By the time we finished breakfast, it was already nine o'clock in the morning.
Qin Jingru is still sleeping!
Wang Qiang realized it was almost time and he couldn't stay there any longer.
So he said to Qin's mother and Feng Jinhua, "Auntie, Sister-in-law Jinhua, I should go now."
Qin's mother nodded: "Alright, remember to come early, don't keep Jingru waiting!"
Feng Jinhua smiled and said, "Brother Wang Qiang, drive carefully!"
Wang Qiang nodded and hung the grouse on the handlebars.
I got on my bike and prepared to leave.
Feng Jinhua suddenly said, "Brother Wang Qiang, do you think we'll be passing by the supply and marketing cooperative? We're out of salt at home, so could you give me a ride to buy some?"
Turning to Qin's mother, he said, "Mom, I'm going to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some salt. Remember to invite Jingdong over for lunch!"
Qin's mother waved her hand: "Alright, don't worry. It's good to have a bicycle. Otherwise, we'd have to walk to the supply and marketing cooperative. Wang Qiang, ride slowly, watch out for your sister-in-law!"
Wang Qiang smiled and said, "Auntie, don't worry, it's only fifteen li away from here to the supply and marketing cooperative. We'll be there in no time!"
Fifteen li may not seem far, but given the transportation conditions at the time, it wasn't a good distance. The road was a dirt road, and with the recent snowfall, some areas were still covered in ice.
Riding a bicycle, you can easily fall if you're not careful.
Feng Jinhua sat in the back seat, her hands gripping Wang Qiang's waist.
"Wang Qiang, slow down! A couple of days ago, Erdan's wife from the village tripped and fell while walking. She broke her knee and fractured her arm; the bone was sticking out!"
Wang Qiang rode his bike, thinking, "Is this really possible? A fall could cause this?"
Feng Jinhua said, "Well, it's quite a coincidence. The bone was set at the hospital, and now I'm recuperating at home. I'm afraid it won't be fully healed for at least three or four months!"
Wang Qiang nodded. Although the road was bad, the car twisted and turned but didn't fall over.
"Don't worry, my driving skills are fine! Just hold on tight, don't fall off!"
Feng Jinhua had grabbed Wang Qiang's clothes around his waist, but the road was too difficult to walk on.
"Alright, all you want is for me to put my arm around your waist, right? It's broad daylight, what if we run into someone we know?"
After the car left Qinjiacun, Feng Jinhua saw that there was no one on the road.
Only then did she boldly put her arm around Wang Qiang's waist.
"Slow down! Why are you going so fast!"
As Feng Jinhua spoke, she leaned against Wang Qiang's back; his broad shoulders blocked the wind from their faces.
"Don't hug me so tightly, it's making it hard to ride a bike!"
Wang Qiang rode his bicycle, and although Feng Jinhua was leaning against his back, he couldn't feel anything through her thick cotton-padded coat.
"Fool, don't you know what I'm thinking?"
Feng Jinhua complained.
Do you really think I want to go buy salt?
Wang Qiang smiled and said, "Don't try to guess what a woman is thinking; you'll never figure it out."
"What else can we do if we don't buy salt?"
There's no village or shop in sight. Forget about finding a place to stay; even if there were, a man and a woman would need to show a marriage certificate and a letter of introduction. Otherwise, they simply wouldn't accept them.
"fool!"
Feng Jinhua said something and hugged Wang Qiang even tighter!
"There's an apple orchard up ahead, and there's a house inside that was used in the summer, but it's empty now!"
Following Feng Jinhua's directions, Wang Qiang rode his bicycle for about two miles and indeed found an apple orchard with a small house inside. Wang Qiang knew that many places build small houses in orchards, mainly for guarding the orchard during the fruit ripening season.
Some areas had makeshift sheds on the ground; they were all pretty much the same.
Wang Qiang parked his bicycle outside the small house.
"This little house is nicely built; I thought it would be very simple!"
Feng Jinhua laughed and said, "Let's go in, what are you still looking at!"
After saying that, he pushed open the door and went inside.
Wang Qiang followed them inside. Although it could block the wind from outside, there was nothing to keep warm inside, and it had been empty for a long time.
"The temperature here is only slightly better than outside!"
Feng Jinhua sat on the bed: "There's nothing else I can think of! You won't mind how simple this place is, will you?"
He looked up at Wang Qiang.
Wang Qiang shook his head, "It's just that this place is indeed a bit..."
Feng Jinhua jumped off the bed and hugged Wang Qiang tightly. "I know this place isn't good, but I really can't wait any longer..."
"I'm here with you because I need to ask you for a favor. Could you get both me and JD.com working at the steel rolling mill?"
Wang Qiang looked at Feng Jinhua and sighed, "The factory has a limited number of openings, and it's not something I can just arrange."
Feng Jinhua nodded: "Look how good you are. You work in the factory and get a salary, and you can even buy so much meat and noodles. We can't even get enough to eat."
Wang Qiang nodded.
"That's true, but I'm not the factory manager, and even if I were, my word wouldn't count!"
Upon hearing this, Feng Jinhua laughed and said, "Don't try to fool me. I'm sure you can do it!"
Wang Qiang: "Your words make me feel utterly ashamed. But since you have this intention, I will definitely try to find a way, though I can't guarantee a specific timeframe."
Although Feng Jinhua didn't understand, she nodded to show that she understood Wang Qiang's situation. However, she really didn't want to stay in the countryside anymore, and having an opportunity to go to the city would definitely be good.
"Then you must remember it and never forget it."
Wang Qiang told her, "You know that the factory has a quota for hiring, and many vocational school graduates are currently unemployed."
Feng Jinhua thought about it for a moment, then nodded, agreeing.
"If that's really the case, then there's nothing we can do. If there's even the slightest hope, I'd be happy to get a permanent position."
Wang Qiang: "It's all up to human effort!"
Feng Jinhua nodded heavily.
Wang Qiang then said, "You treated me like that at breakfast today, shouldn't you be prepared to accept punishment?"
Feng Jinhua smiled wistfully as she recalled the scene of feeding Wang Qiang eggs at breakfast.
She nestled sweetly in Wang Qiang's arms. "How are you going to punish me?"
"Take what they have done to you."
"Hate!"
...
Wang Qiang looked at Feng Jinhua and said, "Actually, you could have just talked about this at home!"
Feng Jinhua's face was rosy. She tidied her disheveled hair and nodded, saying, "Yes, but I'm afraid it will put you in a difficult position! You must not forget that whether or not you can get a permanent job depends on you."
"Okay, get in the car, I'll take you to the supply and marketing cooperative!"
Feng Jinhua shook her head.
"I'm not really going to buy salt, I still have some at home."
What if they find out?
Feng Jinhua smiled and took out a packet of salt from her pocket.
"I packed a bag of salt from home and brought it with me; they won't know!"
Wang Qiang nodded: "Alright, I'll head back to Beijing now. I'll come find you again next time!"
Feng Jinhua: "Don't forget what I entrusted to you!"
Wang Qiang said with a smile, "Don't worry, I won't forget this. You can go back and wait for news."
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