Chapter 179
Chapter 179
On returning this time, Hua Jiunan and the others discovered enormous changes in both the village and their home.
Chen Fu had arranged jobs at his companies for most of the villagers, paying them far above the market rate.
It was just after work, and every villager stepping off the commuter bus wore a simple, honest smile.
They walked in twos and threes, chatting among themselves.
“Boss Chen pays us so much. Aren’t we leaving too early? Shouldn’t we work a little longer?”
“I’d like to, but the supervisor drives us out when the shift ends. Besides, we can’t keep the bus waiting forever, can we?”
“The boss is a good man. He treats us well! We can’t slack off while we work and betray our own consciences!”
Everyone nodded together. “Absolutely!”
“If this keeps up, in a few years I’ll have enough for my oldest boy to marry!”
“Same here! I won’t have to worry about my children’s university tuition anymore!”
Someone else said, “Once I get paid, I’ll repay the money I borrowed from all of you when my father was hospitalized…”
“Sister-in-law Zhou, don’t talk like that. It’s not as if any of us ever demanded it back!”
“Exactly! If we aren’t in a hurry, why are you? Keep the money and buy the Old Master something nourishing!”
The people of the Divine Land had always been like this.
Honest, hardworking, and eager to improve, they feared neither hardship nor exhaustion.
As long as life held hope and kept improving, they worked with boundless energy.
Just as the generation before us always said:
If we work a little harder now and save more for our children, they will suffer less in the future…
When Zhao Aiguo drove to the end of the street, they saw the construction crew hired by Chen Fu building at full speed.
The new house did not occupy the courtyard. It was being built on the vacant land behind it.
At the sight of the car, Deaf Granny rose from her wicker chair with support from Zhao Fei’s Mother and Chen Daji’s mother.
“Oh my, my two precious grandsons are finally home!”
Hua Jiunan and Chen Daji obediently ran to Deaf Granny.
They bent down so the old woman could stroke their heads.
“Grandma, we missed you!”
Deaf Granny’s smile grew even warmer.
“Good, good! Grandma missed you too!”
“Tell Grandma, what did you learn at school these past few days?”
Deaf Granny paused, patted Hua Jiunan’s shoulder, and said softly, “Eldest Grandson, Fei’er is cooking out back. Go see whether she needs help.”
Heaven and Earth could bear witness: Hua Jiunan truly was a genius and knew many things others did not, but he genuinely had no idea how to cook!
Still, he did not dare disobey his grandmother. He put down his schoolbag and headed for the kitchen.
Behind him came Chen Daji’s voice as he entertained the old woman.
“Grandma, I learned loads! Let me test you…”
“When fire reaches the city gate-what comes next?”
Deaf Granny laughingly scolded him. “You little brat, Grandma never attended a private school. How would I know? Just tell me.”
Chen Daji proudly supplied his own answer.
“When fire reaches the city gate, a downpour puts it out!”
Deaf Granny laughed heartily.
“Oh my, you’re so impressive! My second grandson is wonderful!”
“Do you know any more? Tell Grandma.”
“Of course! Listen, Grandma: Brother strolls along the shore…”
The old woman’s ringing laughter followed.
Chen Fu approached and looked at Chen Daji with considerable satisfaction.
It seemed the little bastard had truly become a good student. He had actually remembered so much.
Tomorrow, Chen Fu would need to find someone knowledgeable and ask how much one year at university cost.
Zhao Aiguo overheard Chen Fu muttering and could not help laughing.
“What’s wrong, Brother Chen Fu? With your wealth, are you worried you can’t afford tuition?”
Chen Fu scratched his head with a simple grin.
“Brother Zhao, we have a saying in the countryside: food and clothes won’t make you poor; failing to plan will.”
“I want to set aside all three children’s tuition now. No matter what happens later, I won’t touch that money!”
Chen Fu’s utterly plain words affected Zhao Aiguo deeply.
“You’ve thought this through more carefully than I have, Brother Chen Fu.”
Chen Fu had not expected Zhao Aiguo to say that and looked somewhat embarrassed.
“It isn’t careful planning. I was just poor for too long, and it scared me.”
Zhao Aiguo’s expression turned solemn.
He raised his head, speaking as much to himself as to Chen Fu.
“Don’t worry. Life will only keep getting better for ordinary people like us!”