Chapter 2 has become more attractive

I don't believe it! Ma Xiaofeng protested, "Dad and Mom's colleagues at the factory all say they have never seen such a handsome child as me"

Ma Xiaolong's home is very close to the school, taking only five minutes to walk, and even less than a minute if sprinting at full speed. However, along this short distance, there is a paper mill, which is not performing well and is expected to close down in a few years

Ma Xiaofeng pouted and frowned as she entered the house with Ma Xiaolong

Hehe, going to school is quite fun I patted Ma Xiaofeng's little head and said You can learn knowledge and also meet many new friends Today I met a particularly handsome deskmate

Ma Xiaolong was on the verge of tears. In his previous life, his grandmother had passed away over ten years ago, yet now she appeared vividly before him

Now, with 10,000 yuan, one can purchase a 100 square meter house with a yard. For instance, his home, including the house and yard, exceeds 200 square meters, and it should be possible to acquire it for 20,000 yuan

......

A thick and long bamboo pole stands at the bottom of the outdoor stairs, with an antenna for receiving television signals tied to the top. When it is windy or rainy, the television inside is filled with static, and one must come out to adjust it

Wash your face and while you're at it, wash your hair as well, using unscented soap, locally known as "yazi," which is a dull yellow color and has a unique sense of nostalgia.

Not important

Every year, using a bamboo pole to knock down jujubes is one of the joys of childhood

Look at yourself." Ma Xiaofeng held the mirror up to Ma Xiaolong's face

There is also a place by the roadside that raises pigeons, not for sending messages, not for amusement, but purely for the purpose of making money

Shining above and below, shining left and right, grinning, missing one front tooth

I feel quite troubled

I do not know which unscrupulous bastard is responsible for this! Even my not-so-hot-tempered mother scolded on the street for an entire afternoon at the entrance.

Twenty years later, Ma Xiaolong also had roasted pigeon, but it was not as delicious as roasted chicken! Not only is it expensive, but the meat is also scarce, purely something for the wealthy to indulge in

Ahead, there is a fork in the road; if you continue straight for fifty meters, you will reach the bank of the canal, commonly referred to as the riverbank. According to the elders, twenty years ago, there were still vessels navigating the waters, but that is no longer the case. This section spans five hundred meters from north to south and fifty meters from east to west, forming a circular canal area. With the water level of the canal having decreased, it has become a recreational spot for idle people and children to play in the water and catch fish

Both the east room and the middle bedroom have a heated bed. The two heated rooms are connected by a kitchen with two stoves on the left and right. In winter, when the stoves are lit, one pot is used for boiling water and another for cooking, making it particularly warm

Poverty has restricted my consumption

Ma Xiaolong's father is an employee at a match factory, earning over one hundred yuan a month, which makes it impossible for him to afford a house. As for why they live in such a large house

"Ugh," Ma Xiaofeng said with a look of disdain, "You don't even have front teeth, it's not attractive at all"

A few days ago, it rained, and the road surface was full of potholes; it has truly been many years since I have seen such a poor road condition, nostalgic yet disdainful

Although there are many poor people now, it has been ten years since the reform and opening up, and there have been quite a few households with assets of over 10,000 yuan. When people have money, they tend to show off, wanting to eat and drink differently from others. Especially in recent years, with the influx of Hong Kong films, roasted pigeon has become a delicacy for those with wealth to try.

The home of Ma Xiaolong is a typical seven-character shaped bungalow, with a long northern section consisting of three rooms and two halls, while the eastern section serves as a storage room and kitchen. Under the eaves of the seven-character structure, there is a half-meter high cement step that elevates the indoor height to prevent flooding during rain.

The yard is quite large, and a small vegetable plot has been cleared at the base of the southern wall, where some small chili peppers and seasonal vegetables have been planted. On either side of the vegetable plot, there are two trees, both of which are jujube trees

......

Hmm..." Ma Xiaolong thought carefully and nodded: "More handsome than you

This is the guard dog of his household, a small breed, very gentle, but will bark when encountering strangers

Memories of childhood

"Hmph!" Ma Xiaofeng huffed, getting up to retrieve a vanity mirror from the desk by the window. It was adult-sized, oval-shaped, surrounded by a ring of red plastic, and had a base, primarily for Ma Xiaofeng's vanity, though Ma Xiaolong occasionally used it when he was losing his baby teeth.

