Chapter 153
Xia Juhua didn't say anything at the dinner table. She just pursed her lips and watched Xia Long deal with Xia Hongmin. She picked some food for Uncle San from time to time. Uncle San looked at her several times, sighed softly, and ate up all the food in the bowl before asking, "Is your team going to make bricks again? Mancang and the other two can watch the kiln fire by themselves. This time I plan to let them make a kiln alone."
"Well, the captain just told me that. I said I would come back and scold these two brats for not telling me when they learned some skills. But when I saw Hongcui making all these delicious dishes, I forgot to scold them. Thanks to my uncle for reminding me."
Uncle San laughed when he heard this: "They deserve to be scolded. If you hadn't asked me to fire the kiln that time, I wouldn't have thought of teaching them - no one fires bricks, so it's useless to learn. If they don't tell you first after they learn the skills, I will scold them too."
Mancang and Manwu blushed at the aunt's laughter and scolding, and whispered to defend themselves: "We have never fired the kiln alone. If we ruin it, we might as well practice it ourselves and then tell aunt."
Xu Hongcui and Zhang Fengling saw their son was in a trance and did not help. They just watched their elder sister-in-law joking with the child. Xia Hongmin said, "I just told Juhua that our team is going to expand the brick kiln. When the time comes, Mancang and Manwu will each take care of a kiln. They will be masters. Juhua can't scold them easily."
Hearing that Mancang and Manwu were going to become master chefs at such a young age, Xia Long and Xia Hu were very surprised: "Can they do it?" If their son really became a master chef of baking bricks, he would be considered a very promising person among the young people of their age, and he would be able to choose his daughter-in-law in the future.
Xia Hongmin looked at Xia Juhua meaningfully, and said with a smile: "Okay, now in Xiawo Brigade, besides Uncle San, they are the only two who can watch the kiln fire. Uncle San just said that they should be allowed to burn bricks independently. If they can't do it, who can?"
Then everyone understood that the reason why Mancang and Manwu became independent masters, besides being able to watch the kiln fire independently, was also the external force of Xia Juhua who could not be ignored.
The two young men looked at their eldest aunt excitedly. They wanted to thank her very much, but they felt that a casual thank you would be too insincere, so they could only smile foolishly at Xia Juhua.
Xia Juhua couldn't bear to look at the two silly nephews, and pretended to be impatient and said, "You just know how to smile foolishly. Why don't you thank the captain for thinking highly of you and letting you become master chefs? You have to promise the captain that you will work hard in the future and not embarrass him."
The two silly boys stood up, thanked Xia Hongmin together, and repeated what Xia Juhua had just asked them to say. After being encouraged by Xia Hongmin, they sat down with red faces.
Xia Juhua wanted to say a few more words to defend the two children when she heard someone at the gate ask, "Is this Xia Long's house?" It sounded like the voice of Xiaoman's brother Shuanzhu.
She couldn't help but stand up, and Xia Long even walked to the door while answering. When Chen Shuanzhu saw Xia Juhua, he couldn't help but grin and said, "Auntie." Because Mancang and Manwu often played together when they went to Ping'an Manor, he nodded to them.
Seeing that he was sweating and pushing a bicycle, Xia Juhua asked hurriedly, "Why are you here? Did something happen at the construction site?" Apart from that, she could not think of any reason why Shuanzhu suddenly appeared here.
Chen Shuanzhu shook his head and said, "No, everything is fine at the construction site. Someone called from Beijing looking for you. Accountant Chang rode home and found that you were not there, so my mother asked me to tell you to go back and answer the phone."
"A call from Beijing?" Xia Juhua wanted to ask if it was Technician Xue who called, but then she remembered that Accountant Chang was a tight-lipped person and probably wouldn't tell Shuanzhu, so she didn't ask again: "Let me go back now?"
Shuanzhu wiped his sweat and nodded, "Yes, Accountant Chang said that he would call you again in an hour, asking you to go back and wait, otherwise it would be bad if you don't answer the phone."
