151: Chapter 151: The Sequel to Returning to My Hometown

Zhang Wei went up and teased Liu Haorui, "Are your future father-in-law and mother-in-law satisfied with you, the prospective son-in-law?"

Wang Xiaohua was truly a good girl. Aside from being a bit of an airhead, everything else was great. She didn't have any 'princess syndrome' either. Her personality complemented Liu Haorui's carefree nature perfectly.

Hearing this, Liu Haorui looked quite embarrassed. "Her parents are very nice, but her father is a heavy drinker. He drinks white liquor straight from the bottle. I wasn't prepared for my first visit and was knocked out immediately."

Liu Haorui still had lingering fears as he shared more details.

At the time, he was terrified by the sight of his future father-in-law's drinking posture. He managed to accompany him for a few rounds, while his two Future Brothers-in-law stood by, watching him like hawks. He was so scared that he quickly pretended to fall asleep.

"Fortunately, her family didn't notice. I didn't expect that the acting skills I used for short videos would actually come in handy."

Zhang Wei couldn't help but admire the guy's guts. If he had been caught faking being drunk, according to local customs, he might have been thrown out directly.

After chatting for a while, the truck finally arrived. Everyone got into their cars and drove toward Zhang Wei's rural hometown. The scenery along the way became increasingly familiar. Zhang Wei introduced An Xiaoxi and the others to the mountains he had climbed and the rivers he had swum in as a child. Soon, the car entered the village entrance.

"Stop here for a moment." Zhang Wei's expression turned serious. Zhang Hong and Wang Sheng also realized something, and their expressions became tense.

An Xiaoxi was a bit puzzled by their reaction and asked curiously, "What's wrong? Is there a problem here?"

Zhang Wei pointed to the utility pole at the village entrance. "Do you see that?"

"I see it. And then?" An Xiaoxi was confused.

The utility pole in the distance was nothing special. The only thing that caught her attention was several elderly women sitting under it, basking in the sun.

Zhang Wei said nervously, "You can skip any other place in the village, but you must pay your respects here at the village entrance.

You look at these aunties and they seem ordinary, but I'm telling you, even the FBI might not be as formidable as they are. Within ten minutes of entering the village, they can make the news of your return spread throughout the entire community.

That's one thing, but the key is that they're hard of hearing. If you tell them you found a project team in the City Name, they might spread it as you selling yourself to a landlord.

If you say you're an apprentice for someone outside, they might spread it as you being a slave.

If you tell them you eat takeout in the City Name, they might spread it as you picking up leftovers to eat.

"Is it that terrifying?" An Xiaoxi was startled.

Zhang Wei sighed. "If you don't want the whole village to hear that you've been sold to Africa, you must pay your respects." "That does sound quite important."

The group got out of the car, respectfully distributed a round of Huazi cigarettes to the old men, and then gave two boxes of strawberries to the aunties.

They managed to retreat amidst a flurry of praise like "Xiao Wei-zi and Honghong have really made something of themselves."

Arriving at Zhang Hong's doorstep, his mother and Eldest Uncle's family were already waiting.

"Is this the An Xiaoxi you've been talking about? This girl looks just like a princess." Li Huihong's eyes lit up when she saw An Xiaoxi. Ignoring her son, she grabbed An Xiaoxi's hand and showered her with compliments.

"Auntie, you're exaggerating." An Xiaoxi began to act well-behaved, not forgetting to give Zhang Wei a provocative look. 'This young lady is a little princess wherever she goes.'

Zhang Wei didn't bother with her. Almost everyone in the village was related in some way. After quickly delivering the strawberries, they had to rush back to the new villa in the provincial capital. Zhang Hong's house couldn't accommodate so many people.

Leaving An Xiaoxi at home to chat with his mother, Zhang Wei took Liu Haorui and the others to deliver strawberries door-to-door. The yield from the full ten acres of strawberries was so large that distributing it to the entire village only used up about thirty percent.

"Old Zhang, did you send any to Uncle Yu's side?"

