Chapter 118 (1)
Now the men in Ping An Village dared not to cause trouble for their wives. They only dared to go to Chen Qiu Sheng. After a few people got together and found a few people they could talk to, a bunch of people surrounded Chen Qiu Sheng and started to yell: "Is this still called the New Year? There is nothing prepared for the New Year at home."
"That's right. She asked me to buy ten kilograms of meat that day, and I thought I could have a good meal. But she threw the meat outside and it froze. I haven't eaten a single bite of it yet."
"That's right. In previous years, the meat fillings would have been chopped long ago, just waiting to be used for making dumplings during the Chinese New Year. But this year, she complained about being tired every time she came home. When I asked her to chop the fillings, she asked me, 'Do you have no hands or what?' This really got me down, I can't get up from the wall."
Chen Qiusheng looked at the old men complaining to him and felt hesitant. "We haven't prepared anything at home. What's the point of you coming to me?"
"Can't you go talk to Zhao Xianzhi and ask her to give the editorial team two days off earlier?" Someone stated their purpose.
You really dare to think so.
Chen Qiusheng felt that the person who came up with this idea had bad intentions. "Okay, if you are not afraid of less dividends next year, I will go to Zhao Xianzhi and tell her to give the staff of the weaving team a holiday starting tomorrow. If anyone dares to go to work, her work points will be deducted. For the orders that the supply and marketing cooperative has paid for, the weaving team will pay for them one by one."
After saying that, he picked up his feet and made a gesture to go to the yard to find Zhao Xianzhi to argue. The men were dumbfounded when they heard what he said: the money they made from the leaking powder was directly collected by themselves, and not handed over to the production team. The team's dividends for next year depended on the money made by the weaving group and the money paid to the public rations. Now Chen Qiu Sheng said that not only would the weaving group no longer make money, but they would also have to pay out. The dividends...
What made the men even more desperate was that before they could stop Chen Qiusheng, Zhao Xianzhi's voice came from behind them: "Well, we worked so hard, and you are complaining. When it was time to distribute the dividends, why didn't you complain that you got too much and refused to take it?"
"Oh, so women have to do all the housework, right? Then we women should marry men, get clothes and food. Have you given us good food and clothes in the past two years?!"
Li Changwang was just joining in the fun without saying a word, but Zhao Xianzhi made him a target: "Li Changwang, why are you hanging out with these losers? I think you're just idle. If you have too much free time, just go and push the dirt to make adobes and tiles. Aren't we going to build a vermicelli factory next year? If you don't make bricks, what are you going to build with?"
The men were speechless after being sprayed by Zhao Xianzhi, and looked at Chen Qiu Sheng with pale faces - you are the production team leader, you can't let a editor team leader rebel.
Unfortunately, this editor-in-chief had such a good relationship with his wife that Chen Qiusheng really couldn't do anything about her. He could only say with a smile, "Auntie Xianzhi, we are just gossiping, don't be angry. Besides, Uncle Changwang didn't say a word, you can't let him remove the adobe in such a cold weather. The river is frozen, and the mud can't be dug out."
Zhao Xianzhi glanced at Chen Qiu Sheng with disdain: "Even if you have so much free time, just like in the past few years, repairing the canal every day, you still care about us women not being busy during the New Year?!" After saying that, she left without even looking at the men.
She didn't even give the men a chance to reply and just left.
The men looked at each other, no one said a word. They all knew in their hearts that what Zhao Xianzhi said was right. In the first year of weaving mats, the women not only had no time to take care of the housework, but also did not even go back to their parents' home for the New Year. However, they were all very happy in their hearts and wanted to send meals to their wives in the yard so that they would not waste time going home to eat.
Just a few years later, they are dissatisfied again, thinking that their daughter-in-law should take good care of the family as before while making money. Why?
"Forget about it. We can cook two dishes, right? What's so difficult about cooking? Let's learn. It's all meat. How can it not smell good after it's cooked? Let those old ladies see that we can still prepare New Year's dishes without them."
