Rebirth in 1980, the rise of the golden age

After returning to Dazhuang's home, Li Youcai and his brother helped Dazhuang set up the mourning tent.

In Dazhuang's yard, Li Youjie was digging a hole and Li Youcai was carrying wood. Just as the two brothers buried the wooden stakes together, Widow Wang called over the village chief Wang Jingui and his wife.

"You guys go inside and get some work done. Dazhuang is a simpleton, so don't let him do anything you two can do." As soon as he entered the yard, the branch secretary Wang Jingui started arranging work for his wife and Widow Wang.

It is said that there is only one person in a family of a thousand people, and Wang Jingui is the one in charge in Dongsheng Village.

Seeing Li Youcai and his brother setting up wooden stakes, Wang Jingui went over to help them step on the soil a few times.

Seeing Wang Jingui, Li Youjie was the first to greet him: "Uncle Wang."

"Good boy!" Wang Jingui patted Li Youjie and looked at Li Youcai: "I heard that you paid for Grandma Dazhuang's emergency treatment?"

"Well, if the patient cannot be saved, the hospital will refund the money and only deduct the rescue fee and a little money for medicine." Li Youcai replied.

"Not bad, you're kind and righteous. Don't play around with money anymore. You're still young and should do something serious. I heard you're helping the county aquatic company collect toads. If you have any difficulties, you can tell the village and we can work together to find a solution."

The neighbors heard the commotion and came over to help.

There are more and more people.

In the room, Dazhuang, under the direction of the branch secretary's wife, washed his grandmother's hair and wiped her face with tears in his eyes.

The funeral clothes were prepared in advance by Grandma Dazhuang.

If there are elderly people in rural families, many will prepare funeral clothes in advance, and some will even prepare funeral supplies in advance.

There is nothing unlucky about this. On the contrary, in the eyes of many people, a family that can prepare funeral supplies in advance is a manifestation of filial piety of their descendants.

"The old man has no coffin. Let's get some carpenters to help him make one." Wang Jingui stood in the courtyard, acting as the commander-in-chief.

There was no decent wood, so the wooden boards were made from dismantled warehouse door panels and fences.

After the frame of the mourning shed was set up, Wang Jingui sent someone to the brigade's warehouse to get a piece of rainproof cloth and put it directly on top to block the wind and rain.

An electric wire was run from the house to the shed, with a 25-watt light bulb hanging from it.

Wang Jingui used a brush to write a big word "葬" on the cut white paper.

A mourning shed was completed in this way.

It was Widow Wang who helped Grandma Dazhuang change into her funeral clothes, which surprised Li Youcai.

It was not until after 11 o'clock in the middle of the night that all the work was finally done.

Dazhuang knelt in front of the mourning shed, lit the eternal lamp made of soybean oil with his own hands, and burned the first handful of yellow paper.

"Everyone, come and pay your respects. It's getting late, so go back and rest after paying your respects." Wang Jingui greeted everyone.

Li Youcai and Li Youjie kowtowed three times in front of Grandma Dazhuang's spirit and burned a handful of yellow paper each.

"Da Zhuang, I'm sorry, we'll come again tomorrow." Li Youcai patted Da Zhuang on the back.

"Thank you." Da Zhuang responded and continued to look down at the eternal lamp.

Just left Dazhuang's house.

Li Youcai saw that many people were staying outside the courtyard gate.

"Come out, come out."

"Boy from the Li family, I heard that your family is going to spend 5 cents per pound to collect frogs and cicadas from the mountains. Is that true?" A villager stopped Li Youcai and asked.

At night, although Li Youcai and his widow went to the hospital, the news that his family wanted to collect the toad was still spread by those female comrades.

When many villagers heard that catching toads could make money, they became interested.

I didn't feel comfortable asking because the situation was not right at Dazhuang's house just now. Now it's a good opportunity to pull Li Youcai over and ask him clearly.

"Yes, I'm selling toads for 5 cents a pound, and crickets for 4 cents a pound. I don't want the young ones or the dead ones. Just bring them to my house and I'll pay."

"With you saying this yourself, we feel relieved. We've been waiting for you to say this for a long time."

"Uncle, just go ahead and catch them without worry. I'll take whatever you catch, and I promise I won't let you lose any money."

After receiving Li Youcai's affirmative answer, the villagers dispersed and returned home.

When Li Youcai returned home, Duoduo was already asleep.

"Grandma Dazhuang is gone?" Chu Xinyan asked hurriedly when she saw Li Youcai coming back.

Li Youcai nodded: "Yes, the person was sent to the hospital but could not be saved."

"I'll pour you some hot water so you can wash yourself properly."

