After entering the room and taking a seat, tea was served in white porcelain cups, which is extremely rare.
With the food in the pot on her mind, Lin's mother exchanged a few pleasantries with Xu Ningyan and told her not to be shy and to make herself at home before heading back into the kitchen to busy herself.
Lin's father, holding the pot of orchids, pulled Xu Ningyan aside and asked, "Comrade Xu, what made you think of bringing this to my door?"
Xu Ningyan blinked: "My family is poor and we don't have anything to offer. Last time I came to your house, I saw two pots of orchids in the living room. I thought there were plenty of these in our rural mountains, so I dug up a couple as a gift. It wouldn't cost me much, and Uncle, you could accept them generously. Wouldn't that be a win-win situation?"
Lin's father was taken aback, not expecting Xu Ningyan to be so honest, but he quickly burst out laughing.
"You're right! It's the thought that counts, and you didn't spend much money, so I can accept it without hesitation! It's a win-win situation!"
The laughter startled Lin Feng and his mother, who were huddled inside the house, and they peeked out to take a quick look.
After laughing, Lin's father waved his hand, signaling Lin Hong to take Xu Ningyan to the room to play. He then happily carried the flowerpot to the small courtyard to examine it from all angles. Now that the orchid belonged to him, he could trim any parts that he had previously found disagreeable.
Holding a small pair of scissors, she snipped away.
Lin Hong led Xu Ningyan into her room, and the two chatted intimately.
Lin Hong praised the chicken mushroom oil she brought back yesterday, saying it was incredibly fragrant. Even Lin's father, who doesn't usually crave good food, couldn't stop praising it and ate an extra bowl of rice.
Xu Ningyan took out a brand new military green satchel from his own bag and handed it to Lin Hong.
Upon seeing this, Lin Hong screamed and hurriedly slung the dress over her shoulder. She ran to the dressing mirror by the door, looking at herself from left to right, reluctant to take it off.
Lin's mother came out and took a look. When she heard that Xu Ningyan had asked the aunties in the brigade to help with it, she was relieved.
Just as they were talking excitedly, they heard someone outside calling for Lin Feng.
Then, Lin Feng agreed, went out to say a few words, turned around and came back in, leaving his mother with the words, "Something came up at the factory, don't wait for me to eat."
He turned and left.
Lin's mother looked helplessly at the gate. Lin Feng had long since disappeared. She could only complain to Lin's father, "It's been months, and he hasn't had a single day off. He finally came home today, and he was called away again! Is there so much trouble at your factory? Can't we do without him?"
While pruning the orchids, Lin's father replied with a smile, "Being busy is a good thing! You can learn more! Young people need some pressure to improve! Now is a crucial time. If they can overcome this difficulty, they will be able to stand on their own in the future!"
Lin's mother sighed and went back to the kitchen.
Neither Xu Ningyan nor Lin Hong knew what to say. Judging that Lin's mother was almost ready to eat, Lin Hong simply took Xu Ningyan for a walk around the living room.
The living room is quite large, and on the left side against the wall is a whole wall of bookshelves, filled with books.
Xu Ningyan was amazed. In this day and age, it was incredible that someone would dare to openly display so many books in the living room.
I couldn't resist taking a closer look. Apart from some textbooks, the Little Red Book, and some works by high-ranking leaders, most of the rest were books on mechanical design.
Xu Ningyan glanced at it briefly, then her gaze froze on one spot, and she couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice: "Mechanical Design Handbook, Principles of Machinery?"
Hearing Xu Ningyan's voice, Lin Hong leaned over to take a look, but didn't seem very interested: "You've read these two books?"
Xu Ningyan's voice was neither too loud nor too soft: "I haven't seen them. I saw them in my brother Gu's room. He also has these two books. They are covered with dense writing, but I can't understand them!"
"And I also saw some—" Xu Ningyan paused, looked around in the bookshelf, and saw a shelf with discarded blueprints on it. Pointing to the blueprints, she continued, "There are also some things like this one. Brother Gu said they were design blueprints, but I can't understand them at all!"
Lin Hongxin said with a sense of sympathy, "I don't understand it either!"
Suddenly, Lin's father appeared behind Xu Ningyan, smiling as he asked, "Comrade Xu, are you saying that you not only saw the same books as mine in your Brother Gu's room, but also blueprints?"
Xu Ningyan had deliberately said this for Lin's father to hear, and now, upon hearing his words, she pretended to be frightened.
She covered her mouth sheepishly and turned her head away: "Uncle, did I say something wrong?"
Lin's father smiled and said, "No, I was just a little curious. I didn't know that there were people in the countryside who understood mechanical design—" As he said this, he seemed to think of something, and his expression suddenly became somewhat sad.
Xu Ningyan and Lin Hong didn't dare to breathe loudly when they saw his expression.
It was only when Lin's father came to his senses that he beckoned Xu Ningyan to sit down and began to ask her in detail about the matter of Brother Gu that she had mentioned.
Having received instructions from Gu Zhiyuan, Xu Ningyan did not hide anything.
He honestly explained his relationship with Gu Zhiyuan, saying that the two were engaged.
They also said that Gu Zhiyuan was sent down from the capital to their brigade and knew a lot, etc.
When Lin's father heard that Gu Zhiyuan had come from the capital, he immediately showed a thoughtful expression.
Just then, Lin's mother finished preparing the meal and called for everyone to come and eat, so Xu Ningyan immediately got up to help.
Apart from Lin's father, who seemed to be paying attention, everyone else seemed to enjoy the meal.
Lin's mother, in particular, thanked Xu Ningyan for the matsutake mushroom oil and kindly told Xu Ningyan to come visit Lin Hong more often. This was a sign that she acknowledged Xu Ningyan and did not deliberately avoid him despite knowing that Xu Ningyan's fiancé was a black element sent down to the countryside.
Xu Ningyan's goodwill towards the Lin family increased by another ten percent.
After finishing their meal and chatting for a while, Xu Ningyan got up to say goodbye.
Seeing that she couldn't keep her, Lin's mother went inside and came out a short while later carrying several items: a women's military green top, a pair of transparent plastic sandals, and a can of malted milk powder, which she tried to give to Xu Ningyan.
Xu Ningyan refused to accept it.
After some back and forth, Xu Ningyan, being young, was no match for the middle-aged woman's strength in this regard. She was quickly overwhelmed and didn't even realize when her shirt and sandals were stuffed into her handbag, and her fingers were hooked onto a net bag containing malted milk powder.
The clothes were almost torn, but thankfully they were made of durable polyester and withstood the brunt of the tear.
Their hair was a mess. If you knew the two of them, you'd think they were pushing each other, but if you didn't, you'd think Xu Ningyan had just been in a fight.
For Xu Ningyan, this was even more tiring than fighting!
Lin Hong covered her mouth and laughed. She knew her mother's strength. Unless she didn't really want to give it, no one could refuse her!
Helpless, Xu Ningyan had no choice but to pack her things, tidy herself up a bit, and head out.
Just as he took a step, Lin's father's voice rang out from behind: "Comrade Xiao Xu, next time you come to the county town, bring your Brother Gu with you so I can meet him."
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