"Sure, Uncle Lizhu seems to be good at cooking, why don't we go and learn from him?"
"There is also Uncle Dong. He was a chef before liberation. I heard that the pork elbow he stewed is very tasty. I don't know if he is willing to teach us."
Chen Qiu Sheng didn't know what to say when he saw the men saying harsh words one second and starting to think about how to prepare New Year's dinner for their family the next second.
He didn't know what to say, but Zhao Xianzhi had a lot to say to Xia Juhua, "Captain, what do you think of those old men? They are just as fond of gossiping as women. We thought that they have no work to do now, so why don't they let us have two days of ready-made meals? But now they are complaining one by one, and they even want us to have a holiday early so that we can go home and serve them."
In the previous life, it was not until the mid-1980s that the men of Pingan Village gradually entered the kitchen, but they only helped out. This life, since they learned how to make flour and got used to the kitchen, cooking porridge is no longer a problem for them. Xia Juhua thought that this was a big change.
You don't want to think that you are still quite patriarchal at heart. You would rather let women give up their work outside and go home to cook for them, right?
Xia Juhua put down the things in her hand and asked, "What did Qiu Sheng say?"
Thinking of the way Chen Qiusheng had just pleaded for Li Changwang, Zhao Xianzhi found it a little funny: "He behaved well at home, but when he went out, he was afraid that those old men would laugh at him, so he didn't dare to speak for us, and he didn't dare to go to Cuiping and me, so he just played the mediator."
It's good to be able to smooth things over. Xia Juhua, who wanted to deal with the men headed by Chen Qiusheng, picked up the things and continued to make up: "That's fine, as long as Qiusheng and Wuye don't say anything, it's useless for those people to quarrel. You just wait and see, now I should discuss with them how to learn to cook."
Zhao Xianzhi didn't believe it: "Those stubborn people, how can they learn to cook? Captain, what do you think they should do if they insist on letting their wives stay at home to prepare New Year's gifts and don't come to make mats?"
Today is the 27th day of the 11th lunar month, and there are only three days left until the Chinese New Year. No wonder those men are anxious. But Zhao Xianzhi has already made her words known, and Xia Juhua cannot let herself be controlled by those men:
"Go back and tell everyone that those who are willing to go home to help with the New Year can go back. But there is one thing, everyone knows what our mission is now. Those who go home to help with the New Year do not take our mission seriously and do not advance and retreat with everyone, so they don't need to come to the editing team in the future."
With her words, Zhao Xianzhi felt very confident. When she returned to the yard, she named the men who had encouraged Chen Qiu Sheng to come and take a vacation with her, and also conveyed Xia Juhua's words.
When the wives of those men heard this, they were so embarrassed that they looked like they were covered with red cloth and were about to bleed. They stood up and walked out, saying as they walked, "Team leader, don't be angry with that bastard. I'll make him pay for it when I get home."
Zhao Xianzhi quickly stopped them and said, "Why are you going back now? Aren't you looking for a fight? I'm telling you this because I want you to go back and explain to them that our mission is urgent and we can't advance the holiday. Let them understand."
Zhang Cuiping kept covering her mouth as she listened, fearing that she would laugh out loud and ruin Zhao Xianzhi's reputation - she had never imagined that one day Zhao Xianzhi would talk about strategy, which really opened her eyes.
At this time, Zhang Cuiping not only couldn't laugh, but also had to help Zhao Xianzhi comfort the women: "What we are editing now is a product for the Expo. What is the Expo for? It is for foreign friends to see. Only people in Ping'an Village can complete it. We are making a contribution to the country. Isn't it more important than having two less delicious meals at home?"
An Baoling also said: "This year, it's just a meal, we celebrate it every year. But this expo is only held every few years. After we have compiled this batch of products, we can make as many meals as they want. We will make whatever they want to eat."
Now the women in Pingan Village are completely confident in saying they can eat and do whatever they want, and no one thinks that An Baoling is bragging.
