At night, in Liu's mother and father's room.
"Li Niang, have you collected the Ganoderma? Why did you suddenly go over there to look for Ganoderma today?"
After thinking about it, Liu's mother decided to tell Liu's father about Xuemei's dream, so that the couple could discuss it with Xuemei if she had any other dreams in the future.
"Xuemei dreamed yesterday that there was a treasure on the mountain at the entrance of the village, so she took us to see it today. After you came home with firewood, she wanted to drag me to look for the treasure. I originally wanted to check if there were any mushrooms, but I didn't expect Xuemei to really find the treasure."
"As the old saying goes, children are protected by the gods. We should still believe in children's dreams. However, you can't spread any rumors now. You must tell Xuemei not to spread rumors outside, and don't tell her brothers and sisters."
"I told Xuemei that you're still not confident in my ability to do things."
Father Liu lowered his head and kissed Mother Liu in his arms, then hugged her and said, "Of course I trust you to do the job. You are the daughter-in-law chosen by me, Liu Guangda." A hint of tenderness flashed in Father Liu's eyes.
"What a character you have," Liu's mother tried to twist Liu's father's arm, but it was all muscle and she couldn't twist it.
"Li Niang, I'm going to the county town tomorrow to sell the big Ganoderma lucidum. The commune can't get a good price for it. You can keep the small ones to dry, and then give one to each of our parents. I'll also send three to your eldest brother. He's serving in the army, so he's bound to get injured. This will help him replenish his body."
Mother Liu looked at Father Liu, her eyes filled with emotion. Mother Liu hugged Father Liu tightly and said, "Brother Da, you are so kind. You still think about my family."
"Li Niang, this is what we deserve. Your parents and your eldest brother have been so kind to us. Our family and our two children have suffered losses from them in the past few years. After we sell the Ganoderma lucidum and pay off the borrowed money, we'll still have some money left."
A few years ago, when grain prices were high, we borrowed 150 yuan from my grandparents. My parents had planned to see how much money we had left after the production team distributed the money this year. If we still had more than 60 yuan, we'd pay them back 50 yuan by the end of the year and continue the repayment next year. Now, they don't have to; they can pay it off in one lump sum.
"Brother Da, just send two to my eldest brother, and we will keep one at home. You will go to repair the reservoir in a few days, and you will definitely be much thinner when you come back. You will need some nourishment then. Tomorrow, take 14 kilograms of cotton to the cotton mill to make two 7-kilogram quilts." Mother Liu looked at the place where the two brothers usually slept. Today, Father and Mother Liu had something to discuss, so they put the two brothers in Xuemei's room and the four siblings slept together. Usually, they slept with Father and Mother Liu.
Mother Liu continued, "Next year, the two brothers will have to sleep on their own. We won't need to go out and exchange the cotton we got this year. Buy some cloth tomorrow and make each of the children a new cotton-padded jacket. We haven't made new jackets for the children in over two years, and they're too short. Just mix in some new cotton for the two of us. We should have about ten pounds of cotton left. Send three pounds to your parents. My second brother and his wife planted less cotton this year. Send two pounds to my parents, and send the rest to my eldest brother. It's too cold over in Heilongjiang Province, and they don't have enough cotton."
"Okay, you decide. My second brother has many children, and it's time for them to grow up. There's definitely not enough food at home, so we can only plant more sweet potatoes in our private plots. Our family is also about to go bankrupt, so we still need to save more money."
"Then you can exchange the dozen or so eggs you've saved at home tomorrow."
"Take ten and exchange them! Leave the rest for the children to nourish their bodies. Good health is the most important thing."
"Okay, you're right."
"Li Niang, it's late, let's go to bed! Let's try to give Xuemei and the others a brother or sister." Then a deep gaze fell on Liu's mother, and Liu's mother blushed with shame.
The next morning, Father Liu set off for the commune carrying a backpack, a sack, and Ganoderma lucidum in his arms.
After arriving at the commune, Liu's father first went to the cotton ginning mill and gave the cotton to the workers, paying them four yuan. They agreed to pick it up that afternoon before heading to the station. There were also cotton ginners in the village, charging one yuan less than at the commune, but the quality wasn't as good. Those who wanted to save money would go to the village.
Today, Liu's mother is out in the yard drying some Ganoderma lucidum. After a day of drying, and two nights of using sparks to heat it, it should be ready. She can also take out the winter quilts, pat out the cotton, and then put them out in the sun to dry. She can also take out the children's old cotton-padded jackets, mend them, and dry them out to remove the lint. The weather has started to get colder, and they'll need cotton-padded jackets soon, but Liu's mother doesn't have time to make new ones just yet.
Liu's father didn't get home until after six in the afternoon. Liu's mother had already cooked the dishes. They would have boiled cabbage and sweet potatoes tonight. It was very good to be able to eat until they were 60% full during the slack season.
Father Liu's backpack was full, and he was holding a large hemp sack. As soon as the children saw Father Liu coming back, they ran to follow him.
"Dad, did you buy us anything delicious? Mom said you went to make a quilt." Qingya asked.
"Dad, did you buy some candy?" Ruirui asked.
@Dad, I want some candy too.” Feifei also said.
Xuemei was too old to ask, so she just looked at Father Liu eagerly.
Father Liu looked at the four greedy little cats following him and smiled. He said, "I didn't buy any candy today, but I did buy some meat buns and some new cotton cloth. Your mother will make you new cotton-padded jackets for the New Year."
"Dad, Mom, you are so nice." Xuemei and her two siblings said.
Father Liu handed the sack to Mother Liu, "Mother, these are two quilts." Mother Liu took it and walked into the room, intending to put them in the box.
Father Liu put the backpack on the ground and took out an oil-paper bag with six meat buns inside. Father Liu gave one to each child.
Okay, you guys eat first, I'll give the other things to your mother and ask her to put them away."
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