Jiang Lin: “…”
She was a little at a loss, but she didn't move so as not to upset him.
Cheng Rushan said in a low voice: "When our aunt passed away, our eldest brother was only 12 years old. He was greatly shocked and has been a little confused ever since. Later, he took a knife to kill Cheng Fugui and stabbed Cheng Fugui's eldest son, and was also severely injured by them...something else happened and he became even more confused."
Jiang Lin thought that he only remembered the old lady's appearance when she was young, so when he saw a young and beautiful woman, he thought she was his mother.
She felt a surge of pity in her heart, smiled, and reached out to stroke Cheng Ruzhou's messy hair, "Yes, yes, we're home now. Look at you, you're so messy, like a wild child."
The group of children also gathered around and looked at them curiously.
Cheng Rushan patted Cheng Ruzhou on the shoulder and said, "Brother, let's go."
Cheng Ruzhou turned his head to look at him and smiled, "Dad, you are younger and more handsome now."
Cheng Rushan: “…”
Cheng Ruzhou turned around and squatted down, saying to Jiang Lin: "Mom, come quickly, I'll carry you. I'm very strong now, carrying you is like flying."
Jiang Lin thought it was better to forget it. It would be troublesome if she flew into the ditch.
Dabao and Xiaobao finally couldn't help it, "Uncle, that's my mother!"
Cheng Ruzhou frowned, "Don't call me that. Call me big brother. My mother is your mother." He pointed at Cheng Rushan, "That's my father, your uncle."
Dabao and Xiaobao were a little confused, their little faces were so tangled that they didn't know what to do. It was really beyond their judgment.
Cheng Rushan carried Dabao and Xiaobao on his back and said to Cheng Ruzhou, "You are too thin. Your mother is uncomfortable because of you. You don't need to carry me."
Cheng Ruzhou pinched his arm. Is it very thin? He pinched Cheng Rushan's arm again. Sure enough, he had less flesh. He acted coquettishly towards Jiang Lin: "Mom, I miss you when you are not here. I want to lose weight."
Seeing him acting like a spoiled child like this, Cheng Rushan remembered what his uncle said about Ruzhou being the most mischievous and unruly when he was a child. He would not accept his mother's discipline and would make his mother angry all the time. If she was not punished for three days, he would go to the roof and throw tiles on the roof. He asked him to read a play script to him, saying something like "vulgar music, all kinds of messy stuff, don't let your mother fool you, old woman".
Jiang Lin smiled and took his arm, "The ground is slippery, hold on to me."
Cheng Ruzhou supported her carefully and obediently, saying, "Mom, I learned a new play and will sing it for you."
He began to sing the ones his mother liked to listen to, such as "The Peony Garden", "Peach Blossom Fan", "Romance of the West Chamber", "The Palace of Eternal Life" and other classics that are must-listen to for those who love to listen to operas, and there are also some others. He memorized them from reading the opera scripts when he was a child, and he sang them casually, as if he had sung them for many years, with a mellow and skillful voice.
"...Yanhui! My son! Which wind blew you back?" His thoughts jumped quickly, and one sentence after another he came to the point where Silang visited his mother.
Jiang Lin was not familiar with opera, and although he did not understand what was being said, he nodded frequently, as if he was fascinated by it.
Cheng Ruzhou was very happy.
Dabao and Xiaobao were held by Cheng Rushan. Seeing their mother being taken away by their uncle, Dabao frowned and Xiaobao pouted, not happy at all. They thought their uncle would come back to play with them, but he took their mother away first!
When we arrived at the courtyard, the sun had already set, but it was not yet dark.
Yan Runzhi and Cheng Yunzhi heard the noise and came out.
Jiang Lin said to Cheng Ruzhou: "Look, that's your mother."
Cheng Ruzhou was a little confused again. He looked at Yan Runzhi with a little excitement in his eyes, but the light flashed and faded away. He shook his head, "Mom has no wrinkles on her face."
Yan Runzhi: "Wensheng, I am your mother. You have grown up, so of course I have wrinkles. Come here quickly."
Cheng Ruzhou looked at Jiang Lin again, "This is mother. Mother is pretty and young."
Yan Runzhi walked over quickly and stood on tiptoe to gesture to him, "Look how big you are. When you grow up this big, mom will become like grandma."
Cheng Ruzhou seemed to understand a little bit and nodded, but he took Jiang Lin's arm again, "This is mother. You are grandma." He pointed at Dabao and Xiaobao, "Those are Da Dongsheng and Xiao Dongsheng."
Jiang Lin whispered to Cheng Rushan: "He remembers what you looked like when you were a child."
Cheng Rushan said: "When I was young, he was sometimes good and sometimes bad, but later he became completely confused."
Cheng Yunzhi said to Cheng Ruzhou: "Wensheng."
Wensheng is Cheng Ruzhou's nickname.
