C2

The frightened Ma Dong turned angry from embarrassment. However, when facing the village branch, he had a smile plastered on his face.

"It's me, Ma Dong. I'm returning to the village to buy some mosquitoes. There are a lot of mosquitoes in the orchard." Ma Dong said in a fawning tone, "Secretary Fan, you're still up so late at night?"

Fan Dawei didn't pay any attention to what Ma Dong was saying, he only said in a disappointed tone, "Little thing, I thought someone was congratulating us."

When Ma Dong heard this, he cursed in his heart. His mouth, however, was still sweet. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to grow good crops. Secretary Fan, this congratulation is for sure, everyone in the village is here to congratulate you. It is your family's honor to be admitted into the county high school, and even more so in the village! " "No one in our village has ever passed the examination before!"

When Fan Dawei heard this, he couldn't help but feel pleased with himself. "Dong Zi, did you manage to buy the mosquito-repellent incense this late at night? If not, I'll bring you a plate."

Ma Dong's brows twitched as he hurriedly replied, "Secretary Fan, I really didn't manage to buy anything. The store is already closed."

"Little Ice, bring me a plate of mosquito-like incense!" Fan Dawei turned around and called out to the house.

When Ma Dong heard this, he was overjoyed. To be able to receive the mosquito-like fragrance from Fan Xiao-Bing's hands was indeed beautiful.

Very soon, Fan Xiaobing jogged out of the courtyard. "Dad, what do you need the mosquito's scent for?"

"For Dong Zi, living alone in the wilderness. Even if you don't have any mosquitoes, you're not going to give them to mosquitoes!" Fan Dawei had the look of a benevolent man. "This Brilliant Tower is, alas, not my own. It won't hurt."

"Dad, what are you talking about?" Fan Xiaobing knew that Fan Dawei's words were inappropriate. "You don't see it when he's in pain." After he finished speaking, he waved the mosquito-like incense in the air and walked over to Ma Dong.

"Little Ice, congratulations, you have brought honor to the Buddhist Village!" Ma Dong's outstretched hand trembled slightly.

"Only you know how to talk." Fan Xiaobing said in a bad mood, "Ma Dong, tell these words to my father. I don't like it." With that said, he tossed the mosquito-like incense into Ma Dong's hands and returned to his room.

"This child is too spoiled, I don't know what's good for him!" Fan Dawei's words contained a hint of pride. "Dong Zi, to congratulate you just now, I'll come drink tomorrow. No matter what, we're classmates now."

"Aiyo, good, Secretary Fan. I'll definitely come!" Ma Dong nodded his head and bowed as he left. He practically jogged all the way to the orchard. His heart was happy, he had met good luck tonight, not only did he see Zhang Cui Cui taking a bath, he even received the invitation from the village branch.

Just as they were about to reach the orchard, Ma Dong heard Tiger give a few cries. Could it be that someone from his family had left? He ran over.

The door to the courtyard was open, so someone must have been inside. There seemed to be people inside.

"Who is it?!" Ma Dong loudly asked while trying to strengthen his courage. "I'm holding the dog by the hand. If you let go, I'll bite your dog to death!"

"Bastard, what are you saying!" I am your godfather! "

"Oh, godfather, what are you doing here so late at night?" Ma Dong stepped into the courtyard.

Ma Ping also came out from the house. "Nocturnal cat?" What the hell are you doing out in the middle of the night? "

"I'm in the village buying mosquitoes."

"Aren't there mosquito nets?"

"There are a few holes, but it doesn't work anymore."

"Didn't you just buy it? Why are there so many holes? It must be because of your cigarette! "

Ma Dong rubbed his head and didn't say anything.

"The mosquito net is quite expensive, don't mind it." Ma Ping did not complain much, "Have you bought the mosquitoes yet?"

"No, the shop is closed, but Fan Dawei gave me a plate."

"Secretary Fan?" "Did he give you the scent of a mosquito?"

"Yeah." Ma Dong said arrogantly, "He even invited me to drink tomorrow!"

"Please?" Ma Ping glared.

"Little Bing and I are classmates, what's wrong with inviting me?"

"Heh, that little beauty of yours. I think Secretary Fan must have had too much to drink. Nonsense." Ma Ping patted Ma Dong's head and said, "Quickly go back to your room and sleep. When you wake up early tomorrow, you still have work to do."

Ma Dong nodded his head and entered the room. After he got into bed, he picked up the book and started reading again.

"You little brat, look at all these shitty things. If you have the ability, read as many books as you can while studying. You can be like Little Ice and get some results. If that's the case, then I, your godfather, will have much more face!" Ma Ping grabbed Ma Dong's book and threw it to the side. "Hai, I don't have that chance!"

At this moment, Ma Dong's thoughts weren't on the book, but on Fan Dawei's words. "Godfather, from what I see, Fan Dawei isn't drunk at all. He's not talking nonsense. He really told me to come to his house tomorrow to drink."

"Alright, alright, alright. Then you go take a look. It would be a wonder if he wasn't blasted out!" Ma Ping said impatiently.

Ma Dong knew he couldn't talk about this with Ma Ping, so he rubbed the back of his head and laughed before asking about something else. "Godfather, why did you come to the orchard to sleep tonight?"

"After fighting with your godmother, that bitch is getting more and more outrageous. I'm so tired that my bones are about to fall apart, and she's still tormenting me everyday. Isn't she just looking for a beating!?" Ma Ping said angrily.

"Godfather, what do you mean?" Ma Dong didn't quite understand.

Ma Ping frowned as he looked at Ma Dong. "Go away. What does a child know? Do I need to tell you?"

