Chapter 112 Distracted
They still didn't want interest. I didn't care. Aftercalculating, I asked them for their bank accounts.
It was just a matter of time before they gave metheir accounts with a smile on their faces.
I transferred the money to them on the spotusing mobile banking. With the principal plusinterest, I paid back 30,000 to my second auntand 12,000 to my fourth aunt.
After seeing the amount of money that Itransferred, they looked a little embarrassed. Thesecond uncle hastily took cash from his pocketagain, wanting to return the interest to me.
At that moment, father who sat and smokednearby finally spoke, he said a little stiffly:"Interest is necessary. Don't refund. I am sureeven if we give you the money back, our familyalso remembers the love of yours."
Mom also said something implicitly. She thoughtif they took the interest, our family would bemore relaxed.
Eventually, the second and fourth aunts did notrefund the interest and they were tooembarrassed to stay on. After giving me ahypocritical compliment, they got up and left.
After they left, I asked my parents about theirhealth and the family's situation.
I was an only child in my family. Because of thefamily planning and the poverty, my father didn'tdare to have another child after he knew I was aboy.
After a few years, like everyone else, my familygrew jasmine flowers. We were richer than beforebut they did not have another kid.
Fortunately, they got married early. Now theywere only fifties years old. They were still healthy
In order to pay off debts in the past few years, inaddition to planting flowers, they had reclaimedmore than 20 acres of land to grow sugar cane. Itwas really too tiring.
That kind of sugar cane was cheap. A ton of thatwas only less than five hundred.
I transferred the remaining 8,000 out of the50,000 that Wendy had borrowed to my father'saccount. I told him to stop planting sugar cane,peanuts, sweet potatoes, and something like that.I told them to rent the land to someone else.
My father shook his head. He said the debt waspaid off, but he could not forget the feeling ofbeing in debt. He said he had to earn somemoney when he was in health in case there wassomething in future, they could solve theproblem with money at least.
I'm a little helpless. I had persuaded them for along time. I always explained that I could make atleast 100,000 a year. If I worked harder, I wouldearn more money.
After a long time of persuasion, my mom gave in.My mom spoke up for me and then my fathernodded his head and agreed.
I put my head down and then I cooked dinner.
Just as I put the rice in the pot, my father cameinto the kitchen to tell me to boil water. He tookhimself out with a knife and soon there were achicken crowing in the yard.
Mom also picked vegetables and bitter melonfrom her own vegetable patch. Soon after thethree of us set up a table in the hall with a plateof white cut chicken, a plate of bitter gourdscrambled eggs and a plate of vegetables
My father poured a bowl of his homemade snakewine, and also poured half a bowl for me.
We ate for a long time, and it seemed that theyhad not been so relaxed for a long time.
After the meal, we sat under the tree in front ofthe house, looking out at the acres of jasminefields in front of the door, the stars and bones ofthe flowers visible in the pale moonlight, at thesame time we chatted various things I had seenand heard in Thailand.
This night I didn't go to the county town to lookfor Youyin Qin, nor did I look for a few childhoodfriends in the village. I stayed home and chattedwith my father and mother.
The next day, I and my father found twoneighbors in the village who were hardworkingand strong, and had a good relationship with myfamily. On the same day, we leased the twentyacres of sugarcane land to them.
The two neighbors were overjoyed. They weredelighted because the annual rent for a wellcultivated and fertile piece of land like this wasonly eighty dollars per acre. In addition to that,there were new sugar cane seeds that were justplanted in March and my father didn't ask moremoney. After all, they had a good relationshipand they had helped our family a lot before.
The jasmine fields in the far away area were alsorented out to other people. I left my father only afew acres of jasmine fields, a few acres of rice,and some dry fields with peanuts, corn, sweetpotatoes, and so o
In May, We could pick jasmine flowers. Thesunshine was very good these days so the priceof the flowers would be great. We would godown to the field to pick the flowers after we hadleased those fields.
Jasmine could be picked for months in thesummer if we grew it well. That was how they gottanned.
Due to the rush, we had to go to the countymarket to sell today's flowers. I was about to gohome at four o'clock in the afternoon when Isuddenly noticed a tall, slender woman standingon the road by the flower field.
I looked up and moved my bamboo-leaf hat. Igot a good look at the woman against the stillblindingly hot sunshine.
She wore a white chiffon shirt, long black skirt,white flats, carried an orange backpack and a bagof stuff. I saw a pretty woman was smiling at mein the sun light.
It was Wendy.
I was subconsciously stunned.
I couldn't help but be a little distracted again.
