A Hitchhik

"Comrade, do you need some water?"

"Give me some, please."

Chen Weidong took out a white enamel mug with a blue rim, and the words "Serve the People" were printed on the outside in red.

This was specially prepared for him by Chen's mother. He had left in a hurry before coming and forgot to bring a cup, so he was very thirsty along the way.

"You're welcome. It's what we should do—serving the people."

The water supplier glanced at Chen Weidong and felt a warmth in his heart; it's rare to find a passenger as polite as Chen Weidong these days.

Chen Weidong could hear the sincerity in the water supplier's words; people nowadays really do have a spirit of contributing to the public good.

In a few years, there will be no sense of "should" or "shouldn't," and you won't even get a warm welcome.

At noon, Chen Weidong ate a bite of the cornbread he had brought with him, along with some hot water. As for the white steamed bun, his mother placed it at the bottom, afraid that it would be too conspicuous if he took it out.

The daytime was bearable, but at night, those without seats would spread out newspapers and crawl under the seats to lie down; some young people even crawled into the luggage racks.

However, getting some sleep was nearly impossible, as shouts, cries, and children's coughs filled the air. Chen Weidong barely slept a wink all night, and felt dizzy when he got out of the car.

I found a rickshaw to get to the bus station, then transferred to a bus and spent several hours swaying and bumping along before finally returning to Lin'an County.

However, this time he didn't have a carriage to ride in. Just as he was wondering how to get back, he heard a "putt-putt-putt-putt--" sound, and a Dongfanghong 28 single-cylinder diesel tractor slowly drove over.

"Fellow villager~ Fellow villager~"

Chen Weidong hurriedly waved and shouted loudly.

"Hey, where are you going, folks?"

"I'm going back to Duanjia Village."

Chen Weidong was overjoyed to hear this. He knew Duanjia Village and remembered that Yangjiatun was not far away, about ten miles away, and it was also a brigade headquarters.

"Hey fellow villager, I'm from Yangjiatun. Could you give me a ride?"

"That's a bit of a detour."

The driver seemed a little hesitant, after all, it was a distance of about ten miles.

"Brother, I know it's a bit of a hassle, and I'm worried about the gas. I'll give you five cents as payment for the gas, is that alright?"

"Get in the car."

The driver immediately stopped the vehicle and helped Chen Weidong put the items in the back of the truck.

"Were you one of the educated youth from Yangjiatun?"

"Good eye, how did you figure that out, brother?"

"You look so refined and gentle, you don't look like a farmer at all. Do you know Wang Jianshui? He's the team leader in Yangjiatun. His wife is my older cousin."

"Of course I know him, he's my captain."

After hearing this, the two became much closer.

"What's your name, brother? What have you been up to?"

"My name is Duan Haiping. I work as a tractor operator at our commune's agricultural machinery station. The Lijia Village next door is building a reservoir, and the station asked me to drive over and help out."

"The agricultural machinery station, that's a great place! Especially for someone like you who can drive a tractor, there probably aren't many people like you, right?"

Chen Weidong wasn't deliberately flattering the other party. In the countryside, those who could drive tractors were highly skilled, and the agricultural machinery station was a good unit. At that time, in the list of "iron rice bowls," it was a formal unit that "ate state grain" like the commune grain station, supply and marketing cooperative, and health center, with generous benefits. No one would trade it for a team leader position.

"I was the only machine operator in the entire Duanjiacun brigade."

Duan Haiping said with great pride.

The two chatted and gossiped until it got dark before they arrived at Yangjiatun.

"Brother Haiping, come in and sit for a while, have some food before you leave."

Chen Weidong unloaded the items from the back compartment and invited Duan Haiping to join him.

"No, I need to go back and report to my superiors if we get together again that day."

Duan Haiping waved his hand and got into the car.

"Brother Haiping, here's your money."

Chen Weidong took out five cents and handed it over.

"No need, we're all neighbors, it's just a short walk."

Duan Haiping returned the money. He felt that Chen Weidong was to his liking, and since the latter had a good relationship with Wang Jianshui, he definitely couldn't ask for the money back.

Watching Duan Haiping drive away, Chen Weidong put the money away.

People at this time are both meticulous and kind-hearted; once they become friends, they will do everything they can to lend a helping hand.

Unlike later, even neighbors living on the same floor, who might have lived together for over a decade, only ever looked at each other through the peephole and barely exchanged a few words.

Chen Weidong arrived at his door and knocked.

"Honey, I'm home."

He didn't go in directly. After all, he had asked Fu Xiao and Lin Xi to come and help him when he left, and they might still be at home. If he suddenly barged in and saw something, it would have a bad impact.

Chen Xiaosui, who was already lying on the kang (a heated brick bed) and feeling bored, immediately sat up when she heard Chen Weidong's voice.

"Father is back!"

Her voice was full of joy. In the days since Chen Weidong left, no one had played with her, let alone played on the high rollers or the airplane.

Su Man and Fu Xiao heard it too, and the two quickly got dressed and opened the door.

"Wei Dong, you're back!"

At this moment, He Yan also walked over from the courtyard next door, carrying a kerosene lamp. He hadn't gone to sleep yet when he heard a noise next to him. Fearing something was wrong, he came over to check.

"Just arrived, Brother Yan, come in and sit for a while."

He Yan nodded, extinguished the kerosene lamp and placed it at the door, then followed Chen Weidong into the house.

"Father."

Chen Xiaosui stood by the kang (a heated brick bed) with her belly exposed, reaching out her hand as if she wanted Chen Weidong to hug her.

"Dad's body is cold, you go under the covers first, I'll hold you in a bit."

Chen Weidong didn't step forward, afraid of passing on his coldness to Chen Xiaosui and causing her to catch a cold.

Suman rekindled the smoldering fire by adding a piece of dry firewood.

"Wei Dong, you've been back for about ten days now, haven't you? Has Yanjing changed much?"

He Yan squatted on a small wooden stake next to him and asked Chen Weidong.

"The round trip took about ten days, and there weren't many changes, but there were quite a few more people in Yanjing, as many educated youth had gone back."

In the past two years, the main focus has not been on construction. It is estimated that after a while, Yanjing will change every day.

Hearing Chen Weidong's words, a hint of longing flashed in the eyes of He Yan and Fu Xiao. After all, they had been away from home for so many years, and who wouldn't miss home?

Everyone went to the countryside in response to the national call, but only they know the joys and sorrows they experienced.

"It's alright, we'll be there soon."

Chen Weidong offered a word of comfort. Although there was still no news about his family's return to the city, he had already made several backup plans and was determined to return to Yanjing this year.

"It's getting late, we should head out now."

Fu Xiao stood up and said.

"I'll take Comrade Fu Xiao back."

He Yan also stood up.

"Thank you both for your help these past few days. Remember to come over for lunch tomorrow and invite Linxi too."

Chen Weidong settled He Yan in, but as for Liang Xiao, since the last incident involving opening the letter, all traces of their past relationship had vanished, let alone the possibility of him inviting Liang Xiao to dinner.

He is a person who clearly distinguishes between gratitude and resentment. He remembers those who treat him well and also keeps track of those who treat him badly.

A prime minister's belly can hold a boat, but he's not a prime minister!