Chapter 207: Chapter 204: Elder Brother, Worthy Younger Brother

Little Liu, with a straightforward nature, said whatever was on his mind: “Of course, we usually can’t bear to eat it, but during the wheat harvest, we do heavy labor. Without some good food, we just can’t keep up. Besides, with the new wheat coming in, the family is willing to bring out some white flour to improve the meals. And the eggs, the old lady at home keeps a very strict watch, and no one dares to touch them. It’s only during the wheat harvest that we can fry a couple of plates… Ha ha, when I was a kid, I craved pancakes rolled with eggs, and I always looked forward to the wheat ripening. When the wheat was ripe, I could eat pancakes with eggs.”

Old Mr. Lian didn’t find what Little Liu said embarrassing at all and laughed, “Just like when I was a kid.”

Little Liu asked, “Old Mr. Lian, did you also look forward to eggs when you were a kid?”

Old Mr. Lian of course wasn’t looking forward to eating fried eggs. When he was young, with a large family business, he never lacked food or clothing.

He just didn’t want to study. If he got sick, he didn’t have to go to school, so he looked forward to getting sick… Of course, these details didn’t need to be said out loud.

Fortunately, there were limited pancakes and eggs served in the restaurant. Everyone finished the pancakes and eggs and was only half-full. By the time the roast meat and stewed dishes were served, everyone could eat more comfortably.

However, they left some roast meat and stewed dishes uneaten.

Little Liu looked at Wang Liansheng. Wang Liansheng brewed some tea and gave Little Liu a look, and Little Liu happily took the leftovers out, bought two meal boxes from the restaurant, packed them, and brought them back.

Even though times were better, such rich dishes couldn’t be eaten every day, and taking these dishes home could also give the kids a special meal.

With Old Mr. Lian in the car, Little Liu drove very steadily, naturally slower, so it’s already past four in the afternoon by the time the group arrived in Huicheng.

Old Mr. Lian, seeing the car entering Huicheng, directly asked, “Is the place for my meeting far? How many hours by car?”

Wang Liansheng responded, “Sir, you’ve been traveling all day, perhaps you should rest tonight and go tomorrow?”

Old Mr. Lian waved his hand: “It’s not tiring, not tiring at all. I think we still have time. Let’s go now, and we might still catch dinner.”

Since Old Mr. Lian said so, Wang Liansheng didn’t dare to make his own decision and had to persuade him again. Old Mr. Lian didn’t make it difficult for him, directly had Zhang Runwen get off, go to the office to convey his wishes, and told Little Liu to drive directly to the Nanli Team.

With such an arrangement, Wang Liansheng had to tell the car to stop at a roadside station while he made a phone call to report.

After the call, the leaders were somewhat surprised but couldn’t force the senior’s decision. They just asked Wang Liansheng to slow down the car speed. When they left Huicheng, two small cars from the district leaders followed.

The cars didn’t stop, three cars followed together, all the way from Huicheng to Fucheng County, to Taiping Commune, and finally arrived at the Wang Futang’s house at the Nanli Team before sunset.

In the village, it was rare to even see a bicycle, let alone a car, and three small cars at that. From the moment they entered the village, many children from four to over ten years old ran along with the cars all the way to Wang Futang’s house. When the cars stopped, they stopped too, surrounding the cars, blinking their eyes in curiosity.

“Uncle Liansheng from Wang Family is really impressive, this time he brought three small cars…”

“Let me tell you, Auntie Liansheng is impressive too, Hongbing said she drives a big truck…”

“Tch, you don’t know anything, small cars are more impressive than big trucks! Only officials can ride in small cars!”

“Who says, big trucks are impressive! Big trucks are huge, bigger than two small cars combined, big trucks are impressive!”

“Small cars are impressive! Big trucks are not!”

……

The two little buddies started arguing, and soon they went hands-on. ’Big Truck’ reached out and pushed ’Small Car’ to the ground, ’Small Car’ defiant, got up and charged back…

Wang Lianqi heard the noise just as he came out to welcome them and saw this scene.

He grabbed the clothes of the two kids, one in each hand, and pulled them aside, giving each a kick on the butt: “You little rascals have some nerve, daring to fight? If you cause more trouble, I will go and find your fathers…”

Turning back, Wang Liansheng had already helped Old Mr. Lian out of the car, and Wang Lianqi hurriedly walked over to greet him.

Wang Futang was a bit slower, coming out holding a tobacco pipe, and Old Mr. Lian had already reached his doorstep: “Sorry to trouble you!”

Wang Futang saw it was an old man with gray hair, quickly smiled and greeted, “You’re too courteous, our home is simple, as long as you don’t mind.”

After a mutual greeting, Old Mr. Lian was very fond of Wang Futang and his son’s warm yet neither servile nor overbearing attitude.

The whole family was good, no flattery or fawning, yet thoughtful and considerate… the family ethics were good, and their qualities were also excellent.

Entering and seeing the neat courtyard and brand-new houses, Old Mr. Lian re-evaluated the Wang Family in his heart.

According to their old habits, Wang Futang and his wife lived in the east side of the main house, while the west side was reserved as a guest room, mainly thinking that someday Wang Liansheng and family might come to stay. Now they tidied it up for Old Mr. Lian.

A new house, with a newly laid kang bed, the kang edges bricked, the walls newly hung with indigo kang tapestries.

The kang had been heated, warm and cozy.

Upon entering, Old Mr. Lian reached out to feel the kang, and the warmth he felt made him feel good: “It’s the home kang warmth I’ve been longing for decades.”

Wang Futang and Wang Lianqi followed behind, hearing this, both silently disagreed. Having left with the family’s wealth for decades, living a life of luxury, yet making it sound like he suffered all these years.

“The kang is warm to sleep on, rural folks can’t do without it. Please, make yourself comfortable.” Wang Futang said with a smile.

In fact, he felt quite proud of their living conditions.

The house was newly renovated, with a solid brick-tile house, not to mention in the team, even in the whole commune, it was the best.

Old Mr. Lian waved his hand, sat down at the edge of the kang, and beckoned Wang Futang to sit opposite him.

Wang Liansheng brought in a thermos of hot water to make tea, and the district leaders came in, but there was no room on the kang so they had to sit on chairs opposite.

After sitting down, Old Mr. Lian noticed a TV on the table, a clock beside it, and a small exquisite bonsai, clearly prepared with care.

“Thanks for all your trouble,” Old Mr. Lian politely said again.

Wang Futang wanted to smoke, but remembering the reminders from the officials, he put it down and waved it off, saying: “No need to be polite, no need. Now that you are here, treat it as your own home.”

At this point, Wang Futang paused, and asked, “May I ask how old you are, Mr. Lian?”

“Seventy-three.” Old Mr. Lian replied with a smile.

Wang Futang paused and then said, “Then you’re older than me, I’m fifty-nine, I’ll shamelessly call you old brother.”

Old Mr. Lian nodded: “Alright, I’ll call you dear brother.”

In just a few words, the two elder men decided on terms of address by age, with Old Mr. Lian proactively bringing up the topic of the new house.

This topic delighted Wang Futang, making the conversation naturally rich… A returned overseas Chinese and an old rural secretary started chatting warmly, the initial distance and unfamiliarity gradually disappearing.

After sitting for a while, Old Mr. Lian expressed his gratitude to the district leaders for their care, allowing them to return and not interrupt their work.

The district leaders looked at each other, then stood up to leave, but left Wang Liansheng and Little Liu behind.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep