Chapter 2: Returning Home

"Is my second uncle not drying the grain today?" Chu Jiaqiang asked

Gao Xin City is a coastal city in the south, with economic development that is tepid rather than vigorous. In the southern region, it is considered a mid-lower tier city, but it is significantly better off compared to cities in the central and western regions.

"Hehe! Jiaxiong is getting married the day after tomorrow, this is a gift for him." Chu Jiaqiang responded with a smile, looking at these familiar faces, feeling very pleased

After getting off the car, he checked the time; it was nearly 4 o'clock. Chu Jiaqiang did not rush to go back; instead, he strolled around the street for a couple of laps, as he still needed to buy some things. The streets of Heqian Town are situated on both banks of the Qing Shui River. The left bank features the old street, which has a history of several decades, with buildings dating back to the Republic of China era. The right bank is the new street, which has only developed in recent years.

Although the villagers are poor, their relationships are quite good; they greet each other upon meeting and try to help one another when there are issues. This is in contrast to city dwellers, who may not even know their neighbors. The pace of life in the city is fast, creating a sense of pressure, and there is less trust among people, accompanied by a touch of indifference

"Go away, Dahei, I'm busy right now!" Chu Jiaqiang kicked Dahei away.

"Tsk tsk! That kid is fortunate. With such a large television, he can also move a stool over to watch it when he has the time, indulging himself a bit." A young man, slightly more powerful than the Chu family, said with envy in his eyes. This person is named Chu Jiaqing, of the same generation as Chu Jiaqiang, and also belongs to the family line. It is said that he went out to work a few years ago, but he is also part of the 'moonlight tribe,' and his family personally invited him back.

I understand, Uncle, rest assured," Chu Jiaqiang nodded and said. He then asked, "Uncle, do you often take this route?

"Brother, you are back! Let me help you with that," Chu Jiawan said with a smile as she took the items from Chu Jiaqiang's hands

Looking at these friendly faces and listening to the words filled with concern, Chu Jiaqiang felt a surge of warmth in his heart

Aunt Er felt delighted, knowing that her nephew was thoughtful; she had been nagging about this mixer for a long time

Oh dear! It seems that Jiaqiang has truly struck it rich outside. I have seen this television in town; it is the best model, costing nearly 5,000, right?" Uncle Dagui looked at the flat-screen television with envy in his eyes

Uncle Wu held a position of respect in the village, second only to the old village chief. The two or three individuals who were called upon said nothing and shouldered the television, leading the way to Uncle Chu's house. Behind them followed a few mischievous children, who had not yet had their fill of candy and biscuits.

"Young man, you need to be careful with your television later. The first half of this road is manageable; it was paved with cement two years ago. However, the latter half is difficult to navigate, not only because of the steep gradient but also due to the numerous potholes. With the rain over the past two days, the road conditions have worsened significantly. Otherwise, I wouldn't charge you twenty-five yuan." The driver uncle reminded.

After chatting with the driver for over an hour about various topics, the tricycle finally arrived at Chujiazha. Chu Jiaqiang instructed the driver to stop the vehicle at a place in the village known as Tushuda He Ping, where many people were drying rice. However, the sun was nearly setting, and some individuals were already preparing to harvest the rice. Upon seeing the university students return, everyone rushed to help unload the items. After settling the payment, the tricycle was sent away.

Chujiaqiang is also aware of this road. At that time, the so-called "village connectivity" initiative was implemented, but the funds allocated from above were insufficient, requiring the broad masses of the people to contribute some. Xiangzhu Village is a large village, with a population several times that of Chujiazai. Due to the presence of mineral resources, the people here are relatively wealthy, with most households having several hundred thousand, and there are about ten households with over a million. It is one of the two wealthiest villages in Heqian Town. The cement road was only constructed to Xiangzhu Village, while Chujiazai and several smaller neighboring villages have not benefited from this development. Due to the presence of mineral resources, the people here are relatively wealthy, with most households having several hundred thousand, and there are about ten households with over a million. It is one of the two wealthiest villages in Heqian Town. The cement road was only constructed to Xiangzhu Village, while Chujiazai and several smaller neighboring villages have not benefited from this development

Finally, I bought an MP3 for my cousin Chu Jiawan, which contains dozens of songs and some English listening materials. Chu Jiawan is the daughter of my second uncle and is currently in her second year of high school. I heard that this girl has been coveting an MP3 for quite some time.

Subsequently, he bought a set of clothes for his second uncle. He understood his uncle's character; he was frugal and never allowed himself to buy new clothes during festivals or holidays.

