Everyone who watches this show has a different interpretation, and the fat man is no exception. From a human nature perspective, it doesn't make sense!
Lou Xiao'e was a woman who spoke and acted with great composure and didn't beat around the bush: "They all call you Fatty, what's your real name?"
This must be the first neighbor to ask him his real name, right? The fat man paused for a moment before answering, "Chen Kang. Chen as in 'ear east,' and Kang as in 'Jingkang.'"
Lou Xiao'e tilted her head curiously: "Why not 'healthy Kang'? The shame of Jingkang has yet to be avenged... national and family hatred, your father was also a person with a strong sense of national and familial responsibility."
The fat man was just thinking of Yang Kang from "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" and said it casually. He didn't expect Lou Xiao'e to come up with such a long story out of thin air.
"Chen Kang, right? My mouth has been really bitter these past few days, and I want your fish. I won't take it for free; I'll trade you something for it."
Lou Xiao'e was one of the few kind-hearted people in this courtyard, generous and open-minded.
After saying that, she went back into the house and got a handful of peanuts, two strings of mushrooms, four eggs, and two tomatoes. She put these things in a net bag, traded them with the fat man for a fish, and happily went home with the straw rope.
The fat man was happy with this arrangement. Mushrooms and eggs were more suitable for the older women than fish; moreover, there was a handful of peanuts, perfect for Old Chen to enjoy with his drinks.
The next morning, since he didn't have to go to work, the fat man slept until around 8 o'clock before heading home, full of energy and carrying his things.
At that time, pork cost 78 cents per pound, and you needed a ration coupon.
Grain coupons, coal coupons, meat coupons, cloth coupons, oil coupons, tofu coupons, ration books for non-staple foods... these coupons are the memories of a generation.
The full name of the meat coupon is "meat subsidy supply coupon", with a face value of 250 grams (half a catty) and a purple stamp on it.
To find out just how scarce meat was at that time, the fat man only knew by reading statistics in the newspaper:
According to statistics, the average annual pork consumption per person in our city last year was 9 liang (approximately 450 grams)... which means that sometimes we can't even eat meat once a month.
When I got home, my older sister had gone to work, and my dad had gone off somewhere.
Zhou Haiqin was complaining about her two daughters again: "Neither of them knows what to do. They just stay at home all day, looking lazy. They could at least go to the market and pick up some matchboxes to make something."
“Mom, the neighborhood committee has a quota for matchboxes every month, you can’t just get them whenever you want! Besides, you only get 50 cents for making 1,000 of them, and you’ll get sores on your butt after you’re done, and it’s really hard on your eyes. I can’t bear to see my sister do that.”
Zhou Haiqin came out carrying a broom handle, and the first thing she asked the fat man in a very friendly manner was: "Why aren't you at work? What are you doing back here? You've learned to talk back, haven't you?"
The fat man quickly handed over the items: "I'm not working this morning, look what good stuff I brought back!"
Oh my, peanuts, eggs, and persimmons are all good stuff; and those two strings of dried mushrooms can be stored, and they can also be used to stew meat during festivals.
Finally, there was that half a pound of pork. Zhou Haiqin's face fell: "Where did it come from?"
"Of course I bought it! Mom, what kind of look is that? I'm a factory worker, I have the ration coupons, okay?"
Zhou Haiqin smacked the fat man's butt with a broom, the force of which was about the same as brushing off the dust; the fat man grinned and said, "Hehe, it doesn't hurt."
Zhou Haiqin glared at her: "There might be internal injuries!"
Chen Yan and Chen Fang burst into laughter. Their younger brother had come back and was already entertaining them with colorful clothes. The house was filled with joy and laughter once again.
In the morning, Fatty picked out some interesting things that had happened recently and told his mother and sisters about them.
The fat man described it vividly: "I took off my shoes and socks and went into the river. The water was quite cold. I felt around in the mud and felt around and felt around... and found a rough fish at the bottom of the river. I picked it up and took a look, and guess what?"
Chen Fang, who was impatient, patted the fat man and said, "Stop being so mysterious, just tell me!"
"When I looked, I was shocked to see that it was a big black fish! This guy was all black and spotted. My mom said that eating black fish would strengthen your bones and muscles. I was so happy, but then this guy suddenly flicked its tail and broke free from my hand, and then it slid into the mud with a splash."
As he spoke, the fat man gulped down a glass of cold water, wiped his mouth, and continued, "How could I let it get away? I didn't care that it had smeared mud all over my face. I chased after it and searched for a long time before finally finding something moving in the mud to my right. I immediately pounced on it, grabbed its head, pulled it out, and threw it onto the shore."
When I got ashore, I found the blackfish still frantically thrashing its tail, its eyes bulging, its sharp teeth bared, looking extremely ferocious! I picked up a dry twig and stuck it in its mouth, but it mistook it for a small fish and held on tightly! Hehe, just like that, I carried it back home by the twig. Our factory leader was so pleased that he rewarded me with a meat coupon.”
Zhou Haiqin playfully slapped the fat man, who had satisfied their curiosity and even explained where his hostage had come from, saving his mother from worrying.
A flood of emotions overwhelmed me. Things are really different now. That brat has grown up so suddenly…
At noon, Fatty ate scrambled eggs with tomatoes and two bowls of rice at home.
The persimmons were a bit sour, and Chen Fang kept spitting out sour water as she ate them: "It's like a holiday at home as soon as you come back. Mom even cooks white rice now, unlike when you're not home. Every day it's just vegetables and radishes, and the rice is half dry and half watery, with sweet potatoes and taro..."
Zhou Haiqin slammed her hand on the table: "Even eating can't shut you up! If you think the food is bad, then move out!"
Chen Fang lowered her head and ate her rice with a wronged expression. Seeing this, the fat man couldn't bear it and said, "Mom, you should eat better every day. Now that I'm earning a salary, our family doesn't have to live such a tight life like before."
The old mother always favored her youngest son, and quickly put an egg in his bowl: "Don't worry about family matters. Bring your salary home and Mom will save it for you to get married."
The fat man disdainfully put the egg back into Chen Fang's bowl: "I hate eggs the most..."
His "I'd get a beating from my mom" look even made Chen Gangqiang laugh.
As soon as he arrived at work in the afternoon, Liu Lan approached him mysteriously: "Fatty, someone went to spy on you this morning. Sha Zhu already knows about the time you made special food for the factory leaders last night. Be careful."
The fat man nodded. From the moment he decided to seize the opportunity, he knew that this day would come sooner or later.
As for who told Shazhu, it's no longer important. Besides, what difference would it make if he knew?
The fat man politely pulled Liu Lan into a hug, and for the first time, the young body experienced what a happy "planet" was like.
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