Chapter 193: Another Round of Activity

Xiu Li quietly left, and no one knew where she had gone, except for Zhang Lan’s family. However, they kept it a secret, and no one else found out. Those who had wanted to mock the widow were left disappointed.

The village temporarily returned to tranquility. After a heavy rain the previous night, Wang Qian heard the clear but somewhat noisy croaking of frogs coming from the water puddles to the east early in the morning. It was loud but reminded her of the saying, “In the fragrance of rice flowers, we predict a bountiful year; we listen to the chorus of frogs.” It seemed that this year would also be a year of abundance.

The rain had washed away all the dust in the world. Upon stepping outside, the earthy scent of the soil was noticeable. The leaves and branches appeared even more tender and vibrant after being cleansed. The sky was a deep blue. Breathing in the fresh air, Wang Qian quickly called her siblings to wake up. Since it was summer vacation, they all wanted to be lazy and sleep in.

“Brother, wake up! Let’s go catch some water buffalo to eat. If we’re late, there won’t be any left,” Wang Qian exclaimed.

Zuo He still remembered the fragrance of the water buffalo from last year, so upon hearing Wang Qian’s call, he quickly got up and nudged his two brothers who were still sleeping.

Zuo Hao and Zuo Yu had never eaten this before, but based on their brother’s description, it seemed like it would be good. They all quickly got up and dressed, eager to taste the legendary delicacy.

Wu Changyong and the others also went out to help. Even before it was time to start working, they went to the river early in the morning to search. When Hao Lianchun roasted the water buffalo they brought back, Zuo Hao and Zuo Yu truly experienced the deliciousness that their brother had described.

Early in the morning, Zhang Lan and Wang Zhenhe weeded the garden and picked the vegetables for the day. Zuo Yu noticed that Wang Zhenhe’s basket contained a lot of fresh corn, making his mouth water.

“Uncle, are we having hulled corn for lunch?” It had been almost a year since Zuo Yu had eaten this, and he was craving it.

Wang Zhenhe chuckled and playfully pinched his nose. “Of course, Zuo Yu. Do you want some?”

“Yes, yes, Uncle. Hulled corn is so delicious. When we were up north, Mom didn’t let us eat much, saying it was a waste of food. She also said we needed to save money to send to our little brother and grandmother.”

Wang Zhenhe patted Zuo Yu’s head, feeling grateful for how well the couple, Zuo Xiangcheng and his wife, had raised their three children. They were not as spoiled or arrogant as city kids, and all of them were very easygoing.

“Zuo Yu, this year at Uncle’s house, you can eat as much as you want. Whenever you want to eat something, just let me know. There are no limits.”

Wang Zhenhe’s words undoubtedly made a promise to Zuo Yu, and the little one happily hugged and jumped around Wang Zhenhe. “Uncle, you’re so nice, even better than my mom.” At that moment, Zuo Yu clearly placed Wang Zhenhe ahead of Peng Ziyun.

“Little one, so that’s what you’re saying when your mom isn’t around, it seems like the good things I bought today shouldn’t include a portion for you.”

It was unclear when Peng Ziyun entered the courtyard.

Zuo Yu saw his mother and immediately ran into her arms, ingratiatingly saying, “Mom, you’re the best. I love you the most.”

Peng Ziyun walked in holding her son, and Zuo Hao quickly helped her with the bags she was carrying.

“Sister, I’m here to mooch off your food again. It looks like I’ve arrived just in time for hulled corn for lunch,” Peng Ziyun said with a chuckle.

Zuo He held Peng Ziyun’s hand, looking blissful. “Mom, you’re craving hulled corn too? I’ll bring you something delicious later.”

The little one hurried into the kitchen, reheated the leftover water buffalo in a pot, and then brought out a few fragrant pieces. Peng Ziyun had never eaten this before and was initially hesitant when she saw the insects, but the enticing aroma won her over, and she ended up enjoying it all. She even praised her son, “Good boy. Where did you find this delicious treat?”

Zhang Lan and Wang Zhenhe chuckled as they watched Peng Ziyun and her son play around. “Sister, are you off today? Why didn’t Third Brother come with you?” Zhang Lan asked.

“Yes, we’re taking a rare day off today, but your third brother couldn’t stay away. I had to come back alone to see my son. Have these three been causing any trouble lately?”

Peng Ziyun was always worried that her mischievous children would stir up trouble for Zhang Lan and the others. Zuo He was manageable on his own, but when all three kids got together, it could be quite a handful.

When it came to mischief, these three little rascals were experts at keeping things under wraps.

Hao Lianchun brought out a basin of water and said, “Where are they causing trouble? My grandson is well-behaved. The other day, they even did a good deed. Come on, Ziyun, wash up.”

Hao Lianchun recounted the incident of the children using slingshots to shoot at the bad guys, and Peng Ziyun praised her son, “Not bad. Although I disapprove of the woman’s behavior, helping others is always good. Especially when dealing with these scoundrels who bully women. Children, I have brought some snacks for you in my bag. Haohao, go and distribute them to everyone.”