At this moment she was smiling naturally and shewas very pretty.
I'd never seen her smile like that before.
"Hi." She waved at me.
When I came to my senses, I noticed that quite afew people had gathered on the side of the road.All sorts of aunts and grandmothers and little kidswho had just gotten out of school were curiouslylooking Wendy up and down.
My dad and mom were also standing in the fieldstaring at the celestial woman bathed in thesunlight.
"What are you doing here?" I asked hastily.
She looked at my old man and mother andhesitated.
"How do you know my address?"
I remembered that yesterday she had said thatshe owed my parents an apology. I was afraidthat she would say something like an apology inpublic, which would attract speculation. Beforeshe spoke, I hurriedly asked again.
She raised her hand and spread her palm overher head to block some sunlight, and saidsomewhat apologetically, "The information yougave the company had your address on it. I askedthe company's HR department to transfer it outto me. I'm not disturbing you, right?"
"Nope." I hopped onto the road nearly a meterhigh, took the bamboo-leaf hat off my head andhanded it to her, saying, "Put it on. Don't gettanned."
She pursed her lips and nodded gently, receivingthe hat
It was a bamboo leaf hat padded with bambooleaves inside, with a raised top and a wide brim. Itwas dark yellow so it was a little bit rustic.
Wendy, dressed in a fresh and beautiful outfit,looked a bit awkward in this hat.
"Is it ugly for me to wear this?" She asked.
The kids gathered around laughed a bit. Themore daring ones even came around to the frontto look at her pretty face.
"You are not ugly." I said without hesitation, andwaved my hand to get rid of the kids.
Chapter 113 Brother Tom Was Married!
"By the way, are they your parents?" She askedagain.
"Yes."
Wendy quickly bowed to her father and motherwho were still in the flower field and solemnlysaid, "Hello, uncle and auntie. My name isWendy."
"Oh, hello, hello." My mother hurried back with asmile in poor Mandarin Chinese.
Dad wiped his hands on his clothes, grinned atWendy, and nodded.
"It's really hard for uncle and aunt to come out towork in such hot weather."
Wendy's words suddenly became sweet. This wasa scene I hadn't seen. Maybe it was because shefelt guilty about my parents.
"It's fine." Mom waved her hand and spoke againin poor Mandarin.
My mother always asked about something elsewhen she answered other people's words so thatthe conversation can continue. However, in frontof Wendy, my mother seemed to be a littlenervous.
Dad was the same, just keep wiping his hands onhis clothes and grinning.
At this time, an aunt famous for gossip in thevillage came to us, looked at Wendy for a few,and then asked with a smile, "Yo, Tom, is this yourgirlfriend?"
"Colleagues." I replied thoughtlessly, withoutsaying an extra word.
Wendy greeted the aunt politely.
I said to my father who was still in the flowerfield, "Dad, go to the flower market. I'll sit withWendy for a while."
"OK, OK." Dad came up in a sack of five kilogramsof jasmine flowers.
"By the way, what's the dinner for tonight? I'll buythe material back later. " My dad asked again.
"Kill a chicken, kill a duck. There is a green headduck raised before the new year."
"Good."
Dad carried the sack on his shoulder and went tothe motorcycle at home.
Wendy said, "uncle and aunt, don't spend toomuch money. I'm not picky for food."
Dad didn't answer. He just went ahead.
My mother said, "yes, yes," and then walkedhome from the other side of the flower field.
"Tom, look..." Wendy is still a little embarrassed.
I laughed and said, "it's OK. They save everythingand don't eat them. When you come, it's achance for them to kill the chickens and ducksand have a meal. You can pay me more wages sothat I can send more money home. Come on,that's my house. "
I took the bag from her hand.
It was a bag of fruit, weighing three kilograms.
"Your house is very beautiful. It's like a villa in thesuburb of Shenghai."
"I designed it myself. Most of the money I earnedfrom my work in the past few years was sentback. With the money from my parents, I built ittogether."
"Well." She answered in a low voice and did notspeak again.
I took a look at her, saw her a little guilty, thensaid with a smile: "don't think so much. Thosethings are over, and now the debt of relatives hasbeen paid. Everything's better now."
"OK!"
She laughed, too.
Then we did not speak but walk along the edgeof the flower field to the direction of home.
"Oh, brother Tom is going to marry a wife. Wehave wine to drink."
There was a group of children scurrying around,and some naughty ones were shouting aboutgossips.
Wendy's face was slightly red, her head bowed,and she ignored the kids.
"Have you been to the country before?" I askedsuddenly.
