Chapter 64
Xu Zhao handed over the clothes beside the bed and said, "Mom is on the train this afternoon. I asked for leave to go pick her up. I'm not sure if the train will be late. You don't have to wait for us for dinner. You can eat first."
Jiang Huihan took the clothes and changed them under the quilt. She opened the quilt and her hair was messy. "Then you can see if there are any spare ribs for sale. I want to drink spare rib corn soup."
Not only has her taste become strange recently, but she often suddenly wants to eat something. If she can't eat it, she will feel very sad and depressed.
Xu Zhao nodded and helped her to push the long hair that was scattered on her face to the side: "Okay."
We set off at about 11 o'clock and arrived in the county town in more than two hours. The meat in the grocery store must have been sold out at this time, so we could only go to the black market and try our luck.
Jiang Suihan thought of the tomato stewed beef she had eaten last time. The beef was soft, tender and fragrant, and the soup was super rich. It was really delicious when paired with rice.
She held his hand, rested her chin on the back of his hand, and blinked at him: "I also want to eat tomato stewed beef."
Xu Zhao couldn't stand her pitiful coquetry towards him. He almost blurted out "I did it to you." Then his rationality returned the next second and he tried to reason with her: "Beef is hard to come by. We were lucky to have bought it last time. If you can't eat beef stew with tomatoes, we can eat something else. Didn't you say you wanted to eat spicy chicken before? I'll buy a chicken and make it for you this time."
Jiang Huihan shook her head: "Before was before, I don't want to eat it now, forget it, I'll just eat the pork ribs and corn soup."
She couldn't eat spicy food before, she couldn't stand even the slightest bit. After she became pregnant, it can't be said that her taste changed completely, but at least it changed a lot. She can eat very spicy food now. Moreover, when she woke up one day, her morning sickness was suddenly gone. She no longer vomited when she smelled meat, and she could even eat a little fish.
It's magical.
Facing her gaze that seemed to show resignation but actually contained expectation, Xu Zhao had no choice but to bite the bullet and promise that he would get the beef, for he was afraid that if he gave her hope and she came back empty-handed, she would be even more disappointed.
Jiang Huihan pouted and made a new request: "Then buy me some osmanthus cake. It tastes delicious."
Xu Zhao felt a little tired. Osmanthus cake is not a product sold in department stores on a daily basis, and the cake factory does not always include osmanthus cake in the goods it delivers. It is similar to beef, and it also depends on luck.
Another thing he discovered was that Jiang Suihan had a very bad habit. She liked to eat pastries, but had little interest in biscuits. Every time after eating pastries, she would eat a little and then say she was full and didn't want to eat anymore.
Even if he had no common sense, he knew that cakes were just snacks. Eating cakes without meals was not good for the body. Moreover, she was pregnant, so her body would need more nutrients.
Xu Zhao said vaguely: "Okay, I understand."
Today is Sunday and Jiang Suihan doesn’t have to go to school. She made a cup of malted milk and sat in a chair reading a book while enjoying the breeze.
"Teacher Jiang, are you home?"
The unique childish voice of a little girl was heard. I looked up and saw a little head poking out from the door, followed by another little head.
Jiang Suihan waved to the two of them: "Come in."
Hong Chunmei took Zhang Xiaocao's hand and walked into the yard. She glanced around and found that no one was home except Teacher Jiang.
The two elementary school students were afraid of seeing Xu Zhao and stayed outside the door for a long time.
Before Jiang Suihan could ask any questions, Zhang Xiaocao couldn't wait to start talking about what happened last night: "Teacher Jiang, I succeeded! I can continue to go to school!
The little girl, about eleven or twelve years old, was thin and small, with a brilliant smile on her face. Her grin was particularly bright, and she seemed to blend into the blue sky behind her, creating a very touching scene.
Hong Chunmei clapped her hands happily, and was very happy that her good friend could continue her studies: "Xiaocao is very brave. When her mother beat her, she went to her father to complain. Her father wanted to listen to her mother, so she ran out to ask the uncles and aunts in the courtyard for help. Finally, Xiaocao's father agreed to let Xiaocao go to school."
She said indignantly: "Xiao Cao's mother was very angry and didn't allow Xiao Cao to eat at night. It was only this morning that I left a steamed bun for Xiao Cao."
Hong Chunmei felt that she was quite brave. Without the steamed corn bread she gave, Xiaocao would have been hungry today.
