Return to 1983 Hunting Xing'an Mountains

Chapter 479 The old man is anxious and can't tell the difference between his eyebrows

Although it was the first time Xu Ning met Wang Ye's father, looking at his white hair, hunched back, and depressed mental state, he knew that Sun Jiye's calm expression when he described Wang Ye's death at Old Xu's house was an act.

I heard from Sun Jieye that even though Wang Ye's father had a broken leg, he would still walk with his back straight on crutches and would smile when he saw people. His personality is somewhat similar to that of Kaihe, except that he has two sons, and that is where his confidence comes from.

Now Wang Ye is gone, leaving only his youngest son. Wang Qiang is a man with no ideas, and has been a bullied child since childhood. If it weren't for Wang Ye's protection, children of the same age in the village would bully him. How could such a coward make a living?

So Wang Ye’s father’s waist sank and he was not as energetic as before.

When encountering such a thing, not to mention that Xu Ning didn't know how to comfort the person, even if a leader came in person, he would only say four words: "My condolences."

Perhaps Wang Ye's father sensed their embarrassment, and pointed to the east room and said, "Hurry up and go in to eat. You've been busy all night hunting black bears, right?"

"Well, it rained heavily in the mountains last night. I was almost trapped in the mountains. Fortunately, I found a cave to take shelter..."

Wang Ye's father was not paying attention. He sometimes looked out the window and sometimes listened to Sun Jiye's words. He did not respond and continued, "Come in quickly. The dishes on the kang table are all fresh. No one has touched their chopsticks. They are specially reserved for you."

Sun Jiye saw that he was not in good condition, and nodded in response: "Hey, let's wash our faces first."

In addition to a few people in the outer room, there were also two old ladies who came to chat. The two old ladies opened the pot and took out a small basin of rice from it. It was obviously prepared for them. One of them served the rice, and the other used a ladle to pour water into the basin.

"San'er, the water is warm. Why don't you try it? If it's hot, add some cold water."

Sun Jiye stretched out his hand to test it, and said, "That's perfect! Fifth Aunt, don't bother with that. Erning, you wash first..."

Xu Ning didn't say anything polite. He rolled up his sleeves and put his hands into the basin, rubbing his hands, face and neck with the soap. After washing them roughly for half a minute, it was Sun Jiye's turn to wash his hands and face.

Outside the door, Liu Zhu and the other two were washing clothes under the eaves. Sun Lianfang took Hong Sao's arm and walked towards the house.

Hong Sao's appearance is not bad. Her face is a little chubby, a bit like Zhao Liying in later generations. Moreover, her child is still breastfed. She wears a thin long gown in the weather of over 20 degrees, which makes her look plump. This shows that Wang Ye treats his wife very well and raises her so well-off. If it were any other family, the daughter-in-law would be pale and thin, and it would be obvious that she is malnourished.

"Uncle Wang, you have to go inside. If you don't, how can my third uncle and my brother go inside to eat?"

Wang Ye's father nodded suddenly: "Ah, then I'll go back to the house."

"East Room! Uncle Wang, you have to accompany me."

Sister Hong took two quick steps to lift the door curtain and called out, "Third Uncle, please come in quickly. The three of you should clean the pillars quickly. Third Uncle is waiting for you."

"Hey!" Liu Zhu and the other two threw down the rag and walked into the house.

After entering the house, I saw the food on the kang table. There were eight dishes, including braised pork, braised pork elbow, fried leek with eggs, cucumber with pig ears, etc. The six dishes on the floor table were fried meat with shredded potatoes, pickled cabbage with vermicelli, and stewed radish with meat...

Sun Jiye frowned and pointed at the dishes on the table, saying, "Who told you to cook like this? It's ridiculous! How can you prepare two dishes for guests? Who will dare to come to your house if you have any problems in the future?"

Wang Ye's father was stunned. He leaned against the edge of the kang and opened his mouth, but could not find the words to explain, because he did nothing this morning. He just sat on the edge of the kang and looked out the window.

Sister Hong wiped the kang mat with a clean rag and said, "Uncle San, this dish is not prepared by my family..."

Sun Lianfang said, "My dad arranged it. My brother likes to eat cucumber mixed with pig ears. My mom went to Old Zheng's house to buy it this morning. But Old Zheng didn't ask for money. He just gave me two pieces of meat and some elbows as a gift."

