Chapter 56(1)

Without asking their two children for help, the couple made dumplings skillfully. While Li Zhongxia was making dumplings, Gu Yan took out some cold dishes from the cupboard.

Pork skin jelly, peanuts, pork head and a plate of pork trotters, paired with a plate of green tender garlic sprouts, immediately brings the breath of spring in this cold weather.

"Children, it's time to eat. Go wash your hands."

"Oh! Let's eat dumplings."

"Oh! It's the New Year."

Gu Yan poured a glass of wine for the man, and the rest of the people had tea. Li Zhongxia whispered to her and she shook her head.

"No. Drinking too much will only make you stupid."

"Not stupid at all."

"How about a drink?"

"Come, I'll fill it up for you."

When a family gets together, there is naturally constant laughter. The little ones kept asking their sister about her life in the sports school. Although Gu Yan didn't seem to say much, he was actually paying close attention to his daughter's answers.

I just entered and haven’t played any official games yet. But judging from the child's expression, she was very happy there. Do what you like, be optimistic and cheerful, and shine like a little sun.

After lunch, Li Zhongxia and his neighbors cleaned the courtyard together. They tore off the old Spring Festival couplets and pasted up new red couplets with the words "Fu", "God of Wealth", and "Safe Entry and Exit".

Gu Yan had just finished cleaning up the ear room when Xiaoya and Leilei came running over hand in hand and grabbed her: "Mom, Mom, can we change into new clothes now? Many children can change today. Putting up new Spring Festival couplets represents the New Year, and the New Year means changing into new clothes."

The little girl argued confidently, but Gu Yan was speechless and bit his lip. This little girl, this is the second time she asked to wear new clothes on New Year’s Eve. Actually, there is nothing wrong with wearing it earlier. After all, the New Year is to make children happy. But this girl will definitely set off firecrackers after changing into new clothes. It is a question whether this dress can be worn intact through the first day of the new year.

Seeing that she didn't say anything, Lei Lei started to assist the young lady. He reached out and grabbed his mother's collar, and looked up with a cute face, "Mom, mom, please change our clothes for us. Let's wear new clothes, set off fireworks, and celebrate the New Year!"

Gu Yan finally couldn't keep his seriousness anymore and burst out laughing. She reached out and pinched the two little guys' faces: "Okay, I'll change you. Put on new clothes, set off fireworks. It's the New Year. But can mommy make a request?"

"Mom, you decide." Xiao Ya agreed immediately, and Lei Lei also nodded.

"Set off the firecrackers at a distance, so as not to make holes in your clothes. At least they should last until after the first day of the new year."

"Okay." The two guys agreed so readily. Gu Yan smiled and did not comment. He took the two of them to the main room and took out all the children's new clothes.

"Oh!" Dahua cheered, hugged Gu Yan and spun around, "Mom, you are so nice."

All the children changed into new clothes. Niu Niu pulled at her clothes and held onto Xiao Ya. "Same."

The little girl squatted down and kissed her sister. "Yes, we are the same. Big Flower and Little Flower are the same sister. But the eldest sister and the second sister are twins, and we are not."

"twin."

"No. We are not twins. Third sister is older than you! Older..." The little guy stretched out his fingers and broke them one by one. "Three years older."

Xiaohua reached out and touched her little sister's head and praised her: "You are amazing, little girl. Your calculations were absolutely correct."

Gu Yan was combing Xiaohua's hair and reached out to pat her. "Don't move, or your braid will get crooked."

"Oh." The little girl straightened up quickly. "Mom, I want a hair like the one you had last time when you received the award at the commune."

"That kind of thing isn't suitable for a little girl of your age. Mommy will make one that's suitable for you."

"Mom, hurry up, the three of us are still waiting."

"Okay. Actually, it's just the two of you. Niuniu doesn't need it."

"Give Niuniu two small buns."

"Then it becomes Nezha?"

"Is Nezha just wearing two little buns?" Xiaohua was very concerned about this. "Nezha seems to be a boy, why does he have two small buns?"

"Because ancient people all tied their hair up. Nezha was a child, and at his age, he would have tied his hair into two small buns."

"So did we also wear our hair in small buns in ancient times?"