I didn't want to wait for the women to finish work, and when I got home, I could smell the aroma of meat coming from the kitchen, and sometimes it was accompanied by the smell of burnt meat. When I went into the kitchen, I saw my husband busy and sweating over the meat in the pot, either boiling or frying, or chopping the meat stuffing...
The expected fight between the couples did not happen. The women knew how to live. They could not bear to see the men destroy things. They wanted to help after washing their hands. Unexpectedly, the men said in unison: "You should go back to your room and rest. I just learned the craft from XX today. If I don't do it now, I will forget it in two days."
Well, in order to avoid complaints during the New Year in the future, the women chose to let the men destroy the kitchen, and went back to the house to wash and rest. The next day when they were weaving things, they got together to exchange experiences, which again stunned the dozen or so women from the outside team.
All in all, Pingan Village had a lively New Year this year. The New Year’s Eve dinners of several families had a burnt smell, but the whole family enjoyed the food very much.
It was not until the 15th day of the first lunar month, after the Lantern Festival, that Xia Juhua and her team finished weaving all the textiles for the Expo. When they were taking inventory, Director Zheng came to Ping'an Village again: "Captain Xia, I have good news to tell you."
Xia Juhua also smiled and said, "It just so happens that we have finished editing our stuff. I was thinking of going to tell you the good news."