Sun Jiye's expression softened after hearing this, and he pulled Xu Ning and said, "Er Ning, sit on the kang. You don't need to take off your shoes. Since they are all ready, let's hurry up and eat."

Xu Ning got on the kang with his shoes on and said, "Sister Hong... Lianfang, you should tell others later that this table of food is specially prepared for me. Didn't I help my third uncle to invite them to help fight the black bears..."

Sun Lianfang said, "Brother, my mom has spread the word. My dad originally wanted to wait for you to come back and eat directly at my house, but since this is to serve my uncle Wang, he put the table in this room."

Sun Jiye nodded: "Just make it clear, don't do this kind of thing in the future. Erning is not an outsider, there is no need to be so polite. The more polite you are, the more uncomfortable Erning will feel."

"That's not a big deal. Let's do it this way for today. Zhuzi, get on the kang quickly."

After Liu Zhu and the other two got on the kang, a figure flashed outside the door. He lifted the door curtain and entered the room, saying, "Brother Xu! I knew you could kill the black bear with your moves. I saw it just now, with a circle around its neck and a wound on its face, that was it!"

Sun Jiye waved his hand and said, "Lian Yu, if you haven't eaten yet, hurry up and get on the kang and have a bite."

"Well, I'll have another meal..."

Sun Lianyu didn't come here to eat for free. He was called here by the old Wang family because he carried Wang Ye back from the mountains. Otherwise, Wang Ye would not be able to work in the village. How great is this favor? It can even be compared to the grace of saving a life.

"Lianfang, take your sister-in-law Hong out. There's no need to go into the house to thank Erning. Although he calls me uncle, we are just brothers."

Sister Hong said, "Uncle San, I'm going to leave first. You guys eat slowly. Brother Xu, eat and drink well."

"Hey, sister-in-law, just do your thing."

There was wine on the table, but no one drank it. Even the money-spending Sun Lianyu didn't even glance at the bottle.

Xu Ning took out his chopsticks and picked up the braised pork, which was very fragrant when he ate it with rice. When Sun Lianfang and Hong Sao went out, Wang Ye's father also went to the west room. What was he doing in the east room? He might as well hide in the west room.

Sun Lianyu recounted his strange encounters in the mountains, uttering two words - ridiculous. If the three of them hadn't made the bet, they wouldn't have met the black bear...

Finally, Xu Ning concluded that it was all fate's arrangement. Sun Jiye believed in fate very much. He thought that when people were born, their chains were cut off and they escaped from a small cage to a big cage. People were born to suffer. If they did not want to suffer, they had to dare to risk their lives and seize the opportunity.

Liu Zhu and others nodded as they listened, agreeing with this. There are new insights at every age. For example, Xu Ning thinks he lives a very carefree life, but he feels very tired recently. Everyone at home and outside are depending on him. If he doesn't manage the family well, what will his family do?
So you have to do it even if you grit your teeth. It is a redemption for yourself and an explanation to your family!

"Lian Yu, Third Uncle doesn't advise you to study hard like Er Ning, but can you do something serious? My brother is so old, why don't you understand him?"

Sun Lianyu lowered his head and said nothing, quietly listening to Sun Jiye's lecture, while everyone else picked up their chopsticks to eat...

The atmosphere was a bit awkward. Sun Jiye sighed silently and said, "Erning, based on your experience, can Lian Yu be saved?"

Xu Ning said: "The only one who can save him is myself."

Sun Lianyu nodded heavily: "That's a brilliant remark! Third Uncle, it's hard to quit smoking and drinking, let alone gambling. I can only promise to play less in the future and help with more housework."

"That sounds like a human thing to say. Eat quickly. It's time to send it off when you're done."

Several people quickly ate the food and almost cleared all the dishes on the table. Then they moved their bodies down, lit a cigarette each and went out.

"Erning, you and Lianfang should go home. You are not needed for this. Go home and have some sleep first."

"Okay, let my second mother scald the bear gallbladder."

Afterwards, Sun Jiye, Liu Zhu, Hong Sao, Wang Qiang and others sent Xu Ning and Sun Lianfang out the door. The two walked less than a hundred meters before entering the gate of the old Sun family's courtyard.

