Chapter 5 Yujiawan Village

  Yu Fan felt a bit wronged, he had been living with his third aunt since childhood and their relationship was very good. He quickly explained: "Auntie, I just came back the day before yesterday, as soon as I arrived, I went to the township government with my dad, and yesterday I went to report for duty, when did I have time to come see you? I haven't even been to grandma's place yet." His third aunt heard this and smiled as she hit him: "You don't come visit your aunt and you still have an excuse? Alright, help me bring some things to your grandma, I've been busy lately and haven't had time to go up there." After finishing speaking, she went into the house and handed Yu Fan two bags, smiling: "This is the honey and white wine that your grandparents want for making medicinal liquor, you can bring it over for them."

  Yu Fan immediately took it and put it on the back seat of the bicycle, then used a clip to hold things in place. San Gu Fu also went into the house to take a sip of water, came out and said: "Alright, let's hurry up and leave too. Today's weather is not bad, if we go late, we'll miss our chance." Actually, Yu Fan had always been wondering what he was going to do in the countryside, so he quickly asked: "San Gu Fu, what are we going to do when we get to Xia Cun?"

  "Besides, what can be done? It's just not letting the people below take out last year's grain and oil seeds to sell. They're all things that offend people." San Gu's father also stared at San Gu: "Don't talk nonsense, you don't understand." Wang Fuchun, who was with them, smiled on the side: "This is the task of the town, the grain reserve in the town is not enough, and we need to increase the reserve of grain and oil seeds."

  Yu Fan was even more puzzled: "Why not just buy it directly?" Li Changgui, who was on the side, continued: "The price of the grain depot is not high, and it's a blank bill, so who would be willing to sell to them now." San Gu, who was on the side, waved his hand and said: "Okay, these are not our business, we just need to do our own things well. Let's go, let's go, can't delay anymore." After finishing speaking, he led several people onto their bicycles and rode towards the highway. San Gu called out from behind: "Xiao Fan, come home for dinner when you return." Yu Fan also rode his bicycle quickly and responded with a loud voice.

  Yu's Bay Village is a bit far from the town, and you have to pass through two villages along the way. On the road, Yu Fan also saw many people from the township government squatting at each intersection, and San Gu Fu was smiling and greeting them.

  Although it has been sunny for days, the dirt road in the countryside is still not easy to walk on. Yu Fan used to walk this road often when he was young, but after so many years, the road is still the same. After a bumpy ride, they arrived at Yujia Bay Village Committee, where the village head and village secretary had already arrived. As soon as they saw San Gu Fu, they smiled and said: "Zou Tongxunyuan has arrived, what do you think we should arrange for lunch today?" San Gu Fu quickly parked his bicycle aside, smiling and saying: "Secretary Yu is too polite, just arrange whatever you think is fine for lunch. We are mainly here to work."

  Yu Secretary burst out laughing and said: "Work is work, this meal also needs to be eaten, you are our village's son-in-law after all. I think so, let's make a chicken soup, stir-fry a yellow croaker fish, and go to Wang Team Leader's contracted lake to catch a soft-shell turtle, the rest can just be some simple rural dishes, what do you think? At noon, I'll accompany you for two cups of wine." Third Uncle also smiled upon hearing this: "Alright, at noon I'll drink two small cups with Yu Secretary."

  Yu Secretary laughed loudly and said, "Well, it's settled then." He also told the village chief beside him, "Yongqing, you take care of them at the village committee, I'll go and get the people below to prepare. We'll have lunch at Captain Wang's house this afternoon, you come too." After finishing speaking, he winked at the village chief and smiled at a few people before leaving.

  Village chief Zhang Yongqing also smiled and said, "Come on, Zhou Tongxun, go to the village committee office and sit down." Third Uncle was also smiling and said, "Chief Zhang, don't be so polite, just call me Little Zhou. What's a communication officer? It's just someone who runs errands for the countryside." He turned around again and said to Wang Fuchun and others, "Fuchun, today is still like yesterday, go to the entrance of the village and keep watch. First take Yu Fan to see the place, then give him two hours off. He grew up in this village, so he's familiar with every place." Wang Fuchun and others also smiled and nodded in agreement.

  Village chief Zhang Yongqing also found it strange and asked, "Is this person from our Yujiawan Village too?" Third Uncle smiled and said, "Village Chief Zhang doesn't recognize him either. This is my nephew, the son of Yu Xianyi from the south end of the village, who later moved to the town and now sells pork at the market in the town." Zhang Yongqing slapped his forehead and suddenly exclaimed, "Ah, he's Xianyi's son! What's his name again? Ah yes, Xiao Fan! I was wondering why he looked so familiar. How come he's working in the countryside now instead of attending university in the province?"

  Yu Fan, although often coming back, was not very familiar with the village head and secretary, but upon hearing this, he smiled cleverly: "Uncle Zhang, I'm Yu Fan. This year, I just graduated from university and was arranged by my uncle Zhang to work in the countryside." What Uncle Zhang? Zhang Yongqing looked at his third aunt with a puzzled expression, but she nodded slightly with a smile. Zhang Yongqing suddenly realized: "Oh, it's Secretary Zhang! Good, good, Little Fan is a university graduate, working in the township government is a promising future, I didn't expect our village would produce another talented person!" After saying that, he also smiled at Yu Fan.

