As it approached noon, the streets of the county town became less crowded, and the aroma of rice wafted from every household. Many families had a quick lunch and were busy preparing for tonight's New Year's Eve dinner.
Lu Shiyi and Su Jin had dinner at a state-owned restaurant, and then bought meat and two kilograms of fruit candies from the supply and marketing cooperative without any tickets.
"Mrs. Liu said that we should prepare fruit hard candies for the children during the New Year, and we can't just take White Rabbit candies." Su Jin listened to Liu Yunshan's words and was on guard against anyone attacking Lu Shiyi.
It is only 1969 now, and the next five years will be the darkest time. In order to prevent our family from being dragged into the vortex of darkness, we have to take strict precautions.
"Sister-in-law is right. Since Xiaojin likes lean meat and pig's trotters, you can buy them often." Lu Shiyi thought that Su Jin could cook these deliciously, and he was secretly happy that he had found a treasure. "Also, the village also has winter fish sent from the Northeast. These are very cheap."
"Great!" Su Jin wanted Lu Shiyi to buy some cold-water fish, a fish that is unique to Northeast China and is sold very cheaply there. "You can buy more fish, and I'll make sure it's delicious."
Lu Shiyi nodded: "I have a comrade who lives on the Dalian coast and has a lot of seafood for sale."
"I can exchange them for mountain products for him." Su Jin thought about the things at home. When she came out of the village, she bought a lot of mountain products.
Lu Shiyi smiled and said, "Giving money is the most practical. His father is bedridden, and the money can buy food and see a doctor." Lu Shiyi pinched her cheek, "If it's exchanged for food, the comrades will definitely not accept it."
"Ayi, your comrades will not easily ask you for help unless they are in trouble." Su Jin guessed that this person was having difficulties in life. Lu Shiyi found out that she liked to eat fish and even seafood, so he came up with this idea.
"Xiao Jin, he was forced to leave the military camp because of his bad background. If there is a chance, it would be better if he could come back!" Lu Shiyi thought of Lu Nan and felt indignant. "He has excellent physical fitness and is a rare talent."
"Ayi, it would be great if he could enter the military academy regardless of his social status. If he studies hard, he can become an officer after being admitted." Su Jin thought that if this person was not too old, he could wait for 10 years, a long 10 years, and he didn't know if he could persist.
"Lu Nan is only 18 years old. He served in the army for two years, but was forced to retire due to his family background. He made great contributions in the barracks, so his family only worked in the village by the sea. He only studied in the first grade of junior high school. If five years are not enough, they can wait for ten or fifteen years. He was not very old at that time." Lu Shiyi listened to Su Jin's persuasion and felt that it was right. "Besides, the armed forces department even let Lu Nan learn to drive a cart and help transport things under the armed forces department. I will talk to him about it when I come back to deliver things."
Lu Shiyi smiled at her with his teeth bared. Every time Su Jin saw him smile like this, she felt that he looked silly and more like a Husky.
After returning to the compound, Lu Shiyi first returned the car, and then took Su Jin to Political Commissar Lin's office to apply for the transfer of household registration.
The police station in the family compound is ready. Just get the political commissar to sign and then go there to transfer your household registration directly.
"Ayi, it's finally done. Let's go home and cook the New Year's Eve dinner!" Su Jin followed Lu Shiyi out of the police station, and her heart was at ease.
There is no need to think about spring plowing during the annual meeting. All schools in the county are on holiday to participate in spring plowing, including the middle schools and primary schools in the military region. The children help the adults work in their own private plots.
"Ayi, where is the private plot? We need to plant something this year." Su Jin was very nervous. "I've never planted crops before. Don't blame me if it doesn't turn out well." Su Jin spread his hands. "At home, we use coupons to buy food. At most, we grow vegetables."
"I'll accompany you to plant. We also have a holiday for spring plowing." Lu Shiyi held Su Jin's hand and walked home while talking.
At this moment, all the children in the yard stayed at home, waiting for their mother to call them to eat the leftovers of the New Year's Eve dinner. No one came out to play, and the yard became deserted for a while.
"Ayi, you even know how to farm?" Su Jin looked at him with sparkling eyes and admiration.
Lu Shiyi came from a high-class family. After graduating from military school, he worked as a bodyguard for the leader and then joined the special forces, neither of which required him to work with a hoe.
"Dad farms at home. Since we were assigned to our current home, he, Mom, my brothers, and my sister-in-law have been plucking the flowers from the back garden and sending them to the greenhouse. We also plant vegetables and a lot of rice, wheat, and corn in the backyard," Lu Shiyi explained. "Grandpa and grandma also work there regularly. Whenever I go back, I always join my brothers in the fields."
Lu Shiyi was not like the other boys in the courtyard who were protected by their families. Most of their families had money and tickets, and the boys were capable of working. However, the elders of the Lu family required their offspring to be able to do farm work.
"Then I'll have to ask Ayi for help!" Su Jin smiled sweetly at him: "When the spring plowing season comes, I'll make you something delicious."
Su Jin specially exchanged more than 50 eggs from the village. In addition to the daily food, he probably would have to raise more chickens.
"Xiao Jin, the chickens you wanted have also been changed." With Lu Shiyi's military rank and Su Jin's coming, they can raise a total of 5 chickens. Su Jin asked for four hens and one rooster.
There are very few roosters in the nearby village, and most of them are replaced and eaten when they are 4 or 5 months old.
Lu Shiyi went to the village in person to exchange chickens. The local sister-in-law said that after another month of raising the hens, they would be able to lay eggs, so it would be best to decorate the chicken coop.
Su Jin had covered the chicken coop with straw early on. She exchanged sugar with the children in the village for the straw. She covered the straw on the outside of the grain and water jars for protection, and placed the straw in frames to protect the jars and cans. After a truck pulled over, nothing was broken.
Even Lu Shiyi was surprised. In the past, every family would break a bowl or two when moving.
They also bought a lot of bowls and chopsticks from the supply and marketing cooperative, and their home was fully stocked. Even if they invited guests to dinner, there would be no need to worry about receiving bowls and chopsticks.
"Ayi, am I a spendthrift? Other sisters-in-law say they have to borrow bowls when entertaining guests." When Su Jin heard Liu Yunshan mention this, she said that they had enough bowls and chopsticks at home. "I said that my family sent some and we bought some more."
"My allowance and tickets are enough for the two of us. It's okay if you buy more." Lu Shiyi comforted Su Jin.
The two of them had just reached the corner of their home when they saw a military green figure standing there.
"Lu Nan!" Lu Shiyi was still thinking about writing a letter when someone appeared in front of the door.
Lu Nan turned around and looked at Lu Shiyi first. Su Jin noticed that the other's eyes were red. Her heart skipped a beat and she reached out to tug at Lu Shiyi's sleeve.
"Chief!" Lu Nan saw the two of them and immediately stood up and saluted.
"Let's talk inside!" Su Jin urged the two to go home together. "It's so cold outside now, don't freeze."
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