PCJ – Chapter 227 The Story of Jiaohua Entering the City

“Are you planning to wear this to the provincial capital?” Zhang Dechun walked into Zhang Manyin’s home and saw him wearing a somewhat new white shirt, black pants, and a rope as a belt, with a pair of green liberation shoes on his feet.

“What else should I wear? We farmers can’t dress like government officials, can we? No matter how I dress, I won’t look like an official,” Zhang Manyin chuckled, quite satisfied with his appearance.

“That won’t do. When you go to Gezhu Ping Town, you only represent yourself. At town meetings, only I represent Meizi’ao Village. No one cares what you wear there. In Xintian County, you don’t represent Gezhu Ping Town or Meizi’ao Village. But going to the provincial capital for this tea evaluation is different. You represent the Meizi’ao Horticultural Farm. Even though it’s contracted out to individuals now, it still represents the honor of Meizi’ao Village and also represents Gezhu Ping Town and even Xintian County. I heard from Director Luo that Meizi’ao Horticultural Farm is the only participant from Xintian County in this tea evaluation conference. So, you represent the entire people of Xintian County,” Zhang Dechun exaggerated, making Zhang Manyin a bit nervous.

“Then I can’t represent them. Dechun, you should go instead,” Zhang Manyin, who had been looking forward to the trip to the provincial capital, started to back out immediately.

Zhang Dechun thought to himself, “I’d like to go, but would Jiaohua let me?” Even if he wanted to go, he didn’t have the face to ask. He chuckled and said, “Manyin, why are you so nervous? Didn’t I prepare everything for you? What’s this? A belt, bought from the department store, genuine leather. Shoes, also from the department store. Do they fit?”

“No, no. These are what you wear to town meetings. How can I wear them?” Zhang Manyin quickly shook his head.

“What’s there to be ashamed of? If you wear my shoes to the provincial capital and walk its streets, it’s like I’ve been there too. Bring back some of the provincial capital’s air for me.” Zhang Dechun forcefully left the shoes and belt at Zhang Manyin’s house, deeply moving Zhang Manyin.

What Zhang Dechun could think of, Luo Yongming and Luo Changjun thought of even more thoroughly. Two days before the trip to the provincial capital, Luo Changjun drove to Meizi’ao to pick up Zhang Manyin and Zhang Jiaohua and took them to the county town, where the department store had everything they needed. Luo Changjun and Luo Yongming took them shopping for new outfits.

Normally, Zhang Manyin wouldn’t set foot in the department store, considering everything there too expensive. But on this day, he was a bit dazed, being taken up and down the store without a chance to clear his head. When he returned home and saw the pile of new clothes, he was completely bewildered.

“How much did this cost? This trip to the provincial capital will leave us with nothing to eat when we return,” Zhang Manyin said, laying the new clothes on the bed, completely panicked.

Ma Donghua laughed, “You needed new clothes for your wedding. You went to my house in the middle of winter wearing just a single pair of pants. Now, consider it like being a groom again and make up for it.”

“You’re an old woman now, what’s there to make up for?” Zhang Manyin retorted grumpily.

Zhang Jiaohua also got several new outfits. He didn’t mind at all, loving the feel and look of the new clothes. Which child doesn’t like new clothes? Now that he had the chance, he definitely wanted to wear new clothes.

“Jiaohua, when we get to the provincial capital, you must listen to your grandpa and not run around. The provincial capital is big, and if you get lost, we won’t be able to find you. Got it?” Ma Donghua advised both the old and the young.

“Okay, okay. Grandma, you’ve said that many times,” Zhang Jiaohua said, feeling overwhelmed, and ran off.

The police station had just gotten a new chief, and Luo Changjun couldn’t take time off now. Luo Yongming had a relative’s wedding to attend, which had been planned since the New Year, and couldn’t be postponed. So, Luo Changjun had to contact a friend in the provincial capital to take care of Zhang Manyin and Zhang Jiaohua.

Zhang Manyin was very nervous about the trip to the provincial capital, while Zhang Jiaohua wasn’t worried at all. He was more concerned about the horticultural farm. Normally, with him there, the wild boars behaved, but with him gone, there might be trouble.

Zuan Shanbao stayed in Meizi’ao to lead the fifteen adult hunting dogs. If the wild boars tried to escape, they would have to rely on them.

In Zhang Jiaohua’s backpack were some sample teas and a few thousand yuan. Traveling without cash is impossible.

After a bumpy journey of over ten hours, they arrived at the provincial capital bus station. Luo Changjun’s friend, Xia Guoxi, was already waiting for them. As soon as Zhang Jiaohua and Zhang Manyin got off the bus, he recognized them. “Are you Uncle Zhang and Zhang Jiaohua?”

“Yes, yes, you must be Comrade Xia,” Zhang Manyin said with a smile, relieved that they didn’t miss him.

“Great, Uncle Zhang, Jiaohua, I’m Changjun’s good friend. If you need anything in Sanshang City, just let me know. I’ve arranged a place for you to stay. I’ll take you there, and you can check in with your invitation. Food and lodging are free. Let’s go,” Xia Guoxi said warmly.

“Thank you,” Zhang Manyin said gratefully.

“Uncle Zhang, don’t be polite. Jiaohua, hello. I’ve heard a lot about you,” Xia Guoxi said, having heard much about Zhang Jiaohua from Luo Changjun.

Zhang Jiaohua, meeting Xia Guoxi for the first time, was a bit shy. He greeted him but didn’t say much.

Knowing that Zhang Manyin and Zhang Jiaohua were tired from the journey, Xia Guoxi took them to the hotel, arranged their rooms, and then took them to eat. After that, he brought them back to their rooms to rest. Zhang Manyin, worried about his money being stolen, hadn’t slept much on the bus. Now, in a secure place, he quickly fell asleep. Zhang Jiaohua, dizzy from the long bus ride, also fell asleep as soon as he lay down. When they woke up, it was already dark. Despite the night, the streets of the big city were brightly lit. Zhang Jiaohua finally got a good look at this unfamiliar city.

Streetlights and neon lights lit up the city, making it seem like a place that never sleeps. But to Zhang Jiaohua, it all felt a bit unreal. He couldn’t tell directions and had no idea where he was. Used to taking Meizi’ao as his center, he had no idea which direction Meizi’ao was from here. This sense of being lost made Zhang Jiaohua a bit anxious.