Zeng Wangcai and Zhang Xiuzhi stayed there for a total of two days, and these two days were the most relaxing time for them in those years.
Early in the morning of the third day, Zhu Qiang brought people from their village. This time there were no live sheep, but instead fresh fruits from their village.
These fruits may not look very good, but they are grown in accordance with local tradition, without spraying pesticides and using organic fertilizers. Zeng Wangcai ate some yesterday and they tasted really good.
So when Zhu Qiang saw that he liked it, he took people to pick it and sent it to him early in the morning before dawn.
Zeng Wangcai has already told Zhu Qiang that as long as their fruits maintain the same quality, he will buy all of them.
Look, the effect of Zhu Qiang’s flattery is evident.
After loading fruits and vegetables, the last things to be put on the bus were the braised dishes made by Zeng Wangcai and his wife themselves, including braised toad, braised large intestine, braised pig's trotters, etc. They were very tasty after being soaked overnight.
When I drove home, Zeng Youqian and his old friend Uncle Li were waiting for me at the entrance of the courtyard and next to the supermarket.
"Are you back? What's in that huge truck?" Zeng Youqian tilted his head and peered into the cold chain truck's compartment.
"Xiuzhi and I made the braised food ourselves. I've tried the pure green vegetables from our village and the fruits grown in Zhujia Village. They're all delicious!" Zeng Wangcai leaned over the car door and picked out a braised toad. "Dad, give me one. You haven't eaten it in years, right?"
"What kind of talk is this on the street? You have too much of this." Zeng Youqian couldn't save face in front of his old friend and refused to accept his son's offer to feed him.
"If you don't eat it, I will!" Uncle Li was quick to pick up the toad and put it in his mouth. He ate the bones in three or two bites without spitting out. "It tastes really good. It's not easy to eat something made by Wangcai and Xiuzhi."
"Why are you in such a hurry? Here's one for your family." As she spoke, Zhang Xiuzhi had already prepared a gift and placed it in a bamboo basket.
"Is this for me?"
"They are all for you. Not only you, but also all the old neighbors in our alley. They are not many, but just a token of my appreciation."
After being busy for half an hour, I visited some close neighbors.
Zeng Wangcai had to do this. Although the neighbors had benefited a lot from their family, Zeng Wangcai believed that what the neighbors did later on far outweighed the value of the benefits.
If I don’t want to say anything else, just one thing: safety is the best!
Caishen Lane is no longer a secret and is being watched by many people. However, guarding it alone is not enough. The people are the last line of defense.
Over the years, countless people who tried hard to sneak in were eventually discovered and caught by the neighbors.
It has a bit of the flavor of Chaoyang Masses.
This is the human touch that Zeng Wangcai likes.
"Wangcai, are you going to visit many families today?" Zeng Youqian was very satisfied to see his son's thoughtfulness. "You have to visit the families I mentioned here, don't neglect them. Director Zhang's family in Qian Street Office, Niu's family in Dongmen... Especially Director Zhang's family, don't forget them, they don't owe us any favors, but we owe them favors..."
Speaking of Director Zhang, Zeng Wangcai felt very emotional about this down-to-earth "senior official" whom he dealt with as soon as he arrived.
After the Zeng family rose to prominence, all kinds of evil spirits came to their door, asking for this or that. This is human nature. When Zeng Wangcai was not around, the old couple could not cope with it, thanks to Director Zhang who stood in their way.
Later, Director Zhang retired and had frequent dealings with people in the alley. The only time she asked Zeng Youqian for help was for her daughter-in-law's job in the garment factory.
Moreover, this help was not through a backdoor. Her daughter-in-law entered the garment factory as a worker through formal channels, but was later replaced by someone else.
In this situation, Director Zhang did not go to find Zeng Youqian, but instead found the guy who had taken the place of the other person himself to find out how he had gotten to that position and who had asked him to do so.
The investigation revealed the traitor in the garment factory.
Therefore, Zeng Youqian, who regarded the garment factory as his hard work, was extremely grateful.
"Aunt Zhang, I will definitely go. I will be the first one to go. You don't need to tell me. Go take a walk. Uncle Li is waiting anxiously."
He drove away, and Xiaobao followed in the cold chain vehicle.
Director Zhang's home is in Tiemao Hutong. Perhaps it was the Caishen Lane that inspired the above, which led to the early protection of the hutongs, courtyard houses and other old buildings, and they were renovated to imitate Caishen Lane.
Therefore, the alleys in the core area are very beautiful, even more beautiful than what Zeng Wangcai knew. After all, the houses in the alleys are now being protectively developed and renovated.
"Is Aunt Zhang at home? Aunt..." Zeng Wangcai, carrying a bamboo basket, came to Director Zhang's house with Zhang Xiuzhi.
"Who is it, so early in the morning..." Director Zhang, who was wearing reading glasses around his neck, came out of his house. He was stunned when he saw Zeng Wangcai and immediately put on his glasses. "Wangcai, Xiuzhi... why are you here? I heard that you were back, so I thought about going to see you, but I was afraid that there would be too many people when you came back."
"Aunt, I dare not ask you to come to see me. I should come to see you."
"That's polite, come in!"
Come in and have tea.
Director Zhang was very happy to see the braised food, fruits, vegetables and fish sent by Zeng Wangcai: "This stuff is good. It reminds me of the 1960s. The food you made back then helped us a lot. Even now, some children tell me that the best food is the fish and meat we ate before. The dishes nowadays are far inferior..."
"These are the same as before, grown in my hometown village, and they taste good."
"I'm so thoughtful. Come and sit down."
"No, you are busy..."
"What are you busy with? You've been retired for many years. Come and sit down. Auntie wants to talk to you about something."
Well, I can’t leave.
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