Chapter 98

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Feng Zhenchang's return this time was different from before. Although it wasn't a triumphant return, he was very popular.

From the moment he arrived at Meijia Bay, people greeted him warmly, asking about his business in the provincial capital. He was very clear that these people used to look down on him, a man from the mountains, even though Meijia Bay was also in the mountains.

But we are good at finding various advantages. People from big cities look down on those from small cities, people from small cities look down on those from towns, and people from towns look down on those from the countryside. Those closer to the towns look down on those further away.

Meijia Bay is close to the town, with a provincial road nearby. It's understandable that they look down on Fengjiachong, which is deeper in the mountains and doesn't even have a road.

But now it's different. In a few days, Wang Changning's parents will be going to the provincial capital with him. This is different from other people who work in factories or construction sites and only take the young people from the village out, leaving someone at home to farm. Feng Zhenchang dared to take Wang Changning's parents to the provincial capital, not letting them farm at all, leaving no fallback. Without confidence, would he dare to do such a thing? If his business in the provincial capital wasn't stable and profitable, how could that be possible?

After leaving Meijia Bay and returning to the village, the people he met were even more enthusiastic, calling him "Uncle" and "Father" and offering him cigarettes one after another. By the time he got home, he had enough cigarettes in his pocket to make two packs.

He could clearly tell that the people he met today were different from before. In the past, they called him out of respect for his seniority and age, but today, it was respect for him as a person.

This is easy to understand. Now, the children working outside save about a thousand yuan a year, which requires being very, very frugal. What Feng Zhenchang is doing can earn at least three to four thousand yuan a year and is a long-term business. Why wouldn't everyone want to do it?

The current countryside hasn't been infected with the restlessness of the cities. Farmers are very down-to-earth, and no one has the idea of getting rich overnight. Such a business with low investment, good income, and long-term prospects is something everyone likes.

So, when Feng Zhenchang returned home, his face was redder, his back straighter, and his voice louder. When he saw the two wealthiest neighbors in the village, he felt very confident.

According to American psychologist Abraham Maslow's theory, he received ample respect on his way back, satisfying his higher-level needs, making him more confident. This confidence further enhanced his behavior, making his presence even stronger.

Of course, he is still a simple farmer, having followed the principle of moderation for decades, being cautious and careful. He wouldn't put on airs or act superior.

However, his good mood was inevitably affected when he saw Feng Yuxuan.

Feng Yuxuan diligently brought water for her father, made tea, and even fanned him.

But when she saw her father's face turn serious after sending everyone away, she felt the familiar tension.

Sure enough, once everyone left, Feng Zhenchang started yelling, "You've been gone for years without coming home, not even a letter. What are you doing back now? Aren't your wings hard enough? If you're so capable, never come back!"

Feng Yuxuan was already disappointed that her mother didn't return with her, knowing her plans were likely to fail. She didn't expect that after not seeing her father for years, he would greet her with a scolding.

She hadn't returned home for three years while working outside, knowing the family's difficulties but not sending any money. Her father didn't ask how she was doing; instead, he yelled at her. She thought she had a good plan, but her brother gave her a hard time. Her carefully laid plans seemed to be falling apart.

Guilt,委屈, disappointment... various emotions intertwined, and she couldn't help but cry. Seeing his daughter cry, Feng Zhenchang felt some guilt but still pretended to be angry and went outside to smoke.

He could faintly hear Feng Hongbing's mother trying to calm him down, "Yuxuan hasn't been home for years, which is wrong, but as a girl, it must have been hard for her. Uncle, don't blame her. It's good that she's back. Besides, she's grown up now. How can she bear such scolding?"

After a while, she came in and said to Feng Yuxuan, "Yuxuan, don't blame your father. As a girl, you've been away for three years without coming home, and your parents didn't know what you were doing. How could they not worry? I would scold you, let alone your father. A few scoldings are good, it's over now. Don't cry anymore."

If Feng Yiping were here, he would calmly tell Feng Yuxuan, "What's there to cry about? This is how your father's generation expresses themselves."

When Feng Yiping and his siblings were young, Feng Zhenchang would often hold them, tickling them with his rough beard, making them laugh...

But as his children grew older, he grew up in an era where "spare the rod, spoil the child" was the norm. Perhaps influenced by his grandparents or societal norms, he took on the role of a strict father, believing in "strictness is love, leniency is harm." He rarely showed kindness to his children and never touched them affectionately, except when scolding them.

He would never gently and earnestly tell Feng Yuxuan, "We don't expect you to support the family, but you've been away for years without any news. Do you know how much we missed you and worried about you?"

He would never tell Feng Yuxuan that every New Year, thinking of her being alone outside, he and Mei Qiuping would worry and couldn't sleep, sighing deeply, feeling that the New Year wasn't as joyful without the family being together.

...

Parents may say they don't favor any child, but in reality, the obedient and well-behaved children naturally receive more care.

But the saying is true, "Both hands are flesh." Whether they are obedient or not, whether they cause trouble or not, they are still their children. How could parents not love them?

Seeing other people's daughters who worked with Feng Yuxuan return home every year and send money monthly, the once struggling Feng Zhenchang sometimes complained about his daughter's lack of understanding. But when he saw her today, all those complaints vanished, though he wasn't good at expressing it.

Perhaps, "beating is love, scolding is care," and "deep love, strict blame" are more suitable for how his parents treated Feng Yiping and his sister.

This is Feng Zhenchang's unique way of expressing himself, this is Feng Zhenchang's love.

Thank you all for your support, and a special thanks to the book friend who is even more charming than Yang Mi for the generous donation!

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