He looked at Cheng Yunzhi: "Dad, what's the matter?"
Dabao shouted: "That's your grandpa!" You call my grandma "grandma", so shouldn't you call her grandpa?
Cheng Ruzhou readily followed suit, "Grandpa, hehe."
Cheng Yunzhi: "..." He said helplessly: "Wensheng has always called me Dada, but now he is confused."
Yan Runzhi said: "Bao'er's mother, don't worry about it. It will be fine after you get familiar with it for a while."
Jiang Lin said, "Nothing. Should we take Brother to a big hospital in the provincial capital?"
Cheng Rushan said: "It may not be useful."
Cheng Yunzhi sighed and said, "Secretary Guan helped me find a doctor, and he said that this disease is generally incurable." At that time, they knew that among all the normal people who became fools, those who became more and more serious were rarely cured.
Jiang Lin didn't want the atmosphere to be too heavy, so she said, "It won't be worse than before anyway."
Dabao and Xiaobao ran over immediately, each holding one of her hands, fearing that Wensheng would snatch it away.
Cheng Ruzhou looked at it and was a little conflicted, but still said generously: "Okay, my mother is your mother."
Cheng Rushan said to Yan Runzhi, "Mom, help Dad and Big Brother pack up, and we'll move to the guesthouse."
This place is too small to accommodate everyone, and Cheng Yunzhi and Cheng Ruzhou don't just live here alone, there are others here too.
Generally, unless a couple comes together, they live in one room, and the rest basically live together, which can save space and help each other. This is also a treatment that comes with policy improvement and long-term living. At the beginning, everyone sleeps in the big bunk bed in the detention center, and couples have to be separated.
Yan Runzhi pulled Cheng Yunzhi to clean up.
Cheng Yunzhi: "It's nothing, just a few pieces of clothing."
The clothes were all patched up, having been mended for many years. The shoes were straw sandals and cattail socks, not cloth shoes. Other things were even simpler.
Yan Runzhi helped him clean up.
Cheng Yunzhi said: "Wait a minute, say hello to some old friends."
Cheng Rushan will go and make some arrangements first and come to pick them up later.
After a while, Cheng Yunzhi's two roommates came back. They were also men in their forties or fifties, and each of them looked ten years older than their actual age.
"Old Cheng, good days are coming, congratulations!" Old Yuan was very happy.
Another roommate, Lao Chen, had a gloomy expression, but also sent his sincere blessing, "Brother Cheng, if someone else vindicates me before me, I will definitely not accept it. But if it's you, I'm happy. Dongsheng is a great guy."
Cheng Yunzhi has been here for more than 20 years. At first, he was detained in a farm detention center and separated from his elder brother and not allowed to contact him. The situation improved after two years. After he got married, he was given a small single room to live in. Later, Yan Runzhi was allowed to take the children home, and he lived with his elder brother and nephew. After his elder brother died, he and his nephew lived with others.
Over the years, he has gotten along with all kinds of people. Because he is gentle, doesn't care about anything, and keeps his mouth shut, he gets along well with people no matter how lonely or difficult the other person is.
Cheng Yunzhi shook hands with him and said, "Don't be discouraged."
Old Chen sneered, "Don't lose heart. I'm very comfortable living here. I won't feel comfortable going back. My brain is rusty. I can only grow potatoes and ferment manure. I can't do anything else. What's the point of going back? I won't go back even if you ask me to."
At this time, other people knew that Cheng Yunzhi was going back, and they all came to congratulate him and say goodbye. Some brought him some vegetables, some brought him some noodles, eggs, etc.
Cheng Yunzhi introduced Jiang Lin, Dabao and Xiaobao to them.
Everyone was envious, "Old Cheng is so lucky to have a son like Dongsheng, and a daughter-in-law and grandson like him."
It was rare to see educated youth from good families willing to marry the descendants of landlords. In some of their families, children were in their thirties or forties and still couldn't find wives.
Yan Runzhi took charge and left all the clothes, bedding, dishes, etc. for the roommates to replenish.
Cheng Yunzhi carried a wooden box, which contained some notes about Yunye Lake he had written to relieve his longing, depression, and resentment. He studied in a private school when he was young, and had never attended a Western-style school. He was not greatly influenced by the new culture, and all he wrote were old-style articles with a touch of classical Chinese. His emotions were not clearly expressed, and there was nothing out of the ordinary, so they would not be confiscated.
While the old people were saying goodbye and reluctant to leave, Jiang Lin was playing with Dabao, Xiaobao and Wensheng in the yard.
Cheng Ruzhou didn’t quite understand why Dabao and Xiaobao monopolized their mother, but he was very generous to his younger brother, so the three of them played with their mother together.
Jiang Lin asked him, "What other operas can you sing?"
Cheng Ruzhou said proudly: "I can sing any song that my mother likes, you choose!"
