Jiang Lin turned around and saw Cheng Ruzhou snatching the children away. Her subconscious thought was not to stop him, but to rush over and hold Dabao and Xiaobao in her arms.
At the same time, Cheng Fuwan happened to see it and was so scared that he immediately screamed: "Brother——"
Yan Runzhi also saw it and was so frightened that her face turned pale and she couldn't move.
When Cheng Fugui was reminded by his brother, he subconsciously turned sideways and raised his arm to block. "Puff" the knife slashed hard on his right forearm, and blood splattered everywhere.
Cheng Fugui screamed in pain and pushed Cheng Ruzhou away. Cheng Fuwan was stunned for a moment and immediately tried to stop him, but was kicked to the ground by Cheng Ruzhou.
Cheng Ruzhou wanted to chase Cheng Fugui and chop him, but the knife slipped out of his hand due to the blood and fell to the ground. He saw Cheng Fugui was about to run, so he rushed over and threw him face down on the ground, and then he opened his mouth to bite Cheng Fugui's ear.
"Ah——" Cheng Fugui screamed in pain.
"I'll kill you!" Cheng Fuwan picked up a kitchen knife and chopped at Cheng Ruzhou, but was knocked away by Jiang Lin who rushed over. Yan Runzhi hugged Dabao and Xiaobao, who were pushed to her by Jiang Lin, tightly, but stared at Cheng Ruzhou and Cheng Fugui.
Cheng Fuwan pushed Jiang Lin away and went to hit Cheng Ruzhou, but Cheng Ruzhou didn't seem to feel any pain. He just hugged Cheng Fugui tightly and bit his ear hard.
Everything happened in just a moment.
Secretary Zhao had already walked out the door and heard screaming and chaos in the yard, but he didn't know what was going on.
Cheng Fujun, Cheng Fulian and others also followed him out and turned back to ask what was going on.
At this time, someone shouted: "Someone is being hacked! Someone is being hacked!"
Cheng Yunzhi rushed back in an instant.
Secretary Zhao was also startled, but after all, he was a cadre who had come through the years of the Movement and had seen many storms and waves. This kind of thing only scared him and he recovered. Cheng Fujun hurriedly shouted to the director of public security, and several of them turned around and rushed into the yard. Someone else protected Secretary Zhao and hid away.
It was working hours and the only people who came to watch the fun were some old people and children. They were so scared that they screamed and ran out, crowding together with Cheng Fujun and others at the door.
When the director of public security and others rushed in, Cheng Fugui's ear had been bitten off half by Cheng Ruzhou. Cheng Fuwan beat Cheng Ruzhou desperately, while Cheng Yunzhi threw himself on his nephew to protect him.
Cheng Fujun pulled Cheng Fuwan away, Cheng Fulian pulled Cheng Yunzhi away, and the security director hit Cheng Ruzhou on the back of the head with a stick, knocking him unconscious, and only then did they save Cheng Fugui.
"Barefoot doctor, barefoot doctor!" Cheng Fuwan's eyes turned red, and he quickly picked up Cheng Fugui. He saw that his arm was bleeding profusely and the bone was visible. Don't let him be disabled!
He stared at Cheng Yunzhi with bloodshot eyes and roared at them, "Just wait, I'll kill you!"
Jiang Lin rushed to see Cheng Ruzhou. Fortunately, the director of public security had a sense of restraint. She quickly pried open Cheng Ruzhou's teeth and dug out his ear and threw it on the ground. It was so disgusting! !
Cheng Fulian shouted, "Ear, ear, take it quickly, maybe you can connect it!"
Cheng Fuwan's eyes were red with anger as he shouted, "Where is Captain Wang? Is he here yet? Arrest Cheng Ruzhou, the bad element, immediately and shoot him on the spot!" Wang Fakui was the company commander of the commune's militia and had the privilege of shooting rightists on the spot. Especially when Secretary Zhao was in the countryside, someone attacked people with a knife, so he deserved to be shot.
Seeing one of Secretary Zhao's secretaries peeking around, Jiang Lin cursed, "Secretary Zhao hasn't spoken yet, so how can you speak? It's bad enough that you bully the brigade cadres in Shuihuai Village, but you also want to bully the county revolutionary committee? How can you be so capable?"
"You, you bitch, you're talking nonsense! Didn't you see him kill someone with a knife?"
"With so many people here, why didn't he kill any of them, but only went after your brother? Why? Isn't it because your brother colluded with the puppet army to sell opium, and was whipped and imprisoned by my uncle, so he held a grudge and took revenge? Your brother took revenge and caused my brother's family to be destroyed, and he himself went crazy, and only remembered your brother. Doesn't this explain the problem?!"
Jiang Lin heard what Yan Runzhi said, this is not a secret. She said it out loud to divert everyone's attention, so that they would not only watch Cheng Ruzhou chopping people, but also think about why he chopped Cheng Fugui, so that Cheng Fuwan would not have the energy to bite Cheng Ruzhou.
She said, "Our family has been slandered as anti-revolutionary. It must be you who framed us! We have all been deceived by you!"
Cheng Fuwan was so frightened and angry that he wanted to beat Cheng Ruzhou to death to vent his anger, but he didn't expect that Jiang Lin would hold on to him and bring up old grudges.
