My village can't be like this

Chapter 626 End of the Year
After that, the heavy snow continued for another two days before it stopped completely.

The big snowmen and dogs on the roadside were also very well taken care of by the naughty kids.

It once became a scenic spot in the village, attracting many tenants and villagers to come and watch.

By the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month, the snow on the road had almost melted.

When he got up in the morning, Zhang An did not lie around like in previous years. Instead, he tied an apron around his neck, put on sleeves, and started to do home cooking with his mother.

"Xiao An, go get a bamboo broom and beat the spider webs in the corner of the room. If there is any dust, sweep it up a bit."

After moving all the chairs and benches to the yard, Wang Fang assigned tasks to Zhang An.

"Okay, I'll go right away."

Zhang An put down what he was saying, picked up the bamboo broom his mother asked for, and went to each room to remove the cobwebs.

To put it simply, Da Yang Chun means cleaning. On the day of Little New Year, everyone will clean every corner of the house, including furniture, pots and pans, etc., in preparation for the New Year.

Of course, this is not the case for everyone. If someone in the family dies within three years, then you cannot have a Yangchun wedding. You can only do it three years later.

Zhang An’s house is not small, and cleaning it is really tiring.

In previous years, because we had just moved in, everything was fine and we didn’t have to put too much effort into it.

But this year it seems that the problem has changed. There are more and more spider webs and dust in the house.

Just cleaning required one person to be responsible. Zhang An was tall, so sweeping was easier for him, so this job was assigned to him.

The other people in the family were not idle either. Zhang Jianguo was outside helping Wang Fang clean the furniture, while Su Ying was in the kitchen washing all the dishes and then putting them in the pot to cook.

There are also stoves, refrigerators, cupboards, etc. in the house, which together make for a big project.

Little Siqi also joined in the fun, moving things here and there.

"Godfather, Godfather, our big dogs have turned into dogs."

While Zhang An was busy, Li Yao and several other little guys ran over and said anxiously.

"It will melt if it melts."

Zhang An thought it was a big deal, but after all this time, it was just like this.

"But once they melt, they're gone. Is there any way to keep them from melting?"

Li Yao's tone was full of reluctance. It was obvious that he really regarded those snowmen and dogs as treasures.

"That's snow. It will melt, and we can't stop it. We'll pile it up again next year when it snows. I took photos for you all. Even if the snow melts, the photos won't. I'll develop some photos for you in a few days. If you want to see them, just take them out and have a look."

Zhang An thought, if they don't melt, do you really think this is Antarctica?

"Oh, yes, there are photos too. Godfather, don't forget them."

Children are children after all, and their attention was diverted when they were taken along by Zhang An.

This year, many of Zhang An's cabinets were not moved out for cleaning. They were just wiped with a rag, so the work was done quite quickly.

Mainly because the weather was very gloomy, unlike before when the sun would come out to cast a shadow.

If the cabinet is washed and cannot be dried, it will easily become moldy.

By the time Zhang An finished playing basketball at home, it was already afternoon.

I have been stretching my hands all day today. I didn't feel anything just now, but now that I've stopped, I feel uncomfortable.

"Qiqi, come here and give dad a pat on the back."

Zhang An sat backwards in his chair and waved to his son who was picking his fingers.

The little guy was obedient. He immediately ran to Zhang An, clenched his two little fists, and dropped them on Zhang An's back.

"Okay, okay, my hands are sore, stop hammering."

After a while, Wang Fang called her grandson over with heartache.

On the 25th, early in the morning, Zhang Jianwen shouted through the loudspeaker, asking everyone to go to the village committee at nine o'clock to discuss the matter.

When everyone heard this, they were extremely happy.

Although Zhang Jianwen didn't say what it was, everyone knew that money must be distributed today, after all, this year's New Year's bonus had not been distributed yet.

"Xiao An, you go later, I'll watch over the smoking of the bacon."

Zhang Jianguo picked up a few sweet potatoes from the cellar, and after talking to Zhang An, he went back to the smoking room.

Zhang An had no choice but to change his shoes and prepare to go out.

"Dad, I want to go too."