"It seems... Mom doesn't quite understand."

"At your age, you should wear your hair in a bun. Divide your hair into strands and tie them on top of your head. It's not something that can be solved by just having two small buns." Li Zhongxia came in and gave a very clear answer.

"It's so troublesome. It's better to do it now. Just braid two braids and it's done." Dahua has a carefree personality.

"It will definitely look good. It's a pity that I can't comb my hair now." Xiaohua's heart yearns for everything beautiful and exquisite.

I changed the children's clothes and combed their hair. A few people chattered and took the firecrackers out to play. Gu Yan turned around to clean up the mess.

"Give it to me, I'll wash it."

Li Zhongxia put away a few pieces and took the rest from his wife. His mother, who was lying on the kang, quickly spoke up to stop him when she heard what was said.

"You can't wash it now. You have to wait until after the first day of the new year."

The man looked at his mother, then shifted his gaze to his wife. Gu Yan nodded to her mother-in-law, "If you don't want to wash it, just put it over there. It will be convenient when you wash it."

The old lady nodded, and the couple walked out of the house. Li Zhongxia originally thought that his wife was just trying to please the old lady. After all, this woman never takes these old rules seriously. Unexpectedly, she actually put the clothes she took off into the basket and hung them up.

"Are you really going to wait until after the first day of the new year to wash it?" Can you, who always love cleanliness, tolerate this?

"Yeah." Gu Yan answered straightforwardly. "It has been like this since I came to your house. The old people are conservative. It's just a small matter. Don't make them upset."

Li Zhongxia reached out and hugged her: "Wife, you really refresh my understanding of you again and again without realizing it."

"What do you mean?"

"Advance and retreat appropriately, act with moderation. Don't give up an inch when you should fight, and don't be reluctant when you should retreat."

Gu Yan smiled and didn’t dare to say anything more. How to make choices is something my master taught me since I was young. It's just that she didn't understand its meaning until she was thirty.

On New Year's Eve, the little ones sat on the kang to stay up all night, surrounding their father and asking him to tell stories. Li Zhongxia is a man of profound knowledge and rich experience. The idiom stories from the past few days have come to a temporary end, and today’s episode is about the gunfight - Anti-Japanese War.

He did not participate in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, but he heard a lot about it while in the army. And since he has been on the battlefield himself, what he talks about is absolutely fascinating. Look, all those in the yard who don’t like idiom stories have come running over. Everyone listened attentively with eyes wide open.

Gu Yan stoked the fire and sat next to his mother-in-law, mending clothes by the light of candlelight. The old lady was lying on her side, but when she saw that she was going to do some work, she supported herself with her arms and tried to stand up. He was stopped by Gu Yan.

"There are two holes in Leilei and Xiaoya's clothes from the cannon. I'll be done in a moment. Please don't move."

The old lady smiled when she heard this, but still got up. "Then let me do it. I'll sew two flowers on it so that you can't see the patch."

Gu Yan smiled bitterly and gave her the clothes and needle and thread. Speaking of this, the old man is still the best. The patches are all in patterns, and the girls' clothes are old but never torn. There are holes under those floral decorations.

"These two are a real worry. One is naughty and gets caught in a lot of trouble, and his clothes are more worn out than the boy's. The other one plays along, but never advises and only helps. Sometimes he listens to others and does stupid things."

"Haha...children are bound to be naughty." The old lady raised her head and pointed with her chin at her son lying on the kang opposite her.

"Even though Zhongxia is such a steady kid, he was also very naughty when he was young. One year during the Chinese New Year, he and a few other kids went door to door to light up all the bonfires before anyone got up on New Year's Day. Some families saved trouble by putting less firewood, and by the time they got up to welcome the new year, the bonfires were almost out. They were so angry that they stood outside and jumped up and down."

"Haha... there's nothing to be upset about. The fire is still burning. Just add some more wood."

The old lady poked her with her hand. "You, you are still naughty."

"What does this mean? Xiaoya, you've got me all this time?"

"What do you think? Children are the mirror of their parents. When you see how the children are, you know what the adults in the family are like."