  "Take Yu Fan to the village entrance first, and let him get familiar with it before coming back. I'll go with him to his grandmother's house later," said Third Uncle to several people. Yu Fan responded with a "yes" and followed Wang Fuchun and others as they pushed their bicycles towards the village entrance.

  Yujiawan Village and the outside world are connected by only a few roads, the best one is the village entrance where they came in that day. The other roads are all bumpy, on sunny days it's okay to walk, but not for cars, the road surface is really too narrow. Only the road at the village entrance is relatively wide, every year the village transports grain from here, as long as it doesn't rain continuously, this road is still quite passable. Yu Fan often comes back and walks on this road, this point is still very clear.

  Five people stopped at the entrance of the village and parked their bicycles by the side of the road, then squatted down to guard. Yu Fan also looked around at the village environment, which hadn't changed much from before, except that some families had built new houses here and there, but most were still old tile-roofed houses, some of which were already very dilapidated.

  Yu Fan stopped at the intersection, took out a cigarette and offered it to the four people around him. He chatted with them for a few sentences before pushing his bicycle back to the Yu Family Bay Village committee office. Inside the office, Third Uncle was chatting with Village Head Zhang. When he saw Yu Fan return, he quickly said to Zhang Yongqing: "Village Head Zhang, I'll go see my aunt with my nephew first and come back later. We must have a good drink at noon." Zhang Yongqing smiled and replied: "Definitely, definitely." He then turned to Yu Fan and said with a smile: "Little Fan, you must visit Uncle Zhang's home when you're free. Your dad was one of my closest friends in the village, I couldn't let him say that I didn't take good care of you next time he comes back."

  Yu Fan hurriedly smiled and handed over a cigarette, saying: "Uncle Zhang is too polite, I'm now working in the countryside, and I hope Uncle Zhang will take care of things in the village in the future." Zhang Yongqing took the cigarette and also chuckled. San Gu Fu was also smiling as he bid farewell to Zhang Yongqing, pushing his bicycle and walking with Yu Fan towards the village.

  Yu Fan's grandmother's house is not connected to the majority of the village, but is located at the southernmost part of the village. There are only a few households living separately there, and Ye Luo lived there when she was young. The house in Yu Fan's grandmother's home is a red-tiled earth-brick house, where only her grandfather and grandmother live. Although most people in Yujia Bay Village have the surname Yu, there are also very few direct relatives of Yu Fan's generation living in Yujia Bay Village, except for Yu Fan's second aunt who still lives in the village. Grandma's family is also taken care of by Second Aunt nearby.

  The surroundings of the red-tiled house were Grandma's own vegetable garden, where Yu Fan often played as a child. When Yu Fan and San Gu Fu arrived, Grandma was also picking vegetables in the garden. From afar, looking at Grandma's bent back, Yu Fan couldn't help but sigh that she had grown up, while Grandma seemed to have aged a lot, and didn't have the same agility as when she was younger.

  Yu Fan parked his bicycle, took off the things behind and shouted loudly: "Grandma, grandma." Grandma also raised her head, saw that it was Yu Fan and was very happy: "Ah, it's Little Fan, oh, Little Zou has also arrived." After finishing, she walked out of the vegetable garden with excitement. Yu Fan also hurried forward to support her, but Grandma smiled and said: "No need, my body is good."

  "Mom, today is Xiaofan's first day working in the countryside, and it just so happens that he's coming to our village for work. I brought him to see you," said Third Uncle with a smile. Grandma also looked at Yu Fan with kindness and smiled: "Good, finally graduated from college, and now working in the town government is good too. Government jobs are stable, Xiaofan is not young anymore, and in two years he'll be getting married too. Work hard in the countryside, find a girlfriend and get married in two years, and Grandma will be at peace."

  Yu Fan heard this and said somewhat awkwardly: "Grandma, I'm still young, no need to rush." But Grandma glared at Yu Fan and said: "Young? You're already 23 years old. The boys in the village who are about your age are all married and even have children. I'm anxious to hold my great-grandson." His third aunt on the side also smiled and said: "Mom, don't worry too much. Xiao Fan has just started working in the countryside and hasn't been transferred yet. After he's transferred, with his looks and being a university graduate, it's not like he won't be able to find a wife?"

  Grandma also smiled when she heard it, and was about to say something. Yu Fan's grandfather also walked out of the house, saw Yu Fan and smiled: "Little Fan is back." Yu Fan hurriedly called out "grandfather", and his grandfather smiled: "Little Fan hasn't eaten yet, let's have lunch at home today. I'll go kill a chicken." Grandma heard this and nodded in agreement: "Right, right, we'll eat at home today."

  Grandma and Grandpa, you two don't have to worry about it either. The village has already arranged for the meal. This is Xiaofan's first time in the countryside, and he needs to build a good relationship with the village leaders. Even if he gets transferred here permanently, he'll still need to deal with them. Grandma seemed a bit disappointed at this, but Grandpa just chuckled and said, "That's right, when working in a public institution, relationships are important. There will be plenty of opportunities for our family members to eat together later." Only then did Grandma smile in relief.