Chapter 9

In the afternoon, as it just turned dark, Wang Yong returned to the village. Hearing the sound of a vehicle outside, Auntie ran out to check.

"Back already? How did it go? Did you finish the business?"

"Auntie, everything went smoothly. I hurried back because there are so many things to take care of at home, and I can't just let Uncle handle everything alone. I wouldn't be able to bear it if Uncle got too tired."

"Your Uncle isn't tired. He just needs to supervise the work. How tiring can that be? By the way, have you eaten? I've saved some food for you—potatoes stewed with beans and some baked pancakes."

"Yes, I haven't eaten yet. I'm quite hungry."

"Then hurry inside. Come, come." Auntie pulled Wang Yong into the house.

"Auntie, where's Uncle?"

"He said he went to the village chief's house to check on something. Who knows what it is? He's busier than the village chief. Always being invited here and there, I don't know what he's busy with." Auntie said, dissatisfied, in the living room.

"Hehe, Auntie, this shows that Uncle has a good reputation in the village and everyone trusts him. That's a good thing. You should support Uncle. Maybe he can even become the village chief."

Auntie brought a plate of oil pancakes into the house and placed it on the table, then turned to leave, saying, "Support him? We haven't even finished our own business, and he still has the heart to meddle in others' affairs. Who does he think he is? I don't even know what people are saying about him." Auntie said, very dissatisfied.

Wang Yong felt it was best not to get involved in the matters between Uncle and Auntie. Perhaps these small quarrels were a way for the older generation to communicate their feelings, something young people wouldn't understand. Just like before, Wang Yong couldn't figure it out. But now he understood a bit more. It was a kind of love, a concern, a form of communication, a hidden emotion that was easily overlooked.

Listening to Auntie constantly criticizing Uncle, Wang Yong quickly finished his dinner.

"Auntie, I'm going to Liu Lijun's house to check on things. The chicken farm is about to start construction. Uncle told me that Liu Lijun has worked in other chicken farms before, so I want to ask if he's willing to come and work."

"There's no need to go. Uncle has already asked for you. Liu Lijun isn't at home. He said he went to the south to start a farm with others. Only his wife is at home, and she's packing up to go back in a couple of days. It seems he's made a fortune. Everyone says Liu Lijun has become rich in the south, bought a big house and a car, and brought his family over to enjoy life. Tell me, how did Liu Lijun become so capable?"

"Really? Who said that? Is it true?" Wang Yong asked, somewhat skeptical. Village gossip was often exaggerated. These days, it's not easy for someone to make a name for themselves. Not only do they need money, but they also need connections and support from influential people. Otherwise, they would surely end up with a bloody nose. There are countless examples of this. How did Liu Lijun get so lucky to become rich?

"How can it not be true? Everyone says so. Look at how his wife is dressed in gold and silver, like a city person. Could she not be rich? I heard she even gave up the family land, giving it all to her eldest son to farm, and handed over the house to him to take care of. This shows that he's made a fortune outside and won't come back to this poor mountain village." Auntie said, with a hint of jealousy.

"Ah! These days, it's not easy to hire someone in the village. They won't work for less money, and we can't afford to pay more. Everyone is very shrewd, all thinking about jobs that can make big money. In recent years, those with skills, money, or connections have all moved to the city. In the village, many fields are left uncultivated, and orchards are abandoned. Everyone wants to go to the city to enjoy life!" Auntie said, somewhat puzzled.

Actually, Wang Qiang had long suggested that Auntie and Uncle move to the city to live with him. But deep down, they were still farmers and couldn't bear to leave the land that had nurtured them. Although Uncle was busy with his engineering team most of the year, he never neglected the crops. Every spring and autumn, no matter how busy he was, he would always come back to help Auntie. Others had advised the old couple, saying they didn't need the money, so why bother? Uncle always repeated the same thing: "If farmers don't farm, are they still farmers? I was born in the countryside and grew up in the countryside. I am destined to be a farmer."

"Auntie, what about Uncle Two? Can he come to help with the greenhouse?"

"Uncle Two? Uncle called him. He's currently working at a coal mine in Shaanxi, just supervising the loading and unloading of trucks and issuing tickets. He earns over 3,000 yuan a month and looks down on your salary. Don't bother looking for people. It's just two greenhouses and a few chickens and ducks. Auntie will help you." Auntie said confidently.