Gu Yan nodded in agreement. Xiao Ya has been lively and outgoing since she was young, and her mother has never suppressed her. Even the attitude was encouraging, and that's how she raised such a courageous girl. Even little girls aged seven or eight don’t dare to set off firecrackers. She was just a five-year-old kid competing with the boys with a cannon.

"As long as you know your limits and don't put yourself or others in danger, there's nothing wrong with being a little bold."

"Yes. Teach the children to be safe, this is the first priority." The old lady looked up at Gu Yan for a long time. "Your father and I also taught our children in this way. Why is your sister so timid?"

"Who told you to always say that suffering a loss is a blessing? How can you repay kindness with evil? If someone wants to bully others, you must definitely pay them back. You can't suffer a loss no matter what you eat."

"You are just good at talking. You are always the first to save people when you encounter danger. Do you think that when you save people, they will thank you equally even if they die? If you meet someone who is ungrateful, how much loss will you suffer?"

"Yes, next time I see danger I will run away quickly."

"Haha... you are a kid who only knows how to make an old woman happy. You worked hard and strived to be the best, and you were a model worker for several years in a row. Later, you saved a child, were named an advanced individual, became a tractor driver, and now you have been elected as the village director. If she was the kind of person who would only avoid trouble for fear of being at a disadvantage, she would never have had such an opportunity."

"Well, then I'll do my best." Gu Yan was like a fence-sitter, and he did whatever his mother-in-law said. "Being with you, the political commissar mother, I, a backward person, will also be brought up. You should be credited for this contribution."

Gu Yan took out a stack of banknotes from his pocket and gave them to the old man: "Give the children New Year's money tomorrow."

"I have it."

"You keep it for yourself."

One of the couple takes care of the elderly while the other takes care of the children. After the midnight bell struck, I cooked dumplings and set off firecrackers before going to bed. Tomorrow is the first day of the new year, and we have to get up early before dawn to welcome the new year.

Holding Niuniu, who had already fallen asleep, the couple returned to the ear room. They had slept for less than four hours and the two adults were too lazy to sleep any longer. They just took off their coats, covered themselves with the quilt and dozed off for a while.

On the first day of the new year, people opened the door and set off firecrackers to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new. With the sporadic sound of firecrackers, Gu Yan yawned and sat up in a daze.

"If you're tired, take a nap. I'll go set off the fireworks. The kids are with the two sisters Xiaohua, so you don't have to worry about them."

Gu Yan fell down again with a thud, and his mind, which was already unclear, instantly fell into darkness again. She was not awakened from her dream until she heard a child crying in the yard. He put on his clothes quickly, stood up and ran out.

"What's wrong? Why are you crying, Xiaoer?"

All of my children were there, and they all had strange expressions on their faces. The second child in the east room covered his eyes and howled. Wang Xiaomai came out from the east room when she heard the noise and patted her son, looking a little unhappy.

"It's New Year's Day, why are you crying?"

"Woo woo...Mom, I'm going to grow into a big bucket."

Um? The adults' faces were filled with black lines. What's going on? Gu Yanxi, who was standing aside, burst into laughter. Xiaohua was obviously trying to hold back her laughter, looking apologetic yet amused.

"Mom, this is what happened. Just now, Xiaoer went to the toilet to hug the tung tree, praying that he would grow taller. As soon as he opened his mouth, his sister saw him and teased him on purpose. He repeated his sister's words three times: 'Tung tree, tung tree, next year you will grow taller and I will grow thicker, and we will grow into a big water tank.'"

"Pfft..." This time, not to mention the child, even Wang Xiaomai's mother couldn't help laughing so hard that she bent over. The second child cried even louder, fearing pitifully that he would grow into a water tank, short and thick.

Gu Yan endured it for a few times and finally managed to hold back his expression. He reached out and pulled the waiter out. "It's not even daybreak yet, let's just say it again. If neither of us counts, then we'll just treat it as a joke. If both of us count, then they cancel each other out, and it will definitely not grow into a water tank."

"Then...if this time doesn't count, what if the previous ones counted?"

"Then say the good things a few more times. If they are to be effective, then this many times will surely be effective."

"Oh." The little guy wiped his tears and ran to the Paulownia tree again excitedly to pray to the tree to grow taller.

