He reached out and touched Su Yu's hand through her clothes. "Secretary Qiu, you asked me to go there on New Year's Day. I might have to spend the Spring Festival there this year."
"So eager?" Su Yu asked curiously. She thought it would be past the New Year.
“The situation down here is not good. Secretary Qiu hopes that I can turn things around after I go there and let the people have a good New Year.” When Secretary Song said this, he felt the heavy burden on his shoulders.
Su Yu smiled and said, "Secretary Qiu still trusts you a lot. He's entrusted you with such a heavy responsibility. But Comrade Dongzheng, have you made all the arrangements below?"
"Well, Captain Li has already gone to the county public security bureau as deputy director. He's qualified and a former soldier, so he should be able to establish himself there. Also, someone from the county finance bureau has gone there. It was Lao Yan who arranged it, so no one else can find my side. That's all for now. As for the grain, I've also made arrangements with the transportation company. They can help me with some of it, as well as the mountain goods we're exchanging for. That should be enough to get through the New Year."
Hearing Secretary Song arrange everything step by step, Su Yu carefully reviewed it in her mind, helping him to find any omissions or oversights.
Feeling there was nothing wrong, he asked again, "Have you figured out all the interpersonal relationships over there?"
"Yes. I've figured it all out."
Su Yu smiled, knowing this man wouldn't fight an unprepared battle; his reconnaissance work was better than anyone else's. She wondered if it was because of his past service in the military.
"There's one last thing I haven't done, and I'm still worried about it," Secretary Song suddenly sighed.
Upon hearing this, Su Yu asked, "What's wrong?"
"About the engagement. What should I do if I can't wait until you have your vacation?"
"..."
Hearing his pitiful tone, Su Yu tickled his waist, but couldn't reach it because he was wearing too thick clothes, and laughed, "Then we'll just have to make do."
"..."
Because they were about to part ways, Secretary Song was a little reluctant to leave her partner, Su Yu. She went home with Su Yu, put their things down, and then took Su Yu out for dinner.
Old Lady Liu watched as the person left, holding a large spoon, her eyes full of regret. "Why did your sister-in-law go out to eat? I knew she was coming back, and I even put in some extra effort. Otherwise, I would have just made you a plate of pickled vegetables."
Su Dazhi almost vomited when he heard the word "pickled vegetables".
Except for Sundays, he spends most of his week eating pickled vegetables. Liu Mei is slightly better off; sometimes she can even eat a boiled egg to supplement her nutrition.
Su Lin eats lunch at school because of school, which is a bit better than other meals, but he doesn't have money and has to eat at home every day. This makes him feel sick whenever he hears the thought of pickled vegetables.
If it weren't for his mother-in-law, he would have complained to his older sister.
……………………
In the military compound, after Li Ping finished dinner at home, she went to find her sister, Li Aijun.
Li Aijun has recently become somewhat afraid of this older sister. It's because the sister has a penchant for tattling; if Li Aijun isn't paying attention in her tutoring sessions, she'll tell their parents, and then her father will scold her and stop giving her pocket money.
They might even hit someone's hand with a slap.
"Hey sis, what do you want from me? I don't have tutoring tonight."
Li Ping said seriously, "I know, I'm here to talk to you about something. Is two yuan a month enough for your allowance?"
Li Aijun said warily, "What? I don't have any money to lend you. You earn three yuan more than me a month."
This was also what Li Aijun resented. They were both daughters in the family, and she had grown up in the same household, yet her older sister only received five yuan a month. Her father told them that if they were dissatisfied, they should follow their older sister's example and get into a good university.
“I have money,” Li Ping said directly.
Li Aijun: "..." Is this guy showing off?
Li Ping said, "From now on, I'll give you two yuan every month, and you can do my laundry."
"What?" Li Aijun was stunned.
"By the way, winter's coming, it'll be quite cold, so it'll be three yuan a month. I'll wash it once a week. Don't worry, I don't have many clothes." Li Ping thought it was a good deal.
Li Aijun was displeased. "Big sister, you're hiring me as a worker. I'm going to tell Dad."
“Go ahead, I’m doing this for your own good. You always love buying new clothes and are always nagging about it at home. I’m just teaching you not to expect something for nothing. If you want to buy other things, you have to work for them.”
Li Aijun: "..."
This is also why Li Ping sought out Li Aijun instead of Li Aihong. In her eyes, Li Aijun's flaw meant she was someone who could be used.
“If you wash your clothes once a week, the money you earn in a month will be enough for you to buy fabric and make clothes. If you don’t want to, I’ll go to Mom. Mom usually does housework, so she should be willing.”
"...Wait, are you really going to give me three dollars?"
"Why would I lie to you? I have money, I won't be stingy."
"..." Li Aijun pursed his lips. "Fine. I'll do your laundry, but you have to pay me. Three yuan, not a penny less!"
"Um."
The next morning, Li Aijun got up and helped Li Ping wash the bed sheets and blankets.
Li Aihong thought her sister had gone mad.
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