Chapter 7 (2/2)

“Oh my, why are you here?”

She put down the broom and walked over. She did not let go of Chen Hansheng’s hand and introduced him loudly to the other people at the grain farm. “This is my eldest grandson. He will go to Jianye University this year.”

It was rare to see university students in the countryside. The people around them stood up and sized up Chen Hansheng.

“He’s your third child’s son, right? His nose and eyes are exactly like his mother’s.”

“How long has it been? In a blink of an eye, he’s already going to university.”

“He’s still as handsome as when he was young.”

…

Rural compliments were so direct. Chen Hansheng accepted them all and even chatted with some of them with a smile. “Auntie praised me for my good looks, but why aren’t you introducing Xiaoyu to me?”

Coincidentally, Xiaoyu was also at the grain farm. She jokingly said, “I already have a three-year-old daughter. Meijuan should have come to our house to propose the marriage earlier.”

Chen Hansheng smiled and replied. “Well, it’s not too late. I’ll just wait for sister Xiaoyu’s daughter.”

“Gosh, you’re so shameless!”

Xiaoyu gave Chen Hansheng a good beating, which made the villagers around them laugh. Everyone loved a good banter during such a carefree season.

At this moment, Chen Hansheng turned to his grandmother and said, “Let’s go back. It’s so hot today.”

The old lady shook her head. “That won’t do. I’m not done yet.”

Chen Hansheng had no choice but to take the tools from his grandmother. “Then you go rest over there and watch me. I’ll do it.”

“You wouldn’t know how to do it. Just go home and watch TV.”

His grandmother was worried, and her heart ached for her grandson.

“Alright, alright. Why is the little old lady so stubborn?”

Chen Hansheng muttered and put on his gloves and began to dry the rice. Chen Hansheng was not a student who did not know how to distinguish the grains. Chen Zhaojun used to get his son to help out in the fields when the latter was younger.

The old lady saw that Chen Hansheng was doing well but she still tried to persuade him to leave a few more times. Alas, it was to no avail. So she walked to sit under a tree to cool down. Half an hour later, Chen Hansheng was finally done with his work. He was drenched in sweat from head to toe. Even when he took off his straw hat, he was still steaming.

When Chen Hansheng and his grandma arrived back at the house, Chen Zhaojun and Liang Meijuan had already arrived. When Liang Meijuan saw her son walk in, she felt sorry for him and brought him a basin of water. “Come here and wash your face. Hansheng, don’t cry when you get tanned.”

Zhaojun was not worried. Instead, he smiled. “Being tanned makes one look healthier.”

It was lively when there were more people around. After dinner, Grandma quietly called Chen Hansheng to the kitchen. She took out a handkerchief from her pocket and opened it to reveal ten one-hundred yuan notes.

“Grandma, what are you doing?”

“Shh.”

The old lady looked at the central room. “Don’t let your uncles hear you. Take this money to buy snacks in Jianye.”

“I don’t even want my parents’ money. Why should I take yours?”

Chen Hansheng shook off his arm and was about to leave.

The old lady held him back, so Chen Hansheng had no choice but to take out one of the pieces and put it in his pocket. “A hundred will do. Thanks, Grandma.”

Of course, Chen Hansheng did not take it for nothing. He considered it as compensation for his hard work earlier.

September 1 was the official registration day. At the entrance of the bus station in Port City, Wang Zibo finally saw his good friend. He immediately complained. “I haven’t been able to contact you these few days. Why didn’t you bring me with you whenever you went to fool around?”

However, when he saw Chen Hansheng’snew skin tone, Wang Zibo started laughing. “How did you get tanner than me?”

“What are you laughing at? Watch it.”

Chen Hansheng cursed and immediately got onto the bus that read ‘Port City – Jianye’.