Back in the courtyard, Wang Xiaomai suddenly remembered something and pulled Gu Yan to ask in a low voice: "Director, this doesn't involve burning incense or worshipping Buddha or anything like that, so it doesn't count as feudal superstition, right?"

"Not really. It's just a folk custom. Just an auspicious word." After saying this, Gu Yan added in a low voice: "But don't do it again in the future. It will be bad if some people deliberately exaggerate it." The exercise is about to start, and anyone can make up anything then. It's better to be cautious.

"Got it. I'll go call the waiter back."

Gu Yan reached out and patted his eldest daughter, "Girl, why are you teasing me?"

"Who made him jealous of me? I'm taller than him, so he ignored me. So I... I just teased him on purpose. Who knew he would cry? What's this? Is it worth him crying?"

"What you consider a small matter may be a big matter to others. Don't always judge others by yourself. Consider things from their perspective. Xiaoer is a boy, much younger than you. He must feel his self-esteem is hurt. He was upset when he said a few auspicious words on New Year's Day and you messed them up."

"Okay, then I won't tease him anymore."

"You. Apologize to the waiter later. He is really sad this time."

"Yeah. Mom, why do men have to be taller than women?"

"Men are tall and strong, while women are petite and delicate. It is generally believed that men are too short to be respectable, right?"

"Really? You're just too proud. So vain."

"Sister, don't say anything unlucky on New Year's Day."

Leaving the children to play, Gu Yan turned and went into the ear room to wash up. "Hey, baby, you're awake. Why don't you call mommy?"

"I want my mother."

"Okay." Gu Yan warmed himself up, took off his coat, went to the kang and dressed the child. "Give Niuniu new clothes. Let's go to grandma to get the New Year's money."

The kowtow and New Year greetings that were part of the campaign to destroy the four olds were cancelled. Nowadays, if you see someone kowtow, nine out of ten times he is reporting a death. So the children all smiled and said a few auspicious words to their grandmothers, and then ran to show off to their friends after receiving the New Year's money.

The fire in the yard was burning brightly, and the laughter of children in the streets and alleys was mixed with the sound of sub-zero firecrackers, some loud and some low, and everyone was having a great time.

There are delicacies that are not available on ordinary days, and luxuries that are not available on ordinary days (lucky money, candies). You can play freely, which is probably a happiness that people in later generations cannot experience. Because these things can be easily obtained, I no longer look forward to the New Year.

Gu Yan had made sufficient preparations beforehand, having rotated pork ribs, chicken, and rabbit for three consecutive days. When my daughter left early in the morning on the fourth day of the New Year, I brought her a braised chicken and more than ten braised eggs, egg scallion pancakes, and chive sauce and chili sauce made in autumn.

The cooking work these days was all given to Li Zhongxia. She took the time to make a few sets of clothes for her eldest daughter. The small one is kept for my younger sister to wear, and the new one is made bigger and stitched with big stitches. If she grows taller, she can just take it apart and put it away.

"Be careful when you are away from home. Write to your mother if you need anything."

"Got it, Mom, please be careful when you drive the tractor when you go back."

"Okay." After kissing the child and seeing that she had put everything in place, the couple got off the train. I sent her off once and picked her up once, and this time I let her go and let her go on her own. When children grow up, they will always be independent. The school is not far from where you get off the train, and teachers from the school will also pick you up at the station, so it’s time to exercise your children.

Looking at the child's energetic face, Gu Yan felt extremely worried as he waved goodbye. The movement is coming soon and all walks of life will be affected. She didn't know much about this period and didn't know how big the impact on the sports world would be. But no matter what, the child's sports journey will ultimately be full of ups and downs. I wonder if her weak mind can withstand the test?

When the couple returned home, Li Bailu had already prepared lunch and was waiting for them to come back and eat. Today, the three of them came to pay New Year's greetings. Seeing that my brother and sister-in-law were not at home, I cooked for myself.

Gu Yan took a look at the pot of stew and quickly took out more than ten eggs. "The eggs are in the jar. Xiaohua didn't tell you, why didn't you take them out? There are also stewed ribs and chicken. Just take them out and heat them up."

Potatoes, cabbage, radish and vermicelli, without adding a drop of extra oil. You, woman, really know how to live. Although we usually eat like this, it’s Chinese New Year, so we have to be a bit extravagant for once.