Hearing that Pingan Village had finished weaving, Director Zheng had to admire their speed. However, compared with the news he brought, he felt that his own news was more shocking: "Captain Xia, the province has confirmed that your Pingan Village's weaving products can participate in the expo."
年前薛副主任走後不久，鄭主任就帶着地區供銷社的保密協議來過平安莊一趟，把頭一批編好的樣品帶走好參加省裏的選拔。那批編織品在省選拔的時候一亮出來，省供銷社的領導就直接拍板，這麽好的産品一定要參加博覽會掙外彙去。
夏菊花聽了鄭主任的介紹，也為平安莊感到高興——她們辛苦編了這麽長時間，哪怕供銷社給了一半的定金，可一天得不到能參加博覽會的消息，她心裏都沒底，生怕大家的心血浪費一半。
現在聽說可以參加了，自然要向所有人宣布這個好消息。
“哎，夏大隊長我還沒說完呢。”鄭主任攔住了已經張大嘴就差出聲的夏菊花，見夏菊花不解的望着自己，他選擇長話短說：
“省供銷社的領導聽薛副主任說，你自己介紹這些産品頭頭是道，還會編所有的品種，決定讓你一起去羊城參加博覽會，現場給參會的人講解，也可以現場演示一下這些産品都是咋編出來的。”
夏菊花呆了好嗎。
去羊城？她上輩子看電視的時候見過羊城，知道那春風開始吹的地方，是整個國家開放的橋頭堡，卻從來沒想到過有一天自己能去那個高樓林立的地方。
上輩子經濟發達之後都沒去過的地方，這輩子在有人還為填飽肚子發愁的時候，她竟然要去了？！
“鄭主任，我真能去博覽會？還要給人介紹我們這些東西都是咋編出來的？”一慣鎮定的夏菊花，此時真的失态了，連着把問題問了兩遍。
鄭主任可沒覺得夏菊花這是失态，他一開始知道省供銷社的決定時，并沒比夏菊花現在的表現好多少。所以他也一連回答了夏菊花兩遍：“是的，這是省供銷社的決定，由你向參加博覽會的人，介紹你們平安莊的編織品。”
跟夏菊花一起接待鄭主任的趙仙枝，比夏菊花自己先反應過來，沖着點數的人就來了一嗓子：“姐妹們，隊長要去羊城參加博覽會啦。”
熱油鍋裏撒下一把鹽的效果也不過如此，整個場院都沸騰起來了，大家不再顧忌鄭主任這個地區供銷社的領導，圍上來七嘴八舌的只問夏菊花：“大隊長，你要去博覽會？”
“去了博覽會幹啥？”
“你啥時候走呀，到時候我給你煮幾個雞蛋帶着路上吃。”
“光吃雞蛋多噎的慌，隊長我給你烙雞蛋餅，那個軟和。”
…………
夏菊花不得不打斷大家的問話：“好了好了，博覽會還得些日子開呢，我一時半會兒走不了。大家該點數快點點，點完了鄭主任還得把東西拉到省城去呢。”
趙仙枝也知道自己剛才那一嗓子惹禍了，沖着夏菊花和鄭主任嘿嘿兩聲，自己帶着人接着點數去了。被大家這麽一鬧騰，夏菊花的心情反而平靜了不少：“鄭主任，你也跟我們一起點點數吧？”
鄭放任搖了搖頭說：“不了，你們平安莊人每次自己點數，都一個不差，我相信你們。”
夏菊花一笑，這種信任，是建立在平安莊人每一次都認真完成各個環節的基礎上的，她自己也相信大家。于是問起了自己關心的問題：“鄭主任，這一次你也跟着去吧，你去過羊城嗎，那邊跟咱們這一樣冷嗎，用不用多帶幾件衣裳？”
真真假假的問題，十足一副沒出過門的樣子，讓鄭主任一下子覺得自己見多識廣起來：“那邊可比咱們這兒熱多了，現在這個時候也就穿個長袖褂子吧。不用多帶衣裳，咱們也就去個五六天。”
哪怕趙仙枝認識到自己鬧了禍，可架不住她那顆替夏菊花驕傲和自豪的心實在無處安放，夏菊花眼錯不見，她就跑到生産隊，把好消息告訴了正在安排壯勞力們推土的陳秋生。