He immediately shouted, "How dare you, woman, slander a good person?"
Jiang Lin ignored him and said, "We suspect that Brother Cheng Fugui used his public power to take revenge on his brother. We request the government to investigate this matter thoroughly."
At that time, it was indeed a policy to fight against the local tyrants and oppose right deviations. It was also a policy to redress the injustice in the future. According to the policy, Cheng Yi might also be attacked as a local tyrant. Cheng Fugui was just adding fuel to the fire and fishing in troubled waters. But Jiang Lin is now getting him involved because it is not too much to find a culprit for the past by redressing the Cheng family. On the contrary, it is more in line with the psychological needs of ordinary people.
Cheng Fuwan jumped up and down, saying that Jiang Lin was slandering him and talking nonsense.
At this time, Secretary Zhao pushed through the crowd and came over. His face was as gloomy as water. "Comrade Jiang Lin, the county revolutionary committee will investigate this issue."
Many rightists were severely punished in those days, and they were rehabilitated and returned to work in the past two years, but no one took responsibility, saying that he was also sent down to the countryside for three years. Therefore, he did not think that the Cheng family was definitely framed by Cheng Fugui, and he did not have that much ability at the time.
Jiang Lin didn't need him to believe her, she just needed to express her opinion on such an occasion. As long as she expressed her opinion, someone would believe it.
What's more, many people feel guilty after the case was rehabilitated and need to find a balance. They will feel better if they identify Cheng Fugui as the murderer.
It can also divert attention from Cheng Ruzhou, making everyone think that he was provoked and retaliating rather than going crazy.
The evening's redress meeting was still held, but it was much more low-key and brief. The redress documents were announced, and the village elders came on stage to talk about the Cheng family's deeds in the past and clear their names. Finally, they talked about the return of property and other matters, and asked two officials from the county cultural center to contact the follow-up work.
Cheng Fugui's nephews and nieces are clamoring to arrest Cheng Ruzhou. Even if he doesn't want to be shot, he must be locked up!
Secretary Zhao organized an on-site meeting to discuss the issue of Cheng Ruzhou injuring people.
Although Cheng Fugui's life was not in danger, his arm and ear were injured, which greatly affected his future career. Cheng Fugui was already old, and he had tried to use his connections to transfer to another county to be a county official. Now that he was injured, his promotion would definitely be hindered.
So he will definitely not give up, and Secretary Zhao must be cautious.
Brigade cadres such as Cheng Fujun, educated youth such as Sun Qinghui, and some prestigious elders in the village attended the meeting.
Secretary Zhao said a few words and then signaled them to express their opinions.
Those who were close to Cheng Fugui demanded that Cheng Ruzhou be arrested. "With a lunatic like this around, how can we live peacefully? We must be worried all day long."
Zeng Hongjie said, "That's not the case. Some people go crazy all the time and beat anyone they see. They should be arrested. But some people are fine on weekdays and only react to certain stimuli. Why should they be arrested? When I was studying in the provincial capital, I once met a person who was fine on weekdays but only went crazy when he saw his stepfather. He never beat an innocent person."
Jiang Lin: "Secretary Zhao, our eldest brother is like this. He plays with Dabao and Xiaobao every day and has never hit anyone."
Sun Qinghui: "Secretary Zhao, we don't think Cheng Ruzhou is crazy or stupid. It's just that his IQ has degenerated for some reason and he has become like a six or seven-year-old child. Now he is just like the sensible Dabao and Xiaobao, he is polite and can take care of himself. Who has ever seen a crazy person who doesn't urinate or defecate anywhere? Knowing shame and taking care of oneself is the difference between being crazy and not being crazy."
Cheng Fugui's family members immediately responded, "If it wasn't a madman who hacked people, he should have been shot!"
Sun Qinghui: "He is only a six or seven-year-old child. Secretary Cheng must have done something to irritate him, so he reacted so strongly to Secretary Cheng."
Secretary Zhao nodded slightly, signaling them to continue.
Old Lady Shang and several other elderly people also attended the meeting. They all supported not arresting Cheng Ruzhou. She said, "I am older, I have eaten a few more years than others, and I have seen a few more years of life. I watched this child grow up. He was a kind and good child since he was young, and he often gave noodles to other children."
Cheng Fugui's family was still making a fuss, but Secretary Zhao stopped them and signaled others to continue.
The opinions of Cheng Fujun, Cheng Fulian and other brigade cadres were very important. Because Jiang Lin and Cheng Yunzhi cooperated with them very well and did not ask for the yard back, which helped them solve a huge problem, they returned the favor and also believed that Cheng Ruzhou was harmless and there was no need to arrest him.
Secretary Zhao heaved a sigh of relief when he saw everyone saying this. He could tell that Shuihuai Village wanted to treat this as a common conflict among ordinary people, and to make a big deal out of it. He also didn't want to make a big fuss, after all, it was really a joke to arrest the Cheng family as bad elements after they had just rehabilitated them.
In the end, they felt that Cheng Ruzhou was like a six-year-old child who was unable to control himself under certain stimuli. They asked his family to exercise proper discipline and not to do it again. Cheng Fugui was considered to have been injured at work, and the case would be submitted to the County Revolutionary Committee later.
Before leaving, Secretary Zhao said to Jiang Lin, "Jiang Zhiqing, if Cheng Ruzhou hurts anyone again in the future, I will never tolerate it."
