country bumpkin

Chapter 81 Mid-Autumn Festival Again

September 14th, the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, is another festival for family reunion.

The garment factory has already closed for the holiday, and the dormitory is empty. Everyone has gone home for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

All the workers at the new workshop site were given a holiday, leaving only Supervisor Song and Li Dalong to look after the tools and materials at the construction site.

Supervisor Song looked up, downed a small glass of wine, and gazed at the moonlight outside the window, longing for his loved ones.

"The moon hangs high, illuminating the jade tower; on this festive day, I think of my loved ones, how many autumns have passed? The fragrance of osmanthus wafts far along the path; the moon goddess dances gracefully, casting her shadow."

The reunion was incomplete, leaving behind the regret of separation; dreams of parting cannot dispel the sorrow of a traveler far from home. I wish to borrow the autumn wind to convey my feelings, so that we, though separated by vast distances, may share this endless longing.

After reciting the poem, Supervisor Song thought of his elderly mother at home. A pang of sorrow welled up in his heart.

Li Dalong sat opposite him and drank a glass of wine with him.

He comforted her, saying, "Don't worry, Supervisor Song. Didn't we already send a message to your village chief to ask him to help take care of your mother?"

Song Ke sighed, "Oh! Brother Dalong, do you know how lonely my mother and I have been all this time, relying on each other and never being separated? Now, my mother is spending the Mid-Autumn Festival alone at home, how desolate she feels."

Li Dalong said, "Then why did you stay to keep me company on duty? I could have stayed by myself."

Song Ke smiled wryly and said, "The pay for being on duty is three times the usual amount. I want to earn more money to support my mother."

Only with money could he have a better life and his mother's health be restored.

Li Dalong patted him on the shoulder and said, "It's not that the older generation will be happy just because they have a lot of money. What they want most is for the younger generation to live a happy and healthy life."

Li Dalong chuckled and continued, "You should hurry up and get married! That way, when you're out, you'll have a wife at home to help take care of your mother, and you'll feel at ease. Besides, you're not young anymore; old people all hope to see their children grow up and have many grandchildren."

Song Ke blushed slightly and said, "Brother Da Long, I'll consider it."

At that moment, Zhang Qingjiao's image naturally came to mind. He shook his head to clear his head.

Qingjiao's younger sister is married and has a new life. He should wish her happiness instead of continuing to lose himself.

After a while, the two raised their glasses together and drank the wine in one gulp.

After finishing their meal and drinking enough, Li Dalong didn't dare to drink any more; one of them had to stay sober.

Song Ke was in a bad mood and got drunk without realizing it. He lay down in a makeshift shed at the construction site and fell asleep.

Li Dalong carried a large hollow brick, sat at the entrance of the materials and tools shed, and smacked his lips.

…………

In the courtyard of a farmhouse in Kongjia Village, a square wooden table is filled with offerings.

There were sweet and crispy mooncakes, glistening roast chicken, and braised carp. Three plates of fruit—bananas, apples, and oranges—were placed in the center.

The six offerings were placed on separate plates. Incense was to be lit and offered.

Mu Shuyun called out to Yunya and Kong Xiufang from the kitchen to bring out dumplings.

Kong Tongming and Kong Xiangdong were drinking in the living room. Kong Xiangyao was tending the fire in the kitchen. Zhou Caiyun was sitting at the dining table drinking sweet soup.

Kong Xiufang placed a bowl with only six dumplings on the offering table. Kong Xiangyao came out of the kitchen, lit the incense, and put it in the incense holder.

He stepped back, knelt down, kowtowed three times, and stood up in one smooth motion.

The food was ready and everyone started eating when a group of footsteps rushed in.

It turned out to be Kong Xiangguang and his family.

Mu Shuyun was somewhat surprised to see this family!

She asked curiously, "Boss, why did you decide to come back this year to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival together?"

Kong Xiangguang looked at Wang Cuihua and then at Kong Jianjun, and said, "Jianjun and Jianguo miss their grandma and want to come down and celebrate the festival together."

