Return to the small mountain village in 1986

On the Dragon Boat Festival, Gao Mingcheng took his wife and children to Gao Shouwang's house at ten o'clock in the morning.

When he arrived, Gao Shouwang's house was already very lively, with the sound of people talking everywhere.

Gao Shouwang's father passed away a few years ago, but his eldest brother is still alive. This time, his eldest brother and his family came, and Gao Shouwang's daughter, son-in-law and their family also came. Together with Gao Mingcheng's family, there were more than 20 people in total.

After Xuanyuemei came over, she automatically walked towards the kitchen. In the kitchen, someone was already working and talking.

Gao Mingcheng walked into the main room carrying the Dragon Boat Festival gifts, put them down against the wall, then took out cigarettes and distributed them to the men present.

As for the children, they are not shy at all and can quickly play together.

Gao Shouwang saw Gao Mingcheng carrying things and said with a smile: "Mingcheng, I told you not to bring anything! I'm leaving tomorrow, you can take those things back by yourselves later!"

Gao Mingcheng said hurriedly: "Just two bottles of wine and some snacks, we will eat them later."

After hearing this, Gao Shouwang stopped talking and just took out the snacks and asked the children to eat. He also put two bottles of Si Te liquor on the table for them to drink during dinner.

The men gathered together and talked about various topics, including farming, the weather, and the fact that they would never see each other again after Gao Shouwang and his wife left.

When this topic is mentioned, the atmosphere naturally becomes heavy.

A trace of reluctance also appeared in Gao Shouwang's eyes.

He has lived in Gaojia Village for most of his life. He was born here, grew up here, got married and had children here, and founded a garment workshop here.

However, the garment workshop has now become a collective property of the village, and the two sons have bright futures and have settled elsewhere, and will never return to this small Gaojia Village.

As parents, Gao Shouwang and Dong Feixia considered it over and over again before deciding to live with their son.

Their son is not around, and they are getting older. It is not a good idea to always be separated from each other.

Another thing is that Gao Shouwang and Dong Feixia also want grandchildren. When they get older, how can they not envy others who have a house full of children and grandchildren?
Gao Mingcheng sensed that the atmosphere was a bit heavy, so he pretended to be relaxed and said, "In recent years, our country's economic level has been rising rapidly, and it can be said that it is changing with each passing day. In a few years, the country will vigorously develop infrastructure, and then it will be convenient for us to go out."

"Uncle Shouwang, I will definitely bring my wife and children to Jinling for fun in the future. When we get there, you have to treat us to a meal!"

Gao Shouwang laughed and agreed immediately.

At this time, Gao Shouwang's daughter and son-in-law also said something similar, saying that when the child grows up, they will let the child apply to a university in Jinling.

Gao Shouwang liked to hear this and immediately told his grandson and granddaughter to study hard and get into Jinling to attend university in the future.

The two children were still elementary school students and had no idea what college was, but they nodded obediently.

With the thought of meeting again someday, the atmosphere of the conversation was no longer heavy and became relaxed again.

While the men were chatting, the women were busy in the kitchen. Some were making fire and cooking rice dumplings, some were cutting vegetables, some were washing vegetables, and some were washing rice.

There are a lot of people eating today, so one rice cooker is not enough. We have to get a large wooden barrel for steaming rice. As for the rice cooker, we use it to stew chicken.

In addition to stewed chicken, there are also steamed pigeon and fried duck, braised pork, braised fish, bone stewed kelp and other dishes.

As for vegetables, red amaranth is a must.

Around the Dragon Boat Festival is the season for eating red amaranth. After the Dragon Boat Festival, red amaranth will gradually become old.

The tender red amaranth tastes a little bit astringent, but after it is fried, the red soup is very distinctive.

Of course, some people don’t like red amaranth and think the red soup is scary, but it doesn’t matter, there is also a kind of green leaf amaranth that tastes the same, but the soup will not be red.

At twelve o'clock noon, the meal was almost ready.

Dong Feixia shouted outside: "Shouwang, it's time to eat!"

This greeting interrupted the men's idle chatter, and Gao Shouwang immediately stood up to set the table and serve the dishes. The others also prepared to get bowls and chopsticks and open bottles of wine in preparation for the meal.

Gao Mingcheng called a few children over and took them to wash their hands.

With everyone's joint efforts, two tables of food were quickly set up, one table for the men and one table for the women and children, and they had a lively meal together.

After dinner, everyone still gathered here to chat and left reluctantly.

Gao Shouwang said to his daughter and son-in-law, "When you leave, take all five chickens with you! We caught the chickens last night and put them in cages. You can carry the cages away with a carrying pole."

"There are some other things. Your mother will help you pack them up later and tell you which ones to take away."

Gao Shouwang looked at his elder brother again.

His eldest brother is a few years older than him and looks older.

"Brother, when we leave tomorrow, you can take your two nephews with you to move the TV, tables, chairs, and other things from home. Anyway, you can move anything you need! From now on, the key to the door will be with you, and my fields will also belong to your family to farm!"

"Hey." Gao Shouwang's elder brother responded, his eyes red and it seemed like tears were about to flow out.

After these two brothers parted, they didn’t know if they would ever meet again.

Gao Mingcheng felt a little uncomfortable after hearing these words.

Next, Gao Shouwang and Dong Feixia were going to distribute the useful things at home to others. Their daughter and son-in-law would get a share, their eldest brother would get a share, and even several poor households in the village would get a share!

Gao Shouwang and Dong Feixia only took a few sets of clothes with them, and gave some old clothes and old shoes to poor households.

With Gao Mingcheng's wealth, he naturally didn't need Gao Shouwang to send anything, so Gao Mingcheng simply took his wife and children to his parents' home.

Today is the Dragon Boat Festival, and Gao Shufang and Gao Mingli have all come back to celebrate the festival.

Originally, if Gao Mingcheng didn't go to Gao Shouwang's house for dinner, he would have to go to his parents' house to celebrate the festival.

As soon as Gao Mingcheng showed up, his brothers and sisters called him over to talk. Gao Shufang's face was full of smiles, and her pregnant belly was particularly conspicuous.

Zhang Jinling was holding a baby who was a few months old in her arms and was skillfully coaxing the baby to sleep.

This scene can be described as a house full of children and grandchildren.

Luo Xiaohua also said with a smile on his face: "I cooked a lot of rice dumplings, and each of you will take ten rice dumplings away later!"

Even though each family only has ten dumplings, Luo Xiaohua has five children, so he has to make fifty dumplings, not including those they will eat themselves and those given to relatives and friends.

Just a rough calculation, it would take about a hundred dumplings.

Gao Shufang smiled and said, "Second brother, we were just talking about your Xiao Fushan. We heard that the wild bayberry trees in the village have turned red and some people are picking bayberries. However, those bayberries are very sour and can only be used to make wine. They are far inferior to the Dongkui bayberries you planted!"

Gao Mingcheng said: "Dongkui bayberry matures late, it will take more than half a month."

Gao Shufang nodded. Of course she knew. But she mentioned peaches again.

Gao Mingcheng said: "It has been raining from time to time these days, so the peaches are not very red, but they are still edible, crisp and sweet."

Upon hearing this, Gao Shufang immediately went to Xiaofushan to pick peaches as she was craving for peaches.

Unfortunately, she was ruthlessly rejected despite her pregnant belly.

Gao Mingcheng asked Lou Xinyu to take the bamboo basket, and called Gao Mingli and the others, and led them to Xiaofu Mountain to pick peaches. (End of this chapter)