"D*mn it, I went around scrounging for food and drinks, only to run into her father."
After returning home, Chen Hansheng couldn't help but grumble. Chen Zhaojun and Liang Meijuan had already gone to work, and the kitchen was spotless without a trace of cooking fumes.
His mother was really a tough - cookie. Once she said she wouldn't take care of him, she meant it.
Chen Hansheng planned to take a shower first and then sleep soundly for the whole morning. In the past, he was always busy from dawn till dusk. Now, thanks to his rebirth, he finally had this hard - won leisure time and of course wanted to enjoy it to the fullest.
He slept until 10:30 in the morning. The urgent ring of the telephone woke Chen Hansheng from his sleep.
In his dream, Chen Hansheng was still in 2019. When he opened his eyes, it was the sweltering summer of 2002 again. "Who is it?"
Chen Hansheng walked over to the phone and picked up the receiver.
"Your mother!"
Liang Meijuan said unceremoniously, "Our family is going to have lunch at your grandmother's place today. You'll have fewer chances to meet after you go to college, so you should visit more before you leave."
"Got it."
Chen Hansheng hung up the phone and sat blankly on the edge of the bed. Firstly, to get rid of his grumpiness from being woken up, and secondly, to recall the situation of his grandparents' family.
As he thought about it, Chen Hansheng couldn't help but laugh. "D*mn, it's just like in those web novels where someone takes over another person's body. I actually have to gradually integrate the memories. But since it's still me, how should I calculate all this?"
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Chen Hansheng's grandmother's house was in the countryside. His grandfather was an elementary school teacher, and his grandmother was a housewife who also tilled a few mu of land. Chen Hansheng's grandparents on his father's side had passed away early, so he was very close to his grandfather and grandmother.
After taking a half - hour bus ride, Chen Hansheng arrived at his grandparents' house. This place would later become a development zone, but now it was shaded by lush green trees. As far as the eye could see, there was a vast expanse of golden wheat ears. When the scorching summer wind blew, the sound of the wheat waves rustling filled the air.
"Grandpa, Grandma, get me some water to drink."
As usual, Chen Hansheng pushed open the door of the farmyard and shouted. There were quite a few people in the main room. The families of his eldest uncle, second uncle, and second aunt were all there, each of them gnawing on a piece of watermelon.
"Look, the college student is here."
His second aunt said with a smile.
Chen Hansheng gave a "heh heh" laugh. None of his uncles, aunts, and cousins had gone to college. Others could mention the term "college student", but Chen Hansheng himself would deliberately avoid it, and he wouldn't even show his anticipation for college life.
He picked up a piece of watermelon and took big bites, not caring that the red juice dripped on his body. His second aunt couldn't help but laugh, "You're already a college student, but you still eat like a glutton."
Under the gaze of everyone, he finished several pieces of watermelon. Chen Hansheng wiped his mouth, let out a loud burp, and said, "Where's Grandma?"
"She's drying the grains on the threshing ground behind the house," his grandfather replied, puffing on his water - pipe.
It was so hot, yet the old folks were so stubborn. Chen Hansheng sighed inwardly, stood up, and said, "I'll go and have a look."
"Don't go."
His second uncle said, "She won't come back even when we go to call her. She won't be willing to leave until she's satisfied with drying those grains."
"That's because I haven't gone. Maybe a grandson's words carry more weight than a son's."
Chen Hansheng said with a grin. He picked up a tattered straw hat from the ground. Ignoring the smell of sweat and the rice husks, he put it on his head and walked towards the threshing ground against the surging heat.
The room fell silent for a moment. His grandfather took a few puffs from his water - pipe and slowly said, "The son of the third family, his personality will get him far anywhere. And he's a university undergraduate. He'll have great prospects in the future."
Liang Meijuan was the third child in her family. His eldest aunt, who didn't have a very good relationship with Liang Meijuan, curled her lip and said, "He's just good at studying. He's a bookworm."
His grandfather smiled, tapped his water - pipe, and said nothing.
As an old teacher, he didn't judge students solely by their grades. From childhood to adulthood, Chen Hansheng had always been sophisticated, open - minded, and a bit wild and unruly. Bookworms weren't like that.
