"Lihong, these homespun cloths are really cheap, but cotton is expensive, so there are no cotton coupons. No wonder they all make them themselves." Lin Lishan sighed.
Cheng Lihong laughed and glanced at her sideways, "It must be much cheaper to buy cotton in the summer. It's winter now, sister. And you still think it's too expensive. You've emptied this place out, so I guess he's in a hurry to find cotton. He ordered the cotton in the summer and has a certain amount. Who wouldn't plant crops to fill their stomachs now?
An entire village couldn't possibly have enough for three 8-jin (100-pound) quilts. In the middle of winter, everyone loves to bring a new wife home for the New Year. Villagers borrow from neighbors to make up the number, returning the favor the following year. Even in the city, brothers and sisters huddle together on the same kang (kang) in the middle of winter. Many families don't have cotton for quilted jackets, so they use old cotton and straw inside. Look at those shivering people on the street—they're all wearing straw inside their jackets. Believe it or not, your family doesn't have as many quilts as Jiaojiao in the entire county."
Lin Lishan smiled and nodded, "I'm in the army now, and I've forgotten what was assigned. Do you have enough quilts at home? Come back and bring me two. They're all new. I got them from Zhao Chuangguang this morning. They're just a little narrow, perfect for a bachelor and a young girl to sleep on."
Cheng Hongli nodded repeatedly, gesturing with a beaming expression, "My son is fine, but my daughter's quilt has been there for three years and it's no longer warm. It's too hard. In the winter, when we heat the kang, she always says it's too hot underneath and too cold when we come home. I always cover it with my army coat. I was planning to add new cotton and refill it this year. In recent years, Lao Zhao's relatives have been helping out whenever they have a hard time. I don't dare spend money on a family with two sons and a daughter."
Lin Lishan looked at her sympathetically, "You are like my second sister-in-law. Her family is from a large compound. Her father has three brothers, and her mother has two brothers and three sisters. They are all in the countryside. Only her family is in Beijing, and they are high-ranking officials. We go to them for help when we have something to do. Our family is not well-off. My second sister-in-law's mother hasn't worked yet, but she has three sons and two daughters. When she meets her dozen nephews and nieces, she has to give gifts when they get married and have children. Every time she comes to Beijing, she brings back big and small bags.
My second sister-in-law is lucky to have gone to the Northwest. If she were in Beijing, she'd probably cry. Her relatives always look for her when they come back. Our two families live in the compound, just a short distance apart. My mother told me that people from their hometowns visit constantly throughout the year, sometimes even having to sleep in the bunk bed. My second sister-in-law's mother never has more than three sets of clothes; as soon as she has them, someone gives them to her. Haha, once my mother went to her house, she put down her military coat, went to the bathroom, and when she came out, it was gone. She searched for a long time before she found it was on someone else. Haha, it was hilarious.
Cheng Hongli laughed along, "Will your mother still dare to go there in the future? This family is too burdensome. We have to find a way to solve it. If we continue to live like this, home won't feel like home anymore."
"What can you do? You're going to chase them away when they show up? You haven't even arranged any jobs for them, but you should at least give them money and things, right? Otherwise, their reputation will be ruined. My second sister-in-law and her three brothers are too afraid to go home. They stay at work and live in the dormitories with their wives. There are many families like this in the compound, but they're not as extreme as them."
Cheng Hongli asked curiously, "What about your family? Don't you have any poor relatives visiting you?"
"My father is an orphan. My mother's family is not short of money. They have the ability and don't need my mother to help the village. My parents don't really have any poor relatives coming to visit. My eldest brother and Zheng brother are out on a mission. My eldest sister-in-law is in the Women's Federation like you. Her family is full of workers, so there is no need to come to our family. If there is any, she will say she will handle it herself. My second brother and his wife took the children to the Northwest. Besides me, only my youngest sister is left. She found a soldier. His family is not well off, but he and his wife have a high salary. My brother-in-law gives half of his salary to his family. She works in the military hospital to cover her expenses. My mother subsidizes a small courtyard, which saves her trouble. As you can see, I have only one Jiaojiao with Zheng brother, so there is no burden. My Jiaojiao doesn't ask us for subsidies. We secretly prepare everything in advance. Haha, you don't know how fun this child is. When buying things, she frowns and says seriously, "Mom, I have it, I have it all. You have to be frugal, you have to be low-key, and don't buy big things."