Jiang Lin: "Please rest assured, Secretary. We will keep a close watch on you."
Secretary Zhao then took his men away.
Jiang Lin also thanked Cheng Fujun, Sun Qinghui and others for protecting Cheng Ruzhou. They were giving her and Cheng Rushan face, and she remembered the favor.
Sun Qinghui whispered, "Jiang Lin, now we have to see what state he will be in after he wakes up."
If the violence continues, we must take measures.
Jiang Lin nodded, quickly said goodbye to them, and took Yan Runzhi, Dabao and Xiaobao home.
When they reached the door, Jiang Lin reminded the two treasures again, asking them not to play with their eldest brother for the time being.
Dabao asked anxiously: "Mom, they say that big brother is crazy, is it true?" He was very angry when the children called his big brother a fool before, but now he believes it a little.
Jiang Lin shook her head, "Of course not, he's just sick. Just like when you have a stomachache, but the pain is in his head and heart."
Xiaobao: "Will big brother be okay?"
Jiang Lin rubbed his head, "Of course. Let's not say he's sick."
Dabao and Xiaobao nodded: "No need to say."
Jiang Lin asked Yan Runzhi to take Dabao and Xiaobao to the main room first, and she went to the west wing to see Cheng Ruzhou. After beheading Cheng Fugui, Cheng Yunzhi settled him in the wing room, fearing that he would scare the children in the main room.
Cheng Yunzhi had already washed him carefully and treated the wound on his hand. Now he was sleeping as peacefully as a child.
Jiang Lin asked in a low voice: "Dad, it seemed that my brother only recognized Cheng Fugui just now." He didn't recognize anyone else, so he just ran to Cheng Fugui.
Cheng Yunzhi nodded: "He has been holding a grudge in his heart."
Jiang Lin: "We just discussed it in the meeting. This won't happen again. If Big Brother wakes up and still can't control himself..."
Cheng Yunzhi: "No, don't be afraid! Wensheng will be normal when he wakes up. If that bastard doesn't come to our house today, Wensheng won't hurt anyone."
After saying a few words, Cheng Ruzhou suddenly woke up. He opened his eyes and stared at Jiang Lin.
Jiang Lin called him in a low voice tentatively: "Wensheng?"
Hearing her voice, his originally empty eyes slowly focused and stared at her, his eyes softening.
Seeing him like this, Jiang Lin breathed a sigh of relief.
“Mom—” He burst into tears, climbed up and hugged Jiang Lin, “You were captured by the bad guys, I chased you desperately…”
Jiang Lin patted his back and stroked his head. "No, the bad guys will never come to catch me again after you kill them."
"Really?" He had forgotten everything that happened before. "Did I really beat him to death?"
Jiang Lin nodded and said firmly: "If I am really beaten to death by you, I will never come again. You don't have to be afraid or worried, and don't even think about beating him anymore. Mom is now protected by Dad, Grandpa, Grandma, and Dongsheng. No one can bully Mom."
He immediately laughed brilliantly, "Mom, am I awesome?"
Jiang Lin nodded: "Great, you are the best."
Wensheng immediately jumped down and said, "Big Dongsheng, Little Dongsheng, did you hear me? Mom said I'm the best!"
Dabao and Xiaobao ran out immediately, went forward and hugged his legs tightly, "Brother, where have you been just now? We missed you so much." Wensheng's appearance changed, he looked so fierce and cruel, they didn't recognize him.
Vincent was also puzzled and scratched his head, "I don't know, I seem to have fallen asleep. Did you see me beating the bad guys?"
Dabao and Xiaobao shook their heads, "Mom doesn't let us watch it, she said it's scary."
Vincent: "Is it scary? I don't know."
Jiang Lin deliberately used Cheng Fugui's name to test him, but Wensheng didn't respond at all. "Who is it?"
Jiang Lin said: "He is a big bad guy. You have already beaten him to death. If you hear this name or see this person again, they are all fake."
Vincent didn't feel anything about it. "It's fake, just like acting?"
Jiang Lin nodded, "Yes, he really died. Now it's just an act, it's fake."
Vincent laughed. He saw that it was pitch black outside and shouted, "Oh, why is it so dark? Have I not eaten yet? I am so hungry."
Yan Runzhi hurriedly said, "You went out to play, and you didn't come back for dinner even when I asked you to. I left some for you, come quickly."
Everyone went to the main room and sat at the dining table to eat with him.
Wensheng looked very happy, "Grandpa, grandma, mom... my dad... well, dad is out driving, and there are also Da Dongsheng and Xiao Dongsheng, our whole family is here, it's great."
He smiled more like a child than Xiaobao, eating the bacon stew pancake, which tasted more and more delicious. "It's delicious. I'm really hungry."
Jiang Lin looked at him with pity. The poor child had been busy doing hard work for the whole morning. If he fainted and didn't eat for two meals, wouldn't he be starving? "Eat slowly."
Wensheng ate and drank his fill, burped, and said with a smile, "Now I have enough energy to sing for you. What shall we sing today?"
He rolled his eyes and said, "Now that we are here, let's sing The Story of Loyalty." He smiled at Jiang Lin and said, "Mom, give me some lyrics."
