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After hearing Zheng Furong’s words, she had a clear idea in her mind. As long as this person had a weakness, things would be easier.
After spending some time at the Wu family’s house, Zhang Lan mentioned they should head back. The elderly couple tried persuading them to stay at their home, but Zhang Lan politely declined.
“Auntie, Uncle, our house isn’t far from here. Why don’t Uncle Wu drop us off, and you can come visit us sometime. Whenever you have time, come stay over; consider it a relaxing getaway. That house seems perfect for retirement,” Zhang Lan suggested.
Wu Changyong had heard about this matter from Old Chen but hadn’t paid it much attention. However, after Zhang Lan’s comments today, his curiosity was piqued. If the Wang family referred to it as a big house, it must be quite spacious, especially considering their five large tiled-roof houses were already substantial.
“Dear, freshen up; let’s go take a look. If they have some good stuff, we can bring some back. I’ve heard they even grow vegetables. I’m curious to taste the dishes from Mingcheng and others. These youngsters are truly capable; they managed to acquire a house while studying. Let’s go see for ourselves,” Wu Changyong decided.
The siblings from the Wu family also wanted to go, but Grandpa Wu’s car couldn’t accommodate everyone. They had to give up on the idea, but they all agreed that they would visit when they had the chance.
Guided by Mingcheng and the others, the driver drove to the front of the house they had purchased. Wu Changyong started murmuring even before entering.
“Old Chen, why didn’t you mention this was where Qing officials resided? If I had known earlier, I would have moved in long ago. Despite living in a quadrangle courtyard, mine can’t compare to this at all,” Wu Changyong expressed his surprise.
Seeing Wu Changyong appreciate the place, Chen Minghai couldn’t help but smile happily. “Old Wu, if I had said earlier, where would the surprise be today? Look at this, this is the house the kids worked hard to earn in just a few months. To be honest, I feel inferior. Let’s go inside; I reckon once you see it, you won’t want to leave. If you ever feel tired of staying at home, feel free to come over; having a car makes it convenient for you,” Chen Minghai suggested warmly.
Mingcheng unlocked the door, and as the heavy gates creaked open, it felt like they were revealing the history of the house itself, emitting a deep, resonant sound as the brothers slowly pushed the gates aside.
Wu Changyong and his wife began to appreciate the courtyard’s scenery along with everyone else. Zheng Furong admired the surroundings while gently touching her lips, “Oh, Old Wu, why didn’t you bring me here earlier? Such a beautiful place. I don’t want to leave. It’s so spacious; there’s room for everything. Unlike our home with just a few rooms, where there’s no space once you put some miscellaneous items, the kids have nowhere to stay.”
Listening nearby, Wang Qian and the others felt that the elderly lady was someone who knew how to live comfortably. With their family’s status, there wasn’t much need for storing miscellaneous items. It was likely just the sentimentality of older people who were reluctant to let go of things, even though they weren’t regularly used. It was probably a habit developed from past frugal living, saving things unnecessarily out of habit.
“Grandma Zheng, if you run out of space, you can store things at our place. They might turn out to be antiques. The things Grandpa Wu used in the past could become treasures one day,” Mingyuan suggested.
Zheng Furong, upon hearing Mingyuan’s comment, smiled happily. “Mingyuan, what treasures could there be with Grandpa Wu except old patched military uniforms? Even if someone else wore them, they might not want them. Nowadays, young people don’t like wearing patched clothes. It’s not like our time. Oh, we can’t compare. Your generation is truly fortunate,” she reflected.
Hao Lianchun, standing by, corrected her thoughts about Mingyuan and his siblings, “Old Zheng, you’ve got it wrong. When we left Zhenhe’s house, the kids’ clothes had patches too. Even little Qianqian here didn’t want to wear new clothes for the New Year. She always wore hand-me-downs from her siblings. These four kids really went through a lot of hardship. Oh, those were tough times for Zhenhe’s family.”
The two elderly ladies huddled together, enjoying the scenery and chatting, while the three gentlemen, including Wu Changyong, walked slowly behind.
“Zuo, you should be able to move up in the upcoming change of leadership, right?” Wu Changyong asked, glancing at his old comrade. They both knew about his nominal position, but this time, as Wu had pointed out, things should be different.
Remaining modest, Zuo Zhanshan replied, “Old Wu, until the last moment, no one can be certain. Let’s wait and see. If it does happen, I’ll treat you all to drinks.”
Wu Changyong playfully punched his old comrade, saying, “You’re still so conservative, old buddy. After all these years, you haven’t changed. Those who’ve worked covertly are often more intelligent than us blunt old guys. I’m looking forward to that drink you promised. Old Chen, we’ll make sure he treats us well.”
