Hard work after winning the lottery

The thunderous applause still seemed to echo in my ears.

But the sweltering heat was eventually dispelled by the cool breeze of early autumn.

The tire tracks left by tourists were washed away by several autumn rains.

Baixi Village seems to have returned to its former tranquility.

However, something has quietly changed.

In the early morning, there are no longer only a few scattered rooster crows.

Instead, the sound of villagers getting up early and sweeping their courtyards can be heard.

In the evening, people no longer shut their doors and watch a few episodes of boring TV dramas.

Under the newly installed solar streetlights, groups of women gathered together, sewing shoe soles with their hands, but discussing how to practice their Mandarin so that guests from the city could understand them better.

The men gathered under the old locust tree at the village entrance. Amidst the swirling smoke, they no longer talked about gossip, but rather about whether the wasteland at the west end of the village could be cultivated with ornamental flowers and plants.

The tired smell of sweat and dirt in the air has faded away.

Instead, there is a vibrant, burgeoning life, steeped in hope and poised for takeoff.

This vitality is particularly evident in Huayun's home.

"Si'an, Si'le, Si'tao! Wake up!"

The first rays of morning sunlight playfully jumped onto the windowsill and landed on the three small beds side by side.

Hua Yun's voice was gentle yet carried an undeniable penetrating power.

Under the blanket, three small bulges began to wriggle.

The first one to emerge was Si'an. Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he had already started dressing himself quite consciously, looking every bit like a little adult.

Next was Sile, who gave a delicate yawn, stretched lazily, and sweetly called out, "Good morning, Mom!"

The most troublesome one is always Si Tao.

He buried his head under the covers, leaving only his round little bottom sticking out, and protested in a muffled voice, "I want to sleep more... I dreamt I was eating goat milk pudding..."

Hua Yun walked over and, with a mixture of helplessness and affection, lifted his blanket.

He scooped the little guy, who was still "spreading out like a pancake," into his arms and kissed his chubby cheeks.

"Today is your first day of school, moving up to the middle class. If you're late, the other kids will laugh at you."

"Middle class?"

Si Tao's eyes snapped open a crack, half of his drowsiness vanishing.

"Yes, the older brothers and sisters in the middle class are supposed to set a good example for the younger brothers and sisters in the lower class."

This statement clearly greatly satisfied the little guy's self-esteem.

He sat up with a jolt, puffed out his little chest, and said seriously, "Mom, hurry! Get me dressed! I want to be a good role model!"

Hua Yun couldn't help but laugh at him, and quickly helped the three little ones get dressed.

The brand-new little backpack was bought in town a few days ago.

Si'an's schoolbag is printed with a steady bighorn sheep.

Sile's is a gentle little lamb.

And Si Tao, unsurprisingly, is a lamb running around happily.

Downstairs, Grandma Li Guifen had already prepared a sumptuous breakfast.

The millet porridge was cooked until golden and soft, and the homemade meat buns were still steaming hot. Three perfectly poached eggs rested on the plate.

"Good morning, Grandma!" the three little voices said in unison.

"Okay, okay!" Li Guifen smiled, her face full of wrinkles, and patted each of their little heads. "Eat up, you'll have the energy to play with your teacher and friends after you eat."

As she spoke, she carefully placed the peeled eggs into their bowls, muttering to herself.

"Is the water bottle in your backpack full?"

"Did you bring a small towel to wipe your sweat?"

"You have to listen to your teacher at kindergarten and you can't fight with your classmates, understand?"

Hua Yun quietly ate her porridge, listening to her mother's loving nagging, and felt a warmth in her heart.

After breakfast, Hua Yun held one child in each hand, while Si An followed obediently beside her, and the family of four walked towards the kindergarten at the entrance of the village.

The autumn sky is as blue as a clear gemstone.

The foxtail grass by the roadside has already produced heavy spikes.

Si Tao couldn't resist reaching out and picking one, waving it around in her hand.

"Mommy, is there a slide in the kindergarten?"

"Yes, and we even installed a new swing."

"Wow! That's great!" Sile jumped up with joy.

Si'an, however, was more concerned with practical matters: "Mom, are we having goat milk pudding for lunch again?"

