On the fourth day after returning from the provincial capital, I finally received a call from my uncle.
Xu Mengyao answered the phone, her voice full of concern: "Uncle, are you all okay? Grandpa and grandma have been taken back to Huanshi by us. Everyone is very worried about you.
My uncle's voice choked a little on the other end of the phone: "Wenjuan, thank your parents for me for being willing to take care of your grandpa and his family. We are all doing well now, don't worry."
"Uncle, would you like to come to Huanshi? My family bought a few shops in the city. We need manpower for our business and we also have a place to live."
My uncle was silent for a moment. "Juan, I'm very happy that you can say this, but we have to go back and discuss this matter carefully. I'll call you back tonight, okay?"
"Uncle, you're welcome. You guys discuss it first, I'll wait for your news."
As night fell, the phone finally rang. She quickly pressed the answer button: "Hello, is this Uncle?"
My uncle's voice came from the receiver with some uncertainty:
"Wenjuan, I'm your uncle. I want to ask, if we really go to Huanshi, will it cause you too much trouble? Will your father and grandmother agree? Also, with so many people, can the house accommodate them?"
Xu Mengyao immediately responded: "Uncle, don't worry. My dad and grandma are very supportive, and the house we rented is big enough for us to live in. Just come over without worry."
After hearing Xu Mengyao's assurance, the uncle's tone became much more relaxed:
"That's great. I've discussed it with your aunt, and we've decided to bring the two children back. Your uncle and aunt want to stay in Hai City and continue their careers. They asked me to bring Xiaolong back to school, and Datou will stay with them in Hai City. The kid is now an apprentice in a restaurant, so it would be nice for him to learn some skills."
"Okay, uncle, just make up your mind and leave early. School will start soon. I'll pick you up then."
After hanging up the phone, Xu Mengyao immediately called Grandpa Qi. She said gratefully:
"Grandpa Qi, thank you so much! You helped me find my uncle and his family. I have one more thing I want to trouble you with. I want to rent Grandma Li's house for my uncle and his family to live in. Would you mind paying her five dollars a month in annual installments?"
Grandpa Qi laughed heartily on the other end of the phone and said, "Wenjuan, you're such a sensible child. Don't worry, I'll tell Grandma Li about it. She'll definitely be very happy."
After solving the accommodation problem for her uncle's family, Xu Mengyao couldn't wait to run back home and tell her family the good news.
When Huang's mother heard the news, she burst into tears of joy: "That's great, Yaoyao, you did a great job."
After hearing this, grandma burst into tears and was so excited that she couldn't speak. Grandpa also smiled from ear to ear and repeatedly praised Xu Mengyao for her promising future.
Afterwards, he brought a group of people to Grandma Li's house.
"Grandma, I've rented this house. You and my uncle can live here peacefully. They'll be back soon, so we need to clean up the house quickly."
Grandma wiped her tears and nodded as she said, "Okay, okay, let's get started."
Upon hearing this, Huang's mother and others immediately picked up brooms, rags and other tools and started working enthusiastically.
——
As the sun shone on the motorcycle market in Pengcheng, Xu Mengyao and Huang's father walked side by side, their eyes gleaming with anticipation for new bikes. They shuttled between various brands, carefully comparing each model's performance and appearance.
Finally, we stopped in front of a booth with a "Happiness Brand" sign. The salesperson enthusiastically introduced:
"This Xingfu brand motorcycle not only looks stylish but also has a large cargo space, making it very suitable for family use."
Father Huang touched the handlebars and nodded with satisfaction: "Well, this car looks sturdy and durable, and it can also hold a lot of things."
Xu Mengyao also agreed and said, "Dad, I think this car is good, let's buy it."
Seeing this, the boss came over enthusiastically and began to introduce the performance of this motorcycle:
"You have a good eye. This car is easy to operate and you can learn it quickly. I'll teach you a few tricks and you'll be able to be on the road in half an hour." Huang's father nodded repeatedly after hearing this, and the corners of his mouth rose unconsciously.
After half an hour of learning, Huang's father had already mastered the basic driving skills. After buying the motorcycle, he excitedly greeted Xu Mengyao:
"Daughter, come up and try it, Dad will take you home."
Xu Mengyao got into the car carefully and held Huang's father's waist tightly: "Dad, drive slowly."
Huang's father smiled and replied, "Don't worry, Dad is taking care."
The motorcycle drove out of the market smoothly. Seeing that Huang's father was driving steadily, she also went to the small commodity market and bought a few sacks of goods and tied them to the back of the motorcycle. The father and daughter admired the scenery along the way and enjoyed this rare leisure time.
In the blink of an eye, there were only two days left before school started, and my uncle's family finally arrived.
Grandma and Huang's mother were waiting at the train station early. When they saw my uncle's family, grandma excitedly ran forward and hugged my uncle's children tightly, tears streaming down her face.
"My poor darling grandchildren, you are finally back!"
My uncle's eyes also turned red, and he patted grandma's back: "Mom, we are back, don't cry."
Huang's father also took a special leave to pick up his brother-in-law whom he hadn't seen for a long time, with a smile on his face: "Brother, welcome home!"
That evening, Huang's father hosted a banquet at home for my uncle's family. The atmosphere at the table was very lively. My uncle kept standing up and raising his glass to toast:
"Brother-in-law, I toast you with this glass of wine. Thank you for taking care of our family all the time."
"And this cup, I'm toasting to you on behalf of my eldest brother. It's not easy for him to work hard outside, but he always cares about this family in his heart."
"This last glass is for you, my eldest sister. She must be relieved to have a good brother-in-law like you at home."
Huang's father also raised his glass in response: "Brother, we are a family and we don't have any differences. Come on, cheers!"
......
After three rounds of drinking, the three bottles of white wine were soon empty. Huang's father smiled drunkenly, and his uncle, supported by his aunt, staggered away from the table.
At night, the courtyard was filled with the snoring of Grandpa and Father Huang, which disturbed everyone and prevented them from sleeping well all night.
The next morning, Xu Mengyao, despite dark circles under her eyes, remained energetic as she took her cousins to school to register. Meanwhile, Huang Wenrong and Zhang Xiaomei went to Teacher Zhou's office to prepare for the upcoming semester.
Meanwhile, Shaozi and the others, following Xu Mengyao's instructions, set up the shop in perfect order, with brand-new tables, chairs, and benches neatly arranged, awaiting the opening day. The entire courtyard, inside and out, was filled with the breath of new life and hope.
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