Dabao and Xiaobao curled their lips, looked at each other, and said to Cheng Ruzhou: "Uncle..."
"Call me brother! You are calling the wrong generation!" Cheng Ruzhou corrected them seriously.
Dabao and Xiaobao leaned over to Jiang Lin's ear and said, "Mom, uncle is so stupid, even dumber than Gousheng."
Jiang Lin did not criticize Xiaobao and Dabao. They were still young and did not understand the situation at all. She would explain it to them slowly. It would be better to do it quietly so that Cheng Ruzhou would not hear it and irritate him. Moreover, she found that Cheng Ruzhou was not completely stupid. He actually knew that the eldest uncle and eldest brother were not of the same generation.
Jiang Lin smiled and said to them, "Let's play a game. Do you want to play?"
Dabao and Xiaobao were very excited, "Yes, yes." As long as it was a game, they wanted to play it.
Cheng Ruzhou was even more excited: "Mom, I want to play too."
Every time he called her mother, Jiang Lin shuddered. “Okay, go wait over there first, I’ll assign you a task later.” Jiang Lin pointed to the fence.
Cheng Ruzhou went there obediently.
Jiang Lin whispered to Dabao and Xiaobao, "Uncle is sick, and he forgot how old he is. He thinks he is the same age as you. So now he is your eldest brother. If he calls you mom and dad, we should let him do that. He is not as sensible as you two. He would not understand if mom and dad said it to him, so this is the only way, understand?"
When Dabao and Xiaobao heard their mother say that they were sensible and understood, how could they not understand? They immediately nodded, "Mom, we understand."
Jiang Lin smiled and said, "You two are really good. From now on, I will leave my big brother to you two. Protect him well and don't let him get hurt."
"Okay!" The two brothers agreed readily.
Jiang Lin signaled them to go and bring their eldest brother back.
Dabao and Xiaobao ran over, each holding Cheng Ruzhou's hand and motioning him to squat down.
So the three brothers squatted beside the two chickens and stared at them.
Dabao: "Brother, we are going home. You have to listen to us from now on."
Xiaobao: "Listen to us, we'll give you candy." He took out another piece of orange candy that he had managed to hide from his mother's eyes, peeled off the candy coating and handed it to Cheng Ruzhou, "Don't bite me."
Cheng Ruzhou looked at them and then at the candy, then opened his mouth obediently, "Ah——"
Xiaobao put the candy in his mouth and said, "Don't chew it. It will always be sweet if you hold it in your mouth."
Cheng Ruzhou nodded, "Sweet."
As he ate, he began to cry.
Dabao Xiaobao: "It's so sweet, why are you crying?"
Cheng Ruzhou shook his head, "I don't know either, it was just so sweet that I cried."
Dabao and Xiaobao looked at each other and thought helplessly: Vincent is really a fool. Oh, we have to protect him well in the future.
The two of them took Cheng Ruzhou back to play games with Jiang Lin.
Jiang Lin played a guessing game with them. It was a simple game, but kids loved playing it, and Cheng Ruzhou also had a lot of fun.
After a while, it got dark and it became hard to see clearly, so Yan Runzhi lit the oil lamp. Other people came and went, all busy going to the canteen to get food, or going back to cook for themselves.
At this time, Cheng Rushan came back and said to Jiang Lin, "Okay, let's go over there."
Cheng Yunzhi said goodbye to the few people he had the best relationship with, "I will write to you when I have the chance."
"Don't write it down, just think about it in your heart." Old Yuan waved his hands, his eyes reddened, "Old Cheng, if you go out, you go out, don't worry about it."
In order to avoid writing a letter that becomes unclear about something, and who knows when there will be another censorship campaign, so one has to be careful.
Cheng Yunzhi didn't say much. After all, he was leaving, but they didn't know what the future would be like, so they must not feel good.
Cheng Rushan invited several of his father's close friends to have a meal together. Two roommates came, as well as two others. Some of the others who were not so close to him declined because they felt embarrassed to eat with so many people.
Cheng Rushan carried the small wooden box up, and Yan Runzhi supported Cheng Yunzhi, who was suffering from knee pain.
Cheng Ruzhou immediately supported Jiang Lin and warned her earnestly, "Mom, be careful where you step."
Dabao and Xiaobao: “…”
The two little brothers had to support each other and said to each other, "Watch your step." Seeing that the two little brothers were now acting like adults, the adults all laughed.
The guesthouse was not in the labor reform area at the back, but in the cadre area at the front. People who came to do business paid one yuan a night, which was 20 cents cheaper than outside. Of course, it was very expensive at that time, and most people were reluctant to stay there.
Cheng Rushan booked two rooms, each of which had a brick bed that could accommodate several people.