It only takes about 20 minutes to ride a bicycle from Pingan Village to Xiajia Village. Even if you add the time it takes Accountant Chang to get from the brigade to Pingan Village, it is no more than half an hour. Xia Juhua felt that there was still enough time, so she said to Shuanzhu, "You haven't eaten yet, have a bite quickly, and then we can go back to Pingan Village."
Shuanzhu wanted to refuse, but Xia Long had already pulled him to sit at the table, and Xu Hongcui had already brought new bowls and chopsticks to them. Xia Juhua said with a smile, "Even if you are in a hurry, you should let him wash his hands before eating. I think there is still time, Shuanzhu, eat quietly."
"Sister, you should eat a few bites too." Zhang Fengling persuaded Xia Juhua who had just finished half of her meal, so that she wouldn't have to ride back with an empty stomach.
Xia Juhua didn't bother to be polite with them. She picked up the half steamed bun that had just been put down and started eating. She didn't forget to discuss with Xia Hongmin about collecting the adobe bricks. She deliberately slowed down so that Shuanzhu could eat enough. But it was his first time to visit the Xia family, so how could Shuanzhu eat freely? Seeing Xia Juhua put down her chopsticks, she also said that she was full.
When the two of them arrived at Ping'an Village, Xia Juhua let him go back to her home and continued to rush to the brigade headquarters. When she arrived at the brigade headquarters, she saw that Accountant Chang was still waiting by the phone. He was obviously relieved when he saw her: "Captain, the phone hasn't come back yet, why don't you take a break first?" He didn't say who called, which showed that the other person didn't explain. If it was Technician Xue, Accountant Chang would have heard his voice and would not have failed to remind him, which made Xia Juhua feel uneasy.
It seemed as if someone on the other end of the line was staring at the Ping'an Village Brigade Headquarters. Xia Juhua didn't have much time to rest before the phone rang. Xia Juhua took a deep breath and picked up the phone: "Hello——"
"Comrade Xia Juhua, this is Director Yang." Director Yang's calm voice came from the other end of the phone: "I heard that you are building a road in Ping'an Village. How is it going? Is the road completed?"
"Hello, Director Yang, I didn't expect it was you calling. Yes, the road in our brigade has begun to be paved with asphalt, and it will be repaired soon." Xia Juhua didn't expect that the person calling was Director Yang. She looked at Accountant Chang with some excitement, and found that the man was quietly walking out of the brigade headquarters and closing the door gently.
"It will be good if the road is open soon." Director Yang still calmly said a piece of news that made Xia Juhua unable to calm down: "The road is open, let you go to Yangcheng again, and you will have nothing to worry about."
Suddenly hearing that she was asked to go to Guangzhou again, Xia Juhua was a little confused: "Going to Guangzhou now?"
"Yes," Director Yang answered affirmatively, "Originally, you should have been allowed to go once in June, but at that time, Ping An Village was busy with the hot and sour noodles, and considering that you couldn't leave, we didn't notify you. But this time, the people from Country A clearly stated that they must see you in Yangcheng before they agree to let us pick up the goods, so I have to trouble you for a while."
It turned out that Director Yang knew everything about her actions in Pingan Village. What else could Xia Juhua say? She was puzzled by only one thing: "Why did Country A have to see me this time?" From Director Yang's tone, a batch of rubber should have been shipped in June.
Director Yang smiled and said, "Maybe it's because I heard that Roberts supplied rubber to Province L?"
Xia Juhua couldn't help but mutter, "Could it be that they heard that Roberts sold it to us at a lower price, so they wanted to lower the price for us?"
"Maybe it's possible." Director Yang laughed and said, "You have to go to Yangcheng by yourself this time. I will send someone to pick you up in Yangcheng. Is it okay for you to go out alone?"
If there are any problems, you have to solve them yourself. Xia Juhua thought for a while and said to the person on the other end of the phone that she could bring someone from the production team to travel with her to ensure safety on the road. After Director Yang agreed, he hung up the phone.
Xia Juhua really didn't want to travel alone: she had not forgotten what she discussed with Qi Weidong last time. Now that she had the opportunity to go to Yangcheng, Xia Juhua planned to ask Qi Weidong if he was interested in going with her.
