Chapter 36 4. Homecoming

As soon as the summer sun came out, the morning glory seemed to have been transfused with blood. While stepping on the fence wall of Ding Guiqin’s house, it climbed up, and at the same time, it spread the trumpet flowers, as if broadcasting to the men, women and children of Yulu Village: "Our village Ding Nengtong is back! The eldest son of the Ding family, our village official, is back!" Ding Nengtong returned to the village in a Mercedes-Benz driven by his brother-in-law Qiu Xingben himself. Since Qiu Xingben started the Scorpion God Group, Wanshou County has become a scorpion breeding county, and Yulu Village has become a scorpion breeding village.

Lao Ding's family gave birth to a son who became a high-ranking official in the capital, and a son-in-law who made a fortune in business. Even the county and township chiefs circled Lao Ding's house. Feel. Hearing that her son was coming back, Neng Tongniang stood in front of her courtyard early on. She didn't recognize the car of her son-in-law Xingben until she saw a group of children chasing a Mercedes-Benz. She was overjoyed when she knew her son was back. . However, when Ding Nengtong and his brother-in-law got out of the car, Nengtong's mother was worried again, because before the son came back, he would bring his wife and grandson with him, but now he was alone, and the mother naturally felt uncomfortable.

Hearing the sound of the car, the elder sister Ding Guiqin, who had been busy cleaning the house for her younger brother and drying the quilts in the yard, ran out quickly. , saw the white-haired mother standing in front of the courtyard gate, with tired and old looking eyes, feeling sore in her heart, walked over in three steps, held her with both hands and asked, "Mother, are you in good health? " Neng Tongniang stroked her son up and down with her old hands, and said kindly: "It's okay, it's okay! It's just that my stomach hurts often, it's not a problem, I'll take some medicine and I'll go back!"

"Mother, let Neng Tong enter the courtyard." Ding Guiqin said happily. "Sister, I'm not by Mother's side, thanks to you!" Ding Nengtong said gratefully. "Okay, mother, let's go back to the room and talk, this time I can be with you for half a month!" Qiu Xingben said loudly. "That's good love! That good love!" Neng Tong said as she walked into the yard holding Neng Tong's hand. This is an old house with four upper rooms, east and west rooms on both sides, a stove room under the wall of the right front yard, a jujube tree in front of the left upper room, and a big yellow dog tied under the tree barking barkingly. Qiu Xingben went to kick it After two kicks, the rhubarb dog still kept barking.From the gate of the courtyard to the wall of the upper house, a clothes-drying wire was stretched to dry the quilts. The white-hot sun was shining, and the huge peonies on the quilts were shining brightly, adding a bit of joy to the small courtyard.

At this time, a group of children were crowding outside the gate to look in. Ding Guiqin went back to the house and grabbed a handful of fruit candies prepared in advance and threw it at the door. The children immediately rushed into a ball. The seventh and eighth aunts in the neighborhood heard that Ding Nengtong was back, and they all went into the courtyard to say hello, and Nengtong's mother said politely: "Pour out the time so that Nengtong can see you!" It was lively for a long time, and at noon, Ding Guiqin said with a smile: "Mother, I went to the stove to cook."

"What are you cooking, mother? I'll drive you to a restaurant at Xijiekou. The village cadres want to meet Nengtong." Qiu Xingben said shyly. "Brother-in-law, let's have dinner with the village cadres tonight. I just want to have dinner with my mother and sister first." Ding Nengtong stopped him. "My son, this is Missing Mother's cooking, Guiqin, wash out the mushrooms, and you will know your favorite chicken stewed mushrooms." Nengtong Niang left Ding Nengtong behind as she spoke, and went to the stove with Guiqin, Guiqin carried firewood to start a fire, Nengtong Niang cleaned the pot and added water, and the two mothers were busy in the stove.