Mu Shuyun glanced at Kong Jianjun, and the little guy winked at his grandmother and then looked at his grandfather.

He said in a spoiled tone, "Grandpa, Jianjun misses you, hehe!"

After saying that, she ran to her grandfather's side and pressed her little face against Kong Tongming's face.

Kong Jianguo followed suit and copied his grandfather's face.

He screamed, "Ouch! That hurts... my stubble is prickly!"

All the adults burst into laughter. The room instantly became lively.

Both her mother-in-law and father-in-law had the same attitude towards Wang Cuihua. As long as she didn't cause trouble during the holidays this year, they were all very peaceful.

Wang Cuihua had previously stated that she wouldn't acknowledge her parents-in-law. However, ever since her family started growing scallions and asked her parents-in-law to help, they haven't caused any trouble.

She felt that she might need their help in the future, and if she made it too smelly, what would happen if they didn't come to help?

That's why she's toned it down a bit recently. She's always been the kind of person who uses people and then discards them, the kind who kicks them after they've served their purpose.

Those who know her understand her, but no one wants to become close to her.

With the addition of Kong Xiangguang's family, there weren't enough seats, so another table was set up.

The men who were drinking sat at one table, and Kong Xiangyao, who didn't drink, also sat at the men's table.

There were women and children at the women's table. The little ones ate very quickly; the adults had only been eating for a short while when the children said they were full and ran off to play in the yard.

Yunya took Kong Jianjun's hand and said, "Let's play hopscotch."

Kong Jianjun's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly.

The moon on the fifteenth of August is very bright, like a round chandelier hanging in the sky, illuminating the earth.

The elongated shadows of several children were reflected on the ground, appearing and disappearing indistinctly.

They found a small stone and drew a grid on the ground in the yard.

Yunya went first, hopping lightly into each square on one foot, her little braid swinging with each jump.

Kong Jianjun watched attentively from the side, and occasionally cheered Yunya on.

When it was Kong Jianjun's turn, he started off smoothly, but he accidentally stepped on the line halfway through.

Yun Ya teased him with a smile, and Kong Jianjun scratched his head, not annoyed at all.

Seeing this, Kong Jianguo also came over, clamoring to join in. Because he was still young and a little unsteady on one leg, he cleverly hopped on both feet.

Suddenly, what was originally a game between two people turned into a lively affair, with laughter echoing throughout the courtyard.

Hearing the commotion outside, the adults couldn't help but smile knowingly.

The men clinked glasses and drank, talking about the harvest in the fields and the latest happenings in the village;

The women ate while chatting about everyday matters, occasionally glancing up at the children playing in the yard.

The Mid-Autumn Festival atmosphere grew stronger in the courtyard, and everyone enjoyed the moment of reunion and joy.

I've forgotten all the unhappy things from the past.

As the saying goes: "Enjoy life to the fullest when you are successful, for you should not let your golden goblet stand empty before the moon."

At that moment, on the construction site, Li Dalong vaguely heard a slight noise.

He woke up instantly, stood up alertly to check. He saw a small wild cat rummaging through the scraps of food they had left behind.

Li Dalong breathed a sigh of relief and sat down again. He turned to look at Song Ke, who was still fast asleep, and thought to himself that the guy must be exhausted. Of course, he was worried about his mother and had to work hard to make money.

In the courtyard of Kongjia Village, night was falling, and the children were tired from playing. Yunya yawned, while Kong Jianjun and Kong Jianguo rubbed their eyes.

Kong Xiangguang and Wang Cuihua got up to say goodbye, each carrying a child home.

Kong Xiufang was clearing away the dishes when Kong Xiangdong helped Zhou Caiyun home.

The moonlight spilled over the tranquil village and the silent construction site, as if connecting the two places.

In his dream, Song Ke seemed to have returned home, sitting at the table with his mother and sister, laughing and smiling happily.

Li Dalong watched over this construction site, his heart filled with longing for his family, hoping to finish the project soon and return home to reunite with them.

As the night deepened, all things returned to calm, with only the moonlight still gently illuminating all things in the world.