Chapter 44: Becoming a left-behind child
Chapter 44: Becoming a left-behind child
In fact, everything had already been packed a long time ago, but Mei Qiuping kept going from room to room, seeing Feng Yiping, 'Yiping, can you help me think again, is there anything I've forgotten to bring? I clearly remembered forgetting something earlier, but now I can't remember.'
Feng Yiping complained, 'Mom, you've asked me five times since this afternoon. I really have brought everything I should bring, so you don't need to look for it anymore.'
Mei Qiuping pretended to hit him, 'You're impatient like this, so if I get old in the future and you marry a daughter-in-law, won't you ignore me?'
Feng Yiping couldn't help but laugh. This has nothing to do with anything!
To make sure there was nothing missing, Mei Qiuping found a plastic bag and prepared to pack up the leftovers from the New Year's Eve meal, including cabbage, carrots, lotus root, yuba, vermicelli, and so on, and take them to Mei Jia Wan.
Feng Yiping stopped her, saying, 'Mom, you'll be carrying a lot tomorrow, and there's already a lot of stuff. How will you carry all this? Besides, Grandpa's family doesn't need these things now, and they're not worth much. I think we should give them to the neighbours or uncles.'
Mei Qiuping ignored him, 'They don't need it either. Besides, it was all bought with money. Just think, a few years ago, during the Chinese New Year, we were worried about the few yuan we needed to buy candy and wine to visit our relatives. You, my boy, have now become so extravagant.'
Feng Yiping said, 'A close neighbour is better than a distant relative. We won't be home, so they'll have to look after the house and the economic forest. Besides, they don't even grow vegetables in the garden anymore. When I come back occasionally, there won't even be any vegetables. Do I have to buy them and bring them back? Now they're taking the remaining vegetables to Grandma's house, and then they'll go to their vegetable garden and pick vegetables. It's not good. It's better to do them a favour now. It's not worth much anyway, and there's no need to bother taking it to Grandma's house.'
'You, you, I think the last sentence is what you really mean, you just don't want to carry it tomorrow.' Although she said this, Mei Qiuping also felt that her son had a point.
'Then we'll give it to Weidong's family, they're helping look after the house, so we'll take it to them in the morning. As for your uncles, it's only right to pick some vegetables from their vegetable garden, and if they say anything, you let me know.'
So early the next morning, Mei Qiuping took the vegetables to Feng Weidong's house. Feng Weidong said, 'Why don't you just come over to my house in the morning and eat, so you don't have to start a fire and clean up afterwards?'
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This is how it is in the countryside: if you are generous to others, they will be generous to you; if you are stingy, they won't even offer you a sip of water.
After breakfast, Dong Ming came over to help carry the things. He wanted to help deliver them to Meijiawan all the way. The four of them, carrying on their shoulders and in their hands, set off in the sound of firecrackers.
When they arrived at the hillock, the uncles were standing there. The second uncle told Feng Zhenchang, 'Be careful when you're away from home.'
Feng Hongbing's mother followed behind, saying, 'Yiping, don't always stay at your grandmother's house. Come back with Hongbing during the holidays and stay at my house for food and lodging. You don't need to worry.'
After arriving at Meijiawan, they didn't even have time to eat, and just had a cup of tea. The two tricycles ordered by Meiyiliang arrived, and everyone helped to load the things onto the tricycles. Wang Changning and his parents also came to help.
In front of her family, Mei Qiuping didn't show much reluctance, but when the car started moving, she couldn't help but redden her eyes. She looked at her young son standing at the bridgehead and her old father, and with great difficulty, she held back her tears.
They would first go to the town, take a bus to the county seat, and then catch the bus from the county seat to the provincial capital. If all went well, they would have to make this roundabout journey until the evening to reach the rented room in the provincial capital.
The car slowly drove away, turning a few corners and disappearing from view. So, in early 1993, Feng Yiping once again became a glorious left-behind child.
Lunch was eaten at Wang Changning's house, and they even invited his grandfather over as a more formal way of treating their guest.
Wang Changning's father looked about the same age as Feng Zhenchang, but was actually younger. He looked older than Feng Zhenchang, and like Feng Zhenchang, he was quite serious in front of his children.
He didn't say much, and his main focus was on Mei Jianzhong. Throughout the meal, all he said was 'use your chopsticks and eat your vegetables' and 'here, have a sip'.
