Chapter 20: Cao Shujie’s Gloating

Mengmeng’s words amused Cao Jianguo. He took his granddaughter from his son and held her in his arms, pointing to the new house, which had already started building its second floor, and said, “Mengmeng, look, your new house is almost built. You’ll be able to move in in a few months.”

But this held far less attraction for Mengmeng than the little puppies did.

Cao Shujie said, “Dad, she’s too young, what does she understand?”

“Oh, look at my brain, I’m getting senile.” Cao Jianguo laughed and teased himself, then asked his son, “Shujie, why are you here?”

“Isn’t it because the weather is nice today, so we brought Mengmeng out for a walk?” Cao Shujie said.

“Awoo…”

“Awoo awoo awoo!”

The two puppies also expressed their presence at the opportune moment.

Cao Shujie added, “They both have too much energy lying around at home, so we brought them out for a walk too.”

Cao Jianguo nodded, “It’s not very safe here with the house building, you two go play on the Mountain. The fruit trees on the Mountain are all in bloom, it’s especially beautiful.”

“I was just thinking of going to see.” Cao Shujie lifted his foot and carried his daughter towards the Mountain.

Cheng Xiaolin greeted her father-in-law and also led the two puppies, following behind them up the mountain.

She watched the father and daughter bobbing up and down in front of them, especially worried that her husband would drop their daughter, and reminded her husband from behind, “Honey, slow down, hold Mengmeng tight.”

Cao Jianyou, who was working for them, saw the leisurely and contented backs of Cao Shujie and his family of three, his face full of envy: “Jianguo Ge, your good days are coming.”

When Cao Jianguo heard him say that, he secretly chuckled to himself, but still said, “Hey, what good days? Didn’t you see I’m still here supervising and helping with building his house?”

Cao Jianyou shook his head and said, “Jianguo Ge, it’s different. I’m not blind, I can tell that my nephew is a capable person.”

“These days, there are too few capable young people willing to come back and develop. Our village just lacks a decent leader.”

“Jianyou, don’t flatter him so much. If he knew you praised him like this, his eyes would fly to the sky (he’d get too proud).” Cao Jianguo said this, but he was even happier inside.

Cao Zhenggang looked around, then came out. He looked at Cao Jianguo and said, “Jianguo, have you asked Shujie if he’s found someone for the renovation yet?”

Cao Jianguo didn’t think much of it. He shook his head and said, “Zhenggang Shu, I really haven’t asked him. What’s wrong?”

“It’s like this: A friend I used to know is now doing renovations. He heard that Shujie is building a two-story house here, and wanted me to help ask. If Shujie hasn’t found anyone yet, he’d like to come and take a look.”

Finally, he added, “My friend is quite meticulous in his work.”

Cao Jianguo nodded, but did not agree on behalf of his son. He said, “Zhenggang Shu, I really can’t say about this. When Shujie comes down from the Mountain later, I’ll ask him.”

He said, “After all, it’s for young people to live in. They just came back from Beijing, so they might have their own ideas. I can’t really say how they want to renovate.”

This was the truth. Cao Zhenggang knew that Cao Jianguo wasn’t just being perfunctory. Young people who have stayed outside and then returned to their hometowns, they all advocate for things like European-style decoration or pastoral styles.

And these are precisely the weak points for them, the elderly.

“Alright, then when Shujie comes back, please help me ask. If he’s already found someone, then forget it.” Cao Zhenggang also didn’t want to force anyone.

…………

On the Mountain, Cao Shujie carried his daughter Mengmeng up.

His wife Cheng Xiaolin followed behind, leading two small huskies.

“Wow, so beautiful!” Mengmeng looked at the fruit tree blossoms all over the mountain and danced with joy.

By the end of last month, the fruit trees on the Mountain already showed signs of blooming. A few days passed, and whether it was the Kiwi fruit trees or the apple trees, they were all in bloom.

White and cream-colored flowers intertwined, layer upon layer, looking like a sea of flowers at a glance, making one feel comfortable in body and mind.

Taking a breath of fresh air on the mountain and smelling the rich fragrance of the fruit tree blossoms also made one feel intoxicated.

Cheng Xiaolin was a little surprised: “Honey, our fruit trees really bloomed quite early. I see that other people’s haven’t bloomed yet.”