The little guy couldn't stay at home. As soon as he saw Zhang An was about to go out, he immediately ran over and hugged his calves.

"Okay, if you want to go, Dad will take you there."

Zhang An did not refuse. He picked up his son with both hands and placed him on his neck, which immediately made the little guy very happy. His laughter sounded as crisp as a bell.

When they arrived at the village committee, everyone else was there, except Zhang An, who was left behind.

But this is understandable. After all, they are here to get money. If they are not proactive, then there will be a problem.

"Qiqi, come to grandpa."

As soon as Zhang Jianjun saw little Siqi on Zhang An’s neck, he stretched out his hands and shouted.

"Second Grandpa."

The little guy took a look and realized it was someone he knew, so he ran into Zhang Jianjun's arms as soon as he got off the ground.

"Come, grandpa will give you some money to buy some candy later."

Zhang Jianjun held little Siqi in his arms with a bright smile on his face.

As soon as he saw the money, the little guy happily put it into his pocket.

Although he is young, he is very familiar with money.

This is mainly because the elders in the family dote on me too much, and Ding Yi, Li Hongbin and others give me pocket money every time they meet me.

So the little guy has now reached the point where he can recognize money clearly.

In the past, you might have been able to exchange small amounts of money for big bills, but now that’s simply not possible.

"Okay, now that everyone is here, let's get started. I think you all have guessed that the main reason I called everyone here today is to give everyone New Year's money."

Suddenly, Zhang Jianwen's voice came from the steps in front of the village committee.

"But before that, I still have to say a few words to everyone. The village's revenue this year is indeed not small, but the money distributed this year is probably not as much as everyone thinks. After all, as you can see, the roads in the back mountain are being repaired. Those are where money is spent. Everyone should understand."

Although Zhang Jianwen said this, no one present had any objection.

The changes in the village in the past two years are obvious to all, and everyone is enjoying more and more benefits, which all cost money. But except for the cement road repaired in the village a few years ago, everyone donated some money, and no one else contributed a penny.

If it were in other villages, let alone giving out money, I'm afraid they would have to ask everyone to pay for it.

"Okay, without further ado, let's get started. Just like last year, those whose names are called will come forward to receive their money. This year, each family can receive 1,750 yuan."

Zhang Jianwen said a few long-winded words, then he started to flip through the roster, looked at it and said.

Everyone was very happy at this. After hearing what Zhang Jianwen said, everyone accepted that the amount of money they would get this year would be less.

But unexpectedly, even so, each household can still get more than 1,700 yuan, which is several hundred yuan more than last year.

"Okay, this year ends here. Let's work together next year. Things will definitely get better and better in the future."

Two hours later, all the names on the list had been called out and the money had been distributed.

"That's not right, Village Chief. Our family didn't get it. Did it get leaked?"

Just as everyone was about to leave, someone in the crowd shouted.

"If anyone hasn't received one, come over here so I can check the list."

When Zhang Jianwen heard someone say that they didn't get the money, he immediately took out the booklet to check, thinking he had missed something.

"So it's Chen Yong. It's not that your family was left out, it's that your family doesn't have the money to pay."

As a result, when the man walked to the front, Zhang Jianwen stopped looking at the booklet.

"If you are not the village chief, why do everyone else get money but our family doesn't? Aren't we registered as a resident of the village?"

When Chen Yong heard what Zhang Jianwen said, he immediately became unhappy. Seeing that everyone else got money except his family, he felt as bad as if he had lost thousands of dollars, so he started questioning on the spot.

"Haha, you don't know. I thought you knew it clearly. Tell me yourself, how many years has it been since anyone was at home?"

In response to Chen Yong's questioning, Zhang Jianwen put on a fake smile to the fullest.

"Yes, my family has been without anyone for several years, but even so, we are still from Changqing. Village chief, you can't control us just because of this."

Chen Yong spoke without hesitation, and the expression on his face was as if he had suffered a great injustice.

"Okay, since you asked, I'll tell you right away. Your family hasn't been in the village for five years, right? You didn't pay the grain money, and the land you were given was taken back a long time ago. How dare you ask this? And the money everyone got wasn't blown away by the wind. It was saved up by everyone's hard work. As for your family, you haven't done any work for several years, and you're still thinking about sharing the money. Ask everyone today to see if they are willing to share with you. If they are willing, I have no objection."

