The Story of Qingfeng Village

Chapter 25
Zhu Xia: "Originally the leader wanted me to stay in a village with better conditions, but I insisted on coming to Qingfeng Village. I came to help the poor, not to enjoy the blessings, because there is the most remote village here, and because It was my alma mater where I had studied for several years, and I have fond memories of my childhood.

So one afternoon in early autumn, I was riding a motorcycle with a box full of books. That’s right, it was Assistant Liu from the town who took me there on a motorcycle.

Facing the warm autumn sun, bumping on the bumpy road.There was a section of the road that was really bad, so I had to get down. Officer Liu pushed the cart, and I followed behind.

In the fields in autumn, when the crops are being harvested, people are busy digging sweet potatoes along the way.When they saw Director Liu, they greeted them enthusiastically, "Director Liu, are you coming down to inspect the work again? Do you want to rest?"

Officer Liu also answered them very loudly: "This is Teacher Zhu, who is going to help the poor in Qingfeng Village. She came from the provincial capital. I will send her there."

"Ah, the big cadres from the provincial capital, it's amazing, you've worked hard..., look at our road, it's not easy to walk, it's hard for a leader like you."

Some people also shouted: "Grand leader, when can we repair the road and open it to traffic, and stop taking bad roads?"

Director Liu: "Come on, come on, the road from Baima Town to Taiping Township has been repaired, I think it is no longer a dream to connect every village, you are ready to race on the asphalt road!"

"Hey, let's wait for this day."

Officer Liu: "Wang Erwa, don't hold back when the road is built."

Wang Erwa: "No, you should contribute your efforts, and you should contribute your money."

Another fellow joked: "Haha, Wang Ermazi, you must do what you say."

Wang Erwa: "That's for sure, Brother Pao will never show off his belt."

Passing by an old man, he stared at me for a while and said, "Isn't this the eldest girl of the Zhu family?"

I smiled at him as a tacit consent.

After so many years away from my hometown, there are still people who recognize me.

After walking a long way, I heard him say to others: "It's the eldest girl of the Zhu family, I've been to her house...

Someone asked, "Which Zhu family?"

"Which other Zhu family? It is the Zhu family under the ditch of Qingfeng Village..."

"There is only one family named Zhu in Qingfeng Village. I also remembered, that is... the eldest granddaughter of Zhu Qingyu's family is back. I haven't seen her for many years. She is also a senior cadre, right?"

…………

I know that within two days, everyone will know that there is a Teacher Zhu in Qingfeng Village.

Everyone will know that Zhu Qingyu's eldest granddaughter is back.

In the countryside news travels like the wind.

Officer Liu asked me: "So you are still a local? I really didn't expect that."

"Yes, this is my hometown. I am the eldest daughter of the Zhu family in the ditch of Qingfeng Village, but I haven't been back for a long time."

When it comes to the Zhu family in Qingfeng Village, everyone knows about it.

Officer Liu: "Is Senior Zhu alright?"

"Grandpa is still in good health. I went to see him before I came here. He repeatedly told me to work hard and tell him the changes here."

Officer Liu: There have been a lot of changes over the years, but this road...it is said to be connected to every village, but it will not be able to pay for it for a while...so it is delayed again and again. "

"It's still much better than before. It used to rely on two legs, but now it's motorized, hehehehehe.

I laughed and laughed at Liu, walked through this bad road, got on the motorcycle and continued to move forward.

Two hours later, we finally arrived at Qingfeng Village.The yellow fruit tree at the head of the village is bigger and more luxuriant than when I was a child, sheltering passers-by from wind and rain.

The school on the slope is still as I remember it, a row of brick houses on a dirt slope, with a playground in the middle, and the office of the principal and teacher on this side. The difference is that there is an extra flagpole on the platform on the playground. Flag waving in the wind.

There are also two more basketball hoops, and some children are practicing basketball.

What surprised me is that the current principal Wang turned out to be the son of my former teacher, my senior. I felt very kind to him when I saw him. I saw the shadow of the teacher in him————————————————————————————————————— teacher.I couldn't wait to ask about the teacher's situation, and the senior told me that the teacher passed away a few years ago.I was devastated.

The school has limited conditions, no dormitories, and the teachers all return to their homes. This was the case many years ago, and it is still the same now.

Principal Wang asked for my opinion on whether to stay with a fellow villager nearby or to return to my old house. There are also two uncles from the second grandfather’s family at home.

Principal Wang said: If I go back to my old house, he can pick me up on a motorbike every day.I think about it or forget it. First, I can’t bear to let him go around every day to waste his time. Second, if it is windy and rainy, you can’t ride a motorcycle and you have to walk. The muddy path will wear the soles of your shoes. It's all ripped off, it's better to rent a place near the school, it's more convenient.

The hometown is very close, just behind a row of classrooms.When Principal Wang led me there, I said: This used to be the home of my classmate Amin.Principal Wang smiled: "It's still her house now, but it used to be two thatched houses, but now it's a bungalow. If it was before, there would be no place to live, and you have to go to the village to borrow."

Before approaching, Principal Wang shouted: "Uncle Yao, Mom Yao, here are guests." [The surname Wang in this place is a common surname, and everyone surnamed Wang is a relative]

Uncle Yao was weaving baskets in the yard. When he saw us, he hurriedly said, "It's Chunsheng, please come to the room, and there is this distinguished guest." He also called, "Old lady, come out and pour boiling water."

Yao Ma came out from the back room, wiped the stools again and again and asked us to sit down.

Principal Wang: "This is Mr. Zhu who came to support the teaching. I will stay and provide meals at your home from now on."

"Uncle and aunt, I am causing you trouble."

"No trouble, no trouble, I can't even look forward to it, especially a distinguished guest like you."

Yao Ma: "Why does the more I look at it, the more familiar Mr. Zhu looks? She looks a bit like the eldest daughter of the Zhu family under the ditch?"

Yao Dad: "Old woman, don't talk nonsense, it makes people laugh."

"That's right, uncle and aunt, it's me."

I smile.

"Old man, you see that I am right."

Yao Ma held my hand proudly, "You were studying here that year, and my family, Amin, was the best. Once Amin was sick and had a fever, and he didn't want to eat anything while lying in bed. You came to see her and brought a very Rare navel oranges, I was reluctant to give them all to Amin, and then Amin got better."

I didn't expect Yao Ma to remember this little thing.

These are my industrious and kind-hearted folks, who will remember a little bit of favor from others for a lifetime.

Lying on the newly made bed made by my mother at night, I couldn't fall asleep for a long time, and scenes of the past flashed in my mind.Thinking of A Min [I heard Yao Ma said that she married to a neighboring county] and my other classmate Li Ying, I don’t know where she is?

I miss my teacher [Unfortunately, I will never see you again]

(End of this chapter)