Chapter 87: A Chilling Heart

t grateful. He hurried forward and lit cigarettes for Zhao Yougen, the young police officer, and Xiao Zheng. 。Xiao Zheng and Zhao Yougen, along with some young police officers, walked over to discuss....Xiao Zheng left the hospital and stepped into the small county town, where the sweltering heat pressed down, making him feel suffocated. 。Xiao Zheng called Chen Hong and told her that his parents had suddenly disappeared. 。Chen Hong's answer was quite calm. She said, "Xiao Zheng, don't worry first " 。Maybe Uncle and Aunt went back to the countryside themselves, they just haven't arrived yet. 。"I told them clearly, Dad's lung disease will relapse as soon as he goes back, and it will be even worse." 。Before that, they listened to my words and didn't go back. 。How did they suddenly go back That's not very likely. 。I'm worried they might have had an accident. 。Chen Hong said: “Don't worry, they aren't children. They are grown-ups.” 。They didn't tell you, probably because they were afraid you'd worry. 。Why don't you go out and get some food Maybe they'll call when they get home. 。Xiao Zheng wanted to rush back to Green Water Village, but he was worried his parents were still in the county town. So, he decided to wait another one or two hours in the county town before leaving. 。Then, Xiao Zheng walked a few hundred steps and saw a noodle shop by the roadside. He went in and ate a bowl of noodles to fill his stomach. 。Because there was something on my mind, even the most delicious noodles tasted bland in my mouth. It was just about filling my stomach with something. 。Before the noodles were finished, Xiao Zheng's phone rang. 。Seeing that it was a call from Green Water Village, Xiao Zheng threw down his chopsticks and answered. He heard his mother, Fei Qingmei’s voice coming from the other end: "Xiao Zheng, we are home now." 。Xiao Zheng was angry, but he didn't want to scold his mother, so he just said: "You were really guessed by Chen Hong. She said you must be back home." 。"Why didn't you tell me before you left the hospital" Fei Qingmei remained silent for a while before saying, "Son, we were afraid to bother you!"

Xiao Zheng thought it wouldn't be clear over the phone, and he had to go home and do ideological work for his parents in person. He said, "Wait for me at home, I'll be back right away." 。“Feiqing was a bit anxious and said, “Xiao Zheng, you don’t have to come back, it’s so late…” Xiao Zheng stopped his mother from talking more: “Just wait for me at home.” 。Xiao Zheng went to a gas station, filled up his motorcycle with fuel, and then drove home through the night. 。On a hot summer night, when we first left the county town, one could still faintly see stars in the sky. But the closer we got to Green Water Village, the more stifling it became. 。The smoke from the mine, under the hot and humid weather, seemed to have covered Lvshu Village with a layer of grease, making it hard to breathe. 。

Xiao Zheng arrived at his doorstep, his body covered in dust and sweat. 。The house was as usual, with both the front door and windows shut tight. Xiao Zheng pushed the door open. Although the electric fan was running, the heat in the room refused to dissipate. 。Xiao Rongrong and Fei Qingmei were waiting for Xiao Zheng in the room. When he came in, Fei Qingmei quickly poured him a glass of hot water. 。Xiao Zheng sat down and asked, "Dad, Mom, what's going on You didn't tell me anything, just left the hospital What are you thinking"

Xiao Rongrong seemed to feel guilty, so she said softly, "Son, I'm almost recovered now. Staying in the hospital is a waste of money. I talked it over with your mother, and we decided to leave the hospital early..." 。"Qingmei, is that right" Fei Qingmei quickly nodded in agreement: "Yes, we have hands and legs anyway, so we don't need to delay your work time, and we can get back..." 。Xiao Zheng looked at their expressions as they exchanged glances, feeling that things were not as simple as they seemed. He said: "Even if you want to leave the hospital, you can't just go back to Green Water Village! You know the air in Green Water Village is so bad, your father comes back, and the chances of his pulmonary fibrosis relapsing are almost 100%!" Xiao Rongrong frowned slightly, but still said: "The doctor always says it terribly, it's not that serious." 。" "

"Not that bad Dad, we can't forget the pain once the scar has healed. "> 。“If this lung disease really gets serious, it's no joke,” Xiao Zheng said. 。The past few days, Chen Hong and I have been running around looking at houses. Today the house has been transferred, and we now have a 120-square-meter house in the county town, just so you can live there. 。"Well, you two came back without even saying a word to me"

Xiao Rongrong and Fei Qingmei looked at each other, both with helpless expressions. 。Fee Qingmei said again, "Son, we peasants wouldn't be comfortable living in the county town anyway, and there are no jobs for us. At our age, it can't just be your responsibility to support us, can it"