Jiang Suihan looked at Zhang Xiaocao in surprise: "Do your parents really agree that you can continue to go to school?"
He got the job done in one night. You wouldn't have guessed Zhang Xiaocao was that brave from his appearance.
Zhang Xiaocao smiled shyly: "My father said it himself, in front of many people."
She knew that her father was very concerned about his reputation. She had made a big fuss last night, and outsiders treated what happened at home as a big deal. Her father was very angry with her, but he had to agree for the sake of his face. When he got home, he raised his hand to slap his disobedient eldest daughter, but her two younger sisters held on to their father's legs for their lives, and she was spared a beating.
Her mother pointed at her nose and scolded her for being an ungrateful person who only thought about herself and completely ignored her family. She said she was a selfish person who just didn't want to study. She insisted on making a fuss and letting everyone in the family compound know about it so that people outside could laugh at her. So they asked her if she was happy.
Her mother was very angry and refused to give her any food at night. Her father acquiesced after hearing this. Her two younger sisters were young and wanted to hide some food secretly to give to their older sister, but their mother found out and scolded them for it.
Although her father and mother were angry with her and didn't allow her to eat, so that she had to go to bed hungry at night, she didn't regret it. Just like Teacher Jiang said, if you want something, you have to fight for it yourself. She got it, so she could endure this hardship.
Jiang Huihan breathed a sigh of relief and asked again: "Did your parents beat you? Are you injured?"
If the child suffers a great harm because of her help and advice, her sin will be great.
Zhang Xiaocao shook her head: "I wasn't hurt. Dad wanted to hit me, but my second and youngest sisters hugged Dad's legs tightly and stopped him from moving. Then Dad didn't hit me. I was just scolded."
Hong Chunmei quickly added: "I haven't given you any food yet."
Knowing that Zhang Xiaocao hadn't eaten yet, Jiang Suihan stood up and said, "Wait for me here, I'll be back soon."
After a while, she came out with two cups of malted milk, one for each of the two elementary school students.
Hong Chunmei tried hard to suppress her hands from moving, swallowed unconsciously, and didn't dare to reach out to take it: "Teacher, I'm not hungry, you give it to Xiaocao, she must be starving."
Jiang Suihan said with a smile: "One cup each for each of you, take it quickly, the teacher's hands are tired."
The two children felt embarrassed and took the enamel pot carefully.
Jiang Suihan urged, "Drink it while it's hot. It won't taste good when it gets cold."
Zhang Xiaocao smelled the rich milky aroma and took a sip carefully. It tasted sweet.
So this is the taste of malted milk, it’s so delicious.
Hong Chunmei's family is better off than Zhang Xiaocao's. She also has a younger brother. Her parents favor her younger brother and are nice to her. If there are three candies at home and her younger brother has two, she can eat one. The family used to have malted milk, which her father bought for her younger brother to supplement his body. She drank it once and remembers the taste clearly.
The two children held the enamel mug and took a small sip each time, holding it in their mouths for a while before swallowing it, reluctant to drink it all at once.
Jiang Huihan went back to the room and took out half a bag of biscuits. The two shook their heads and said they were full after drinking malted milk and couldn't ask for anything from the teacher.
How could the two kids, who hadn't even finished primary school, win an argument from the teacher? In the end, a few milk biscuits were stuffed into their hands without them knowing what was going on?
Zhang Xiaocao and Hong Chunmei blushed: "Thank you, Teacher Jiang."
Fearing that Teacher Jiang would stuff them with delicious food again, the two of them quickly finished the malted milk, said goodbye to the teacher, and ran away immediately.
On the side of the road, Zhang Xiaocao took a breath and said, "Teacher Jiang is so enthusiastic."
This made her feel embarrassed and she felt that she was taking advantage of the teacher.
Hong Chunmei nodded in agreement: "Teacher Jiang is a very nice person. It would be great if Teacher Jiang was your mother."
Zhang Xiaocao looked a little gloomy. She had had this thought before, but she knew it was impossible.
Hong Chunmei looked savoring the taste: "Malted milk is really delicious, the best thing I have ever tasted. When I grow up, I will buy a lot of it and drink it every day, in the morning and in the evening."
What a simple ambition.
Zhang Xiaocao thought her friend's dream was great and encouraged her by saying, "You should study hard and get a job in the factory. Then you will have enough money to buy malted milk."
Hong Chunmei nodded: "I will work hard to get 100 points in both exams this semester."