"By the time you remember, the flowers will have already withered." Before leaving City Name, Zhang Wei had not only sent some to Yu Hongtao but also gave a basket of strawberries to everyone in the Museum.

He also sent quite a bit to the Criminal Police Brigade, and even to Tang Yi, Uncle Jiang in Xuzhou, and Uncle Zhu.

Although these families were wealthy and didn't care much for such things, it was a gesture of respect from a junior—a small gift with deep meaning, like a goose feather sent from a thousand miles away.

After the distribution was finished, they set up a large pot in Zhang Hong's courtyard. Eldest Uncle slaughtered a chicken and asked the villagers for some vegetables. Everyone gathered in the courtyard for a meal of local farmhouse dishes.

The flavors in Anhui Province were quite different from those in City Name. They focused on a salty and savory profile, unlike City Name where sweetness was the main note.

Li Huihong, afraid the young girl would be too shy to eat, personally tore off a large chicken leg for her. An Xiaoxi was delighted.

After eating, Zhang Wei and the others had to drive to his maternal grandmother's village. Although his maternal uncles were mean and acerbic, his grandmother was still an elder, and for his mother's sake, he had to make the trip.

His grandmother's village was closer to the provincial capital. After visiting, Zhang Wei could head straight back to his new home.

Driving into the village, they first went to the intelligence station to pay their respects as usual. Then they arrived at a small farmhouse courtyard. Li Huihong stepped forward and knocked. After a moment, Second Maternal Aunt walked out.

"I was wondering why I kept hearing crows cawing today. So it's Li Huihong who's here?" Second Maternal Aunt said with a fake, superficial smile.

Li Huihong was a bit puzzled. This couple usually lived in the county seat, but by chance, they were also in the old family home today.

Thinking it was better to avoid conflict, Li Huihong ignored her and led Zhang Wei and the others inside to find her mother.

The Old Lady was inside the house, sewing shoe soles.

"Mom, I've brought Zhang Wei and his friends to see you."

The Old Lady was in her seventies. Her eyesight wasn't great, but her hearing was sharp. Hearing her daughter's greeting, she hurried to her feet. "Hui'er, you're here! Where's my dear grandson? Let Grandma have a look at him."

Zhang Wei came over and helped the old woman sit down. He introduced An Xiaoxi and the others to her and briefly talked about what he had seen and heard in City Name.

Meanwhile, several familiar neighbor aunties began dropping by. In the countryside, neighbors usually just walk right in without making an appointment.

"This grandson of yours is quite something! He's already a big boss in City Name. My second granddaughter is studying at a university in the provincial capital; she's an educated person too. Why don't you two get to know each other?"

"Auntie, I'm used to being alone and am not considering that for now."

Zhang Wei politely declined with a wry smile; it was his first time being introduced to a blind date. One had to admit that the rural aunties' approach was simple and blunt.

At first, the aunties were relatively restrained, but gradually, the conversation started to take a different turn.

Some hinted at wanting Zhang Wei to find a job for their sons, while others directly asked him to arrange a manager position. There was even a distant relative who hadn't been in touch for ages who openly asked to borrow money, making Zhang Wei frown incessantly.

Fortunately, the maternal grandmother couldn't stand it anymore and slammed a shoe sole heavily onto the Eight Immortals Table.

"Is everyone treating our house like a public market? Even selling vegetables depends on mutual consent. Er Danzi, that kid of yours can't even figure out a computer and he wants to be a manager? Genzi gambles outside every day; you haven't even paid back the thousand yuan I lent you last time, so how do you have the face to come back and borrow more?"

The group was left speechless by the grandmother's sharp tongue and mocking tone, and they instantly fell silent.

Concerned that his grandmother might face trouble living in the village, Zhang Wei stepped in to smooth things over. "Forget about being a manager; after all, the company is a meritocracy and doesn't do back-door favors. However, I have a plot of land under contract in City Name. If anyone wants to come and farm, you can give it a try. The pay is quite good."

Everyone looked at each other after hearing this. The room suddenly became quiet.