On November 15th, the village began to distribute grain from the granary. After the grain was distributed, it meant that the winter life was about to begin.
Because the village harvested early before the rainstorm, this year's grain harvest is pretty good. Although it is a little less than last year, it is already very good compared with those villages that suffered disasters.
The village chief and the party secretary also cared about the villagers. It is said that people become more shrewd as they get older. Like the people in other villages that had suffered disasters, they cried poor in the commune and insisted on not paying any more grain, so the villagers could have a good New Year this year.
Shen Anning worked the fields for another month this year, and with a few more centimeters, she was given an extra 20 kilograms of coarse grain. Four sacks full of grain, as usual, were brought home by a male educated youth on a cart.
Shen Anning took a few pears from the kitchen and stuffed one into each person's mouth. "Thank you everyone for your hard work. I just bought some pears a few days ago. They are cheap and delicious."
The things were not expensive, so no one was polite. "It's okay, you're too polite. Then Shen Zhiqing, you can pack it up. We're going back too. With so much food, it's better to take it back first."
After seeing off the educated youth, Shen Anning put some of the grain into the grain cabinet and moved the rest to the warehouse.
In the afternoon, Shen Anning was pickling sauerkraut at home. Wang Wenjia came to find her, which surprised her a little.
When they ushered people in, their hands were soaked with water, but they didn't greet them. "Please sit down. The hot water is in the kettle. Pour it yourself. Since my hands are soaked in salt water, I won't serve you."
Wang Wenjia smiled and said, "It's okay, I'll do it myself. I hope you don't mind me taking over."
Looking at Shen An Ning who worked very efficiently, Wang Wenjia felt a little admiration. She asked herself if she were Shen An Ning, her life might not be so good.
"Well, Shen Zhiqing, I came here today for another reason. My cousin recently came here, and if it's convenient, he would like to come visit you and thank you in person for taking care of his grandparents this year."
Shen Anning thought about it, she knew what he meant. To be honest, they were people on the same side. Meeting to express their gratitude was nothing more than asking her to take good care of Grandpa Cao and Grandma Cao in the future. After all, the opportunity for her to have space was inseparable from the Cao family's heirloom. No matter what, in the past few years in the countryside, she would definitely find ways to ensure that the two elders of the Cao family had enough food and clothing.
"Okay, but it's not very convenient during the day. It wouldn't be good if someone saw us. How about you come with him at night?"
After agreeing on a time, Wang Wenjia said goodbye and went back. Although Cao Jingheng was her cousin, she was the one who was taken care of most of the time. During this period, Cao Jingheng was on vacation and had been living in the home of a comrade nearby. He would send some things to her and the grandparents in the cowshed every now and then.
In the evening, after dinner, Shen Anning called her younger brother and sister to the north room to sleep, and she waited for the guests in the east wing. When the dogs in the village stopped barking, Cao Jingheng brought Wang Wenjia to the door.
After bringing the two people into the east room and closing the courtyard door, Shen Anning lit a kerosene lamp and placed it on the kang table. Only then did she see Cao Jingheng's appearance. Looking at the man who was a head and a half taller than her, he must be about 1.85 meters tall.
Although he has a buzz cut, it can't hide the man's strong and handsome appearance at all. Although his eyes are restrained, they are still sharp, and his bronze skin color is very consistent with his face.
"Well, please sit down, don't stand." Shen An Ning looked at the two of them and said awkwardly.
"Thank you, Mr. Shen. Let me introduce myself. My name is Cao Jingheng. It's our first meeting. I'm very happy to meet you."
The deep voice spread in the somewhat quiet room, and Shen Anning seemed to hear an echo, turning 360 degrees in her ears.
In her previous life, Shen An Ning's favorite thing was to lie on a rattan chair and listen to the radio. I have to say that Cao Jingheng's bass is really no worse than those anchors of night radio stations. There was a moment of heartbeat. The younger the body, the younger the mind.
“Hello, I’m Shen Anning, and I’m glad to meet you today.”
Wang Wenjia looked at the two people who were a little restrained and felt a little amused. Somehow, she, the guest, felt more like the host at this moment.
"Hmm, let's sit down and chat. It's warmer on the kang. It's too cold standing here."
Finally, several people were no longer standing, and Shen Anning breathed a sigh of relief.
Cao Jingheng placed the package he brought on the kang table. "These are dried olives and lychees. There's nothing good to buy near the military area. Local comrades said girls like to eat these two. I brought some for you. Don't mind."
"No, it sounds delicious. Thank you." Shen An Ning didn't know how to address Cao Jingheng. It would be a bit weird to just say his name, but he couldn't just call him Brother Cao, which was a bit embarrassing.
Perhaps seeing the embarrassment in Shen Anning's expression, Cao Jingheng smiled and said, "Anning, our two families are also old friends. I am a few years older than you. If you don't mind, you can call me Brother Cao. This year, grandpa and grandma are grateful to you and Grandpa Shen and Grandma Shen for helping to take care of them. I came here tonight to express my gratitude in person."
Shen Anning also smiled, and the atmosphere finally became a little more relaxed. The three of them chatted about interesting things in life and had a good time.
During the conversation, Shen Anning learned that Cao Jingheng had been here for half a month, but he had a mission this time, so he had not been able to find a suitable time to come. Sister Wanli's husband Liu Zhiguo was also his comrade-in-arms.
It turned out that they first met at that wedding.
"So your mission has been completed, and you're going back to the army?"
"Well, this time the mission is in the Northeast, and I took the initiative to apply for it. Now that the mission is completed, it's time to go back and report."
Shen Anning nodded and said nothing more.
"By the way, An Ning, this is the address of my military district. If you need anything here, you can write to me or call this number. It's our regimental headquarters."
It was already night, and after chatting for a while, it was getting late. Wang Wenjia took Cao Jingheng to say goodbye. Knowing that he would be taking a train early the next morning, Shen Anning suddenly had an idea and wrapped the beef jerky in oil paper from his brother's kang cabinet and stuffed it all into Cao Jingheng's hands.
"Well, it's getting late, and there's nothing to eat. Take this beef jerky with you on the road. Have a safe trip."
After seeing the two off, Shen Anning returned to the east room and rubbed her face. Fortunately, it was night and the light of the kerosene lamp was not that bright.
I opened the package on the kang table, six oil-paper packages. When I took them down, I found that at the bottom of the package, covered by the oil-paper packages, there was a stack of banknotes. I counted them and found that there were two hundred yuan, one hundred kilograms of national grain coupons, and five kilograms of sugar coupons.
Holding it in her hand, it felt heavy. Emotionally, Grandpa Cao had donated money and grain to help her grandfather during the Anti-Japanese War. Logically, her chance was closely related to the Cao family's heirloom, so she should be the one to repay the favor.
After putting the money into the space, Shen An Ning returned to the north room and carefully got into bed. But tonight, her heart was in turmoil. She stared at the dark ceiling with her eyes open, and she was "irritated" and couldn't sleep.
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