The Big Landlord

The various meats, vegetables, and seasonings bought in the afternoon have been delivered to the home one after another before dark, and the hired chef also arrived early. After dinner, Ma Yunxiu led several women to go home to rest, but followed the chef's instructions, Start preparing tomorrow's dishes in the kitchen.

It was gradually getting dark, and the rare lights in the house were brightly lit, and cheerful conversations could be heard from time to time in the usually clean house. There are bursts of fragrance wafting out, and everything is proceeding in an orderly manner.

The entertainment room, which had been empty for a long time, was also full of people at this time. Some well-fed villagers were playing mahjong and poker. The joy of losing, the annoyance of losing, and occasionally arguing harmoniously.

There are quite a few spectators at each table. There are not enough benches, so they simply stand and watch. Compared with the card players, they seem more anxious and worried. Once finished, join the discussion together.

The billiard table next to it was not idle either. Several half-grown young people were swinging the cue in turn. It's empty, but it doesn't affect their interest at all.

The leisure room on the first floor is full of people at the moment. Compared with the elders in the entertainment room, there are mostly children and women. They are watching wonderful videos. Wang Ben did not buy tapes like he just bought a video recorder. When I went to the city, I occasionally brought back a box or two that I thought were classics, and the villagers were not as enthusiastic as they were at the beginning. After the aloe seedling incident, it was the first time anyone came to watch the video at home.

Seeing these jubilant scenes, Wang Ben felt comforted from the bottom of his heart, and even felt a little emotional. It had been many years, and it was the first time his house was so lively. In his memory, it seemed that when he was old, his father was over thirty. There have been birthdays.

He suddenly thanked Ma Yunxiu for helping Zhang Luo so enthusiastically, giving him the opportunity to re-experience the lively scene at home, and also made him truly feel that he belonged to Xiushuiwan, an ordinary member of many villagers, unlike when he just came back , the entire existence of an outsider.

There is nothing to be busy for the time being, I go to the entertainment room to distribute cigarettes to everyone, go to the kitchen to ask what is still missing, and go to the leisure room to find out the most suitable video tapes for everyone to watch. More time, he stays in the In the main room, some chatted with Zhan Wu.

Before dinner, Zhan Wu had already come down the mountain with his three companions. He was a few months older than Wang Ben. When this kid turned twenty, he would not go down the mountain, let alone help him with a banquet at home. Not moving, Ma Yunxiu had no choice but to give up. The reason why he was so enthusiastic about helping Wang Ben celebrate this birthday was probably to make up for the regret in his heart.

"Book, hurry up and set up the stove."

While chatting, Ma Yunxiu walked into the main room and kindly reminded that the nine bowls of steamed vegetables were almost ready, and it was time to put them on the steamer.

Looking at the watch on his wrist and the mobile phone thrown on the coffee table, Wang Ben didn't get up immediately, but said thoughtfully: "Wait for me a while."

He continued to sit on the sofa with Zhan Wu, but the two of them didn't make a sound at the same time. They were talking harmoniously just now, and suddenly there was a short silence.

After a while, Zhan Wu asked doubtfully, "Say, will Zijian call you again?"

"It should be," Wang Ben smiled uncertainly.

"Hey," Zhan Wu sighed softly, and didn't continue to ask.

His friend has become like this, and he is also not very happy.

"Jingle Bell……"

The phone didn't ring, but the landline at home rang. It wasn't Zijian, but Fei Cui who called. Fearing that the signal in the village was not good, she chose to call the landline.

"Brother Ben, it's been almost a week since I sent you a package, haven't you received it yet?" Fei Cui's sweet voice came from the other end of the phone.

"No, I'll go to the post office tomorrow to see what it is?" Wang Ben asked curiously.

"I won't tell you," Fei Cui complained twice, seemingly dissatisfied, and hung up the phone after a few simple blessings.

Throughout this semester, Wang Ben didn't go to Fei Cui's school again, and he seldom made phone calls, so he would inevitably be dissatisfied.

A few minutes after Fei Cui finished the call, the phone rang, and it was not Zijian, but Xiaohui.

A caring greeting and a few minutes of very peaceful conversation ended the call in their usual fashion.

After waiting for a long time, the phone did not ring again. Ma Yunxiu had come to remind him three times, so Wang Ben had no choice but to stand up. It seemed that this kid Zijian really cared about him.

Together with Zhan Wu, they came to the nearby bamboo grove, dug a big pit on the side of the slope with a hoe, and then built the surrounding area with bricks.

Put on a large iron pot, place a steamer basket full of bowls of Shaobai, fragrant bowls, porridge, and rice noodles on top, and start adding firewood to make a fire. These steamed vegetables will not be hot until noon tomorrow. Serve.

"Brother Benzi, I have a call for you," Linglong, who had been watching the video with her friends, ran out of the house and yelled loudly from afar.

Wang Ben was suddenly overjoyed, and hurried over, asking in a panic, "Is that brother Zijian?"

"I can't hear it, the voice is a bit similar, but the tone is not the same, I didn't ask," Linglong said very seriously with her little head held high.

Three steps and two steps came to the main room, and it was indeed Zijian who called. Wang Ben said with a smile as usual: "You boy, you are finally willing to call me."

Throughout the past few months, they haven't spoken to each other, as if they have been separated from each other. He doesn't want to lose a friend from childhood to adulthood, a precious friendship.

There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone, followed by Zijian's flat voice: "Listen to my dad, you are going to celebrate your birthday this year."

This kid actually used his father as an excuse. Wang Ben didn't point it out, but said, "Yeah, it's a pity you're not here."

"..." The phone was silent again. Zijian didn't send his blessings as before, but he didn't hang up either.

The phone call was not very speculative, and after chatting intermittently for a few minutes, they had to end it very reluctantly.

In any case, at least the friendship in his heart is still there, and he is not willing to let go of it, nor is Zijian. With this, he is very satisfied.

Smiling knowingly, he continued to run to the stove to light the fire, and managed to last until two or three o'clock in the middle of the night. He was already drowsy, so he had to hand over the whole thing to Zhan Wu, and after saying hello to everyone, he climbed into the Warm quilt.

In the early morning, when the first ray of sunshine shines on the beautiful Xiushui Bay and falls on the window sill, soaked in the fresh air, accompanied by crisp birdsong, Wang Ben slowly opens his eyes. Today, he is twenty years old.