Jiang Lin had no idea what "Jing Zhong Ji" was or what the lyrics were. She just heard Wensheng singing it himself. At the end of the song, he smiled, "...Don't be treacherous in life. If you are treacherous, disaster will come. Don't say that there is no retribution for yin and yang. Revenge will come naturally."
Listening to his singing, Jiang Lin thought he should be singing about Yue Fei and Qin Hui.
Yan Runzhi was fascinated as she clapped her hands and listened to the opera. She had loved listening to opera since she was a child. Later, there were several opera actors who were sent to labor reform on the farm. One of them was cynical and did not change even after being criticized. He often sang by himself when no one was around. Yan Runzhi and Wensheng also followed along and listened to some of the opera.
Jiang Lin found that she was the only one who couldn't understand, but Dabao and Xiaobao were also listening with great interest, they were really intoxicated.
As they listened, Dabao and Xiaobao were able to repeat the lyrics and then change them to Linlin and Dongsheng.
Jiang Lin: "..." Enough of you two! What does this Dongchuang Shifan and Jingzhongji have to do with me? I am neither Yue Fei nor Qin Hui.
…
The next day, in the cadre ward of the county hospital.
Cheng Fugui was stabbed by Cheng Ruzhou and half of his ear was bitten off. He was taken to the county hospital by a barefoot doctor. His life was not in danger, but his right arm was stabbed and it would be difficult to recover. Half of his left ear was bitten off and the wound was too large. Although it was reattached, it could not be restored to its original state.
Cheng Fugui had his head wrapped and his arms hanging, roaring like an angry beast.
The county revolutionary committee had a message that because he was injured, his appearance might be damaged and his promotion might be ruined. This made Cheng Fugui so angry that he almost exploded. After all, he had put all his efforts into one more fight, and there was a bright future in sight. He could be transferred to Ying County as the deputy secretary, and when he retired, he would have a decent position to live in.
Who knew... that little beast Cheng Ruzhou would mess things up again!
Cheng Fuwan: "Brother, I, I will go and avenge you and shoot that little bastard! If it weren't for that old man Shang Weiye protecting me, I would have killed him back then!"
Cheng Fugui: "Don't be impulsive. What does the county say?"
Cheng Fuwan was beaten so hard that his eggplant wilts. "The county didn't take it seriously at all. Secretary Zhao held a meeting in the village and said that Cheng Ruzhou was well behaved in normal times, but he couldn't control himself because of the stimulation. He asked his family to control him and not let him do it again."
Cheng Fugui gritted his teeth in hatred, and ended up feeling a piercing pain in his heart and brain.
Cheng Fuwan: "Brother, are they targeting you on purpose? Aren't all the wounded people who have been demobilized and returned as cadres?"
Cheng Fugui leaned against the bed rails dejectedly. How many people who were transferred with injuries could become government officials? Most of them were arranged to run errands in communes, militia companies, and public security bureaus.
Cheng Fuwan was still nagging: "Brother, we must find a way to kill that little beast. Who knows when he will want to kill you again?"
Cheng Fugui endured the severe pain and asked: "Does the county have any explanation for what happened back then?" Jiang Lin brought up the past and he was very annoyed.
Cheng Fuwan shook his head, "That's not the case."
"That's good. You go to the county public security bureau and make arrangements. Let them wait for this period of time, and then find an excuse to arrest Cheng Ruzhou." He should have been killed back then. No one expected that they would redress his innocence. They were too careless.
A few days later, the county government gave an opinion that Cheng Fugui was injured and was not suitable for continuing the heavy work, so he should recover and the deputy secretary should take over temporarily. Cheng Ruzhou's injury to Cheng Fugui was purely accidental and would not be investigated.
After receiving this news, Jiang Lin was completely relieved. Yan Runzhi happily closed the door, and stuck three finger-thick cottonwoods in the yard as incense sticks, and asked the family to take turns to worship.
When it was Wensheng's turn, he laughed and said, "Bow to heaven and earth." He bowed to Dabao and Xiaobao, and then pulled Jiang Lin to bow.
Jiang Lin smiled and said, "You can only worship heaven and earth with your wife, not with your mother or brother."
Dabao and Xiaobao pulled Wensheng and said, "Let's get married. Big brother, you will be my wife."
Jiang Lin then took Wensheng, Dabao and Xiaobao to the brigade to express their gratitude and to show them Wensheng's condition so that they could feel at ease.
Seeing that he looked younger than Xiaobao, Cheng Fujun and others felt uncomfortable, but they didn't say anything. They just asked someone to send them the agreed money and food.
Cheng Yunzhi, Yan Runzhi, and Cheng Ruzhou received one and a half catties of grain with skin and two ounces of oil per day, ten yuan per month, one catty of meat per month, five catties of cotton wool per year, and 15 feet of cloth. In addition, there was compensation for past property, which was converted into work points, and the work points could be used to exchange for supplies with the brigade, whether it was food or firewood.
The brigade would not slaughter pigs all the time. The meat was purchased from the commune slaughterhouse in the name of the brigade, and they would collect it on a monthly basis.
In this way, the three of them will have a guaranteed living even if they don't work.
Of the five acres of private land, one acre is on the edge of the village with fertile soil, and the other four acres are less so at the foot of the mountain. Jiang Lin asked the brigade whether to plant the land or not, but the brigade did not ask, as long as it was not illegal.
