Linxia

Chapter 158, Waves

Not only the branches of the old Fang family, but every family in the village was also talking about Fang Lin's family who had just returned today.

……

Joe's house.

Qiao Xu sighed: "Uncle Fang's family has changed a lot, especially Linzi. When we first parted ways in the capital, I couldn't recognize him when I saw him today. I'm not talking about his appearance, but that indescribable thing. How do you say it? Yes, temperament!"

"Isn't it?"

Qiao Sheng also sighed: "Second brother, you don't know, this afternoon, my father and I went to the county town to pick up Uncle Fang's family. The county magistrate was also here, and I heard that he was trying to please Uncle Fang's Linzi!"

"This thing shouldn't be spread. Keep your mouth shut and don't offend anyone," Qiao Cunzheng warned.

"Dad, we remember this."

……

You family.

You Chaodong, the 'Fang Lin Chui', has become a habit as always: "I said Linzi was amazing, and today I see that he couldn't put the things he brought with him, so he bought a carriage directly. What a generous man!"

The You family's wife nodded and said, "The old Fang family's ancestral tomb is full of smoke. The third branch is so promising. I think with Linzi's current ability, it won't be difficult to move the old Fang family out... It's a blessing for our village to have such a family... Tomorrow, let's go to Linzi's house together. We used to have a good relationship with Linzi's family, and we have to maintain it in the future."

"I know, but if you think about it, you will know that after tomorrow, before Linzi's family returns to the capital, there will be no shortage of people going to his house."

"Yes, the Linzi family is back and so glorious. I'm afraid many people in the village are starting to have ideas." The You family's wife thought of something and shook her head: "We don't want those blind people to do anything, so we stand on the side of the Linzi family."

"I'll listen to you, wife."

……

Geng family.

When Geng's father saw his eldest son Geng Cong, who looked like a lost soul when he came back at night after meeting Fang Lin and his party, the father knew his son best, so how could he not know what was going on?

Last time, I told Geng Congming that even if he went to the provincial capital, it would be unlikely for him to find a good job like Geng Shi. Geng Cong had already let it go, but that was the truth. When he saw Fang Lin and his group today, he couldn't help feeling sad. That's how human nature is.

Geng Cong would think: He cannot compare to Fang Lin, who is like an eagle, flying high in the sky. But Fang Chuanhui and Fang He, who went there later, are both successful and respectable now, which is very different. His younger brother Geng Shi went to the provincial capital earlier and entered Fang Lin’s shop earlier, so he would naturally be more successful and respectable, right?

Father Geng sat down opposite his eldest son and asked abruptly, "What's wrong? Are you feeling upset? Are you jealous of your brother again?"

"No, Dad, I just..."

Under his father's gaze, Geng Cong's voice fell silent. He stopped quibbling and lowered his head. He could no longer hide the anger in his heart and admitted, "Yes, Dad. Look at Fang Chuanhui from the first branch of the Fang family and Fang He from the second branch. They brought back so many bags. If they didn't make money, would they be like this? If they are like this, how could Shitou be any worse?"

"Ugh!"

Father Geng sighed, "I told you that you are a little cleverer than your brother, which has both good and bad sides... The world is full of temptations, but if you don't have a clear mind, you will end up like Song Kai of the Song family, Bai Bao of the Bai family, and Fu Hong of the Fu family."

If it were in the past, Geng Cong would have calmed down after being poured with such a basin of cold water, but today he was too stimulated and couldn't help but retort: ​​"Dad, Fang Chuanhui from the first branch of the Fang family, Fang He from the second branch, and Shitou, aren't they all relying on Linzi?"

The subtext of this statement is: What's so difficult about it? Isn't it just relying on Fang Lin? They can do it, but I can't?
"Do you think you can be like your brother and rely on the Fang family to look after you?" Father Geng shook his head and said earnestly, "You are different from your brother. He is honest and sticks to his mind when he makes up his mind. You are a little smart, but it is because you are too independent-minded that it is not good... Think about this principle carefully!"

