Lao Tan's prediction did not come true, but it did rain in Beautiful Valley five days later.
This is the first rain since the beginning of autumn. Fortunately, the farmers have harvested all their crops in the past few days, leaving some straw on the mountain without fear of rain.
Seeing that it was raining, Lao Tan thought that since he had nothing to do, he might as well prepare some dishes to treat the couple from the West Courtyard, since he still owed family favors.
He did it as soon as he thought of it, and asked Yaru to prepare the meal, and he went to the west courtyard to invite others in the rain. The eldest brother and sister-in-law tried to shirk it at first, but they were both honest people. Seeing that Lao Tan was sincere, they followed him.
After coming over, my sister-in-law helped Yaru work together in the outer room. Lao Tan and his elder brother were drinking tea and chatting in the house. After a while, the food was ready, and the four of them sat around the table and started eating and drinking.
The eldest brother and sister-in-law are both retired. They work in the same company. The eldest brother is a leader and the sister-in-law works in an office. The family situation is very good. One daughter is married in another province and does not come back often.
The old couple was recommended by someone who said that Beautiful Valley is good, with beautiful scenery and pleasant farmhouses for rent, so they can live a pastoral life, so they came here.
"This place is suitable for the elderly to live. Your sister-in-law and I plan to come back during the Chinese New Year," the eldest brother said.
My sister-in-law said, "I'll come early during the Chinese New Year. I'll come as soon as spring begins. I'll tend the garden and plant some vegetables so that I can make a living."
"Your sister-in-law only likes to serve vegetables. She doesn't have room at home to plant them in flower pots. Not to mention, she can survive, but she can't provide enough food." After the eldest brother said this, all four of them laughed.
The eldest brother asked Lao Tan: "Brother, you were very scary that night. Didn't you go to the hospital for a check-up?"
Lao Tan said: "Well, it's nothing. I've fainted before." Then he explained: "I have high blood pressure. I drank a lot because I was happy that day. Nothing happened at first. When I got home, I sat there and just lit up my cigarette.
I don’t know why I fainted.”
Lao Tan didn't tell Yaru about the fainting incident, for fear that she would worry. Yaru now looked at him with questioning eyes, and he briefly told what happened that day, and finally took the cup and said to his eldest brother and sister-in-law:
"Thanks to you for that day. If I have nothing else to say, I'd like to give you two a drink."
The eldest brother and his sister-in-law raised their glasses and drank the wine. After the sister-in-law drank the wine, the sister-in-law said: "It just happened to happen that day. If you have high blood pressure, drink less. It's best to quit. High blood pressure is the most afraid of drinking."
Keep some quick-acting heart-saving pills with you from now on. If you feel uncomfortable, just take a few pills and see how scary that day is------"
Lao Tan quickly said yes.
Yaru said: "No, don't drink this wine. My sister-in-law is right, high blood pressure is the most afraid of drinking."
The eldest brother said: "Drinking is not easy to stop. I have been drinking all my life. When I was young, your sister-in-law objected because she almost broke up with me after drinking."
My sister-in-law said: "That didn't stop me, I still drank."
The eldest brother said: "There is no way, I can't do without drinking some wine." Then he sighed: "What can I say, China's wine culture can be said to be omnipotent. In today's terms, there is nothing that cannot be solved by a drink.
Especially in the officialdom, the drinking culture is very popular. If you are not well versed in the principles and mysteries, it is difficult to get along. Isn’t there a saying that if you don’t drink when you are an official, you will be old?
I spent half my life as an official and drank a lot, then retired and returned home happily."
Lao Tan said: "It seems that all officials drink a lot."
The eldest brother smiled and said: "Brother, I'm not afraid of your jokes, they are all made by drinking. Regardless of whether the official is honest or corrupt, as long as your official position is not big enough, drinking must be a must. You must drink as much as you can or not."
There are leaders above the people, and there are leaders above the leaders. Small leaders can tell the people that they don’t know how to drink or that they can’t drink. Can they tell the people when they meet the big leaders? You can’t say it. Not only can’t you say it, but you have to pretend to be able to drink even if you really can’t drink.
Even if you drink nothing and go to the toilet to throw up, you still have to hold it up ------
Having said that, drinking is not all about accompanying the leaders. Sometimes, you have to drink to do things for the people, ask for policies and money from the superiors, and deal with those profiteers who laugh and laugh with laughter.