During this season, people either cultivate the land and plant wheat for harvest next year, or plant vegetables such as spinach and leeks that can survive the winter.
Jiang Lin discussed with Yan Runzhi and Cheng Yunzhi
They had no good idea what to do with these acres of land.
Cheng Yunzhi thought, what else can you do with the land besides farming? At most, you can grow two crops, wheat or corn. It is not cost-effective to grow vegetables at this time. Vegetables are easy to get worms, and sending them to the supply and marketing cooperatives does not make much money. Besides, there are vegetable growers around the county town, so there is no need to go far to sell them.
Yan Runzhi had even less idea. She said, "Bao'er's mother, we'll do whatever you say. If it doesn't work, you can discuss it with Dongsheng."
Jiang Lin smiled and said, "Then I'll make my own decision. I see that there is a great demand for bricks and tiles right now, so why not do this business to make a living."
Going to a brick and tile factory to buy goods is not only expensive, but also inconvenient and far away. There is also the freight, which is too costly. If you open one yourself, firing bricks and making cement tiles at the same time, it will be much more convenient. Three or four people are enough, and you can supply nearby communes. You don't need to make it too big. At this time, bricks and tiles are in short supply. You can sell as many as you make, and there is absolutely no overstocking. And it will take at least a few years for large-scale machine-made bricks and tiles to appear, at least a few years before you can make money.
She had no land before, but now she has four acres of land at the foot of the mountain, which is enough to build a small factory.
As for the sand needed, it can be obtained from nearby rivers, and cement and coal need to be transported here. The machinery is very simple. The earthen kiln does not require any machinery to burn bricks, but cement tiles need tile making machines and tile molds. These can be discussed with Cheng Rushan when he comes back, and he can help to find connections to solve them. With Cheng Rushan, she is not worried at all. Unconsciously, she has already regarded Cheng Rushan as a support, as if all problems can be solved with him.
Of course, it is also necessary to discuss with the brigade, get a letter of introduction, and then go to the commune and county to stamp it, so that it is legal and will not cause difficulties for certain units. The family has been rehabilitated, and there is a friendly foundation with the brigade. It can also solve the housing problem in the village and improve the appearance of the village and the living standards of the members. The brigade is also happy.
At the same time, county officials came to investigate the situation in Shuihuai Village, prepare to write reports and prepare for the exhibition room. The visitors were Zeng Hongjie and another male official, and they were arranged to live in the small courtyard where Jiang Lin lived. Because the brigade spoke for Wensheng, Jiang Lin was generous and lent the previous small courtyard to the brigade as a guesthouse, and let the brigade only be responsible for maintenance and repairs.
Zeng Hongjie's father is a university teacher and her mother is a government official. She received a good education since childhood and has unique insights into culture and art. When she sorted out the Cheng family's information, she interviewed many villagers, especially those who knew about the incident. She felt very sorry to know that many thread-bound books in the Cheng family were burned. She liked to chat with Cheng Yunzhi and borrowed articles written by Cheng Yunzhi in Yunye Lake.
Everyone in the Cheng family likes her very much and cooperates with her work.
In a blink of an eye, it was August 14th. Jiang Lin had collected a lot of embroidery products and planned to send them to the county supply and marketing cooperative tomorrow morning and ask Tao Zhen to help sell them.
She spread them all out on the dining table in the main room and admired them with Zeng Hongjie.
Jiang Lin told Yan Runzhi about some modern embroidery styles and asked her to improve them, such as ribbon embroidery, thick thread embroidery, and fresh style. Although she was not professional in this field, she understood girls' minds. Everything beautiful, cute, literary, and fresh was their love.
Yan Runzhi understood this skill very quickly and quickly taught Shang Lao Po, Qing Xing and the others how to do it. Because it was simple, they could do it quickly and well.
A snow-white handkerchief with a bunch of daisies, platycodon or foxtail grass on it, and a white or light blue vest with some embroidered patterns on it are enough to please girls. There are also various small handbags, which are even more girly.
Zeng Hongjie picked a lot and said she would take them back and share them, since she wouldn’t lose out anyway.
Jiang Lin smiled and said, "It's very simple, you can embroider it yourself."
Zeng Hongjie raised her eyebrows, "Where do I have the time to embroider? It would be better to buy it."
She pulled out a piece of sketch paper and handed it to Jiang Lin, "This is for you."
Jiang Lin took a look and saw that it was a picture of herself. She was surprised and asked, "When did you draw it?"
Zeng Hongjie: "I remember you after just one look and can draw it the next time."
Jiang Lin smiled and said, "Thank you for the compliment, Director Zeng."
Zeng Hongjie also laughed. At this time, Wensheng brought Dabao and Xiaobao back from outside.
He was very strong, carrying Dabao and Xiaobao in each hand. The three of them were covered in mud and grass. Wensheng's hair was even more messy. It was already messy, and now it looked even more unsightly.
Zeng Hongjie supported her chin with her hand and looked at Cheng Ruzhou who came in. She had never seen such a man who could combine innocence and maturity. He was a very handsome man, but he would not be mistaken for a woman because his facial features were clearly defined, especially his brow bones, nose bridge, and lips, which had distinct masculine edges and corners. She found that the man in their family was really blessed by God. He not only had a good physique, but also a good appearance.