She first nodded and then shook her head: "Iwent there when I was traveling, but it's a touristvillage. It's different from you."
"We are just an ordinary village, which is notcomparable to those who engage in tourism."
"No, it's much more beautiful here. Look at theflowers. I didn't understand that there are somany Jasmine plants in Pingxian. When I came bytaxi just now, there were flower fields all the way.I almost asked the driver to stop and play in theflower field."
"We are the largest Jasmine producing area inChina. It has not really entered the floweringperiod. If you come in July and August, it will bebeautiful then. But there won't be too manyflowers in the farmers' fields, because they willpick them up and sell them every day
"Wow, I'll come here again later. Will you comewith me then?"
"Well, if it's a business trip, I need to go homeanyway."
"Don't worry, you'll be reimbursed for your planeticket, and then you will be subsidized for travel."
As we walked to the door of our house, wehappened to meet Dad driving his motorcycleout. As we passed by, Wendy said hello to him,and dad nodded with a grin.
When she walked into the house, my mother wasbusy packing things in the hall. When she sawWendy coming in, she quickly wiped a clean chairwith a rag and moved to the yard for Wendy.
I just realized that my parents took Wendy as mygirlfriend.
But Wendy looks so beautiful and hastemperament. She is no less than a female star onTV. She also looks very rich. She may be totallydifferent from her father and mother's fantasy.She is one or even several grades higher thantheir imagination.
This is why mom was nervous, and dad wasgrinning.
When I understood this, I didn't know I shouldlaugh or cry. As I sat down with my chair, Iintroduced Wendy to my mother in detail,emphasizing that she was my boss.
Then, I found mom more nervous.
Probably because of the word boss.
I was a little helpless. I simply did not explain, putdown the fruit brought by Wendy, and went tograb two glasses of water
Wendy found a clean basket, washed some fruits,and after chatting with my mother for a while, shesaid she wanted to see the sea of flowers.
So I took her to the balcony, moved two chairs tosit, and started to enjoy the jasmine field bathingunder the sunset.
In the beginning, I wanted to build such a housebecause it faced dozens of acres of flower fieldsthat belonged to many families in the village. Myown family had a few acres.
Wendy said she also wanted to have such ahouse.
I jokingly said I could sell her my house.
She replied with a smile that a room with abalcony would be enough.
Then we were aware of the sensitivity of this topicand both fell into silence.
But it didn't affect the atmosphere.
We just quietly drank our spring water, ate thefruits she brought, and looked at the flower fieldunder the sunset.
This evening seemed to be very cozy and evensweet.
It was not until I remembered the quack of ducksdownstairs that I went downstairs to kill chickensand ducks, and Wendy followed me.
She couldn't bear to see the bloody scene, so shewent to the vegetable field with my mother topick vegetables.
After a while, they came back laughing andtalking, and mom didn't look as nervous asbefore.
My mother and I were busy with chickens andducks, while Wendy handed me bowls or knivesto help.
At the gate, there was always a group of little kidshuddled together to probe inside. Their words"brother Tom is married" always made Wendy'sface'12th blush.
Chapter 114 Wendy came to my home to apologize
Until there was the sound of shouts calling forchildren to go home for dinner from the village,the group of children just gradually dispersed.
After an hour or so of cooking, a few dishes wereready shortly after Dad's return.
There's boiled chicken with sauce again, which isthe best way to cook the native chicken.
The green head duck's made into the uniquelemon duck in Guining. Ingredients are pickledlemon, minced sour pepper and Chinese bulbousonion, together with sour pepper, shreddedginger and minced garlic. After the duck isroasted with water added with ginger rice wine, itis sliced and stir-fried in oil. Then add ingredientsone by one, and then add a little soy sauce,oyster sauce and sugar. After some time forbraise, an appetizing plate lemon duck is done.
Wendy had never heard of it before, but aftertrying only a small piece, she couldn't stop eating.
Dad poured me a small bowl of snake wine, justas he did last night. After a few drinks, instead ofjust grinning like before, dad asked Wendy abouther family.
Wendy seemed to be trying her best to hide herstatus as the daughter of a powerful family. Shesaid her parents are in business, but didn'tmention what business they are in.
When asked about her degree, she didn'tmention the name of her famous university. Sheonly said she studied abroad.
Dad and mom were nervous for a while whenthey heard Wendy had studied abroad.
In the minds of their generation, those who canstudy abroad are very awesome.
After a long time, when Wendy went to thebathroom and to burp by the way, mom finallyfound the opportunity and hurriedly asked: "Tom,when did you start dating?"
