Song Yan took the apple that Wei Aiguo had washed, and she smiled happily, feeling a sense of happiness herself. But she felt uneasy inside.
Song Yan sold apples for 50 cents a pound, while they were sold for 60 cents a pound in the county. Wei Aiguo from the commune bought them for 80 cents a pound and is now feeding them to her.
My husband treats me well; he can tell I like apples and still buys them for me. I should be touched, but I can't!
Wei Aiguo: "You're smiling so sweetly, but I can't help but feel that you're unhappy."
"I'm afraid that eating like this will bankrupt our family. The apples I bought were cheaper than the ones you bought," Song Yan quickly came up with an excuse.
With so much grain stored at home, Xiao Hu is still selling it, and the bean sprouts at home are also earning money every day. Xiao Yan is earning work points from the weaving group.
They even pay their own salary! Apparently, they'll even pay back the wages for the last two months.
Song Yan could eat his family out of house and home!
Wei Aiguo now knew that pregnant women were overthinking things, so she didn't bother to investigate whether Song Yan was telling the truth or not. She ruffled Song Yan's hair and said, "You won't go broke from eating, eat whatever you want!"
"Are you patriotic at home?" a voice called from outside the door.
Wei Aiguo opened the door and saw Ji Dagang. "What's up?"
"I... I came to ask where Apple bought the apple? My wife is pregnant too." He said, tugging at the hem of his clothes.
A grown man tugging at his clothes? Wei Aiguo frowned.
Wei Aiguo looked down on people like Ji Dagang. "Fruit is a scarce commodity; if it were sold through the supply and marketing cooperative, we wouldn't even get a chance."
Where do you think I can buy it? Can't you guess?
"Yes, is that so?" Ji Dagang asked, but showed no sign of leaving.
"Is there anything else?" If not, hurry up and leave. Wei Aiguo officially started work three days later. From then on, he would only get one day off every seven days. He would have very little time to spend with his wife.
"My wife is craving an apple, could you lend me one?" Ji Dagang asked shamelessly.
“It’s hard to buy apples anywhere these days. If you ask me to borrow an apple, can you buy one and return it to me?” Wei Aiguo asked.
"Huh?" Ji Dagang didn't answer.
Can't Wei Aiguo see that Ji Dagang didn't intend to pay?
These apples were something he had worked hard to find. Now, he couldn't buy them even with money. Ji Dagang wouldn't sell them to Wei Aiguo even if he offered money; he was trying to get a bargain.
"You should leave now. If you want apples, go to the commune and buy them yourself," Wei Aiguo said.
Wei Aiguo's impatience and contempt made Ji Dagang very uncomfortable. Ji Dagang muttered, "I'll give you the money, okay?!"
Wei Aiguo: "Giving money won't work. I don't need money, I need apples."
Ji Dagang was so frightened that he turned and ran away when Wei Aiguo overheard him muttering.
Song Yan: "He's just a bully who picks on the weak and fears the strong."
"That kind of person isn't even worth talking about. Let's not mention him."
"Are the apples good? I'll have someone inquire about them, and if they're available, I'll buy some for you," Wei Aiguo said.
Song Yan blinked, then blinked again. "These apples are too expensive!"
"It's not expensive, as long as you like it."
Song Yan: These words are even sweeter than sweet nothings.
The next morning, Song Yan heard in the weaving group that Sun Lan had made Ji Dagang have an abortion.
Li Yuanzhao asked, "When did this happen?" Perhaps because she was about to become a mother, Li Yuanzhao felt that the child was too pitiful.
"It happened last night. Sun Lan is still bleeding. I heard she's going to the commune!" said Sister-in-law Cheng.
Before everyone could finish their gossip, Ji Dagang arrived. He wanted Song Yan to take a look, as his wife was still bleeding.
Song Yan refused; even if she went to see a doctor, it would only be a temporary, forced stop to stop the bleeding. The most common cause of bleeding is incomplete miscarriage with remaining tissue, requiring a gynecological dilation and curettage (D&C). She didn't know how to do that herself.
Sun Lan isn't bleeding heavily; it's life-threatening, and the bleeding needs to be stopped immediately. All Ji Dagang needs to do is take her to see a doctor.
Before Song Yan could speak, Sister-in-law Cheng stood up and shielded him behind her.
Sister-in-law Cheng: "Dagang, you're not a child anymore. Don't you know the rules of the older generation?"
"A pregnant woman isn't bleeding, do you even know that? Your wife is bleeding non-stop, go find another pregnant woman! Can you take responsibility if something happens to her child?"
Ji Dagang's eyes darted around. How could he not know this rule? But didn't going to the commune cost money? "I... I really don't have any money." After saying that, his gaze searched through the crowd.
Many women are thinking about him; could it be that they're looking for Chunyang?
Ji Dagang was indeed looking for Chunyang. He walked over and said, "Little sister, do you have any money? Can you lend me some so I can take your sister-in-law to see a doctor?"
Almost every woman thought: Ji Dagang, could you be any more shameless?
Li Chunyang looked timid, but she raised her head and asked, "Big brother, don't you have any money?"
"Then I'll borrow it from the brigade leader for you. If there's an emergency at home, he'll definitely lend it to you. And you don't need to rush to pay it back; you can use your work points next year."
Ji Chunyang dropped what he was doing and ran away. Ji Dagang tried to call him back, but it was too late.
Yesterday, Ji Dagang came back from Wei Aiguo's house and said that apples were unavailable, and Sun Lan started crying nonstop.
Ji Dagang hadn't paid any attention at first, but Sun Lan kept going on and on. Ji Dagang got annoyed, "Are you ever going to stop? It's just an apple! You'll die of hunger if you don't eat it! Aren't you ashamed?"
“What’s shameful about me? It’s just that the baby in my belly is craving it. It’s you who’s incompetent. We’re both men, but Wei Aiguo was able to bring back apples, so why can’t you? You’re not ashamed, so what’s shameful about me?” Sun Lan knew that Ji Dagang wasn’t going to indulge her now, but she was holding her head high because of the baby in her belly.
"Shut up!" Ji Dagang snapped.
It's something that annoys all men when their wives compare them to other men.
"Can't even get an apple, and you're still yelling at me. Go get one yourself, let me see. What a loser!"
They were so loud that the neighbors could hear them.
As the argument raged on, Ji Dagang made a move, and Sun Lan started bleeding. The fetuses that fell out were clearly male.
This incident was caused by Apple. That couple is really something!
…
"Brother! I borrowed ten yuan for you from the brigade leader." Li Chunyang was panting as he ran. "The brigade leader said it will be deducted from your future work points. Take it and get your wife medical treatment!"
Ji Dagang snatched the money from Chunyang's hand and left without saying a word.
The women gave him another round of deep contempt. Couldn't everyone see what Ji Dagang was up to?
Who is this person? Everyone should stay away from them in the future.
Poor Chunyang! Luckily, this child isn't stupid.
Everyone sat down to continue working, while the woman closest to Chunyang instilled in her the wisdom of managing money wisely: every penny had to be carefully managed, and she couldn't afford to squander it. She couldn't spend money recklessly, and she couldn't lend money out carelessly…
Most people in Qingshan Brigade are very simple and honest. They're all worried about Chunyang now; Ji Dagang will borrow money again after the first time, they really can't fall for it…
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