"Don't take it, don't take it. Sister-in-law, the eggs are enough. Save the meat for the elderly and children. We are not outsiders, so don't be polite."

"I'm not giving it to you unless you're a stranger. I won't give it to you if you're a stranger. Don't worry about it. I'll fry the eggs. You can serve the rice to everyone and ask them to serve it. I'll be ready soon."

"Why ask them to do anything? I'll just take it to them."

Gu Yan disagreed with her habit of women doing all the housework. While beating the eggs, he shouted for help. "Li Zhongxia, Xiaohua, dinner is ready, come and serve the food."

In fact, Li Zhongxia came in just as she opened her mouth. He went to the supply and marketing cooperative and bought half a pound of wine, ready to have a drink with his brother-in-law. We seldom see each other during normal times, so we get together during the New Year and talk more. This silly boy is a bit feudal and old-fashioned and doesn't care about women's affairs. He has to enlighten him, otherwise the girl will be alone in her husband's house without any help.

Stew, scrambled eggs, stewed meat, this time it looks like what it should be. After a few days of eating so much greasy food, the children had gotten over the novelty of it and were now eating the vegetables obediently at the table, leaving the meat for the guests.

My brother-in-law, who usually squats while eating, suddenly became a little reserved when he sat at the table. He just focused on eating without saying a word. Li Bailu asked curiously.

"Sister-in-law, you actually became the village director? I couldn't believe it when Wang Xiaomai from our courtyard said that. A woman can actually become a cadre?"

"Xu Aiping is a cadre, so why can't women be cadres?"

"That's different. Xu Aiping is the director of the women's team, and this job is almost always done by women. Yours is different. Which brigade has a woman as director? You are unique, and it's amazing."

"My sister-in-law can also drive a tractor. Huang Laosan from our team admires her very much when he talks about her. He says my sister-in-law is better than any man." Li Bailu spoke, and her husband followed suit.

"Nothing much. Just bold and daring. Come on, you two help yourself to some food, eat more ribs. ... This woman is capable, all thanks to the help of men. If you help her with housework, she will have time to do needlework and make the family dress decently. If you help her learn culture, she will become well-educated and polite, and bring honor to you in front of others. If you help her deal with the difficulties and troubles among relatives, she won't have to become hysterical and become a shrew to quarrel with them. Brother-in-law, don't you agree?"

The man who was called was stunned for a moment, then nodded quickly. "Yes. What sister-in-law said makes sense."

"I can tell from my brother-in-law that you are a reasonable person. Look at me, I met a jerk like Han Laoer before, and I was bullied by him. They said I was crazy when I resisted.

How good it is now. If I want to learn, I have your elder brother. If I am busy with housework and can’t take care of the children, I have your elder brother. Although the Li family doesn't have any unreasonable relatives, if anyone dares to bully me, there is your eldest brother. This is what a man should do, if he can't even protect his own wife. What do you think men are for? A woman finds a master to serve her? ”

"Yes, that's right. A man should protect his wife."

My brother-in-law has gone from being confused to being convinced. He is an only child but he is not stupid. It's just that the education he received since childhood has trapped him in the idea that men should not care about women's affairs and he can't get out of it. As long as there is reality to refer to, things will change quickly.

Seeing this situation, Li Zhongxia decisively went to clean up the aftermath after dinner. Leave Gu Yan and his brother-in-law here to drink.

After eating half a pound of roasted sweet potatoes, the feudal and conservative brother-in-law was completely impressed by his sister-in-law. The most obvious manifestation is taking my son to the toilet. Li Bailu was so shocked that her jaw dropped.

"Sister-in-law, you are too capable. He never interfered with household affairs before. Children belong to women, housework is women's, and other than working, he never interfered with other things. I was bullied by his sisters, but he didn't care at all."

"I'll take care of it in the future." Gu Yan smiled. "Pillow talk is very powerful, you have to learn it. If you are bullied by his sisters, just bow your head and cry on the spot, or cover your face and cry. Protecting your wife is also a man's duty, he will take care of it."

