Chapter 676: The Good Girl Village
Since leaving Gude Village, this is the first time that Shen Dinghai has returned to this beautiful little village to visit old friends.
The green mountains and clear waters make this place even more beautiful than I remember.
There aren't many changes in the scenery; the key to change is the atmosphere.
Today, Goode Village is no longer surrounded by fog, and is no longer called Goode Village.
Shannv Village, this is its current name, named after the goddess of goodness worshipped by the locals.
Shen Dinghai was not the only outsider to visit here.
Shannu Village is crowded with people, and tour groups holding different signs can be seen everywhere.
The idea of vigorously developing the tourism industry was suggested by Shen Dinghai and developed with the strong support of local departments.
In addition, there was assistance from all over the world, which helped Shannv Village to be reborn from the ruins engulfed by flames.
Shen Dinghai found Dongsheng's house according to the route he remembered, knocked on the door gently, and the door opened with a creaky sound.
It was still the familiar large courtyard, but the tree whose branches and leaves were originally enough to cover most of the courtyard had been severely damaged. After the burnt branches were trimmed off, only a small piece was left. Fortunately, the thick trunk was still there. As long as it was given enough time, it would not be a problem for it to grow back to its original appearance.
The blind woman was standing at the door. When she heard Shen Dinghai's voice, she smiled and motioned for him to come in.
Shen Dinghai paused for a moment, then followed suit.
The furnishings in the house have changed a lot.
In fact, it is not just Dongsheng's family. Many households in the village have built new houses with official help.
Dongsheng's house is one of the very few that has survived a fire and is still so intact.
Shen Dinghai couldn't help but sigh as he watched, wondering if it was because the black cat's spirit in heaven was protecting this family.
The furnishings in the house are simple but warm. There are several colorful paintings hanging on the wall, which should have been painted by Dongsheng in his spare time. Most of the paintings are the scenery of the village and the life scenes of the villagers. Just looking at them makes people full of love for life and longing for the future.
Shen Dinghai looked around, feeling a mixture of emotions. He thought that Dongsheng, who created these paintings, must be living a good life with a more positive attitude than him, to be able to create such paintings.
Everything here was completely different from the Good Village he remembered.
very nice.
The former Goode Village was shrouded in the shadow of feudal superstition. Women were viewed as inferior beings, their fates were controlled by men, and their lives were filled with suffering and pain.
The village at that time was lifeless, as if it was imprisoned by an invisible shackle. Not only the women, but also the men and those in power had no hope in their eyes, only numbness.
However, today Shannu Village has been completely transformed.
The roads in the village are wide and clean, with colorful wild flowers and carefully trimmed green trees on both sides. When the breeze blows, the fragrance of flowers and plants comes to your face, making you feel relaxed and happy.
Tourists walked through the alleys of the village, stopping to watch or take photos, all with relaxed and happy smiles on their faces.
The women in the village also dress very differently from before. They no longer just wear cloth clothes that can barely cover their bodies, nor do they just wear tattered clothes that are convenient for work.
They wear clothes of various colors and styles.
Some of them warmly entertain tourists in their own homestays, while others display their works in handicraft shops in the village. Those exquisite embroidery, weaving and pottery works all demonstrate their ingenuity.
The women in the village have completely changed. Their eyes are full of confidence and determination. They create a better life with their own hands and become the real masters of the village.
Shen Dinghai stood in the yard, and the person he had been waiting for for a long time finally slowly appeared in his sight.
Dongsheng came over with a cat in his arms, with a warm and peaceful smile on his face.
Black cat!
Shen Dinghai noticed this immediately and a surprised smile appeared on his face, but before he could say anything, Dongsheng shook his head at him.
"Not it."
The joy disappeared without a trace in an instant, and Shen Dinghai frowned in disappointment, "I thought it was Lord Black Cat who came back..."
"It's gone forever and it won't come back."
Dongsheng's expression was calm, as if he was explaining something to Shen Dinghai, but also as if he was expressing something else to him.