Li Youcai was covered in dust from setting up the mourning tent, and his hands were extremely dirty.

On an early winter night, the wind is biting.

The lowest temperature can reach around -10 degrees Celsius.

There were only two figures left in front of the mourning shed.

Dazhuang protected the eternal lamp with his hands to prevent it from being blown away by the wind.

Widow Wang stood aside and said, "Da Zhuang, come inside. Your grandma will be distressed if you do this."

"I want to stay here to take care of grandma." Da Zhuang stubbornly refused to get up.

Widow Wang had no way to deal with Da Zhuang, so she went into the house and found two more quilts and covered Da Zhuang with them to prevent him from freezing to death.

Widow Wang did not sleep well that night.

Every few minutes or an hour, I would always get up and go to the next yard to check on Da Zhuang, boil some hot water for him, and tuck in his quilt.

In the early morning of the next day, before daybreak, many families in the village started cooking.

One after another, people carried shoulder poles and went to the back mountain. They had heard the news and were going to catch forest frogs.

While sleeping, Li Youcai only felt his nose itchy, as if something was trying to drill into his nose, which scared him so much that he quickly opened his eyes.

whee···

Duoduo grabbed a piece of dry straw and squatted beside him, her eyes curved into crescents and she giggled.

"Lazy pig, get up and eat!"

Li Youcai hugged Duoduo and scratched her delicate spots.

"The big lazy pig is going to eat the little lazy pig, woo woo woo..."

giggle···giggle······

Chu Xinyan walked into the house carrying a plate and saw the father and daughter playing together.

"Hurry up and wash your face and eat. Youjie has already brought the scale. Maybe someone will come with the toad soon."

"It won't be that fast." Having said that, Li Youcai still put on his clothes and went downstairs to wash his face.

It's so cold, it feels so comfortable to wash your face with warm water.

On the table, the steaming white flour buns smell delicious.

Under normal circumstances, Chu Xinyan would not be willing to make such white flour buns.

But it’s different now. Li Youcai has made money and can afford to eat white flour.

Li Youcai ate steamed buns and drank potato soup, which was so sweet.

"I'll go to Dazhuang's house later. You can order some dishes and two steamed buns. I'll bring them to Dazhuang."

"Okay, remember to bring the bowl back." Chu Xinyan replied.

"Ah."

When Grandma Dazhuang passed away, Li Youcai felt a little sad for his childhood friend.

From now on, Dazhuang will be alone.

Li Youcai has experienced the feeling of being alone and like a wandering ghost in the world.

After dinner, Li Youcai came to Dazhuang's house with steamed buns and potato and cabbage soup.

Many elderly people from the village have come to the courtyard to pay their respects.

Da Zhuang was wrapped in a quilt, still kneeling in front of the coffin.

"I brought you some food. Eat it while it's hot." Li Youcai placed the bowl in front of Dazhuang.

Widow Wang saw Li Youcai coming and pointed at Dazhuang and said, "This fool has been kneeling here all night, and he won't listen to anything I say. It's just a good thing you're here, because I have something to discuss with you."

"Discuss with me? What's the matter?" Li Youcai asked in surprise.

"It could be about a banquet. With so many people here kowtowing and burning paper as gifts, we should at least provide them with a meal. How about you pay the money first, and then let Dazhuang pay you back after you receive the gifts." Widow Wang said.

Weddings and funerals require banquets and guests.

But why didn't Widow Wang go to the director for this matter, but instead went to him?

Li Youcai had a strange expression on his face.

Widow Wang smiled coquettishly and whispered in Li Youcai's ear, "I know you're not collecting frogs for the government, but collecting them yourself and selling them at a higher price. You've made so much money, so why don't you help Dazhuang?"

Hearing this, Li Youcai's eyes widened instantly and he looked at Widow Wang in disbelief.

How did she know?

Widow Wang spread out her palm, her eyes full of smiles: "10 yuan, help Dazhuang set up the banquet, I promise not to tell anyone."

This woman seems poisonous!

In his previous life, Li Youcai left Dongsheng Village early and had no contact with Widow Wang.

Many years later, I only heard that Widow Wang opened a restaurant in the county town and her business was very good.

I didn't expect that he would be such a difficult person!

Li Youcai took out a big unity banknote and quietly handed it to Widow Wang.

"I thank you on behalf of Dazhuang."

Widow Wang collected the money, Pu Liu turned her waist slightly, called out the names of several female comrades loudly, and went to prepare the food.

Looking at the back of Widow Wang as she left, Li Youcai instantly thought of Jin Xiangyu in the New Dragon Gate Inn.

The same charm, the same outward amorous feelings, if it weren't for the fact that she has nowhere to do business now, maybe she would also be a cannibal!