Chapter 228 Gift Giving
"It's almost Chinese New Year. Time flies."
In the blink of an eye, she has lived here for half a year.
As the end of the year approaches, the air is filled with the strong flavor of the New Year, and Zhao Chunhua can't help but sigh that time flies.
When I first came here, the grass and trees were lush and green, and it was spring; now the leaves have fallen and it is winter, and time has slipped away quietly for nearly six months.
Looking back on the experiences during this period, many memories are still vivid, as fresh and vivid as if they happened yesterday.
She couldn't help but reveal a hint of melancholy, yet at the same time she was full of expectations for the future.
"That's right. This winter is colder than previous years. Even the money for charcoal has increased a lot."
Hearing Zhao Chunhua mention the cold, another friend joined the conversation, with a hint of helplessness in his tone.
The temperature this year is indeed unusually low. Even wearing thick cotton clothes cannot block the biting cold wind.
In order to keep the room warm, the family had to increase the amount of charcoal burned, which naturally led to a significant increase in expenses.
Especially for ordinary people, the heating costs after the winter every year are already a considerable expense, and now it is even worse.
Ni Qianyu also sighed.
They lived in the town, and although firewood was sold at the market, they still had to buy charcoal.
Most of the residents in the town are accustomed to relying on firewood to maintain their daily lives because firewood is cheap and widely available compared to expensive coal.
But even so, charcoal fire remains a must-have during cold seasons and cannot be completely replaced.
Especially some families with better financial conditions will still choose to buy some high-quality coal for heating in order to improve their quality of life.
Ni Qianyu looked at the gray sky outside the window and couldn't help but sigh again.
Everyone knows that the colder the weather, the heavier the burden on people.
It's okay to use firewood in the kitchen, but you can't burn firewood in the main room as the smoke will make it hard for people to open their eyes.
While it is convenient to cook with firewood in the kitchen, it is a completely different matter if it is moved directly into the main house.
Imagine burning firewood in a small space. The thick smoke quickly fills the entire room, which not only irritates the eyes but also easily causes breathing difficulties.
In the long run, it will pollute the walls and furniture and damage your health.
Therefore, most people would rather grit their teeth and pay to buy coal, at least to avoid these annoying problems.
Qiao Mingyan also said: "The price of charcoal has increased a lot, but we have to buy it. I heard that there are people who have frozen to death in the nearby villages. Even in the town, many people have frostbite on their hands."
After listening to everyone's discussion, Qiao Mingyan added her own views.
She mentioned the recent surge in coal prices, which has made many families even more strapped for cash.
Despite this, people still have to find ways to raise funds to purchase thermal insulation materials, otherwise it will be difficult to survive such a harsh winter.
In addition, she also mentioned some shocking news that has been circulating recently: it is said that tragedies have occurred in surrounding villages and towns due to the inability to withstand the low temperatures, and within the town, similar harsh conditions have also caused many troubles - for example, some people have suffered from severe frostbite, with red, swollen and painful hands and feet, which seriously affects their normal activities.
These problems all illustrate the severity of the current situation.
Not all the people living in the town are rich. The poor have no money and have a hard time anywhere.
Although this town does not look dilapidated, it is not a place where everyone can live comfortably.
Some families live relatively comfortably, but most ordinary people still worry about their livelihood.
For those poor people who don’t have much spare money at home, every day is a tight life. Not to mention buying new clothes and improving meals, even the most basic necessities have to be carefully calculated.
If a disaster or bad weather occurs, their lives will be even more difficult. They even have to save money to buy coal for heating, which is really hard to breathe.
"The weather is bad, and it's very troublesome to go out. Why don't you take this year's gifts back with you when you leave, so that I don't have to deliver them to each family in the wind and snow."
The cold winter wind blew across the sky and earth, the heavy snow bent the branches, and the whole world was white and icy cold.
Going out in such an environment is simply a torture.
Zhao Chunhua was wearing heavy clothes and a scarf, but she still felt the cold wind blowing into her neck. She exhaled a breath of hot air while speaking.
"Look how bad the weather is. The snow on the road is so deep that it's hard to walk step by step, not to mention carrying things. Besides, I'm old and can't afford to go through so much trouble! So, sister-in-law, you should just take these New Year gifts with you before you leave today. Otherwise, I'll have to go door to door in the snow to deliver them. It's too much suffering."
Zhao Chunhua used tongs to dig out a few sweet potatoes from the stove, and she specifically picked long and thin ones because they were easier to cook.
The red charcoal fire was crackling in the stove, warming up the cold little kitchen.
Zhao Chunhua picked up the tongs skillfully and searched carefully in the depths of the flames.
She found a few sweet potatoes with slightly charred skin, gently brushed off the ashes, and picked out a few slender and well-proportioned sweet potatoes and handed them to everyone.
"This long sweet potato is easier to bake thoroughly and is sweeter than the round ones. Let's have a snack after dinner. It will also add some flavor to today's trivial conversation."
"You are really lazy, but let's leave it like this for today. When the children come to give their New Year gifts at the end of the month, you can ask them to take them away."
Hearing Zhao Chunhua's half-joking suggestion, Yang Yueting couldn't help but pursed his lips and smiled, "Your idea is quite cunning. You clearly know that we won't really take these things today, but you still say so. Well, let's do as you say - won't the eldest children give you gifts at the end of the month? When the time comes, you can just give them all the New Year gifts and ask them to transport them back."
If we take the food back now, I'm afraid it will be eaten before the New Year.
In fact, everyone knows that if they really bring these New Year's goods back to the village at this time, they will definitely not be able to withstand the eager eyes of the neighbors and the greedy requests of the elderly and children at home.
It won’t be long before the pastries are eaten and not even a trace of the canned fruits will be left. By the time the formal New Year’s greetings come, there will be no stock left, which will inevitably be an awkward situation.
"Besides, moving back so early will cause unnecessary disputes. Who knows whose family will secretly divide up all the things first."
Yang Yueting thought to himself, and added with a faint smile on his face: "It would be safer to wait until the end before taking action."
"You said this, sister-in-law. I will really do it when the time comes."
Zhao Chunhua nodded in a serious manner, with a hint of mischief in her eyes.
"Okay, since you promised it yourself, I won't be polite to you! Don't regret it. If someone blames me for being too casual, I will put the blame on you."
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