Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
After more than half a month, Hu Ruoyun finally completed the construction of his house. However, with the preparations and the subsequent tidying up at home, he had been busy for nearly a month.
Mao Na was somewhat upset because Hu Ruoyun couldn’t find the time to visit her in the county town. His house was in disarray, and she felt that her presence would only add to the chaos, making her reluctant to seek him out.
Ouyang Xiaxue and Li Shengnan were usually busy with work, and when they weren’t, they had to spend time with their respective partners. Especially Ouyang Xiaxue, who would always show off whenever they met: “Oh my, the baby just kicked my belly again… Mao Ni, you have no idea, this little one is quite unruly…”
Mao Na couldn’t help but feel frustrated but didn’t dare to confront her like before.
Since discovering what “meat tastes like,” Li Shengnan had shed her previous modesty and no longer acted superior around Yao Wei. Whenever they were together, she unabashedly flaunted her affection, leaving Mao Na feeling sidelined.
This only deepened Mao Na’s dissatisfaction with Hu Ruoyun.
The new house had its tiles laid down, and Zhao Meirong called Hu Ruoyun over: “Go check on Mao Na; if you don’t go now, she’ll be back in school soon!” A mother knows her child best.
He bought a few pounds of beef from Old Temple and some marinated lamb from Eternity, preparing two roast chickens as well.
Hu Ruoyun boarded the bus heading to Annan County City. Mao Na’s new home was in a community called Shengshi Jiayuan in Chengguan Town. Although he had never been there before, he followed the directions Mao Na had given him and easily found her apartment on the third floor of Building 8. When he arrived, it was Mao Na’s mother, Zhang Xiuzhen, who opened the door. Seeing Hu Ruoyun at the entrance, she quickly ushered him inside: “Oh, it’s Xiao Hu! Is your house finished?”
She took the items from his hands as well.
Mao Na and her brother Mao Jie had gone out shopping, while Mao Weiguo was attending a meeting in the county. Zhang Xiuzhen seized this rare opportunity to speak with Hu Ruoyun alone.
She invited him to sit on the sofa and poured him a glass of water before asking earnestly, “Xiao Hu, the college entrance exam results should be coming out soon, right?”
Hu Ruoyun felt a bit shy: “Auntie, they should be out soon.”
Zhang Xiuzhen pressed further: “How do you think you did?”
Hu Ruoyun blushed: “Auntie, my grades have never been very good…”
“What are your plans moving forward?” Zhang Xiuzhen asked again.
This was indeed the ultimate question.
Hu Ruoyun knew that even if he said he would go for vocational training or self-study if he didn’t get into college, it wouldn’t satisfy her. As long as he couldn’t enter a stable career path, he wouldn’t be able to bridge the gap with Mao Na.
He wasn’t sure how to respond.
Zhang Xiuzhen didn’t press any further but handed him a banana: “I can see that since Xiao Na became friends with you, she has been very happy. This makes both her father and me very pleased. But we can’t predict the future; there are some practical matters you both need to consider! Xiao Na doesn’t like hearing me say this, but from a responsible perspective towards both of you, these are issues you will have to face sooner or later.”
Although Hu Ruoyun felt pressured, he understood a parent’s feelings—who wouldn’t want their children to have a good life and a promising future? He replied earnestly: “Auntie, you might not know how poor my family was before high school… My parents are illiterate farmers; even a production team leader could easily manipulate them!”
Over the past few years, my family has improved significantly; my parents seem to have become younger.
What I want to say is that regardless of whether I can go to college or not, I will work hard to catch up with Mao Na, not just to make her happy now, but also to ensure her happiness in the future! If I cannot achieve this and end up making Mao Na suffer or endure hardships alongside me... I would never forgive myself!
Hu Ruoyun spoke calmly, but inside, he felt an immense pressure. Although he didn’t explicitly state it, his words were a promise nonetheless. Anyone can talk big, but putting those words into action is truly not that easy.
Zhang Xiuzhen’s expression softened considerably. “Mao Na’s father thinks very highly of you. Don’t blame Auntie for being realistic; when you have children in the future, you’ll understand Auntie’s feelings now.”
Hu Ruoyun replied sincerely, “Auntie, I understand!”
Just then, the door lock turned, and Mao Jie and Mao Na entered with bags in hand. Upon seeing Hu Ruoyun sitting on the sofa, both of them were filled with joy.
Zhang Xiuzhen called out to her children, “You two keep Xiao Hu company while I go prepare dinner!”
Mao Na wanted to rush over and punch this dark-skinned boy a few times to vent her frustrations from these past days. However, since they were at home and in front of her mother and brother, she could only pout at Hu Ruoyun in mock anger. “Do you still remember who I am?”
Before Hu Ruoyun could respond, the door lock clicked again. Mao Weiguo entered with a briefcase and immediately brightened upon seeing Hu Ruoyun at home. “Xiao Hu is here! I was just going to ask Zhang Qiang to contact you; now it’s perfect—I can speak directly with you!”
Hu Ruoyun quickly stood up to greet him.
Mao Weiguo set down his bag while speaking. “You sit tight; we’ll talk in the study later!” He then went to wash his face in the bathroom.
Mao Jie nudged Mao Na playfully. “Aren’t you going to say something important to Hu Ruoyun first? Now you might miss your chance!”
During this time, Mao Weiguo was busy yet happy. If Gaoqiao Town had reached a new height under his leadership, his current ambition was to elevate it even further on a county-wide scale.
However, he constantly faced various challenges at work, and this time the problem was particularly tricky. As the new Vice County Head, he had developed a good rapport with his new secretary Zhang Qiang. Thanks to Zhang Qiang’s unexpected rise, even the leaders from Xipo Store Township, who had previously ignored him, were now maintaining good relations with him.
A few days ago, a group of villagers led by Liu Tiechui from Xipo Store Township came to the County Government seeking Zhang Qiang’s help:
“Cadre Zhang, since you’ve been in Xi Po Dian before, you know we’re just simple farmers. We’ve come to you out of desperation; please speak on our behalf in front of the county leaders. It’s really tough for us farmers… Take my family as an example: there are four of us. We have to pay for township planning fees, village contributions, share the salaries of private teachers, and contribute for road repairs and electricity… Each person ends up paying over two hundred sixty yuan! After deducting the Grain Tax money for these expenses, we’re still short!
Our burden is too heavy!”
Zhang Qiang had heard similar complaints when he was stationed in Xipo Store Township. Seeing these weary villagers made him feel sorrowful too. He first settled them in the reception room for a moment before returning to his office to call Song Hongbiao, the head of Xipo Store Township… To his surprise, when he got through and briefly explained the situation, Town Chief Song responded with frustration: “Brother, you have no idea! Our village has basically no income apart from Agricultural Tax… After paying public servant salaries and public school teacher wages, our accounts are nearly empty!
But we’re still being asked to repair roads and provide electricity while also covering private teacher salaries… Brother, it’s not that I’m shirking responsibility; I can’t speak for the whole country, but at least here in Annan, Ji Nan, and even across Jiangbei Province—it’s all the same!”
After hanging up the phone and returning to the reception room, Liu Tiechui immediately recognized the expression on Zhang Qiang's face and understood the outcome. He stood up with a group of people and said, "Cadre Zhang, we know you are a good person, but there are some things you may not have the authority to decide. So, we won't make it difficult for you. We'll go to Ji Nan; at worst, we'll report this situation to the Province!"
Zhang Qiang knew that he absolutely could not let these people go!
Comment 0 Comment Count