That night, Geng Cong lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep, thinking about what would have happened if he had gone to the capital city. He couldn't help but wonder if Fang Lin would take him with him when he came back this time. Compared with other families, his family had a pretty good relationship with the Fang family, and he and Geng Shi were brothers, which was an advantage... There was one thing he couldn't say, which was that he thought he was smarter than his brother Geng Shi.

After thinking about this for a long time, he fell asleep in the late night. In his dreams, he followed Fang Lin to the provincial capital.

……

Fu family.

"Alas, as a father, I have to fill the hole for your son who is in the jail of the government office in the prefecture city. He also stole things from the Fang family in the past, and we have found various ways to get them back recently." Old Man Fu sighed.

"What do you mean by my son? My son is not your son?" Ever since Fu Hong went to the provincial capital, Fu's father had not been optimistic about him. Even though he found a job as a pawnshop clerk, Fu's father still said "depressing words" to him, which made Fu's mother complain. Later, it was proved that her husband was foresighted, and Fu's mother gradually endured it. Now, she finally couldn't bear it anymore.

"Okay, it's our son. I was wrong, okay? Don't think about that kid anymore, just let him go. The wise people in the village are trying every means to build a good relationship with Fang Laosan's family. It will be a way forward in the future, and we can't be bad. We have finally mended the relationship. You should go to Fang Laosan's house more often these two days."

"I know. Do I need to tell you that?"

Mrs. Fu said, "I've been thinking about marrying off our Fu family to the Fang family. Although it's not possible to have a son from the Fang family, we still have Chuanzong and Chuanhui from the first branch of the Fang family, and Hezi from the second branch of the Fang family. I think Chuanhui is good. He's smart and has already gone to the city to make money. As for the girl from our Fu family... no, my mother's family has a niece, but she's very pretty..."

"Don't make trouble. Chuanhui, the eldest son of the Fang family, has gone to the capital. How can he still like our country girl? Don't be so kind and end up doing something bad." Father Fu said, and when he saw that his wife only agreed verbally and didn't listen, he couldn't help but sigh.

……

Zheng family.

Zheng Yu's parents were both very happy.

Didn't you say last time that you wanted Zheng Yu to cook at Fang Lin's restaurant? You asked Zheng's father to mention it. Now that he really went in, the letter that Zheng Yu asked Fang Lin's family to bring back also said that it was easy and profitable at Fang Lin's restaurant.

"Let me tell you, this family matter still depends on me. Earlier, you said that our family and the Song family are relatives, and that you wanted our son to get closer to Song Kai. What a blind thing to say... Last time, I told you to go and mention it, and let Fang Jialinzi know that whether to choose our son is their business, but you are still hesitant and don't want to go... If you didn't go, would our son be where he is today?" Zheng's wife said proudly.

"Yes, yes, you understand, I am confused." There was no doubt about this, Zheng's father could only admit defeat. However, he was happy that his son was doing well, and his face was beaming.

"Then, from now on, all important matters in the family will be handled by me?"

"Row."

"You can go to Fang Lin's house tomorrow to have a visit, as a token of our gratitude. By the way, Linzi just came back, so he probably doesn't have any food or anything. You can pick up some of our best things and bring them over. They may not appreciate these things, but they are also our token of appreciation."

"Row."

"I'm in a good mood today, so I'll let you get on my bed and have sex with me three times!"

"Okay... No, I..."

……

White House.

Bai Feng said, "Last time I went to the capital, I saw that Linzi was extraordinary, but I didn't expect him to be so successful." He sighed and suddenly asked, "Second brother, what do you think of Fang Cao'er from the second branch of the Fang family?"

Unexpectedly, Bai Rao reacted violently after hearing this: "Fang Cao'er from the second branch of the old Fang family is good, but I... Besides, Aunt Fang probably wants her daughter to marry in the city, so why would she like me? If we are so eager to take the initiative, aren't we just throwing ourselves in front of others and asking them to hit us?"

