Sweet Nostalgia of the 80s

Zhao Ergou has recently been plotting how to create an accident that would bring Ning Chenguang back to his parents, yet not arouse suspicion from others.

He’s thinking that he could follow Ning Chenguang and when he’s not paying attention, push him down the slope from behind.

These kids are always running wild across the hills; creating this kind of accident from behind is the perfect plan.

But lately, Ning Chenguang simply hasn’t been showing up. If he does, he’s always with a bunch of other kids, seldom having the chance to be alone.

This has made Zhao Ergou very frustrated.

Moreover, he’s noticed he’s been having inexplicable bad luck these days.

Strange things keep appearing at home every day, like chicken feathers, dead rats, and rotten shoes and stones.

The chimney blocked today, the door broke tomorrow; he’s been tidying up one thing after another, but as fast as he can tidy, he can’t keep up with the damage others cause.

Zhao Ergou thought carefully, and it seemed like ever since Liu Qiaoqiao visited, troubles have been constant the next day.

It’s not any big deal, just a series of small troubles happening every day, which is irritating.

What’s been bothering him even more is that he’s worried someone might have overheard the situation that night.

He’s starting to worry that his affair with Liu Qiaoqiao might be exposed.

If the Liu family found out, he would be in serious trouble.

While Zhao Ergou was in a dilemma, Liu Qiaoqiao came knocking at the door.

In recent days, Liu Qiaoqiao had been waiting at home for Liu Ergou to make a move.

But he was long overdue, and no action came from him.

Those kids were outside running wild every day, as happy as could be.

Meanwhile, He Fusheng’s family was making meat dishes every day, changing the recipes to make them delicious.

Every morning, she didn’t wake naturally; she was woken by the tempting smell of meat drifting from the neighbor’s yard.

This jealousy made her feel very uncomfortable every day. Her own life wasn’t good, which made her uncomfortable. Seeing others living too well still made her feel uncomfortable.

To alleviate this discomfort, she went to Zhao Ergou.

The purpose was to urge Zhao Ergou to act quickly.

That night, Zhao Ergou was lying in bed at home, thinking.

He heard someone knocking at the door.

He got up to open the door and saw Liu Qiaoqiao standing outside at the door.

”Why are you here at this hour?” Zhao Ergou wasn’t happy to see her; his mind was filled with burden.

Liu Qiaoqiao grabbed him by the vest and yelled through gritted teeth, ”That’s a question for you! How many days have I waited? What have you been up to all these days? Why haven’t you done what you’re supposed to do? I can’t wait anymore, not a moment longer.”

”Come in first!” Zhao Ergou looked around carefully to see if anyone was there, hurriedly pulled Liu Qiaoqiao into the house, ”I’ve been feeling like someone definitely overheard us talking that day.”

”You’re talking nonsense! How could that be possible?” Liu Qiaoqiao spat at him, ”Don’t tell me that you actually don’t want to do this thing, so you’re just making up an excuse to brush me off.”

”No, it’s not that. My house has been having strange things lately; I suspect it’s those kids causing trouble.”

”That’s unlikely! Your place is out of the way; normally people wouldn’t come by here.” Zhao Ergou’s house is in a relatively remote part of the village, where people don’t usually go.

The only ones passing by would be Liu Qiaoqiao and the He Family, as their homes were even more secluded.

”Then how do you explain the strange happenings at my house?” Zhao Ergou asked.