She stared at Vincent for a long time and was noticed by him. He immediately glanced at her and pulled Dabao and Xiaobao aside to mutter something.
"Is she an old witch?"
Dabao: "She is Zeng, a good person, one of our people."
Xiaobao: "She bought her mother's handkerchief and gave money. Friendly forces."
Vincent nodded.
In fact, Zeng Hongjie had been here several times, but Wensheng was not sensitive to outsiders, and most of them could not be remembered even if he saw them many times, or he only had some impression. Generally, he had a slightly deeper memory of old witches or friendly forces.
Zeng Hongjie picked out the one she liked, and this time she bought one that cost nearly twenty yuan.
Jiang Lin was already used to her extravagance, "You gave me a painting, and I'll give you a vest."
Zeng Hongjie shook her head: "No, these are enough. I gave you the painting because you are pretty and want to paint."
Vincent and Dabao only then saw the painting and they all said it was beautiful.
Zeng Hongjie smiled and said, "You guys are pretty too. I'll draw a picture for you guys later."
Vincent shook his head: "No, I have photos."
Zeng Hongjie had taken photos of him and Jiang Lin and had given them to them. Wensheng loved them like a jewel and carried them with him every day for fear that they would be stolen. Yan Runzhi told him that it would be easy to lose them if he carried them with him, but it would be less likely to be lost if he put them in a fixed place at home where he could see them every day. Only then did he reluctantly put them down.
In the evening, Jiang Lin invited Zeng Hongjie to have dinner at home.
For dinner, Yan Runzhi made scallion oil thousand-layer pancakes. The rich aroma of scallion oil and the chewy and crispy pancakes gave a different feeling when eaten layer by layer.
She also fried some radish balls, which were sweet and delicious. Vincent, Dabao and Xiaobao clapped their hands in happiness after eating them.
Even though Zeng Hongjie has eaten many delicious foods, she still praises Yan Runzhi's cooking skills.
She smiled and said, "Jiang Lin, you are so lucky."
Jiang Lin laughed out loud. Thinking about this, she felt that it was really her blessing, a blessing that came from traveling across time and space. She actually missed Cheng Rushan a little and didn't know what he was doing.
"Gentleman Zeng, please eat more."
Zeng Hongjie: "I call you by your name, but you still call me Zeng Ganshi? Just call me Xiaojie."
When girls call each other by nicknames, their relationship reaches a new stage and they can be called friends.
After dinner, Jiang Lin took Wensheng, Dabao and Xiaobao out for a walk.
When they said goodbye at the intersection, Zeng Hongjie glanced at Wensheng and said to Jiang Lin, "Should we go see Wensheng's illness? Can it be cured?"
Jiang Lin: "I plan to take Cheng Rushan to the provincial capital when he is free in a while."
She also wanted to go back to the provincial capital to see the original owner's parents, or to let her parents see her.
She had written a letter back before, but did not receive a reply and did not know what was going on.
She said goodbye to Zeng Hongjie and made an appointment to go to the county together the next day.
Jiang Lin took Wensheng, Dabao and Xiaobao out for a walk. When they met other children on the road, they wanted to play with them. If there were any unfamiliar adults, they would immediately pull the children back. Jiang Lin could vaguely hear them saying:
"He is a fool and a lunatic. If you play with him, be careful or he will hit you."
"He doesn't hit anyone, it's fun."
"He didn't beat people? He killed people! He hacked people with a knife!"
The village is big, and many people didn't know Wensheng in the first place. Ever since he stabbed Cheng Fugui with a knife, they naturally became even more afraid, fearing that he would suddenly go crazy and kill people.
Dabao and Xiaobao were very angry when they heard this, but Wensheng looked curious and asked, "Who are they calling a fool?"
Jiang Lin interrupted him, "When a person is jealous of another person's intelligence, he will say that he is stupid. If he likes another person, he will also say that he is stupid."
This time, Dabao and Xiaobao didn't understand either, "Mom, what are you talking about?"
Jiang Lin: "I don't even know what I'm saying. Haha."
Several people laughed. Jiang Lin ran in front and the other three chased after her.
When they were going back, it was dark, and Wensheng said, "Mom, let me carry you on my back."
Jiang Lin: "No, no, mom is not old, you can just carry grandma on your back from now on."
He picked up Dabao and Xiaobao.
Xiao Bao touched his head, "Brother Wensheng, your hair is too ugly, it looks like it was chewed by a dog. Let mom give you a nice haircut later. It will be so beautiful like mine, and no one will dare to say that you are stupid!"
They got up early the next morning, and Jiang Lin urged them to wash their faces, brush their teeth, and put on clean clothes.
After breakfast, Jiang Lin took them and Zeng Hongjie to the county, carrying a water bottle, dry food, tomatoes, hawthorns, and embroidery.
Originally, Jiang Lin and Zeng Hongjie should have gone alone, but Dabao and Xiaobao were worried. No matter how she promised to go home before dark, Dabao was still worried that if they missed their mother, she would be kidnapped by a bad man.
Zeng Hongjie smiled and said, "Linlin, you are not lonely at all these days."
Jiang Lin: "I'm not lonely. I can only be quiet at midnight if I want to be alone."
