country bumpkin

"Brother Li... is that you?" Kong Xiufang asked.

She hesitated for a moment, afraid of mistaking someone for someone else and feeling embarrassed, but she still asked anyway.

A dark-skinned middle-aged man looked over at the sound. He smiled when he saw the familiar face.

He quickly greeted her, "Oh! It's you, girl."

Upon hearing this, Kong Xiufang realized she hadn't mistaken the person for someone else and started laughing as well.

"What a coincidence! Our factory hired the construction team you guys!"

Li Dalong said sincerely, "Yes, what a coincidence! So you work in a garment factory! That's great!"

Kong Xiufang happily struck up a conversation. After a few words, they agreed to have dinner and chat together after get off work, and then went back to work.

When Kong Xiufang finished get off work in the afternoon, she waited at the door to invite her fellow villagers to dinner.

When Li Dalong saw Kong Xiufang, it had been half an hour since he had finished get off work.

He scratched his head sheepishly and said, "Sorry to keep you waiting so long, girl."

Kong Xiufang smiled and said, "It's alright, there's nothing to do when we get back anyway."

Then he said, "Let's go to a restaurant for a meal, Brother Li!"

Li Dalong got embarrassed again and said, "Hehe, um... little sister, our team leader said the project is on a tight schedule and we need to work overtime. We only have half an hour for lunch, and we have to get back to work after that. I'll treat you to a meal when I have more time later. How about that?"

Kong Xiufang said helplessly, "Alright! Then remember to come find me in the workshop whenever you have time! Remember, my name is Kong Xiufang."

Li Dalong grinned and said, "Okay, I got it. You can go back now, little sister! Sorry to keep you waiting so long."

Kong Xiufang waved her hand, "It's alright, I'm leaving now, Brother Li, you go ahead and get busy!"

The two turned and left at the same time.

Li Dalong went back to the construction site for a meal. These construction teams all had their own cooks.

They ate and slept wherever they took on a project. Meals were eaten in makeshift sheds, and workers brought their own bowls and chopsticks. Accommodation was a rainproof tarpaulin that the workers had built together.

In winter, the awning is covered with straw mats and surrounded by thick waterproof kraft paper to keep out the wind and rain.

In summer, it's simple; just set up a mosquito tent. If it rains, just put a rainproof cloth over it.

Living conditions were tough, but they were all farmers, and strong men, so no one cared about these things. They were content as long as they could eat their fill and earn money to support their families.

When Kong Xiufang returned to the dormitory, she found that there was only one person in the room, so she asked Bai Linlin, the only one there.

"Linlin, where did Yanyan, Huihui, Feifei, and Shao Yuwei go?"

Bai Linlin explained, "Tian Yanyan went on a date, Wang Huihui and Qi Feifei went to the new factory construction site to admire the handsome men, and as for Shao Yuwei, she didn't say, we don't know where she went."

Kong Xiufang asked curiously, "I just came back from the new factory construction site. Where did I see any handsome guys? They wouldn't be lying to you, would they?"

Bai Linlin said in disbelief, "Impossible! I saw them both when I passed by the construction site on my way home from get off work today!"

Kong Xiufang asked, even more puzzled, "You saw a handsome guy?"

"No, but when they greeted me, they mentioned that the contractor has a handsome guy who helps keep track of work and supervises the work! He even went to the construction site this afternoon, you probably didn't notice."

Kong Xiufang: "Oh! Maybe!"

Then she asked, "Why didn't you go out with Shao Yuwei?"

Bai Linlin said with a mournful face, "I told her, but she didn't take me with her, and she didn't tell me where we were going to play... Waaah."

Kong Xiufang got goosebumps all over. "Stop, miss, can you stop whining?"

Bai Linlin rolled her eyes at her. "You have no sense of humor at all. Humph, I'm not playing with you anymore. I'm going to watch TV at the dorm supervisor's place!"

He then skipped away.

Kong Xiufang was bored in her dormitory and thought of Lin Junhui, wondering how he was doing today and if he was thinking of her.

Lin Junhui is writing his application at a feverish pace.

He had passed the accounting certificate exam a long time ago, but hadn't found a suitable opportunity to report it to the director.

He has now been promoted to team leader, which has made his workload much lighter, but he has too many things to worry about.

So I was quite busy and put off reporting to the accountant.

Today, Kong Xiufang said she had something to do and was having a meal with some fellow villagers, so he had time to do it.

After writing the application and reviewing it twice, I finally folded and packed it away. Now that I'm done, I'm at a loss for what to do.

He was about to do the laundry when he saw that the dirty clothes he had taken off yesterday were now clean, neatly folded, and placed in the closet. He felt both grateful and guilty.

His mother always took meticulous care of him. No matter when, she would silently take care of all his affairs without him having to say a word.

He was grateful to his mother, but also felt guilty for not being able to let her enjoy her life at home, as he had to work outside to earn money to support the family.

Lin Junhui secretly vowed to work hard and get the accounting job done as soon as possible so that his mother could live a better life.

Just then, he heard a cough coming from outside the door and hurriedly went out to check.

I saw my mother standing at the door, carrying a small basket of eggs, her face full of fatigue but also with a relieved smile.

"Mom, did you buy eggs? Why so many? From now on, I'll take care of all the errands." Lin Junhui quickly helped his mother into the house.

“Son, I know you’re busy. This is Granny Huang’s house next door. The eggs from her own chickens are fresh, so I’m giving them to you to help you recover,” Song Shiyue said.

Lin Junhui's eyes reddened. He knew that what his mother bought was not just eggs, but also a lot of maternal love.

He held his mother's rough hand and whispered, "Mother, you've worked so hard. Your son will definitely work hard to earn money and take good care of you in the future."

Song Shiyue smiled and patted his hand. "Silly child, as long as you're doing well, I'm happy. Oh, and remember to bring that girl you're dating home for dinner."

Lin Junhui smiled at her and said, "Mom, don't worry, I've already talked to her. She can come over on Sunday if she's free."

In the evening, Lin Junhui personally cooked a few eggs, and he and his mother ate a simple meal together, creating a warm atmosphere in the small house.

At that moment, Lin Junhui became even more determined to change his family's impoverished fate through his own efforts.

It's not just for him and his mother, but also for his future wife.

If he can't provide his beloved girl with a warm and comfortable home, how can he possibly marry her?

Why can't he provide his beloved girl with a good life, and instead make her suffer with him?

No, absolutely not. He remained steadfast in his resolve.

After washing up that evening, Lin Junhui lay in bed, quietly wondering what Kong Xiufang had been doing all day. She must have been very busy! Did she think of me?

I fell asleep thinking about it.

The moonlight, like water, quietly spilled onto the ground, draping the earth in a silvery-gray veil.