The next morning, Chu Jiaqiang went to the station to purchase a ticket back to Gaoxin City. The train at 8:00 would take about five to six hours. After that, he would need to take a bus for approximately two hours to reach Heqian Town, and finally, he would take a motorcycle for another hour to return to Chujiazai

Thank you, brother; I knew you cared for me the most. Don't worry, I won't neglect my homework and reading assignments. Chu Jiawan joyfully took the MP3 and immediately ran to the side to play with it

I got a soybean milk maker for my second aunt. Last year, I often heard her and my second uncle complaining that they needed a soybean milk maker at home, as it would make it easier to prepare tofu.

Having passed by several times, Chujiazha is quite remote. Young man, did you come back from studying or from work? The uncle drove confidently, clearly a seasoned driver with rich experience

Walking down the street, Chu Jiaqiang saw stalls selling fruits like bananas and apples. He casually bought about ten pounds of them, along with over ten pounds of loose candies and cookies. Once he felt he had enough, he found a tricycle at the street corner, loaded everything onto the vehicle, and then set off contentedly on his way back home.

"Working in Fuzhou City, a buddy is getting married, I have to come back for a few drinks," Chu Jiaqiang said with a smile, as he looked at the familiar surroundings, feeling that the negative emotions from the breakup had lessened considerably

Uncle Er smiled wryly, feeling that this child was truly extravagant, which was a bit overwhelming for him. He had just heard someone say that the television cost around four to five thousand, and it was evident that this set of clothes was of high quality, costing no less than one or two hundred. The juicer was also priced in the range of one thousand or several hundred. As for the MP3 player, he was unsure of the market price, but he estimated it would not be cheap

First, prepare the wedding gift for the Chu family, which is a 50-inch large-screen LCD flat-panel television, costing over 4,000 yuan. This gift is considered quite substantial in this underdeveloped area

"How can you come home after buying so many things? Is this a television? It's so big! How should I address you, my child?" Uncle Er also expressed his reproach.

Haha! Uncle Min, this television is a wedding gift that Qiangzi prepared for Daxiong. It is not just for decoration at home!

This set of clothes belongs to my second uncle; I am not sure if it fits well. Second uncle, please take a look. Second aunt, this is a pulping machine; let's try it tonight and have a meal of chives and braised tofu! Girl, your MP3, remember, do not indulge in distractions!" Chu Jiaqiang took out the items one by one.

Chu Jiaqiang's hometown, Heqian Town, is located on the northern edge of Gaoxin City, in a mountainous area, with the famous Yunkai Mountain Range to the south. This region is a poverty-stricken area of Gaoxin City, characterized by underdeveloped transportation and primarily reliant on traditional agriculture, with most residents struggling to meet their basic needs.

Chu Jiaqiang smiled faintly, distributing a circle of cigarettes to the men present, and also sharing some fruits, candies, and biscuits with the children. Instantly, everyone felt much closer.

A group of people was even more astonished. Sending someone? This is probably the most valuable gift in the history of the village

Chu Jiaqiang's second uncle, second aunt, and cousin all came out upon hearing the noise. Seeing Chu Jiaqiang's face suddenly filled with joy, the second aunt reproachfully said: "Why didn't you inform your second aunt in advance when you returned, so that your second uncle could come to the town to pick you up"

"Uncle Min, Aunt Min! Are you home? Qiangzi is back, come out to greet him!" Before Chu Jiaqing had even arrived home, he shouted loudly. This immediately attracted the frenzied barking of the big black dog from his second uncle's house. Upon seeing it was Chu Jiaqiang, the dog immediately wagged its tail and ran over, circling around Chu Jiaqiang and nudging his pant leg with its head, displaying great affection.

Your second uncle does not have much rice, and it has long been dried. Uncle Wu replied, seemingly aware that the Chu family needed help, and he called out to others: "Could two or three of you help move things? We will help keep an eye on this here"

Upon hearing this, all the uncles and aunts gasped in astonishment. The Chu family village was extremely poor; most families had savings of only around 40,000 to 50,000 yuan, and even the village chief had just over 100,000 yuan, which made him a local tycoon. They could not afford such an expensive television, and many households were still using Liberation brand black-and-white televisions.

Returning to Gaoxin City, Chu Jiaqiang did not linger for long and immediately took a car back to Heqian Town. On the way back, the bus ascended the winding mountain roads, and Chu Jiaqiang distinctly felt the drop in temperature, which is a phenomenon of vertical temperature distribution. Generally speaking, the temperature in his hometown is about five to six degrees lower than that in the city. Even in June, it is still necessary to cover oneself with a cotton quilt at night in Chujiazai, as the temperature difference between day and night in the mountainous areas is quite significant

Isn't this too much? It would be more convenient to hire a tricycle directly. It has been over a year since I last came back, so it's normal to buy some things for Uncle and Aunt. How is the girl doing in her studies now?" Chu Jiaqiang entered the house and instructed someone to put the items down. He took out fruits, candies, and biscuits for everyone to enjoy freely. The others took a few items as well, and not wanting to disturb the family reunion, they all took their leave.