The threshing ground was actually a spacious open area in the village, specially used for processing rice husks and drying grains. It was easy to spot Chen Hansheng's grandmother among the crowd.
"Grandma!" Chen Hansheng shouted loudly.
Hearing the familiar voice, the old woman raised her head hesitantly. Sure enough, it was her eldest grandson.
"Oh, why did you come here?"
She put down the broom, came over, and held Chen Hansheng's hand tightly, loudly introducing him to the others on the threshing ground, "This is my eldest grandson. He's going to study at university in Jianye this year."
College students were a rare sight in the countryside, and people around came over to take a look at Chen Hansheng.
"This is the son of the third family, isn't he? He looks exactly like his mother."
"I haven't seen him for so long. In the blink of an eye, he's going to university."
"He's still as good - looking as when he was a kid."
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People in the countryside were straightforward when they complimented others. Chen Hansheng accepted all the praise with a smile and chatted cheerfully with the acquaintances, "Auntie, you say I'm good - looking, but I haven't seen you introduce Sister Xiaoyu to me."
Coincidentally, Xiaoyu was also on the threshing ground. She spat and said, "My daughter is already three years old. You should have asked Auntie Liang to come and propose marriage earlier."
People in the countryside were all related in some way. Since Liang Meijuan was the third child, the younger generation all called her "Auntie Three". Chen Hansheng replied with a laugh, "It's not too late. I can wait for Sister Xiaoyu's daughter."
"Bah! You wish!"
The plump and charming Sister Xiaoyu gave Chen Hansheng a punch, making the surrounding villagers laugh. During the slack season, everyone enjoyed this kind of banter.
At this time, Chen Hansheng said to his grandmother, "Let's go back. It's so hot."
The old woman shook her head. "No, it's not dried well yet."
Chen Hansheng had no choice but to take the tools from his grandmother's hand. "Then you go and watch from the side. I'll do it."
"You don't know how to do this. Go home and watch TV."
His grandmother was worried and also心疼 her grandson.
"Come on, come on. Why are you so stubborn, old lady?"
Chen Hansheng muttered. He put on gloves and started turning over and drying the rice. Chen Hansheng wasn't a student who was unable to do physical work or couldn't tell one crop from another. In the past, his father, Chen Zhaojun, often encouraged Chen Hansheng to go back to the countryside to help out.
Seeing that Chen Hansheng was doing a good job, and after several attempts to stop him failed, the old woman went to take a rest under the tree. Half an hour later, Chen Hansheng finally finished. He was soaked through, and steam seemed to rise from his body when he took off his straw hat.
When they got back, Chen Zhaojun and Liang Meijuan had already arrived. Seeing her son in such a sorry state, Liang Meijuan felt sorry for him and brought a basin of clear water, "Come and wash your face, you little rascal. Don't cry if you get sunburned." Old Chen didn't care at all and just smiled while blowing on the electric fan, "A little tan makes you look healthy."
With so many people, the meal was lively, and they talked about all kinds of family matters. After the meal, his grandmother quietly called Chen Hansheng into the kitchen. She took out a cloth bag from her pocket, and when she opened it, there were ten 100 - yuan banknotes inside.
"Grandma, what are you doing?"
"Shh."
The old woman glanced at the main room, "Don't let your uncles hear. Take this money to Jianye to buy snacks."
"I don't even want my parents' money. Why would I take yours?"
Chen Hansheng waved his arms and was about to leave.
The old woman held him back. Chen Hansheng had no choice but to take one banknote and put it in his pocket, saying, "100 yuan is enough. Just a token."
Of course, Chen Hansheng didn't take the money for nothing. He stayed in the countryside to help out for a few days before the start of the semester.
September 1st was the official registration day. At the bus station in Gangcheng, Wang Zibo finally waited for his friend. He immediately complained, "I haven't been able to get in touch with you these days. Where have you been fooling around without taking me with you?"
However, when he saw what Chen Hansheng looked like, this heartless guy burst out laughing, "Why are you even darker than me?"
"Shut up and pay attention to my expressions."
Chen Hansheng cursed and strode onto the bus bound for "Gangcheng - Jianye".
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