Chapter 005: Returning Home

That house has been unoccupied at times, and it appears to be somewhat dilapidated. Usually, it is only your mother who goes to check on it..." Grandfather Bian Rui began to speak again about that house.

As he passed by the elementary school, Bian Rui turned his head and faintly saw a stone tablet, about a person's height, in the dim light. Although it was difficult to see clearly, during the day, one could read the names of the university students who had walked out from here along with the schools they were admitted to. Over the course of thirty to forty years, nearly four hundred undergraduate and vocational students had graduated from Bianjia Village Elementary School. While this may not seem significant elsewhere, for a rural elementary school, having around twenty students each year go on to university is quite an achievement. Over the course of thirty to forty years, nearly four hundred undergraduate and vocational students had graduated from Bianjia Village Elementary School. While this may not seem significant elsewhere, for a rural elementary school, having around twenty students each year go on to university is quite an achievement

"Grandfather, let's go into the village. Don't just stand there; it's a bit chilly outside!" said Bian Rui

The daughter is having a bit of a hard time holding on; she has been sitting in the back seat for over two hours, almost three hours now, and the little one is starting to feel drowsy with her head bobbing up and down.

While others work tirelessly from dawn till dusk to run their restaurants, my own son only works a maximum of two days a week. How can he possibly make a profit

Continue forward along the cement road; the headlights of the Indian vehicle are quite powerful, illuminating the roadside brightly even in the absence of streetlights

The little girl pointed to her chest and said, "Here!"

The girl behind immediately became excited upon seeing the large black dog, completely losing any sense of sleepiness. If she had not been restrained by the seatbelt, she would have slid down to hug the large black dog.

A few months ago, your master's house was also transferred to you, and the village has also changed the land certificate. After finishing the meal, let your mother bring it to you, " said Bian Rui's father淡淡地说道.

The large black dog beside the old man kept barking furiously at Bian Rui

Bian Ye glanced at his brother's motorcycle and said, "You must be out of your mind, buying such an expensive two-wheeler. With that money, you could have bought a covered vehicle, which would at least keep you dry on rainy days. What use is something like this?" Bian Ye felt that his brother was wasting money.

An aged voice came from the ear of Bian Rui.

"Brother, will you really not return to Mingzhu anymore?" Bian Ye asked

Oh dear, my little darling, I haven't seen you for half a year and I miss great-grandfather so much" The old man held onto his great-granddaughter and wouldn't let go

As soon as the seatbelt was unfastened, the old gentleman embraced my great-granddaughter from the motorcycle and repeatedly asked, "My dear, do you miss your great-grandfather?"

Grandpa is walking behind, and my car is difficult to push

Uncle

"Just hold on a little longer, we will be home in about ten minutes. Grandpa and Grandma, Great-grandpa and Great-grandma have prepared a lot of delicious food for you," said Bian Rui to his daughter

Bian Rui's childhood was also spent in this primary school, but at that time there was only a row of dilapidated adobe houses. Now, the adobe houses have long since disappeared, replaced by a four-story concrete teaching building. Previously, each grade had only about ten students, but now each grade has thirty-four students, and it is said that the total number of students has reached over three hundred.

The little one, named Shen Dongdong, is seven and a half years old. He hasn't seen Bian Rui for half a year, and the child is a bit shy

Big Black, Big Black!

"I might as well fix it myself, since I have nothing else to do at home," said Bian Rui

Bian Rui smiled and said, "If I can't make a profit, then I can't make a profit! I plan to cultivate the land from my master, plant a few acres, and grow some vegetables and the like. That should cover my usual expenses..."

Little darling

Without even looking, Bian Rui recognized from the voice that it was his sister, Bian Ye. She had married into the nearby Shen family in Shenjia Village, and her maternal and in-law families were close together, allowing her to come over with just a step.

Grandfather, wait a moment, I will unbuckle the seatbelt

"Bring the car in, everyone is waiting for you to eat. Where is Jingjing?" Bian Ye glanced behind at his younger brother.

While driving and talking to my daughter, I unknowingly arrived at the village entrance.

Woof! Woof! Woof!

Bian Rui's brother-in-law is named Shen Zhao Xing. He has now contracted several acres of fish ponds in their village, and the family's life is quite good. Previously, when Bian Rui was at Mingzhu, both his parents and grandparents were taken care of by this couple. Both of them are honest and straightforward people

Bian Rui was simply asked a couple more questions by his mother, while everyone else's attention was focused entirely on the little girl. The little girl moved from the arms of her great-grandfather to those of her great-grandmother, then to her grandparents, and finally to her aunt. In just about ten minutes, this time had passed.

Is it the Great Switzerland

Can come, can come

Upon closer inspection, Bian Rui realized it was his own little nephew

For the elderly in the village, when the farming households become idle, it signifies a waiting for death, a notion that many elders are averse to. Unlike the ancestors who prepare joyfully for their departure, many of these grandfathers are 'afraid' of death and believe that as long as they have work to do, they can naturally live a little longer. Therefore, as long as they are able to move, the elderly in the village will almost always seek out some work to engage in

The large black dog initially recognized Bian Rui's voice and wagged its tail, preparing to approach its owner for some affection. However, when it heard the voice of that little girl, Bian Jing, it stood still for a moment, then its eyes involuntarily flickered, and its body noticeably shrank back, revealing an expression of fear.

Bian Rui's hometown and the houses of other families in the village are quite similar, showcasing a strong Jiangnan style. A white courtyard wall encloses a small yard, with a two-story building to the north of the yard. The kitchen is located to the east of the yard, while to the west stands a shed that was once used for raising cattle and sheep. Now, the cattle and sheep have long since moved out of the small yard, so each family has placed a hand-held tractor or some agricultural machinery there. In the middle of the yard, a ginkgo tree is planted.

