Chapter 372

Just leave on the spur of the moment.

The family bought lots of things and was returning home, carrying large and small packages. They didn't hire a car but instead took the village vehicle.

When the driver, Da Yong, saw Lame Su's family of three, he seemed quite excited.

Over the past six months, Lame Su's family had become the center of discussion in Gumula Village.

Some said Lame Su's daughter had gone abroad and could speak foreign languages very fluently, without the slightest stammer.

Others found it unbelievable that she could earn such a high cash prize just for running fast for a short distance, and couldn't understand how, suggesting that only university students could get such rewards for running fast.

There were also rumors that Lame Su had opened a shop in the city. At first, no one believed it, thinking that a good-for-nothing like Lame Su could never run a business.

But then they saw Lame Su in the Lvshan City news, and were shocked to learn that even weaving bamboo trays could be turned into an award-winning craft, earning him some kind of intangible cultural heritage award.

People didn't really get what it was all about, but the bottom line was that Lame Su had won some prize.

When people went to ask Lame Su's mother about it, she had no clue and just cursed her unfilial son, only to be scolded by her daughter-in-law.

Others who heard the commotion would just nod along, thinking to themselves that Lame Su and Sheng Juanhua were husband and wife - Su Youfu might be useless, but at least he treated his wife well.

When some villagers finally went to see Lame Su's shop, they came back singing its praises, saying it was huge and filled with bamboo wares. But no one seemed to be buying anything, so they wondered if he would lose money... they were sure he would end up going broke.

The villagers had all sorts of opinions. Though they said Lame Su would definitely go bankrupt opening a shop, having used up his daughter's prize money, deep down they were still envious, even if they didn't show it.

In the village, most people were skeptical and didn't think Lame Su would succeed. But then again, having a talented daughter was an accomplishment in itself.

Those who used to mock him for having only a daughter to continue the family line were now secretly jealous.

Regardless of what they said behind his back, the entire vehicle greeted Lame Su's family of three with exceptional warmth when they saw them.

No one called him Lame Su - some called him "uncle", some "brother", and others even "grandpa", since the whole village was essentially one big family, with various generational titles used. The same went for Sheng Juanhua - she was called "sister-in-law", "auntie", and even "old lady" by some.

As for Xiao Qi, everyone addressed her uniformly as "The University Student", "The University Student is back", "The University Student is getting more beautiful", "University students really are different"...

The long-forgotten feeling of shyness and awkwardness crept up on Xiao Qi.

She recalled that she was still the only university student in the village, even though she attended an expensive second-tier private university.

Previously, some villagers had gone to vocational schools or junior colleges, but she was the first to attend a university - the village was just too backward.

Too remote - even Lvshan City, which was already a small third-tier city, was still considered a rural backwater, while Gumula Village was one of its most impoverished areas year after year.

The roads leading into the village had only been built relatively recently. It was deep in the mountains, and no one knew why so many people had been living there for generations, isolated from the world.

Finally, after exchanging greetings, they boarded the vehicle. Xiao Qi first sent Li Weijin a message to update him on her travel status and that she was heading home. She mentioned the signal might be poor, not just lacking 3G network, but potentially unstable overall, such that making calls could be difficult - she might have to go up to a high place and wave her phone around just to get a signal.

To her surprise, the little brat responded instantly, saying it was no problem. Xiao Qi: ...

That didn't seem very scientific. From interacting with him, she found that despite his aloof exterior, he was actually quite shy and clingy when it came to emotional matters, with little experience. So his assertive response didn't seem like him at all.

Since the vehicle was full of fellow villagers, Xiao Qi didn't feel comfortable making a video call, as it might seem like she was monitoring him, something couples tended to avoid.

She sent him a text message, but the villagers next to her had no qualms about looking at her phone, so she had to put it away.

The villagers had no sense of personal space - all houses kept their doors open, a habit they were accustomed to.

If Xiao Qi hadn't gone away to study, she might have ended up the same way, living in the village. Some people saw this as the villagers being sincere and authentic, while others viewed it as rude behavior, depending on one's perspective.

