Chapter 127: Chapter 126: Returning to the Hotown
Lu Qing’s hotown was in the mountainous region of the eastern part of Xijiang Province. Driving out from East Sea City, one could reach the entrance of the village in three and a half hours—of course, that was provided Qin Tian kept to the highways nearly the entire way, without any traffic jams.
Rural transport had beco rather convenient, however, the roads in Shilin Village, where Lu Qing’s ho was located, were still made of gravel. Qin Tian drove to Shilin Town and then walked back ho with Lu Qing.
Shilin Village was under the jurisdiction of Shilin Town. From the streets of Shilin Town, the distance to Shilin Village was only about two li.
Because they had to walk, and they had lots of big and small bags, Qin Tian and Lu Qing didn’t bring the Zhonghua Cigarettes and Moutai bottles, not even the clothes they bought for Lu Qing’s parents. Each carried only a gift box in their hands.
This was Lu Qing’s suggestion. She said that once they got ho, they could ask soone to help carry the rest of the stuff, given that there was too much of it.
"Hehe, the air here is really good."
Walking along the road with Lu Qing, Qin Tian teased.
The country lane was surrounded by farmland and lush forests, which under the cover of nightfall, seed peaceful and serene.
As they were nearing Lu Qing’s house, so villagers recognized her and greeted her.
"Oh, isn’t this Qing’er? You’re back?"
"Hehe, with that get-up, your old uncle here couldn’t recognize you."
"My, how girls change once they grow up. Back when you were still studying, I was only this tall, look at you now, after six or seven years, you’ve turned into a beautiful young lady."
"Hehe, this is... your boyfriend, right? Quite handso!"
The villagers were mostly very warm in their greetings to Lu Qing and herself. Lu Qing responded politely to each one.
When it ca to ntioning that Qin Tian was her boyfriend, she happily nodded in agreent.
anwhile, Qin Tian also acted sensibly. Following Lu Qing’s lead in how she addressed people, he too smiled and followed suit. If the person was a man, Qin Tian would stop to pull out a cigarette and offer one.
"Ay yo... This is... Zhonghua Cigarette, eh? Hehe, I’ve never smoked such expensive cigarettes before. Qing’er, I heard you’re working in Zhonghai. Looks like you’re making big money, huh?"
"Hehe, young man, not bad, quite spirited, and polite."
"You two have co back to celebrate your dad’s fiftieth birthday, right? Hehe, hurry back now. Tomorrow we’ll all be coming over too, your dad has invited the whole village."
All the way, Lu Qing was greeting people from the village. After crossing a small hill, she pointed to a stone house below and said, "That’s our ho."
From atop the hill, Qin Tian looked down at the house at the bottom of the mountain, constructed of stone and covered with blue tiles. It wasn’t a multi-story building but had the look of four rooms with a cented front yard. Overall, it appeared rather nice.
"I think your family’s house is quite nice," Qin Tian said. "I’ve lived in these blue-tiled houses before. Warm in winter and cool in sumr, very comfortable."
Lu Qing said, "People in the countryside like to compete with each other; comfort is secondary. Just take a look at the other houses in our production team."
Hearing this, Qin Tian then turned his gaze to the surrounding area.
In this basin area, including Lu Qing’s house, there were sparsely distributed six or seven houses. Except for Lu Qing’s blue-tiled house, the rest were multi-story buildings. So had two levels, so had three, and from the outside, they all appeared quite well-decorated, at least looking a grade higher than Lu Qing’s ho.
"Hehe, the decoration of that building above your house isn’t bad, looks a bit like a small western-style house, and there’s even an Audi parked inside the yard. Not bad at all, the people in your production team really do have money," Qin Tian comnted.
Lu Qing couldn’t manage a smile and said, "That’s my eldest uncle’s house. Although they are relatives, our relationship isn’t that good. My male and female cousins have made money and bought houses in the city. They always act so arrogant in the village, especially towards my parents, often saying sour things that upset my parents."
"No wonder," Qin Tian said with a light smile, "no wonder a house like that stands out in the village like a crane among chickens. They really like to show off."
"Yes, my eldest uncle likes to show off. My aunt has a big mouth and sotis, she speaks without thinking, often mocking others and making them feel embarrassed. The two of them are truly... a match made in stink."
What’s there to show off about in a rural place? Qin Tian couldn’t figure it out.
But on the way, Lu Qing had learned that everyone in the village was sohow related, but as for the relationships, there were good ones and bad ones. For instance, the families of Lu Qing’s eldest uncle and cousin, because they had made money and their children were sowhat successful, often showed off and were condescending, treating Lu Qing’s parents poorly.
Qin Tian didn’t speak, following Lu Qing towards her ho, thinking that today, with him present, if anyone dared to bully my Lu Qing, I’d make sure they couldn’t save face!
"Mom."
When they reached the outside of the yard, Lu Qing saw a crowd of people bustling about, and a woman in her apron washing vegetables. She hurriedly called out.
This woman in her forties with already so white hairs was Lu Qing’s mother Wang Shulan. Though worn, she bore a resemblance to Lu Qing; one could imagine that she must have been a beauty when she was young.
"Qing’er, you’re back? I thought you wouldn’t return until tomorrow."
Seeing her daughter back, Wang Shulan was overjoyed.
Since tomorrow they were celebrating Lu Qing’s father’s birthday, their family courtyard was already filled with tables, and many people from the village were helping with the preparations, like butchering chickens and ducks, for tomorrow’s birthday feast.
Eating banquets in the courtyard was a common practice in the countryside.
And when Lu Qing and Qin Tian entered from outside the courtyard, everyone turned to look at them.
Lu Qing, in her purple long dress, looked so noble and beautiful that all the relatives and friends in the yard were sowhat astonished. No one expected that after so many years away, Lu Qing had turned into such a stunning beauty!
"Qing’er is back? Co in, co in." Lu Qing’s father, Lu Dakuan, also ca out of the house.
Although the family’s circumstances had not been good before, both parents cherished their only daughter.
"Dad. Happy birthday," Lu Qing said excitedly upon seeing her father, whose forehead was now marked with wrinkles.
As they talked, Lu Qing and Qin Tian had already let Wang Shulan take their things away.
"Hehe, happy, happy, it’s just another birthday, your coming back is what matters," Lu Dakuan said happily, upon seeing his daughter return."
Qin Tian hurriedly offered a cigarette and said, "Uncle Lu, how are you?"
Lu Dakuan took a mont to size up Qin Tian and seed to understand sothing before asking Lu Qing, "He is?"
Lu Qing’s pretty face turned red, and she said with so embarrassnt, "He’s my boyfriend, nad Qin Tian."
Upon hearing this, the relatives and friends in the yard beca abuzz.
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