Chapter 1272 Returning Home Starts with Catching Toads
Zeng Wangcai rested at home for three days in a row. He did not go anywhere during these three days. In the morning, he came back from walking the dog to have breakfast made by his mother. At noon, he and his wife worked together to help his mother prepare a family dinner. At noon, the whole family had a drink together.
In the evening, I go out for a walk with the dog and then come back for another drink.
The taste was so delicious that Zeng Wangcai didn't want to do anything else.
Early on the fourth day, Zeng Wangcai was still in a daze and was awakened by a slap from Zhang Xiuzhi.
"No, wife, it's too early. It's not time to walk the dog yet."
"Not walking the dog, get up and go home."
"Which home are you going back to? This is our home..."
"Are you confused? Go back home!"
Zeng Wangcai has been back for three days. During these three days, countless people have wanted to see him and visit him at the Siheyuan, including leaders from the district and even the city.
Zeng Wangcai didn't want to see any of these people. The three old men were not there. Zeng You had talked to him about the National Day several times in the past three days, so Zeng Wangcai knew that the three old men must be in the sea now.
Those who beg to meet in person are just looking for trouble. Zeng Wangcai can choose not to meet them, but there are some people whom Zeng Wangcai must visit in person, such as his teacher Zhou Yuanbai, and Wu Yao and Cao Wang.
But before visiting them, Zeng Wangcai decided to go back to his hometown and prepare some gifts.
"I almost forgot. I'll get up right away!" Zeng Wangcai jumped up and went out to wash.
Before leaving, Zeng Youqian told me to remember to go back and visit my grandparents' graves.
Two people, a dog and a car. Xiaobao drove a cold chain vehicle alone and set off to return home.
After so many years, the ring road of the old city has begun to move closer to what Zeng Wangcai knew. Ring after ring, many of the former suburban counties have been merged into the city.
Because of infrastructure construction, the time required to travel back to Zengzhuang from Sijiucheng has been greatly shortened.
"Wife, you are so thoughtful!" Zeng Wangcai drove while looking at the changing scenery outside. "Delivering goods and agricultural products, we didn't expect that our two bases in Zengzhuang and Miyun have developed to this point and have such a good reputation."
Zengzhuang has completely become a back garden, maintaining its original ecology. The subsequent transformation of Zengzhuang focused on roads, basic living facilities, and field farming facilities. Other things like production methods, etc., remained the same as before, and at most they just tried new varieties.
So now in the old city, Zengzhuang is a well-known green production base, and the concept of green has now been established.
Miyun has been transformed into an ecological breeding base and has developed into a large base with chickens, ducks, fish, cattle and sheep.
Zeng Wangcai drove down from an exit of the elevated road and saw a sign on the side of the road. It was the kind of road sign in the special colors of tourist areas: Natural, Cultural and Ecological Protection Village: Zengzhuang.
"Oh, now we're doing tourism now." Zeng Wangcai praised.
The rural dirt road that could have caused the Jiefang CA10 to break down is of course gone. It has been replaced by a two-way two-lane road, as well as a pedestrian path and a non-motorized vehicle lane, which is comparable to a two-way four-lane road.
The crooked tree at the entrance to the village is still there, and it has been fenced off. There are many seats underneath, but the old man is no longer there.
Instead, a group of young and old stood under the sign at the entrance to the village, holding a banner: Welcome the hero Comrade Zeng Wangcai back home.
"Here we go, let's shout slogans together." Zeng Niu, who was at the front of the team, took the lead in shouting.
The environment in Zengzhuang has changed a lot, and the people have also changed a lot. The former branch secretary Zeng Laosan died of cerebral thrombosis a few years ago. Later, the position was passed to the younger generation Zeng Niu.
In addition to Zeng Laosan, many other elderly people in the village have passed away.
There was an old man in the team, trembling as he raised his cane and shouted incoherently: "Wang, Wang...Wang..."
"Uncle Qi, please stop yelling!"
The old man is Uncle Seven, one of the few elderly people in Zengzhuang who is still holding on.
Zeng Laosan was very upset: "I told you not to come, but you insisted on coming. When you shouted, all the dogs in the village followed you. Listen, they all barked. What would Brother Cai think when he heard it?"
Although Uncle Qi is still holding on, he still has many health problems and speaking normally has become a big problem.
But Uncle Qi has always liked being in a crowd, and he hasn’t changed. Every day when he has nothing to do, he walks around the village on crutches, shouting “Woof” to everyone he meets.
So when Uncle Qi spoke just now, he was not specifically calling Zeng Wangcai, but this was the word he was most proficient in saying now.
Because of this, Uncle Seven is now the dog king of the village, with a large group of furry kids following him.
Zeng Wangcai’s car arrived, he opened the door and got out, holding in his hand... Xiao Feihong, not Zhang Xiuzhi.
"Woof..." Uncle Seventh was the first to come out, leaning on a crutch.
"Wang!"
Little Feihong, who rarely speaks, actually agreed.
"Hey, Uncle Qi, I haven't seen you for almost a year, and you actually learned a foreign language..." Zeng Wangcai, who knew Uncle Qi well, couldn't help but tease him. He took out a pack of cigarettes and put it in Uncle Qi's pocket, "Smoke slowly, there are more when you finish."
"Woof!" Uncle Seven left contentedly.
"What the hell are you doing?" Zeng Wangcai looked up and saw the banner. "Niuzi, when did you learn these nonsense? Bullshit!"
"Brother, the child has no mother. It's a long story. It all started with the 7:30 news interview..."
"..."
After listening to Zeng Niu talking about the interview, Zeng Wangcai knew that he would definitely be on the news. Kua Chazi had even come to his hometown, so it seemed that he would go to Siheyuan soon as well.
"By the way, we'll have lunch in the village cafeteria at noon."
"Okay, Uncle Li started preparing early in the morning."
Zengzhuang has indeed maintained its traditions in all aspects. The canteen that had been eliminated long ago has been preserved. Not only that, its facilities are richer and its area is larger.
This is not just for show. The canteen cooks every day. The lonely elderly and those in the village who have no time to cook can all come to the canteen to have a bite.
Li Youtian, who had fled to the village before, couldn't do his job as a hand doctor, so he became a full-time canteen manager.
There is no one at home now. Zeng Wangcai's second uncle and aunt went to Miyun, so Zeng Wangcai and his wife and Xiaobao went to visit the graves of their grandfather and great-grandfather together. After that, they went home to rest for a while and then went to the cafeteria to eat.
In the afternoon, Zeng Wangcai and his friends wandered around the village and looked at the vegetable crops grown in the village.
There are no greenhouses in Zengzhuang now, and all crops are grown according to natural laws. Some of them may not look as good, but they taste really good.
Zeng Wangcai ordered summer vegetables such as cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, etc., and asked Zeng Niu'er to help pick them early in the morning.
After dinner, Xiaobao went to brag to his childhood friend, while Zeng Wangcai and Zhang Xiuzhi lay on the lounge chairs in the yard, rocking slowly.
Around eight or nine o'clock, the frogs are croaking loudly.
Zeng Wangcai took out a headlamp and put it on like a magician: "Wife, let's go catch some toads."
Zhang Xiuzhi raised her eyebrows, and the past came to her mind: "Wait a moment!"
After entering the house, Zhang Xiuzhi found the treasure box left to her by her grandmother. Various old items were neatly placed in the box.
Zhang Xiuzhi found two cloth bags from these old things. One bag contained a stun gun, and the other contained a flashlight...