In fact, since Qiu Xingben's business grew, he bought houses in the county and provincial capitals, and he wanted to take Neng Tongniang to the city for a long time to enjoy the blessings, but the old lady just refused to go. She has never left the Ding family since she married her. Ding Guiqin didn't go to the city because she was afraid that her mother would be lonely, so she always served her by her side.At first, Ding Guiqin often went to the county town to help her husband with some company chores, but since her mother had a stomachache, she never wanted to leave her mother, and never went to the company again.After Qiu Xingben got rich, she played around outside. She was like a mirror in her heart. She had secretly made up her mind to divorce Qiu Xingben. All swallowed into the stomach.

Guiqin and her mother were cooking in the kitchen, Qiu Xingben found two benches and put them under the jujube tree, and sat on the benches with Nengtong, drinking tea and chatting while smoking. "Yes, my brother-in-law has always wanted to ask you for a favor. Can you make Scorpion God wine into a state banquet wine? If it can be made into a state banquet wine, it will be very beneficial for us to obtain a direct sales license." Qiu Xingben said happily. . "Brother-in-law, I asked you to keep an eye on Mayor Wu for the direct sales license. How are you doing?" Ding Nengtong asked with narrowed eyes.

"It works, don't tell me, Mayor Wu is a man who spits and nails. He really counts. There is a deputy director of the Ministry of Commerce who is his college classmate. The son of the deputy director is studying at Qingjiang University and graduated last year. Yes, Mayor Wu helped the deputy director's son to join Dongzhou Airlines. The deputy director owed Mayor Wu a favor, so when Mayor Wu called him, he promised to help. It is a critical moment for the issuance of the second batch of direct selling licenses, and it will definitely help if Scorpion God Wine can be used for state banquets."

Qiu Xingben said whimsically. "Brother-in-law, it's not as easy as obtaining a direct sales license to make Xieshen Wine a wine for state banquets. First, the quality of the product must be excellent, and second, it must be recognized by the Zhongnanhai Service Office of the Great Hall of the People Administration. If you want to expand its influence, I will first give you a I have an idea." Ding Nengtong said while taking a sip of tea. "What idea?" Qiu Xingben asked impatiently. "You come forward to do the work of the China Health Care Association. Please host the China Health Care Association and co-organize with Dongzhou Scorpion God Group Co., Ltd., with the theme of utilization of scorpion resources and industrialization development, hold a national scorpion health care at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. The food and health expert seminar, when the time comes, invite reporters from major media in Beijing to create momentum, and the effect will be extraordinary." Ding Nengtong said slowly with a strange light in his eyes.

