Chapter 497 Memories and Feelings 2
But in this remote northern wilderness, there was no supply and marketing cooperative at that time. In order to purchase all the New Year's goods, everyone had to brave the wind and snow to go to the supply and marketing cooperative in the town, or even to the supply and marketing district in the city.
The hardships along the way are beyond words. It was freezing cold, the road was rugged and muddy, and the carriage had difficulty moving forward in the snow.
The wheels often sank into deep snow pits, so everyone had to get out and push the carts. The cold snow poured into their necks, making them shiver.
After finally arriving at the place, there was a long queue waiting for them.
Because supplies were rationed and there were more people than supplies, villagers often had to queue for several days in the cold wind in order to buy the necessary New Year's goods.
When they were thirsty, they took out the dry food that had frozen into ice from their arms and took a few bites; when they were tired, they leaned against each other in the corner and took a nap.
Even so, sometimes we would return empty-handed because the supplies were sold out in advance.
Everyone's expectations were shattered in an instant, and they could only return home step by step with disappointment and exhaustion. That disappointment and helplessness is still engraved in everyone's heart.
Things are very different now! With the supply and marketing cooperative firmly established in the village, the convenience that was once out of reach has now become a daily part of the villagers' lives.
The sunlight shines on the brand new sign of the supply and marketing cooperative, making it sparkle brightly, as if telling the beauty of the new era.
When you walk into the store, you will see a wide variety of merchandise on the shelves, from essential condiments such as oil, salt, sauce and vinegar to fabrics and clothing with novel styles and diverse colors.
From toys and snacks that children can’t put down, to nourishing medicines that can keep the elderly strong and healthy, we have everything.
Crowds of people came in one after another, everyone's eyes were as bright as stars, and they moved freely between the shelves, skillfully selecting the items they liked.
No more long journeys, no more waiting in the cold wind, you can easily buy what you need at your doorstep. Such happiness has truly fallen on the shoulders of every villager.
Wang Jianguo could not help but recall the days in Old City. Originally, his life was smooth and stable. He made a name for himself in the city with his intelligence and courage.
Although life is not rich, it is still enjoyable.
However, the gears of fate suddenly turned inadvertently, and a sudden disaster swept in like a storm, turning his world upside down.
The tentacles of the dark forces quietly reached out to him. The inexplicable false accusations and the subsequent hunt made him fall from a safe and secure situation into a desperate situation in an instant.
The once familiar streets and alleys, those corners full of the atmosphere of life, turned into dangerous traps overnight.
With no other options left, Wang Jianguo had to leave his hometown. With a heart full of grief and resentment, he traveled all the way from the prosperous old city to this remote and desolate Great Northern Wilderness.
When he first arrived here, his heart was filled with loneliness and determination. This strange place was just a temporary haven for him, a springboard to accumulate strength and wait for the opportunity.
He looked at the endless wilderness around him and vowed secretly that he must accomplish something great here. When he was fully prepared, he would return to the city of Sijiu and seek justice from those who had maliciously hurt him.
In his eyes, the flame of revenge burned fiercely, almost devouring all his thoughts, leaving him no time to care about everything around him. He only thought about how to quickly strengthen himself.
At that time, the Great Northern Wilderness was poor and backward, and the villagers lived in misery.
Lack of food and clothing is the norm. The simple adobe houses are crumbling in the cold wind. Medical conditions are almost non-existent. A minor cold can take a person's life.
Wang Jianguo saw it with his own eyes and felt pain in his heart. At first, he just lent a helping hand out of instinct, using the knowledge and skills he had accumulated in the past to help the villagers solve some small problems in life.
Perhaps it was God's blessing that he discovered that the local soil conditions actually had hidden potential. As long as they were used reasonably and cultivated carefully, rich fruits could be harvested.
So he began to teach the villagers how to improve the soil and plant new crops. Seeing that the children in the village were ignorant due to the lack of educational resources, he paid for books and teaching aids out of his own pocket and set up a simple school in an abandoned house.
Due to the shortage of supplies and poor circulation, he ran around, contacted various resources, and facilitated the establishment of a supply and marketing cooperative, so that villagers could buy daily necessities without leaving their homes.
As the days passed, thanks to Wang Jianguo's unremitting efforts, the village's appearance has been completely changed.
On the originally barren land, crops are now thriving and wheat waves are rolling; children are sitting in the school, reading aloud with clear and pleasant voices, and their eyes are shining with the desire for knowledge.
In the supply and marketing cooperative, there is a wide variety of goods and the villagers' faces are filled with satisfied smiles.
And in this unintentional moment, Wang Jianguo's mood quietly changed.
That day, he was patrolling the village as usual. Looking at the villagers living and working in peace and contentment, he suddenly felt a warmth he had never felt before.
The heart that was once filled with revenge now seemed to be slowly melted by the warm spring sun. He found that he was no longer looking forward to leaving here as soon as possible, and couldn't wait to return to the city to settle accounts with his enemies.
Instead, whenever he sees the villagers smile because of his help, and whenever he hears the children affectionately call him "Uncle Wang", his heart is filled with an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
He stood quietly at the entrance of the village, looking at the land in front of him that he had changed with his own hands, with a lot of thoughts in his mind.
It turns out that the happiness brought by helping others is so pure and profound. This feeling is like a mellow wine, the more you taste it, the more fragrant it becomes. It makes him intoxicated and unable to extricate himself.
At this moment, he began to think seriously for the first time. Perhaps, his future life path would no longer have to revolve around revenge alone.
Here, isn’t it a more meaningful choice to continue to create more happiness for the villagers?
The children in the village were particularly close to him. Whenever they met him on the road, they would come up to him with joy and ask him to tell stories about the old city.
The curiosity and yearning sparkling in those innocent eyes made Wang Jianguo's heart grow softer.
Once, a little boy timidly handed him a small grasshopper woven out of straw, saying that he had made it himself and wanted to give it to Wang Jianguo to express his gratitude.
At that moment, Wang Jianguo's eyes became moist. He remembered how isolated and helpless he was when he was being hunted in Sijiu City, but now here, he had gained such pure friendship.