? Did you sleep well last night?"
Liu Jiaxiang had obviously finished catching up, but he wasn't in a good mood. He must have been scolded, because he sat to the side without saying a word.
"That's good, that's good. You're actually quite thoughtful. Before I even woke up from the cold this morning, someone came to heat up the kang (heated brick bed)."
I slept soundly until I woke up, so comfortable, so very comfortable.
Liu Weimin also smiled, glancing at Liu Jiaxiang's pale face; his mood was actually quite good.
"That's good. Breakfast is ready too. How about we eat first?"
"Oh, really? I knew it, I thought I smelled corn porridge. I was just starving."
"How could that be? Now that you've come to Liujiatun, you're practically a local, a ancestor of Liujiatun. Of course I'll treat you well!"
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