Wang Changning's mother said that the family had discussed it, and after the chestnuts were harvested in the second half of the year, they would also try their luck in the provincial capital. They were also very grateful to Feng Yiping and his family.
Mei Jianzhang said, 'It's not like that. You and Qiuping grew up together as children, so it's only natural that you help each other out. Besides, they haven't helped much.'
Wang Changning's mother said, 'Our two families are in a similar situation. We're always busy from one year to the next, and we never have much money left over. Now Anan can bring home a few yuan a year, but she's a girl and not young anymore. She has to prepare for the future and get married, and the family can't just rely on her. We can only hope that Changning and the others can get into university and find good jobs in the future. Not to mention whether they can get in or not, just thinking about the tuition fees of a few thousand to tens of thousands of yuan a year, as well as living expenses, we have no idea at all. Now that there is such an opportunity, even if they can earn 2,000 yuan a year, then we will have a better idea of what to expect. How can this not be a big help?'
Feng Yiping said, 'Auntie, Changning and I both have an older sister. They will all go to other people's families in the future. Changning and I are like brothers. We promised to go to high school together and take the university entrance exam together. In the future, we will definitely need to trouble you. When we need help, this really won't be a problem.'
Wang Changning's father interrupted, 'Changning, you are older than Yiping. In the future, no matter what time it is, you must look after him a little.'
Wang Changning nodded silently. His father continued, 'You're not young anymore. You need to study hard, but you also need to learn how to get along with others. Don't always be like a mute, you need to learn to speak up when you need to. Don't you agree, Uncle?'
Mei Jianzhong said, 'Don't worry about that. They're quick learners. Besides, it's okay if they're not good with words, as long as they're hardworking. They're in a good generation, don't worry, they'll all achieve great things.'
Feng Yiping looked at Wang Changning's sinister smile, which made him a little confused.
Feng Yiping thought to himself, 'He's just being dumb in front of you elders.'
On the way to school, Wang Changning was visibly happier than before. "That's good, even if we don't get into No. 1 High School the year after next, we can still ask our parents to let us repeat the year.'
Feng Yiping said, "That's the worst-case scenario. It's not best to get in all at once in one go.'
Wang Changning was a little unsure, 'It seems that you have no problem, but I'm afraid it's still a bit difficult for me.'
Feng Yiping said, 'We still have to have confidence in ourselves. Don't we still have more than two years? If we work hard together, we should be able to do it!'
'Is that possible?'
Feng Yiping said, 'If there are no problems, my parents will come back during the summer vacation to help me rent a house in the countryside. At that time, I want you, Xiao Zhijie, and I to live together, work hard together, and study together. There are still more than two years before the entrance exam. Trust us, it's possible!'
Wang Changning learned for the first time that Feng Yiping was going to live away from home. 'Really? Your parents agree for you to live away from home? That's great. How did you convince them?'
Feng Yiping deliberately kept it a secret, 'Haha, the mountain man has his own wonderful plan.' He would never say the specific reason.
Wang Changning, with a longing look, asked Feng Yiping as if he were talking to himself, 'Do you think we can let our parents live a good life in the future?'
Feng Yiping patted him on the shoulder, 'Yes, you will let them live in a villa and drive a luxury car in the future.'
'I know what a villa is, but what is a luxury car?'
Feng Yiping had no choice but to help popularise the brands of cars.
When they were almost at school, the monitor Tang Shaokang caught up on his bike. This time, he was riding with a girl, probably from Class 3.
In class, they didn't talk much, but on the way here, they would always say a few words whenever they met on the weekends.
They were all the same age and at the beginning of their love lives, so Feng Yiping and Wang Changning couldn't help but tease them a little. The girl, Ye Meng, was very open and unembarrassed.
They were almost at the school gate when Feng Yiping's uncle, Lin Kaiming, rode out, and his aunt saw him off at the gate. Feng Yiping shouted a loud hello to them.
At that moment, Tang Shaokang casually asked, 'Feng Yiping, have you submitted any work this month?'
Feng Yiping answered casually, 'No,' and as soon as the words came out, he realised that they were wrong.
Tang Shaokang stopped holding the handlebars and said to the girl, 'You see, I told you it was him.'
Feng Yiping was a little annoyed. A man in his thirties with a mind like this has fallen into the trap of a little brat. Go to hell, are children this calculating at this time? Why didn't I realise it before?
It seems that either he was too insensitive at the time, or he wasn't worth the trouble.