“Of course, my nutrient solution wasn’t mixed for nothing.” Cao Shujie didn’t hide it from his wife.

He said, “Honey, let me ask you, can people who regularly take various nutritional supplements be the same as those who don’t?”

“Only you are capable, alright?” Cheng Xiaolin glanced at him and said, “No matter how others ask, don’t tell anyone about the nutrient solution.”

“How could I not know? Besides you and Mengmeng, no one else knows.” Cao Shujie said with a raised eyebrow.

As soon as he finished speaking, the blue-eyed husky on the ground was unconvinced and lifted its neck: “Awoo, awoo…”

The brown-eyed little husky followed, lifting its neck and barking: “Awoo… Woof woof!”

“Haha!” Cheng Xiaolin couldn’t help but laugh. She said to her husband, “Are these two dogs saying they know too? Honey, do you think we should silence them?”

“Oh, go on.” Cao Shujie couldn’t be bothered to respond to his wife anymore.

Mengmeng didn’t want to sit on her dad’s shoulders anymore. She kept insisting on getting down and walking by herself. Cao Shujie slowly put her down: “Mengmeng, you must run slowly.”

He still remembered his daughter falling here last time. Luckily, she didn’t get disfigured.

Letting his daughter play with the two little huskies, Cheng Xiaolin walked over to her husband and said, “Honey, I think we should fence off this part of the mountain?”

“Also, you mentioned last time that you wanted to contract the remaining mountain fields. I think we should confirm it quickly.” Cheng Xiaolin reminded him.

Cao Shujie nodded. His wife made a good point: “Then I’ll go find the Village Party Secretary and Village Head tonight.”

“Don’t go empty-handed, take something with you.” Cheng Xiaolin reminded him.

Cao Shujie nodded, “Don’t worry, these are small matters.”

“Alright, I just think it’s better to confirm the matter of contracting the mountain fields sooner, to avoid complications.” Cheng Xiaolin said.

Cao Shujie, however, didn’t think much of it. He said, “Honey, you’re overthinking it. If anyone wanted to contract this mountain, they would have done so long ago. Why hasn’t anyone contracted it?”

Cheng Xiaolin looked towards the mountaintop, deep in thought: “Is it what you said last time, that transportation here is inconvenient, and watering and harvesting are relatively difficult?”

“Otherwise, what did you think? No matter how short this mountain is, it’s still a mountain. How troublesome it is to go up and down. The main workforce in the village is still elderly. How many can endure going up and down the mountain every day?” Cao Shujie shook his head.

Even Cheng Xiaolin fell silent. She seemed to have just realized something: there aren’t many young people like them who return to their hometowns to develop. Ninety-nine percent of them work outside or start their own businesses. They only come back for holidays if they have time.

Mengmeng didn’t care what her parents were talking about. She went off to play with the two puppies.

Seeing her mom holding the dog leash, Mengmeng’s eyes darted around. She went over to her mom to ask for the leash: “Mommy, give it to me.”

“You can’t hold them.” Cheng Xiaolin didn’t give it to her.

Don’t look at these two puppies being only a dozen days old, but they grow quickly. Plus, Mengmeng is too small. If the two puppies start running, they might pull her down. That would be troublesome.

“Mommy, give it to me quickly.” Mengmeng mumbled, trying to snatch it.

When Cheng Xiaolin didn’t give it to her, she hugged her mom’s legs. Her head burrowed between her mom’s legs to Cheng Xiaolin’s back, and then she hugged her mom’s legs with her whole body, as if she had no bone support, and directly sat down on Cheng Xiaolin’s feet.

“Mommy, give it to me.” Mengmeng started to act spoiled.

She was a typical example of not giving up until she achieved her goal!

Cheng Xiaolin was so annoyed she wanted to kick her out: “Honey, look at Mengmeng, isn’t she annoying?”

“Mengmeng, get up quickly, or you’ll get a beating.” Cao Shujie said with a mischievous smile. He seemed to want to see his daughter in trouble.

As soon as his words fell, Cao Shujie’s phone rang. He took it out and saw it was his sister Cao Huifang calling. He immediately got a headache.

When he answered the phone and asked, he heard his sister say that she would be coming back for the Qingming Festival holiday.

“Brother, I heard Mom say you’re back in our hometown. Do you have time to pick me up?” Cao Huifang shouted on the phone.

(End of this chapter)