When Qian Shulan returned home, all the family members ran out to greet her.
Each of them turned into diligent little bees, and Wang Shouren and Sun Daqin helped Qian Shulan down, one on each side.
Wang Shouyi and Li Chunhua helped carry the large and small bags on the carriage, which made Jiang Yuying stunned.
Qian Shulan introduced her family members to Jiang Yuying one by one.
Everyone was a little surprised. They didn't expect her mother to adopt a goddaughter in the county town. She was a worker in the county town. She could actually adopt her mother, an old lady from the countryside, as her godmother. What a proud thing this was. Everyone greeted Jiang Yuying enthusiastically.
Back in the main room, Qian Shulan asked Sun Daqin to serve tea and water to everyone, and then began to ask about family matters.
"Dana, how do you feel about going to the matchmaking?" Qian Shulan was most worried about the blind date. After all, this young man had a lot of troubles at home.
Wang Danna pinched the end of her braid with one hand, her face slightly red, raised her head to look at her mother, and whispered, "It's fine."
Qian Shulan nodded and didn't ask any more questions. She thought she would ask the matchmaker at night. Wang Danna was not very good at judging people.
She withdrew her gaze, glanced at everyone's faces, and asked about the situation at home.
Sun Daqin pushed Li Chunhua's arm, very anxious, "Hurry up and tell me. If you don't, I will tell you, and don't blame me for telling you then."
Li Chunhua's face wrinkled up as she was pushed by Sun Daqin. She was a little angry and said impatiently, "I know."
Maybe because the third room lent money to Sun Daqin, Li Chunhua's attitude towards Sun Daqin is no longer as submissive as before. She is a step below her and feels like an equal. She dares to challenge her.
Sun Daqin knew that she owed Li Chun money, so she no longer looked down on her or ridiculed her as she did before.
But now the two were obviously arguing, and Qian Shulan was really curious.
When Li Chunhua saw her mother-in-law looking at her, she knew that this matter would not end well.
She lowered her head and grunted for a long time before she told the story again, "Didn't we talk about military coats in order before? When it was my turn the day before yesterday, I lent my military coat to Gong Suzhen, but who knew that when she returned it, there was a tear on the coat."
As soon as she finished speaking, Sun Daqin took out the clothes and showed them to her mother-in-law.
This military coat, which cost dozens of dollars, had a cut on the chest that was as long as a finger. It was too obvious.
Qian Shulan remembered that Gong Suzhen was Zhengkang's elementary school teacher. Wang Danna's private teacher qualification was snatched from her. Could this be her way of taking revenge on their family
Sun Daqin pointed at the cut, and was quite disappointed with Li Chunhua. "Mom, I want to go to Gong Suzhen to settle the score, but my third sister-in-law stopped me. Please judge for me. Such a big cut is so neat. If it wasn't intentional, how did she make it? But my third sister-in-law thinks I am overthinking. Tell me, am I overthinking?"
Qian Shulan avoided answering and asked her, "How do you want to judge?"
Sun Daqin picked up the clothes and smirked, "Humph, I will definitely ask them to pay for it, or repair the clothes to their original state."
Qian Shulan thought for a moment and said, "I agree to this. Go and ask them to pay compensation."
Hearing her mother-in-law's words, Sun Daqin immediately ran out with her clothes. Li Chunhua's face turned pale instantly. She looked at the door nervously, wanting to rush out to stop them, but she seemed to have concerns.
After thinking for a long time, she finally yelled at Sun Daqin's back, "Sister-in-law, wait a moment."
Sun Daqin, who had just run out of the yard, stopped immediately and turned back to look at Li Chunhua. She was a little confused, and after thinking about it, she walked back, a little unhappy, "Why did you call me?"
Li Chunhua didn't even look at her. She ran to Qian Shulan and knelt down. "Mother-in-law, I'm sorry. Gong Suzhen has already compensated me two dollars."
Qian Shulan saw that she looked flustered, and it was obvious that something was wrong. She frowned slightly, "Where's the two dollars? Take it out and show it to me." The money of the third room was managed by the two of them. Wang Shouyi knew every extra cent. The two of them had not communicated with each other beforehand, so they could figure out the numbers as soon as they were asked. Besides, Wang Shouyi would not hide it from her for Li Chunhua.