Zhang Xiaocao followed behind and said, "I want to get 100 marks in both exams, too."
The two faced each other, looked at each other and laughed.
Hong Chunmei opened her left hand and placed it under her chin. She took a biscuit with her right hand and ate it in small bites: "Wow, this biscuit is so delicious. It tastes like milk. It's so delicious!"
Zhang Xiaocao ate one and put the remaining biscuits into his pocket.
Hong Chunmei asked her: "Why don't you eat?"
Zhang Xiaocao: "I've already eaten them. I'll take the rest home to my second and third sisters. They haven't eaten the milk biscuits yet."
Hong Chunmei said "oh" and looked at the three biscuits in her hand. She hesitated for a few seconds, then ate two and left one for her brother. She should be a good sister, right?
TRAIN STATION.
Xiao Li was carrying a big bag on his back and holding things in his hands. Su Ying followed behind him.
The two found a relatively empty corner to put their things down. Su Ying wiped the sweat from her forehead and said, "I wonder if Xu Zhao has arrived yet? I've been on the train for more than 30 hours. I'm almost exhausted. Oh, my waist."
Xiao Li raised his head and scanned the surroundings: "Comrade Su, I'll go wait for you at the door. You can rest here for a while."
Su Ying nodded: "Okay, you go wait at the door, I'll watch the luggage here."
Xu Zhao arrived at the train station half an hour early. After looking around the lobby for a while but couldn't find anyone, he returned to the station entrance and saw Xiao Li, a tall man in army green clothes, standing on one side of the gate.
"Xiao Li, long time no see."
Xiao Li smiled and said, "Brother Xu, long time no see. Comrade Su is over there. I'll take you there."
Xu Zhao looked down and saw several packages on the ground, like a small mountain. "Why did you bring so many things here? You don't think it's too heavy."
Su Ying said unhappily, "It's none of your business. This isn't for you to eat. It's for Su Su's health. Go away."
Xu Zhao touched his nose. His mother's attitude was obvious enough. With a daughter-in-law, he, the son, could only stand aside.
The three of them moved their luggage to the car, and Xiao Li dusted off his hands and said, "Brother Xu, I'll go back first."
Xu Zhao called him: "What time is your train ticket?"
Xiao Li: “Four o’clock in the afternoon.”
Xu Zhao: "It's still early. It's only one o'clock now. Let's go to the state-owned restaurant and have dinner before leaving."
Su Ying agreed: "Yes, eat lunch first, there is no rush to leave after eating. The food on the train is expensive and not tasty, so it is better to eat something hot."
The three of them got in the car, and Xu Zhao drove directly to the entrance of the state-owned hotel.
There was a sign in the store that listed today's offerings, and Xu Zhao asked the two what they wanted to eat.
Xiao Li: "I can do anything."
Su Ying looked at the menu carefully. "I've been on the train for a day and a night. I don't want to eat greasy food. I'll order shredded pork with green pepper, stewed cabbage with tofu, and stir-fried bamboo shoots. These are the three I'll go with."
Xu Zhao saw fish on the menu: "Add another steamed yellow croaker."
Su Ying was worried about waste: "There are only three of us, we can't eat so much, there is no need to order four dishes."
Xu Zhao took out some money and food coupons and handed them to the waiter: "You have been on the train for such a long time and haven't eaten much. Eat more now."
The dishes were served one after another. Su Ying tasted the stir-fried bamboo shoots. The chef added some red oil to the dish. It was a bit spicy, but very appetizing.
"You're out, and your daughter-in-law is home alone? How is she going to have lunch?"
Xu Zhao likes to eat the steamed yellow croaker: "There is food at home, she makes it herself."
Su Ying asked in confusion: "Didn't they say that morning sickness makes it hard to eat? How can you smell the fumes?"
Xu Zhao was somewhat helpless: "I'm not going to vomit anymore. Mom, you haven't seen your son for half a year. When you meet, you only think about your daughter-in-law. Can't you see me?"
Su Ying couldn't help but laugh: "How old are you? You're still jealous of your wife. You're sitting opposite me now. How can I not know if you're okay? It's not that I didn't see your wife. I'm asking about the situation."
Xu Zhao shrugged and said to Xiao Li: "See, this is how a mother treats her son after he gets married."
Xiao Li held the bowl and smiled secretly with his head down.
After dinner, I went to the department store again and bought some food for Xiao Li to eat on the road.