As they spotted the large pool in the Wang family’s estate, both Zuo Zhanshan and Wu Changyong were visibly surprised, their eyes widening in astonishment.
“Zuo, am I seeing this right? Such a large pond! Wow, I’m in luck this time. Old Chen, next time we go fishing, let’s come here. What a great spot—lotus flowers, fish, perfect for cooling off. If I had known earlier, I would have come here long ago,” Wu Changyong exclaimed excitedly.
At that moment, Zuo He took Mingyuan outside, leaving Zhang Lan unsure of their purpose. With Zuo He present, she wasn’t worried about her son getting lost.
Upon seeing the expansive vegetable garden, Zheng Furong and Geng Lianhua’s eyes lit up. They didn’t have a place to grow vegetables themselves; otherwise, they would have started planting long ago. It would have provided them with homegrown produce without having to spend money, a way to pass time when idle.
“Old Hao, just looking at this vegetable garden makes me happy. It brings back memories of our time in the countryside,” Zheng Furong expressed her delight.
Hao Lianchun shared the sentiment, finding that despite the antique charm of the house, it didn’t hinder their search for the familiar feeling of tending to the land back home.
“Auntie, if you like it, let’s go pick some vegetables. We have so many that the kids can’t finish them all. Why not have you join in? Let’s go, we’ll pick some vegetables,” Zhang Lan suggested warmly.
Zhang Lan took the two elderly ladies into the vegetable garden, and the three elderly gentlemen were not ones to sit idle; they followed in to help.
Seeing the excitement of the grandparents, Zuo Hao couldn’t help but feel happy, “Mingcheng, why don’t we let them handle the gardening in the future? Just look at their smiling faces. We rarely see that. If Grandpa decides to make us run again, we might as well bring them here. If they’re happy, we’ll be more comfortable.”
Amused by Zuo Hao’s mischievous suggestion, Mingcheng chuckled, “Come on, they’re meant to garden, and we’re meant to be disciplined. Grandpa knows what he’s doing. The fish in the pond should be grown by now. My sister even brought her fishing rod this time. Let’s go fishing. We can add the catch to dinner and have Wu Grandpa and the others take some home.”
The brothers sat by the pond like two old men, quietly fishing. Meanwhile, Wang Qian and her sister hurried inside to wash fruits, brew tea to prepare for the elderly. They would likely be thirsty after picking vegetables in the scorching sun. Wang Qian truly admired the resilience and spirit of the elderly.
“Sis, do you think what’s with brother and Zuo He sneaking off like that? Are they off to take care of business?” Wang Xuan speculated.
However, Wang Xuan doubted this. With Chen Xu and Yang Nuo around, Mingyuan wouldn’t leave at this time. She believed that he and Zuo He had some other matters to attend to.
“Don’t worry about them; they’ll probably be back soon. Then we’ll know. By the way, are those stones Dad brought back and stored in the basement safe?” Wang Xuan expressed concern about the valuable items, knowing their significance from the fact that her father took all the money from the house. She was genuinely worried about the possibility of theft.
Wang Qian shook her head, “It’s fine. Such a hidden place is unlikely to be discovered by just anyone. Thankfully, we have those basements; otherwise, we’d have nowhere to hide them. Sis, how about we get a dog for the house? It can guard the place and deter thieves. With our large property and us not being home during the day, it’s quite open here. I’m concerned about potential break-ins.”
Their conversation caught the attention of Old Zuo, who was passing by. “Qianqian, you want a dog? No problem. Our unit is about to retire some military dogs. How about I get a couple for you? With such a large yard and just you kids here, I’m a bit worried. Having a dog is good.”
However, Old Wu interjected, “Sweetheart, getting military dogs might be challenging to care for. You’re busy with classes during the day. How about this? Since the soldiers handling these dogs are retiring, why not hire them? With your abilities, taking care of two people shouldn’t be a problem. Just think about the vegetables and fish in the pond here. If you sell them well, you can cover their wages easily.”
Wu Changyong’s words were serious, but Wang Qian sensed an underlying meaning.
Staring at Wu Changyong with bright eyes, she questioned, “Grandpa Wu, you’re not the one behind this idea, are you? Come on, tell me. Why are you so fond of these two soldiers?”
Wu Changyong chuckled and tousled her hair, “You’re too sharp for your own good. Well, about these two soldiers, I have a history with them. Back when I was in the war, their families assisted us. Now that these young men are back and only farming, it’s a shame for such promising individuals. Their situation at home isn’t great. When I visited them after returning from the frontlines, I saw how tough things were for them. I wanted to help them find work here to earn some money for their families.
However, according to regulations, based on their rank, they aren’t assigned jobs. By bringing them here, at least we have someone to look after the house. Besides, these two are bright and not dull-witted individuals. Their characters are impeccable; I can assure you of that.”