Tao Lei turned out to be Lin Weiguo's niece. This was unexpected by Tang Zheng, but the rest of the journey became much easier.
"Are you going to visit your uncle?" Although Tao Lei was shy, she no longer rejected Tang Zheng. She basically answered all questions without being defensive at all.
"Yes." Tang Zheng asked about Weiguo's past, and it was obvious that Tao Lei admired her uncle who was a special forces soldier.
"Although my uncle has been in prison, he is a good person." Tao Lei said with stars in her eyes, "My aunt paid for my college tuition last year. This year, my uncle was released from prison and gave me a lot of money.
It’s hard to find a college student in your family, so you must continue studying.”
Tang Zheng couldn't help but sigh. If she knew her uncle was dead, she didn't know how she would react. They spent more than an hour's drive in this kind of chat. When they were in the county town, Tang Zheng bought several large packages of gifts.
If Tao Lei hadn't been with him, he could have used the watch space, but now he could only carry it on his back.
By the time Tang Zheng walked into the village, the sky had indeed turned dark, and after walking up and down the path, there were no street lights. However, Tao Lei was very familiar with the environment here and walked very fast, because her mother
She married into the village.
"Auntie, uncle's friend came to see him." Standing in front of those dilapidated bungalows with a history of thirty years, Tao Lei happily patted the wooden door.
"Is it Leilei? Are you on holiday?" After only two seconds, a woman responded.
"Sister-in-law, I am a friend of Brother Wei Guo." The wooden door opened, and after Tao Lei finished speaking, Tang Zheng took a step forward and said hello politely.
"Don't stand, come in and sit down." Sister-in-law Lin wiped her hands on her apron, then took Tao Lei and said, "Don't go home, I'll cook for you."
"No, these are the toys and snacks I bought for Shitou." Tao Lei opened her backpack, took out a toy car and a large bag of snacks in plastic bags, stuffed them into Mrs. Lin's hands and ran away quickly, "I
Come over tomorrow."
"This child has told her several times and still doesn't listen. This must be another way to save food expenses." Sister-in-law Lin sighed, and then introduced Tang Zheng into the house.
"You two have a very good relationship." After taking a look at this ordinary, plain but neat woman, looking at the wrinkles on her face, Tang Zheng smiled and said, "On the way back, Tao Lei didn't talk much about her own family affairs.
This sentence is all about you and Weiguo."
"Her mother, forget it, don't talk about this anymore, you haven't eaten yet, I will make it for you." Sister Lin sighed and did not answer the question.
"Where's the stone?" Tang Zheng didn't refuse. He noticed a shadow cast under the window of a certain room and said, "Isn't he studying? I remember he is only in the fourth grade."
"Wei Guo wants him to enter college." Mrs. Lin explained and shouted, "When the stone comes out, your uncle is here."
"Hello, uncle." The little guy was obviously afraid of his mother. Hearing her words, he ran out of the house with a smile on his face, called Tang Zheng, and said urgently, "Is Sister Leilei back? I'm going to see her."
"What are you making trouble for? Wait aside." Sister-in-law Lin slapped Shitou on the forehead, and then Tang Zheng led him into the room, picked up the thermos, poured water and said, "It's unlucky that you came, Wei Guo is going to
Look at my comrade, it’s been almost ten days since he left, and I haven’t even called him back, and I can’t contact him.”
"It's okay, I'm just here to take a look." Tang Zheng tried his best to keep his expression calm, but his heart still couldn't help but twitch. If Wei Guo never comes back, what will happen to their mother and son.
"Dad went missing again. He's so annoying. He's probably going to jail again." Shitou spat out the stone and muttered. It was obvious that he had a bad relationship with his father.
"What are you talking about?" Pa, Sister-in-law Lin got angry and slapped Shitou's back hard. It's no wonder that Lin Weiguo had been in prison for several years and couldn't even see each other a few times, so the child naturally had a crush on Shi Shi's back.
He has no image.
"You watch TV first, and I'll cook." Mrs. Lin pulled Shitou out of the house, went to the wing, gave Shitou some money, and asked him to go to the village canteen to buy vegetables and wine.
Tang Zheng looked around the room and looked at the bulky TV, which must have been there for more than ten years. He also heard what Mrs. Lin told Xiao Shitou to buy good wine. He couldn't help but sigh. The sister-in-law was so warm to others. If it were replaced by
Most people would probably think that Wei Guo is not at home and are just perfunctory, so they can still let you into the house. After all, it is very unsafe at night.
"I remember that Lao Lin exchanged millions, right? Where did the money go?" Tang Zheng was silent. He couldn't ask Mrs. Lin these personal questions, so he could just help silently.
Lin Weiguo's family was helped by his comrades when he was in prison. Now that he has exchanged the money, he will naturally help other comrades. As for the rest, except for part of the money to treat his wife's illness, he saved the rest. He is used to being poor.
