Chapter 172: Summer in the Countryside
"Not at all. I’m just a working stiff like anyone else," Chu Feng said with a smile.
As for the villagers, while some might be envious of his current income, they were generally good-hearted people.
Even if they were jealous, they wouldn’t say it to his face. At least on the surface, everyone was quite friendly.
Chu Hao and Su Miaoke also got out of the car. Chu Hao greeted some of the village elders and helped Chu Feng hand out snacks to everyone.
"Grab your things. Let’s go home," Chu Feng said.
"Bro, what about paving the village road later? We could build one that goes all the way to our doorstep," Chu Hao said suddenly, carrying his bags.
"I think so too. Since we’re back to rebuild the house anyway, why don’t we just plan a proper renovation for the whole village? It would make things more convenient for everyone," Su Miaoke added, nodding.
"I’ve been thinking about that for a while. We might as well do a major overhaul—tear down all the dilapidated and dangerous old houses and build everyone a new one according to a unified plan," Chu Feng said.
"Yeah, that’s a great idea," Su Miaoke agreed enthusiastically.
After all, they were so rich now that even renovating the entire village wouldn’t cost them that much.
"Bro, after spending some time with Mom and Dad, I’m planning to go look for a job," Chu Hao said.
"What kind of job? Have you thought about it?" Chu Feng asked.
"Not yet. I’ll see what’s out there when the time comes. Anyway, I’ve graduated, so it’s time for me to earn a living. You used to work to pay for my education, so now that I can make money, I should earn as much as I can to help lighten your load," Chu Hao said.
"Our Xiao Hao is so sensible. If Su Jun were half as sensible as you, I’d have so much less to worry about. Don’t you worry about making money. Your sister-in-law and I have plenty, more than enough for you," Su Miaoke said in praise.
She was extremely pleased with Chu Hao. He was not only sensible but also a good student—frugal and obedient.
"Sister-in-law, I can’t do that. Your money is yours. I need to earn my own to start a family and build a career," Chu Hao said, shaking his head.
"Xiao Hao, now I have to lecture you for saying that. What do you mean, ’my money’? We’re family now. Your brother and I are legally married. My money is also the money your brother earned. Spending my money is the same as spending his," Su Miaoke said.
"Oh, really? So you’re saying I’ve just been freeloading off my brother this whole time?" Chu Hao said, glancing at Chu Feng.
As they chatted, they arrived at their front door.
Just then, Chu Feng’s father, Chu Yuntian, was in the yard watering the vegetable garden when he unexpectedly heard his sons’ voices.
At first, he thought he’d misheard and looked up suspiciously.
"Xiao Hao? Miaoke? Xiao Feng? What are you all doing back?" Chu Yuntian was a bit stunned. Their appearance was so sudden it caught him completely off guard.
"Dad, we came back to keep you company, so you and Mom don’t get bored," Chu Hao said with a smile.
"Yeah, I haven’t spent a summer vacation at home in years, not since I started college. The Dragon Boat Festival is coming up soon, so we can all have zongzi together," Chu Feng said.
"Dad, don’t worry about working. I bought you some nice things," Su Miaoke said with a smile.
"Ah, good, good! Come on in." Overjoyed, Chu Yuntian dropped the water ladle he was holding, washed his hands, and said, "I’ll go make dinner."
"This morning, your Third Grand-uncle caught some river shrimp and field snails. I’ll go cook them for you," Chu Yuntian said, his face beaming with an excited smile.
"Dad, where’s Mom? Did she go to the fields? You guys planted a lot of crops again this year, didn’t you?" Chu Feng asked.
"We’re at home with nothing to do, so we might as well plant a little extra to sell later," Chu Yuntian said with a smile.
"Dad, didn’t I tell you last time I was back? You should be enjoying your retirement at home. Just grow enough for yourselves. It’s not like we can’t afford it," Chu Feng said, a bit displeased.
"Yeah, Dad. I’m about to start working soon, too. Wouldn’t it be nice for you two to just relax and enjoy your retirement?" Chu Hao added.
"You little brat. You get a little money and suddenly you’ve forgotten how the world works, huh? Don’t you know the saying, ’grain in hand, no panic in heart’? There are times when money can’t buy you food," Chu Yuntian said, glaring at Chu Feng.
"Besides, your mother and I are still young and able to work. When we can’t do it anymore, we’ll stop," Chu Yuntian continued.
"Sigh, forget it. I’m not going to argue with you. It’s not like you’d listen anyway," Chu Feng said helplessly.
He actually understood. His parents’ generation had endured hardship their whole lives. They were terrified of poverty, terrified of hunger, which was why they clung to this mindset.
Even with money, you still had to farm; you still had to have grain.
"Miaoke, you and Xiao Hao can start unpacking. I’m going to take a walk, find my mom, and tell her to come back for dinner," Chu Feng said.
"Okay," Su Miaoke nodded.
She had bought quite a few things that needed to be sorted out, and the rooms needed to be cleaned as well.
Chu Feng walked out of the courtyard gate and followed the village path toward the fields and mountains.
He ran into several people along the way, all of whom greeted him warmly.
In the distance, the calls of various birds and the incessant chirping of cicadas filled the air. The sky gradually darkened, and the air carried a trace of the day’s lingering summer warmth.
Leaving the village, Chu Feng followed the familiar paths between the fields, crossing one rice paddy after another.
The rice was about to ripen, stretching out in vast expanses of pale gold.
A chorus of frogs croaked from the fields, and the calls of bullfrogs echoed from a nearby fishpond.
All of this gave Chu Feng a long-lost sense of familiarity.
In the fields, there were still quite a few villagers at work.
"Xiao Feng, you’re back?" one of them greeted him warmly.
"Yeah, I came back to see my parents. Uncle Li, have you seen my mom?" Chu Feng asked.
"Your mom’s down there. You’ll see her if you just walk a bit further," the man said, pointing to the farthest rice paddy.
"Okay, thanks, Uncle Li," Chu Feng said with a nod.
In fact, years ago, when Chu Feng was away at school, working part-time jobs to support his younger brother’s education, some villagers had gossiped about his family behind their backs quite a bit.
After all, his father was disabled at the time, and the family was quite poor, relying entirely on his mother to manage the household.
But now that word had spread that Chu Feng had married a wealthy wife and become a rich man himself, everyone greeted him politely whenever they saw him.
Walking along the path between the fields, he felt the warmth of the summer evening breeze. He took a deep breath, feeling as if he could float away in bliss.
Along the way, he passed a natural mountain spring. Chu Feng squatted down, cupped some of the spring water in his hands, and took a drink.