In the blink of an eye, it was mid-April and time to go to the county town for the exam.
Mu Huaixi came down from the mountain early in the morning, wiped the sweat off her face and changed into light clothes. She is now pregnant, but fortunately she has no adverse reactions. She still goes to the mountain to read every morning. A few days ago, she took the medical soldiers to the mountain to collect herbs, and then they will make pills together.
This time she went to the county town not only to take the exam, but also to visit Xiaohua's friends, so Wang Xiaohua saved up her vacation in advance and will go with her today.
When Mu Huaixi finished packing and arrived at the guard post, there were already two people standing next to the car. They were Sister Yu and Sister Hongxia.
"Are you going to the county town too?" Mu Huaixi was a little surprised. There were familiar faces on the road, so she didn't feel lonely.
"Yes," Wang Hongxia smiled when she saw her. "We're going to the county chemical factory today. They said they're going to buy Chinese tallow oil!"
Things in the military camp are done quickly, decisively and accurately. From the day the regiment decided to set up this oil press workshop, it sent soldiers up the mountain to pick Chinese tallow nuts.
There are Jinjiao, Yinjiao and Hulu Mountains near the regiment headquarters. Behind the mountains are more mountains. The Chinese tallow trees all over the mountains cannot withstand the enthusiasm of these young men. The Chinese tallow seeds that had not fallen off much in the wind and snow throughout the winter were pulled out in just a few days.
I heard that they brought back more than ten baskets of elm seeds, and the canteen cooked elm seed rice for three days.
"Did you find a seller so quickly?" Mu Huaixi's eyes lit up. She knew that the workshop was open, but she didn't expect the progress to be so fast.
Sister Yu held her hand with some complaints, "This is the workshop you proposed, and you don't worry about it at all."
"The health center is too busy. Besides, Sister Yu is in charge, and Sister Hongxia and Sister Liu Qing are in charge of the oil press. What else do I have to worry about?"
"You're just sweet-talking!"
Wang Hongxia carefully took out a bamboo tube from the cloth bag beside her. She showed it to her once before putting it away preciously. "Well, this is the first time I've handled something so important. I feel like I'm holding a rabbit in my heart."
Mu Huaixi smiled. Just as she was about to say something to comfort Sister Hongxia, she saw her turn her head and wave towards the end of the road, "Xiaohua, Shalenger, we're waiting for you!"
Wang Xiaohua ran over breathlessly, her hair all messed up. She was carrying a large bag and a waist pillow in her arms. She smiled, revealing two small canine teeth. "I'm late. Let's go?"
Sister Yu sat in the passenger seat, and the three of them sat in the back seat. Before getting in the car, Xiaohua placed the lumbar pillow she was holding on the window seat. "Doctor Mu, sit here. Fengjuan made this for you."
Mu Huaixi felt warm in her heart. Since she became pregnant, her colleagues at the health center have taken extra care of her.
"You are such a lovely girl," Wang Hongxia liked this kind of girl whose heart was as soft as cotton, and Wang Xiaohua also liked this kind of straightforward elder sister. The two started chatting as soon as they got in the car. When they got off the car, Wang Xiaohua had already pulled sister Hongxia and insisted on having her go to her house for dinner.
Finally, Sister Yu waved her hand and said, "Today is a good day. Let's go. I'll treat you to a restaurant!"
They set out before dawn and arrived at the county town near dusk, even though they had taken the newly built bridge across the river. If they had taken the old route, they would probably not have arrived until the next day.
It was the time when workers were getting off work, and the streets were bustling with people and cars.
Wang Xiaohua held her hand and observed the passers-by's clothes and appearance eagerly and interestedly, trying to capture the current trends in the county.
"Look, Boss Mu! The shirt she's wearing is so pretty!"
“This skirt is nice too.”
"Why are you all wearing wide-leg pants? It's so awkward."
Mu Huaixi listened to her fashion comments all the way and followed Sister Yu into the crowded state-owned restaurant.
