Hekou Village, Qinghe Town, is a very ordinary small village, located on the edge of a small river flowing into the bay, with smooth traffic. The road was built twenty years ago. In the past few years, Chen Mo also donated some money to renovate it.
After so many years of development, the villagers have already lived a good life.
This is the location of Chen Mo's ancestral home, and the ancestral halls of his ancestral home are here. I went to elementary school here. Later, because my parents had to work, I moved to Huacheng to study.
In the past few years, Binhai City and Huacheng have been celebrating the New Year. This year, Chen Mo is celebrating the New Year at his ancestral home, and Chen Mo also brought Xiaoyu and Wushuang back.
It was already afternoon, and it was not too cold as the New Year was approaching. Under the reflection of the sun, there were fields of gray and green. Buffaloes were on the slope. I could vaguely see some people pulling bean sprouts in the fields, and some were drying bean stems in preparation. Plowing in spring brings white smoke to the wilderness. The sky is mottled with white clouds, and the blue is clear and translucent, without the filthy gray-blue color of the city.
The picture is very harmonious.
This was the first time Wushuang saw Tianye, being held by Chen Mo, looking around excitedly through the car window.
"Rake, is that a cow? It's different from a cow. There's also a calf."
"Yes, it is a buffalo, different from a cow. He can help the farmer uncle plow the land."
"Rake, there's a fire there."
"That was uncle burning bean stems and waiting for spring to plant rice." Chen Mo said.
"Oh." The little girl nodded as if she understood, and pointed to the sky: "What kind of bird is that bird?"
"Swallow, look at its scissor tail."
For Wushuang, all this was novel, and Chen Mo answered all the questions on the road.
The three cars crossed the fields and soon entered the village.
The Spring Festival is approaching, and couplets welcoming home are written at the entrance of the village. There are small colorful flags and plastic lanterns hanging above the road, which looks very festive. Occasionally, you can see a banner with yellow characters on a red background and how much money a certain boss has donated to his hometown.
Seeing Chen Mo's car passing by, there was nothing going on on the roadside. The aunt who was playing cards and chatting muttered: "Whose car belongs to this car? It's so beautiful, it must be very expensive."
"The old Chen family's children have become rich after finishing college and have opened a very powerful technology company. They are billionaires with a net worth of hundreds of millions. The primary school in the village and the middle school in the town were built with money donated by their family. . The cultural stage, temples, and renovated roads in the village were all newly built with donations from their family, so I am blessed."
"Are the children of Lao Chen's family married?"
"I heard that the wedding was held in Binhai City and cost a lot of money."
"It's a pity that Chen's family only has one child. I remember that in elementary school, my daughter was a classmate with him."
The uncles and aunts at the head of the village were gossiping, and Chen Mo's car was also approaching the house.
The brand-new four-story villa building has a medium-sized yard and fields in front of it. Compared with some old small bungalows around it, it is a bit awkward.
At home, Shao Xuemei was busy in the kitchen, washing vegetables and making soup. Chen Shanhe was sitting in the living room, his face flushed with joy.
In order to make a living, they had to settle in Huacheng for a long time, but this is their root after all. The ancestral temple and ancestral cemetery are here. The children also came back to repair it when they were promising.
"Why haven't you come back yet? Didn't this kid come to the village entrance?" Chen Shanhe sat in the hall and looked out through the window from time to time.
"You've said it ten times in the past two minutes," said Shao Xuemei, who was busy with dinner.
"I don't know if Wushuang has lost weight." Chen Shanhe didn't care, drinking tea and waiting.
While the two were talking, the vehicle had stopped at the door. Chen Mo got out of the car with Wu Shuang in his arms, and Chen Shanhe also dropped the tea cup and walked out of the house.
"Grandpa, my parents and I are back." The little girl said sweetly when she saw Chen Shanhe.
"Hey, it's good to be back. Come here and give me a hug. Let's see if you've lost weight." Chen Shanhe hurriedly came over and took Wushuang from Chen Mo's hand. He smiled very happily and walked into the house with Wushuang in his arms: "Grandpa, here you go. I have decorated a room with many of Wushuang’s favorite dolls, let’s go take a look.”