"There's a saying that goes 'a strong woman is afraid of a clinging man'. You should get closer to Fang Cao'er and speak to her more nicely. Maybe you will fall in love with her, right?"

"Okay, I'll try!" Bai Rao looked at his elder brother's expectant eyes, sighed in his heart, and agreed perfunctorily.

……

Song family.

"Follow the good and you will learn good things; follow the bad and you will learn bad things. Take the Bai family for example, they are no good." Song Liu was hinting at something and making an indirect criticism.

Because of the incident involving Song Guangcheng and Song Kai, the Song family and the Bai family in the village have become unable to overcome the difficulties. The two families have been fighting each other many times, and the conflict has even spread to relatives in the neighboring villages, making the conflict increasingly acute.

"Mom, that's the truth. It's not just Old Mrs. Bai and Bai Bao, the entire Bai family, there's no good person there." How could the eldest son Song Huai not be united in hatred for the murder of his father?
"Isn't it? Let's not talk about the unlucky Bai family for now. Huaizi, I have an idea. Do you think it's okay?"

Mrs. Song Liu said, "The old Fang family is blessed with good fortune. I think if our old Song family and the old Fang family marry, we can also get some good luck. The girls of the old Fang family are very guarded and not easy to marry, but it is the same for our old Song family's daughter to marry into the family. The age difference between Qingqing of our old Song family and the eldest branch of the old Fang family is not much, I wonder if we can make peace?"

She originally wanted to talk about Fang Chuanhui, but when she thought that Fang Chuanhui had already entered the city and might not look down on her, she changed her mind and said Fang Chuanzong. The same thing went for Fang Chuanzong. As a cousin, it was very likely that Fang Lin would bring him into the city in the future.

Song Huai's eyes lit up when he heard this: "Mom, you know what, this thing seems to be really promising."

The more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed to him: "Fang Lin's third branch has become prosperous, and it seems to be bringing the whole old Fang family up with it. The old Fang family's first branch is just like the third branch, and they are all honest people. This marriage is really too high for our family. If mother says that it's Chuanhui from the old Fang family's first branch, I think it's a stretch, but since it's Chuanzong who hasn't moved to the city yet, we can still give it a try... Besides, Qingqing from our old Song family is beautiful, and one of the best in the village... This marriage may really work out."

"Okay, then I'll find an opportunity to play a supporting role."

……

When Fang Lin and his family came back, the villagers had different thoughts and reactions, and the peaceful Xiaohe Village was disturbed.

……

That night, the four branches of the old Fang family returned from a dinner party, and Fang Lin and his family returned to their old house. Walking on this familiar path, getting closer and closer to the old house, memories came rushing in like a flood from a floodgate.

Fang Lin remembered that he had run on this road countless times during the scorching summer of his childhood. The scorching ground burned the soles of his feet through his worn straw sandals, but he was happy at that time and had no idea what sorrow was.

Walking on this small path leading to the old house, in a trance, the figure of childhood seemed to overlap with the present moment. This road leads directly to the heart. At this moment, Fang Lin seems to truly understand the meaning of the word "hometown". No matter where he goes or how far he goes, this road is always different.

When I open the door, I see the familiar displays in my memory, from large items like a cabinet and a bamboo bed to small items like a palm-leaf fan and a wooden basin, all filled with memories.

I didn't feel very tired from the Taiping car I took on the way. When I returned to Xiaohe Village and the old house, my emotions were mixed and I couldn't sleep. The house had already been cleaned by the first, second and fourth rooms, so there was nothing to do.

The family sat down to talk and took candles from the luggage they brought back and lit them. For the first time, the old house was lit up with such a bright light.

"Great, it's really great. Our hometown has a great place, great people, and everything is good!" Father Fang exclaimed.

"It's all because of my son, because our family is prosperous today. Most families in the village curry favor with us because they see how well our family is doing now, but there are also some families who have been good to us in the past, and that's the real good."