He and Cheng Yunzhi took Cheng Ruzhou, and Jiang Lin and Yan Runzhi took Dabao and Xiaobao. After they settled down a bit, he went to the canteen to buy food.
He had previously contacted Jing Guangming, who not only arranged a room for him, but also meals. He specially ordered several fish, a small basket of river crabs, and some vegetables.
Yunye Lake is right next to them, so it is convenient and cheap for them to eat fish themselves, and crabs are not expensive either.
The canteen doesn't put much thought into the dishes, but since they are always cooking for the leaders, the cooking skills can't be bad. There are squirrel fish, crucian carp and tofu soup, braised carp, boiled silver carp, and steamed crabs, served with prepared ginger vinegar sauce, and stir-fried seasonal vegetables.
A big table full of food.
Cheng Rushan also bought some wine, poured them each one, and toasted them to thank them for taking care of his father over the years.
Old Yuan, Old Chen and the other two hurriedly said, "In fact, it was the elder brother who took better care of us."
Cheng Yunzhi arrived early and had adapted to the place long ago. Lao Yuan and Lao Chen were intellectuals from the city and arrived late. They could not adapt to the place either emotionally or in life. They were inevitably very angry at the beginning, and it was Cheng Yunzhi who comforted them.
Cheng Rushan said: "No matter who takes care of whom, it is your fate and our luck to be able to accompany and take care of each other for so many years. I am very grateful to you uncles. If you need anything in the future, just tell me. Even if I can't do it, I will try my best."
He drained the glass of wine.
Old Yuan and the others nodded repeatedly, "Rushan, your words warm our hearts."
After three rounds of drinks, Lao Yuan and the others had already burst into tears several times, talked passionately, and drank a lot of wine.
After having enough food and drink, Cheng Rushan sent them back on behalf of Cheng Yunzhi.
Cheng Rushan returned to his room in the guesthouse. Jiang Lin was coaxing Dabao and Xiaobao to sleep. Cheng Ruzhou was a little troublesome as he also wanted to sleep with his mother and brother.
Cheng Rushan patted him and said, "Men, go to that room. Let's go."
Cheng Ruzhou looked at Jiang Lin reluctantly.
Jiang Lin waved at him, "Go ahead, let's play together tomorrow morning."
Cheng Ruzhou followed him to another room.
Yan Runzhi said to Jiang Lin: "Bao'er's mother, you are so kind that you don't despise us."
Seeing her red eyes, Jiang Lin knew that she couldn't help crying when Lao Yuan and others talked about the past during the meal. She couldn't help but soften her voice and said, "Because you are good to me, I am good."
Yan Runzhi was happy again, "I'm going to sleep first." She lay down and looked like she was falling asleep.
Jiang Lin: “…” You’re pretending too hard.
At this time, Cheng Rushan came over and whispered, "Let's go."
Jiang Lin wondered: "What?"
He reached out to her, "I'll take you to eat something delicious."
There were a lot of people around at night, and he saw that Jiang Lin didn't eat much, so he must not be full.
Jiang Lin whispered: "Go to sleep."
Cheng Rushan: "The night outside is so beautiful, can you bear to sleep?" What a waste.
Jiang Lin wanted to say that she was sleepy.
Cheng Rushan came in directly, reached out and picked her up, "Let's go."
Jiang Lin hurried to see Yan Runzhi, but Yan Runzhi had her eyes closed and did not move, as if to say, "I'm really asleep, you don't have to pay attention to me."
Cheng Rushan carried Jiang Lin out. Outside, the sky was full of stars but there was no moon. The autumn night wind blew in from the lake, as cool as water. Jiang Lin couldn't help but shiver.
His voice was magnetic and warm. "Are you cold?"
Jiang Lin whispered, "Please put me down. It would be embarrassing if someone saw me."
Cheng Rushan knew that she was shy about this, so he really put her down and said, "It's such a nice night, let's go eat fish."
Jiang Lin was surprised and asked, "Where are we going to eat?"
"Come with me." He held her hand and walked into the night. The wind was moist and comfortable on her skin.
Jiang Lin had a feeling that he was going to take her to steal fish, and if they were caught, they would be locked up again.
Cheng Rushan led Jiang Lin out of the compound and greeted the guards at the door. The guards were very polite to him and reminded him to pay attention to safety and be careful not to fall into the water.
After leaving the guard's sight, he held Jiang Lin's hand again and said, "If you are tired, I will carry you."
Jiang Lin was already excited, "Not tired, let's go."
The air was excellent, with a fresh scent mixed with water vapor and grass. The stars were falling overhead, and it seemed as if they could be picked with one's hands. Jiang Lin was in a very good mood.
Cheng Rushan took her to the lakeside, where ordinary fishermen lived. They had boats, and some people lived on the boats. Cheng Rushan knocked on the door of a fisherman, explained his purpose, paid money and rented a fully equipped small boat with fishing gear.
