Bamboo Village, located on the outskirts of the North Suburb, is famous for its abundant bamboo.
Generations of villagers have depended on bamboo for their livelihood, which is why early in the morning, a group of village won could be seen sitting in the central open space, weaving bamboo.
However, unlike their usual focused weaving, today they seed distracted, glancing toward the village entrance from ti to ti.
After all, today was the Mid-Autumn Festival—a day for family reunions!
"Hey! Did you all hear? Gou Dan from Granny Zhang’s family is back ho today!"
"Gou Dan? The one who left to work in the city?"
"Exactly! And let tell you, Gou Dan really made sothing of himself this ti. He ca back with a big color TV for his family—it’s one of those modern LCD ones that hangs on the wall like a painting!"
"Really? A color TV that can hang on a wall?"
"Why would I lie? See, Granny Zhang is coming over now. Look at how smug she looks, she walks as if she’s dancing!"
As the won chatted, they saw Granny Zhang, slightly chubby and cheerful, walking up with a big smile.
"Hey there, ladies! What are you all talking about?" Granny Zhang asked, beaming with pride as soon as she arrived.
"What are we talking about? Of course, we’re talking about your boy Gou Dan! He’s done well for himself, huh? Bringing ho a big color TV!" one of the won imdiately responded with a smile.
"Oh, co now!"
Granny Zhang waved her hand modestly, chuckling: "That boy Gou Dan, he almost never cos ho to see us old folks. Sure, he brought back a television worth tens of thousands, but it doesn’t compare to him visiting more often! Not worth ntioning, not worth ntioning!"
"Tens of thousands? Oh my goodness! That’s incredible!"
Hearing Granny Zhang’s words, the won imdiately burst into chatter, pulling her into their circle, full of envy as they pressed her for details.
However, there was one woman, with delicate features but simple clothing, who continued weaving bamboo quietly without joining in.
Granny Zhang noticed this and frowned slightly before deliberately speaking loudly with a snicker: "Oh my! Xiao Fei’s mother over there—our village’s only college student Xiao Fei—he hasn’t co back ho today either?"
The mont she uttered this, all eyes turned toward the modestly dressed woman.
That woman was none other than Ye Fei’s mother, Su Hongyun.
Su Hongyun’s hands trembled slightly, and she slowly set down the bamboo, murmuring softly: "Xiao Fei is busy with university, and coming back costs quite a bit, so... so I didn’t ask him to co back."
"You didn’t ask? Or he simply didn’t want to co back?"
Granny Zhang smirked triumphantly, seeing Su Hongyun’s sowhat anxious expression. "Xiao Fei’s mother, let tell you—it’s all well and good to have a college-educated son, but what’s the use of it? People from our village won’t learn much in the city anyway. City kids are so much smarter! Can’t compete, really. Your boy would’ve been better off following Gou Dan’s example and doing business!"
"Doing business? Gou Dan is in business now? No wonder he could afford a TV worth tens of thousands!"
"Wow! Gou Dan really is impressive, Granny Zhang, you are so lucky!"
"Granny Zhang, my daughter’s eighteen this year. Isn’t it ti for Gou Dan to settle down?"
To these middle-aged village won, Gou Dan—making money doing business—was unquestionably outstanding.
So upon hearing Granny Zhang speak, the group imdiately began swarming her with praises and sycophantic remarks, making her laugh uncontrollably.
Watching the scene, Su Hongyun could only sigh softly and continue weaving bamboo with her head down.
Honk! Honk!
Suddenly, car horns rang out at the village entrance, drawing everyone’s attention.
In Bamboo Village, seeing a car was a truly rare event.
Soone imdiately turned to Granny Zhang and said, "Granny Zhang, could that be Gou Dan’s car? He’s the only one in our village who’s made sothing of himself—hasn’t he?"
Granny Zhang hadn’t seen her son in a while, and despite hearing about his business ventures, she didn’t actually know the specifics, let alone whether he owned a car.
Nonetheless, hearing the villagers’ comnts, coupled with the fact that only her son could afford fancy things like a big color TV, she quickly bead and said, "Of course! Naturally, only Gou Dan from our village could afford a car! Look how stylish it looks! Perhaps my boy’s brought ho more goodies!"
Saying that, Granny Zhang hurried toward the sleek black rcedes pulling into the village entrance. As she walked, she grinned and said, "Son! I told you not to buy so many things, but you never listen. Where will we even store it all at ho..."
Her words trailed off as Granny Zhang suddenly froze in her tracks.
The rcedes had stopped, and two n stepped out of the vehicle.
However, neither of them was her son Gou Dan. Instead, one of them, a young man, looked sowhat familiar.
The villagers, also familiar with Gou Dan, saw the two n and looked puzzled.
For a brief mont, the bustling village fell completely silent.
Then, soone suddenly shouted, "Oh my goodness! Isn’t that Xiao Fei? Is that really Xiao Fei?"
Indeed!
The visitors were none other than Ye Fei and Master Ma, returning from Yuntai.
Ye Fei grinned upon hearing himself recognized, and said, "Aunt Wu, it’s ! Xiao Fei!"
"Oh my goodness! This is incredible! Xiao Fei’s mother, co quick! Your Xiao Fei is ho! And he ca back in a fancy car!" Aunt Wu exclaid and shouted towards Su Hongyun, still weaving bamboo.
Crash!
The bundle of bamboo fell to the ground near Su Hongyun’s feet as she trembled. Slowly, she walked over.
"Xiao Fei, is...is that you? You’re back?" Su Hongyun asked, her voice shaking.
Ye Fei’s eyes instantly turned red.
He took long strides forward and suddenly knelt down before her.
In this mont, he was no longer the mysterious Ye Fei of Yuntai, no longer the high and mighty Cultivator with boundless mana.
In this mont, he was simply a son—a son returning ho after a long absence to reunite with his mother.
"Mom, I’m back!" Ye Fei shouted emotionally.
Hearing this, Su Hongyun instantly pulled Ye Fei into an embrace, saying, "Welco ho! Welco ho! Mom missed you so much!"
The villagers, watching Ye Fei reunite with his mother, all looked genuinely delighted.
But Granny Zhang’s expression was filled with frustration.
She hadn’t forgotten how she had mocked Su Hongyun earlier. Now, she was the one humiliated most of all.
The one who ridiculed Su Hongyun was her, and now the one being utterly embarrassed was also her.
Granny Zhang clenched her teeth and huffed, "Well! Xiao Fei, aren’t you the one who’s always reluctant to spend money coming back ho? Whose fancy car did you hitch a ride on today? Care to introduce us, so we can all get a little glimpse of city life?"
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