When Li Chunhua heard her mother-in-law asking her to take out the money, her face suddenly froze, her hands unconsciously tangled together, and her eyes became uncertain.
What's so confusing? Qian Shulan was so angry that she slammed her palm on the dining table. "You are still lying! Tell me what's going on!"
The noise startled everyone! Zhou Xuemei couldn't help but touch her belly. Wang Shouli winked at her, wanting her to go back to the house first. But Zhou Xuemei shook her head silently and didn't move.
Li Chunhua was so frightened that she trembled all over and tears fell down.
Just as Xiaomei and Xiaohe were about to speak, Qian Shulan gave them a cold look, which frightened them so much that they dared not move.
Wang Shouyi frowned and kicked Li Chunhua's leg. "You bitch, if you have something to say, just tell me! Why are you lying to me?"
Li Chunhua wiped her tears and sobbed, "Mom, Gong Suzhen asked me to borrow her military coat and said it was for me..." She paused and found it very difficult to speak, "Secret recipe for having a child."
Everyone was stunned. Qian Shulan clapped her hands in astonishment, "So, you were so stupid that you were fooled? You lent your clothes to someone, and they tore them, but you didn't pursue the matter?"
Li Chunhua didn't say anything, she just kept crying, the more she cried the more sad she became. She was crying, but it didn't seem like she was crying for the grievances she had suffered in this matter, but to vent all the pressure she had suffered before. She cried until she was out of breath, and finally she had hiccups, one after another.
The others all went to watch her performance.
Qian Shulan's face was filled with black lines. Is this the evolution of a bully into a crybaby
After Li Chunhua had cried enough, she continued to answer, "She said she would pay me back when she had money."
Qian Shulan frowned, "This is not your business at all. She is targeting our family." She raised her chin and said to Sun Daqin, "Since Gong Suzhen has no money, you can go directly to the accountant to ask for it. Say that his daughter-in-law tore a hole in our military coat and ask him to compensate. At least one dollar."
Sun Daqin smiled and responded loudly, "Yes, mother."
After Sun Daqin happily left the yard with the clothes in her arms, Qian Shulan helped Li Chunhua up and said, "There is nothing wrong with you. I checked you last time and you are healthy. You should relax now."
Li Chunhua wiped her tears and said nothing. Qian Shulan said directly to Wang Shouyi, "You already have a pillar. If you two make trouble again, I will separate you. You can forget about the 300 yuan from the boss."
Wang Shouyi's face froze, and he responded reluctantly. When his mother turned around, she glared at Li Chunhua obscurely, frightening Li Chunhua so much that she trembled all over.
Qian Shulan kicked all the children out and said to Wang Shouyi and Li Chunhua, "Zhu Zi's mother has remarried and moved to another place. You two don't have to worry about her snatching the child from you. As long as you raise the child, she will be filial to you just the same."
Wang Shouyi and Li Chunhua lowered their heads and said nothing.
Qian Shulan directly stated the punishment, "Chunhua has lost the qualification to wear the military coat, and you have to rearrange it. You are also responsible for the hygiene of the house this month. You are not allowed to lend the military coat to others privately in the future. If you are caught, you will be punished to clean the house."
Everyone expressed their agreement.
Sun Daqin came back soon, holding a dollar high in the air, and ran in hurriedly to hand it to Qian Shulan, saying flatteringly, "Mom, look, I got my money back."
Qian Shulan took the money and said to Li Chunhua, "Use black thread to embroider a branch to cover the opening..."
Li Chunhua lowered her head and took the clothes.
After finishing her housework, Qian Shulan noticed that Jiang Yuying, who had been listening with great interest just now, was now dozing off against the wall.
It was only a little after two in the afternoon. The main room was warm because of the coal stove.
But here we don’t have dinner until after five o’clock.
Qian Shulan woke Jiang Yuying up and asked her to go to her room to take a nap.
The others were also a little tired, so Qian Shulan asked them to go.
There is a nursery rhyme that goes like this: On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, sticky sugar-coated melons; on the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, sweep the house; on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, fry tofu; on the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, cut pork; on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, kill the rooster; on the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, let the dough rise; on the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, steam buns; on the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, stay up all night; on the first day of the new year, twist your body.
