Chapter 318: A Waste of Guizhi
That evening, Zhao Wenjun and his family also returned from Wangjiafeng Village. Song Xiaoyu became the happiest woman in her entire village today. Her return visit to her parents’ home in a horse-drawn carriage was no less impressive than returning to the village in a Mercedes-Benz would be decades later. What’s more, the carriage was loaded with fish, meat, and all sorts of food, making her a unique sight in her village. Her brothers had been worried she didn’t have enough to eat and were planning to visit after the New Year, but they never expected Song Xiaoyu to return home in such splendor.
Zhao Wenjun had been treated as a guest of honor by his brothers-in-law and his parents-in-law today, showered with endless praise. It was the first time he had ever received such treatment. The smile hadn’t left his face even when he got home. When he saw his second and third aunts, he was positively beaming. For him, it had been a perfect day.
The dinner at Zhao Wendong’s house that night was even more crowded than it had been on New Year’s Eve. There was even a full table of children seated in the outer room. The table and tableware had been borrowed from Er Gou’s family. Fortunately, as long as there was good food, the children didn’t care about the surroundings. In fact, many of them found eating next to the dogs, pigs, and chickens especially interesting.
Inside, it was just as lively, packed with members of the Zhao Family. As Zhao Tiehua and the others looked at the pork with vermicelli, the pheasant with mushrooms, the fish, and the savory seaweed soup, they hesitated, almost afraid to pick up their chopsticks. Now they were thoroughly convinced that Zhao Wendong’s family had truly become well-off. At the very least, they no longer had to worry about food and could eat to their hearts’ content.
Wei Laishun had never eaten such a delicious meal in his life. As he ate, he felt the urge to cry. On the kang, however, Zhao Chuanhe and Ye Qingmei were beaming with radiant smiles, making Granny Liu and the others envious. To have so many children and grandchildren gathered around, bringing them joy, was the greatest happiness for any elder.
The meal lasted for over an hour. Afterward, the adults gathered to chat, while the children clustered together, looking at the pigs one moment and the dogs the next. Xiaobai was being petted into a state of utter misery, secretly glancing at Zhao Wendong several times. In the end, it obediently resorted to acting cute to survive. Little Tuanzi, like a little tour guide, introduced each animal to the older boys and girls.
“This is Dahuang. He’s Third Brother’s lead dog. Dahuang is the smartest doggy.”
“This is Dahei, he’s the bravest! And this is Erhei, he runs super fast. He got hurt on his neck.”
The dogs wagged their tails furiously, playing along with Little Tuanzi. On the other side of the room, on the kang, Zhao Wendong explained Zhao Tiehua’s situation.
“Third Master, this is the situation with my third aunt and her family. Is it possible to transfer their household registrations back to our Dragon King Pond?”
Zhao Wendong’s words tugged at the hearts of many, especially Zhao Tiehua and Wei Laishun, who stared nervously at Third Master Zhao. The old man tapped his pipe and gave a smile that kept them in suspense.
“Every village is short on food right now. It’s definitely not a good time to be adding people to the village.”
At these words, the color drained from Zhao Tiehua’s and Wei Laishun’s faces. Their current situation was no different from being homeless. Dragon King Pond was their best hope for a home, a chance to have a family again. Beside him, Granny Liu jabbed Third Master Zhao with her elbow, displeased.
“Just say it all at once. What are you dragging it out for?”
“Hehe.”
Third Master Zhao quickly offered an apologetic chuckle and continued.
“But Tiehua is originally from our village, so she’s not an outsider. Most importantly, Dongzi has spoken. So even if it weren’t possible, we’d have to make it possible. So it’s no problem. Just transfer the household registration back. But about that issue where Laishun was reported…”
“When Secretary Jiang arrives tomorrow, I’ll ask him if there’s a solution.”
After Zhao Wendong finished, Third Master Zhao smiled and put away his pipe. “If a big leader like Secretary Jiang gets involved, then it’s definitely not a problem. It’s just a matter of a few words from him. It’s not a big deal.”
“This… is such a big issue really that easy to handle?”
Zhao Tiehua was still in disbelief. ‘How is it that whether it’s my son’s issue or transferring our registration, these huge problems don’t seem difficult at all when my nephew talks about them?’
“It is.”
Zhao Wendong’s tone was calm, yet it carried an unshakeable confidence. “If I say it can be done, it can be done.”
Wei Laishun looked at Zhao Wendong, completely in awe. ‘This cousin of mine,’ he thought, ‘is a real badass.’
That night, everyone was busy until late preparing for the wedding the next day. Whenever a family in the Northeast had too many guests, the children had to go through an experience known as “finding a place to sleep.”
Tonight, five or six extra people were sleeping on Zhao Wendong and Zhao Wenwu’s kang. The men were in one room and the women in another. Chattering voices filled both rooms and continued late into the night. Lying on the warm end of the kang, surrounded by his laughing and joking brothers and cousins, Wei Laishun felt a sense of hope for the days to come.
「The third day of the first lunar month.」
It was Broom Day, the day when the accumulated trash could finally be thrown out. The early risers all got to work.
Before the sky had fully brightened, Dragon King Pond was shrouded in a thin, snowy mist. Wisps of smoke curled from the chimneys of every house, creating a scene even livelier than New Year’s Eve. Today was a big day for the village—it was the wedding day of Civilian Militia Captain Zhao Wendong. Everyone planned to eat breakfast early so they could go and help out.
“Honey, hurry up. Let’s get there early.”
Zhao Lao Nian urged his wife to cook faster, intending to be the first to arrive and help. Before the New Year, his family had been hovering on the brink of starvation. His two children were so hungry they didn’t even have the strength to cry on the kang. Now, although they still couldn’t eat their fill, at least the family of four had survived. This was all thanks to the grain Zhao Wendong had provided, which Zhao Lao Nian earned through his hard work, allowing his family to prepare for the spring plowing and live to see today.