Jiang Lin excitedly boarded the boat and watched Cheng Rushan light a lantern and hang it on the bow pillar of the boat.
She smiled and said, "Is this boat safe?" She shook it deliberately.
Cheng Rushan was untying the ropes when he suddenly came close to her and whispered, "As long as the movements are not too intense, it won't capsize."
Jiang Lin just wants to go fishing, why are you so aggressive... Oh, this guy is being a hooligan!
She glared at him and said, "Do you know how to swim? I can't take care of you if you fall into the water at night."
He chuckled: "It's okay, I'll take care of you if you really fall into the water."
In the dark night, the light enveloped this small space. He saw her face as white as jade, eyes as clear as water, charming and charming.
Cheng Rushan's heart was moved. He lowered his head and pecked the corner of her lips lightly. Then he separated and went to row the boat.
Jiang Lin's cheeks were burning. She was about to scold him, but she heard him chuckle, "This is to pay you back."
With a "splash", the oars broke through the water and the boat left the shore and rowed towards the lake. There were lights from the fishermen on the shore to guide the way, so the boat would not get lost on the lake.
The strange thing is that Jiang Lin is not nervous or afraid at all, as if you never have to worry when you are with him. He will take care of you, protect you, and will not bully you.
She watched Cheng Rushan rowing the boat, listened to the sound of water breaking on the surface, and felt her hands itching, so she smiled and said, "Give me a paddle, and I'll row too."
Cheng Rushan: "A small boat like this only has two oars. If you paddle it crookedly, the boat will capsize."
He lied to Jiang Lin in a serious manner, but she believed him without a doubt. "Really?"
Cheng Rushan laughed softly: "They are fake, I will mark them all for you."
He stopped rowing and hugged her from behind, "Together."
It was late at night and the wind was cool, but his chest was hot against her back. His voice, mixed with the lake water, moisture, and the fragrance of flowers and plants, had a unique charm. He held her in his arms, and the two of them rowed the boat gently and soon left the shore.
The sky is full of stars, the lake is dark, there is a small boat, a fishing light, and two lovers.
The lights were dim, but his embrace was solid and steady in the dark, giving her a sense of security.
He stopped rowing and let the boat float on the lake. He began to prepare the fishing rod and bait, "Catch some fish for you to eat."
The starlight was reflected in the water, and there was a feeling of tranquility and long-lasting tranquility. However, it was too deep and made people feel uneasy. Jiang Lin leaned over to stir the water surface, which was still warm. When she passed the lotus area, her nose and mouth were filled with a unique sweet scent. She picked a few large lotus leaves.
Cheng Rushan: "We miscalculated. We can't go into the lotus area. We'll get lost and won't be able to catch any fish." He smiled and rowed the boat out to the empty lake.
After finding a good position and calming down, he soon caught a fat mandarin fish.
Jiang Lin: "It's so big." It must be about 5 or 6 kilograms. "How do I eat it?"
Cheng Rushan: "Just eat here."
Here? Jiang Lin looked at him in confusion. The light of the lights, the stars and the water reflected in his eyes, making his eyes as deep as lake water, which made her feel a little flustered.
Cheng Rushan: "I'll clean it up."
He found a basin, a small knife and a small charcoal stove in the small cabin of the boat, which were used by fishermen to cook or heat wine.
He cleaned the fish quickly, sliced it into several large pieces, and then roughly rubbed it with salt and seasonings. He put the fish aside, lit a small charcoal stove, and started grilling the fish with an iron skewer. The fishermen's boats were fully equipped with tools, after all, they would grill fish here to satisfy their hunger.
Soon the aroma of the fish fillets wafted out. It was delicious with just a little salt and no other seasoning.
After he finished roasting a piece, he handed it to Jiang Lin. Jiang Lin held it on a lotus leaf, blew on it while eating, and it tasted so delicious that she ate it with a sizzling laugh.
"Haha, we are having fun eating this secretly without telling Dabao and Xiaobao. It smells so good!"
The grilled fish is really delicious, not fishy at all, just fresh and crispy, it’s so delicious that it has no rivals.
Cheng Rushan smiled, handed her another piece and watched her eat.
Jiang Lin: "Eat it."
"I'm not hungry yet."
Jiang Lin ate most of such a big fish by herself. She touched her stomach in surprise. She didn't expect that she could eat so much!
She stopped eating, and Cheng Rushan ate the rest.
After he finished eating, he took out a small jar of sorghum wine, uncorked it, tilted his head back and poured a big mouthful directly into his mouth. Immediately, a spicy smell of wine spread.
He took another sip and looked at Jiang Lin, asking her if she wanted to drink it.
Jiang Lin shook her head and smiled: "It's better not to drink it."
Cheng Rushan held the small wine jar and leaned towards her. Jiang Lin leaned back, and he chased after her, his lips stopping at hers. If she continued to hide, he would stop chasing her.