But such character would definitely seem out of place outside the village, making one stand out awkwardly.

When Xiao Qi first went to university, she was outgoing at first. But after being ridiculed a few times for certain inappropriate behaviors she didn't even realize were inappropriate, she became silent and introverted, deciding it was better not to say anything.

After sitting in the vehicle for a while, it started moving.

It was a very bumpy ride, so reading was out of the question.

But at least her parents' status seemed to have risen significantly. In the past, when the vehicle was crowded like this, her father would have been asked to sit in the rear cargo area, which was very cold when the wind blew. Now, people called him "brother" or "uncle", and he got to sit up front.

Xiao Qi didn't listen to Portuguese audio lessons either, as the passengers were too enthusiastic, eagerly chatting with her parents.

It was actually quite entertaining to listen to. Xiao Qi could sense that her parents must have been very happy, especially her father who didn't talk much. Today, when others asked him questions, he answered fluently without the slightest stammer, his back straight and upright.

Her mother was surrounded by even more people.

"Juanhua, this outfit looks great on you, these pants look great, this bag is beautiful, this necklace is lovely..."

From head to toe, Sheng Juanhua received compliments on every item, except for the old crystal bracelet on her wrist that looked like a cheap five or ten yuan street trinket, so no one paid it any mind.

Xiao Qi had given it to her mother, telling her it was quite valuable, so she shouldn't take it off casually.

Thinking her daughter meant it cost hundreds or even thousands of yuan, Sheng Juanhua naturally wouldn't take it off rashly since it was a gift from her daughter.

Sheng Juanhua didn't mind repeating to people where she bought each item of clothing, how much it cost, that the bag was a gift from her daughter, as was the necklace.

Behind them, Su Youfu was also nonchalantly telling people that his clothes were purchased by his daughter.

Throughout the journey, Xiao Qi listened to her parents, unable to contain their joy, chatting animatedly with the villagers. Although not outright boastful, their happiness was palpable - her father pursed his lips, trying not to burst into laughter.

At first, Sheng Juanhua maintained a serious demeanor as people complimented her on how urbane she had become, but eventually she was all smiles.

Xiao Qi: ... she too had to maintain a smiling, good girl appearance, because the passengers were just too enthusiastic.

This reminded her of the time her elementary school classmate Zhang Juan was similarly showered with compliments while on the village vehicle.

She should rein herself in a bit. But let her parents enjoy their happiness - Xiao Qi felt she should continue working hard. She would study diligently and earn money, so her parents could take some pride in her efforts.

Before she knew it, the vehicle had entered the mountains as they chatted animatedly, oblivious to the increasingly chilly winds. Xiao Qi greedily gazed out the window at the increasingly dense vegetation on both sides, occasionally brushing against the vehicle windows, filling her with a familiar, intimate feeling.

In Xiao Qi's mind, her true home was still Gumula Village. Even though her family had bought a house in Lvshan City, it didn't give her that sense of belonging, since she had grown up in Gumula Village - this was the place she knew, every blade of grass and tree.

The vehicle rocked and swayed along the bumpy road, with passengers deftly gripping the door, seat, or each other's clothes to avoid falling out, all while enthusiastically chatting away, mostly about Su Youfu and Sheng Juanhua's city shop life. That felt a bit more relatable compared to a university student's life, which was too far removed from their reality.

Previously, Xiao Qi found the villagers' conversations coarse and dull, but after half a year without hearing them, he now found them interesting and amusing.

Nostalgia for one's hometown is not just missing the plants, houses, and scenery, but also missing the people here, their voices, laughter, and even curses, which together bring the hometown to life.

When the transport truck arrived at the village, people seemed to jump out of it like magic tricks.

At this time, the village hall was lively, as everyone wanted to see what others had been doing in the city or if there were any newcomers.

There was no helping it, the village was too dull.

When they saw Lame Su's family had returned, though he was now no longer called Lame Su, someone immediately approached and greeted, "Su Youfu is back..."