In the late summer and early autumn of 1986, a vigorous campaign to catch rats and eliminate mosquitoes was launched in northern Shandong, southern Shandong, and western Hebei.
The village loudspeaker broadcasts epidemic prevention and control information non-stop every day. Xiao Wenjin, the former village party secretary who had been out of the picture for many years, has also returned to the front lines.
His aged body regained its vitality as he moved through the fields, directing each household to arrange rat poison according to the instructions.
The streets and alleys of the village have been cleaned up, and the garbage heaps, weeds, cow and sheep manure that used to be everywhere are no longer visible.
However, Xiao Changsuo, an important leader in the village, has rarely made an appearance.
According to some well-informed villagers, he also went into business.
Xiao Weiguo has been working particularly hard lately. Without Liu Ye's help, he has to carry a large bag of socks to various nearby counties to sell them all by himself.
For places that are a little further away, he has to set off as early as three or four in the morning.
Every day, I also have to rush home to complete the tasks assigned by the village.
They clean their own designated sanitation area and put rat poison in their own fields.
However, Xiao Weiguo was very happy with his work. His younger sister had already started reviewing her lessons, and Liu Ye tutored Shanshan at his house every day.
Even when his sister offered to help him with the housework, Xiao Weiguo refused.
What is this little bit of hardship compared to the suffering his sister has endured over the years? In his eyes, what he has done is utterly worthless.
Thinking back to how stuffy and suffocating it was in the cornfield that day, Xiao Weiguo felt heartbroken for his sister.
How much suffering did she endure to keep her family alive?
Now it's his turn. As long as he's there, Xiao Weiguo will never allow his sister to suffer any more.
Shanshan, your task now is to study hard. Leave everything else to your brother. There are other younger siblings too. Even if it costs me my life, I will make sure you all have a good life.
......
"Xiao Jiang, Xiao Yue, go wash your hands and call your older sister and Liu Ye to eat."
For dinner, Xiao Weiguo specially prepared four dishes: stir-fried pork with chili peppers, boiled fish, dried tofu with green peppers, and scrambled eggs with tomatoes.
There was also a big pot of fragrant rice.
Xiao Jiang and Xiao Yue, who were helping to start the fire, cheered and ran out of the kitchen. After carefully washing their hands as Xiao Weiguo asked, they ran to the main room to call their older sister and Liu Ye out for dinner.
Looking at the delicious-looking food on the stove, Xiao Weiguo wiped his hands on his apron with satisfaction, and then carried the dishes one by one to the stone table in the yard.
Under the dim light of the porch lamp, the family and Liu Ye sat together around the stone table.
Liu Ye had long since gotten used to having dinner at Xiao Weiguo's house. On the one hand, Xiao Weiguo wanted to express his gratitude for her tutoring his sister, and he couldn't refuse her request.
On the other hand, Xiao Weiguo's cooking is indeed delicious.
After the first meal, her stomach was completely satisfied. From then on, she stopped being polite. In Xiao Weiguo's words, it was just a matter of having an extra pair of chopsticks. She treated everyone like family, so why be so polite?
As for whether Xiao Weiguo had any other intentions, the naive Liu Ye never considered that.
"Xiao Weiguo, you're doing great! Your skills have improved again. If this keeps up, I won't be able to live without you."
Liu Ye held her chopsticks, staring at the table full of food, unsure where to begin.
Xiao Weiguo was taken aback. Oh wow, so direct?
Xiao Shanshan had just picked up her rice bowl when she heard Liu Ye's words and almost spat out the rice she was eating.
"Sister Liuye, what's the big deal? If you become my sister-in-law, you won't have to leave my brother."
Liu Ye then realized the mistake in her statement; what she actually meant to say was that she couldn't do without Xiao Weiguo's cooking skills.
After Xiao Shanshan's explanation, he immediately lost face.
"You brat, your whole family ganged up on me, didn't you? I'll tear your mouth apart."
As he spoke, he put down his chopsticks and went to tear at Xiao Shanshan's little mouth.
The two younger children didn't understand what was happening, but they knew their two older sisters were just playing around, so they ate their rice while laughing along.
Xiao Weiguo quickly reached out and pulled the two of them apart.
"Stop fooling around, we're eating."
While speaking, she took the opportunity to squeeze Liu Ye's delicate white hand twice.
Wow, it feels so good. So soft and smooth.
Liu Ye rolled her eyes at him, sat up straight, picked up her chopsticks again, and a blush rose on her pretty face.
Xiao Weiguo was secretly pleased. He solemnly picked up a slice of fish and placed it in the willow-leaf bowl.
"Try this boiled fish and see how it turns out."
Liu Ye didn't say anything, but just lowered her head and shoveled the fish and rice into her mouth.
Whether she could taste it or not, only she knows.
A sumptuous dinner quickly came to an end in a somewhat ambiguous atmosphere.
After putting down her chopsticks, Liu Ye glanced at the watch on the bowl.
"It's getting late, I have to go back."
"Wait a moment."
Xiao Weiguo hurriedly called out to Liu Ye, turned around and ran into the house, then came out with a flashlight.
"It's so dark, it's not safe for you to be alone, I'll take you there."
"Um."
Liu Ye answered softly. The two walked outside.
"Shanshan, you just need to put them to sleep. I'll clean up the table when I get back, you don't need to worry about it."
Xiao Weiguo turned around and gave his sister some instructions.
"It's okay, brother, it's fine if you don't come back."
Xiao Shanshan gave a mischievous smile, which earned her another eye roll from Liu Ye.
Xiao Weiguo scratched his head and chuckled.
When did this girl learn this trick?
There are no streetlights in the countryside, and once it gets dark, there are very few people walking on the streets.
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