Chapter 20: Countryside Home
After getting off the car, Wang Mengde walked slowly along the road.

In early April, the temperature in the north had begun to warm up. The roadsides were covered with green and the branches of the willow trees began to sprout. He stopped from time to time and used a small medicine hoe to dig some herbs such as dandelions and viola yedoensis on the roadside.

Dandelion is a good thing. It is not only a medicinal herb, but also can be used as a food.

He dug it up, dried it, and then stewed it with beef. He still can't forget the taste after eating it once.

Thinking of stewed beef, Wang Mengde thought about it in his mind again, wondering how to ask Sha Zhu to get some more from the restaurant. The last time he ate beef was last year.

After walking and stopping here and there, he harvested a lot of herbs for his medicine box.

At this time, there was a burst of noise coming from the front. Wang Mengde took a few quick steps, looked up, and found that he had arrived next to Shahe Market.

Today is the day of the big market in Shahe.

The Shahe Market started in the Qing Dynasty. It started to flourish 20 to 30 years ago because of the straw hat and straw braid industry. It was originally called the Pigeon Market and the Dog Market.

The market is held on even-numbered days of every month.

Looking at the bustling crowd in the market, Wang Mengde did not go in to join in the fun. Instead, he walked east along the edge of the market and saw someone selling straw hats outside the market, so he bought one.

He plans to practice medicine in the countryside for a long time in the future. In the summer, he will wear a straw hat to block the sun to some extent.

Wang Mengde's grandparents live on the east side of Shahe Market, in a village called Tiangezhuang, about three or four miles away from here. Along the way, from time to time, he met some villagers rushing to the market, and some who went early had already started walking back.

He was tall and took big steps. Even though it took him some time to dig herbs, he soon arrived at Tiangezhuang Village. Walking on the road in front of the village, Wang Mengde would stop to say hello to familiar villagers he occasionally met.

When he was a child, he lived here for a long time.

After walking through the village and coming to the other side of the village near the edge, Wang Mengde stopped beside a fenced vegetable garden in front of a family's courtyard. A smile appeared on his face: "Grandma, I'm back."

At this time, in the vegetable garden, an old lady with gray hair, wearing a blue left-lapel overall, about 70 years old, was tending the vegetable garden with a hoe in both hands.

Hearing Wang Mengde's voice, she quickly straightened up and turned to look over.

When she saw that it was Wang Mengde, the old lady grinned and said in surprise, "Oh, my grandson is back."

As he said this, he picked up the hoe and walked out with one foot deep and one foot shallow.

"Grandma, please slow down and be careful where you step." Seeing her anxious look, Wang Mengde hurriedly stepped forward and supported her arm with his hand.

"It's okay, it's okay. Grandma has big feet and can stand steadily." Wang Tian held the hoe with one hand and held his hand with the other. She looked him up and down carefully and muttered with a pained heart:

"Meng De, you've lost weight again. Are you not getting enough to eat at home? When you leave, I'll bring you two kilograms of white flour and a few kilograms of corn flour."

Wang Mengde took the hoe from her hand and looked at her. He saw that although the grandmother had a face full of wrinkles, her hair was basically all white, and she had few teeth in her mouth, she was in good spirits and looked strong.

"Grandma, I found a job two months ago and I have enough to eat every day."

"Really? That's great. It's good for work. It will be easier to find a wife tomorrow." The old lady said happily.

The two of them walked home while chatting about family matters.

When he entered the yard, he saw an old man who looked a few years younger than his grandmother, squatting in the yard, holding a pipe in one hand and sorting tobacco leaves in the other. It was his grandfather, Wang Jinghui. "Old man, look who's here."

"Who is it?" Wang Jinghui answered nonchalantly. He looked up and saw Wang Mengde. He said with surprise, "It turns out that Mengde is back. Put down the things you are carrying."

As he said this, he stood up, knocked his pipe on the sole of his shoe, then put it on his belt and reached out to take the things from Wang Mengde.

"Grandpa, I can do it myself."

After putting the things in the living room of the main hall, Wang Mengde sat on a bench, ready to chat with his grandparents about family matters. The last time they met was during the Chinese New Year.

After chatting for a while, Wang Tian thought of her other two grandsons, so she asked:
"Meng De, how are Yuan Chao and Wei Guo doing recently?"

"Grandma, they have grown a lot taller and heavier. Of course, they have also become more naughty. A few days ago, the two of them teamed up to beat up a child in the yard."

Wang Mengde said with a smile.

"Are Yuanchao and Weiguo okay?" Wang Tian asked nervously.

"They were fine, but the child was beaten."

"It's okay. Kids are very naughty these days, and it's normal for them to fight and make noises." Hearing that her two grandsons were not harmed, Wang Tian's smile returned to her face.

"By the way, Meng De, please wait for me for a moment." As she said that, she stood up and went into the east bedroom.

The house is three rooms wide and is occupied by Wang Mengde's grandparents and his uncle Wang Ning's family.

My uncle has three children. Two of his older cousins ​​have married and moved out. There is only an eight-year-old cousin left at home, and he is not at home now.

After a while, grandma came out of the bedroom and handed him two pieces of rock candy with a smile.

"Meng De, here are two rock candies. Eat them quickly. Don't let Meng Qi see them, or he will come to my room and rummage around again."

Wang Mengqi is the name of his cousin from his uncle's family.

Looking at the two yellowish rock candies in his hand, Wang Mengde showed no disdain. He smiled and put them directly into his mouth. Hmm, they tasted sweet.

The sweet taste in his mouth suddenly reminded him, and Wang Mengde hurriedly took out the gift he had brought:
"Grandpa, grandma, I brought you a pound of brown sugar and a pound of Daoxiangcun cakes. I also brought half a pound of brown sugar and half a pound of cakes for my uncle and my great-uncle."

"You kid, why do you need to buy anything when you come? Grandma has everything she needs. Your grandfather often goes to the market, so it's very convenient to buy things. Don't buy anything in the future. Save the money for marrying a wife."

Grandma complained with a look of heartache.

"I understand, grandma." Wang Mengde agreed readily.

"Since you've bought it, send it to your uncle's house. I just came back from the market and saw him at home." Wang Jinghui said from the side.

"Okay, I'll be there right away." Wang Mengde walked out carrying his things.

Before they even reached the gate, Wang Tianshi said from behind: "Meng De, when you meet Meng Qi later, ask him to go to the back of the house and pick up some elm seeds. I will make you some elm seed nests later."

(End of this chapter)