The two sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), talking about their experiences in the mountains, sometimes bursting into laughter at each other's silly antics.
"Hongmei, weren't you afraid when you encountered wild boars?"
"How could I not be scared? But because I was craving meat, I just gritted my teeth and went for it. Let me tell you, I'm incredibly lucky. Every time I encounter a wild boar, it's either in a trap or I trick it into one. So I've never actually had a head-on collision with a wild boar."
"You're really lucky. I encountered a wild boar when I was ten, but I wasn't as lucky as you. Although I managed to kill the boar, I ended up in bed for a month."
"Hehe, I also went up the mountain when I was ten years old. I'm smarter than you. I dug a trap and even got a catch. I rolled the wild boar down the mountain myself. How about that?"
"Hongmei, you're so smart. If I were as smart as you, I wouldn't have gotten hurt."
"Hehe." Zhang Hongmei could only manage a dry laugh, feeling a little embarrassed by the praise. She could usually joke about herself, but when someone praised her seriously, she felt awkward.
"Hongmei, can you smell the aroma of stewed meat?"
"Of course, I'm hungry too." Zhang Hongmei swallowed.
Zhang Hongmei checked the time; it was only two o'clock. "Even if it smells good, it's probably just been put into the pot and isn't cooked yet."
"Yes, we still have to wait."
"We can start eating once the ten children who are going to school come back. No, I'll go to the village to pick them up in a bit."
Wang Ying looked at Zhang Hongmei in surprise: "She's really going all out for food."
Zhang Hongmei glared at Wang Ying. "Don't you want to eat meat sooner? I'll go tell my third uncle that we'll set off at 3:30 to pick them up. They're all very thin; they should be able to squeeze in."
As Zhang Hongmei spoke, she got out of bed, put on her shoes, and went to find Liu Maocai. She also went to the canteen to tell the aunties and grandmas who cooked that dinner could start at five o'clock, and that she would drive to pick them up from school.
Zhang Hongmei ran away amidst the teasing glances of several people; it was just too embarrassing.
Zhang Hongmei was a little embarrassed and angry. When she got home, she sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) and read a book without saying a word, but her decision to pick up the children from school remained unchanged.
Wang Xinyi looked at Zhang Hongmei with amusement. This girl, no matter how composed she usually is, is still a child after all.
Wang Ying chuckled to herself, but Zhang Hongmei glared at her and said, "If you want to laugh, just laugh. It's so uncomfortable to hold it in."
Wang Ying burst out laughing.
Zhang Hongmei turned her head away and ignored her. When she found an opportunity, she also mocked her mercilessly.
At 3:30, Zhang Hongmei picked up her car keys and drove to the countryside.
All the way there, I kept thinking to myself, am I ahead of my time? I can drive a car now, even the mayor's car isn't as nice as mine. But then I thought, this car isn't even mine, so what's there to be so smug about?
The road was bumpy and uneven, and since she wasn't in a hurry, it took her twenty minutes to reach the vicinity of the primary school. Zhang Hongmei parked the car about four or five hundred meters from the entrance and got out to wait at the school gate.
The gatekeeper recognized Zhang Hongmei. "Girl, what brings you here?"
"Grandpa, I've come to pick up the students from our village. You're still in such good health."
"Hehe, food and drink are provided, and I even get a salary, of course it's good. I heard you went to university in the capital, why did you come back?"
"I'm going home to visit someone, I'll be leaving in a few days. Grandpa, is school dismissal still at four o'clock?"
"Yes, I'll go ring the bell in a bit. You just wait at the door. The new principal doesn't allow just anyone to come in."
"It's alright, sir. I'll just wait here. You can go about your business."
The bell rang, and within minutes children came out. Liujiatun was far away, so children of all ages went to and from school together.
Zhang Hongmei stood at the door and waited for a while before she saw that Shi Tou and San Ya were followed by nine children from the village.
“Stone Sanya, here.”
"Sister Hongmei, what brings you here?"
"Hello, Sister Hongmei."
"Hello everyone. I drove over to pick you up from school. Aren't you happy?"
"Happy." The eleven children's unanimous response was quite touching.
"Let's go, get in the car, but we'll have to squeeze in, or there won't be enough room."
Zhang Hongmei chuckled to herself. This was just like the illegal school buses in her past life, with a van carrying more than a dozen children.
Finally, Stone sat in front with two first-grade boys in his arms, while the remaining four older boys sat below and the four younger boys sat on their laps.
"Hold on tight, we're off. If you feel nauseous, just let me know, and I'll drive slowly."
This car is Gu Chuanming's personal car, so its performance is the best. Although two of the younger ones are a bit disgusting, it's not serious.
When they arrived home, Zhang Hongmei took out a handful of sweet and sour fruit candies from her bag and gave them to the two children who were carsick.
"You should put a piece in your mouth now, and you won't feel nauseous in a little while. We're going to eat meat and rice later, and it would be a waste if you couldn't eat it."
The two children were still young, so they obediently put a piece of candy in their mouths and said, "Sister Hongmei, I don't feel bad anymore."
"That's good. Don't eat too much later. You're still young, and you might get a stomachache from eating too much meat. You can save it to take home and eat it tomorrow."
All the children nodded obediently. Zhang Hongmei then grabbed a handful of candy and distributed it to them. Shi Tou Sanya didn't take any and gave it to the two younger children instead.
Zhang Hongmei was very gratified. People can be selfish, but there must be limits, and they must have love and conscience. Only when Shi Tou San Ya is like this can Zhang Hongmei be happy.
"You all hurry home, put down your bags, wash your hands and faces, and go to the cafeteria to wait for dinner."
Wang Xinyi, who was in the courtyard, thought it was great to see Zhang Hongmei so patient with the children. She thought that women should be like this, strong and gentle at the same time.
After Zhang Hongmei finished washing up quickly, the three of them carried their own rice bowls, along with three large bowls for serving vegetables and meat.
As you approach the cafeteria, the rich aroma of meat fills the air. "Hongmei, it really smells delicious."
"That's right, we can't make this flavor even when we stew meat in a big pot at home. It's fatty but not greasy, so you can eat your fill today."
“That’s great, Hongmei. Your village is wonderful. I heard that the communal dining halls in other places have been abolished long ago.”
"Yes, the people in our village are united, and it's great that way. The land is cultivated collectively by everyone, and we eat the same food. The village chief and the others are just waiting for someone to stand up and suggest disbanding the canteen, but no one has said a word."
"Hongmei, I really envy you. It's so nice to have such a big family."
“I also like it here, so even in the capital, I consider myself an outsider. Only when I come back here do I feel at home and feel at ease. In the middle of the night, the home I dream of is this place.”
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