"No, I didn't really plan to hire anyone. Uncle said these two people have helped us a lot in the past. Now that I'm starting my own business, I want to hire people who have helped us, to show gratitude. I thought the salary for two or three people would be manageable. Since they have better jobs, we don't need to worry about it. The things I'm doing, like the greenhouse, are mostly mechanized. When we really need help, we can hire temporary workers. There's no need to hire permanent staff." Wang Yong said. In fact, Wang Yong was also reluctant to hire people. He was afraid that if someone stayed for a long time, they might discover the secret of Xiao Guang and Xiao Shijie. Besides, Wang Yong wasn't doing this to get rich. If he wanted to get rich, it would be easy. The box of gold bars in the cave was worth several hundred million. Not to mention Xiao Shijie and Xiao Guang, who could conduct spatial transactions. Recently, Wang Yong hadn't thought much about Xiao Shijie, treating it as if it didn't exist. And if Xiao Guang had nothing to do, he wouldn't even bother. Because Wang Yong wasn't an ambitious person; to put it bluntly, he lacked drive. As long as he had enough money to live on, why bother being busy all the time?

"Wang Yong is back?" Uncle's voice came from outside. Then Uncle came in, followed by a man. This man looked to be in his seventies, with the marks of time etched on his aged face. He wore a T-shirt with the logo of a feed company, black pants, and mud-covered cloth shoes, with a straight back.

"Yes, Dad, come in. Weren't you all discussing things at the village chief's house? Are you done?" Auntie hurried to greet him.

"Yes, it's done. This matter, let Da Hai tell you."

"Grandpa Two? When did you come back?" Wang Yong quickly stood up, excited to greet Grandpa Two.

"Hehe, I wanted to surprise you. Grandpa Two came back at noon." Auntie laughed.

Grandpa Two, Wang Guoliang, and Wang Yong's grandfather, Wang Guodong, were brothers. Both joined the army in 1945, just in time for the tail end of the Anti-Japanese War. In 1951, they both participated in the Korean War. After the war, Wang Yong's grandfather was discharged due to injuries and returned to the village. Soon after, he married Grandma and had four children: Uncle, Aunt, Father, and Auntie. Grandpa Two, however, stayed in the army and was promoted. No one in the village knew what rank he had, except for Wang Yong's grandfather. Some said he was a company commander, others a battalion commander, and still others a regimental commander. The main reason was that Grandpa Two had already been a company commander for two years before going to Korea. Another reason was that Wang Yong's grandfather's discharge papers listed him as a battalion commander. If Wang Yong's grandfather was a battalion commander, how could Grandpa Two, who had made great contributions, have a lower rank?

Later, during the later stages of the Cultural Revolution, Grandpa Two brought Grandma Two back to the village. After a big drink with Grandpa, they settled down in the village. What made Grandpa Two suddenly return to the village? Why did Grandpa Two and Grandma Two never have children? Since they never told anyone, no one knew. Grandpa instructed Uncle, Father, Aunt, and Auntie to be adopted by Grandpa Two, so Uncle and Auntie always called Grandpa Two "Dad." Wang Qiang and his sister, Wang Han, called Grandpa Two "Grandpa." Grandpa Two, however, always refused, and the two of them lived independently, never wanting to trouble their descendants. But Grandpa Two and Grandma Two loved their grandchildren, especially Wang Liang, who practically grew up in Grandpa Two's house.

Wang Yong's grandfather passed away the year after Wang Liang was born, and Grandma followed half a year later. That year, Grandpa Two became the village secretary and served until retirement. After retirement, the villagers still sought his advice on matters. After Wang Yong's parents passed away, Wang Yong and Wang Liang became like the old couple's own children. For any important matters, Uncle couldn't make decisions without Grandpa Two's approval.

"Grandpa Two, you didn't tell me you were coming back. I could have picked you up. Now my grandson has a car. You haven't ridden in it yet. I'll take you and Grandma Two out for a drive one day." Wang Yong said happily, noting that Grandpa Two was still in good health at 82 years old. When he heard that the old couple could climb to the top of the mountain together, Wang Yong was skeptical, but seeing Grandpa Two today, he believed it. His health looked like that of a man in his fifties.

"You're criticizing me, but you didn't tell me you were coming back either," Grandpa Two said kindly.

"I wanted to surprise you."

"Surprise? It was just a shock. You didn't see how worried Grandma Two was when Wang Qiang told her about you. She was about to come back, but Wang Qiang said you weren't leaving and planned to stay and do something. She wanted to see you more often, so she didn't come back. She wanted to call you, but knowing your habit of only reporting good news, she didn't call."

"Grandpa Two, don't worry, I'm fine. Look, Uncle is helping me renovate the old house, I've built two greenhouses on the mountain, and I plan to raise some chickens and ducks. I also want to stock some ponds with fish. Oh, and I bought a car, though the money for the car was lent by my brother. See, I'm so busy, how could I have any problems?" Wang Yong explained quickly.

"Good, if there's anything, just tell the family. Don't keep it all to yourself." Grandpa Two warned.