Li Bailu excitedly hugged her sister-in-law's arm and leaned her head on her. "Sister-in-law, you are so kind. Even if other sisters-in-law are powerful, they may not give advice to their younger sisters-in-law. But you have helped me time and time again."

"That's too polite. If you hadn't asked me before, I wouldn't have had the right to say anything to you. Now I'm your sister-in-law, so of course I hope you live a good life. The man your parents picked for you is actually not bad, he just has some minor flaws that can be fixed. As long as he changes his mindset, your life in your husband's family will be much better."

"Yeah. He works very hard and earns a lot of work points."

A man who is capable and earns money to support his family is a good man. The traditional ideas of the elderly. However, people often overlook how much warmth a man's thoughtfulness and gentleness can bring to a woman.

Following a man who cares for you, you will be happy even if you live in a humble house and eat simple food.

When leaving, my brother-in-law held his son in one hand and carried the basket in the other. Li Bailu followed with a smile. After returning to the house, Li Zhongxia quickly brought the freshly prepared rice dumpling soup to his wife.

"Thank you for your hard work. Hurry up and drink some soup and go to sleep to rest."

Gu Yan put her arms around her husband's waist. "Sweet potato stew tastes terrible and is so spicy that it kills me."

"Thank you for your hard work, my wife. But your method is really effective, more effective than what I said. I thank you on behalf of Bai Lu."

"Fake. What's the point of saying thank you?" The woman raised her head and touched his chin with her hand. "Don't you want to be practical?"

"Are you drunk with just two taels of liquor?" That day at the captain's house, he drank at least one pound of liquor.

"No. But can I be a hooligan if I want to?"

"Okay. But only with me."

After the Lantern Festival, the weather becomes less cold. Gu Yan went to the commune to pull fertilizer and happened to see that Huang Baofu's tractor broke down and couldn't be started.

"The front wheel keeps moving back and forth."

After checking, Gu Yan found that the front axle bracket gasket was severely worn. If it were in later times, it would definitely be better to replace it. But now there is a shortage of spare parts, and I have to go to the county agricultural machinery station recently, but I may not know if they have them.

"The gasket is badly worn. I'll adjust it for you and you can use it for now. Report to the commune and ask the clerk to bring you a replacement part. Don't drive too fast these few days. Safety comes first."

"Ah? Is this okay?"

Gu Yan raised his head. "How about you think of a solution?"

"No. I'm just worried. Don't be angry. I can't talk. Please don't be offended."

"If you are really worried, don't drive it for the time being, and wait until the parts arrive before using it again."

She was lying on the ground repairing someone's car when the commune secretary came to inspect the distribution of new grain seeds and saw her as he came out.

"Hey, what's this for?"

"Is the car broken down?" the accountant asked.

Huang Baofu, who was standing by, quickly replied, "My tractor is broken, and Gu Yan is fixing it for me. He said something is broken and it needs to be replaced."

"It's Gu Yan!" The secretary was pleased. "I just said I wanted to look for you. Your work style is worthy of the title of March 8th Red Flag Bearer. You have a positive attitude towards the Party and the people, and you are serious and responsible. You also have strong business ability. Account books are not a problem for you, and you are also good at driving a tractor."

Gu Yan had already adjusted himself and stood up to brush off the dirt on his pants. "You're too kind, boss. I just love to tinker around and figure out everything."

"This is the spirit we need. Living and learning until old age, this is the model of the new era..."

The secretary praised him a lot, and finally Gu Yan followed him to the commune office compound. I received the notification document and went to the provincial capital to receive the award on March 8th.

I returned to the village, unloaded the fertilizer at the brigade warehouse, parked the tractor and walked home. The old lady was more excited than herself when she received the news.

"Make some new clothes. Make a few more. There will be a lot of people at the convention, and we can't be too shabby and make people laugh at us."

Gu Yan nodded, then asked a question. "But if you dress too nicely, won't you look like a simple working person?"

"What's wrong with wearing nicer clothes? Can't working people wear nice clothes? We are upright and we are not afraid of gossip."

"Okay, let's do it. Make a few more so we can exchange them on the way."

When those who had finished work or school came back from lunch at noon, they were as excited as the old lady when they heard the news. Especially Xiaohua, who was so excited when she heard that her mother was going to the provincial capital to receive the award that she didn't even have the appetite to eat lunch.