Xiao Zheng said, "Why are we back on this topic I told you, I'll take care of finding jobs for you." 。As for whether you can get used to living in the county town, I don't believe that people in county towns today are all city dwellers. 。"Like Chen Hong's father, wasn't he also from a farming background Now he lives in the county town so comfortably. Would he be able to get used to the countryside"

"How can we compare ourselves to Chen Hong's father" Xiao Rongrong sighed, "Chen Hong's father is a leader, I'm just someone who operates a tractor." 。"Xiao Zheng persuaded: "Father, people are not that different from each other." 。Now you're driving a tractor, changing the environment. If you open a shop in the county town and become a small boss, it's different. 。。"No, no, this is the money for your bride price. We can't use it." 。Besides, the house you bought in the county should be your and Chen Hong's wedding home. Us going to live there now would look like what What would the villagers think of us They would think we are foolish parents for taking our son's wedding home. 。And besides, the two of us have always lived in the countryside and are rough around the edges. Chen Hong comes from a cadre family and is a young lady. She would feel uncomfortable living with you all. 。Hearing this, Xiao Zheng suddenly remembered what Sun Wenmin had done a few days ago to see his parents. 。Could it be that Sun Wenmin said something to his parents that day

"Dad, Mom, tell me the truth. Did Chen Hong's mother say anything to you that day Did she make you change your mind and not want to live in the county anymore"

"This…" Xiao Rongrong wanted to say something, but Fei Qingmei interrupted her, "She didn't say anything..." 。"Xiao Zheng glanced at Fei Qingmei, then at Xiao Rongrong, feeling something was amiss. He looked at Fei Qingmei and said, "Mom, I'm your son, don't you trust me enough to tell me the truth" Fei Qingmei lowered her head and still insisted, "I really didn't say anything" 。I and your father come back, the main reason is still can't leave this village. 。We're all quite old now, and Murakami also has several hundred relatives and neighbors who work together. 。Many of them also suffer from pneumoconiosis, but they are still persevering. We truly can't leave this village. 。When Xiao Zheng heard this, he was also very moved. He could get his parents to the county town to raise them, but hundreds of people in Lushui Village couldn't be helped out of this harsh environment. Because they left the mountains and the mine, where else could they go to make a living Xiao Zheng had come back to the village after graduating from university, wanting to do something for it. 。 。 Fei Qingmei saw the change in Xiao Zheng's expression and said, "Xiao Zheng, we really can't go to the county town." 。That house, was it bought with your hard-earned money As your parents, we haven't been able to help you at all, and we feel deeply guilty. Now we're even going to occupy your wedding home, isn't that outrageous! Think about us too, we still need this face. 。"Prestige can kill you." 。"Fei Qingmei retorted, “Without face, how can one live a good life” Xiao Rongrong also chimed in, "That's right, Xiao Zheng, taking me to the hospital for my pneumoconiosis is already being filial." 。But I can't go and take your and Chen Hong's wedding room. 。"Xiao Zheng: "But... your current condition is prone to relapse..." 。Xiao Rongrong said: "Didn't you say last time that the town is going to promote 'Green Rural Construction' Maybe in a while, the village environment will get better too Then this problem won't exist. " 。"Hearing what his father said, Xiao Zheng felt it wasn't unreasonable. " 。It seems that development is the key to solving all problems, and this development must be green and sustainable. 。Xiao Zheng felt the weight on his shoulders growing heavier. He knew his parents' personalities; since they had brought it up to this extent, they were definitely unwilling to move to the county town. No matter how much he persuaded them, it probably wouldn't work. 。Xiao Zheng said: "Dad, you don't need to go to work for a while. Mom, take it easy too." 。I will discuss with the town leaders again and expedite the "Green Rural Construction" project in our town. 。 Fei Qingmei said: "That's right. If you can help our village find a better way to make money, everyone will be grateful to you, and my parents will be proud of us!"Xiao Zheng knew that as a villager, one could never escape the importance of face. 。He said, "I will try my best." 。"Fei Qingmei said again, "But you shouldn't work too hard either, your health comes first. " 。For Fei Qingmei, any talk of "green rural construction" was just an excuse. They used it to keep their son from dragging them to the county town. 。As for whether this "green countryside construction" can be successful They don't believe it, after all, green mountains and green water were just synonymous with "poverty" in the past. 。

Well, that about wraps it up. Xiao Rongrong and Fei Qingmei urged Xiao Zheng to go back to town early so he wouldn't stay in the village any longer. 。Xiao Zheng could only go back. 。s where they don't have to work hard and get paid more than they would in the government system. 。Within the system, these people are still called "tough-boned" or "righteous," and even after they lea...