Chapter Fifteen: A Fellow Villager

“So that’s how it is,” Qin Rongxian nodded in understanding, then asked, “What else have you planted?”

Chen Ling pulled the donkey cart to the side and replied, “For vegetables, I’ve got tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers, eggplants, zucchini, green peppers, chives, garlic sprouts, and about two acres of fruits like watermelons, grapes, melons, and cantaloupes…”

He counted off the names on his fingers one by one.

These were actually seeds he had bought but hadn’t yet planted in the cave heaven.

Unaware of the real situation, Qin Rongxian was stunned. “Youngest brother, how large is your greenhouse?”

“And with so many kinds of fruits and vegetables, how does your family manage it all?”

Liang Hongyu, standing nearby, struggled to hold back her laughter upon hearing Chen Ling’s answer.

She initially thought Chen Ling was making things up to avoid telling the truth.

But seeing his serious and earnest expression, it didn’t seem like nonsense.

She asked as well, “You really planted all those?”

“Yeah!” Chen Ling nodded and lied without hesitation, “My family has a thirty-acre greenhouse. It’s just been built, and we weren’t sure what to plant.”

“Later, someone told me it’s good to grow off-season fruits and vegetables in winter, so I planted a bit of everything. Actually, it’s the first year, just experimenting to see what sells best. Next year, we’ll focus on those.”

“Feeling our way across the river,” he added.

The Liang couple appeared enlightened upon hearing this.

For some reason, their interest in Chen Ling grew, and they proactively asked, “Where is your hometown, youngest brother? What’s your name?”

“I’m from Fenglei Town, living in San Shi Li Pu village. My name is Chen Fugui.”

“Uncle, Auntie, you can just call me Fugui,” Chen Ling chuckled. Since he’d decided to bluff, he was going all the way.

He picked the place farthest from the county town to avoid anyone tracing the greenhouse, since such new ventures would attract curiosity from neighboring villages.

“Ah? You’re from Fenglei Town?” Liang Hongyu was pleasantly surprised. “I was assigned to Fenglei Town during the Down to the Countryside Movement. I know it well and have many acquaintances in San Shi Li Pu, though your village is quite remote, and I’ve only been a few times.”

“So you were in Fenglei Town as well. Looks like we’re half-countrymen,” Chen Ling played along with a surprised look.

Inwardly, he thought: What a coincidence! I deliberately picked a faraway place, and this auntie actually served there. How am I supposed to keep up the story now?

“Exactly!” Qin Rongxian laughed. “That’s fate. We’ve met twice in just one day…”

His eyes reflected a trace of nostalgia.

“Fugui, tell me about the changes in Fenglei Town these years. How’s Huilongchang now? Is the temple on the mountain still standing?”

Meeting a fellow countryman kindled Liang Hongyu’s enthusiasm. She eagerly tugged at his sleeve and invited him to sit and share the town’s developments.

Chen Ling had no choice but to recount the major changes he remembered, drawing from this body’s memories.

He was clueless about the finer details.

Nevertheless, Liang Hongyu was deeply moved, grasping Qin Rongxian’s hand tightly, eyes brimming with tears as if transported back to those tumultuous years.

“Three provinces meet in one step, the rooster’s crow heard across the borders.”

“Fenglei Town, oh Fenglei Town, how many times in midnight dreams I’ve longed to visit again.”

“Wonder how many of our old folks are still around…”

“Rongxian…” she said with tearful eyes, looking at Qin Rongxian.

“I understand. Once things here settle, I’ll accompany you back to visit,” Qin Rongxian nodded with a sigh.

Chen Ling found the couple’s dynamic peculiar. Could a woman be so strong-willed and the man so deferential? Qin Rongxian treated Auntie Liang with such reverence, addressing her formally. It was as if he were her secretary, always speaking respectfully.

“Fugui, thank you for telling me so much,” Liang Hongyu said, wiping her tears. “When my husband and I return to Fenglei Town, we’ll bring you gifts.”

“All right, I’ll make sure to treat Uncle and Auntie well then,” Chen Ling replied with a smile, thinking to himself how they’d better be able to find him when the time came.

But the Liang couple seemed unaware of his thoughts and smiled, continuing to chat amiably.

After a while, the float in the river suddenly dipped and disappeared.

Qin Rongxian instinctively lifted his fishing rod, feeling a strong force underwater struggling fiercely after being hooked, splashing water and stirring the river into muddy swirls.

He braced his foot against a riverside tree, and the rod bent into a deep arc.

“It’s a big one on the line,” he said, struggling somewhat with his age and lack of recent physical exertion.

“I’ll take over, Uncle,” Chen Ling said, stepping forward to take the rod.

“Slow down. It should be a big fish, very strong,” Qin Rongxian cautioned.

Chen Ling nodded, gauging the force from the rod, and carefully circled it in slow arcs.

Soon, the resistance diminished.

A large, dark green old turtle reluctantly surfaced.

“Oh, it’s a turtle!” Liang Hongyu exclaimed, hurriedly bringing a bucket.

“This one’s quite big!”

Qin Rongxian stared in surprise as well.

No wonder it was so strong; the old turtle was as large as a washbasin.

Chen Ling pulled it ashore and roughly estimated its weight at over ten jin (about 11 pounds).

Among wild turtles, that was indeed a large specimen.

“This is typical for early spring, when the weather’s just warming and food in the water is scarce. You can still catch a few like this.”

“When it heats up, these creatures get slippery and are much harder to catch.”

While washing his hands, Chen Ling said this.

Qin Rongxian nodded. “True. The fish and shrimp in the river are few, so it’s easier to catch something now.”

“Probably because the afternoon warmed up too.”

At that moment, Liang Hongyu said, “Fugui, take this old turtle with you when you go back.”

“Huh? You want me to bring it home?”

“No way! You and Uncle Qin fished all afternoon and caught just one turtle. How could I take it?”

“Look at it.”

Chen Ling was stunned for a moment, then waved his hands repeatedly.

“It’s no big deal.”

“I’m going back with your uncle, and we won’t be cooking it there. Better to give it to you than to an outsider.”

“After all, we’re half-countrymen. Don’t be so polite.”

“That’d seem too distant,” Liang Hongyu scolded playfully, lifting the bucket to put it on the donkey cart.

But as she hoisted it, she set it down again. “So heavy! Must weigh nearly twenty jin (about 22 pounds).”

“Fugui, you won’t be able to refuse now.”

“My old arms and legs are too weak to carry this home.”

Qin Rongxian nodded in agreement.

Chen Ling had no choice but to agree resignedly.

The three of them chatted and laughed for a while longer.

Seeing the sky darkening, Chen Ling said his goodbyes.

“Yes, it’s getting late.”

“Better hurry back. San Shi Li Pu is far from the county town. Be careful on the road alone.”

The Liang couple didn’t say much else but offered their warnings.

“All right.”

“Oh, by the way, these peanuts have a great flavor.”

“Uncle, Auntie, just boil these fresh peanuts at home. They taste best that way,” Chen Ling said as he handed them a bag from beside the donkey cart.

Then he drove the cart away.