Passerby's Guide to Eating Watermelons

Chapter 281: World of Ages 33: Living Alone

Because of the Chinese New Year, the courtyard was really lively. Originally, life was not easy for every household, but at this time, everyone naturally would not be stingy, but would try their best to have a good New Year.

It’s just that everyone is very busy with work and can’t stay at home for a long time, so they can only return to work when work starts.

Fortunately, their work was basically finished before the New Year, so although Zuo Zhizhi and Sister Wang stayed at their jobs, they had nothing else to do except chatting.

It was only at this time that Zuo Zhizhi discovered that everyone in the courtyard, who seemed to be living a good life, also had their own difficulties.

If that’s the case, the person who feels the least bit indifferent about the New Year should be the only elderly person living alone in the courtyard.

Even if other families are poor, as long as they live together harmoniously, they will not be too lonely and helpless.

But this old man only has his daughter send him some things during the Chinese New Year, and he stays at home alone at other times.

Although I knew from the beginning that this old man lived alone in the courtyard, I still couldn't help feeling touched when I saw him now.

So when Zuo Zhizhi returned home from get off work again, she saw several children in the yard gathered in front of an old man. In front of him were several fruit plates filled with various dried fruits.

Although they are all ordinary snacks, such as melon seeds, peanuts, and dried sweet potatoes, they are still particularly attractive to children.

The elderly man who lives alone doesn't mind. Whenever children come over, he will warmly invite them to eat.

Other people in the courtyard are not surprised by this situation. Although the old man usually invites others to eat, he obviously feels more lonely during the New Year, so he takes out more things and more children gather together.

Zuo Zhizhi asked around and found out about the old man's situation.

To be honest, the old man's life is not too bad. He has three sons and one daughter. All three sons are very promising, but none of them are around.

The only person who lives close to me is my daughter, but she has been married for a long time and is now busy with her own affairs every day and does not have much energy to spare.

Being able to send some New Year's goods to her father before the Chinese New Year has fully expressed her filial piety as a daughter.

For this reason, the old man can only stay in the courtyard alone all year round. Although he has help from his neighbors in the courtyard, life alone is always boring.

It was snowing at that time, and several children received instructions from the elders in the courtyard and decided to go outside to shovel snow.

Although it is said to be shoveling snow, in fact it is just playing in the snow with tools.

Plus, there was someone watching over him, so there was nothing special about it.

A few people shoveled the snow aside with great difficulty, and with the support of the old man, they piled the snow into a snowman.

Several children even found some dead branches and coal lumps and added hands and eyes to the snowman. Although it was a bit rough, it looked pretty realistic.

The old man couldn't help but feel happy from the bottom of his heart when he saw how lively they were.

It has been a long time since he saw such a lively child, and he was really filled with emotion.

Zuo Zhizhi was not interested in making a snowman. After all, the weather was very cold. Although the cotton-padded jacket she was wearing was new, it was not windproof or warm.

There's nothing wrong with taking a short walk, but staying in the snow for a long time would be unbearable.

So she sat under the eaves and watched the children playing in the snow.

At this time, an aunt from the backyard came out. Seeing the children making a mess, she couldn't help laughing. She originally wanted to take the children back to warm themselves by the fire, but seeing that her little grandson was reluctant to leave, she had no choice but to let him go.

The two began to chat casually, and then they realized that everyone in the yard knew that the old man lived a very lonely life. Although he was looked after by his neighbors, he was still lonely when he was old.

When the children in the yard have nothing to do, they will come to the old man. They don’t ask for much in return, but it is always good to talk to the old man and make him happy.

"So who is this family?"

Zuo Zhizhi was really curious and couldn't help but ask.

Aunt Zhang shook her head and said with some regret: "This family is full of pitiful people!"

"Uncle Zhao originally had three sons and one daughter. Now, except for one daughter who married locally, the other three are all living outside."

"But I heard that the eldest and second oldest are both gone, and now only the third oldest is still working out of town. Although they said the third oldest would return, all these years have passed and there's still no news!"

Aunt Zhang couldn't help but feel sorry for Uncle Zhao. Uncle Zhao was a well-known figure when he was young. He raised four children, and all of them were very capable.

I thought I could enjoy my old age, but now I have no one to accompany me.

Zuo Zhizhi couldn't help but feel a little sorry. In this era, two of the old man's three sons and one daughter had passed away, and one child was left with only his only daughter who was away from home. However, he couldn't accompany his father for long, so he felt really lonely!

Just before Zuo Zhizhi expressed her feelings again, she suddenly saw that there was a supporting role mark on Uncle Zhao's head.

It clearly wasn't there when I just looked. Could it be that my words just now triggered some mechanism?

But now is not a good time to check, so Zuo Zhizhi can only put this idea aside for the time being.

It won’t be too late to check it in the evening anyway.

When it gradually got dark, the children went home.

Uncle Zhao also slowly returned to his home. Although there were still enough supplies inside, he felt lonely without his family.

Just when Zuo Zhizhi was about to go back to the house, she found an old lady in the yard taking her child to Uncle Zhao's house.

It's already late, why would anyone go to other people's houses?

Supplies are scarce nowadays, and every household is just trying to fill their own stomachs.

Basically no one would visit other people's homes during meal times.

But Zuo Zhizhi didn't care so much and quickly looked away.

Gu Jiqing had a task at the factory today, so he had to come back late, so he had to prepare the meal himself.

Otherwise, when he comes back, I don’t know how late it will be. He will have to walk back in the freezing cold, and he must eat something hot!

After the meal was prepared and a portion was left out in advance, Zuo Zhizhi finally finished eating her portion.

Taking advantage of the free time after dinner, Zuo Zhizhi began to check on the situation of Uncle Zhao's family.

After all, the words "supporting role" appeared above this old man's head, so the protagonist is likely to appear here as well.