男人們步婦女們的後塵，一個個也都呆了片刻，才醒過神來：羊城呀，他們生産隊出過遠門的人，就是那幾個去當兵的小子，可他們去的那地方能跟羊城比？
用了不到半天的工夫，消息竟然傳到了大隊部，李長順跟常會計兩人都跑到平安莊來了。經過劉家院子的時候，常會計心裏不是不遺憾的——這戶人家他早替自己閨女看好了，不想看的太好，人家夏菊花一下子當了大隊長，他是大隊會計，兩家不可能做親家，閨女只好嫁給了別人。
那時候要是早跟夏菊花提一提就好了。
想到這兒，常會計不無幽怨的看了李長順一眼，李長順瞪着他說：“甭看我，兩孩子沒緣分，誰也沒辦法。”
小滿正出來要回隔壁的娘家，恰好聽到李長順沒頭沒腦的這句話，也沒多想，還跟李長順打了個招呼：“大隊長，你是來找我娘的嗎，我娘現在跟鄭主任都在場院呢。”
李長順點了點頭，沖小滿笑了一下領着常會計就走，走出老遠回頭見不到小滿的身影了，才對他說：“別想了，兩孩子都各自成家了，讓他們對象聽了不好。”
常會計也知道不好，可他就是意難平咋辦？眼看着劉家的日子越來越好，他就忍不住替自己閨女可惜。
這種遺憾，在親耳聽到鄭主任肯定夏菊花一定會去羊城時達到了頂點，然後就在李長順的瞪視之中壓下了。不壓下又能咋樣，剛才他看到劉志雙媳婦肚子都該有五六個月了，他閨女生的小外孫女也已經半歲多了，那兩人之間一點兒可能都沒有了。
與感情複雜的常會計相比，李長順就是單純的替夏菊花高興：“你是不是今天就得跟鄭主任一起走？大隊的事兒你別操心，好好參加博覽會。”
夏菊花聽了感動又好笑：“大隊長，人家博覽會得三月開呢，鄭主任這回來是拉東西的，我得等通知呢。”
“都說讓你叫李叔，你咋老叫大隊長呢。”李長順同樣是一臉無奈的表情：“你別以為管我叫大隊長，你就能摞挑子。”
夏菊花當然不可能在這個時候摞挑子，不光沒摞，還當晚就把幾個生産隊隊長都召集起來，給大家布置下了春耕之前這段時間的任務：
“地已經快化凍了，用不了幾天湙河邊上的泥就能開挖脫土坯。大家趁着春耕沒開始，抓緊時間把土坯脫出來。挖的時候注意一點兒，別把咱們的水渠給破壞了。另外也別可着一個地方挖，都順着河沿往裏推，順便還能把河道擴寬一下。”
牛隊長就問：“大隊長，我們生産隊不沿河，是不是把勞力分到他們四個生産隊去？我們生産隊離平安莊近，直接跟着平安莊幹得了。”
另外三個生産隊長都不拿正眼看牛隊長了，他們覺得這人想把三隊并到平安莊生産隊的心思太過明顯，戳穿太沒有成就感。
夏菊花看了李長順一眼，見他做出認真旁聽不準備開口的姿态，自己說了：“修粉條廠不光需要磚瓦，那些房梁、椽子都少不了。你們生産隊負責把這些刨光處理好，沒問題吧？”可別只幫着平安莊幹活，那三個生産隊嘴上不說，肚子還不得氣炸了。
“沒問題。”不管夏菊花吩咐三隊幹啥，牛隊長的回答都是這三個字。
“另外我聽秋生說，他們平安莊想發展養雞這個副業。生産隊人手緊，想讓社員每家代養。你們是不是也考慮一下？”一開春也該抓小雞了，夏菊花想了想還是把這事兒提了一下。
李長順一直聳拉的眼皮猛地擡了起來，目光炯炯的看着李大牛等三個生産隊長。至于為啥不看牛隊長，完全是李長順明白，牛隊長是一定會跟着平安莊的腳步走的。
“秋生，你們生産隊準備一家養多少？”李大牛開口就問。
陳秋生笑了：“現在挂面廠賣咱們的麥麸不咋限量了，不用擔心雞養多了沒吃的，我們生産隊準備先養兩千八百只試試。”對外口徑都是生産隊要養，所以陳秋生報出來的只是總數。
想知道一家養多少，不會自己算去？
幾個生産隊長包括劉力群等大隊幹部，都吸了一口冷氣：“養這麽多，你們不怕遇到雞瘟？”
陳秋生很淡定的說：“有農技站呢，怕啥。”去年他們生産隊養的那幾頭豬，夏菊花就讓他找農技站的人，給打了疫苗，一年豬都沒病沒災的，開春養雞也同樣打疫苗好了。
牛隊長馬上問：“那麽老些雞，能打得過來嗎？”聽說疫苗可不好買，去年他們生産隊的豬，也是沾了平安莊的光才打上的。
這個陳秋生就不知道了，他就是相信夏菊花敢讓社員多養雞，一定有辦法讓雞都好好長大，好好給平安莊下蛋換錢。所以他說出來的話十分欠揍：“有大隊長呢，農技站還能不管咱們平安莊？”