Although Fang's mother enjoyed the flattery, she knew it in her heart, so she said, "In the past, your father was always at a disadvantage because he cared about his reputation, and your grandparents were also partial. Once they had a big fight with the other three families, and it was a big fight. I held my breath and didn't associate with them, but some things became difficult, such as milling rice. To mill rice, Xiaoxuan and I could only borrow it from other families in the village."

"At that time, Dad and I were busy with work outside, and Mom and Sister Xuan were taking care of these. It must have been difficult, right?" Fang Lin asked.

"It's not easy. I have to smile before I ask. People know I'm here to borrow something, so they ignore me. Some people consider my face and say with a smile, 'Oh, what a coincidence. We have to buy rice today, and the rice jar is almost empty.' Some people say, 'Do you remember? This is the nth time you have asked me to lend you money.' Whether it's nice or bad, I always refuse."

Fang's mother still had a smile on her face as she said this.

But Fang Lin could hear a lot of bitterness in it.

Tian Xuan saw through it, and gently pulled his hand and said, "Brother Lin, those things are all in the past!"

"Yes, that's all in the past." Fang's mother said, "Those who rejected us before, now see us and put on a smile and say nice things. But when I look at them, I just can't get excited and I even give less."

"Me too." Tian Xuan said the same thing.

Fang's mother and Tian Xuan looked at each other and smiled, and Fang's father and Fang Lin also laughed.

"One year, it was a good year, with over 100 kilograms of millet. I spent the whole night thinking about who to borrow rice-milling equipment from. I lay in bed tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. Later, it was Xiaoxuan who suggested borrowing from Aunt Fu's house."

"I remember that time, my mother said, 'We don't have a close relationship with Aunt Fu's family, and they have more grain.' I said, 'It's not far anyway, I'll just go there.' When I came back, she said Aunt Fu agreed. I remember my mother breathed a sigh of relief at that time."

Tian Xuan said, a little shyly: "At that time, I was very happy, because I knew that after the rice was milled, my mother would cook a meal of white rice. At that time, my brother Lin didn't talk much, but I knew that he liked it very much."

When Fang Lin heard this, his memories were brought back.

"Yes, it was at that time that I was not nice to Xiaoxuan. I just cooked white rice, but Xiaoxuan..."

Mother Fang shook her head and didn't say anything else. She continued the previous topic: "I went to Aunt Fu's house. It was a good year. She even made sesame tea for Xiaoxuan and me. I was so grateful for her sincerity. I still remember it now."

"Yes, there were all kinds of rice grinding tools in Aunt Fu's house, such as graters and sieves. I remember my mother said at that time, "When will our family have these tools?"

"At that time, how could I have thought of what's happening now? I only had that little hope." Fang's mother said with a smile: "At that time, I really thought that if I had a set of rice-grinding equipment at home and didn't have to ask anyone for help, life would be so wonderful."

Father Fang, Fang Lin, and Tian Xuan all laughed when they heard this, and there was a slight bitterness in their happiness.

"It's not just Aunt Fu, there are other good families, Uncle Jiao and Grandma Zuhui from the next village, do you remember them?" Fang's mother continued, "That year, when you were five years old, you had a fever, shivering, and rolled your eyes at night. No matter how we called you, you wouldn't wake up, and you wouldn't respond. Later, I pinched your Ren Zhong point, and you slowly woke up, but you were still having cramps..."

"I remember this. At that time, there was really no other way. I remembered Master Jiao. He knew some folk remedies that sometimes worked. In the middle of the night, Master Jiao heard about it and came over without saying a word. He also brought some herbs and fed them to you. Then you got better."

Father Fang said this with a sigh, "Tomorrow we should go visit these families. We should not forget the families who have been kind to us."

Fang Lin nodded seriously and kept it in mind.

When he first came to this world, he had done his best just to survive, and he really had no extra thoughts, and was only indifferent to outsiders. Now that he had some spare time, he was willing to lend a hand to those who were kind and had helped him before.

……

(End of this chapter)