When I got the money, I wanted to save it so that my son could go to school and get a wife.
"Young man, you see I haven't asked your name yet, how do you and Wei Guo know each other?" Sister-in-law Lin was also looking at the young man in front of her. Since it was brought back by Tao Lei, it should not be a lie, and he is wearing sportswear.
It highlighted his spirit. She didn't think that her old Lin would have the chance to meet such a young man.
"That's a long story. My uncle and Brother Wei Guo are comrades in arms, and of course I'm very familiar with him." Tang Zheng made an excuse and just confessed to Lao Lin next time. As for now, he said casually
Some of Lin Weiguo's habits and the trivial family matters he usually mentioned dispelled Sister-in-law Lin's doubts.
"According to Brother Wei Guo's age, there should be a child at home, right?" Tang Zheng was puzzled and said, "I've never heard him say that."
"Hey, that's the eldest son. Ever since Wei Guo was imprisoned, that boy felt ashamed and went to the city to find a job." When Sister-in-law Lin mentioned her eldest son, her face was full of sadness, "Looking at him, he's already older than he is.
object."
Tang Zheng was silent. Twenty minutes later, Mrs. Lin quickly served dinner.
"It's very rich, but you don't need wine." Tang Zheng looked at the dishes on the table and smiled, inviting Xiao Shitou to eat together. The little guy's eyes staring at the fried meat had betrayed him.
"I'm not hungry." Shitou didn't mean what he said, and he swallowed so loudly that he was embarrassed.
"Sister-in-law, don't save money. Spend it when you need to. Buy more nutritious things for your children to eat. Look at the figure of this bean sprout." Tang Zheng still couldn't hold it back. He stood up and sat down next to him with a stone.
He said, "Brother Wei Guo feels so distressed when he sees this."
"Yes." Sister-in-law Lin responded, but Tang Zheng knew that she definitely didn't put it on her. Seeing Shi Shi happily eating scrambled eggs with leeks, Tang Zheng touched his head and a smile emerged from the corner of his mouth.
Sister-in-law Lin glared at Shitou, but felt a lot relieved in her heart. Tang Zheng's caring eyes were definitely sincere and not artificial. He was indeed Lao Lin's friend.
Sleeping in a new quilt that had obviously not been covered by anyone at night, Tang Zheng was filled with emotion again. He couldn't bear to brush off his sister-in-law's kindness.
The next morning, Tang Zheng left a phone number, said goodbye and left.
"Is that your man's friend? He's too young, right?" As soon as Tang Zheng left, the women from the neighbors came to visit, asking for gossip, "The young man is very energetic and well-dressed.
, it’s a pity that when we walked to town and took the car, our shoes were dirty, why not take a taxi?”
"You can get 17 or 18 yuan for a taxi." An aunt wearing a red hairpin said, "But if Sister-in-law Lin had told her earlier, I would ask Junzi's aunt to drive her for a while. Anyway, we are on the way."
The card-issuing aunt successfully turned the topic to her and showed off her relatives, "Her car is called a Honda. It's so expensive, it costs more than 200,000 yuan."
"Auntie, where is Tang Zheng?" Tao Lei finished her breakfast and quickly finished her housework and ran over, but she still didn't run into Tang Zheng.
"Did your mother leave everything to you again?" The aunt with the hairpin in her hair immediately laughed when she saw Leilei. This girl has a good appearance and character. She has long wanted to propose marriage to her son.
, her mother asked for too much as a bride price, "By the way, what does that boy do? Do you know him?"
"Students from key universities." They were all acquaintances, so Tao Lei was not too shy. In addition, she had a good impression of Tang Zheng, so she kept him in order at the train station, gave up her seat, and even secretly paid for her ticket.
said.
"Is there really such a fool?" The card-issuing aunt asked with astonishment on her face, "Are you kidding me? More than a hundred yuan?"
"He also beat up a gangster who pestered a girl and an alcoholic driver in the town. Tang Zheng is a good man." Tao Lei said uncertainly, "He seems to be a multi-millionaire."
"You think multi-millionaires are just radishes grown in the ground, you can just pluck any one." The card-issuing aunt couldn't stand Tao Lei's praise and sarcastically said, "He must like you, otherwise why wouldn't he pay for your ticket?"
"
"That's nonsense. If you like it, why did the young man just leave without seeing me?" Another aunt put forward a different opinion. They still wanted to argue, but they saw Shitou running away with a panic on his face and sweat on his forehead.
come out.
"Mom, it's not good."
"What's wrong?" Mrs. Lin was startled.
"Did you lose something?" The aunt who issued the card said with regret on her face, patting her leg, "I'm just telling you, that guy's clothes look like a dog, and it's not a good thing at first glance."
The other women also became alert, and just as they were about to ask questions, they were interrupted by a loud roar from Shitou.
"No, money, a lot of money." Shitou said and ran into the house.
The aunts were dumbfounded, not knowing which part of the song was being sung. Sister-in-law Lin wanted to stop the others, but the gossip spirit of the aunts was burning, so they pushed her away and rushed into the room.
Suddenly, there were exclamations in the room. As soon as Mrs. Lin walked into the room, she saw the big travel bag on the ground. At this time, the zipper opened, revealing bundles of red banknotes inside.
There are hundreds of bundles.
"My mother, how much does this cost?" The aunt who issued the card had her eyes turned green, and she almost subconsciously reached out to grab it.
But Shi Shi was faster than everyone else and threw himself on the travel bag.
"Stone, how did you find it?" Sister-in-law Lin asked, walked over and zipped up the zipper.
"I was eating the snacks that my uncle brought, and there was a note inside that said there was money under the bed. That's when I saw the bulging travel bag."
"Do you have that young man's phone number? Call me quickly. Maybe he left it behind accidentally. We can't take his things." The aunt who issued the card didn't believe that someone would give so much money to others for no reason these days.
"I'm going to call the canteen right now." Mrs. Lin also felt that this matter was very difficult.
"Why don't you go to the canteen? Use my mobile phone." The aunt who issued the card couldn't wait any longer. She took out a mobile phone and handed it to Mrs. Lin. When she saw her finding a note and dialing the number, the other aunts were also staring at her, and they were very angry.
Dare not take a breath.
As soon as Tang Zheng left the village, the phone rang. When he saw it was an unfamiliar number, he guessed who the caller was.
"Hello, hello." Tang Zheng stood next to a telephone pole, casually browsing the various small advertisements posted on it.
"Brother Tang, you left the money at our house."
The card-issuing aunt rolled her eyes at Sister-in-law Lin and said in a low voice, "How can you ask such a question? What if the money is not his?"
"I'm not throwing it away, it's for you. It's Weiguo's salary." Tang Zheng was tired of finding an excuse to give money. He was now very afraid of such serious people.
"What kind of salary can earn so much money?" Sister-in-law Lin obviously didn't believe it, "I know you want to help us, but you really don't need it. The money Wei Guo earns is enough for us."
"Didn't Brother Wei Guo bring back several million before? This is the rest." Tang Zheng said calmly, "If you have any questions, just wait until he comes back and ask. But don't save money, spend it if you can.
Let’s find a wife for our eldest son first.”
"How many millions?" The card-issuing aunt who was listening attentively murmured. She and the other aunts looked at each other, and they all secretly thought that Lin Weiguo, that unpromising veteran, did not expect to find a rich friend after spending several years in prison.
"But Brother Tang..." Sister-in-law Lin felt relieved when she heard that he even knew about the money Wei Guo had brought back.
"As for showing off your wealth, don't worry. I've left my number for you. If you have any trouble, just call me. I'll be there soon." Tang Zheng heard someone muttering on the side of the phone, but didn't pay attention. It was just in time for Wei to get out.
Guo should also be looked down upon by the people in the village, to erase the shadow that he had been in prison. Tang Zheng felt very sad when he thought that his son did not even recognize him.
"By the way, help Tao Lei buy a mobile phone, otherwise I won't be able to contact you." Tang Zheng breathed a sigh of relief and said, "If nothing happens, I'll hang up."
"Is this guy a fool?" The card issuer's eyes were shining, she looked at the travel bag and said, "Quickly count."
"Two million, that's what it says on it." Shitou shook the note in his hand and said, "Mom, I want to eat chicken."
"I told you that Tang Zheng is a good person." The simple Tao Lei didn't care about how much money he had, but was happy because Tang Zheng proved his character to the villagers.
"By the way, Sister-in-law Lin, the eldest boy in your family is not young anymore, right? I'll introduce him to a few people to choose from. He's quite handsome, and the girls must be attracted by him." The card-issuing aunt started to talk about her family with a smile on her face.
"Didn't you say before that my father had been in prison, so he wanted to marry my brother?" Shitou was stupid and didn't understand the meaning of this sentence, but it made the card-issuing aunt very embarrassed, "You just said that Uncle Tang is not a good person.
."
"What nonsense." The aunt who issued the card laughed dryly, changed the topic, and continued to discuss Sister-in-law Lin's son's marriage problem, "Let your son come back quickly, and let's go on a blind date first."
They were all neighbors, and Mrs. Lin couldn't get rid of them. She could only laugh and deal with them, but she suddenly felt angry in her heart.
"Sister, the French fries are delicious." Shitou pushed a bag of French fries to Tao Lei and whispered, "I will kill the chicken later and pick the biggest one."
...
***, I seem to have deleted a few book reviews by mistake, so I apologize!