Next, Lin Feifei and I had a clear division of labor. She was holding the bamboo basket and was responsible for picking the lychees, while I stood on the ground and started with the lychees that could be picked with bare hands. As for the ones at higher places, long poles and ladders were needed.
I have been busy for a long time, but after I came down from the ladder, I took a look at the inventory in the basket, and it was obviously very inconsistent with what I picked.
When I was picking lychees, Lin Feifei was "stealing and stealing". I put all the hard work into herself, but she secretly tasted the fruits I picked.
I was amused by her cute appearance and complained: "If I picked it slower, I might not even be able to feed you."
Lin Feifei stuck out her tongue playfully, "I can't help it. Who made it so delicious? I'll peel one off for you to try. It's so sweet." "
When she smiled, her eyes were like two crescent moons, spreading happiness around her.
"Come on, open your mouth!"
I opened my mouth obediently and let her feed me.
The lychee tastes full of sweetness, mixed with a hint of sourness.
"Yeah, it's really delicious. It's sweet but also a little sour."
Lin Feifei's almond-shaped eyes widened, "Are? That might be because I didn't wash my hands just now."
"..."
I picked some more lychees, packed them in plastic bags, and gave them to the neighbors. I am not at home much throughout the year, and they help me a lot with farm work at home.
Finally, I packed a big bag and sent it to Zhang Qiang’s family.
In order to help Lin Feifei shoot a promotional video, we accidentally flattened the front bumper of his car in the mountains. I have always been very sorry about this incident. I didn't see him during the Chinese New Year this year, so I just happened to go over to meet him.
I carried lychees and two cigarettes from the trunk, and walked towards his house with Lin Feifei.
In the twilight of the evening, wisps of faint cooking smoke float over the village. They intersect with the glow of the sky, forming a picture of a rural sunset.
Looking at the rising smoke, I suddenly missed the life in my hometown. Only in the countryside of my hometown can I see the smoke. In the colorful big cities, there is no place for smoke.
There is a sense of security in the air in the countryside that I can't find in big cities. Far away from the city, the sense of urgency of being pushed around suddenly disappears.
I knocked on Zhang Qiang’s door, and it was his daughter who opened the door for us.
I was stunned. I hadn’t seen him for a year, and I felt like I almost didn’t recognize him.
Zhang Qiang and I are the same age, and other people’s children are already wet with soy sauce, but my child is still a puddle of liquid.
When the courtyard heard us talking, Zhang Qiang and his wife came out to greet us. According to seniority, I had to call his wife sister-in-law.
I smiled and stuffed the cigarettes and lychees into Zhang Qiang's arms. "The lychees are ripe. I'll give you some. They were just picked. They're fresh. Eat them quickly. Didn't you say this was a good cigarette last year? You came here specially this time." I’ll bring you two.”
Zhang Qiang laughed loudly, "Yesterday, my daughter passed by the back of your yard and saw lychees. She said she wanted to eat them, and you just happened to bring them."
The couple warmly invited us to stay for dinner, but I said we wouldn't eat here, so they asked my wife to go to a small shop to buy some cooked food.
My sister-in-law went out on a small electric donkey. It was difficult to refuse the warm welcome, so we stayed.
In my hometown in the countryside, it is normal for neighbors to visit each other and be left to eat. This feeling is particularly comfortable, but for me, it has been a long time coming.
My sister-in-law came back soon and bought some cooked food, pork head meat, sausages, elbows, and a bag of fried peanuts.
When I saw fried peanuts, I suddenly became a little greedy. Perhaps a sign of middle age is that I started to love fried peanuts.
The sister-in-law handed all the cooked food to Zhang Qiang and then asked to fry two more dishes. Lin Feifei also followed to help.
Zhang Qiang moved out an old square table and placed the cooked food on it one by one. Seeing this old square table, I couldn't help but feel a little emotional.
The tabletop is mottled and you can see the imprint of time. These traces make the table more charming and historical. When we were children, Zhang Qiang and I often leaned on this table to do our homework. I didn’t expect that this table would still be there after so many years.
At that time, I felt that studying was too difficult.
Looking back now, it seems that learning is the easiest.
I rubbed the mottled tabletop and said with a wry smile: "You still keep this table!"
"Yeah! After using it for so many years, I'm used to it and I can't bear to throw it away."
I was chatting with him about past events, and his daughter was sitting next to her eating lychees. He looked at me deeply and said with a smile, "How long will you stay here this time?"
"About four or five days! I came back this time mainly to help my family pick lychees. After I'm done, I'll go back. I still have to go to work!"
Zhang Qiang nodded with a smile on his face: "Okay! You are more mature than before. I have never heard of you asking for leave to go home and help the family with farm work before."
"My parents are getting older. Now I have more freedom in my work. I can help them a little more, just a little bit!"
"Haha, besides doing farm work, your parents actually want to have a grandson as soon as possible."
I rubbed my temples and smiled bitterly: "I would be in a better mood if I didn't mention this. My dad called me a few days ago and urged me to do this."
It’s not that I don’t want to start a family, but everyone’s trajectory is different. It’s not necessary to get married and have children at a specified time.
Zhang Qiang chuckled and punched me, "Haha, I understand you. If you choose to go to a big city to develop, you are destined to be incompatible with your hometown. I stayed in my hometown, where my wife and children are on the hot bed, and it is much more comfortable than you, but I am destined to accept this set of things imposed on me by others."
I was startled, I didn't expect him to be so transparent.
Everyone's choices are different, and life is naturally different. Sometimes a small choice has a profound impact on life.
"What are you talking about? You are so happy! Dinner is ready!"
At this time, Lin Feifei and her sister-in-law brought the food up. .
Shredded potatoes in vinegar, fried meat with green beans, eggs, cucumbers, plus the cooked food and fried peanuts I just bought.
The vegetables we grow here are all homegrown, including cucumbers, beans, eggplants, etc.
Zhang Qiang was worried that Lin Feifei wouldn't be used to it, so he emphasized: "These vegetables are grown at home, so don't dislike them."
Lin Feifei smiled sweetly: "Of course not, I really want to eat vegetables grown at home! Healthy and natural."
Zhang Qiang was very happy and waved his hand, "Before you leave, pick something from our yard and take it home to eat."
Lin Feifei was not polite, "Okay, then I won't be polite."
Zhang Qiang laughed and took out two bottles of cold beer from the freezer, one for each of him and me, and then he handed Lin Feifei a bottle of juice.
Lin Feifei pouted, "You guys are drinking, is it appropriate for me to drink juice? I want to drink too."
Zhang Qiang was stunned, laughed, and gave a thumbs up, "My sister-in-law is a happy person."