Not only did Xia Juhua want to bring Qi Weidong with her, she also planned to bring Liu Xi with her. Firstly, Liu Xi was a low-key person but he was very capable, so Xia Juhua wanted to train him. Secondly, Xia Juhua was planning to trade some seafood with Qi Weidong on this trip, so she wanted to bring all the money she had. Liu Xi was very strong, so he could also serve as her bodyguard.
Not to mention Liu Xi, even Qi Weidong couldn't believe it when he heard Xia Juhua wanted to take him to Yangcheng: "Auntie, are you serious? Can we really find the source of goods there?"
Xia Juhua feels that one has to try before knowing anything. Now the transactions in the county town are not limited to the black market. Yangcheng, the forefront of reform and opening up, will relax faster than the county town due to its geographical location, even if there is no policy now.
So she felt that Qi Weidong's question was completely unnecessary: "Just say you're going there."
"Go, why not? Even if we can't find the source of goods, it's worth it to go to Guangzhou to see the world." Qi Weidong jumped up and was about to pack up and leave. Xia Juhua hurriedly stopped him: "We will go to the district tomorrow. I have asked Zhishuang to buy us tickets for tomorrow night. It's useless to go too early."
In the county city, Qi Weidong was suppressed. In Pingan Village, there was also an excited Liuxi. This kid was so happy that he didn't even know his last name. He had completely lost his usual deep and reserved demeanor. He told his family that he was going to Guangzhou with Xia Juhua, and even sent his luggage to Xia Juhua's house in the middle of the night, fearing that Xia Juhua would forget to call him when she left. Qixi, who was helping him with the luggage, looked at Xia Juhua with a look of resentment.
Wu Ye came with Liu Xi and Qi Xi. Xia Juhua could only ignore Qi Xi's complaints and complained to Liu Xi: "We are just going to Guangzhou, why did you make Wu Ye go all the way?"