Su Ying glanced at the goods in the department store: "The place is small, there are not many things for sale, and they are not complete. Otherwise, don't buy anything for now. I brought a lot of things from the capital. I will use them first and buy more when I run out of them."
Accustomed to the department stores in the capital, Su Ying was not interested in the things in this small department store. The luggage she brought with her contained everything from food to clothing and daily necessities.
Xu Zhao didn't reply. He walked past the people in front of him and asked the salesperson behind the counter if they had any osmanthus cake today.
The salesperson was indifferent: "We don't have osmanthus cake. The egg cake was just delivered this morning. Do you want some?"
Xu Zhao didn't know whether Jiang Suihan liked egg cakes, so he wanted to buy some to take home just in case: "Give me a pound and a half."
If she doesn't like to eat it, then leave it for Lele. Children will eat everything.
"Do you have milk biscuits?"
Salesperson: "Yes, how much?"
Xu Zhao asked for them one by one: "Two pounds of milk candy, half a pound of milk candy, two boxes of vanishing cream, two hairbands, one red and one blue, and two of those butterfly hairpins."
Su Ying stood nearby and watched in astonishment. Was this her son?
He seemed like a different person. In the past, when we asked him to accompany his sister to go shopping, he refused to go no matter what we said, and he kept saying that it was shameful for a man to accompany a woman shopping.
It is no longer shameful now, and I take the initiative to buy all kinds of women's things for my wife.
Improved!
Xiao Li: Is this still the Brother Xu I knew before? ?
Xu Zhao saw a basket in the corner filled with wool: "Is this wool?"
The salesperson nodded: "Yes, it's wool."
Seeing that Xu Zhao was interested in buying, she hurriedly said, "The quality of these wools is very good. They are much warmer than ordinary sweaters when knitted into them. They also feel very good. If you don't believe me, try touching them."
It has been half a month since the wool yarn balls were shipped back. Many people asked about it, but few actually bought it. Many people thought it was too expensive. The unit price was more than twice that of ordinary wool yarn, which was prohibitive.
Xu Zhao touched it and found that the winter in Li Province was much colder than that in Mingjiang City. He was worried that Jiang Suihan would not be able to adapt to the winter here in the first year.
"I want five pounds of white."
Finally it was sold, and the smile on the salesperson's face became much more sincere.
Su Ying had a different opinion: "I think red is a festive color. It will definitely look good on a little girl and make her skin look fairer."
Xu Zhao insisted on his own idea: "I want white one."
Unable to convince her son, Su Ying waved her hand, took out the money and tickets and handed them over: "I want five kilograms of red ones, too."
Xu Zhao felt a headache: "Mom, what are you doing?"
Su Ying: "You buy white and I buy red. There is no conflict. My daughter-in-law can change clothes. Is there a problem?"
What else can Xu Zhao say? Just ignore it.
The salesperson showed envy on her face: "Auntie, you are so kind to your daughter-in-law. You bought such good wool for her to make clothes. Your daughter-in-law is so lucky to have a mother-in-law like you."
Su Ying said with a smile: "It's a mutual relationship between people. My daughter-in-law is very filial. She often writes letters home and sends all kinds of things home, including food and clothes. We have told her not to worry about home, as we have everything at home, but my daughter-in-law still sends things home. Hey, how can this child be so stubborn?"
The salesperson had no choice but to follow Su Ying's words and praise her: "Auntie, your daughter-in-law is a very good person. She knows how to respect her elders."
Su Ying smiled even more brightly: "Of course not, my daughter-in-law not only has a good personality and is thorough in her work, but she is also very beautiful. I also brought a photo with me, I'll show it to you."
The salesperson was invited to see a photo of Xu Zhao and Jiang Huihan. The photo showed two young men and women, a talented man and a beautiful woman, a match made in heaven.
Su Ying touched the salesperson's arm and asked, "Are they a good match?"
The salesperson's smile was a bit forced: "They are a perfect match."
Xu Zhao couldn't help but twitch his lips, and walked forward to pull his mother away.
After walking out of the department store, he asked, "Mom, what were you doing just now?"
She was showing off her daughter-in-law to a stranger in all kinds of ways. How come he never knew that his mother was such a show-off person?
Su Ying glared at Xu Zhao angrily: "That female comrade looked at you several times, her eyes were like staring at a piece of pork belly, just about to pounce on it and take a few bites. I have to protect my son's innocence, otherwise I won't be able to explain to your wife later."
