Chapter 19 Pang Jianyuan brings watermelon to the door

When the elderly couple first heard about Ming Leyao’s situation, their hearts were filled with pity. The old lady even cursed angrily, scolding the Ming family for not appreciating such a good girl and not treating her well. So, from early that morning when they saw Ming Leyao, the couple’s eyes involuntarily carried a tender kindness. This made Ming Leyao’s impression of the Cui family even better. Everyone radiated a different kind of aura — this was the deepest feeling Ming Leyao had after taking the lotus seed medicine. The aura was something intangible and elusive; if you asked her to describe exactly what was different, she really couldn’t. She just felt very comfortable and at ease when being around the Cui family.

This also strengthened her determination to treat Cui Baoguo well — such a beautiful family deserved to have their happiness continued.

At noon, they ate a simple meal together. After taking his medicine, Cui Baoguo went to rest with his wife. Cui Ying had to return the car, so after lunch, he left right away.

With some free time, Ming Leyao went to visit the production team leader, Pang Jianyuan’s home. These past few months weren’t busy, and the team took a two-hour break at noon. Once the busy double-harvest season started, this rest benefit would likely disappear.

At that moment, Pang Jianyuan was in the yard weaving a basket, with his eldest son Pang Yun beside him.

“Uncle, Brother Pang, are you busy?” Ming Leyao called from outside the fence.

“Oh? Leyao, you’re back!”

“Yes, uncle. I just came back and wanted to say hello.”

Pang Yun opened the door with a dark-skinned face and a simple smile, nodding to greet her.

“Is your work over there done?”

“Almost, but there are still some things that might need your help tonight.”

“Tonight?”

“Yes, tonight you bring your wife over to my place for dinner.”

“Alright, just yesterday the second brother came back from town and brought a big watermelon for me and your aunt. I’ll cut half and bring it to you tonight.”

“The second brother is back?”

“Yes, their factory wasn’t busy yesterday, so they finished early and came back in the afternoon, leaving again this morning.”

“That watermelon is from the second brother to show filial piety. Uncle, are you really willing to give it away?”

Of course, he was reluctant — a watermelon cost five yuan, and half was worth two and a half. But even so, he had to share it with someone. Giving it to Ming Leyao didn’t hurt as much.

“You little girl, you just know how to tease your uncle.”

“Then I won’t say more, I’m looking forward to your watermelon.”

“Alright, get going now, little girl.”

Pang Jianyuan laughed and chased Ming Leyao off. She smiled mischievously at him and turned to leave. Ming Leyao thought maybe that half watermelon would bring unexpected benefits to Pang Jianyuan. Compared to those benefits, the watermelon was well worth giving away.

After leaving the team leader’s house, Ming Leyao walked toward the East Village. She arrived at the gate of a rather large courtyard and loudly called, “Auntie, are you home?”

“Eh? Who’s that?”

“I came to trade some eggs.”

“Wait a moment.”

Just then, footsteps approached, and the door opened to reveal a dark-skinned smiling face.

“Isn’t this the Ming family’s girl? Come in, come in! My mother-in-law has saved eggs for a whole month — thirty of them. How many do you want to trade?”

“I want them all, auntie.”

The He family was the only wealthy household in Shangjiaqiao Production Team. That was because they raised five chickens — one rooster and four hens. People said the He family’s grandmother knew how to raise chickens well. The chickens were plump and the eggs tasty, so many people liked to come occasionally and trade for a few eggs.

This was the first time someone wanted all of them at once.

“All of them?”

“Yes, auntie, all of them.”

“Well…”

Although they had many hens, they couldn’t guarantee eggs every day. After their own family’s consumption, saving thirty eggs was already hard. The He family’s eldest daughter-in-law quickly packed all the eggs into Ming Leyao’s basket. After receiving three yuan, she also pulled lots of home-grown vegetables from the field and stuffed them into the basket.

“Thank you, auntie.”

“Oh, don’t mention it. You live alone, it’s not easy. These vegetables are from our garden, they’re not worth much. If auntie can’t help you with anything else, at least I can give you some vegetables.”

“I appreciate your kindness.”

“If you need anything in the future, just come find me.”

“Alright.”

Ming Leyao said goodbye to the He family’s eldest daughter-in-law and headed back, adding half a pound of pork to her basket on the way.

Back home, she busied herself cooking. Around four o’clock, the Cui elderly couple woke up. The old lady helped Ming Leyao in the kitchen, while the old gentleman had nothing to do and sat in the yard playing with the dog.

At five o’clock, Pang Jianyuan arrived with Li Fang.

Upon opening the door, they saw an old gentleman sitting in the yard — a stranger to them. Pang Jianyuan hesitated for a moment, then stepped out to look around.

Sure enough, this was Leyao’s home. He then stepped back inside.

Seeing Pang Jianyuan’s hesitation, the Cui old gentleman smiled knowingly.

“You two are here to see Leyao, right?”

“Yes, uncle. You are…?”

“I’m here because I have some business with Leyao. I’ll be staying nearby for a few days.”

“Oh, I see… May I ask your family name?”

As the team leader, it was normal for Pang Jianyuan to ask a few questions of a stranger, especially someone appearing at Ming Leyao’s house.

“My surname is Cui. I am Cui Ying’s father.”

Cui… Cui Ying’s father?? That was… Director Cui’s father???

“Sorry, Mr. Cui.”

“No problem. It’s proper for you, the team leader, to be cautious.”

The old gentleman waved off the apology and invited Pang Jianyuan and his wife inside to sit.

Li Fang carried the watermelon into the kitchen and greeted Cui’s old lady. Thinking of the old gentleman at the door, she quickly said hello.

“Hello, Auntie Cui.”

“Oh? You are…?”

“Mrs. Cui, she is the team leader’s wife, Li Fang. I need to tell the team leader something, so I invited them over for dinner tonight.”

“Of course, of course.”

“Leyao, here’s that half watermelon. I’ll cut it.”

“Alright, auntie, you use that knife — the one for cutting vegetables.”

“Ah…??”

Li Fang was a bit puzzled. Whose knife was specially for vegetables or for meat? She figured it was just that Leyao’s family had one more kitchen knife and they divided their use, so she didn’t think much of it.

At half past five, the meal was served. Ming Leyao invited everyone to sit down.

“That watermelon Pang brought? That’s a precious thing.”

They chatted in the yard for a while, and the old gentleman felt so comfortable he spontaneously started calling Pang Jianyuan “Little Pang.”