Read Novel Full Chapter 1263: Arrival
Chapter 1263: Chapter 1263: Arrival
Zhiping sat in Qi Xuemei’s lap, it was his first time seeing so many houses connected together.
The little boy found it novel, "Mom, are there a lot of kids here?"
He wanted to go play with Liantang, but his mom wouldn’t let him. He didn’t know if he could play with kids here or not.
Qi Xuemei nodded, "Yeah, there should be lots of kids here, so now Zhiping will have friends."
Zhao Tian finally spoke up. He directed the carriage straight to the village headquarters, knowing that Yang Hongwen had died.
Upon reaching the village headquarters, the current village head Meng Xiangtian came out.
"Zhao Tian? Is that you, Zhao Tian?"
Zhao Tian saw Meng Xiangtian, "It’s me, Xiangzi. I’ve returned." Zhao Tian was really very excited, finally back, finally seeing someone familiar.
Both were extremely excited, and Zhao Qingjie joined them too, "Uncle."
"Second Brother, Qingjie?"
"It’s me."
"That’s great. You’re back for good this time, right?"
Zhao Tian nodded, "Yes, I’m not leaving now.
Xiangzi, Brother Hongwen is gone, who is the village head now?"
Meng Xiangtian sighed, "Brother Hongwen has been gone for two years. I’m the village head now."
"What illness did Brother Hongwen have? He was so healthy."
"I don’t know, he just suddenly passed away in the middle of the night.
Zhao Tian, where’s your wife? Why didn’t the eldest come back with you?"
Zhao Tian sighed, "My wife is also gone. The eldest stayed back at the farm."
"I’m so focused on talking; come inside quickly, rest for a while and have some hot water."
The Zhao family’s house is still there, but it’s already collapsed and uninhabitable. Meng Xiangtian was wondering where they would all stay. He wondered if Su Liangliang’s old house could be sold.
The carriage driver was also in a hurry, worried about getting delayed in returning, as it’s hard to see the road at night.
Zhao Qingjie, knowing that Meng Xiangtian was the village head, said, "Uncle, can we still live in our house?"
Meng Xiangtian shook his head, "No, it’s been over ten years, it already collapsed the year before last."
"Uncle, look at all the things we have; can we put them in the village headquarters temporarily? We also need to find a place to live."
Meng Xiangtian sighed, "Qingjie, just leave them here for now. As you saw, there are just a few rooms, put them in the one at the very end."
Zhao Qingjie had no objections. They had to settle their belongings first, as the carriage driver needed to return home. They’d think about the housing issue afterward.
Qi Xuemei instructed Zhiping to sit tight while the couple unloaded the carriage together.
Zhao Tian was still holding the urn, standing aside watching.
Meng Xiangtian saw this situation and guessed that the Zhao family wasn’t very harmonious; the daughter-in-law hadn’t even looked at her father-in-law. Helpless, he helped with unloading the carriage.
Qi Xuemei just called out "Uncle," which was a way to thank Meng Xiangtian.
After unloading, the carriage driver left. The family followed Meng Xiangtian into the office.
Zhao Tian also understood now that with Meng Xiangtian being the village head, they had to go to him for matters.
"Zhao Tian, your house is uninhabitable now, and it’s the middle of winter. Have you thought about what to do?"
Zhao Tian worried, "Xiangzi, it’s been over ten years since we came back. Without a place to live, it’s just not feasible now."
Meng Xiangtian thought, what’s your accommodation got to do with me? This sounded like he owed them something.
"You didn’t pick the right time to come back. If it was spring, you could build a house, but during this bitter winter, there’s nothing we can do."
Zhao Qingjie disliked his father talking this way, "Uncle, are there any houses in the village we can rent? We’re planning to build a new house in the spring, but we need your help to find something for now, as we haven’t been back in over ten years and aren’t familiar with the village anymore."
Meng Xiangtian thought, this second child from the Zhao family seems decent. He hadn’t had much contact with him before; after all, he left at a young age and just came back now.
"Life in the village isn’t easy either, only Su Liangliang’s house has one layer available.
Come with me, let’s talk to his wife. He works in the city and only comes back once a month sometimes.
Another option is Yang Zhiqiang’s house, which is also sitting empty as they both work in the county, and they have a house there too."
Zhao Qingjie knew Su Yuanyuan and the Su family’s relationship, "Uncle, why don’t we ask Yang Zhiqiang first?"
Meng Xiangtian stood up, "Alright, Second Brother, come with me. You won’t be staying just a day or two, renting is the right approach."
Zhao Qingjie left the village headquarters with him, "Let’s go ask at the Yang family first. I reckon they probably won’t agree.
Is your dad holding your mom’s ashes? Surely no one will agree to let ashes be brought into their house."
"Uncle, it’s understandable. If not, I’ll leave my mom’s ashes at our house."
"That way’s okay. Second Brother, it wasn’t easy for you to come back, was it?"
"Yeah, the farm usually doesn’t let people leave easily. But Yuanyuan went back a while ago to handle it. She’s also arranged a job for me at the cement factory."
Zhao Qingjie said this with a purpose, to let the villagers know that they had a good relationship with Su Yuanyuan.
Though she wasn’t socially liked in the village, she had capabilities, and this way no one would look down on them.
Meng Xiangtian already knew that their return was through Su Yuanyuan’s connection.
"Yuanyuan went to the farm?"
"Yes, their whole family went. They lived there for a while and then left."
"How did Yuanyuan have the time to stay at the farm?"
"Xiao Tan and they both resigned."
"I see, they also came back for a day this summer."
As they chatted, they arrived at Yang Minggang’s house.
Hu Haihua was drying sweet potatoes. "Sister-in-law."
"Xiangzi, what brings you here? Is this Zhao Tian’s second son, Qingjie?"
"Aunt, I’m Zhao Qingjie."
"Come in and sit. Yuanyuan went to the farm. This must be about your return. She understood right away what it was about.
Hu Haihua poured them hot water. "Qingjie, who all came back?"
"Aunt, the three of us and my dad."
Hu Haihua knew An Lixia was gone and sighed, "Yuanyuan told me during the summer that your mom had passed. Did you come back to bury her?"
Zhao Qingjie shook his head, "Aunt, we’re planning to live here from now on.
Yuanyuan went to the farm too. My dad told her he wanted to return, and she arranged everything, so I came back from the farm too."
Hu Haihua sighed, "What a fate your mom had?
By the way, when did you come back?"
"Aunt, we just got home. Our house collapsed, and with this harsh winter, it’s not realistic to build a house now. I was thinking of asking, Aunt, if we could stay at my brother Zhiqiang’s house for a few months. We’ll pay rent."
Hu Haihua sighed, "Qingjie, why talk about rent? It’s mainly Zhiqiang’s house, and also if you want to leave your mom’s ashes at our place, that’s not possible."
Zhao Qingjie smiled wryly, "Aunt, I understand. I’ll leave my mom’s ashes at our own house. Once we’ve settled, we intend to lay her to rest properly."