Sun Jiwei, Second Mother, and Third Aunt went out to greet them and asked, "When did you come back? You didn't sleep all night, did you?"

"Yeah, I entered the village at around seven o'clock, so I just finished my meal."

Xu Ning took out the bear gall from his inner pocket and said, "Second Mother, help me scald the gall. It's a little soft now." Second Mother took the gall and said, "It's really a hit. I told you that you can definitely do it, but your uncle didn't believe it!"

"Who wouldn't believe it? I was thinking I'd have to see the black bears before I could be sure. Before they came back, you were talking nonsense with others. What if they came back empty-handed? Wouldn't that put Er Ning in a difficult position?"

Er Niang waved her hand and took Xu Ning's arm, saying, "I won't argue with you about this! Er Ning, let's go into the house and have some tea. I'll get you some water to soak your feet, and then you can go to sleep."

"Second Mother, I can just fetch the water for washing my feet myself."

Sun Jiwei said with a smile: "Your second mother usually doesn't make water for me to wash my feet, so you just enjoy it. Now you know how much your second mother loves you, right?"

"Hahaha, fine then. Sorry to bother my Second Mother."

Everyone entered the east room. Xu Ning sat astride a stool. Sun Lianfang took out a plate of melon seeds and peanuts from the cupboard and placed them on the edge of the kang. Second Mother and Third Aunt were busy boiling water and scalding bear bile in the outer room.

Xu Ning was drinking tea and eating melon seeds when he heard Sun Jiwei say, "I feel that Lianfang has changed since she came home this time. She is not as overbearing as before and is willing to discuss everything with us. Now, when I talk to her, she doesn't interrupt. She is too obedient. I am not used to her anymore."

"That's great. Children grow up eventually. It means Lianfang has matured, right?"

Sun Lianfang nodded: "Yeah, I'm mature now."

Sun Jiwei said with a smile: "Leizi called yesterday. He should be able to come over around the 25th. Then your parents and second uncle and second aunt can come over? Our house can accommodate them. I was thinking of inviting them all over so that our families can get together."

Xu Ning took a sip of tea and said, "My parents should be able to come. I'm not sure about my second uncle and second aunt, as they are building a house at home. Both of our families have left, so only my uncle and my eldest brother are left to take care of it."

This is an excuse. Even if the Xu and Wang families come to Sandaohe, the construction site will not stop.

Because Yu Kaihe was in charge of building the house, and Lao Zhang was his assistant. Yang Shuhua was in charge of cooking at home, and Liu Fenfang, Zhang Guifang and others helped out. But it was impossible for all the two families to leave. After all, this was a house to be built for them. If the owner left, what would the people who helped do?
In the outer room, Er Niang had already boiled the bear gall and hung it in the east second room where Xu Ning lived. When she came back, she brought a basin of water into the room. Just when she heard this, she said, "Erning, soak your feet first. Let your third aunt brush your shoes and socks. I'll find you a new pair of shoes later."

"Eh……"

Before Xu Ning could say thank you, Er Niang said, "If it really doesn't work, ask your uncle and aunt to come over for dinner, and then drive back in the evening."

"That's fine too!" Sun Jiwei said.

Wang Erli and Han Fengjiao are Lei Zi's younger sister's parents-in-law, so they are definitely real relatives. Er Niang said to invite them to come over for dinner, but since they are already here, how can they not stay?

"I'll call home tomorrow. Uncle Chai came here in a hurry and didn't see Lianfang. After she and Leizi settle down, he has to go to Wangxing, right?"

"Of course we have to go! Brother, this is what I'm thinking. After we set a date, Xiao Shitou and I will go to Wangxing. You can come with us. Then we can pick up where we are and go straight home."

"Everyone says that girls are outgoing, but you've already made Qing'an the head of the family before he even gets married?" Second Mother was a little unhappy.

"Oh, Mom, I have several homes. Why are you so anxious? Dahe Village in Sandaohe is my forever home!"

"Hahaha……"

While Xu Ning was soaking his feet, Third Aunt had already brushed his shoes and washed his socks under the eaves. Second Mother found him a new pair of shoes and socks. Looking at Xu Ning's feet that had turned white from soaking, Second Mother and Third Aunt felt a little sorry for him.