李大牛被李長順瞪的開口了：“那行，我們小莊頭也跟平安莊一樣發展養雞副業。秋生，你們給雞打疫苗的時候，可別忘記了告訴我一聲。”
夏菊花只聽着大家讨論，并不參與其中——提醒的義務盡到了，決定還是由各生産隊下的好。現在的物資多缺呀，哪怕平安莊大隊家家養上三十只雞，下的蛋都能賣得出去。
真賣不出去，她還會腌流油的鹹雞蛋，會做松花蛋，這兩樣更好賣，也更加得出價。不過現在可不是給他們打包票的時候，能不能抓住機會都看他們自己的選擇。
而跟供銷社定的那些東西，大部分都已經送到了，收在大隊部的庫房裏，有常會計和劉力群在，剩下的那一小部分不用夏菊花操心，她可以放心的準備出門的東西了。
一進家門，正從後院廁所出來的小滿見到婆婆，高興的對兩邊的屋子喊：“娘回來了。嫂子，娘回來了。志雙，娘回來了。”
這一聲把東西廂房的門都叫開了，劉志全抱着樂樂，王彩鳳拉着劉保國，劉志雙自己披着衣裳，全都看着夏菊花傻笑。
“這麽晚了你們還不睡，孩子不困嗎？”夏菊花搞不懂他們葫蘆裏賣的啥藥，被笑的有些瘆得慌。
那些人都跟聽不到夏菊花的問話一樣，向着正房走，只有樂樂向夏菊花伸手想要抱抱，身子卻被劉志全緊緊抱着，不給她把身子轉向夏菊花的機會，氣的孩子直哼哼。
既然他們跟自己搞神秘，夏菊花索性不問了，回屋後點着油燈，顧自脫鞋坐到炕頭。不知道誰把炕給她燒過了，屋子裏暖和和的，炕頭微微有些燙，正好驅散一路走來的寒氣。
很多事你沉得住氣的時候，別人就沉不住氣了。劉志全把樂樂放到炕上，扭臉看了劉志雙一眼。劉志雙就知道，想跟親娘耍心眼，他們這些人加起來也不是對手，因此嘴角一咧，笑着從兜裏掏出一卷錢來，遞給炕頭的親娘：
“娘，這二百塊錢你拿着，留着路上花。”
劉志全也掏出一卷錢，沒說話，同樣滿臉帶笑的遞給夏菊花。
“這是幹啥呢，我自己有錢，不用你們拿。”夏菊花沒接遞到面前的兩卷錢，直接開口拒絕。
劉志雙多二皮臉呀，一點兒也不怕親娘的冷臉：“娘，你可是咱們平安莊頭一個出這麽遠門的人。當初志/軍他們兩當兵走的時候，你還跟我們說窮家富路呢，這回你比他們走的還遠呢，能不多帶點兒？這錢你說啥也得拿着。”
夏菊花張嘴剛想拒絕，劉志全總算開口了：“娘，你別擔心我們拿了錢，自己手裏緊巴。現在彩鳳每天也記十個工分，我們兩負擔得起。”
他們可不止負擔得起的問題。王彩鳳不僅每天有幼兒園當保育員的十個工分，還有每天晚上回家炒花生的收入呢。直到現在，年都過完了家裏炒花生的活兒也沒停，因為齊衛東已經培養出了一批老客戶，時不常就送過生花生過來炒。
年前集中炒花生那一陣子，最終算帳的時候，小滿幾個竟然炒了足足一萬三千斤的花生，主力軍小滿分了二百四十塊錢，夏菊花、紅翠和王彩鳳各分一百二，就連幫助燒火的張鳳玲都分了五十。
本來夏菊花幾個想讓小滿多分一些的，可她覺得自己拿兩百多已經占便宜了，死活都不肯再多拿一分，還說要是大家讓她多拿的話，那以後她就一個人炒花生，誰也不用給她幫忙。
而平安莊的工分值在那擺着呢，去年劉志全兩口子自己拿着的分紅錢是多少，夏菊花心裏再有數不過，所以劉志全說負擔得起，夏菊花完全沒有反駁的餘地。
她就試圖跟兩個兒子媳婦講道理：“你們手裏有錢娘知道，可你們不是還得蓋房子呢嗎？這錢你們都留着，蓋房子的時候弄四至些，比現在給我錢我還高興呢。”
劉志全幾個人就面面相觑，很想問問親娘（婆婆），高高興興的時候，咋又提蓋房子這麽掃興的話題。樂樂沒啥概念，劉保國卻總聽自己爹娘嘀咕，不能搬出去住的話，一下子嚷了起來：
“奶，我要一直跟着你住，我不蓋房子，不搬家。”
那可由不得你。夏菊花笑着跟他說：“你爹和你二叔兩個辛苦脫好了磚、打好了瓦片，要是再不燒的話都被雨水給澆的不能用了，那多浪費？”
也是哦。劉保國就說不出反駁的話來了，夏菊花乘勝追擊的說：“再說現在樂樂還小，能跟你爹娘住在一起。等她長大了，是不是也得自己住一間房？等你長大娶媳婦呢，住哪兒？”