Cheng Hongli looked at her enviously, "You are so lucky. You don't have to worry about your parents' family, and your husband's family is too embarrassed to see you after this incident. Besides, you have Zheng Ge here, your daughter is sensible, and your son-in-law is excellent. You really make everyone want to bite you."
Lin Lishan rolled her eyes at her. "Don't you have anything to envy? Your old Zhao treats you so well. Your two sons are grown up now. You have Yuanyuan, the happy pill. You're also successful in your career, and yet you're still not satisfied."
Cheng Hongli laughed out loud after hearing this. "It's a blessing, we are all blessed, but I'm also worried. Don't worry about your daughter-in-law, just keep it under your eyes. But when I see your Jiaojiao, I think of my girl. She's so heartless, she needs to find a partner in the future. You're fine, Jiaojiao and Xiaowu grew up together, your Jiaojiao is also very capable, and Xiaowu is not a playboy. I don't know what my girl will find in the future. I looked around and there is no one suitable. The child is suitable, but the in-laws are not, and the in-laws are suitable, but the child is not capable of protecting the wife. You said we were simple back then. If we found the right person, our parents didn't have to worry, and soldiers were all down-to-earth. I want to introduce a soldier to her, but I think of how difficult it is to be a military wife, so I can't."
"Fate is predestined. Don't worry about Yuanyuan, she's such a wonderful child. She's still young, so just keep an eye on her. There will always be someone who recognizes a gem, so don't get married and have children so early."
Cheng Hongli looked outside and saw that they were almost there. "That makes sense. Let's just wait for fate to come. It's convenient to have a car. We can get there in no time and there won't be any cold wind."
"Don't worry, I'll buy some buns and steamed buns at the hotel first and bring them back to Xiaoya and her mother." After saying that, Lin Lishan parked the car in front of the hotel.
After getting off the bus and entering the restaurant with the food coupons, I could smell the aroma of steamed buns from afar. After entering the door, I saw a girl sitting at the counter. She looked at me curiously and touched her hair when she came in. "Comrade, what do you want to buy?"
Lin Lishan looked at her amusedly, probably the sister Wang that Jiaojiao mentioned, Wang Linzhi, "Do you have buns and steamed buns?"
"Yes, they're fresh out of the oven. Smell the aroma. We have pickled cabbage and meat fillings, and the buns are just the right size. How many do you want?"
Lin Lishan took out the food coupons and money and asked, "Twenty meat buns and twenty steamed buns, how many do you want?"
"Meat buns are 0.15 yuan, steamed buns are 0.07 yuan, and they require 2 liang of grain coupons. Food from other provinces is not allowed, only national and provincial grain coupons are available."
After listening to her, Lin Lishan counted out the food coupons and money and handed them to her. The girl quickly put the money away, counted the coupons, and shouted, "Master, 20 meat buns and 20 steamed buns."
After waiting for a while, Lin Lishan ran to the car with the steaming buns and said, "You carry them first. Wrap them in oil paper. They won't be edible if you leave them in the back. I'll drive. You can eat them later if you're hungry."
Cheng Hongli was carrying two full bags. "Why did you buy so much? We're going to the restaurant soon. This steamed bun is bigger than my face. Can I eat it?"
"Haha... I didn't expect the steamed buns here to be so big. I ordered all of them. Don't you think the buns and steamed buns in Northeast China are so big and full of stuffing? The last time I went to the restaurant, I ordered a bowl of braised pork, and the plate was full of meat."
Both of them laughed out loud. The car stopped at the gate of the yard. Hearing the sound of the car, Zhou Xiaozheng and Zhao Dashan came out together. When they saw them, they both laughed out loud. Cheng Hongli was holding her hands full, and Lin Lishan was holding a thick quilt so that her face could not be seen.
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