The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 448 - 419: Second Uncle, Kneeling Ceremony_1

Chapter 448: Chapter 419: Second Uncle, Kneeling Ceremony_1

Qi Shuliang was very curious about this.

"Big Brother Dazhu, how much can these peaches sell for per pound?" Qi Shuliang asked curiously. Such fine peaches would fetch a high price in Country M.

Qi Dazhu smiled and said, "We don’t know yet, but with Niu Peng around, I’m sure we’ll get a good price."

"Oh!" Qi Shuliang said. Though he wanted to help the villagers, his business was in Country M and there was no way to reach Qijia Village from there, so he could do nothing.

"All right, let’s not talk about that anymore. Let’s go back together and have a good chat," Qi Dazhu said, finally having sent off all these leaders.

"Big brother, are you not picking peaches anymore?" Qi Shuliang asked. If they didn’t start now, they probably wouldn’t finish in time tomorrow.

Qi Dazhu laughed and said, "It’s fine, we can come over after breakfast tomorrow. We have plenty of people in the village to help, and it should be fine just to send them over tomorrow."

"I see," Qi Shuliang said. "Big Brother Dazhu, let’s go to my place. I haven’t even entered my home yet."

"You haven’t just not gone home, but you also haven’t visited the Second Uncle. I’ll take you to see him," Qi Dazhu said. The "Second Uncle" he referred to was Old Man Qi.

He was Qi Shuliang’s second paternal uncle.

"Ah, let’s hurry! Big Brother Dazhu, I need to kowtow to my second uncle," Qi Shuliang said, remembering his mother’s words that she would not have survived to this day without his second uncle.

After leaving someone to watch over the Peach Orchard, Qi Dazhu led everyone down the mountain and went straight to the livestock team.

Old Man Qi knew that Qi Shuliang and his family were returning today. Although he wanted to see his younger sister and nephew, he thought since she already had her family, his visit didn’t matter much, so he stayed home smoking his dry pipe, not going out.

"Second Uncle, Second Uncle, Shuliang is here to see you!" As soon as Qi Dazhu entered the gate of the livestock team, he called out loudly.

Old Man Qi then came out from the house, looking at the distinguished Qi Shuliang.

Upon seeing Old Man Qi, Qi Shuliang quickly walked up, knelt down, and gave three serious bows, saying, "Second Uncle, thank you."

Old Man Qi looked at his nephew, the closest in blood relation to him, and helped him up, saying, "Good child, it’s good that you’re back."

Looking at Second Uncle’s hair, which had turned white, Qi Shuliang felt a sigh in his heart. Second Uncle had aged, but even at his advanced age, the military bearing could not be concealed.

"Second Uncle, have you been well these years?" Qi Shuliang asked, his heart aching at the sight of his uncle’s empty sleeve.

"I’ve been quite well," Old Man Qi replied. "Come sit in the house! Tell me about what you’ve been doing these years outside."

"Of course! Second Uncle," Qi Shuliang replied.

Qi Dazhu and He Jingyu busied themselves with serving tea and water as the four of them talked in the little house.

Qi Shuliang talked about his life outside these past years, to the amazement of the other three.

Unknowingly, the sun had already set outside.

"Shuliang, you’ve made the right decision this time. This is your root, and no matter what, this is our home," Old Man Qi said. "The country may not be ideal right now, but it won’t always be like this. Please don’t lose hope in our motherland."

Qi Shuliang nodded and replied, "Second Uncle, I know. I now have some understanding of the situation back home and feel more confident."

"That’s good," Old Man Qi said. "I am glad. It’s a pity, though, that your father passed away early and couldn’t see this."

When he talked about this, Qi Shuliang felt a bitter taste in his heart and said, "It’s all because I was unfilial, leaving my father with an empty spot by his side as he departed with regrets."

"Shuliang, it wasn’t your intention," said Qi Dazhu. "When third uncle passed away, all us brothers were there. We buried third uncle. It’s just that the new society doesn’t care for those old customs, so we didn’t make a big fuss over it."

"Thanks to all my brothers, I, Qi Shuliang, will remember this kindness," said Qi Shuliang earnestly. His mother had told him about this.

Others had helped him send off his father, and for that, Qi Shuliang would be forever grateful.

"We’re all family, no need for formalities," said Qi Dazhu. "Our village may be remote, but with second uncle here, these years have been peaceful. Life’s been hard, but people live with peace of mind."

He Jingyu looked outside, thinking it was almost time for dinner, and said with a smile, "Uncle Qi, come on, let’s go to our house for dinner."

"No, I won’t go," Old Man Qi said. "You all enjoy your family reunion..."

Seeing this, Qi Shuliang said, "Second uncle, my dad’s gone, and now I only have you and my mom as elders. It’s no big deal to come to my house for dinner!"

"Shuliang..." Old Man Qi was touched. He had no sons, and seeing his nephew being so filial made him very happy.

"Second uncle, if you don’t come back with me, I’m not leaving either," said Qi Shuliang, playing the rascal. No matter what, he had to take his elder home.

"Second uncle, just listen to Shuliang," said Village Chief Qi. "I’m going too, so let’s all enjoy ourselves. Today is a very happy day for our family, so don’t worry about all that nonsensical gossip."

Unless there was something important, Old Man Qi wouldn’t go to Third Grandma Qi’s house.

Even though he cared about his widowed younger sister-in-law, he didn’t want her to be the subject of gossip.

"Alright," Old Man Qi nodded. Now that Qi Shuliang’s family had returned, perhaps people wouldn’t talk nonsense anymore.

A group of them went to Third Grandma Qi’s house.

Liang Hongyu came to see if there was anything she could help with. Learning that the family was short on beds, she had two spare large beds from her own house carried over after returning. They were placed in the cleared storeroom, and she even put down clean bedding on them.

Ma Zijian and Niu Peng didn’t just come to express sympathy; they also brought a truckload of supplies.

A thousand pounds of rice, a thousand pounds of flour, two hundred eggs, several dozen pounds of meat, several dozen pounds of oil, more than ten pounds of sugar, as well as various vouchers and money.

This was a part of the special funds directly allocated to Huai City from above.

Qi Shuliang had money, but it was all in US dollars, which couldn’t buy anything domestically.

There wasn’t enough space to store all the food, so some was kept in the shed in the backyard, with the rest stored in Village Chief Qi’s house.

With the food supply secured, Wang Shuping was relieved, no longer worried that there wouldn’t be enough to eat at home.

When it came to cooking that evening, she put in even more care.

With the help of Liang Hongyu and Zhao Dajiao, Wang Shuping felt more at ease.

Seeing Anna inside the house and not in the courtyard, Zhao Dajiao whispered to Wang Shuping, "Sister Shuping, Shuliang’s wife with her blond hair, green eyes, and such fair skin is quite pretty. She doesn’t look like the monster some people talk about!"

Wang Shuping smiled and said, "There are many races in the world. The most distinctive are Asians like us, white people in Europe and America, and black people in Africa. No matter the race, there are those who are good-looking and those who are not."

"You’re right," said Liang Hongyu. "Shuliang really has some skills, marrying a foreign wife."

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