The Fifth Master waved his hand at her and said, "I asked him to come with me, he didn't drag me here. This kid has never been out of the house. Although he knows a few words, it's different outside than in Ping An Manor. Don't be embarrassed when the time comes. Just scold him and say what needs to be said."
見六喜臉上有些羞慚，夏菊花知道他覺得自己已經是大人，又當着比自己小的七喜的面，被爺爺這麽說有些丢人，便不動聲色的勸五爺：“你就放心吧，要不是覺得六喜能行，我幹啥非得帶着他出門。”
“聽了沒有，你嫂子看得起你才帶你出門，到時候你有點眼力見，別支使不動你。”
“爺——”六喜無奈的叫了一聲，發現爺爺正掏出一卷錢來給夏菊花：“這錢你拿着，留着你們兩個路上買點吃的。窮家富路的，道上別省着。”
夏菊花連連推托：“五爺，我有錢呢。六喜跟我出門，我還能餓着他？”
六喜也一個勁的說自己爹娘已經給過自己錢了，不只路上的飯費，連去羊城買當地的特産錢都給了，五爺還非得讓夏菊花收下錢，最後虎着臉說：“這錢你要是不收，那我就不讓六喜跟你去了。”
這事五爺急眼了還真能幹得出來，夏菊花只好向六喜使了個眼色，自己收下這筆錢，還有意在六喜、七喜面前點了一下，數明是一百塊錢，更說到時候兩個人要一分不剩的進了吃了，這才讓五爺高興起來。
第二天孫招弟起早就拍門，非得讓夏菊花到她家吃早飯。夏菊花無法，只好關上門随她到了隔壁，發現門口有一個大袋子，看起來份量不輕。
“你這是幹啥？”夏菊花看着那個袋子，總有些不好的預感。
孫招弟沒讓她失望，笑呵呵的說：“這不是你要去地區嘛，正好我給安安做的冬□□裳都縫完了，你就手給捎去呗。”
安安是孫招弟的外孫，同樣是夏菊花的孫子，人家姥姥的一片心意，夏菊花能說不捎嗎？不過她有點疑惑：“安安見風就長，你給他做這老些衣裳，不等穿就該小了。”
孫招弟笑得有點心虛：“那不是小滿走的時候，把她那三十只雞讓我養了，我尋思着也不能讓她白經管一回，就裝了幾個雞蛋，正好你一塊捎過去。”
你是當我是牛呢，啥都能背上？夏菊花覺得自己可以表達一下不滿，孫招弟已經樂樂呵呵的向她身後招呼：“六喜來啦，快，快跟你嫂子一起吃飯，省得走不到一塊。”
這還是自己認識的那個沉默寡言的孫招弟嗎？夏菊花陷入了深深的自我懷疑之中。六喜卻沒想那麽多，向孫招弟道了聲謝，便放開吃了起來。
等大家吃了早飯，就聽到夏菊花門口有汽車喇叭聲。出門一看，齊衛東正一臉得意的站在車前，向夏菊花露出一個笑臉：“嬸子，我跟我小叔一說你要去地區，他就把車讓給你使了。我一想不能讓你跑縣城去坐車，直接帶車來接你。咋樣，我辦的明白吧。”
哪裏是齊小叔把車子給自己使，分明是楊司長給他打過電話，否則夏菊花才不相信他有這麽好心。不過自己帶的東西不少，有專車的話總是方便些，夏菊花就不打擊齊衛東了。
一路聽着齊衛東與六喜暢想到了羊城，他們該到哪兒去玩，得買哪些土特産回來，倒不寂寞，夏菊花也沒出現暈車的症狀，便已經到了劉志雙分的單元房樓下。
小滿懷裏抱着一個大胖孩子，一見婆婆就紅了眼圈，叫了聲娘把孩子舉給夏菊花看。夏菊花接過孩子，發現安安被小滿帶得挺好，小臉比在家時圓了一圈不說，一點圓嘟嘟的臉蛋，就沖人咧開小嘴傻樂，順着嘴角流下一點點口水。
“你們住幾樓？”夏菊花上次沒跟過來，到現在還不知道小兒子家是幾樓。
“住二樓。”小滿的情緒已經緩和不少，笑着要接過安安：“娘，我抱他吧，這小子又重了不少。”
“小孩子吃得好睡得着，是你這個當娘的照顧的精心，才長得這樣好。”夏菊花把安安往懷裏緊了緊：“沒事，我抱得動。”說完讓小滿帶路，領着齊衛東和六喜兩個上樓。
單元房跟筒子樓不一樣，每層只有三戶人家，劉志雙家住把二樓的東邊，進門是個不大的廳，擺着張餐桌就沒啥落腳的地方，小滿把大家往裏讓：“快進屋，到屋裏坐。”
六喜覺得自己眼睛有些不夠使：“小滿，你們家挺寬敞的，嫂子咋說住樓房不好呢？”
夏菊花聽他提到自己，便說：“你光見了小滿他們住的單元房，沒見志全他們住的那個筒子樓呢，進屋啥都看得一清二楚，廁所沒有，做飯的地方也沒有。”
六喜還是覺得夏菊花沒說實話：“剛才那個廳旁邊，不就是做飯的地方？”說完還要走過去看看自己說的對不對。
齊衛東卻在跟司機說：“你一個人回去行嗎，要不等會讓志雙跟你回去一趟，明天他再坐班車回來。”
司機笑着拒絕，沒坐一會便下樓回平德縣——他是齊小叔的司機，說怕齊小叔用車，要馬上趕回去。這讓夏菊花十分不落忍，等人走後埋怨齊衛東說：“讓人家多歇一會兒，咋那麽快就問人家回去的事兒？”
齊衛東不大在意的說：“他們司機出車就有補助，他自己還願意多跑呢。”卻沒說自己剛才給了司機十塊錢，讓他路上買點吃的，司機自然不會覺得自己被用完就趕走。
不一會劉志雙也跑回來了，一見面就向夏菊花表功：“娘，從地區到羊城得兩天，所以我給你買了卧鋪票。”