"That's a good idea!" Qiu Xingben slapped his thigh and said, "It works, I will definitely do it, but how can we make Scorpion God Wine a wine for state banquets? Even if it is not for a direct sales license, it has to be done, and it has to be done at any cost. How much advertising costs will be saved! If it works, brother-in-law can only rely on you for this matter." "Brother-in-law, let me recommend a person to you. This person was single-handedly selected by Mayor Wu. Only Mayor Wu followed suit. He listened to Mayor Wu the most. Mayor Wu told him to go east, but he dared not go west. Mayor Wu Let him go north, he dare not go south." Ding Nengtong said. "It works. Could it be that Mayor Wu told you to go east, but you still dare to go west? Tell me who this person is?" Qiu Xingben asked impatiently. "It's Xi Tao, the assistant director of our Beijing Office." Ding Nengtong said, puffing on the face of the dog squatting next to him. "What energy does a small assistant of the Beijing Office have to accomplish this?" Qiu Xingben asked disdainfully. "Brother-in-law, don't underestimate this Xi Tao. He has an older brother. He is the director of the Central Security Bureau and holds the rank of major general! Mayor Wu sent Xi Tao from a section of the Anti-Spies Department of the Municipal Security Bureau. A cadre at the top level was promoted to a cadre at the department level, and he was given a Mercedes-Benz 600 and bought a house in the Beijing Herb Garden, probably because of his brother." Ding Nengtong said schemingly. "Hey, there are so many articles behind a small assistant director of the Beijing Office, but if he can understand, how can we ask Xi Tao to help us?" Qiu Xingben asked in embarrassment. "Brother-in-law, even Mayor Wu has been taken down by you, but little Xi Tao is still talking?" Ding Nengtong sneered with his lips pursed. "Yes, Mayor Wu is a good official who loves the people like a child. Without his strong support, the Scorpion God Group would not be able to develop so fast. Right now, I am thinking about moving the headquarters of the Scorpion God Group to Dongzhou City. Only keep the production base in Wanshou County, and strive to develop into a top 500 enterprise in the country within three to five years, now I am Dongfeng who has everything ready except for a direct selling license!" Qiu Xingben said ambitiously. "Brother-in-law, it's not easy to move the headquarters of the Scorpion God Group into Dongzhou City. Just building a Scorpion God Building will cost hundreds of millions." Ding Nengtong said in a tone of cold water. "What is a Scorpion Mansion? I also want to take advantage of the opportunity of building the Scorpion Mansion to set up a real estate company and formally enter the real estate industry." While the two brothers were talking, Guiqin came over and beckoned the two of them to come in for dinner. Ding Nengtong agreed to follow her sister into the house. Nengtong Niang was laying out the bowls and chopsticks. It was newly killed. It was rare for Ding Nengtong to accompany his mother to have a meal, but he found that there was only a bowl of rice in the mother's bowl. "It works. Eat chicken thighs. You loved chicken thighs when you were a child. Back then, you were poor and couldn't eat a whole meal of stewed chicken with mushrooms in a year." "Mother, you eat first." Ding Nengtong also picked up chopsticks of mushrooms for his mother. "Mother has a small appetite and can't eat!" Nengtong said, looking at her son happily. "Mother, how can I eat so little?" Ding Nengtong said worriedly. "Mother just doesn't like to eat, she can't digest it after eating, her stomach is not good, it's an old problem!" Nengtong mother nagged. "Mom, I want to take you to the provincial capital to check your body this time and see what's going on with your stomach?" Ding Nengtong said with concern. "What are you looking for? Mother knows her own body and bones. It doesn't matter. The medicine your brother-in-law bought for mother is quite manageable. Every time you take a stomachache, you can push it back. Mother is just worried that you will always be floating like this alone. There is no one under the quilt." The old lady's eyes got wet when she said that. Ding Guiqin was afraid that her mother would be sad, so she quickly changed the subject and said, "I can get through, it's rare for you to come back, sister will accompany you for a drink!" Ding Nengtong quickly picked up his wine glass and said, "Sister, brother-in-law, I should respect you, my mother is thanks to you for taking care of me!" Qiu Xingben waved his hand and said: "It works, it is right to take care of my mother, let me watch us toast my mother together!" Ding Nengtong agreed, and the three of them raised their glasses to respect their mother. Ding Nengtong slept all afternoon. In the evening, Qiu Xingben drove him to a restaurant at Xijiekou to treat the village cadres to dinner. The men in Yulu Village loved wine and drank until midnight. The invited village cadres, as well as some elders in the village, had to stay with them to the end no matter what, so they didn't leave until after eleven o'clock in the evening. Back home, Neng Tongniang was still awake, sitting in the room waiting for her son. "Mother, haven't you rested yet?" Ding Nengtong asked warmly. "Mother wants to chat with you." Nengtong mother dragged her son to Kang Yan'er and sat