As soon as he entered the house, Ma Xiaolong took the washbasin from the basin rack to fetch water. The wind was a bit strong today, blowing all the way home, and upon arriving, he found that the dog had chewed on it, leaving his face all marked up

Stepping on the seams of the concrete pavement, he gazed at the dilapidated bungalows on both sides, feeling both strange and familiar. In more than a decade, this place would be demolished and replaced with a continuous row of buildings and commercial areas. Before his rebirth, the housing prices here had reached around ten thousand yuan per square meter.

Lulu works hard and is highly productive, giving birth to two litters of puppies each year, bringing in an income of one to two hundred yuan for the family. However, I remember that Lulu would be poisoned to death a few years later

Above the school gate, the four red characters "Tea Shop Primary School" are inscribed, worn and with the paint peeling off

The subsequent developments were quite magical, as the young couple quickly fell in love and got married within a month. The following year, they welcomed their son, Ma Xiaolong, and the year after that, their daughter, Ma Xiaofeng. With both a son and a daughter, their speed was comparable to short track speed skating, and before they knew it, they had swept the gold and silver medals.

The little old lady with silver-gray short hair walked out of the kitchen, holding a bowl of shredded pickled vegetables, drizzled with sesame oil, and was stirring it with chopsticks to enhance the flavor

"Oh!" Ma Xiaofeng did not believe it: "Could there be anyone as handsome as me?"

Lulu wagged her tail and enthusiastically licked his face

A clothesline connects the east wall and the west wall, on which hand-washed garments are hung, their styles evoking a sense of nostalgia

One must not cry, one must not cry; how can a man cry

Ma Xiaolong turned to look at the walls on both sides of the school gate. On the left side, it read 'A Century-Long Plan', and on the right side, it stated 'Education as the Foundation'. The bright red characters were particularly striking.

He still remembers after all these years

Hahaha, Lulu! Ma Xiaolong picked up the dirt dog running towards him and crazily petted it

You are not doing well either. Both individuals are in the teething stage, and Ma Xiaofeng's teeth are also uneven, allowing them to hurt each other.

Who is this exquisite young gentleman in the mirror, with a delicate face, picturesque features, and red lips and white teeth? It seems to be me? Am I really this good-looking?

He and Ma Xiaofeng can only lay an electric blanket on their bed, and they often suffer from heat. However, it is hard to complain, as being able to sleep with an electric blanket in this era is quite a matter of pride

Turning left leads to a narrow alley covered with a cement slab over the sewer, and after walking another 100 meters, you will reach Ma Xiaolong's home

Currently, the house where my father lives is my grandfather's house, and his job is also a position that my grandfather retired from in advance. The cost of this arrangement is that both my grandfather and grandmother live with us. My father can be considered a son-in-law, and in the future, he will be responsible for providing for the two elderly people.

Ma Xiaolong was silent for three seconds, and then a light bulb went off in his head: Ah! 15 points of charm

A little girl with a bob haircut ran out of the west room. She was wearing a cheap white dress and inexpensive sandals, her skin slightly dark, her small face flushed, and her big eyes filled with curiosity: "Is school fun?"

"Such a pity." Upon learning that Ma Xiaolong's home was to the left, Zhu Sha waved his hand and said, "Goodbye." He then turned and walked to the right, his single ponytail swaying gently.

Goodbye, teacher

However, poverty is the original sin. Although there is no problem with having enough to eat, the insufficient intake of meat, eggs, and dairy is extremely detrimental to the growth and development of young Ma Xiaolong.

Fortunately, Grandpa and Grandma hold great respect for this son-in-law. After the births of Ma Xiaolong and Ma Xiaofeng, they both took their father's surname. Dad treats the two elders as if they were his own parents, and despite being somewhat poor, the family of six lives together harmoniously.

Washing the white, without any fragrance to apply, using a towel to wipe the hair, walking towards the west bedroom, where Ma Xiaofeng is leaning by the bed, flipping through his textbooks

"Going to school is for acquiring knowledge, not for playing." Ma Xiaolong took off his backpack and hung it around Ma Xiaofeng's neck: "All the books inside need to be studied, and there will be homework after school this afternoon, it's exhausting! Cherish the last year of happy times! Your difficult days will come next year."