"Why are there so many people?" Wang Hongxia was startled by the crowd when she came in, and then she smelled the rich and fragrant aroma in the room. She took a quick look and saw a fish in the center of each table. She couldn't help but wonder, is this the restaurant's signature dish?
"That's peach blossom fish, it's delicious," Wang Xiaohua whispered to them. She glanced longingly at Sister Yu who was looking at the menu, but turned to Mu Huaixi and said, "Let's go eat it tomorrow after you finish your exam."
Peach blossom fish is a seasonal fish. It does not require food coupons but is not cheap. A plate of five or six small fish the size of a palm costs three yuan and twenty yuan. Compared with fried tofu at two cents and hot pot noodles at three taels of food coupons and one cent and eighteen yuan, it is simply a huge luxury.
Even if it was Sister Yu who treated her, and even if she was craving for it, Wang Xiaohua never thought of ordering peach blossom fish.
But Sister Yu directly ordered a plate, two meat dishes and one vegetable dish, and a bowl of noodles for all five people, especially a big bowl for the driver.
"Sister Yu, this is too expensive," Wang Xiaohua said, feeling a little embarrassed. She took out a few food coupons and said, "How about we pay separately?"
"No, no, I've already paid. We don't have the space to spend our food coupons in the mountains," Sister Yu waved her hand quickly and looked at Mu Huaixi with a smile, "Xiao Mu helped us a lot before, I said I would treat her to a meal this time."
"It turns out that it was all thanks to Dr. Mu," Wang Xiaohua said with a smile. She felt happy at the thought of being able to eat the peach blossom fish that she had not eaten for a long time.
She chatted with Sister Yu for a few more words, then suddenly ran out to buy a pot of golden flower soup. "This is delicious, you guys try it."
The peach blossom fish was tender and delicious, the golden flower soup was slightly bitter but sweet, and even the noodles were chewy and fragrant. Mu Huaixi ate very happily, and when Xiaohua said that there were several such restaurants in the county, he instantly understood Zhao Huihui better. Even Wang Xiaohua often thought about the delicious food, fun things and good clothes in the county town, let alone Zhao Huihui who was in a big city and a big factory?
After dinner, the two parties said goodbye. Sister Yu and Wang Hongxia were going to stay in a guesthouse and visit the chemical plant tomorrow, while Mu Huaixi accepted Xiaohua's invitation to stay at her home, because Wang Xiaohua's home was near the county hospital, very close to where she would take the exam.
"We're here," Wang Xiaohua led her through the streets and alleys, buying some candied melons and cakes, and finally arrived at a bungalow. Three generations of the Wang family had lived in this small courtyard. Her parents and grandfather lived in the main house, while Wang Xiaohua's brother, sister-in-law, and nephew lived in the east wing. Wang Xiaohua lived in the west wing.
When they arrived, the lights in the east wing had been turned off, but there were still people in the main room.
"My nephew goes to bed early."
Wang Xiaohua tiptoed with her to the main room. Xiaohua's mother, who was waiting at the door, immediately grabbed her hand and said, "Doctor Mu, right? I often hear Xiaohua mention you. Thank you for taking care of us Xiaohua!"
"Hello, auntie. Xiaohua helped me a lot at the health center and took care of me along the way." Mu Huaixi was a little flattered, but Xiaohua's mother held her hand tightly and praised her profusely.
"Hey, I've already told my mom, you're so nice," Wang Xiaohua handed over the things she bought. "Mom, show off your cooking skills tomorrow at noon and make some delicious food for Dr. Mu."
"Need I tell you that?" Xiaohua's mother was very enthusiastic. She insisted on letting them into the house to drink a bowl of brown sugar egg tea, and arranged hot water for them to wash up before letting them go back to the house to sleep.
The bed in the west wing had been made long ago, and there was even a hot water bottle in the quilt. Mu Huaixi lay drowsy in the quilt that smelled of sunshine, but she was thinking that it was no wonder that Wang Xiaohua was as innocent as a child, because she had been spoiled when she grew up.
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