一屋子人都沉默了。劉志雙最先不滿的叫了一聲：“娘，你就這麽不願意讓我們跟你住在一起嘛？”
夏菊花肯定的點頭：“對，我天天看你最煩了。”
劉志雙完敗。
他們娘兩交談一句接着一句，別人根本插不上話，直到劉志雙垂頭喪氣的敗下陣來，小滿才慢悠悠開口說：“娘，你說你參加博覽會，能有人給你照相不？要是照了相，你可得帶回來。”
包括夏菊花在內的所有人都愣了，因為這話跟剛才夏菊花與劉志雙的對話內容相差太大了，小滿是咋說出口的？
劉志雙很快反應過來，感激的看着自己媳婦，心裏直給媳婦拍着巴掌。他算是看出來了，對付親娘就得小滿這樣，不管親娘說的是啥，小滿就說她自己的，管你咋想的呢。
哪怕看着小滿的大肚子，夏菊花也不可能不接她的話，只好說：“誰知道呢，一塊去的人多着呢，肯定還有領導，照相也得給領導照。”
她上輩子看電視看多了，領導去哪兒都有好些拿着照相機的人跟着，走到哪兒有人拍到哪兒。而跟着領導的那些人可能會有被照進去的可能，可是單獨的就沒有了。
聽到夏菊花回答小滿的問題，大人們都松了一口氣，劉保國卻已經問起他關心的問題了：“奶，博覽會上都有啥，東西跟咱們家的一樣嗎？”
夏菊花笑了：“奶也沒去過，不知道都有啥。要是有啥跟家裏不一樣的，給你們買回來好不好？”
樂樂馬上用小手拍打夏菊花的手：“給樂樂買，買裙子。”
劉保國的要求跟他妹妹不一樣：“奶，我想要木倉。”
夏菊花點頭答應着他們，見樂樂打起了小呵欠，就讓兒子媳婦們領着孩子回屋快睡覺去。兩對夫妻見夏菊花沒再讓他們把錢收回去，連忙帶着孩子走了，生怕夏菊花再想起來讓他們把錢拿回去。
夏菊花不是沒想起來，而是想的越來越明白了：上輩子自己一味的付出，結果出力不讨好，那還不如現在兩兒子想孝順的時候就接着，等将來又跟上輩子一樣，自己想起他們還有過孝順的時候，不至于那麽後悔絕望。反正她也拒絕過了，是他們非得硬塞給她，再推讓的話就有點兒讓人寒心了。
夏菊花有時總結自己這輩子跟上輩子最大的不同，就是對兒子兒媳婦以及孫輩都看開了，只忙自己的事兒就好，別的事兒對得起自己的本心就行。
這裏頭最重要的還是對得起自己。
夏菊花翻了翻自己的衣裳，發現這幾年雖然做了幾件，可那樣式在平安莊穿穿還行，出門的話就有些不合适了。
于是她帶上錢，直接到縣城給自己置辦了兩套成衣，顏色自然是她這個年齡能接受的淺褐和深寶藍色，樣式也不再是立領對襟，而是小翻領斜插兜。褲子依然有些肥大，可是褲線筆直，穿上後很有工作女性的幹練。
非得用自行車專門送親娘進縣城的劉志雙，在夏菊花試衣裳的時候，眼珠子都快掉下來了：這還是他親娘嗎，咋跟印象裏那個總是不自覺彎着腰、拱着肩膀、黑黃面龐、布衣上老有一層浮土的娘差距那麽大呢？
還有他親娘的臉，不知啥時候變得白了，襯上一雙淡定的黑眼睛，身體溜直的往那一站，看着就那麽精神。
“娘。”劉志雙沖親娘直接豎起大拇指：“你一穿這衣裳，說你是在縣裏上班都有人信。”
夏菊花理都不理貧嘴的小兒子，而是問售貨員：“這兩身衣裳咋賣？”
售貨員從來沒遇見誰一下子買兩套衣裳，尤其買的人最初的打扮一看就是農村來的，所以遲疑了一下才說：“兩套一共是三十八塊七毛。”
夏菊花把換下來的衣裳拿在手裏，要看看有沒有瑕疵。售貨員和劉志雙都以為她心疼錢，不等售貨員說話，劉志雙已經說了：“那你給包起來吧。娘，這衣裳我給你買。你剛才穿着多精神。”
自己也沒說不買呀？夏菊花又看了劉志雙一眼說：“昨晚你不是給我錢了嘛，咋還給我買。我自己有錢。”說着掏出四十塊錢遞給售貨員。
The saleswoman was very glad that she spoke slowly just now, otherwise it would be embarrassing now. So she packed it very carefully, fearing that it would be exposed and get dirty.