down. "Mother, are my sister and my brother-in-law doing well?" During the day, Ding Nengtong saw that his sister's face was as happy as a chrysanthemum, but actually there was a lot of pain in his heart, most of which was caused by the disharmony between husband and wife. "Back when the pig and dried meat joint factory was raised, your brother-in-law and your sister were pretty good. After raising scorpions, the business grew bigger and bigger, and your brother-in-law didn't come home very often. Your sister was always suspicious of Xingben, but , no matter what, it won't be like you and Yixue, okay, leave as soon as you say it. Xingben and your sister are enemies, it's not that enemies don't get together!" Neng Tong held his son's hand while talking, looking at his mother's old hands like dry branches, Ding Nengtong felt sore in his heart, and when his mother mentioned Yixue again, he felt even more uncomfortable. I'm sorry for not being filial. "Mom, I don't know why I always dream about my father these days. My father blamed me for not coming back to see you, and said that mother is sick, so sick, you, a son, don't even care about it, and call me an asshole!" Ding Nengtong said emotionally. "Your father has such a fiery temper. Whatever you want, your grandfather has a fiery temper. The ancestors of your Lao Ding's family made shochu, and your grandpa fought with others to die. That was the second time I just married your father. In 2010, your grandma was a capable person, her father was a shaman, and your grandma debuted as a great shaman at the age of thirteen, at that time there was no one in a hundred miles who did not know your grandma." Ding Nengtong had never met his grandfather. He had seen his grandmother when he was five or six years old, but he only had a vague impression. This was the first time he had heard his mother say that his grandmother was a great shaman. Ding Nengtong didn't understand what a great shaman was, so he asked casually, "Mother, is the great shaman what we usually call a great dancing god?" Nengtongniang smiled kindly, patted Ding Nengtong's hand and said, "Silly son, it's true. Your grandmother is Manchu, and a shaman is a person who communicates with ghosts. Soul, Tiaoshen healing, fortune-telling and prediction, it is a pity that after your grandfather died, your grandmother fell in love with opium, not only took away all the family property, but also took his life. I remember that when you were just born, your grandmother started I secretly planted a few poppies in our yard, fearing that people would see them, and they were often caught among other flowers and plants. Poppies are the fairies in flowers, and you can spot them at a glance. When the fireworks fade, they bear fruit. Gently stroked with a knife, a stream of white pulp flowed out, and soon formed a pimple, your grandma hid it like a hidden treasure, and when she had a stomachache, she took a sip." "Mom, so my grandma also suffers from stomach pain?" Ding Nengtong interrupted and asked. "Yes, at that time, if anyone in the family had a headache, he would boil some water with a big smoke shell." Neng Tongniang said nostalgicly. "Staff?" Ding Nengtong asked with a smile. "Take care!" Neng Tongniang said with certainty. "Mother, can my grandma really talk to ghosts?" Ding Nengtong still doubted what he said to his mother. "Yes, ghosts float around with the wind. They float to the eaves, lie in the crack of the door, and can also get into people's dreams. Once the ghosts come, your grandma will know, and she will draw them. How do we hide them. I don’t know what’s wrong. These days, I’ve been dreaming about your father or your grandpa and grandma. One day when you really leave, if you miss your mother, you can invite a shaman to talk to your mother. There are fewer and fewer shamans now, and there is an old lady Wang in the west of Niangniangmiao Village in the neighboring village. She has this ability. A lot of people have looked for her, and they heard that she passed through the underworld three times, and she came back to life when she was about to be buried in the ground." Nengtong's mother's tone was a little sad, and Ding Nengtong's heart was sour when his mother said it. "Mom, you think too much, why don't I take you to Beijing to relax!" Ding Nengtong said affectionately. "Son, mother doesn't want to go anywhere now, she just thinks it's better to stay at home, the only thing mother can't let go of now is you, son, what a good wife Yixue is, how can you just say no and let go?" Tong Niang wiped the corners of her eyes with dry fingers. "Mother, can we not mention this?" Ding Nengtong said with his head bowed. "No, mother wanted to tell you a long time ago, if you are really worried about mother's body, you should quickly get Yixue back. If mother knows that you and Yixue are reconciled, mother's illness will be cured. Mother is a heart disease. , I miss my daughter-in-law, and I miss my grandson. My mother is about to enter the soil. I hope that the three of you will live a good life. If you can communicate, when will you bring Ding Yu back and let your mother have a look. Now, my mother just takes a look and misses it. gone." Nengtong's mother said that a cloudy old tear fell on the back of Ding Nengtong's hand. Ding Nengtong was very confused by what his mother said, so he just called out softly: "Mother!" Tears almost welled up in his eyes.