Zuo Hao obediently took out the snacks from the travel bag and began to distribute them to everyone. Zhang Lan looked at the children holding the snacks and reproached, “Sister, your and brother’s allowance isn’t much. Please don’t spend this money. Save it for the boys’ education.”

As they were talking, two people walked in. Wang Qian and the others saw Zhang Wanyou  and his wife, the couple coming in and rushed over, “Grandpa, Grandma, you finally came! Put down the bags and let my dad carry them.”

Zhang Lan saw her parents and hurried over to help. This was the first time Zhang Wanyou had come to his daughter’s house. As he looked at the spacious and grand five-room house, he couldn’t help but mutter to himself, “My eldest daughter is so fortunate to live in such a nice house. I can finally put my mind at ease.”

Hao Lianchun welcomed them, “Sister, you two have finally come. This is my third daughter-in-law. Come, let’s sit down and chat.” Geng Linhua took an immediate liking to Peng Ziyun at first sight. Not only did Zuo He resemble his mother, but more importantly, this daughter-in-law’s eyes revealed kindness and joy.

“Auntie, I finally get to see you. Zuo He often talks about you in front of me. You should sit down and rest,” said Peng Ziyun, holding her hand.

Geng Lianhua held Peng Ziyun’s hand and praised her, “Elder sister, you’re truly blessed to have such a beautiful and sensible daughter-in-law. I envy you. Look at how lovely she is. We’ve never seen anyone so beautiful in our area. No wonder your grandchildren are so good-looking. It’s all in the bloodline.”

Despite Peng Ziyun’s generosity, she felt a bit embarrassed by Geng Lianhua’s praise. “Auntie, if you keep saying that, I’ll have to find a hole to hide in. If we talk about our children’s looks, they take after their father more.”

Hao Lianchun proudly added, “That’s right. My son is a handsome young man.”

As everyone sat down and chatted, Wang Zhenhe helped his wife unpack the items brought by the father-in-law. When he saw a large basin of pickled small crabs, he couldn’t contain his smile. He knew how delicious they were.

Mingyuan’s eyes lit up when he saw the basin. “Grandma, you brought pickled crabs! I want to try them. It’s been so long since I’ve had any.”

He then ran into the house and brought out some bread. Zuo Hao and the others had never eaten such food, so they hesitated at first. However, seeing how much Mingyuan and Wang Qian enjoyed it, and the look of pure enjoyment on their faces, they couldn’t resist and joined in. Seeing Peng Ziyun also getting restless, Zhang Lan quickly asked her to join the children for the meal. After tasting the pickled crabs, Peng Ziyun also exclaimed in delight.

“Your pickled crabs are absolutely delicious. The taste is completely different from cooked crabs. It’s so tasty. This is the essence of fresh seafood, especially delightful when eaten raw,” Peng Ziyun exclaimed.

During lunch, the elderly gentlemen also praised the dish. As they were enjoying their meal, the scheduled broadcast began playing on the wall.

The elderly gentlemen exchanged solemn glances, unsure of what the next steps would be. They could only take it one step at a time.

“Ziyun, when you go back, tell Xiangcheng to be more careful in his words and actions. Hide any inappropriate books you have. Also, Old Chen and the others, it’s best to have Zhenhe and the others help hide the academic books you have. The situation is a bit tense this time,” Old Zuo advised.

Old Chen and the others understood the implications of Old Zuo’s words and nodded in agreement. Wang Qian remembered something. Since these elderly gentlemen were all cultured individuals, they likely had some valuable antiques, calligraphy, and paintings at home, which would be difficult to preserve.

“Grandpas, if you have any precious collections at home, it’s best to have someone hide them for you. Otherwise, these things may not be preserved,” she suggested.

Zuo Zhanshan looked at Wang Qian and nodded in approval. “Qianqian is right. Old Chen, you and the others should write back or send a telegram home, asking your family to find a way to properly hide the calligraphy, paintings, and antiques you’ve collected over the years. Otherwise, it’s hard to say what might happen.”

Everyone knew that these items were worthless in their eyes, but they were precious collections accumulated over many years.

While the others were more at ease, Old Chen was worried. His son no longer had any contact with him, and the only person he could trust was his grandson. He wasn’t sure if his grandson, the only person he could trust, could handle this matter.

With heavy hearts, the meal lost its flavor. After eating, Wang Zhenhe took them to send telegrams to their respective families. Still feeling uneasy, they wrote letters again to reiterate their instructions. There was nothing more they could do.

The books brought by Old Chen and the others were hidden by Wang Qian. No one knew where they were hidden, except for Zhang Lan, who had placed them in the storage space.

Zhang Wanyou and his wife stayed at Wang’s house for two days. Wang Qian and the others accompanied the elderly couple, enjoying the joy of family life.