They walked as they could not find a ride on the roadside. Fortunately, Wensheng helped them, carrying one on his back and holding the other in his arms. Jiang Lin and Zeng Hongjie talked together and they did not feel tired. They took a few more horse and mule carriages on the way and arrived at the county before noon.
Zeng Hongjie invited them to have dinner at the cultural center, but Jiang Lin declined.
"We have money now, so we can just go to a restaurant and eat."
Zeng Hongjie did not force it, and said goodbye to Wensheng, Dabao and Xiaobao, and then left.
Xiaobao: "Who do you think is prettier, Zeng Ganshi or my mother?"
Dabao: "Of course mom is prettier. If I wear the red coat that grandma made for me, mom will be the prettiest in the world!"
Vincent has no concept of beauty or ugliness, and subconsciously thinks that his mother is the best.
Jiang Lin: "What's so good about it? It's good-looking. You can't say this in front of outsiders. It will offend people."
Dabao Xiaobao: "What does it mean to offend people?"
Jiang Lin: "When you say mom is prettier than others, they get angry and unconvinced. They treat mom badly and won't buy anything from her anymore."
"Oh, so I should say... they are all beautiful!" Dabao and Xiaobao laughed.
Jiang Lin pinched their noses and said, "That's right, don't compare yourself to others casually. Otherwise, they will be unhappy."
They went to the supply and marketing cooperative first.
Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the supply and marketing cooperative is packed with people buying food, toilet paper, soap, and the like. There are also long queues at the cloth counter. Tao Zhen is yelling at people to line up and buy cloth.
After buying all the cloth, Jiang Lin led them over to greet Tao Zhen.
Tao Zhen looked at her and smiled, "I was just thinking about you. I want to tell you, that... Oh, why has your man changed?" Tao Zhen stared at Wensheng with wide eyes. Is this the same man? Is he? He looks like him, but I don't think so. I always feel like something is wrong.
They are both equally handsome, but that one is taller, and his eyes are sharper. Why does this one look so silly, like a child?
Could it be that the man has changed after not seeing him for a few days?
But Tao Zhen was so conflicted that she couldn't help but look at Wensheng. Even if they were not alone, the two children would be equally close to him.
How weird!!
She took out the account book and shared the money from the last sale with Jiang Lin. Jiang Lin then took out the money from this sale and gave it to her. She couldn't let go of it and paid for a few items herself right away.
Because she was always looking at Vincent, she made mistakes in the calculations.
Jiang Lin patted her and said, "Tao Zhen, you calculated wrong."
Tao Zhen blushed, lowered her head and recalculated, and said with a smile: "I'm sorry."
Jiang Lin didn't care. She thought Tao Zhen looked bad-tempered and unforgiving, but she was actually a nice person. They just wanted to sell embroidery together. She didn't ask for more, and she was very clear about the accounts. The quantity was not much last time, but it was more this time. Jiang Lin didn't worry about it. After all, it was a small business, a little bit of stuff, and everyone could make a subsidy.
Jiang Lin settled the bill and was about to leave.
Tao Zhen finally couldn't help it, "Jiang Lin, is there something wrong with your man?"
Jiang Lin: "I..." She immediately understood and said hurriedly: "Our Cheng Rushan is out doing transportation and is not at home. This is his brother."
"Brother?" Tao Zhen's eyes widened. "Are you married?"
Jiang Lin: "Definitely not."
At this time, Wensheng was hooked by Dabao and Xiaobao and wanted to go to a restaurant. He had never been there before, so he shouted to Jiang Lin: "Mom, I'm hungry, I want to go to the restaurant!"
Tao Zhen: "!!!" Didn't he say your uncle? How come he became your son?
Jiang Lin quickly smiled and said nothing more, "We'll leave first."
Wensheng, Dabao and Xiaobao were very anxious. The three of them shouted together, "Mom, hurry up."
The people in the supply and marketing cooperative looked at them, and many of them lowered their heads to talk, with strange looks in their eyes.
Jiang Lin didn't care. When she was willing to help Cheng Rushan take care of Wensheng, she was prepared to be criticized.
She ran over and said, "Let's go, let's go eat something delicious. We're not going to eat vegetable noodles today. We're going to eat something more delicious. Mom has money!"
Four people ran into the restaurant and stunned Li Yuegui again.
Li Yuegui looked at Jiang Lin and the two kids. She knew them. The tall man looked familiar but it was clearly not the same person! Li Yuegui had met Cheng Rushan before. She had seen him again when Cheng Rushan and his men went to the farm to pick someone up.
Jiang Lin told them the names of the noodles, "For those who don't eat vegetables today, there are tomato and egg noodles, shredded pork and pickled vegetable noodles, and three fresh noodles. What do you want to eat?"
Dabao and Xiaobao specifically asked what Sanxian was as they had never heard of it before.
Jiang Lin explained it to him, and Dabao said, "Give me a bowl of three-fresh noodles." Xiaobao and Wensheng followed suit and asked for three-fresh noodles.
Jiang Lin: “…”
She smiled and said, "We can each have one and take turns eating them."
Dabao shook his head and said, "I want to try something new." Vincent and his younger brother also nodded vigorously.
Jiang Lin silently ordered herself a bowl of noodles with shredded pork and pickled vegetables, then paid the food coupons and money, and led them to find a table in the corner to sit down.
