Durian Melaleuca

This year, the Song couple focused on the farm. They never thought that chickens and ducks could be sold for money, and they focused on raising pigs. Unexpectedly, the chickens and ducks were purchased by the canteen after being fed for two months. The couple later realized that their family savings were increasing.

They couldn't sleep well with such a huge sum of money at home, and they didn't dare to deposit it in the bank. In the end, they could only spend all the money at home.

My in-laws and their family are coming to stay for a few days during the Chinese New Year, and I can't just ask them to share in. Since I have some spare money, I have to spruce up the house. I don't have to make it exactly the same as the houses of people in the city, but at least it's comfortable to live in and not looked down upon by others.

The couple specially hired a carpenter to make new cabinets and beds for the furniture on the second floor, and painted the walls white. They opened the windows for ventilation whenever it was not raining, and installed a flush toilet, which made the second floor look much more stylish.

The cement floor on the first floor looked dirty, so the couple gritted their teeth and found someone to lay dirt-resistant terrazzo tiles. They also paved a path in the yard with red bricks, and planted seasonal vegetables in the vegetable gardens on both sides.

Song Shixia and her mother-in-law and her family pushed open the door and stood there in a daze.

She said uncertainly, "Did we enter the right gate?"

Han Rong was amused: "How come you don't even recognize your own family?"

Song Shixia explained with a smile: "The house has changed so much that I almost didn't recognize it."

Song's father and his wife were wondering if there was anything left to clean in the house when they heard the sound of the door being pushed open.

Song's mother and her husband looked at each other.

"No one will arrive, right?"

The couple called their daughter in advance and told her that they didn't need to pick up the whole family as they were coming by train, but would wait for time to go to the village entrance to greet them.

The couple hurried out and saw their in-laws and their family carrying large and small bags.

Song's mother stepped forward to help carry the things: "Why do you come here with so many gifts?"

Han Rong was delighted: "I won't be able to come again next time if I don't bring anything with me!"

Song Shixia added: "Mom, don't be surprised, my brother has more in the car."

Song's mother handed the things to her husband.

"This is too expensive. Come inside and drink some hot water to warm yourself up. Dabao and Xiaobao's faces are red from the cold."

Ji Xueya said cheerfully: "They are not frozen, they ran around and had fun all the way."

Han Rong followed her into the house. Her in-laws had tidied the house in perfect tidiness and laid tiles on the floor, showing that they lived their lives with great care.

Han Rong sat on the rattan chair.

"Your house is really big, especially the yard, which is really nice to keep."

Song's parents didn't have time to buy a sofa. They had to go to the city to buy a sofa, and they had to pay for someone to deliver it to the village. The couple was willing to spend money on the sofa, but the travel expenses were a waste of money, so they decided to wait until their son came back.

There was a craftsman in the next village who could make rattan chairs, so Song's father went and ordered a dozen of them. Song's mother took apart old quilts and made cushions to put on the chairs. They were almost as soft as sofas when sat on.

Song's mother smiled enthusiastically and said, "The least valuable thing in the village is the land. The houses are divided according to the number of people. Each person can get 30 square meters. Our house is only 200 square meters without the yard."

Han Rong followed with a smile and said, "Wow, the house is really not small. The countryside has its own advantages. The house is big and spacious. You can grow whatever you want to eat."

The adults were praising each other, and Song Shixia took Ji Yanran and the children out for a walk.

Ji Yanran followed behind him: "Sister-in-law, where are we staying tonight?"

"Upstairs. Come on, I'll take you upstairs to have a look."

There is a fireplace in the middle of the living room. It is the same model that Song Shixia bought in the capital. It should be the same model that his parents bought specially.

Ji Yanran was surprised and said, "Wow! Sister-in-law, you have this at home too?"

"This stove is convenient, and I can even lie on it to do my homework."

Song Shixia gave her elder sister's room to her.

"This is my sister's room. She rarely comes back to live here after she got married. She always washes the sheets and quilt covers before putting them in. Are you afraid of living here alone?"

Ji Yanran asked cautiously: "Where do you live, sister-in-law?"

"Your brother and I live next door to you. My room downstairs is for my parents to stay in. They are too old to climb the stairs."

Ji Yanran couldn't help but sigh: "A big house is good, it can accommodate many people."

Song Shixia chuckled and said, "How many more people do you want to live here? There will only be a lot of people during the Chinese New Year. After the Chinese New Year, everyone will go to work and go to school, and the house will become deserted again."

Ji Yanran sat beside her sister-in-law and sighed.

"I hate separation, and I don't like the saying 'all good things must come to an end.'"

Song Shixia said she could do nothing to help.

"Separation is the norm. You have to learn to get used to leaving."

Thinking of Zhou Yue who was far away in her hometown, Ji Yanran's face showed a hint of sadness.

Song Shixia saw through it but didn't say it out loud. The little girl definitely had someone in her heart.

Song Qiusheng arrived home that night. This time, no one in the village saw him, and even if they did, they couldn't see clearly what it was.

