Chapter 745

She saw how her sister-in-law back home was making tens of thousands a year running a restaurant and guesthouse, selling tea and goji berries. So she and Father Jiang also stopped going out to work. They returned to the village, fixed up their house, got the proper permits, and opened a small guesthouse and eatery.

They didn’t compete with Uncle Jiang’s wife’s business. She had already built a reputation at the Linhe Brigade, and visitors loved going to her place for food and photos.

Father Jiang and Mother Jiang were used to making boxed lunches and braised dishes, so they just kept doing that back in the village. Many budget-conscious tourists who didn’t want to spend money ordering dishes at a restaurant were more than happy to eat at Father Jiang and Mother Jiang’s place. Mother Jiang’s cooking was clean, and Father Jiang’s braised dishes were tasty. Most importantly, the prices were fair.

Guests staying at Father Jiang’s place didn’t even need to buy food elsewhere. Just a few bucks and they could have a full meal right there.

After all, most travelers still fell into the budget category. Those with real money preferred to travel abroad.

The main hall of Father Jiang’s house had originally been built as a small general store. Back then, the idea was that when he and Mother Jiang got too old to work outside, they’d return to the village and run a little shop—make a bit of money in their old age.

When Jiang Song came back, the first thing he saw was Peach Blossom Island, not far off the shore.

Jiang Song hadn’t returned at the end of the year, but rather mid-year—during the busiest time in Jiang Village, when tourists were at their peak and the village was at its most beautiful.

Peach blossoms on the island were in full bloom, dreamy and picturesque. Even from a distance, people could see how the island truly lived up to its name, bursting with floral clusters. There was also a large manmade beach where kids played in the sand, built castles, and enjoyed countless slides and artificial wave pools.

The adults lounged nearby on reclining chairs shaded by large umbrellas. Beside them were fishing rods and buckets, as they fished leisurely while occasionally glancing over at their kids playing in the sand.

There were also tons of tourists snapping photos with the peach blossoms and willow trees.

Naturally, Jiang Song was very familiar with that island. As a mischievous kid, whenever he was hungry, he’d sneak into the river to catch some fish, then swim over to the island with his buddies, yank up some mugwort grass, and roast the fish there.

But in his memory, the island was just a bare mound, save for a small hut at the top used by the fishermen who managed the sand river. Other than some mugwort and a few chickens and ducks raised by the fish watcher, there was nothing else.

Yet now, even from several hundred meters away, he could see the island was covered with dense peach blossoms and packed with tourists.

“Hey, that must be Peach Blossom Island, right?”

“Huang Yaoshi’s Peach Blossom Island was out at sea—this is a river.”

Jiang Song had lived in Jiang Village for eighteen years, and it was the first time he learned that the nameless, bare island he’d played on since childhood—an island with nothing but wild grass—now had a well-known name: Peach Blossom Island!

The Legend of the Condor Heroes was simply too popular in this era. Jiang Guotai had successfully ridden the IP wave. Ever since people found out there was a Peach Blossom Island at Linhe Brigade, the tourists never stopped coming. There was no entrance fee to the island; the manmade beach was also free. But the water park facilities like artificial surfing? Those cost money.

And once they’re already at Peach Blossom Island, who could resist trying the water park?

The kids’ sand area was free too, but the digging tools weren’t. Sure, they could bring their own—but most tourists didn’t think of that. Then their kids would watch others play with buckets, shovels, and toy carts, eyes shining with longing. Could any parent really bear not buying a set?

Fishing was free, but the gear was rented by the hour. And any fish they caught? They paid for those, too.

There was also a boat ride along the river to pick water caltrops. Picking the caltrops was free, but the boat rental wasn’t. Of course, while they were at it, they could paddle their way around the island.5 km) around. A boat ride would circle it quickly.

The river was dotted with animal-shaped boats of all kinds, and tourists were having the time of their lives.

Jiang Song’s eldest son was six.”

Jiang Song couldn’t be called a strict father. His parenting style was pretty relaxed. In truth, it was mostly hands-off—he had too much going on himself. And when his son was born, he was still too young, practically a kid himself, more like an older brother than a dad.

So now, hearing his son’s request, he immediately agreed, “Alright, I’ll take you to play later.”

His son had inherited some of his personality and patted his chest with confidence. “Don’t worry, Dad!”

His eldest was now six or seven and about to start primary school. This trip home was mainly to enroll him. His little daughter would need to be left with his parents—he was simply too busy. Even after being betrayed by friends a second time, he still had full confidence in himself and never doubted he’d bounce back. But he just didn’t have the energy to care for two kids anymore. Xu Xuedie was useless when it came to parenting—she hadn’t even looked after their son properly, let alone the little girl.

Everyone on the boat with him was a tourist—families taking advantage of the holidays to travel with their kids. Many assumed Jiang Song was just another tourist.

That made Jiang Song a bit uncomfortable. Back in the day, no matter where he went in his hometown, he always had friends around. A boat ride was never without laughter and old pals. But now, sitting there, there wasn’t a single person who recognized him.

A wave of loneliness hit him.

The ferry dock at Linhe Brigade had changed completely too. The old dock hut used to be a thatched cottage leaning against the dike. Now it was a stone-brick building, much larger than before. Due to the constraints of the dike, it was still just a small living room with two little bedrooms and a tiny red-brick, black-tile kitchen off to the side—but it finally looked like a proper home, no longer the crude shack it once was.

The ferryman had changed too—it was the old ferryman’s youngest son. Jiang Song didn’t know him, but the young man casually offered him a cigarette and asked in the local dialect, “Brother, what’s up with that island?”

The ferryman wasn’t from the same generation as Jiang Song. Jiang Song had been away for nearly ten years, so of course the guy didn’t recognize him. 

He smiled and said, “Your accent sounds like you’re from Shuibu Town too, huh? Been away for years?”

Jiang Song nodded, “Jiang Village. Been out hustling these years.”

Those days, most tourists to Jiang Village came by boat from Shuibu Town. Some also came by car from Wugong Mountain via Tanshan, but they still had to ferry across the river—so the ferry remained in business. The ferryman didn’t just ferry people now; he also took tourists to Peach Blossom Island and ran boat tours around it. His income now was way higher than back when he only ferried locals.

Back in the day, the ferry mainly served workers carrying coal from Tanshan across the river every day, along with a few students. A one-way fare was just five or ten cents, later rising to twenty cents, and now it was between fifty cents and a yuan. But if they could get business taking tourists on boat rides, a single trip could earn three to five yuan—much more than a whole day of ferrying.

The ferryman said, “Looks like you really haven’t been back for years. That island is leased by your village’s Jiang Guotai. He built an artificial beach and a water park there, and business is booming.” He then pointed at the dock and the long river embankment leading to Jiang Village. “That embankment and riverbank are all leased by Jiang Guotai too.”