"If you want to eat, you need to behave well, help the teacher maintain order, and help the new students in the junior class, understand?"

"We know!" The three little heads nodded vigorously.

The area in front of the kindergarten was already quite lively.

"Sian, Sile, and Sitao, be good at school!"

Hua Yun smiled and responded to each child, handing them over to their respective teachers.

The three little ones adapted very well and soon played with their familiar friends, chattering about the fun things that happened during their summer vacation.

Hua Yun stood outside the classroom, looking out the window, and watched quietly for a long time.

She didn't turn around and leave until the school bell rang.

"Mother!"

Three sweet, childlike voices rang out at the same time.

She turned around and saw three cute little faces pressed against the window.

They didn't cry or make a fuss, and they weren't reluctant to part.

Instead, she waved her little hand vigorously, giving her a big, bright smile through the glass.

Those dark, grape-like eyes sparkled with excitement and anticipation for the new semester.

In that instant, Hua Yun's heart felt as if it had been gently bumped by something, a bittersweet feeling that filled her completely.

Her children are growing up at a speed she can see.

She waved to them, mouthed "Go for it!", then turned and strode away into the rising sun.

After seeing the child off, the tenderness that belongs to a mother in my heart was temporarily and carefully stored away.

Her steps turned towards the village committee.

The specific plan for the autumn study tour must be finalized today.

As I passed by the ridge of my uncle Hua Shi's field, I saw him carrying a hoe as he returned from the field.

His bronze face was covered in sweat, but he was unusually energetic.

"Yun girl, going to a meeting?" Hua Shi's voice was loud and clear.

Hua Yun smiled and nodded: "Yes, Uncle, you're back from the sweet potato field?"

"That's right!" Hua Shi wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve, chuckled, revealing two rows of teeth slightly yellowed from tobacco smoke. "I turned over those acres again and applied farmyard manure. I guarantee that the sweet potatoes the city kids dig up will be big and sweet!"

His eyes shone with a simple and sincere light.

It is a kind of reverence for the land and the most realistic expectation for the future.

"Thank you for your hard work, Uncle," Hua Yun said sincerely.

"Hey! What's so hard about this!" Hua Shi waved his hand, shouldered his hoe, and walked away. "This is all for ourselves. It gives us hope and energy!"

There is hope for the future.

Hua Yun silently repeated these three words in her heart, and the smile on her lips deepened.

Yes, the vitality of a village does not lie in how new or beautiful it is, but in the fact that every person living there has a tangible and visible aspiration for the future.

When she arrived at the entrance of the village committee, several people were already sitting inside.

The room was filled with smoke and the pungent smell of tobacco, yet there was also a lively atmosphere of discussion.

Secretary Zhang was pointing at a simple map hanging on the wall, his brows slightly furrowed.

"The road from the village entrance to the sweet potato field in Xishan needs to be repaired again. The children's feet are tender, so there can't be too many gravel."

Uncle Hua Man chimed in, "Safety is the most important thing. The tips of those small hoes used for digging sweet potatoes have to be rounded off so they don't hurt the children."

"And that rice paddy, we need to designate a special area for it so that the children can't run around and trample on the unharvested rice."

Everyone chimed in, discussing the most minute yet crucial details.

When Hua Yun entered, all the sounds ceased.

Dozens of eyes turned to look at her.

Secretary Zhang's cloudy yet bright eyes lit up, and he quickly waved to her.

"Hua Yun, you're here! Come on, have a seat! We've been waiting for you!"

He pulled a chair next to the head of the table outwards; the movement was natural and effortless.

Hua Yun did not refuse; she walked over and sat down without hesitation.

From his cloth bag, he took out a notebook filled with dense writing and several planning sketches that he had spent several sleepless nights writing.

She opened her notebook on the table, her clear gaze sweeping over everyone present.

Without any unnecessary pleasantries, she got straight to the point.

"Secretary Zhang, uncles and elders, I have prepared a preliminary plan regarding the specific procedures, safety measures, and pricing for the autumn study tour."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was like a drop of clear oil falling into calm water, instantly attracting everyone's attention.