But this year, there was no sugar melon, tofu, pork, rooster, or steamed buns. The canteen was already stretched to its limits and couldn't distribute anything except sweet potatoes.
Apart from cleaning the house, they just stay at home and chat with their family.
As the Chinese New Year was approaching, many villages began to distribute food to the team members so that they could cook at home.
Some members reported that they didn't have a pot, and they said that using a clay pot would be the same.
The same situation occurred in Wangshoucun Production Brigade.
I only got eight sweet potatoes out of five kilograms.
Each person can't share one.
Qian Shulan knew that the warehouse in the team was already stretched to the limit. Although she felt a little helpless, she didn't make a fuss in the end.
What's the point of making a fuss? Honest peasants like them have to endure it if they can. If they don't endure it, they will be criticized and struggled against.
Although they raised pigs, the pigs were for missions and they had no share in the business.
After returning home, Qian Shulan washed the sweet potatoes and cut them into pieces. Qian Shulan sorted out the food that Wang Shouzhi brought, which was all the food that he asked Wang Shouzhi to buy from the county town.
This year, there was a bumper harvest, and the grain supply in the county was no longer as tight as before. Wang Shouzhi bought a lot, and most of it was fine grain.
Qian Shulan asked Xiaomei to light the fire, and she personally prepared a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner for everyone.
She cooked half a pot of Sichuan pepper fish, which was served with many other dishes, including tofu, black fungus, bean sprouts, vermicelli, enoki mushrooms, potato chips, etc.
I also made three braised dishes: braised fish, braised rabbit meat with dried beans and braised eggplant.
Of course, there are also the fried cicada monkeys and fried green caterpillars that Jiang Yuying has always been thinking about.
There are four vegetarian dishes: pickled radish strips, spicy and sour potato shreds, cold carrot shreds, and vinegar cabbage.
"Thanks to Xiaowu for helping us store food in the city. Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to eat such good food."
Everyone looked at Wang Shouzhi with gratitude, which made his face red. He waved his hands and did not dare to take credit, "My mother asked me to buy it. How could I have the ability to predict the future?"
Qian Shulan looked at everyone and said, "I also heard it from your uncle. He heard it on the radio." Finally, she said with emotion, "It's better to be able to read. So that you can understand the policies from above and make countermeasures in advance."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Qian Shulan asked everyone to eat and kept picking up dishes for Jiang Yuying.
Perhaps because the filial piety value has been maxed out, the family has become much more harmonious.
After dinner, the children ran around the village in their round clothes. Qian Shulan had distributed some cotton to everyone.
The children’s cotton-padded clothes have been refilled with new cotton, but the fabric remains the old so that it won’t be too noticeable.
Adults always warn children not to show off outside, otherwise their clothes will be snatched away by other children. After being threatened, the children dare not show off anymore.
Qian Shulan took Jiang Yuying for a stroll. Before they knew it, Qian Shulan brought Jiang Yuying to the cafeteria to see what was going on.
The cafeteria is bustling now.
Rural people would not be idle even during the Chinese New Year. Because they had nothing to prepare, they could not even make new clothes because of insufficient fabric. So this Chinese New Year was particularly quiet.
Many people couldn't sit still, so they came to the canteen to weave baskets, at least they could earn some work points.
The 1,000 rattan baskets sold by Qian Shulan were sent from the provincial capital to various counties, and they sold very well.
A few days ago, when Qian Shulan was not at home, the manager there personally brought people over and placed another order for 1,000 pieces.
The goods were shipped just yesterday.
Logically, there was no need to compile more, but when the manager left, he specifically left a message saying that their rattan baskets had already been shipped to Jiangnan, and that they might increase the quantity after the New Year.
Therefore, Qian Minghua asked the team members to continue editing. But he also considered that today was the Chinese New Year and there were no hard and fast rules, so he let everyone do it as they pleased.
But this year's New Year was not enjoyable at all. How could I be full with just a few sweet potatoes
Those family members who are more active will ask others to help buy expensive things outside so as to have a good New Year.
