"Mother, when you and Father go to Third Brother's place this time, please bring some things for Third Brother's wife."
He Chunhua put the child on the kang (a heated brick bed) and patted his leg reassuringly.
"Mother, please also take some things to my third brother's wife."
Zhou Lan continued.
When He Chunhua and Zhou Lan gave birth, Ruan Qiushui sent several packages over.
Inside were not only milk powder and bottles, but also several bolts of cotton cloth, toys, and other items.
Furthermore, they gave each of the two children a gold lock symbolizing peace and even made up for the births of Zhengming and Zhengyang.
Those gifts must have cost a lot of money. If they don't give something in return, Zhou Lan and He Chunhua will feel embarrassed the next time they see Ruan Qiushui.
What are you going to bring?
Xie Xiuying looked at her two daughters-in-law.
If the items aren't heavy, she and the old man could take them with them.
If it's big and heavy, then we'll just use a courier service.
"These are all wild game that I bought from my fellow villagers. I heard that wild game is a rare commodity in the city. My third sister-in-law used to like to eat it at home, so I bought more so that she could eat her fill."
Old Li from next door went up the mountain to set traps and caught several pheasants and rabbits. Zhou Lan bought them all and made them into preserved chicken and rabbit, which she then took to Ruan Qiushui.
"I also bought some wild game, and tiger-head hats for my two children."
He Chunhua and Zhou Lan had the same idea.
Their Red Flag Brigade doesn't have any special products, except for wild game.
"And the red envelopes I gave to Da Bao and Xiao Bao."
He Chunhua took the prepared red envelope out of her pocket.
Last month was her and her baby's birthday, but she didn't have a chance to celebrate. Now that Chinese New Year is just around the corner, it's the perfect time to give them a big red envelope as a token of her affection.
"Oh dear, I forgot my red envelope."
Zhou Lan was in such a hurry that she forgot the red envelope on the table.
"No rush, there are still two days."
She and the old man can give it to them before they leave.
"Then pack everything up and bring over any empty space you have."
Xie Xiuying glanced at the old man, wondering if he could carry it. If not, they would bring less of their things.
"Wife, I'm still as strong as ever, don't underestimate me."
Unwilling to admit defeat, Gu Guangrong patted his chest.
Looking at his wife's questioning gaze, he felt humiliated.
Looks like I'll have to teach my wife a lesson tonight.
"Since you can do it, then I'll bring everything I can."
Xie Xiuying smiled.
I'll let you show off. I'll see if you can still stand up straight then.
…
Before we knew it, it was February 15, 1980, Lunar New Year's Eve.
Early that morning, Ruan Qiushui and Gu Changfeng drove their car to the Beijing Railway Station to pick someone up.
"Father! Mother!"
Ruan Qiushui and Gu Changfeng stood at the exit, watching wave after wave of people come out, and finally saw Gu Guangrong and Xie Xiuying carrying large bags and small packages.
"Third brother, third brother's wife."
Xie Xiuying, with her sharp eyes, immediately spotted Ruan Qiushui waving and quickly waved back, squeezing her way in.
"Old woman, wait for me."
Gu Guangrong was carrying a large bundle on his back and two large bags in his hands, so even if he wanted to greet someone, he wouldn't have a free hand.
At this point, his wife stopped caring about him; Gu Guangrong was being squeezed so tightly by the Spring Festival travel rush that he could barely breathe.
"mother."
Ruan Qiushui quickly stepped forward, wanting to take the large sack from Xie Xiuying's hand.
"Third son's wife, Mother can carry this. You tell me where to put it."
The things Xie Xiuying is carrying are quite heavy; she shouldn't tire out her third son's wife.
"Mom, you can just put it here."
Ruan Qiushui quickly opened the trunk and helped put the large sack inside.
"Dad, are you alright?"
Seeing his father struggling to move, Gu Changfeng quickly went to help.
"My son, your father was almost crushed to death."
There were too many things, and they had all become a burden. At this moment, Gu Guangrong was even having difficulty breathing.
Give me the things.
Gu Changfeng quickly took Gu Guangrong's large bundle, carrying one in each hand as he walked out, clearing the way for Gu Guangrong.
"Father, are you alright?"
Seeing that Gu Guangrong's face was a little pale, Ruan Qiushui quickly asked.
"I'm getting old."
Gu Guangrong was helped to sit in the back seat and couldn't help but sigh.
Back in the day, he was a strong and capable laborer, able to do everything from carrying water to farming.
These days, even carrying a bag is too much to bear. Sigh.
"Old man, you won't be so reckless this time, will you?"
Xie Xiuying sat to the side and gave Gu Guangrong a smug look.
Let you pretend, let you refuse to admit you're old.
Now it's out in the open.
"Old woman, can't you give me any face?"
Gu Guangrong almost had a heart attack.
This old woman's words are as hurtful as ever.
"Dad, have some water to soothe your throat first."
Gu Changfeng had already put his things away and driven off.
Ruan Qiushui took out the water bottle she had prepared in advance and handed it to Gu Guangrong.
"Okay, okay."
Gu Guangrong took the kettle and drank several mouthfuls.
"It's delicious? Can I have a sip?"
When Xie Xiuying saw Gu Guangrong drinking, she also felt thirsty.
"Third brother's wife, what's brewing in this kettle?"
Gu Guangrong felt refreshed and invigorated after drinking it, and all his fatigue disappeared.
"I soaked some herbs to refresh the mind and improve circulation."
This is a health-preserving medicinal tea specially prepared by Ruan Qiushui.
Besides refreshing the mind, it can also lower blood pressure, reduce blood lipids, and control blood sugar, offering multiple benefits.
Following Ruan Qiushui's instructions, the elderly members of the family have started using this herbal tea as their daily drinking water.
"This tea is good."
Xie Xiuying quenched her thirst with the tea and felt extremely refreshed.
If this herbal tea were sold in the market, it would definitely be snapped up.
Xie Xiuying thought this, and she asked this question.
"Mother, I've already started thinking about the pharmaceutical factory."
Previously, Ruan Qiushui's thinking was too narrow; she had always believed that the only way to solve the problem of medicinal herbs was by contracting land and mountains.
The absence of a policy now does not mean there is no solution.
Nowadays, rural areas are all contracted out to individual households, so she could easily negotiate with her fellow villagers to let them grow medicinal herbs and then give them a certain percentage of the profits.
These details still need to be finalized.
"Your mother was just saying that casually; you can make the decision yourself."
Xie Xiuying was stunned.
It was just a suggestion to sell herbal tea, and it escalated to the point of opening a pharmaceutical factory?
The third son's wife is being a little too respectful of his own words.
"We're here, this is it."
Gu Changfeng parked the car steadily at the entrance of the courtyard house and quickly grabbed the large sack from the trunk.
"Father, Mother, you've finally arrived."
Gu Xiaoxiao and Gu Changshu had been waiting at home for a long time. If it weren't for the fact that one car couldn't fit so many people, they would have gone along.
Hearing the sound of cars outside, I quickly ran out.
"Mother, I miss you so much."
Gu Xiaoxiao threw herself into Xie Xiuying's arms, acting coquettishly.
"father."
Seeing that his father's expression was not right, Gu Changshu reached out and helped him out of the car.
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