"That's right. When those city kids first went to the countryside, they were also very weak and had to rely on work points to exchange for food to survive. At that time, I had some prejudices against them," Gu Jin frankly admitted his mistakes: "At that time, they just went to the countryside and didn't adapt well. There was also an educated youth who couldn't adapt to the local climate. Later, they were able to do any work assigned to them by the team, and they were no worse than the members."
After listening to him, Gu Qingqing realized that it had been two days since she came back, and she hadn't seen Sister Yuanyuan and the others yet. She didn't see them come to watch TV yesterday either.
"Dad, I want to send some tofu to the educated youth center this afternoon," she said to Gu Jin.
"Okay, your eldest grandfather and several other young grandfathers also have families to send off, so you and your brothers can take A-Dai over to meet them."
"Okay."
The lunch was also very sumptuous. Gu Qingqing and the others ate until their bellies were full. After chatting for a while at the table, Gu's wife cleaned the table and everyone went back to the room for a nap.
Gu Qingqing leaned in Chu Dai's arms, close to the heat source, but tossed and turned and couldn't fall asleep.
Her eldest brother will bring back her new clothes and the satin quilt cover with dragon and phoenix patterns today. They will go back to their grandmother's house to pay New Year's greetings on the second day of the New Year, and get married on the fifth day. They will stay at home for a few days and then go to the island with him.
The house was so lively these days that she didn't think much of it. But now, thinking that she won't be able to see her family for several years, she feels empty inside.
Sensing her disappointment, Chu Dai patted her back gently. Not long after, her eyelids drooped and she fell asleep.
Chu Dai looked at the red little face in his arms, with love and pity in his eyes. He stared at her for a long time. The man rested his head against the bed, tilted his head, his eyes dark, and no one knew what he was thinking.
They got up at 2:30 in the afternoon. Chu Zhao rode his bicycle to the town station to pick up Gu Canyang, and Gu Jin went to the brigade headquarters. The accounts for the distribution of fish, pork and rapeseed oil in the past two days had been settled, and they were just waiting for him, the brigade leader, and Qin Wu to review them.
If there are no mistakes, Suanpan will be able to go home and spend a peaceful New Year.
When doing team accounting, every penny must be kept clear, otherwise the collective interests will be lost.
The other members of the Gu family were busy in the yard. Gu Qinglie had brought back a lot of small fish, and they had to squeeze out all the fish intestines. He and his brothers Gu Yuanchao, Gu Jianguo and others gathered in a circle, sat on small stools and used bamboo sticks to clean the small fish. They stopped their hands from time to time, but their mouths kept chattering.
The TV in the main room never stopped. The little kids in the village didn't go to sleep after lunch but ran straight here. If it were someone else's family, the adults would definitely stop them from running in such a rush, but the Gu family just let it go.
When you see your own children’s pockets filled with candies, peanuts, and melon seeds, you can tell what the customer’s attitude is.
Chu Dai was chopping wood in the yard again, but Gu Xiong couldn't sit still. In addition, a lot of firewood was needed for the New Year, and a charcoal stove had to be placed in the house at night. So he carried bamboo sticks on his shoulders and ran to the back mountain of the educated youth site to chop wood.
Gu Qingqing was helping Chu Dai pick up the chopped firewood and leaning against the wall.
"Qingqing." Zhang Cuifen took out all the tofu boxes and put them in the basket: "When your brother finishes fishing, you can go and deliver the tofu. Don't forget to bring the boxes back."
"Well, okay, grandma, don't forget the portion for the educated youth."
"I know."
At 3:30 in the afternoon, Gu Qinglie stretched out his two long legs, threw the bamboo sticks in his hand to the side, and moved his neck: "Finally done," he shouted to the kitchen: "Uncle San! How do you cook the small fish?"
"It's fried close to the pot," Gu Cai poked half of his head out, "There's quite a lot. After you two deliver the tofu, pick some young perilla on the roadside. Don't use the round-leaf ones, use the pointed saw-like ones. They're so fragrant. Fry them with shrimps in the evening, and you can also cook snails."
"Okay." Gu Qinglie went to the stove and grabbed a handful of ash to wash his hands. He rubbed his fingers clean and smelled them. There was no fishy smell. He casually rubbed two handfuls of water stains on his buttocks and walked to Chu Dai: "Old Chu, don't chop. Let's go deliver tofu and show you the way."
Chu Dai has been extremely diligent these past two days, rushing to do any work that comes his way. He has been secretly mocked by Gu Qinglie several times. Chu Yuan, who was standing at the door, saw his son like this and recalled the time when he married his wife.
At that time, his wife was the daughter of a prominent family. His father-in-law looked down on his background and made things difficult for him in every way. In the end, his wife contradicted her parents for him and suffered with him.
Thinking of this, he turned around silently and went back to the house.
Chu Dai put the axe back in the corner, took the enamel cup filled with boiling water handed to him by his wife, blew a few times on the rim of the cup, and drank two sips slowly.
"Why are you standing there? Let's go." He put down the water cup and took the lead to pick up the basket containing the tofu box.
Gu Qinglie made a "tsk" sound and followed with the basket in his hand. Gu Qingqing walked beside them with her hands in her pockets and her neck hunched.
Grandpa Gu Tiezhu's house was the closest to them, just behind Zhao San's house. When he saw them coming, he quickly asked his wife to bring a bowl of tofu.
"Grandpa, my brothers are not at home?" Gu Qingqing poked her head around.