Jiang Lin didn't hide.
He raised his hand and held the back of her head, pressing his lips against hers, kissing her seriously and tenderly.
It was a passionate and lingering kiss. At this time, the moon rose from the east, shining brightly on the lake. The light of the water and the moon were like a gift from nature to them, adding to the ambiguous atmosphere.
Jiang Lin was drunk. It must be that the wine he gave her was too strong, or his body temperature was too hot, or he kissed her too passionately. In any case, she felt a little dizzy.
The starlight, moonlight, lake light, his clear eyes, the fragrance of flowers, fish, wine, and the breath from his lips, will remain in her memory forever.
…
On the second day, Cheng Rushan and Jiang Lin took Dabao and Xiaobao's family to pay tribute to Cheng Rongzhi, planning to move his ashes back when they had the chance.
After returning, Cheng Rushan bought some river crabs, several big fish, various dried fish, smoked fish, salted fish, a lot of duck eggs and cured duck from the farm, and then bought a shoulder pole and a basket to carry them.
When they left, the farm sent a car to take them to the intersection, where they hitchhiked, took a train, and took a bus home. When the sun set, they returned to the village.
Cheng Ruhai had been waiting anxiously for the past two days. He was no longer the production team leader and could no longer be lazy. However, he still could not help going to the courtyard again and again and waiting at the village entrance, for fear that he would miss his father when he came back.
After he did this, many people in the village knew that Cheng Rushan had gone to pick up the second master of the Cheng family.
Before liberation, they were used to calling the Cheng family old man, Cheng family uncle, and Cheng family second uncle. Even though so many years have passed, some elderly people still have deep-rooted beliefs in this regard.
Many old people couldn't help but look out or wait on the roadside, wanting to see Cheng Yunzhi. It's been so many years since I last saw him. I wonder what the kind and handsome Second Master looks like now. If I tell him that we didn't do it on purpose, I wonder if he will forgive me.
When Mrs. Shang heard about this, she rushed over and scolded them, "You are crazy! He was finally vindicated, and you are still here, calling him Second Master. Are you dissatisfied with him not being dead?"
After being scolded by her, those people would shrink back in embarrassment, or quickly change their names, calling them according to their ranking in the village, or even just according to their age.
Anyway, their family is not the head of Shuihuai Village now.
When the sun was setting and night was falling, the villagers saw a group of people coming down from the village entrance.
The first one was Cheng Rushan. He was carrying a load on his shoulder, on one end of which was loaded with his handsome son and some delicious fish and meat!
Jiang Zhiqing led a handsome and tall man, and the man smiled like a child. Who was he?
Yan Runzhi was supporting an old man whose legs and feet were not so strong. The old man was tall, with gray hair, but he looked very good, vaguely like the old man in the past.
Although they really wanted to go up and greet them, and try to get close to them, because they were a revolutionary family after being rehabilitated, and they should respect them in the future, but for some reason, seeing the family coming back, they were a little afraid to go up and destroy such an atmosphere.
Cheng Rushan would probably kick them away, so they resisted the urge to move forward.
"Dad, you're back--" Cheng Ruhai finally waited and ran over excitedly.
It was already dark, and he couldn't see clearly from a distance, so he went straight to Cheng Ruzhou, because Cheng Ruzhou was similar to the image of his father in his memory. After so many years, he seemed to have forgotten that his father had grown old and no longer had the handsome and youthful appearance.
Cheng Ruzhou saw a man running towards him and thought it was one of those thieves who was going to hurt his mother, so he shouted, "Who did this thief come from!" and kicked Cheng Ruhai.
Cheng Ruhai was caught off guard and kicked by him. He quickly got up and asked in surprise: "Brother?"
Cheng Ruzhou: "Oh my God, why is there another Dongsheng? It doesn't look like him! Are you the old Dongsheng?"
Dabao and Xiaobao shouted, "Brother, he is not Dongsheng, he is Cheng Ruhai!"
Cheng Ruzhou: "Who is Cheng Ruhai?"
Cheng Ruhai burst into tears, "Brother, it's me, I'm Yesheng."
Cheng Ruzhou said, "No matter if you are wild or not, stay away from my mother." He pushed Cheng Ruhai aside and carefully supported Jiang Lin, "Mom, let's go home."
Because they were in front of Cheng Yunzhi, Jiang Lin naturally didn't care. She nodded and said, "Let's go first."
Cheng Rushan looked back and Yan Runzhi signaled them to go first, saying that everything was okay.
Cheng Ruhai saw that all the annoying people had left, but Yan Runzhi was still there supporting Cheng Yunzhi. He felt a little nervous, so he quickly stepped forward and supported Cheng Yunzhi's other arm and walked forward together.
"Dad, are you okay?"
