Dong Mu He works

Chapter 145: How to Get Along in the Future (Part One)

    

ead to toe.This past month, she hasn't stopped taking the donkey-hide gelatin liquid. Besides that, she also sneaked into the car from time to time for a bowl of chicken soup to replenish her health....The hot kang (a traditional heated brick bed) was ready, and the sky had darkened. As villagers left, they clenched their fists, eager to try it out, their steps quickening as they could barely wait to get home and enjoy a warm one themselves.

When Xu Huaiyi described it, they didn't have much of a concept in their minds. But after seeing it with their own eyes and even trying to light a fire, they had a deep understanding. That kang was really useful! With it, no matter how cold the winter, they wouldn't be afraid of not surviving. For many frail elderly people, it was simply life-saving.

Of course, most villagers couldn't afford to buy bricks, so they could use mud-brick instead. So after the meeting, they immediately urged their families to find suitable places to dig earth, forgetting even to eat.

Have a good evening and enjoy your time.

For a while, people kept rushing in and out, bustling about, interspersed with urgent calls, adding a touch of liveliness to the village.

This also brought some vitality to the originally quiet and almost silent village.

Several children stuck their heads out from behind the door, watching people coming and going outside. They kept repeating the action of picking up dirt, looking curious and envious.

One chubby little boy, clumsily ran back into the house, tugging at his grandfather's sleeve and looking up with pleading eyes. "Grandfather," he asked, "Can I go out to play with those children"

Master Hu asked with loving concern, "Where does Yinghui want to go"

Hu Yinghui nodded without hesitation, her eyes shining with anticipation.

"Hu Cu Chang touched his head and asked again, "Why do you want to play with them"

Hu Yinghui thought for a moment, and blurted out, "The grandson feels they are very happy..."

Before Hu Cunzhang could speak, Hu Yingjie, who was standing on the side, heard this and his face changed slightly. He whispered reproachfully, "What nonsense are you talking about Are you not happy"

Hu Yinghui shrunk her neck, mumbling aggrievedly, "Life is good, but I always feel they live better than me. They're always chattering and chirping like birds in a tree, going wherever they want..."

But he can't.

Hu Yingjie's eyes flickered, wanting to continue scolding. But Hu Village Head waved his hand to stop him, "Alright, Yinghui isn't wrong. The children from Xujia Village are indeed more lively than ours. Even after experiencing a migration and enduring so much hardship, they don't seem disheartened or exhausted at all."

"He subconsciously said, 'Children just think less and know less. Naturally, they have no worries and just eat and play innocently...'

"

"The village head cut him off, saying, 'There isn't much hardship on the faces of the adults.'"

Hu Yingjie couldn't speak for a moment, pursed her lips. Her usually expressionless face now showed a hint of stubbornness and a touch of bewilderment.

Master Hu didn't try to persuade the elder grandson any further. He lowered his head and said to the younger grandson, "If you want to go play, then go ahead. But, people may not be very fond of us."

Hu Yinghui, though small, wasn't naive. Whenever he mentioned being from Hutou Village, people would steer clear as if they carried some kind of contagion that brought bad luck. Even relatives living in other villages wouldn't want to interact with them much. Over time, they were left only playing with a few children from their own village. Thinking about this, the light in his eyes dimmed. "Perhaps it's best to just forget it," he mumbled, "to avoid humiliation…"

Hu Cunzhang's heart ached deeply, but he didn't show it on his face. Instead, he encouraged, "How will we know unless we try They are now in our village and will be part of Hutou Village from now on. They wouldn't despise themselves."

Hu Yinhui's face was full of confusion. "But, aren't we different from them"

"The village chief soothed his grandson with heartache, "It's always the same, it has always been the same."

Hearing this, Hu Yinghui's eyes suddenly brightened. "Really, Grandfather But everyone outside says we are people of ill omen."

"Headman Hu sank his old face, saying word by word, 'That's because the world is foolish, blind in their eyes and hearts. We must not be self-deprecating.'"

Hu Yinghui hurriedly and obediently replied.

"Go..."

"Then the grandson took his leave."

After Xiao Pangzi left, Hu Yingjie couldn't help but ask, "Grandfather, did you let Yinghui go play with the children from Xu Jia Village to actively interact and get closer to them"

"It's not possible for a village to stay neutral in the midst of war between Chu and Han, is it"

But what if they don't appreciate it, won't we just be sending them up there to be humiliated Haven't they suffered enough indignities over the years

Habit and numbness don't mean it doesn't hurt.

"Master Hu, instead of answering, asked, "When you went out with them this morning, did you receive scornful glances Were you discriminated against and excluded"

Hu Yingjie shook his head. "They were relying on us at the time, so they wouldn't show that kind of expression. But maybe it was just a facade of friendliness..."

The village head no longer argued with him, casually saying, "Whether it's fake or not, we'll know after a try. They can pretend for a while, but they can't pretend forever. Tomorrow, keep an eye on Yinghui."

"Yes, Grandfather," Hu Yingjie said respectfully.

Not only were the two of them talking about this, but Xu Huaiyi and others were also discussing how the new and old villagers of Huxiang would get along in the future. They talked about whether this ice-breaking trip should start, when it should start, and where it should start from. At the dinner table, several people chatted while eating, expressing their opinions freely.

Before the fire in the kang was fully extinguished, everyone else had left. Xu Chang and Xu Mao Yuan, as well as Dr. Jiao, each had matters on their minds, so they stayed behind. Gu Huanxi then instructed Wei Ci to prepare a few more dishes and set up a table of noodles for them.

After three rounds of drinks and five courses, Village Head Xu said, "Although everyone outside shuns the people of Lake Village, from now on we are also villagers of Lake Village. We must not harbor any ill feelings towards them in our hearts. Wouldn't that be inviting trouble for ourselves"

Xu Huaiyi, hearing this, nodded in agreement without hesitation. "The village chief is right. I never believed those rumors. They're just three people making a tiger, and the story being passed around incorrectly. The people of Hutang Village are unfortunate. They suffered a disaster and were also hurt by rumors. For five years, they have been ostracized everywhere. We can't live like this anymore. We must change people's impression of Hutang Village."

"The village head, Xu, hurriedly asked, 'What good ideas do you have Tell us quickly!'"

Xu Huaiyi said, "Firstly, we should get to know the people in Hutou Village first and gradually build a relationship. Once people from other villages see that we are safe and sound, they will no longer resist Hutou Village's bad reputation."

Xu, the village head, began to think deeply.

Xu Maoyuan hesitated, "Must we use this method Isn't it too risky A gentleman doesn't stand on dangerous walls. Is it worth risking our lives Perhaps we can think of a way to explain things to the outside..."

Xu Huaiyi took over the conversation, “Uncle, if there’s something useful to explain, how come Hutou Village hasn’t been able to turn things around after all these years Are they all mute and didn’t know to defend themselves when they were slandered”

Xu Mao-yuan's face changed slightly, and he subconsciously said, "Maybe, they are just a small group..."

Xu Huaiyi smiled, "Although we have many people, we are refugees who fled the disaster. Our words lack persuasiveness unless we have personally experienced it. Only then can we speak with confidence because facts speak louder than words."e wife accompanying them, this situation was quite unusual. Many people were curious and looked on, but they didn't seem uncomfortable at all. They just went about their business as usual. Even when p...