Xu Zhao had a blank expression on his face.
Xiao Li took two steps back and felt a constant stream of cold air emanating from Xu Zhao, which was so cold that it was freezing him to death.
Xu Zhao took a deep breath: "Can you stop making trouble?"
Su Ying snorted, turned around and asked Xiao Li: "It's really boring, isn't it funny?"
How could Xiao Li dare to get involved in the fight between the mother and son? He shook his head repeatedly: "It's okay."
Su Ying sighed: "Young people should act like young people. You should keep a cold face all day long, but you are not afraid of freezing your wife."
Xu Zhao understood a truth from personal experience: when someone is acting unreasonably in front of you, just ignore her and she will not make a fuss after a while.
Lift your feet and walk away.
After sending Xiao Li to the train station, Xu Zhao and Ms. Su Ying were the only ones left in the car.
The road condition was bad and the ride was bumpy. Su Ying originally wanted to take a nap in the car, but she found that she was too naive.
"No wonder it's inconvenient for you to come out. If you don't have a car, you will have to walk until dark."
Xu Zhao drove seriously: "Once you get used to it, it will be fine."
Su Ying said with some emotion: "Before, I was blaming your father for being old-fashioned and stubborn, and for arranging a marriage for you with the Jiang family without considering your feelings. Now that I think about it, your father may not have considered it comprehensively, but it was a mistake after all, and it can be regarded as a good thing."
"You two have a good relationship, which is better than anything else. I've told you in advance that a little girl named Sui Sui left home to accompany you to suffer here, and she never complained about being tired. You have to be nice to her and don't keep everything in your heart. If you don't say it out loud, no one knows what you are thinking. Living together as a couple is not a guessing game."
Xu Zhao really doesn't like people interfering in his life, even if they are relatives.
"How long will you stay this time?"
Su Ying: "I have asked for a six-month leave from my company. We will see how things go. You two young people have no experience, so you need an elder to look after you. This is what your grandfather wanted. Your grandfather was very happy. That night he opened a bottle of wine that someone gave him and drank a lot with your father."
The old man is over 70 years old. Most of his old friends have great-grandchildren. He is very envious of other people's grandchildren. His grandson's wife finally has good news. The Xu family has a successor. He can finally give an explanation to the Xu family's ancestors.
Xu Zhao has a very good relationship with his grandfather. When he was young, his parents were busy with work and sometimes sent him to his grandfather. His grandfather was very strict with him and took him to train since he was young, including running, boxing, and physical training.
"Is Grandpa okay?"
Su Ying: "I caught a cold last month and it took me half a month to recover. My knee is still the same and sometimes I can't sleep at night because of the pain. I went to see Doctor Liu and got some medicine. I feel better after taking it."
The old man's knee is an old problem he suffered from when he fought in the war when he was young. He has seen many doctors and taken a lot of medicine over the years, but there is no way to cure it, only alleviate the condition.
Jiang Suihan woke up from a nap. It was almost five o'clock. She had slept for three hours. She felt her bones were weak and she felt like she didn't get enough sleep.
Xu Zhao hadn't come back yet, so he asked Jiang Leyun if she was hungry.
Jiang Leyun looked up from his homework book: "I'm not hungry, I just ate two cookies."
Jiang Suihan thought for a moment and said, "Then let's finish our meal later. If you're hungry, make a cup of malted milk and eat some cookies."
Jiang Leyun closed his homework book and asked, "Where is my brother-in-law?"
Jiang Suihan took his homework book and looked through it to check if there were any mistakes: "I went to the county town to pick someone up."
Jiang Leyun: "Who do you want to pick up?"
Jiang Huihan answered without even looking up: "Fuck."
As soon as she finished speaking, she immediately realized that this sentence was ambiguous, and added: "His mother."
Jiang Leyun held his chin with both hands: "I wonder if my brother-in-law's mother is a good person?"
Not finding any mistakes in the homework book, Jiang Huihan looked at her brother: "Why do you ask that? Are you worried that she will treat you badly?"
Jiang Leyun gave his sister a look that said "How can you be so stupid?" "They all say that mothers-in-law will bully their daughters-in-law. I am worried about you."
Jiang Suihan: "Who are they?"
Jiang Leyun opened his mouth to answer when the sound of a car was heard outside.
Jiang Huihan stood up: "They are back."
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