Cheng Yunzhi nodded: "Not bad."
Cheng Ruhai: "Dad, after all these years, do you blame me?"
Cheng Yunzhi sighed, "Why should I blame you? In that situation, I wish you would all draw a clear line and not get involved. Are your wife and children all right?"
Seeing that his father did not blame him, Cheng Ruhai nodded happily, "Dad, I'm fine. They all miss you, too."
He glanced at Yan Runzhi. It was late, but he could still see the sarcasm on Yan Runzhi's face from such a close distance. He said warmly, "Mom, my dad is back. From now on, we will live a good life as a family."
Yan Runzhi: “!!!” Bullshit!
Cheng Yunzhi was very surprised. He tilted his head and looked at Cheng Ruhai, very surprised, "Boss, you called me mom?"
At that time, Yan Runzhi was also young. Her family was in a sudden change. Her father and elder brother died. The little girl was helpless and tried to commit suicide several times. After being saved by him, she trusted and relied on him very much. Others tried to match them up, saying that your names are similar, your elder brother is friends with her father, and he saved her life, so it must be fate, so you should live together.
Cheng Ruhai and his sister had a big fight. Cheng Ruhai cried all day long and didn't want a stepmother, saying that she was a bad person. He even thought about not getting married at all.
However, he really couldn't bear to abandon Yan Runzhi, so he later married her in a formal ceremony.
After getting married, she became a different person, as if she had found the purpose of life, no longer felt the sadness and fear of the past, and was very happy to be his wife. Especially after having Dongsheng, she became more beautiful and cheerful, and any blow could no longer penetrate her soul.
He thought it was a good marriage.
Moreover, she took good care of Cheng Ruhai and his brother. Although they were a little bit awkward in age, she treated them like her own brothers and sisters. However, the eldest brother always felt that she was his stepmother and couldn't get over it, so he made things difficult for her. But she didn't care, saying that people are kind-hearted, and after a long time, he would be moved by my sincerity.
Later, the policy changed and women and children were allowed to return to the village to live a normal life. At that time, she didn't want to leave, but he begged her to bring the children back to the village. He didn't want the children to stay there forever. Although they were criticized less, living there was like a yoke on their backs. The children were suppressed from childhood and could never hold their heads up.
When I return to the village, the folks there are always more kind and tolerant.
For him, she brought her eldest son, daughter and Dongsheng back to the village, and they have been separated for all these years.
Cheng Yunzhi thought that he was not coming back to make up for her now, but she was still taking care of him. He felt very indebted to his wife.
At this moment, he felt that his eldest son's willingness to call Yan Runzhi "mother" was a kind of compensation and affirmation to her, so he was extremely surprised and delighted.
Cheng Ruhai burst into tears, "Dad, of course, I have called you that a long time ago. It was not easy for mom to raise us, and she also found me a wife. I call you mom, and it is my duty to serve you and provide for you in your old age."
Cheng Yunzhi was very happy, patted Yan Runzhi's hand, and said happily: "Look, the eldest brother has finally grown up."
Yan Runzhi never does anything to spoil people's fun. She smiled and said, "Yes, you are very sensible."
Cheng Ruhai's eyelids jumped, fearing that Yan Runzhi would ruin his plan, so he immediately said, "Mom, I was blinded by greed in the past and did many wrong things that hurt your heart. I know I was wrong, so please don't blame me." Seeing that Yan Runzhi didn't respond, he immediately said, "I'll ask Honghua to pour you some tea to make amends."
Cheng Yunzhi: "Boss, what's the matter?"
Cheng Ruhai said: "Dad, it's nothing. You like our family to be close and harmonious. I remember it all."
Yan Runzhi knew that he wanted to squeeze her, so she didn't make a scene in front of his father, so as not to disappoint him. After all, he just came back and must want to live with a warm family.
As we were talking, we reached the door. It was already very dark. At this time, Dabao and Xiaobao's voices came from the front, "Grandpa and grandma, it's getting dark. Let's go home quickly."
Cheng Ruhai heard this and helped Cheng Yunzhi to quicken his pace: "Dad, let's go home and rest." He thought clearly that Dad had just returned and was very happy. He liked the family reunion the most. Yan Runzhi and Cheng Rushan couldn't make a fuss when Dad just came back. In order to make Dad happy, they had to pretend to be harmonious so that he could move back with his wife and children.
Cheng Yunzhi didn't know that the brothers didn't live together. During this period of time, Yan Runzhi didn't say anything, so he naturally didn't know.
Jiang Lin had already opened the door and turned on the lights. She also lit a lantern and hung it in the yard. She then asked Cheng Rushan to go to the small yard in the south to move the cooking and dining utensils over, and then move the bedding and so on.
Cheng Rushan handed the things he brought back to her. Jiang Lin counted them and put them in the east wing. She locked the door and gave the key to Yan Runzhi later to prevent anyone from looking through the things.