Zhang Jianwen looked at Chen Yong, narrowed his eyes, and spoke without mercy.

"I don't agree. There are no such good bargains in the world. Normally, they keep silent when there is something wrong, but now they rush to take advantage of it."

"I don't agree either. There are many people in the village who go out to work, but at least they have someone at home. But his family doesn't have anyone left. When he got married, I gave him 20 yuan, but when something happened to my family, his family didn't even see a thing."

"Yes, when his grandfather was old, we went to help him deliver the gifts, but his family ran away and hid. Now they come back because they see benefits."

"People like this should get out of the village. We don't welcome them."

As soon as Zhang Jianwen finished speaking, everyone became excited.

After hearing what everyone said, Chen Yong, who just felt wronged, was left with nothing but astonishment and speechlessness.

"See, not only do I disagree, everyone disagrees, but no one recognizes that your family is part of the village."

Zhang Jianwen glanced at Chen Yong and asked everyone to adjourn the meeting.

When the villagers left, none of them spared any eye rolls, and some even spat in his direction.

After all, they are all in the same village. When there is a big event at home, it is not just one or two families who go to ask for favors, but at least half of the village.

As a result, this family was different. The whole family ran away together and did not come back for several years. All the social interactions in the early years had long been abandoned by them.

Zhang An also shook his head. Although he was not familiar with this person, he felt that he deserved it.

After returning home, Zhang An told his parents what had happened, and they both shook their heads.

Although the saying goes that fallen leaves return to their roots, it is true that the roots are indeed here, but if you ignore them, all roots will rot.

In the afternoon, Chen Ze came over.

"Zhang An, I'm going to take my grandfather back home for the New Year tomorrow. Please help me prepare some things to bring back."

Chen Ze didn't beat around the bush and directly stated his purpose.

"What's wrong? Why do you suddenly want to go back?"

Zhang An remembered that last year, Mr. Chen was living well here.

"This year, not only my grandfather's family will be celebrating the New Year together, but also my other grandfathers' families will come over, so we have to go back to the old house."

Chen Ze said somewhat helplessly that if families like theirs were all gathered together, the number of people would be quite large.

"Come with me for those. You can decide what you want. But this year's smoked bacon isn't ready yet."

There aren't many people here at Zhang An's house, plus at the homes of his second grandfather and fourth grandfather, so it's hard to really understand.

"No need for that. Even if it's smoked, I don't plan to take it back. Otherwise, what will we eat next year? Just something ordinary will do."

Chen Ze is not stupid. The bacon smoked by Zhang An's family is simply the best, but it is also destined that there will not be much, so he can't bear to take it back.

Besides, he has just started out, and the old man will be back next year.

Afterwards, Chen Ze didn't treat himself as an outsider at all. He took whatever was available at Zhang An's house, even catching more than a dozen fish.

But the final result was that there were too many things, and the trunk of his car couldn't hold them all. I guess even if he added two more cars, they still wouldn't be able to fit them all.

"How about this, Zhang An? Since you still have a car, I will drive a pickup truck back this year."

Finally, Chen Ze set his sights on the pickup truck in Zhang An's yard. This thing had a large cargo bed and could hold twice as much stuff.

"Okay, drive away."

What else could Zhang An say? Of course he handed him the key.

"If one car is not enough for you, you can drive mine."

Chen Ze took the pickup truck keys and also handed the keys of his own car to Zhang An.

"So when can you come back this time?"

Zhang An put the key in his pocket and asked.

"Anyway, according to my family's custom, the New Year celebration ends on the third day at most, and everyone should go wherever they want. Old Li said that work will start on the eighth day, so I should be back before then."

After saying that, Chen Ze drove away in the pickup truck.

On the twenty-eighth day of the lunar year, Hongyan Town held its last big fair, and Zhang An's entire family went out.

In fact, they have everything at home and don’t need to prepare much for the New Year. But if they don’t come to the market, they will feel like something is missing, so they just decide to have the whole family go out for a walk.

(End of this chapter)