Xiaobao smiled and said, "Dongsheng's seat."
That time they ate noodles here, and Dongsheng sat here.
Vince: “It’s also Vince’s seat.”
The four of them ordered four bowls of noodles. Dabao and Xiaobao naturally couldn't finish them, but Wensheng didn't have to worry about leftovers. He ate his own and also ate the leftovers from Dabao and Xiaobao. In the end, he even drank up the soup, touched his stomach and burped.
Jiang Lin wiped their mouths with a handkerchief and said, "Let's go to the bookstore."
State-owned bookstores sell school supplies and other items, and although the items are not abundant, they still attract many people to shop.
Jiang Lin bought a dictionary, some pencils, notebooks, and paper. These did not require tickets, but the quantity was limited and they could not be bought casually. There happened to be some comic books, so Jiang Lin took them to flip through them and bought a copy of Wildfire Spring Wind Fighting the Ancient City, Journey to the West, Gao Yubao and Little Soldier Zhang Ga. There was nothing else that was suitable. She wanted to buy a book of Tang poetry and Song lyrics, but there was none. At this time of education reform, there was basically no market for old culture.
She looked again and saw that there were only a few toys, so she bought two balls, one big and one small, for the children, and two little frogs that jumped when you pressed them, and nothing else.
Just like that, the children were having a blast.
This is their first time buying toys.
Jiang Lin also wanted to take them to the gate of the primary school to have a look and flirt with the two boys so that they would be willing to go to school.
It turned out that the two brothers were not interested at all.
Dabao: "Isn't it stupid to run in and circle every day? Isn't it better to run all over the floor?"
Xiaobao: "That's right, grandpa teaches you to read. Once you learn it, go out and play. It's stupid to keep you locked up inside."
Vincent: "Sir, slap your hand!"
Jiang Lin: “…” Since I don’t like going to school, I can always find an excuse!
But they are still young. In the countryside, they should be at least seven or even eight years old to go to school, so there is no rush.
They waited for a long time but no car came, so Jiang Lin took them home on foot. They could take any horse or donkey carriage they came across on the way.
Not long after they left, Cheng Rushan and Dai Guohua drove back and parked the truck in front of the supply and marketing cooperative. He went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some things first.
Tao Zhen saw him come in and pointed at him in surprise, "Ah, you——"
Cheng Rushan frowned slightly, "It's me."
Tao Zhen clapped her hands and said, "Your wife came here with her three children."
Cheng Rushan hurriedly asked when and whether he had left.
Tao Zhen: "He was eating at the restaurant just now, he must have left by now."
Cheng Rushan thanked him and took out a bunch of industrial coupons. "Does the supply and marketing cooperative have bicycles now? I want to buy a bicycle."
Tao Zhen: “!!!” What’s wrong with you, man? Last time, I was overwhelmed by the large pile of cloth coupons, and now I get this large pile of industrial coupons again!
It takes 18 industrial coupons to buy a bicycle, and many people save for two or three years. This man...what does he do?
She hurriedly said, "You line up. There are no bicycles at the moment. You can pick up the new ones when they arrive." She ran to the back and said something, then took out the stamped and signed delivery note and handed it to Cheng Rushan. "I've received the industrial vouchers. You will pay when you pick up the goods."
Cheng Rushan thanked him, put away the delivery note, and went to the counter next door to buy snacks and candies.
Tao Zhen ran over again and offered enthusiastic service, which annoyed the salesperson selling non-staple food.
Cheng Rushan bought two bags of snacks and two bags of candies, paid for them and the food coupons, and carried them back to the car.
He handed Dai Guohua a bag of snacks and a bag of candy, "Take it back and give it to Auntie and the children."
Dai Guohua refused, "Let's not play this game, we are brothers."
Cheng Rushan: "I treat you as a brother, otherwise you think I have nothing to do?"
Dai Guohua said hurriedly: "Okay, okay, thank you very much. Don't be so formal with me in the future."
Dai Guohua started the car and said, "Let's go, I'll take you home. You said it's your first trip, so you should spend some of the money you earn first, because your wife will beat you when you get home."
Speaking of Jiang Lin, Cheng Rushan's eyes were filled with smile, "My wife is very gentle, not fierce at all." It's just that his face hurts a little.
When we set out, he pointed out a way.
Dai Guohua: "Why not take the main road?" The small road is so difficult to take.
Cheng Rushan: "It's right to go this way."
Dai Guohua: I am not as good as you. I have driven here so many times, but you are just a fool and take the shortcut.
But he still walked over, and soon he saw Jiang Lin leading a man and two children walking and playing in front of them, as if they were out on an autumn outing.
Jiang Lin and the two children were so eye-catching that he would never forget them once he had seen them. He recognized them at the first sight.
Dai Guohua teased Cheng Rushan: "Brother, why do I think this is a family of four?"
Cheng Rushan smiled and was not annoyed. He just leaned over and honked the horn hard.
Jiang Lin and the others in front heard it and immediately pulled over. She turned back and complained, "There's a wide road over there, but you have to compete with pedestrians for the side road. Is the driver a fool?"
She turned around and saw the idiot Cheng Rushan leaning out of the car window and smiling at her.
"Dad!" Vincent and Dabao and Xiaobao jumped for joy.
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