哪怕是夏菊花上輩子也沒坐過卧鋪，更別說這輩子交通如此不發達的時代——她早聽說過，卧鋪都是有級別的人出公差才能坐的，劉志雙是咋買到的？
見夏菊花幾人面露疑問，劉志雙不由得意起來，笑嘻嘻蹭到夏菊花面前，把三張卧鋪票遞給她驗真僞，才說了自己是咋買到卧鋪的：
一直以來劉志雙的腦子就比劉志全機靈，到了地區供銷社見了世面，他的機靈勁更無限放大，不出一個月便與單位上上下下打得火熱，跟好些人稱兄道弟。
這次接到親娘讓買票的命令，劉志雙就開動腦筋，想讓親娘坐得舒服一點——上一次親娘去了一趟羊城回家累倒，劉志雙是心疼的，當然要想想辦法。
他找到采購科的科長，問人家如果地區供銷社的人出門采購，啥級別的才能坐上卧鋪，那卧鋪又是咋買的。得知得科級以上、還得攜帶大量資金或重要物資，并且得供銷社的領導親自給車站寫條子之後，又厚着臉皮跑去找薛副主任。
對着薛副主任就是一通忽悠，從親娘的歲數說到了親娘這次到羊城的重要意義，還有意無意的提及橡膠問題。薛副主任自己出差，哪怕是不帶大量資金也是可以坐卧鋪的，所以并不覺得劉志雙想給親娘買張卧鋪票有啥出格。
即不出格，他當然給劉志雙寫下條子，然後劉志雙買到了三張卧鋪票。
看着得意的小兒子，夏菊花不知道自己是不是應該提醒他，就算他不找薛副主任，以楊司長滴水不漏的行事作風，應該也會給地區打電話，自有人替自己買好卧鋪票，只不過是不是買三張就不一定了。
算了算了，經此一事劉志雙在別人眼裏，應該豎立了孝順的形象，最後能拿到卧鋪票，別人也會更認可他的辦事能力，對他以後工作有好處。
最重要的是劉志雙自己，會因此增加自信，對于一個出門工作的人來說，沒有啥比自信更重要，自己何必打擊他？
不光不能打擊，還得表揚：“看來你在地區供銷社，跟大家相處得都不錯，大家才都願意幫你的忙。等我從羊城回來，多帶點土特産回來，你也給同事們分一分，謝謝人家幫忙。”
劉志雙的得意滿臉都是，對着親娘又傻樂一陣才想起來問：“娘，你們坐車坐得累了吧，離火車開還有三個多小時呢，走，我領你們出去吃口飯。”
家裏地方是不小，可是進了城才知道，想買點副食品太難了，每天吃菜都定量，想吃肉也要肉票，所以家裏真準備不出能招待齊衛東和六喜的的飯菜。
親娘吃啥無所謂，可人家兩個是頭一次登自己家的門，還是自己在城裏的家，劉志雙覺得應該好好招待一下。
“你跟我們還客氣啥。”齊衛東看出他的想法，笑着否決劉志雙的提議：“咱們都是自家人，頭一次到家當然要在家裏吃。也不用做別的，煮點面條一個下兩個荷包蛋就行。”
他不提夏菊花倒忘了：“小滿，你娘給你帶了不少雞蛋，快點拿出來，別一會磕壞了。”
這頭娘兩個把孩子往劉志雙懷裏一塞往出撿雞蛋，那頭六喜附合着齊衛東的話：“志雙，齊哥說得對，咱們別來虛的，吃點面條就行。”
Liu Zhishuang felt bad: "You guys finally came here, how can you just eat noodles? Xiaoman is alone at home taking care of the kids, and Anan can't leave anyone alone now, so we really can't go out to buy food. When I got off work and went to buy food, the food was all leftovers, so there's nothing prepared at home, so let's go out to eat."
While they were talking, Xia Juhua and her mother had already picked out the eggs, a total of sixty eggs. Xia Juhua was shocked when she saw them: "Your mother is afraid that you will have no eggs to eat in the city."
Xiaoman looked at the two large bowls of eggs and missed home even more. "My mom must have brought all the eggs from home. Actually, it's not as weird as Zhishuang said. Sometimes I can also buy some food with Anan in my arms."
"Your mother is worried about you." Xia Juhua comforted Xiaoman and said, "If you miss your mother, call the brigade headquarters and ask someone to call your mother."