I was somewhat speechless and said; "Mom, I'vetold you she is just my boss."
"Boss? Don't lie to me. You are my son. I knowyou like the palm of my hand."
"Yes, you know all about me, but you don't knowher."
"Well, you're right." Mom nodded thoughtfullyand then asked; "You said you are not in arelationship, so why did she come all the wayhere to find you? You wore her a bamboo hatwhen you were in the fields, and you talked toher so quietly on the roof.
"It's all out of kindness to put a hat on her.Besides, she's my boss. Isn't it normal for me togive her my hat? As for why she's here...She'll talkto you later."
At that time, Wendy's footsteps sounded outsidethe door. Dad quickly touched mom on the armand mom immediately stopped talking andstarted eating as if nothing had happened.
After Wendy walked into the hall, she didn't sitdown. She just looked at dad and mom seriously,saying, "Uncle, aunt, I have come here toapologize to you."
Dad and mom was stunned and then looked atme.
"Uncle, aunt, three years ago Tom wasimprisoned because of me. It's all my fault. I'msorry."
Then Wendy bowed gravely.
Mom still looked at her, and dad frowned slightlyas if he understood something.
Wendy straightened up and said apologetically:"Three years ago, I was in danger in a hotel, andit's Tom who saved me. He got into a fight withthe man and accidentally wounded him. But I ranaway on my own and didn't pay attention to itpersonally afterwards because I was so scaredand just asked my family to see what was goingon for me."
"But in order to protect my reputation, my familydidn't come to testify for Tom, which resulted inhim being sent to prison for three years. I didn'tknow about it until I met him not long ago. I havebeen feeling very guilty. Therefore, I came toapologize to you today. I'm sorry."
Wendy bowed again.
This time, Wendy didn't straighten herself upafter bending down. Instead, she kept the gestureof bowing.
Dad and mom were too shocked to say anything.
Finally mom caught on and stood up to helpWendy straighten herself up, saying: "Straightenyourself up, girl. You shouldn't have do that."
"Aunt, I'm sorry. It hurt Tom and you too much.It's all my fault."
"Girl, don't say that. We don't blame you. It'snormal for a girl to be afraid of things like that. IfI were you, I might as well have stayed away. I amreally glad that you and Tom are friends and youpersonally come to our home to apologize."
Then dad said with bad mandarin: "Yes. We don'tblame you, girl. It's Tom's fault to beat the manlike that."
Wendy straightened herself up and noddedgratefully to dad and mom.
When I first went to prison, I told them the wholestory and they believed me.
But at that time the case had been decided. As Icouldn't see my family when I was in jail, it's toolate after dad and mom knew the truth.
They also thought about for finding Wendy atthat time. But they didn't know anyone in the cityand how to seek help from the media. They alsothought it made little sense if they found Wendy,so they didn't went to look for Wendy.
I didn't tell dad and mom that I worked at SeaSmart Software Company and met Wendy.Anyway, it's all over. Nothing would be changed.
Then Wendy came to my home to apologize.
Dad and mom are not narrow-minded people.They are positive about everything. In addition,they thought I and Wendy were in a relationshipand they had a good impression of her from thebeginning, so they didn't blame her.
After straightening herself up, Wendy saidgratefully and guiltily that when I happened towork at Sea Smart Software Company, she didn'trecognize me at first, and only when I remindedher did she remember that I have saved her life,and that I had spent three years in prison for her.
Luckily, she didn't say anything about the conflictbetween us and that I forcibly kissed her.
But I was afraid that she would spill the beansand interjected when she stopped talking:"President Bai, there's a quick bus back toGuining now. Are you going back tonight orstaying overnight?"
Wendy hesitated for a while and said: "The flowerfields here are so beautiful that I want to stay foranother day or two."
"Aren't there many things for you to deal with inChiangmai?"
"Yes, but there is no need for me to be there fromthe time being. BTT Group restarted the projectyesterday and I have arranged all the workbefore. With the exception of Kangning Zhong,who was recalled back in an emergency, the restof the staff will do their part to complete theproject. There is nothing important for me to doat Sea Smart Software Company also. Anyway,we've been working in Chiangmai all the MayDay, so let's just take a few days off."
I hesitated for a while and said: "I'll send you tothe county to find a hotel."
"You're a girl. It's inconvenient for you to spendthe night in our house." I added hurriedly.
"The county is not far. It's only a little over half anhour by motorcycle.
"There was change of her facial expression. Shejust nodded and said: "Well, please do that.