mesbooks Chapter 51 First Test
Chapter 51 First Test
As Chen Weidong wrote this, the image of Liu Xiaoqing involuntarily came to mind; her performance in "Hibiscus Town" was indeed amazing.
In terms of popularity, no later top actresses could compare to Liu Xiaoqing. In the 1980s, Liu Xiaoqing was definitely one of the top stars in China, and she was a household name.
Even after the turn of the millennium, Chen Weidong still saw her on TV. By then, he was already having difficulty walking, while she was still a young model... I mean, constantly in the news. It was truly astonishing!
Moreover, compared to her earlier appearance, her features became more refined, and sometimes one can't help but sigh that it's really good to be rich!
……
Chen Weidong shook his pen, dipped it in ink, and continued writing with his head down.
Before dawn, Furong Town awoke. Hu Yuyin squatted on the bluestone slab, using a loofah dipped in alkaline water to scrub the cypress wood cutting board again and again. She had used the cutting board for three years, and it had long since developed a layer of glossy amber color. She scrubbed it carefully, even picking out the rice paste residue from the crevices of the wood grain—those who cook food are most particular about cleanliness.
"Sister Yuyin! A bowl of rice tofu, extra chili!"
The speaker was Gu Yanshan, the director of the grain station. He was a regular customer who visited every market day. He wasn't highly educated, but he was pragmatic in his work and full of human warmth, somewhat like the herdsman Lao Guo he wrote in "The Herdsman".
"Director Gu, please have a seat."
Hu Yuyin straightened up, gently twisted her waist, and scooped out the snow-white rice tofu from the wooden bucket. The rice tofu was made by soaking the previous year's early rice for twelve hours, grinding it finely with a stone mill, filtering it with gauze, simmering it until it was thick over a wood-fired stove, and then adding a ladle of gypsum water, until it solidified into this trembling, tender shape.
……
Compared to his first work, "The Herdsman," Chen Weidong has gained much more experience in writing "Hibiscus Town." His grasp of some pain points and publication rules, as well as the refinement of his writing, have also greatly improved.
"Have some water. It's getting late. Get some rest. You can write again tomorrow."
Su Man coaxed the two children to sleep, poured Chen Weidong a glass of water, and then turned the oil lamp up a little brighter.
"Okay, I'll go to sleep after I finish this section. You should get some rest."
Chen Weidong picked up his cup, took a sip, glanced at the sleeping Chen Xiaosui and Chen Xiaoan, and was instantly filled with energy.
He's not writing stories, he's writing money! He has to write more while he's young!
……
A week has passed in the blink of an eye.
"Wei Dong, come here for a moment."
Chen Weidong, who was working on his novel, didn't hear it until He Yan patted him on the shoulder and he realized what was happening.
"The captain is calling you."
"Could you get me the shovel?"
Chen Weidong handed the shovel in his hand to He Yan and quickly walked over to Wang Jianshui.
"team leader."
"It's just the two of us, just call me Uncle Wang."
"Uncle Wang."
"Your and Suman's applications have been approved. Come with me to the brigade to pick them up. Let me know in advance when you're leaving, and I'll take you to the county."
Upon hearing this news, Chen Weidong finally felt relieved. After all, as long as the county did not respond, the matter of his family returning to the city remained on his mind.
"Okay, Captain, let's leave the day after tomorrow."
It's better to do it sooner rather than later. Chen Weidong plans to go back home today to tidy up, get rid of things he can't take or doesn't need, and give away things he can't keep. He'll leave the day after tomorrow.
Chen Weidong followed Wang Jianshui to the brigade headquarters, where Yang Shulin, Wang Jianshe, and Yang Shuzhi were all present, seemingly waiting for him.
"Secretary, Brigade Leader, Accountant Yang."
Chen Weidong greeted each of the three men.
"Comrade Weidong, these are all your certificates and materials. On behalf of the entire brigade, I thank you for your contributions to Yangjiatun over the years."
Yang Shulin handed all the materials and documents to Chen Weidong, then extended his hand to express his gratitude.
"Secretary, you flatter me. This is all I should do. During my time in the countryside, I gained valuable experience and was helped to start a family. If I should express my gratitude, it should be to all the leaders. Thank you all for your help and understanding all this time."
Hearing Chen Weidong's words, Yang Shulin nodded in satisfaction. "This place can be considered your second hometown. Come back and visit when you have time."
"It definitely will."
Wang Jianshe and Yang Shuzhi shook hands with Chen Weidong one by one and exchanged a few words with each of them.
The suppressed excitement from the journey home was palpable. Upon arriving home, Chen Weidong immediately picked up Su Man and spun her around.
"What are you doing? The children are watching."
Su Man patted Chen Weidong shyly.
Chen Weidong turned his head and saw Chen Xiaosui staring at the two of them. When she saw him looking over, she immediately stood up and stretched out her hands.
"Hug me, I want a hug too."
These words made Su Man, who was already somewhat shy, blush even more.
Chen Weidong put Su Man down, picked up Chen Xiaosui, and lifted her high.
Giggle...
"We can go back to the city now. In a few days you will be able to see your great-grandparents... and your two older brothers."
"Has the application report been received?"
Upon hearing this, Su Man immediately pressed for an answer.
"They're all here, down here."
Chen Weidong handed everything to Su Man, who immediately began to look at it.
Seeing the stamp and signature on it, Su Man's eyes instantly welled up with tears of excitement.
"Don't cry, don't cry, eat some cornbread, and the pain will go away."
Seeing Su Man cry, Chen Xiaosui paused for a moment, then reached out and handed her a small piece of cornbread while touching Su Man's face.
"Mother isn't in pain, Mother is just excited."
Su Man said with a smile that she suddenly remembered when she was first assigned to Yangjiatun. She was a little girl with no one to rely on. She didn't know how to do farm work, let alone start a fire.
Later, with the help of Chen Weidong and Fu Xiao, he gradually learned to cook, farm, harvest wheat, feed sheep, and now he even has his own little family.
"I remember we still have some meat at home, let's make some meat pies tonight."
The journey was too long and there was too much stuff to carry, so Chen Weidong decided to eat what he could and give away or sell what he couldn't finish.
"Okay, I'll go chop the filling."
Su Man wiped away her tears and nodded with a smile.
The family enjoyed a delicious and happy dinner that evening.
The next morning, Chen Weidong went to Wang Jianshui's house first.
"Uncle Wang, I have a ewe at home, would you like it?"
"Yes, how much? I'll bring it to you."
Wang Jianshui had seen Chen Weidong's ewe; it wasn't very old, but it was quite plump. He could easily raise it for a few more years, and it would bring him at least a few more lambs.
"I spent forty-seven yuan back then, Uncle Wang, you can just give me forty."
Chen Weidong didn't give them a generous send-off right away, since they were still short of money for their family's return trip to the city and would need to sell the sheep to make up the difference.
"No need, I'll give you forty-seven. You'll need money on your way back."
After pushing and shoving each other for a while, they finally reached a compromise, and Wang Jianshui bought Chen Weidong's sheep for forty-five yuan.
……