Since it wasn't the perfect timing, Ma Dong couldn't be bothered to listen. He lit the incense and turned around to sleep.

The next day, a bird's call rang out, breaking the news of the new day.

The sun had risen in the east, and the village was still asleep.

In the orchard, there was a light mist, and the ripe apples were slightly red, like a little girl with a smile on her face. There were still a few Begonia in the orchard. The yellow-green fruit hung heavy in the branches, looking happy and tranquil. There were also some watermelons, cantaloupes, sycamores, and melons under the fruit trees. It was hard to say whether or not Ma Ping would take care of the fruits, but he was one of the best in the village.

The large crops around the orchard were all lush and verdant, growing vigorously. A large area of peanuts in the south of the orchard grew the craziest, the lush green seedlings seemed to be filled with air, and at their peak, all of their nutrients were already being transferred to the peanut fruit. In a few months, the peanuts would be harvested.

When the sun rose, Ma Ping had already hacked a pile of firewood into the yard. Seeing that it was about time, he woke Ma Dong up and shouted, "Dong Zi, get up and prepare to go back to the village for dinner!"

"Let me sleep a little longer." Ma Dong said in a daze.

"What the heck are you still sleeping for? You've got a lot of work to do in the morning." Ma Ping raised his voice. "Why don't you stop eating breakfast?"

Unwillingly, Ma Dong crawled to his feet and stretched lazily. "Godfather, what kind of work are you doing this morning?"

"The drainage ditches in the fruit trees' fields are all silted up. We need to hurry and open them. If we were to be flooded by rain, what kind of fruit would we have next year?!" said Ma Ping, straightening his neck.

When Ma Dong heard this, his face turned long. The work was completely exhausting. The branches of the fruit tree pressed down on them until they couldn't stand up straight. He bent over to dig the tree, but it only took a few moments for his back to ache.

There was nothing he could do about it. If he didn't go to school, he would just be working in the fields. Ma Dong followed behind Ma Dong and they returned home peacefully.

Walking along the riverside path towards the village, Ma Dong looked at the reeds swaying in the wind. He couldn't help but feel envious when he heard the cries of the water birds. The birds were free, the reeds were full, and there were lots of fields on the river bank to fly as they pleased, and no one cared if they caught insects or played with them.

While they were walking, Shan Wazi climbed up from the riverbank, holding a snakeskin bag and staring blankly at it.

"Shan Wazi!" Ma Dong walked over and shouted loudly, scaring Mountain Child into trembling. "What are you carrying? You're acting like a thief or something."

"I caught everything and I didn't steal it."

Ma Ping also went over and took a look at Shan Zi's snakeskin bag. His eyes lit up, "Good god, such a strong and dry eel! It's guaranteed that the village will be able to run after cooking and drinking. Women will have to hide when they see it, otherwise they will have to walk with their legs crossed the next day!"

"Dad, why do you have to walk with your legs crossed?" Ma Dong asked with a smile.

"Don't ask a child if he doesn't understand." Ma Ping then turned to Shan Wazi and said with a smile, "Shan Wazi, give me the eel. You can go to my orchard and eat as much as you want. Even if you have a full stomach, you can't bring it home!"

"I'll give you half of it, then go to your orchard and eat half of it, what do you think?"

"Hehe, this kid isn't staying." Ma Ping caressed Shan Tuozi's head, "What are you doing keeping half of it for?"

"Leave it for my dad, otherwise he'll smash my butt."

"Hur hur, alright. Half is fine." Ma Pingping broke a willow branch, peeled it into a slippery strip, and wore three large eels.

"Uncle Ping An, don't just pick the big ones!" Shan Wazi looked at the eel in Ma Ping's hand, unwilling to part with it.

"That's not the same! You can also pick the biggest fruit in my orchard!"

Shan Wazi hesitated, then said, "Alright then!"

Ma Ping carried the eel and happily ran back home while Ma Dong followed behind, gasping for breath.

"Son of a bitch!" As soon as Ma Ping entered the room, he shouted loudly, "Look what I've got!"

"What are you doing back here? If you have the ability, stay in the orchard!" A loud voice rushed out from the kitchen, followed by a fat woman holding a water scoop as she walked out. The woman's figure was indeed a bit well-off, but her appearance could still be considered righteous.

Ma Ping didn't say anything. He picked up the eel in his hand and waved it around. "What are you still calling me? Look at this. Stew it for me tonight. Let's see if you have any objections!"

When the woman heard that, her eyes stared at him, "Look at you, what are you saying in front of a child." After saying that, she looked at the dried eel and her tone became much calmer. "You caught them last night?"

"It's still being caught? How can a dried eel be caught that easily? If it was caught that easily, it wouldn't be so magical!" Ma Ping carefully placed the eel into a clay jar in the corner, covered it with a thick lid, and then moved a rock and pressed it onto the pot. "This thing, it's called resentment when it runs away. It doesn't even smell good when eating dumplings in the new year!"

"Look at your useless appearance!" The woman smiled. "Where did you get it?"

"I lied to him from Shan Tuo's hands." Ma Dong interrupted.

Ma Ping raised his eyebrows when he heard this, "Go play at the side, how can you call that cheating? I exchanged the fruits for it! "

The woman burst into laughter and said as she walked into the kitchen, "It looks like Shan Tuo's father won't be able to do it either. No wonder, just look at that Mountain Doll's mother's strength. What kind of man could stand to be tossed around with such a delicate front and back? It was fortunate that Shanzi's father was teaching in the village and would only come back every few days. Otherwise, wouldn't he have just collapsed in exhaustion? "