After two hours of tossing and winding roads, Zhang Yongsheng and Wu Qiuyue finally returned to Zizhu Town. They got off the bus at the small station at the entrance of the town, and walked to their hometown house with their luggage. Their two families have small courtyards back to back, which is a legacy of the older generation.
The area of Zizhu Town is not large, with four streets converging at the intersection in the middle. The entire town is evenly divided into four parts. The whole town is relatively quaint, with two-story wooden buildings facing the streets and bluestone paved roads in the middle. Everything still maintains the pace of life decades ago.
Coming here, Zhang Yongsheng felt like he had returned to ancient society, and many things had no connection with modern times. The small town does not have the bustle and noise of the big city. What is left is a quiet and quiet environment, which is very suitable for self-cultivation and practice. Every time he comes back here he feels very comfortable and reluctant to leave.
Zhang Yongsheng's small courtyard is almost a hundred years old, and it is considered an ancient building according to time. If in a big city, these buildings will be preserved or even developed into tourist areas. But this is not possible in Zizhu Town, because most of the houses on the street are like this, and no one is more expensive than others.
Wu Qiuyue first helped Zhang Yongsheng deliver the things to the small yard left by his grandfather, and then returned to his own yard through the back door. The two courtyards are back to back and connected by the back door. They were left behind by the brothers when they built their house. The two families have been in contact for a long time and have a close relationship.
The yard is not big, covering an area of one to two hundred square meters. There are three houses facing the street, and there is a small courtyard inside. There are side rooms on the left and right of the small yard, and there are main rooms and utility rooms in the backyard at the back. The entire area is not small and can accommodate a large family. Zhang Yongsheng's father was born and raised here.
Zhang Yongsheng first put the things in the front room and then started cleaning. He came to stay for two days during Qingming Festival, but he didn't come for several months. There was dust everywhere inside and outside the house. He's going to live here for a week or two, and it needs to be cleaned properly, otherwise it won't be habitable.
He couldn't clean all the houses by himself, he could only clean the places that could be used, and the rest could only be done together when his parents came back during the Chinese New Year. The main room in the front yard, the living room, bedroom, and study room in the main house at the back, as well as the two rooms where grandpa's old books are stored, the courtyard, the kitchen, etc., are quite heavy.
Zhang Yongsheng was busy alone. He cleaned the kitchen first, boiled water to make tea, and then continued working on the rest. He was busy until almost noon, and he only finished half of the things. He had to continue working in the afternoon, otherwise he wouldn't be able to live comfortably at night.
He washed his hands and prepared to go out to find a place to eat. Restaurants in small towns are only open during meal time and close after meal time, so you have to hurry up. Just as he was getting ready to go out, there was a sound of opening the back door. When he looked back, it was Wu Qiuyue coming over, holding a big bowl in his hand.
She smiled and said: "A Sheng, mother didn't know that I came back and didn't buy vegetables at home, so I had to make noodles for you. You can make do with a meal first. I will go to the market to buy some vegetables later, and you can come over for dinner in the evening."
Zhang Yongsheng took the big bowl and saw that there was an egg on it. He smiled and said, "I was just talking about finding a place to eat noodles, so you brought them over. It just happened to save me trouble."
Returning to the living room with the bowl in hand, Zhang Yongsheng sat down and ate the noodles. Wu Qiuyue watched quietly from the side, her eyes full of affection. She now looks more and more pleased with Zhang Yongsheng. When compared with her husband, she feels that the gap between the two is too big, and her heart is filled with disparity.
Zhang Xuewen is not tall, has a thin body, and wears a pair of glasses, which gives him a gentle and elegant appearance. She used to think that this gentle man's appearance was very handsome, but after years of experience, she felt that Zhang Yongsheng's tall and healthy image was what she liked.
Zhang Yongsheng took two bites of noodles, raised his head, and saw Wu Qiuyue staring at him blankly, wondering: "What's wrong? Is there something going on at home? Are my brother and second aunt okay?"
Wu Qiuyue smiled a little reluctantly: "They are all fine, there is nothing wrong with their health. I am very busy studying literature, and I have no time during the summer vacation. I am helping people with some exercises."
Zhang Yongsheng nodded and said: "As long as you are in good health, I think you don't look right. Do you think there is something wrong at home?"
Wu Qiuyue sighed: "It's nothing. As you know my mother, she doesn't like me going out to work and wants me to stay here. She mentioned this again just now and said that she could introduce a job in the town. Temporary worker. I told her about working in Yunshan, but she didn’t seem too happy.”
Zhang Yongsheng comforted him: "It's okay. She is an old-fashioned thinker. Don't be as knowledgeable as her. I'll give her a few words of advice during dinner in the evening, and she should be able to make sense. In fact, it's not easy for her. She raised my brother up by herself. You two She still has no children, so she is worried."
Zhang Xuewen and Wu Qiuyue have been married for several years, but they have never been able to conceive a child. Although there is a reason why Wu Qiuyue has been working outside for a long time, the main reason is that Zhang Xuewen's health is not up to par. He is just a medicine pot. He grew up drinking medicine and is much weaker than ordinary people in all aspects.
Wu Qiuyue whispered: "It's not my fault that I don't have children. There's nothing I can do about Xuewen's health. With his body, if he is really desperate, why don't he do something good? He has been in trouble for the past six months. I’m taking the medicine prescribed by Dr. Zeng, but I don’t know if it will work.”
Zhang Yongsheng said with a smile: "You have to ask Dr. Zeng about this. He is an old Chinese medicine doctor. My brother has been relying on his medicine to survive these years. I should be sure. If his medicine doesn't work, even if you treat me Even if I go to a hospital in the provincial capital, the result may not be ideal."
Dr. Zeng’s name is Zeng Guoquan. He is in his seventies or eighties and is an old Chinese medicine doctor in the town. He used to be a barefoot doctor and later opened a drug store. His medical skills are very good, and he is very famous in the four villages and towns around Zizhu Town. Some people who have given up treatment in the county hospital even come here to seek medical treatment.
Zhang Yongsheng is very familiar with Zeng Guoquan, and he is also Zeng Guoquan's savior. Few people know that Zeng Guoquan is actually a reclusive martial arts master who is good at Xingyi Baguaquan and is a master of the inner family. Zhang Yongsheng discovered this secret last year when he went home to worship his ancestors during the summer vacation.
Wu Qiuyue couldn't do anything about it. Who asked her to marry a sick man. At that time, I was young and ignorant, and was fascinated by Zhang Xuewen's talent in literature. In addition, he was a public teacher and a rare iron rice bowl in the town, so I agreed to the marriage.
Seeing her frown, Zhang Yongsheng persuaded her: "Just be a good wife at home with peace of mind, and stop thinking about it. You have taken good care of my second aunt and my brother, and I will not treat you badly. I will When you're done here, I'll go to Dr. Zeng and help you ask about the situation. I hope it can be solved."
Wu Qiuyue nodded and said, "I understand. Don't worry about things at home. Do you want anyone here? I'll clean up the house and come over to help."
Zhang Yongsheng shook his head and said: "No need today, help me take out the books to dry them tomorrow. There is some humidity in this room. If you don't take them out to dry them every year, the books will be prone to insects. They are all ancient books, more than a hundred years old, you You have to handle it with care, damaging any page will be a big loss."