"The provincial capital! Mom is actually going to the provincial capital to receive the award. Winning the March 8th Red Flag Bearer award is such a great honor." The child was still young and was so excited that he didn't know how to express his feelings.

"Mom is amazing."

“Mom is the best.”

Niu Niu didn't say anything. She raised her head and kissed her mother hard to express her joy. The father of the child standing by also looked proud of him and raised his hand to pick up some food for his wife.

"You will receive the award on March 8th, so you must leave on March 6th at the latest. There is not much time left, so hurry up and prepare whatever you need to do."

Gu Yan nodded. In fact, there is nothing to prepare. All the work of the brigade is handed over to the branch secretary. He is the top leader and is familiar with the spring ploughing work. As for yourself, then make a new set of clothes! Make one that is characteristic of this era, simple, generous and plain.

As soon as the second month of the lunar calendar begins, it is the time to dress casually. Those who are not afraid of the cold have already changed into padded jackets, while those who are still wrapped in the cotton-padded jackets they have worn all winter.

Gu Yan thought for a while and found a smoky gray fine-knit sweater, and put a jacket of the same color with a small lapel on the outside. Pair with black pants.

Look at the cloth shoes on your feet, they don’t match. Forget it, I'll change the leather shoes in the space halfway. Work shoes of later generations are not fancy at all. It doesn’t matter what you wear in this era.

After taking off the prepared clothes and folding them, she was about to put on an apron and go to cook when Li Zhongxia came in from outside holding a box.

"What are you holding?"

"Open it and take a look."

Gu Yan took it and opened it, revealing a pair of women's leather shoes. And it's her size.

"Where did you get this?"

"I sent a telegram to ask my comrades in the provincial capital to help me buy it. Try it on and see if it fits you."

The woman took it out and put it on her feet, then chopped it a few times and turned around. "Perfect, just right."

"very beautiful."

Gu Yan raised her head and kissed her husband: "You dressed me up so beautifully, aren't you afraid that I'll run away with someone?"

"I'm not so confident that I don't even have that much confidence."

"Haha...very unique. I like it."

On the 5th, Li Zhongxia sent his wife to the train station. Facing her worried face, he gave her assurances again. "I will take good care of the child and make sure not a single hair is missing when you come back."

"And mom, remember to watch her take her medicine. Don't forget to take it, and don't take too much. She's old, and she always forgets whether she has taken it or not."

"I see." The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are like real mother and daughter, and the mother will have a happy old age. No matter how filial a son is, sometimes he can't make the old lady happy. The old lady is obviously much happier when she is with her daughter-in-law.

"After getting on the train, you can spend five more dollars to sit in the dining car. Don't save money. The journey takes eight or nine hours. Not only is the carriage crowded, but the various smells are very unpleasant." Now that you can't buy a berth without a certain rank, you have no choice but to do this.

"Well, I won't save what I should spend, so don't worry."

"It's your first time traveling far away, so be careful."

"goodbye."

The couple said goodbye at the station, and Gu Yan followed the queue to enter the platform and get on the train. Not long after the car started, I found the attendant and spent five dollars to buy a seat in the dining car.

Nowadays, the upper class can buy sleeper berths. The hard seats are all very expensive. A seat in the dining car costs five dollars, which is equivalent to nearly a quarter of the salary of an entry-level worker. No one is willing to give up the seats. Therefore, there were few people in the dining car, and the environment was quiet, tidy and clean.

It was two o'clock in the morning when we arrived in the provincial capital. We took the letter of introduction to the designated guesthouse and completed the check-in procedures. The double room is occupied by one person. The two women greeted each other politely, took their toiletries and went to the bathroom to wash up and go to bed.

The next day, the commendation meeting was still one day away, so Gu Yan planned to go to the sports school to see his daughter first. Early in the morning, the woman who shared the room with her looked at her and spoke.

"Girl, are you going to the department store today? I heard that the department store in the provincial capital has a wide range of things." Originally, I wanted to ask someone to go together, but seeing that Gu Yan's clothes and temperament did not seem to be worldly-wise. The woman quickly changed the subject. "You are from the city, right? Don't laugh at me. We live in a commune and have never been to such a big place."