"They all went to the back hill to chop firewood, and went with Xiongwa." Gu Tiechu looked after them: "Sit for a while, Grandpa will make you a cup of tea, and you can stay here to have the New Year dinner in the evening."
"No, thank you, Grandpa," Gu Qinglie grinned, "We still have to go to the young grandpa's house to deliver tofu. We'll come over tomorrow to pay New Year's greetings and have dinner."
Gu Tiechui's wife took out tofu from the box, and Chu Dai stepped forward to help hold the wooden box: "Grandma, let me help you."
As he spoke, he took the bowl from her hand and carefully poured the tofu in the box into the bowl without breaking any of it.
Gu Tiechu's wife smiled and said kindly, "This must be our Gu family's aunt. I was busy yesterday and didn't go to the village to pick you up. I just met her today. No wonder our baby likes her so much. She turns out to be a handsome guy."
Chu Dai smiled slightly and nodded.
Gu Qingqing's eyebrows curved: "Right. Grandma, who do you think is better looking, him or my elder brother?"
Gu Tiechui's wife chuckled beside him: "They are all pretty, but our Qingqing is the prettiest."
When Gu Qinglie heard this, he thought, it's all in vain.
His sister is pretty, but if you say she is the prettiest among the customers, that is impossible.
His sister is almost the same as he is to Gu Qinglie.
When they walk together, they look like siblings, but when they are with Gu Canyang, they don't look like that.
After chatting for a while at Gu Tiezhu's house, they carried their baskets to the remaining houses. When they came out, except for the baskets sent to the educated youth center, the empty tofu boxes in the remaining two baskets were filled with eggs and duck eggs.
Gu Qinglie did not go with them: "You guys go to the end of the village to send it off. I have to go pick basil. It seems like Gousheng should be back soon."
"Okay," Gu Qingqing waved at him, "Don't jump when you walk, and be careful of the eggs in the box."
"I know." Gu Qinglie walked down the path without looking back and soon disappeared around the corner.
Gu Qingqing held Chu Dai's hand, and the two of them walked slowly towards the setting sun. She looked up at his profile from time to time.
Chu Dai took two steps and then stopped, stuffing all the White Rabbit candies in his pocket into her hands.
Gu Qingqing smiled so hard that her teeth were showing. She peeled off the sweet candy and ate it. She asked, "Brother, will you really get dizzy if you don't eat candy every day?"
"A little bit of double vision." Chu Dai pulled her to the side of the road where there was no grass, so that the water droplets on the grass would not wet her pants: "I got dizzy once before, but then I got used to it."
Every time after a meal or when I'm bored, my hands always tend to reach into my pockets. I haven't smoked much recently and have eaten a lot of candy.
Gu Qingqing nodded, "What should we do when we go to the island?"
"The people who deliver the supplies will bring it for me." Chu Dai held the basket in his right hand, put his left arm on her shoulder, and pinched her chubby face with his fingers: "If you want to buy anything, write a list in advance and give it to the crew when they come to deliver the supplies. We will buy it next time."
“Is it okay without a ticket?”
"Well, it's okay without a ticket, as long as the quantity is not too large and it is basic supplies." This is also a special privilege for personnel stationed on the island with the army. The conditions on the island are harsh, and the country will try its best to meet their living needs.
Gu Qingqing suddenly felt that it wasn't that unbearable anymore. Thinking of the prawns she had eaten in the Southern Military Region, she gestured with her fingers: "Can we eat as much seafood as we want when we get to the island?"
"As long as you can pick it up," seeing her greedy look, Chu Dai laughed: "Think about it first, do you want to eat in the cafeteria with me, or cook for yourself."
Gu Qingqing was a little eager to try: "I want to cook for myself. I heard that I can get a house with a stove. Do you think it's okay?"
"Sure, why not." Chu Dai encouraged her: "Our Qingqing is so smart, she can do it after thinking about it a few more times."
"Then will you eat with me at home?" Gu Qingqing suddenly felt that her man was a good man, much better than Goudan.
Chu Dai shook his head, "You may not be able to get up so early to cook for me, I'll eat in the cafeteria."
Gu Qingqing understood what he meant and was about to say something when the man covered her mouth with his hand.
"Be good and eat by yourself."
Gu Qingqing: “…” Humph.
When they arrived at the educated youth center, Gu Qingqing pushed the door open and saw them making dumplings in the yard. "Brother Mengnan, Brother Chengfeng, happy New Year's Eve."
"Happy New Year's Eve." Seeing her, Meng Nan was slightly surprised, then patted the flour on his hands and said with a smile, "We cleaned the pond yesterday and went to restock the fish fry. When we heard you were coming back, we didn't have time to pick you up. I was thinking of sending you a plate of dumplings in the evening, but I didn't expect you to come first."
"I'm sending you some tofu. I ground the beans early this morning." Gu Qingqing pulled Chu Dai over and said, "This is my man, Chu Dai."
There was no trace of shyness in her eyes when she said this, she was very frank, her dark eyes were clear and bright, and her face was filled with joy.
"Hello, my name is Meng Nan."
"Yu Chengfeng."
Chu Dai smiled and shook hands with them. Gu Qingqing sat down at the stone table. "Where are Sister Yuanyuan, Sister Yezi, and Brother Zhang Qing?"
"In the vegetable garden in the backyard, Yuanyuan said she wanted to pick two radishes, shred them, and make fried radish balls. How about I go call her? She'll be so happy to see you coming."
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