When Qian Shulan heard that everyone wanted to buy things at a high price, she was moved. She had a lot of space.
Can we sell it to everyone
So Qian Shulan leaned over to listen to what everyone wanted to buy.
Red paper? I want to put up Spring Festival couplets. We don’t have this.
White flour? Yes.
Meat? We have this too. But we can’t take it out.
Eggs? Yes.
Wang Shouren and Wang Shouyi were weaving baskets here. Jiang Yuying was brought here by Wang Danna to watch others weaving baskets.
Qian Shulan would go to the women who needed to buy things and say she could get them.
The original body had done this before, and everyone knew it.
So he looked around and asked quietly, "Is your price expensive?"
Qian Shulan saw that there was a chance, so she whispered back, "We are from the same village, how can I cheat you? It's only 50% more expensive than the original price."
The woman was extremely surprised and her voice became louder. "Is it really only 50% more expensive?"
Qian Shulan looked at her and nodded with a smile, "Really. My son works in the city and has been to those places several times."
She was referring to the black market, and the woman understood immediately and ordered something from her.
Qian Shulan specifically asked those who kept their mouths shut, and strictly prohibited anyone from spreading the news. Otherwise, she would be considered a profiteer.
Of course, even though they agreed, they would still indirectly help her introduce business. For example, some people wanted to buy some food to bring back to her parents' home so that they could have a good meal.
The price Qian Shulan asked for was not expensive, it was 50% cheaper than the black market price.
Many people can accept this. They have a better impression of Qian Shulan and think she is a real person and not greedy.
Although you should make some money, it won't be more than twice as expensive as those unscrupulous ones.
In just one day, Qian Shulan sold 3,000 kilograms of wheat. After she compiled the names and numbers of the people, she asked Wang Shouren to take her to the county town in a horse-drawn carriage.
The reason why I only brought Wang Shouren with me was because he was a very honest person. If you asked him to wait in the same place, he would never leave in the middle of the journey. He was very honest and obedient. The others were not like that. Although they all had the same filial piety value of 10 points, people's personalities were different and their behaviors would be different.
Qian Shulan asked Wang Shouren to wait for her at the entrance of the alley. She turned to the fork in the alley, walked to the right, and conjured up food from the space. Then she brought it over bit by bit.
Put it on the carriage and pull it back to the countryside. Because it is New Year's Day and there are no militia guarding the intersection.
They soon arrived at the Wangjia Village Production Brigade, and then began to knock on doors and deliver food to every household according to the records in the notebook.
It was already night. It was dark. She waited until she had delivered all the food, but no one came out. People in this era didn't like to keep dogs like they do in later generations. After all, people couldn't even get enough food, so it was very quiet.
She sold 3,000 kilograms of wheat this time. She didn't sell flour, mainly because she had to find an opportunity to grind flour every time, which was very time-consuming. These people didn't want much, just 10 or 8 kilograms, just for good luck during the New Year.
Although she advocated rice, few families could afford it. In the end, only Wang Shouquan's family, Wang Lide's family, Qian Weihan's family and the accountant asked for rice, but they didn't ask for much, only five catties.
The next day, almost no one in the canteen went to weave baskets. Everyone was full of energy and began to prepare for the New Year.
Even those families who failed to buy wheat would borrow some from their neighbors or buy some so that they could have a good New Year.
Therefore, the mill in Wangjia Village did not stop working all day. When the diesel ran out, the team leaders were urged to buy more. But now the supply and marketing cooperatives were closed, so where could they buy diesel? So everyone went to other villages to borrow diesel, and finally managed to grind the flour.
Some people even started grinding with traditional millstones. They were exhausted and out of breath, but still very happy.
So everyone came over to push the millstone. Qian Minghua's millstone once again showed its value. It kept making noises all day long. Qian Shulan did not join in the fun.
After the flour is ground, some people steam buns and some people make dumplings. This Chinese New Year is very meaningful and enjoyable.
The author has something to say: A little angel said earlier that the word "black market" should not be said out loud, and I think it is right. So, it is changed to be mysterious here. It is very obscure this time, right? Hehehe...
By the way, my book will soon be sold out, I am so happy! Thank you for your support, little angels. I really appreciate your company and encouragement. Thank you everyone.