"Bah, why don't you let that relative of yours get in trouble for taking a bath?"
"You mean Zhang Jiaqiang?"
"I don't care what he is strong about. This time he has offended me anyway. Mother-in-law, what do you think we should do?"
Er Jinzi felt unsure now and did not dare to offend either of them, so she said with a smile.
"I am a woman, so if I have any knowledge, you should go back to the village chief to make up your mind!"
Er Dou sneered, "I have nowhere to vent my anger. Do you want to go into the mountains to collect herbs in the future?"
"As I said, herbal medicines are protected, who dares to pick them randomly!"
"I saw your son and daughter coming back from the back mountain just now. Where did they go without collecting herbs?"
Er Jinzi's expression changed. Now she was caught. If this guy held on to him, it would be a crime no matter how big or small it was. If he stabbed him out, he wouldn't be able to eat and carry him away!
"Er Dou, we are a family sooner or later, so just turn a blind eye and pretend you don't see anything!"
Er Dou smiled sinisterly, "I'm not that easy to fool. I keep saying that I will marry my daughter, but now I haven't even held my hand. You just ask her to come out to play at night!"
Er Jinzi suddenly became nervous, "Er Dou, my daughter has her duties to do, and you are not allowed to act recklessly!"
"Don't worry, mother-in-law, I know how to deal with it. I just want to go out for a walk, have a heart-to-heart talk, and build relationships. I won't do anything random!"
"Well, let me take the time to persuade that girl. I can't guarantee this!"
Er Dou's face became even more gloomy, "Then how about you find a way to trick the girl named Zhang out of here!"
"You, what do you want to do? That kid doesn't look like a pushover!"
Er Dou took out two wet watches and threw one over.
"If it's done, the other piece will be yours. If it's not done, no one in your family will be able to go into the mountains to collect herbs. I'll have to spit out what I collected before!"
Er Jinzi looked at the shiny watch with little stars in her eyes, "Okay, before dinner tonight, I'll find a way to get her to go to the village entrance. If something happens, it's none of my business!"
"Okay, let's make an agreement!"
After Er Dou finished speaking, he didn't go home. He went directly to the neighbor's house to borrow a bicycle, got on the bike and hurried out of the village.
The dumpling banquet in the yard was not over yet. Zhang Jiaqiang took out a few bottles of wine and various cold dishes, and immediately had dumplings and wine.
My grandma and her family depended on a few acres of thin farmland and some local produce to make a living. They couldn't bear to eat such good food on weekdays.
Although this meal did not include big fish or meat, it still made the family happy as if they were celebrating the New Year.
My uncle's family are all responsible people. Apart from eating and working, the couple basically doesn't get involved in anything else.
The eldest cousin Xiaozhen is three years older than the Zhang family. The honest Sanjiang can't kick him, and he hasn't married a wife yet.
The eldest cousin, Linghua, had married a man named Dashan from a neighboring village two years ago. However, the couple were also honest people and could not help the family with anything other than farm work.
This time, they clearly knew that their nephew had made a fortune, but the uncle and eldest sister-in-law didn't say a word about letting Zhang Jiaqiang take care of them, and just kept their heads down eating and drinking.
The old lady felt sorry for her dull grandson and said this while waiting for Zhang Jiaqiang to propose a toast.
"Jia Qiang, grandma is getting old. Maybe she won't be able to wear blood that morning. Everything else is easy to say. I just can't worry about your eldest cousin and little cousin. You are responsible for your cousin's schooling. Your eldest cousin is He's too honest, and he can't even get a wife when he's almost 30. If you can help Jia Qiang, please give him a hand, I'm begging you!"
The uncle interjected, "Xiao Zhen can drive a tractor!"
This sentence was regarded as an endorsement for his son, and he immediately continued to eat without saying a word.
The old lady took out the money given by Zhang Jiaqiang and said, "This money won't be used anyway, so you can take it back and help your cousin with the whole business, okay?"
Zhang Jiaqiang pushed the money back, "Mom, even if you don't tell me, I still have to worry about my cousin's affairs. Just hold the money. If you have money in your pocket, you can speak with confidence. You won't have to let others tell you what to do!"
The old lady couldn't resist, so she had to accept it.
Zhang Jiaqiang looked at his eldest cousin who had not said a word until now.
In my memory, he was still very lively when he was a child. During the summer vacation, he even took himself to the woods to catch cicadas.
My cousins often stay up until dawn just talking, and doze off here and there during the day.
Unexpectedly, he turned into a piece of wood now. I don't know if it was the pressure of life or some kind of blow.
Zhang Jiaqiang couldn't help but feel sad, and said softly, "Brother Zhen, are you willing to go back to Luonan with me?"
Xiao Zhen still lowered his head and said nothing. It wasn't until Da Jinzi kicked him that he seemed to wake up from a dream and said "Oh!"
Zhang Jiaqiang felt even worse, "You guys eat first while my cousin and I take a stroll!"
Then he picked up Xiao Zhen and said, "Brother Zhen, take me to catch some cicadas and fry them up tonight!"
In the eastern Shandong area, cicada larvae are called cicada dogs. Before they crawl out of the ground and turn into worms, they lie motionless on tree trunks in the middle of the night and are very easy to catch.
Many greedy children caught it and asked their families to fry it in oil. It tasted even better than big fish and meat.
Zhang Jiaqiang still remembers that before his rebirth, this thing could be sold for more than ten yuan each, or even more expensive.
Xiao Zhen seemed to be remembering his childhood memories, and a smile appeared on his face, "Okay, I'll take you there. There are many woods in the south!"
In fact, at this time, no Zhizhi Gouzi was unearthed at all.
Zhang Jiaqiang just wanted a chance to chat alone.
The two of them walked out of the village one after another, just like they did when they were children.
"Brother Zhen, do you still remember how many years we haven't been there?"
"Ten, twelve years. You haven't been here since you were twelve. The sugar melon seeds I left for you have all melted..."
Zhang Jiaqiang felt as if there was sand in his eyes, and he felt better only when he raised his face.
"Over there, that mulberry tree. That year we climbed up to pick mulberries, and all our clothes were dyed purple. My mother beat me so hard that my buttocks turned purple. Jia Qiang, those mulberries are so sweet!"
Zhang Jiaqiang rubbed his eyes and tried to keep his tone of voice calm.
"Brother Zhen, come back to Luonan with me. You can drive a tractor and learn how to drive. I'll get you a car to drive. We can also go see the sea with grandma!"
Xiao Zhen suddenly stopped and said, "I'm going, what should I do with my parents, what should I do with the land at home? If I don't go, it's better for me to be here!"
He seems to be afraid of the outside of the mountains, or perhaps of the unknown. He feels that only the land can make him grounded and safe.
This kind of thing cannot be forced, Zhang Jiaqiang tried to say with the last hope.
"Erya is going to school. I want to take my grandma to have her eyes checked. Can we go with my uncle and my wife?"
A trace of hope rose on Xiao Zhen's face, but then dimmed again, and he still shook his head.
"You can't take care of too many people. You still have a wife and children. I'm still comfortable here. Apart from working, sleeping, and eating, I don't have to worry about anything else. I'm afraid I won't be so comfortable in the city!"
Zhang Jiaqiang suddenly felt hot and said something he often said when he was a child.
"Brother Zhen, there are people bullying me outside!"
Xiao Zhen's face suddenly showed anger, "Who, who, I'm going to beat him!"
