What used to be a remote village that could not even be found on a map was suddenly flooded with strangers. From noon until night, there was an endless stream of people. It was like a temple fair, with cars lining up all the way to the entrance of the village. It was a spectacular and grand scene.
Seeing this, Lu Yiwei felt gratified from the bottom of his heart. Although Li Ermao was a driver, it was not easy for him to get to where he was today. He became the receptionist, busying himself with leaders of higher positions than him. Even Bai Yu, who had just arrived, had only exchanged a few words with him. It was the first time in history that so many important people had entered a small village. Almost all the leaders of the four departments in the county were present to provide one-to-one service.
At night, there were still guests. Some of them were arranged to stay in the so-called "hotel" of the town government. The important people were all taken to the county. This expense should have been borne by Li Ermao, but Bai Yuxin readily took it all. She said happily, "Nanyang is not like before. We don't care about money. If not for the people from other provinces, Secretary Su of the Municipal Party Committee would have come too. "
After 10 pm, after the guests had settled in, the courtyard became much quieter. Other than relatives and helpers, everyone else had left. Bai Yuxin also went back because she had a meeting the next day. Li Ermao kept urging him to go home, but Lu Yiwei stayed. He wanted to keep a vigil for Uncle Lu Yiwei.
It was early spring in Dongwa Village, but it was still cold. There was a fire in the courtyard, and the one-meter-tall flames were sizzling. Lu Yiwei sat by the fire and looked at it calmly. Old Man was lying on the kang in the room. The two seemed to be having a conversation through time. They discussed how to collect land fees, how to implement family planning, how to build an orchard …
Memories from the lowest times were the most vivid. At that time, no one looked up to Lu Yiwei. They avoided him like the "God of Plague", for fear of being associated with him. On the contrary, the villagers of Dongwa Village were very kind and friendly to him. It could be said that his life here was not satisfactory, but it was simple and happy. It was just like when he was in university, just that the time was a little longer.
But now, he was the secretary of the County party committee, and those who looked down on him were still in North River Town, doing nothing but ringing the bell. He had seen quite a few people this afternoon. No matter what happened in the past, he still welcomed them with a smile and a warm welcome. Perhaps, the more it was like this, the more uncomfortable they felt.
"Secretary Lu, why don't you go back to your room?"
Guo Jiajun put on a coat and reminded her with concern.
Lu Yiwei came back to his senses and said, "I'll sit here for a while. You can rest. Have you been assigned a place to stay?"
Guo Jiajun nodded and said, "Hai Dong said to go to his house."
"Oh, okay, then let's go together later."
After sending off the last batch of guests, Li Ermao hurriedly said, "Secretary Lu, why are you still sitting here? Go back and rest. You've been busy all day."
"It doesn't matter. I'll spend more time with your father."
Li Ermao was very touched, but there were some words that she could not say. Sitting down, she took out a cigarette and lit it with both hands. "Secretary Lu, if my father knew that you were with him all the time, he would be very happy."
Lu Yiwei looked at the room and smiled faintly. He puffed out a mouthful of smoke and said, "At that time, I lay on the kang with your father and chatted every day. I told him about the outside world, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the sea, the bamboo forest … Every time, his eyes would widen, full of curiosity about the outside world. I told him to take him to see Tiananmen Square, but he refused. He said that he was afraid of falling off the plane, haha. "
Li Ermao's eyes were filled with tears. He sobbed and said, "I've always said that I would take him on a trip, but I always said that I was busy with work, and it never came true …"
Lu Yiwei patted his shoulder and comforted him. "Don't blame yourself. Your father is an old antique. He definitely won't go. He was useless all his life, but he gave birth to a good son like you. It can be said that he has done a good job. "
"Isn't it all thanks to you that I can achieve what I have today?"
Lu Yiwei waved his hand and said, "Haven't you heard of that saying? The master leads the way, but the cultivation depends on the individual. You're still outstanding, or else you wouldn't have been recognized by Governor Shen. Work hard with him. He's still young, and there's a high chance that he'll become a governor or higher in the future. Stay by his side, and you'll have a bright future. "
Li Ermao nodded and said, "I will work hard."
The two of them chatted for more than an hour, and Lu Yiwei finally couldn't take it anymore. Accompanied by Guo Jiajun and Li Haidong, he went to the place where he used to live. The moment he entered the courtyard, he couldn't help but feel nostalgic.
This was the house that he forced Li Haidong to build. At that time, it was the best house in the village, but it was obviously not the case now. On the left was where Li Haidong lived, and on the right was his room, which also served as the village committee office. He still remembered the scene of the meeting in the courtyard. All the women in the village, young and old, were gathered together, chatting and laughing. But now, it was empty. No one had lived in it for a long time.
Li Haidong opened the door with a limp and said, "I tidied up the place in the afternoon and started a fire. Your bedding is still here. It's been a long time since you washed it. If you can't get used to it, I'll go and borrow it now."
After entering the house, Lu Yiwei looked around with the light. Nothing had changed. It was still the same as before. There were still family planning posters on the wall, a calendar showing the year 1999, and a mirror with a comb hanging on it. This comb was left behind by Su Meng.
There were all kinds of books neatly stacked in a corner of the kang bed. Seeing the familiar scene, he quickly flipped through the books and found the diary from that year. He flipped through it like a treasure.
March 6th, 2000. The weather was cold. I didn't attend the county's meeting, and the town's meeting was held, but I wasn't informed. Damn Wei Guoqiang, I'm the deputy mayor, and you're treating me like air …
May 4th, 2000. I'm not in a good mood today. I miss Su Meng the moment she left. She asked me to go to the provincial capital with her and work hard together. I want to go too, but I'm leaving my orchard.
August 2nd, 2000. I called Su Meng today. She said she wants to marry me. She's quite happy about it. But when I think about her father, who is the mayor, I don't know how far our relationship can go. Seems like I should really leave …
Lu Yiwei looked at the diary, and tears welled up in his eyes.
When he left in a hurry, he did not bring anything with him. Even if he was transferred back to the county, he felt that he might come back in the future. In the end, he decided to stay in the county. Uncle Honest did not let him bring anything with him, afraid that he would not come back. In fact, he did not come back.
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