"Wanting, can you bring them with me?" Xuemei said.
Xuemei brought them to her kitchen, placed the casserole on the table, and took out a bowl of stir-fried green beans and a wooden spoon from the cupboard. She said to them, "I've cooked half a pound of meat in the casserole. Eat here! I'm going to be out first. Come back after you finish eating."
Xuemei walked out of the kitchen and closed the door, and couldn't help swallowing her saliva. The braised pork was so delicious.
As soon as she entered the room, Qing Ya said to her, "Sister, I can smell the aroma of braised pork. I feel like I'm hungry again."
"I bought a small packet of malted milk today, especially to give you some nourishment. You've all lost weight these past few days."
"Really, big sister." Qingya looked at Xuemei with shining eyes.
"Really? Go and see if Dad and Mom have come out of the bath. If they have, call Ruirui and them to make a cup of malted milk together." After Xuemei said that, she went to get the malted milk from the backpack.
"Xuemei, Qingya said you bought some malted milk. How much did it cost? Dad and mom will pay for it. Don't always buy things for the family. You should also save some of your salary every month." Liu's mother said.
"Mom, I know. Forget about the money. I just bought two taels of malted milk. I got this malted milk today thanks to what Sister Zhang left for me yesterday. Qingya, the three of you go to the well and fetch some water to rinse the bowls you just finished eating." Xuemei replied.
"Then wait until we have vegetables at home in a few days, and pick some to bring to your colleagues. They don't have as convenient access to vegetables as we do at home." Liu's mother thought for a while and said.
"Okay, Mom. You add the malted milk, and don't complain later that I put in too much." Xuemei joked.
"Qingya, put the bowls on the table, I'll do it. I ask you to put the bowls on the table, including your father. You are all born in the Year of the Pig. You eat everything without leaving any residue. You will finish it all in a few times." Liu's mother said.
Just as Xuemei and the others finished a bowl of malted milk, they heard someone knocking on the door outside the yard.
"Who is it? Why are you here at this time?" Qing Ya poured boiling water into each bowl and prepared to drink another bowl of water. This bowl still had the aroma of malted milk, so don't waste it.
"Mom, go put the malted milk away. Qingya, take your brothers to the room to drink it. I'll go see who it is." Xuemei said to Liu's mother.
Xuemei went to the kitchen first and knocked on the door before asking, "Wanting, are you finished eating? I'm coming in."
"We're done eating, Xuemei, please come in?" He Wanting replied.
"After you finish eating, please wait in the main room. I will give you the food later." Xuemei said as she walked into the kitchen.
Xuemei looked at Han Chen, who was washing the casserole and other things, and her heart warmed. Then she said, "Han Zhiqing, I'll take care of the casserole and other things later."
"It's okay, Comrade Liu Xuemei, I'll be fine soon. I'll be out soon." Han Chen replied without raising his head.
"Okay! Remember to wipe your mouths and drink some water to wash away the taste of meat." Xuemei said with a smile.
Seeing that everyone nodded, Xuemei was about to open the door. Halfway through, she heard someone outside shouting.
"Liu Xuemei, are you home? I'm Wu Lian. I have something to talk to you about."
When Xuemei heard it was Wu Lian, she went back and told Mr. and Mrs. Liu to go back to the main hall to rest. Then she went to open the door and said, "Wu Zhiqing, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. I was just packing up. But it's so late, what do you want to talk to me about?"
"Let me go in first, and we'll talk after we go in." Wu Lian pushed Xuemei who was blocking the door and said.
"Well, let's talk here. My family is tired from work and has already gone to bed." Xuemei didn't want Wu Lian to go in, so she said.
"He Wenting and the others are all in there, so they won't disturb us? Do you look down on me?" Wu Lian said angrily.
"Wu Zhiqing, what are you talking about? Everyone is equal now. If you want to come in, come in! But keep your voice down."
"Comrade Liu Xuemei, I heard that you picked some wild grapes in the mountains yesterday. Can you give me some?" Wu Lianji asked with a frown.
"Wu Zhiqing, I'm sorry. I don't have any at home anymore." Xuemei said pretending to be embarrassed.
"Who are you trying to fool? If you don't want to give it, just say so." Wu Lian said sarcastically.
"Wu Zhaodi, are you shameless? People work so hard to pick it from the mountain, and you want to get it for free. If you want it, pay for it. Five cents per pound." He Wanting retorted after hearing Wu Zhaodi's shameless remarks.
"He Wenting, I knew you were all here. I will settle the score with you later. This thing is so expensive, are you robbing me? Everything on the mountain is public property. How can you ask for money, Liu Xuemei? You are a capitalist tail." Wu Lian said arrogantly.
Xuemei's face darkened upon hearing this, and she spoke sternly, "Wu Zhiqing, the things on the mountain are public property, belonging to everyone in our village. Everyone can go and get them, and how much you can get depends on your ability. Doesn't it require me to waste time and energy going up the mountain to find wild grapes and then laboriously carrying them back? These wild grapes are the result of my labor, and I have the right to exchange them for money or sell them to others, as long as my price is fair. It's just like you go to work every day to earn work points, and at the end of the year you can exchange them for money or food. There is no reason to slander me or spread rumors."
Besides, you want to eat my wild grapes for free. You are trying to get something for nothing and exploiting us rural people. This is an extremely serious capitalist practice. I think you should go to the Revolutionary Committee for ideological education."
"I didn't, Comrade Liu Xuemei. I was just joking. I don't want to eat it anymore. I don't want it anymore." Wu Lian said guiltily.
The other educated youth sneered at her when they saw her like this.
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