Ma Xiaofeng, six years old, his future girlfriend who will be 1.68 meters tall

"You are back!" Grandmother smiled kindly

"Eat noodles," Grandma smiled and said, "There is persimmon (si) egg sauce, and also fried small fish, to celebrate our little Long starting elementary school"

Why? Because on the way home from school, 'Classmate Xiong' played this little trick with the goat raised by this family. Of course, it was also due to just having learned this text and mimicking it.

Take a deep breath and put Lulu down: "Grandma, what are we having for lunch?"

The bed is a metal frame bed, covered with two thick wooden boards joined together, measuring 2M × 1.8M, a double bed. Since he could remember, he and Ma Xiaofeng have been sleeping on this bed. Their parents and grandparents dote on them, allowing them to sleep on the only bed while they themselves sleep on the kang.

Grandma is still the best. Ma Xiaolong was delighted, as the tomato and egg sauce noodles were his favorite since childhood

At the school gate, the crowd disperses, each returning to their own home, each looking for their own mother

What happened?" Ma Xiaolong sat down by the bed, crossed his legs, and flipped through the book

Hearing the sound of his entrance, Ma Xiaofeng turned her head to glance at him, and suddenly froze for a moment

"Brother, you look much better after washing your face." Ma Xiaofeng stared at his face, her gaze uncertain

Ah! Ma Xiaofeng's expression was one of despair, feeling quite conflicted.

They are just being polite, do you really believe that!

At the age of twenty-three, while delivering goods to the match factory on a tricycle, he caught the eye of the grandfather of an old employee at the factory. After a period of observation, the grandfather introduced his little granddaughter to him

Grandma laughed and scolded: "Teasing your sister again, like a mischievous little monkey. Look at your face, it looks like a dog has chewed on it. Hurry and wash up, it's almost time for dinner."

Ma Xiaolong bit down on his molars: Don't let me know who that is, or I'll deal with them.

The basin rack is made of iron and has been coated with a layer of red paint. After prolonged use, some of the paint has chipped off. Two towels are hanging on it, one with blue and yellow stripes and the other pink with flowers. The blue and yellow striped towel belongs to him, while the pink one with flowers belongs to Ma Xiaofeng.

On the right side of the school gate, there are vendors selling snacks, toys, and stationery. Ma Xiaolong patted his pocket and turned to head home

Do you remember stealing paper when you were a child

Ah!

I went up to grab the goat's horn, but it turned its head and threw me over with a big tumble

The black wooden door is half ajar, and a yellow dirt dog is lying at the entrance. Upon hearing the familiar footsteps, it has not yet risen, but its tail begins to wag.

They are all memories of childhood

In the southeast corner, a dry toilet has been constructed, while in the northwest corner, there is a washbasin located at the bottom of the steps. At the top of the steps, there is a large tank filled with tap water, which during this period was uncontaminated and could be consumed directly, being exceptionally sweet

Ma Xiaolong's father is 1.74 meters tall, and his mother is 1.64 meters tall, yet he is only 1.73 meters tall as an adult... Interestingly, Ma Xiaofeng is 1.68 meters tall as an adult...

Ma Xiaolong, not minding the dirt, carried Lulu into the courtyard and shouted: "Grandma! Grandma!"

A gust of wind blew by, raising a cloud of dust. Ma Xiaolong raised his hand to shield his eyes and said, "Hurry up and go inside, I just washed my hair, don't let it get dirty again"

Brother

Relying entirely on living off others' resources

My father comes from a rural background. He has two older brothers from the same mother but different fathers, and a younger brother and sister from the same father and mother. He grew up in poverty, struggling to make ends meet, and after finishing elementary school, he started living independently. Although he lacks special skills, he is not afraid of hard work, is diligent, and during the agricultural off-season, he would ride a tricycle to the city to deliver goods, earning a little extra money.

I have always been good-looking. " Ma Xiaolong grinned, revealing that he was missing one of his front teeth

Goodbye, classmates

"What is this..." Ma Xiaolong was taken aback

A nearby household has raised several goats

( ╥╯ ^ ╰╥ ) Feeling quite distressed, who will come to save the little dragon who should be 1.8 meters tall

The love of elders constrained by the limitations of their era

Family planning ? Huh ! ... Beep beep beep -- 404...