For such short trips, where to go and what to do were not very important. What mattered was the atmosphere of the outing. Chatting and laughing along the way made it lively.
Wang Jun arranged a minibus that could fit everyone in one vehicle. Once everyone had arrived, the dads’ travel group officially set off.
Wen Ying was arranged to sit next to Wen Dongrong. Father and daughter travelling together was a blank in Wen Ying’s memory.
What was this about?
It was clearly to check out the Deng family’s situation, but now it felt more like filming a “Where Are We Going, Dad?” variety show!
Wen Ying felt a bit uncomfortable.
Wen Dongrong was naturally not used to it either, forcing himself to make conversation. “Why did you suddenly think of going to your little uncle’s fish pond to play?”
“To do social practice, and by the way accumulate some writing material.”
Wen Ying’s answer made Wen Dongrong frown.
Accumulate what material in the countryside, listening to the gossip from aunts and relatives?
Compared to Wen Ying, Wen Dongrong needed to accumulate such material more.
Having passed one manuscript in “Zhiyin”, Wen Dongrong had no clue what to write for the second one. Having just written “Top Scholar from a Poor Family”, he definitely could not write the same theme. Hearing that Deng Shangwei was taking Wen Ying and the others back to the countryside, Wen Dongrong happened to relax his mind and signed up too.
Yes, that was it.
Absolutely not because he heard Qin Xianming and the other two were going, feeling that other people’s children had dads accompanying them, and if he did not go, his black-hearted cotton would look pitiful as if no one cared!
On the other side, Wang Shuang sitting next to Li Mengjiao was very unhappy, whispering to question Li Mengjiao. “Why are you going to Uncle Deng’s fish pond, and I didn’t know? If not for my dad going out today and asking why I hadn’t gotten ready, I still wouldn’t know about this!”
Wang Shuang’s heart was cooler than the winter cold wind outside the window.
Just went to Modu for half a year of school, and he was excluded?
Qin Jiao had gone to the capital for a year and a half, yet such outings would not leave out Qin Jiao!
Li Mengjiao was not guilty at all. “It’s normal you didn’t know. We have things to do, originally didn’t plan to bring you. Uncle Deng brought my dad and them, and you came along too. I’m more surprised than you, okay.”
This was not exclusion.
This was going to uphold justice.
As for why not tell Wang Shuang… Wang Shuang was a boy, how could he understand Deng Juan’s situation?
Li Mengjiao firmly did not tell Wang Shuang. Wen Ying and Qin Jiao went with the flow. They subconsciously somewhat agreed with Li Mengjiao’s view.
Deng Juan’s family matter was not yet known how to handle, no need to shout it out and make it known to everyone. Not telling Wang Shuang but telling Xie Qian, did that need saying? Xie Qian was not a big mouth, never gossiped behind others, understood keeping secrets better than anyone!
Wang Shuang was made very uncomfortable by Li Mengjiao’s attitude.
In the past half year, he still sent messages and called Li Mengjiao every day, but this fool had still become distant from him.
Wang Shuang smiled self-mockingly. Li the big star, where would she lack friends? As long as Li the big star was willing, she could make new friends anytime, anywhere.
He placed her at the tip of his heart, but she did not take him seriously.
Wang Shuang said no more, got up, and sat back next to Wang Jun.
Qin Jiao sat alone in the diagonal back seat, reminding softly. “Wang Shuang is angry.”
Li Mengjiao had originally lifted her bottom, but upon hearing, sat back down, stubbornly saying. “Angry then angry. What we’re doing isn’t anything bad. I am me, he is him. Do I have to tell him everything?”
Qin Jiao could not help laughing.
See, that was why Qin Jiao did not date.
The closer the relationship, the weaker the boundaries.
Once you had a boyfriend, whatever you did required explaining to the other party, and you had to accommodate the other’s time for arrangements and plans. Qin Jiao felt it was too troublesome.
But Li Mengjiao and Wang Shuang… this was childhood sweethearts, with deep emotional foundation, used to quarrelling and闹. Maybe before getting off, they would make up. Qin Jiao was not very worried.
Unexpectedly for Qin Jiao, Wang Shuang’s anger was quite serious. Upon arriving at the destination, Wang Shuang helped the dads carry fishing gear, following Deng Shangwei with vigorous steps. Not only did he ignore Li Mengjiao, he also did not acknowledge Qin Jiao and Wen Ying.
Wen Ying did not notice this detail.
Wen Ying was coming to Deng Shangwei’s hometown for the first time.
Here was poorer than the countryside where the Wen family used to live.
A farm road led to the village, winding and twisting, with water and hills, yet along the way, no large fields were seen, all small patches of land. No wonder it was very poor.
Deng Shangwei’s parents passed early. Deng Shangwei was first raised by his uncle at home for a few years, then when in high school, he went to rely on his aunt married into the city. Otherwise, he would not have had the chance to be classmates with Chen Li, nor talk love during school, and later naturally marry and have children.
No wonder Chen Ru opposed her sister’s marriage back then. Deng Shangwei’s hometown was in such a poor village, with no parents to help, did not get into university, conditions even worse than Wen Dongrong’s at the time. Chen Li would definitely suffer after marriage!
Fortunately, Deng Shangwei could not study but could do business. Chen Li’s current life was envied by many.
“So many people working, they are digging ponds?”
Wen Ying wanted to ask Deng Shangwei, but Wen Dongrong answered first. “They are digging ponds. Last year some followed your uncle to raise fish and made money. This year several families want to raise fish.”
To raise fish, you need to build ponds.
Sichuan Province’s winter did not freeze. Before the year was the idlest time for every household in the village. Digging the fish ponds now could catch up to投放 fish fry in spring.
Seeing Deng Shangwei bring back a group of people, villagers by the road all stopped their work, greeting Deng Shangwei one after another.
Most villagers asked about the fish ponds. Deng Shangwei distributed cigarettes to them one by one. “Just as we discussed before. Today don’t talk about these. I brought friends to play.”
Qin Xianming and these people at a glance were city folks, each with presence.
Big bosses’ friends were definitely big bosses. Villagers no longer came forward to disturb.
Wen Ying seized the chance to ask Deng Shangwei softly which was Deng Juan’s house. Deng Shangwei pointed to the left. “The one with a pomelo tree at the door.”
Wen Ying was confused.
Hilly area, not suitable for grains but very suitable for fruit trees. Wen Ying had just noticed that in this village, seemingly every household planted some fruit trees.
She had eaten pomelos and oranges, but really could not distinguish pomelo trees from orange trees.
“It’s that household, half brick half mud, looking crooked and unstable house.”
This description was very apt.
Wen Ying had just recognised Deng Juan’s house when Deng Juan’s house door opened. A man came out carrying a bottle. Seeing Deng Shangwei, he was overjoyed, striding over.
Deng Shangwei was anxious and annoyed, pulling Wen Ying. “Quick walk quick walk. I don’t want to deal with that drunkard!”
Wen Ying understood instantly. This man was Deng Juan’s dad.
Qin Jiao and Li Mengjiao also noted Deng Juan’s house door. Before being entangled by the drunkard, Deng Shangwei led everyone to his aquaculture base.
Backed by hills, small stream gurgling, several large fish ponds staggered, pond sides also built a few bungalows.
Around the fish ponds planted fruit trees, only tangerines still hanging fruit, red and festive.
Wang Jun had a “as expected” expression. “This is a farm manor. You still said small ponds.”