Have you watched any movies or TV shows? When a good cadre with a sense of justice gets sick, it’s either stomach cancer or liver cancer. To be honest, it’s not the director’s fault. This is the real situation. Can the stomach and liver be cured if you drink all day long? Even if it’s not cancer, it’s still a gastric ulcer.
, liver cirrhosis, similar to occupational diseases.”
After the elder brother finished speaking, he drained the wine in the glass and then poured another glass.
"Your eldest brother has been suffering from gastric ulcer for many years. He has been suffering from gastric ulcers for many years. He has been suffering from gastric ulcers for many years. He will not get rid of the root cause." said his sister-in-law.
"I contracted the disease when I was in my thirties. At that time, I was building houses for the relocated households in the new area. I negotiated with the builders all day long. I drank and ate at the right time. Today I would do this and tomorrow I would do two or three.
Since I can't go home, I have to stay at the construction site." said the eldest brother.
"Your eldest brother has been a down-to-earth man in his life. He has only held a few official positions and has done a lot of things, but he is still upright, which offends others." said the sister-in-law.
"Big brother is a good official." Lao Tan said.
"You can't be considered a good official. You only have to pay for your salary. Otherwise, how dare you come to this cool place with your salary?" The eldest brother then waved his hand and continued: "But what I take is conscience money. No one dares to report it, and the common people don't do it either."
Think it should be taken.
Haha, even though I didn’t kill the rich and give to the poor, I did become a hero who returned to Liangshan. Those who hated me stared blankly. If they hated me so much, I sent them in. But I also suffered a loss. I said nice things to others and was honest and upright.
Dislike, hey——”
You can tell he's a good man.
Old Tan thought of Minister Zhao from Hohhot, who was very similar to the elder brother in front of him.
"As long as you live up to your conscience and are open-minded," Lao Tan said.
The eldest brother raised his glass and had a sip of wine with Lao Tan, and then said: "I am content, I can do well in this life. Although I haven't done anything spectacular, at least the people don't scold me, and sometimes they even say good things, that's enough.
Our country has experienced decline and glory from ancient times to the present, but it has never failed. Do you know why?"
Lao Tan had never considered this question. Just when he was about to ask why, the eldest brother asked himself and answered: "Because there is no nation in the world that can be as united and united as our Chinese nation.
The Chinese nation has a history of five thousand years and has a long history and fine traditions. When things are peaceful and peaceful, the people look like cotton bags, which can be manipulated and bullied. Before anyone can bully them, when you look at them, the ordinary cotton bags will immediately turn into dry wood and raging fire.
, Just take it down and you won’t give up until I die.”
Lao Tan was infected by his elder brother and said: "That's it, unity is strength."
"The unity of us Chinese people is recognized by the whole world. Why? Because the blood of the Chinese nation flows in our bodies, and our bones contain blood and feelings of family and country. Although there are traitors and traitors, the foundation cannot be shaken. 1.4 billion people wave their hands.
, the earth will tremble three times.
Look, China's prosperity is obvious to all, China's rise is unstoppable, and it won't be long before China will lead the world and reshape the world order."
The eldest brother is worthy of being a leader, and he makes the eloquent old man excited.
"Definitely." Lao Tan got excited.
Because of the rain, the meal ended at three o'clock in the afternoon.
After the eldest brother and sister-in-law left, Lao Tan and Yaru cleared the dining table together, and then sat on the sofa to drink tea.
The rain outside is still falling, a moderate patter. The mountains in the distance are misty and shadowy in the rain and fog. The mountain water comes down and collects in the ditch, and then gathers into the small river. The small river swells, and there are mud waves on the fast river.
and washed down deadwood and firewood.
There was water in the farmer's yard, and the children who were playing in the water were called back to the house.
The animal spirits lying in the stable were sighing at the rain, and they were mooing and hissing loudly in harmony with the snoring men sleeping in the house.
From time to time, women would call for men, asking them to go out to pack dry firewood or clear the drain blocked by straw sticks in the yard. The men had no choice but to stop sleeping, put on their raincoats and go out to do what men should do.
"Lao Tan, if it doesn't rain tomorrow, you and I will go to the hospital and have a good check-up," Yaru said.
"No, it's okay." Lao Tan said.
"Why don't you use it? See why you fainted?"
"Drinking."
Yaru gave Lao Tan a rude look and said, "How about drinking?"
Lao Tan stared at Yaru's face that was red from drinking, subconsciously reached out to touch Yaru's cheek, and pretended to be drunk and said, "How dare you do bad things if you don't drink."
"Seriously." Yaru pushed Lao Tan's hand away unceremoniously, feeling that the place that had been touched was so hot.