You know, it rained last night and his whole body was soaked. He wore wet shoes and socks, and his feet were soaked and white. This is the suffering of mountain runners in summer and autumn! Or you can wear rain boots, but the boots don't fit your feet, and you can't run in the mountains at all.

At nearly 9 o'clock, Xu Ning came to the second east room, took off his slightly damp clothes and got into bed. Sun Jiwei took the dirty clothes and threw them into the big basin, and the third aunt washed them.

This treatment alone is enough to show how much the Sun family values ​​Xu Ning. As for the reasons, there are many of them and I will not elaborate on them one by one.

At 10 o'clock, Xu Ning started snoring. Sun Jiye, who was busy at Lao Wang's house, came back with Jun and Xu. Sun Lianyu and other brothers of the same generation wanted to come over to chat with Xu Ning, but they were scared away by Sun Jiwei's eyes. Er Ning hadn't slept all night, and now he was chatting with him? It was hard to tell who was better!
The Wang family had finished all the things that needed to be done. After the mourning shed was removed, the funeral was considered complete. However, the Wang family still needed to invite the people who came to help to have lunch, and notified them in advance that the meal would start at around 1 o'clock.

"Second brother, you have to go over there later."

Sun Jiwei tilted his head and asked, "Why should I go there? Isn't it already done?"

"My brother Wang specifically called you over here to be a witness."

Sun Jiwei frowned and said, "Did Wang Yumin get kicked in the head by a donkey? Wang Ye just left, why is he in such a hurry as a father-in-law?"

Second Mother said, "He was afraid that Hong'er would take the child back to her parents' home. Usually Xiaoqiang was at work in the forest farm, so he and his daughter-in-law were the only ones left at home, and his mother-in-law was lying on the kang."

"That's too bad! How can we have to wait a hundred days to talk about this? Jun, go tell your Uncle Wang to wait for this matter. If it doesn't work, I can come over to talk about it in private in the evening."

Sun Lianjun glanced at Sun Jiye, and when he saw him nod calmly, he turned around and ran out with Xu.

Sun Lianfang said while eating melon seeds, "My sister-in-law Hong is not that kind of person. She definitely can't take the child back to her parents' home. And from what I heard today, she seems to be willing to do so."

"Xiao Qiang really needs to find a stronger woman. Hong'er is quite suitable. That's the thing..."

Sun Jiye interrupted his aunt and said, "We should try to meddle as little as possible in other people's affairs, but we cannot avoid interfering. It's best to wait until they have made up their minds."

"Well... Hey, I suddenly remembered something. Who said they wanted to sell a tractor before?" Sun Jiwei asked suddenly.

"Old Hou? His son-in-law was plowing the land with a tractor last month, and it seems that he broke the tractor shaft."

"Then ask how much it's worth. If it's suitable, we'll buy it and send it to the city to be repaired and given to Lianfang as a dowry."

Er Niang smiled and nodded: "I think it's okay! His tractor should have been bought two years ago, it's still quite new."

"It's not new anymore. The belt was replaced last year, and the engine injector was broken, but the paint on the exterior is well maintained. Old Hou's wife polishes it all day long."

Sun Lianfang grinned and said, "It will definitely be cheaper if we replace the parts. Dad, I see that Xiao Shitou's house in Qing'an is leaking everywhere. Should we tear it down and rebuild it?"

"Stop torturing me, okay? Just replace the windows and buy some furniture and appliances."

"That's two thousand dollars. Just give me the money and I'll take care of it myself..."

Sun Jiwei covered his forehead and said, "Two thousand? Girl, two thousand can build three houses."

"Mom will give you one thousand to repair the house, and when you and Lei Zi get married, I will give you more."

"Okay! My brother wants us to invest in the new business. I think we can't let my brother pay for everything. My aunt's family is under a lot of pressure. We might as well invest some money. When the time comes, Xiao Shitou will be in charge of the business and my brother will pay us."

"Really? That's good. Second brother, what did I say before? Er Ning really has no problem with Lei Zi."

Sun Jiwei smiled and said, "Of course! Let's make some cucumber and pig ears in the evening. This time, we'll make it sweet and sour."

"Okay, I'll go to Old Zheng's house again." Er Niang stood up and said.

(End of this chapter)