Zhou Cuiling was about to go back, so Meng Tao went to the main room, took out a piece of ham weighing more than a pound, and put it in her basket: "A return gift."

Zhou Cuiling took a look and said with a smile, "That's great. I won't be polite. Haven't you finished eating the food your brother-in-law from the provincial capital sent you? I saw that the food was added to the table twice last night. They were all served in large plates. Everyone was rushing to grab them. I really like them."

"Brother Jinniu and I have been in the county town these days, eating in the hospital cafeteria. How can we have time to eat this? So we saved it until now. We still have four or five kilograms left, which we can use for guests and during the New Year."

"I remember now. My mother said that we have prepared two chickens for the New Year. We will give you one to entertain the guests, and two Chinese cabbages."

"No, they are sold at the commune grocery store."

"What about free money? My mother told you to be frugal and spend all your dowry money. It will be useless for you to cry."

Meng Tao sighed. Her dowry money was really hard to spend! "I'll marry someone who doesn't want a dowry, but still has to give me a gift. Do you think that's okay?"

Zhou Cuiling pointed at her and laughed so hard that her body shook with laughter: "How come you and Zhang Guoqing have the same idea? Zhang Guoqing said that he doesn't need my family to prepare a dowry, and he will even give a betrothal gift! I think it's okay, you can find someone like him in the future!"

"Shouldn't your Zhang Guoqing be back? Why is he nowhere to be seen?" Meng Tao asked.

Zhou Cuiling wiped away the tears from her laughter with the back of her hand: "He said there are special circumstances and he will be back a few days later."

"Oh." Meng Tao wondered if they were coming back with Meng Zhehan and Shen Yu. Those two were going to Xingyang County and didn't know how to get there, so it was possible that they asked Zhang Guoqing to lead the way.

After Zhou Cuiling left, Meng Tao went back to Jinniu's room and fiddled with the brazier by the wall. It was filled with the fire that had burned under the stove. After a long time, the fire gradually went out and the room was not warm enough. She thought that the county supply and marketing cooperative had charcoal for sale, and the commune should have some as well. She had to go to the commune again while the weather was fine and buy some charcoal, otherwise it would be very cold on a snowy day.

There were two piles of firewood in the yard, which we could burn casually, but the dust flew all over the house, and our heads and clothes were covered in wood ash, which looked terrible.

While helping Jinniu learn pinyin, the gate rang again. This time it was Captain Bao's gruff voice: "Where are you?"

Meng Tao ran out again: "Here I am, Uncle Bao, you are here."

Captain Bao led a young man of about eighteen or nineteen into Jinniu's house. Meng Tao recognized him as the son of a family surnamed Wang in the village, but she didn't know his specific name.

Wang Tiegen smiled and shouted to Jinniu, "Brother Jinniu."

Jinniu also called out, "Brother Tiegen."

Hey, these two know each other.

Team leader Bao said to Meng Tao, "Last time Jinniu came, he followed the team to pave the village road with stones. Tiegen was in the same group with him, and they got along well. These days, let Tiegen come over from time to time to look after Jinniu, clean him, take him to the toilet, etc., and stay with him at night."

Meng Tao looked at Tiegen and asked, "Your family agrees too, right?"

Team leader Bao: "What do you mean by agree or disagree? We are all in the same production team, so we should help each other."

"I'm here to accompany Brother Jinniu. My family agreed."

Tiegen said a little embarrassedly: "My sister had a quarrel with her brother-in-law, so she brought three nephews home to live with us. Our house is small, so they took up my bed. They said they came to accompany Brother Jinniu, but actually I came to share a bed with him."

Meng Tao nodded: "That's great, the educated youth have gone home, there is a bed frame in this room, I will make it for you... Come and have dinner with us tonight."

Captain Bao took out a telegram from his pocket and handed it to Meng Tao: "It's yours. I picked up a telegram for you last time, and the postman asked me to pick it up for you this time."

Meng Tao took the telegram and saw that it was from Meng Zhehan in the provincial capital. The ten words expressed one meaning: on the 20th of the twelfth lunar month, he and Shen Yu would go to Linshui Village.

I couldn't help but complain in my mind: sending telegrams is popular these days. Everyone sends a telegram before traveling.

What good day is the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month? Liu Yongsheng arrived on that day, and so did Meng Zhehan and Shen Yu. They came together! This small courtyard has only been empty for two days, and it's full of people again.

Captain Bao asked, "Who sent the telegram and what did it say?"

Meng Tao replied: "Uncle Bao, the last time I went to the provincial capital, there was a brother named Meng who recognized me as his godfather. He wants to come too."

"Just come. He sent you a package containing food, clothes and daily necessities. He cares about you very much. Since you are my relative, you have to visit each other. How many people does he want to come?" Captain Bao was not surprised.

"two."

"Including Mr. Liu and the other four, there will be enough space for six people. If there are not enough quilts, you can borrow some from the educated youth first. You can just wash and dry them later. As for the food for the guests, I heard from the Zhou family that they will give you a chicken and two pounds of dried beans. I will also give you a chicken, ten eggs, five radishes, and some dried vegetables. Do you still have the wild boar meat from last time? That's almost enough. What about the grain? You have to carry some to the mill to grind it. Once it's ready, there's nothing to worry about."

"We have food, meat and vegetables, so we can eat. But Mr. Liu is old, and I'm afraid he can't stand the cold. I'm thinking of going to the commune to buy two bags of charcoal."

"How much is two bags? Can the old man still stay in your house until the New Year? Twenty kilograms will be enough! You are such a fool, I will watch you spend that little money."

Meng Tao smiled mischievously and said, "It's not over yet, there's more!"

Captain Bao was angry and helpless, and glared at her: "These days, all the ox carts are going to the commune. You can go with the cart yourself or ask Old Liang to bring it back. If you need anything, tell me. When the guests arrive, your uncle Zhou and I will come over to accompany them."

"Hey, please trouble Uncle Bao and Uncle Zhou."

Captain Bao waved his hand and left.

Meng Tao showed the telegram to Jinniu. She had previously told Jinniu in the hospital that there was a man called Brother Meng in the provincial capital, but she had not mentioned Shen Yu. So she told him, "Brother Meng Zhehan's good friend is called Shen Yu. Last time I called them in Mengzhou, Brother Meng was away on a business trip, and Shen Yu asked me to buy a gift for you. Those books are what he wants to give you."

Taurus said gratefully: "Then when he comes, I must thank him very much."

"Um."

There is not much work to do in winter, and with Wang Tiegen accompanying Jinniu, Meng Tao can go out with peace of mind.

The next day, she rode her bicycle to the commune early. The supply and marketing cooperative and the grocery store had just opened, so there were not many customers. Meng Tao took a large sack, stuffed the things she bought into it, and put it in the space covered.

The national coupons worked well. The grocery stores had limited purchases of meat, but when it came to her, they turned a blind eye. She bought five pounds of fresh pork belly, five pounds of spare ribs, and two pork elbows, as well as two roast chickens and roast ducks.

She bought 50 kilograms of charcoal at the supply and marketing cooperative, and also bought two enamel washbasins with bright red peony flowers printed on them, two kerosene lamps, towels, toothbrushes and other toiletries. Guests should bring their own, so she also had to prepare some.

(End of this chapter)