"Thank you, grandpa. This is the lollipop Aunt Min gave Wushuang. It's delicious! Give it to grandpa." The little girl took out a lollipop from her pocket and handed it to Chen Shanhe.
"Hey, okay, okay." Chen Shanhe smiled more than he had in a month.
"Grandma has it too."
"Hey, okay, grandma likes it very much, Wushuang is so sensible."
Shao Xuemei took Wushuang's candy and was happier than getting a piece of gold.
Chen Mo and Xiao Yu unloaded the packed things one by one from the car. Black Eagle, Bai Zhuzhu and Mo Nu came over to help. Xiaoyu bought a lot of things, and the trunks of three cars were filled.
"There is no shortage of things at home, so why do you buy so many?"
"These are the clothes, New Year's goods, and wine for dad that Xiaoyu bought for you." Chen Mo held up the gift box in his hand and raised it. He usually didn't have time to buy these things, so it was Xiaoyu who bought these things.
"Xiaoyu doesn't need to buy so much next time. We have them all at home." When she heard that Xiaoyu bought them, Shao Xuemei showed a kind smile on her face: "Just wait a minute, I'm cooking. It will be ready soon."
"Let me help." Xiaoyu said.
"No, it will be fine soon. There is no need to bother one more person. The ancestral temple was not repaired before, and you have not come back in the past few years. Now you are back for the first time. Shanhe, you accompany Xiaomo and Xiaoyu to the ancestral hall to offer incense." Shao Xuemei said.
"Yes, let the ancestors meet our daughter-in-law and my good granddaughter." Chen Shanhe hugged Wushuang and stood up.
The ancestral temple is next to the home. When Chen Shanhe's generation arrived, it was passed down alone, and he only had one son, Chen Mo. However, the ancestral temple has been restored and has many features, and the decoration is also in a retro style. The tablets are all old, with fresh paint.
"Our Chen family was originally prosperous. When your grandfather returned home during the Anti-Japanese War, your grandmother and grandmother had already passed away. Brothers and sisters fled and left without a trace.
My grandparents passed away early. My father didn't study much and didn't have much ability. He traveled around all those years and could only support Chen Mo. From now on, the family will depend on you. "
Chen Shanhe lit the incense and handed it to Chen Mo and Xiaoyu, his face full of emotion.
Chen Mo and Xiao Yu both took the incense and solemnly put it on the incense burner. Wushuang also bowed politely and put the incense on the incense burner.
"Okay, let's pay homage to our ancestors and go back to eat." Chen Shanhe hugged Wushuang, not giving Chen Mo and Xiaoyu a chance to hug him.
After dinner and shower, it was already evening.
Chen Mo changed into casual clothes and walked out of the house with Xiao Yu, Mo Nu, and Wu Shuang.
Every Spring Festival, a stage is set up behind the temple in the village to watch a play.
Chen Mo donated money to build a cultural stage, a square and some sports and fitness facilities here. All the aunties in the village dance square dances here. In the past two years, the village committee has organized square dance performances on the stage.
Today's rural areas are not as closed and backward as described by the outside world, and their living standards are almost the same as, or even better than, those of ordinary families in cities.
The people in the village, including the elders, aunties, and children, didn't care much about the news, so they never saw Chen Mo. When the family went out for a walk, no one bothered them. Chen Mo didn't want to make a big fuss and make it known to everyone, so he asked his father to refuse the welcome ceremony in the village.
However, seeing that Xiao Yu and Mo Nu are so beautiful and have outstanding temperament, people on the street will always look at them twice and ask the people next to them whose children they are.
"Rake, what's that? I want it too."
Xiao Wushuang was full of curiosity when she saw a cotton candy stall surrounded by children not far away.
"Those are marshmallows. Dad bought them for you. Xiaoyu, do you want one too?" Chen Mo led Wushuang over and asked casually.
"I'm already that old, so I don't want it anymore." Xiao Yu smiled and shook his head.
The Spring Festival is coming soon, and the cultural square in the village is very lively. There are stalls selling toys, snacks, rabbits, turtles, small pets, snacks and barbecues, ring making, and theatergoers. It’s so lively.
Many people who have returned from other places will come out for a walk, and the lively atmosphere is very harmonious.
(End of chapter)