Teachers are no longer like the three or four teachers from before who taught both language and mathematics, while also covering some art and music; each teacher was a versatile type.

For instance, Bian Rui's grandmother took care of two acres of vegetable garden, while his grandfather tended to twenty to thirty sheep every day, herding them out in the morning and returning home with them in the evening

Currently, the teachers in various subjects have become more professional, with almost all of them being graduates from normal universities. Although there is still a small proportion of substitute teachers who have not secured formal positions, when it comes to the quality of the students they cultivate, it is not an exaggeration to say that even the elementary schools in the county do not dare to claim superiority over the elementary school in Banjia Village.

Anyway, last night Bian Rui had already thought it through. Starting tomorrow, he will undertake a major renovation of that old house to make his living environment more comfortable.

Bian Rui's grandparents are both alive; not only are they both present, but they are also in remarkably good health. Moreover, several elders from Bian Rui's grandfather's generation in the village are still alive, and their health is quite good as well. The oldest, Bian Rui's great-grandfather, is nearly one hundred years old and still manages to cut pigweed, feed the pigs, and tend to the vegetable garden every day.

Bian Rui's bicycle was not easy to push, so Bian Rui rode the bicycle home first, while the old man slowly walked behind, holding his great-granddaughter.

Bian Rui smiled faintly, silently pushing the car into the courtyard and placing it under the shed on the west side

The old man saw his great-granddaughter, and his entire old face seemed to bloom like a flower. He threw away the cigarette butt in his hand, walked over to the motorcycle, and reached out to embrace his great-granddaughter

Bian Rui recognized his grandfather's voice, and immediately extended his foot to support the motorcycle

"What brings you here, you rascal?" Bian Rui joked with his nephew

"Can your little restaurant make money?" my mother asked with a face full of doubt

Bian Rui immediately got out of the car and unfastened the seatbelt on his daughter.

Everyone sat around the table, and the family immediately surrounded a small dining table used for everyday meals, filling it to the brim

Where do you want to go

At this time, Bian Rui's grandmother, parents, and brother-in-law all came out, waiting for the old man to return with his great-granddaughter, creating another lively scene

The village is built against the mountains, situated within a small valley. During the daytime, one can see that the valley and the slopes are mostly filled with cultivated farmland. Now, however, it is shrouded in darkness, with only the sounds of insects chirping and birds singing in the fields.

Hearing his wife ask this, Shen Zhaoxing kicked her under the table, signaling her to be more careful with her words

Bian Rui's grandfather said, "I don't know how long this old Taoist priest will be gone this time. I remember the last time the old Taoist priest's master went out, he was gone for twenty years. When I was waiting for the old Taoist priest to return and inherit that house, I was still a child... The old Taoist priest is not young anymore; he is probably a decade or two older than my elder brother"

Want!

Who knows about this, he has never mentioned his age to me said Bian Rui

In the village, apart from Bian Rui, no one knows that the elusive old Taoist they speak of is actually their common ancestor. Every person with the surname Bian in the village carries his blood. Although everyone respects the old Taoist and usually refers to him as 'Old Taoist,' this relationship is a secret. Bian Rui also does not intend to clarify it, as it would be too troublesome to explain.

Because Bian Rui and Bian Jing have returned, there is quite a spread of dishes today: a pot of stewed potatoes with an old goose, stir-fried garlic sprouts with salted pork, white-cut Feng chicken, a large carp weighing around 4 to 5 jin, and most importantly, a basin full of stewed lamb meat, brimming with fine cuts of meat. The essence of an entire lamb is likely all presented in this basin.

As they were about twenty meters away from the village, the dogs in the village began to bark, awakening the originally tranquil village with the rising and falling sounds of barking.

The house left by the ancestors indeed needs repairs. Some of the tiles on the roof have started to grow grass, and several windows also need attention. Bian Rui cannot stand having the windows covered with paper; they must be replaced with glass. As for the floor, the original stone tiles are not to Bian Rui's liking; at the very least, the bedroom should be replaced with flooring. As for where to get the flooring, we can cut boards from the trees planted in the space.

Bian Rui's motorcycle had just arrived at the doorstep, and the person who heard the sound had already opened the courtyard gate

The old man immediately nodded and said: "Yes, yes, let's go home! We are still waiting for you to have dinner."

Bian Rui is not so much worried about his daughter falling off while asleep, as there are handrails on the back seat of the motorcycle. Bian Rui has also taken sufficient protective measures, so it is unlikely that she would fall off. His main concern is that he is afraid his daughter might catch a cold while sleeping.

Why can't your nephew come? As the old saying goes, a nephew is like a dog in his uncle's house; once he's full, he leaves. Don't say that the family hasn't split yet; even if it has, it is only natural for a nephew to come to your house to eat, drink, and take things.

As soon as he encountered his sister, Bian Rui could only surrender, saying that at this moment it was just like in childhood, where he played a commanding role in front of his sister

During the family reunion, it is essential to have a little wine. Bian Rui accompanied Grandpa, Dad, and Brother-in-law in drinking, while the rest of the people had juice

The sky was dark, and only then did Bian Rui see the small school campus at the foot of the mountain, which meant that he was not far from his hometown.

"If there is nothing going on, then there is no need to reply. Just occasionally check on my little restaurant for a couple of days; most of the time, I will be staying here in my hometown," replied Bian Rui.

Vaguely seeing the village, Bian Rui involuntarily pressed the accelerator a little harder

Grandfather, why are you squatting here

"Heizi, is your skin itchy? I don't even recognize you!" Bian Rui shouted at the black dog.

Dad, I am sleepy