Song Qiu Sheng's magnanimity was visibly evident to the naked eye. All the clothes he wore were selected for him by Yao Xue. Others would think that he must be a big boss at first glance.

In fact, he just added a suit jacket inside his coat. He was used to wearing suits in the capital, and he wore the same outfit when he returned home.

Er Gou from next door heard Song Dongdong's voice and ran over to find him. When he saw Song Qiu Sheng, he stepped back subconsciously.

"Brother Qiu Sheng, I'm here to look for Dong Dong."

"Dongdong went in to change his clothes. Go to his room to find him. He brought you a toy."

Ergou hurried to find Song Dongdong. Brother Qiu Sheng had become so strange now that he didn't even dare to talk to him.

Seeing the floor inside the house, Ergou hesitated and stood at the door of the main room and shouted into the house,

"Dong Dong!"

Song Dongdong's voice came from the house.

"Come in, Er Gouzi. I'm changing clothes in the room."

Er Gou was worried about dirtying the ground.

"I'll wait for you at the door."

Song's mother poked her head out from the kitchen.

"Come in, it's so cold in the yard."

Ergou entered Song Dongdong's room cautiously.

He used to sleep with Song Dongdong often. Sometimes when he was tired from playing and didn’t want to go home, he would just shout through the wall that he was not going home, and his parents wouldn’t have to leave the door open for him.

But since Song Dongdong went to the capital to study, he has no good friends and usually goes to school alone.

After waiting for a long time for the winter vacation, Song Dongdong never came back. He came every day to ask Song Dongdong when she would come back, but Aunt Song didn't know either.

Song Dongdong's family is rich now, and his mother doesn't allow him to come over to play next door all the time, and tells him not to take advantage of Song Dongdong. Ergou doesn't understand, because he and Song Dongdong are obviously good brothers.

Er Gou sat on the bed

"Song Dongdong, you've changed a lot!"

Song Dongdong said proudly: "Have you noticed that I am a head taller than you? Now you are short and fat."

Er Gou stood up immediately.

"Who said that?"

His height just reached Song Dongdong's chin, and Ergou couldn't help feeling depressed.

"Why are you growing so fast? Did you secretly take some magic medicine behind my back?"

Song Dongdong put his hand on his shoulder.

"There is no magic medicine. I eat a lot of meat and fish and drink milk every day, so it is inevitable that I will grow taller."

Er Gou's face was full of envy.

"Your sister is so kind to you. She took you to the city to study and gave you delicious food and drinks."

Song Dongdong stretched out his index finger and shook it.

"I didn't bother my sister. I wouldn't feel comfortable doing that since she's married. I live in the school dormitory while I'm in school. I go to my brother's store to help out on Saturdays and Sundays. When he's not busy at work, he takes me to my sister's place for dinner. My sister-in-law often brings food to my brother. I benefit from my brother's help."

Er Gou held his face with envy and said,

"Your high school life is so wonderful. I thought you lived with your sister. People in our village said that you have such a great brother-in-law. You can go to college easily with the college entrance examination."

Song Dongdong's face suddenly fell: "Who is saying this? Does my brother-in-law's ability have anything to do with whether I can get into college? He is not the president of the university. People who say this are really vicious."

"A lot of people say that, especially the parents of Wang Mazi who are at odds with us. Don't bother with them. I'm just telling you that you have to fight for our Little Tigers."

Song Dongdong patted Ergou on the shoulder.

"I won't trouble you anymore. Wang Mazi and the others will definitely take the lead in isolating you. It would be great if you could go to school in the city with me."

Song Dongdong and Ergou grew up together. There was a small group in the village headed by Wang Mazi, who loved to tease girls and bully children.

Song Dongdong and Ergou couldn't stand them. When Song Dongdong was around, he could fight with Wang Mazi back and forth. The physical education teacher said that his good physical fitness was probably the result of fighting with Wang Mazi.

Now Ergou is the only one left, and you can imagine how difficult his situation is.

"My mother would definitely not agree. She said if I fail to get into high school this year, she would let me start a business with your brother. My father has already plowed all the land and is waiting to plant fruit trees."

"Why don't you talk to your mom? What if she agrees? The things learned in the city high school are much more complicated than what we learn here. Even I, the only "genius" who got into high school, can only be at the bottom. I think of the frog in the well in the book. If you don't see the outside world, you will never know the importance of studying."

Ergou was so shaken by what he said that studying and going to school became secondary, he just wanted to be with his friends.

"I'll give it a try. I guess my mom won't agree. She says it's a waste of money for me to study."

"Just tell me the truth. I'll tell you how amazing the city students are. Two of our classmates are going abroad. The number of people who made it to high school from our junior high school can be counted on one hand."

Going abroad is like a fantasy. When Song Dongdong heard about going abroad, he felt like he was living in a dream. It was a feeling of unreality that he couldn't put into words. He just felt that he had to work harder.