Cheng Rushan led Cheng Ruzhou, Dabao and Xiaobao to move things. When they went out, they met Cheng Ruhai who was helping his father come over. He didn't say anything. He just said something to his parents and went to get busy.
Cheng Yunzhi: "Are you moving?"
Cheng Ruhai smiled and said, "Dad, in order to bring you back, we redeemed our small courtyard house and will live here first. When the brigade returns our big courtyard, we will move into it."
Cheng Yunzhi: "Then you can go and help too. You don't have to stay with me. I'm fine. I've been here alone for so many years. It's even finer to go home now."
Cheng Ruhai was overjoyed: "Yes, Dad, I'll go move too."
Yan Runzhi then slowly said: "Old man, you don't understand the situation. The two brothers... have already separated."
Cheng Ruhai said hurriedly: "That's because Daddy hasn't come back yet. Now that he's back, of course we brothers can live together warmly."
Cheng Yunzhi didn't take it seriously. He said, "Brothers have grown up, they have established their own families and careers, so it is only natural for them to separate." He and his eldest brother had a good relationship, but after they got married, his father said that they would separate the family after a hundred years. Although he is not dead yet, he has not made any contribution to the family, so it is inevitable for his sons to separate. Sometimes it is not that the brothers separate, but that the brothers get married and have wives and children, and it is no longer suitable for the brothers to be close.
He understands.
Cheng Ruhai said, "Dad, although Dongsheng and I have separated, I have not separated from you. Dad is back, and as a son, especially the eldest son, how can I not take care of him in his old age? The rule in our family is that the eldest son takes care of the elderly."
The eldest son inherits most of the family business and is then responsible for taking care of the elderly and worshiping ancestors. This is the custom in their family.
Cheng Yunzhi said happily: "Big brother, you are so filial, I am really relieved, I was worried that you would treat mother and brother badly. Now it seems that I was worrying too much, Daddy apologizes to you, I shouldn't miss you so much."
After entering the yard, Yan Runzhi said, "We are all hungry. I will go to cook. You guys sit down and talk." She didn't want the old man to say something hurtful to him as soon as he came back. After all, he fainted yesterday. It would be bad if he was stimulated again. She brought a bench to Cheng Yunzhi and asked him to sit outside the window of the east wing of the yard to rest while she went in to find Jiang Lin.
"Bao'er's mother, are you starving?" Yan Runzhi looked through some ingredients Cheng Rushan bought, including fish cakes bought from the farm and glutinous rice cakes. She sliced them and steamed them in the evening, and then cooked fish and crabs. Because they were river crabs, they had to be eaten quickly, otherwise they would die. The same goes for freshwater fish. If they were not fresh for a long time, they had to be eaten quickly.
Jiang Lin helped her, and Yan Run cleaned up the place very quickly.
Cheng Rushan and his friends brought back food, noodle jars, etc. Shang Baozhu, Shang Zonghui, Sun Zhiqing and others also came to help. When they heard that Cheng Yunzhi had returned, they also sent gifts. At this time, there was nothing good, so eggs, rice, noodles, and vegetables were good gifts.
Yan Runzhi did not refuse and accepted them all. This is what people from the same village do when they have good relationships: they help each other.
Cheng Ruhai was still nagging Cheng Yunzhi: "Dad, if we move here, since I'm the eldest son, should I live in the east room, and you and my mother live in the west room? Dongsheng lives in the east wing, and my brother lives in the west wing?"
Cheng Yunzhi glanced at him and said, "Boss, you have to discuss this with Dongsheng. Dad just came back, how would he know?"
Cheng Ruhai: "Dad, now that you're back, of course you're the boss. We brothers all listen to you."
Although Cheng Yunzhi likes to be with his family, he is not a fool. Although he doesn't know what has happened in his family over the years, he knows that it is not a happy one if he thinks about it.
Otherwise, why didn't the eldest brother go to pick him up? Dongsheng's wife and two young sons all went, but why didn't the eldest brother's wife and children show up?
How did Dongsheng redress his family's injustice? It certainly wasn't something that could be accomplished with just words.
This morning, when Dongsheng was getting dressed, he saw several deep wounds on his son's chest and back. Although they had healed, it must have been very dangerous and painful for him at the time.
He didn't even dare to ask, it was so heartbreaking.
At this time Cheng Rushan came back and moved the water jar over and placed it in the yard.
Cheng Ruhai said, "Brother, although we separated before, Dad was not here at that time. Now that Dad is back, our family has been vindicated, and the big yard must be returned. I think we should live together, take care of Dad and Mom, and live in harmony and live a lively life."
Cheng Rushan put the water tank down, supported the edge of the tank with both hands, looked up and glanced at him, "You got one thing wrong."
Cheng Ruhai asked casually: "What?"
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