"Captain Xia, why didn't you look for me when you came to the supply and marketing cooperative?" Director Lin suddenly appeared behind Xia Juhua and greeted her, making the salesperson even more fortunate.
Xia Juhua was also very happy to see Director Lin: "I just bought two pieces of clothing. I heard that you have been promoted to director, and I was afraid that you were busy with work, so I didn't want to disturb you."
Director Lin laughed even more brightly after hearing this: "What's the use of being a director or not? We are all here to serve Ping An Village. It's almost noon now, why don't we go have a meal and talk while we eat?"
Xia Juhua quickly refused: "No, the team still has some things to do, I have to take care of them before I leave."
Director Lin really wanted to treat Xia Juhua to a meal. Before Director Zheng took office at the regional supply and marketing cooperative, he had told him that the regional supply and marketing cooperative had recommended him to the county committee. Director Zheng made it clear that he was recommended because he had always had a good relationship with Pinganzhuang, and Deputy Director Xue valued Xia Juhua from Pinganzhuang very much.
So when Director Lin once again became a real director, he thought that Xia Juhua had made an indelible contribution and that a meal alone could not express his gratitude. But Xia Juhua kept declining and was very determined not to take advantage of Director Lin, so he was helpless.
The salesperson whispered to the new director: "Director Lin, Captain Xia just bought two sets of clothes. I think he should buy a pair of leather shoes so that he can look more energetic when he goes out."
Director Lin was very impressed and asked the salesperson to bring a pair of leather shoes for Xia Juhua to try on. The black and shiny leather shoes had a small heel of about two centimeters. After putting them on, Xia Juhua felt that they were a bit stiff, but everyone including Liu Zhishuang said that they looked good, so Xia Juhua bought them - Director Lin had to let her pay for them.
Finally, Director Lin helplessly sent Xia Juhua and her son to the bicycle and said regretfully, "Captain Xia, why are you so polite? If Director Zheng knew about this, he would blame me for not doing my job well."
Xia Juhua was amused by him: "We have been friends for many years, just have this meal together. If you don't have this meal, I will ignore you next time you go to Ping'an Village?"
Director Lin also smiled and said, "Okay, I'll welcome you back when you come back. You must not give me face again then."
Xia Juhua responded, and after saying goodbye to Director Lin with Liu Zhishuang, she sat on the back seat of the bicycle and returned to Ping'an Village. As a result, a group of women were waiting for her at home.
Nothing else, now the orders for the organization have been completed, and the next batch of orders will be adjusted according to the situation after the supply and marketing cooperative attends the Expo. Everyone is finally free, and Xia Juhua is going to Guangzhou to attend the Expo, so of course we have to gather at her house.
Zhao Xianzhi sat on the edge of the kang, with An Baoling and Chang Xiancao sitting next to him. He said to them in a very serious tone: "Captain, we have to take the train this time. I heard that it's very fast and it won't stop for days after it starts running."
"Really? That's a lot of oil."