At the gate of the farm at home were two big, vicious wolfhounds, which only wagged their tails at their owner and would bark loudly at anyone they saw.

Ji Yang and Ji Yuan wanted to go in to see the piglets, but were blocked by two big dogs.

Ji Yang pulled his brother and said, "The big dog looks like it will bite people. Let's go back."

Ji Yuan looked back every three steps.

"But we haven't seen the ducklings or piglets yet."

Ji Yang warned his brother seriously: "The big dog is very fierce. We can't go there. We need grandpa and grandma to help tie up the dog. If you get bit by a big dog, you will get an infectious disease, and it might even bite off your flesh."

Ji Yuan shuddered.

"Brother, I don't want to watch anymore. Let's go back and eat some stinky fruit."

Song Shixia couldn't help but feel scared when she heard that the two brothers went to the farm, but fortunately the eldest brother was sensible.

"Yangyang did the right thing. Even the big dog that grandma raised might not recognize us, so don't get close to it, understand?"

"Yeah! I know, that's why I didn't let my brother get close to me. He's afraid of pain. If he gets bit by a dog, he'll definitely cry for a long time."

Ji Yuan lowered his head and pointed at his finger.

"I was very obedient. I didn't go because my brother didn't allow me to."

Song Shixia praised them one by one: "After we finish eating, let grandpa bring a little pig and a little duck over to play, okay?"

Ji Yuan said happily: "Okay!"

Song Dongdong changed into old clothes. When he and Ergou passed by the living room, they smelled a foul odor.

He stopped.

"What's this that stinks?"

Song Shixia held a little kid in one hand.

"It's durian, it's delicious, Ergou, try it too."

There were two cut durians on the square table in the main room, and the whole room was filled with a strange smell.

Song Dongdong pinched his nose and said, "Are you sure it wasn't our manure pit that exploded?"

Ergou covered his nose and looked around, trying to find an excuse to run back home.

Song Shixia rolled her eyes: "I promise you will like it after eating it."

Song Dongdong approached the square table with half belief and half doubt. He really couldn't believe that this yellow thing could actually emit the smell of feces.

He reached out his hand and touched it, then smelled his fingers.

"It stinks. I can't eat it."

Song Shixia gave each of the two kids a small piece of durian.

"Look at how your nephew eats."

Children are not very sensitive to bad smells. They grab the durian and put it into their mouths with a look of satisfaction on their faces.

Song Dongdong was stunned.

“How do you eat this?”

Song Shixia stared at him speechlessly: "If you don't want to eat, forget it, don't fan the flames here."

Since his nephew has eaten it, why would Song Dongdong not dare to eat it?

He grabbed a piece of durian and stuffed it into Ergou's mouth when he was off guard.

"Good brother, you taste it for me first."

Ergou subconsciously wanted to spit it out, but the food in his mouth was as sweet and soft as cotton, so he couldn't help chewing it, nodding to Song Dongdong.

“It’s really delicious.”

Song Shixia crossed her arms and looked at her brother.

"Hey young man, if you don't want to eat, just go out for a walk and don't spoil our appetite."

Song Dongdong grabbed a piece of durian and put it into his mouth with a fearless attitude.

It doesn't seem to be bad.

He still couldn't understand: "Why does this thing stink so much?"

It's such a delicious thing, why does it smell so bad?

Song Shixia shrugged: "Who knows? Maybe he's just afraid of being eaten, so he deliberately emits a foul smell."

Song Dongdong's expression is hard to describe.

“I’m a little curious about the mentality of the first person to eat durian?”

Song Shixia rolled her eyes at him: "Song Dongdong! If you don't want to eat, then go out and play. Don't spoil my appetite!"

Song Dongdong stuffed his mouth with durian.

"It's delicious. Why are my parents gone? Did they go out for a walk?"

Song Shixia wanted to laugh when she thought of this. She had just witnessed her parents, parents-in-law, Ji Weiqing and Yanran fleeing from home in a hurry. As expected, they were all driven away by the durian.

"Eat more if you like. Mom and Dad will be back by the time you finish eating the fruit on the table."

Ergou burped: "Song Dongdong, can you smell me? Do I smell anything? I'm afraid my mom will suspect that I ate something dirty."

Song Dongdong smelled it.

"You're done. Don't go home yet, or your mother will beat you."

The two little kids were eating durian, their eyes curiously moving back and forth between their uncle and their naughty brother. Why were they sniffing around?

Song Shixia waited for his brother to finish eating the durian, then collected all the leftovers and placed them in the yard.

She stood in the middle of the yard.

"They will probably come back after the smell in the house dissipates."

The main room was filled with the scent of durian. Song Shixia moved to the door and sat down. She secretly swore in her heart that she would never bring durian home next time.

The little guy ate his fill and even his burps smelled of durian. How could such a cute kid be obsessed with durian?

Song Shixia sat at the doorstep and talked to himself.

"Let's make the remaining durian into a durian mille-feuille cake. I can't do it all by myself."