Chapter 226

The days of the past were truly tough.

Fortunately, everything has passed.

Now life is carefree with no worries, and wherever I go, people greet me with smiles. Even though I know it’s just courtesy, this feeling is really comfortable!

Zhangzhuang Village isn’t big, from east to west, even a slow walk takes only 20 minutes.

When Lin Mo and his family of three arrived at a small, dilapidated house at the east end of the village, they saw Granny Third, with hair as white as snow, sitting at the doorstep, holding a bag of cheap candy.

The old lady was getting on in years and seemed a bit out of touch, just sitting there, all alone at the doorstep.

Now that the standard of living has improved, no children lack snacks. Actually, even if Granny Third is willing to give her candies out, there aren’t many kids who would take them.

More often, the children just smile and then run away to continue setting off firecrackers and playing rough and tumble games elsewhere.

The life of someone on the five guarantees can still be decent. There’s a subsidy from the village, and there are corresponding subsidies from the county and the city, and their medical care is free.

Some say it’s because the national policies are good,

Others say it’s because the five guarantees recipients have no worries or dependents, and the fear is they might cause trouble, so they are given such good subsidies.

But even if life is good, being old and without children by your side, the days are still bleak and joyless.

From a distance, Lin Mo watched the old lady and couldn’t help but think of Fugui from “To Live.”

“Ah….”

Lin Mo sighed, let go of Lin Xiaoxiao’s hand, and said, “Xiaoxiao, go and ask the old lady for a piece of candy.”

Lin Xiaoxiao looked at the frail old lady and felt a bit scared, shook her head, and didn’t dare to approach.

As people age, their faces start to show wrinkles, their eyes become cloudy, and they carry a particular elderly scent. It’s indeed scary for children who are not familiar with them to get too close.

Li Jinwen laughed and said, “That’s your great-grandma. When you were born, she came to see you.”

“Oh…” After being persuaded a bit, Lin Xiaoxiao finally mustered the courage to approach, carefully stretched out her hand, and said, “Old lady… may I have a piece of candy?”

“Ah… girl… do you want candy? Okay…okay… just wait a moment, ah…” The old lady was startled, then smiled, nodded her head with a shaky hand, and reached into the bag to get a candy, but it slipped and fell to the ground.

She tried to pick it up, but couldn’t quite grasp it.

Lin Mo quickly stepped forward, kneeled down to pick up the bag, and placed it in the old lady’s hand, saying with a smile, “Granny Third, I’m Lin Mo, I’ve come to see you.”

“Huh?” The old lady, hard of hearing, looked at Lin Mo with confusion and asked, “You… whose child are you…?”

“From the Changshui family, I’m Lin Mo!” Lin Mo raised his voice a bit.

The old lady nodded her head, not knowing if she had heard, and with great effort, handed a piece of candy to Lin Xiaoxiao.

Not knowing what else to say, Lin Mo placed the gift he was holding inside the house, and then led his wife and child away.

There was no need to give money in this situation, and who knew whose hands it might end up in if he did.

Bringing some pure milk and fruit that can be eaten right away is better; if not, someone else might enjoy them when they visit.

Coming to visit more often is much more valuable than giving money.

Not far from leaving Granny Third’s place, they encountered a middle-aged man with a foolish grin walking towards them.

He was about Lin Mo’s age.

Lin Xiaoxiao, who had been bouncing around, suddenly became afraid and ran over to grab her parents’ hands when she saw the man.

“Here comes the village guardian of our village.”

“Xiaoxiao, don’t be afraid.”

Lin Mo smiled and took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket to hand over, “Dandan, here, take these to smoke.”

“Hehe… hehe…” Dandan, the simpleton, accepted the cigarettes with a silly grin, tore the pack open, took out one, and put it in his mouth, then made a gesture asking for a lighter with his hands.

Lin Mo shook his head and said, “I only brought cigarettes, didn’t bring a lighter, you go ask someone else for one.”

The simpleton Dandan didn’t fuss, still grinning, turned around to leave.

“Wait a second.”

Lin Mo, having remembered something, stopped him, took the cigarette pack from his hand, drew all the cigarettes out and divided them into loose ones, putting a few in his pocket, then said, “You take them out one by one, don’t let others grab them away in your daze.”

The cigarettes Lin Mo handed out were “Hetianxia,” priced at 100 yuan per pack. These were not common in the village, and surely they would be snatched away by people with ill intentions should the simpleton just bring them out.

“Thank you, thank you, hehe, hehe~~~” The simpleton smiled and nodded his head, not sure if he understood, but turned around with the cigarette in his mouth to look for someone with a lighter.

Watching Mr. Shu of Zhangzhuang depart, Lin Mo and Li Jinwen continued walking home.

They had taken the main road through the village when they came, but didn’t take the same way back, instead walking along the provincial road beside the village.

They were out for a stroll anyway, so they might as well take a lap around the village.

On the side of the village was a row of bamboo groves, also the place where the dead were buried. Even in winter, the bamboo was lush and green. Along with the accents of accumulated snow, it looked quite picturesque at a glance.

There was also some snow piled up on the side of the road, making a crunching noise underfoot.

Li Jinwen and Lin Mo each held one of Lin Xiaoxiao’s hands, walking slowly home.

As they walked, Li Jinwen said, “Honey, you were talking about opening an antique shop. Where were you thinking of setting it up?”

“I checked last night, and there doesn’t seem to be a suitable place in the county. The foot traffic isn’t that great. I guess we’ll have to go to the city,” Lin Mo replied, having done his research and quite clear on the matter.