Shen Dinghai stood there in a daze for a long time before nodding, "That's right... leaving means leaving..." After a moment's pause, he followed Dongsheng out of the yard and came to the central square of the village.
In the square, a group of children were playing happily. Their laughter was clear and melodious, echoing in the air like silver bells.
In a corner of the square, several elderly people were playing chess leisurely. They had satisfied looks on their faces and they must be enjoying this peaceful and beautiful time very much.
A warm feeling surged in Shen Dinghai's heart. He looked at Dongsheng with eyes full of satisfaction and admiration.
"You did very well."
Dongsheng smiled without saying anything. She pointed to a small building next to the square. It was the village's cultural activity center, which had a library, exhibition hall and training room. Various cultural activities and skills training were held regularly, providing villagers with rich spiritual food and opportunities for self-improvement.
Shen Dinghai walked into the cultural activity center and saw many books and magazines inside. Villagers read and studied freely here and shared knowledge and experience with each other.
The exhibition hall displays the village’s historical changes and cultural heritage.
Shen Dinghai didn't expect this to happen.
Dongsheng said calmly: "Those were bloody things that happened. They shouldn't be covered up with something."
Shen Dinghai sighed, "Indeed."
There are replicas of cloth strips with blood-written words, exhibits in the caves in the back mountain, and the newly restored statue of the Goddess of Goodness.
Every exhibit in the exhibition hall tells the past, present and future of Shannv Village.
Shen Dinghai was filled with emotion. He walked out of the cultural activity center and couldn't help asking, "Is Yunxiang okay? And Shuigu, I didn't see her in the village."
Dongsheng nodded and motioned Shen Dinghai to follow him to a small woods behind the village.
Dongsheng stopped in front of a big tree and gently stroked the trunk. Shen Dinghai followed her gaze and saw a line of small words engraved on the trunk:
“May all the women in Shannv Village live happily.”
Shen Dinghai's heart was shocked. This line of words seemed to have some kind of magic, which made him remember more deeply every detail of his time in Goode Village.
"This was carved by Yunxiang, Shuigu, and I together."
He turned to look at Dongsheng. Dongsheng smiled slightly, pointed at the words on the tree trunk, and then pointed at his heart.
How could Shen Dinghai not understand that this was Dongsheng's wish and the wish of all the women in Shannu Village.
The reason why Shannu Village has undergone the changes it has today is that the women here are united and bravely pursue their own happiness and dignity. With their efforts and courage, they have broken the shackles that once imprisoned them and created a new home full of vitality and hope.
"Yunxiang is living a good life, just as she was before she was abducted to Good Village. We keep in touch often."
"Where's Shui-gu?"
"Shui Gu left the village. She said she wanted to go out and see the world. I think that's great. Everyone in the village thinks that's great. No one tried to stop her."
Shen Dinghai was filled with emotion, "It is indeed a great thing." Speaking of this, he remembered something.
“My nephew was supposed to come with me but he turned me down.”
Dongsheng tilted his head in confusion, and Shen Dinghai explained in a gentle voice, "He said that he is still too young and doesn't understand why the current Shannv Village was once Gude Village."
"He didn't understand those men, and he didn't understand the oppression."
Shen Dinghai smiled slightly, "He said that when he grows up and understands, he will come here alone to visit, bring the blood list, and return it."
"During this period, he will always use the blood list to remind himself."
"At Zhichen's strong request, Dad changed the Growth Foundation used to train Zhichen into the Women and Children Protection Foundation. Zhichen said that he would make the foundation better and better, and would also let more men understand the same principles as him."
"Women have the same rights as men in the world."
Dongsheng stood quietly under the tree, feeling the breeze, and she smiled.
"Thank you and your nephew, and thank her too."
It goes without saying who she is. Shen Dinghai's sigh drifted away with the breeze and blew towards the high blue sky.
He knew that the future of Shannv Village would definitely get better and better because Dongsheng, other women in the village, and all the brave women were protecting it.
He only hoped that she could know it, too.
He wanted her to know that the world was getting better and better and everything that was happening in the world.