Gu Yan is usually good-tempered towards this kind of gentle type. Hearing this, she smiled and said, "You're welcome. I'm from the countryside as well, and I'm also planning to go to the department store to broaden my horizons." She went to the department store first to buy some food and daily necessities, and brought some to her daughter in the afternoon. Otherwise, you will always hesitate whether to take the things in the space.

"Oh, you're from the countryside too! You don't look like that, really. You look just like the city officials. How old are you, sister? I'm 29, and I have three children."

"I am... one year older than you. I am thirty years old. Five children."

"No way? Are you kidding me? Are you... are you serious?"

"Really. But both my pregnancies were twins, so it was easier."

"Haha... sister... oh no, sister, you are so skillful."

It is so easy for women to close the distance between each other. After raising a family and children, the two women have become like old friends, holding hands and taking the bus to the department store.

The dazzling array of goods dazzled this woman who had never seen the world. Finally, following Gu Yan's suggestion, I bought a pair of pillowcases and a piece of cotton cloth with a white background and blue flowers.

As for Gu Yan, everything he bought was food. Sugar, desserts, malted milk, biscuits, and single clothes and underwear for my daughter are all ready. I'll buy some snacks to sweeten the child's mouth.

"Sister, why are you buying these foods?" It's so easy to go out, why don't you buy some good stuff that is not available in small places?

"My eldest daughter is studying in a sports school. Her clothes are ready. Just bring her some food."

"Sports school? What is a sports school? Is it in the provincial capital?"

"Yes, in the provincial capital."

"Sister, you are amazing. Your daughter is actually studying in the provincial capital. Your husband must be extraordinary, otherwise how could he have such a relationship?"

Women are just gossipy and envious, but they don't really have any bad intentions. However, Gu Yan didn't like discussing his family affairs with outsiders, so he just smiled and didn't answer.

The two broke up outside the department store. The woman returned to the guesthouse, while Gu Yan took a bus to the provincial sports school. After registering at the concierge, I met my daughter in the reception room.

"Mom, why are you here?" Dahua came running over like a butterfly, wearing her school uniform for training. I saw her jumping up and down with excitement.

"Mom won the March 8th Red Flag Award. She came to the provincial capital to receive the award and came to see you on the way."

"Mom, you are so amazing. I want to learn from you."

When the coach heard that she was coming, he took time out to come over and chat with her for a while. There were many words of praise in the conversation, saying that the child was talented and hardworking, and had great potential.

"My child is still young, so I am sorry to bother you, coach. As a parent, I am very grateful to you."

After some polite exchanges and spending some time with her daughter, she put her things down and left the provincial sports school. Before leaving, her daughter sent her to the bus stop, holding her mother's hand, reluctant to let her go.

"Mom, be careful on the road. The provincial capital is very big, and you have never been far away. You have to be careful."

"Oh, our baby has really grown up. He even knows to worry about his mother's safety." He reached out and touched the child's head. "Don't worry, your mother won't get lost."

I know that my mother can read and that she has strong personal abilities. The child just gave a warning, laughed and threw it behind his head. I whispered to her about what happened at school. The mother and daughter waved goodbye only after the car arrived.

It was already past four in the afternoon when she returned to the guesthouse. As soon as she entered the door, the woman nervously pulled her to pass on the message. "After the meeting tomorrow, the provincial leader will personally meet us. Sister, do you think it's okay for me to wear this? Will it be embarrassing? Oh my God, the provincial leader, what a high-ranking official, I have never seen such a high-ranking leader..."

The woman was so excited that she was talking incoherently. Gu Yan smiled and agreed with her, then calmly took out the enamel pot and washed it. It's almost time for dinner, get ready.

The next day, there was nothing new at the commendation meeting. He wore a big red flower, was awarded certificates and medals, and was praised a lot. Gu Yan thought that was it, but it turned out to be a big surprise in the end.

One sewing ticket per person.

Oh my god! This time I can buy a sewing machine openly. Gu Yan, who had remained calm from beginning to end, this time just grinned like everyone else. There are more than 20 people, one for each person. The provincial capital is more luxurious than the county.