Having been away for a long time, Zhang Xingrong asked Zhang Hewu and Lu Ran to help out while she took charge of the cooking. She made a serving of twice-cooked pork and braised pork, then thought for a moment and made another serving of garlic-mashed pork. She left the remaining meat for them to eat.
Since we had plenty of corn and potatoes at home, she made a dish of spicy and sour shredded potatoes. Then she added diced cucumber and corn to a stir-fried corn kernel dish. Finally, she added garlic-spicy greens.
As soon as the food was on the table, Fourth Aunt arrived.
"Tao Zimei, you should go home quickly. How can you come here to eat for free every day? You have eaten up your second brother's food. What will they eat?" As she was speaking, Fourth Aunt saw a room full of people.
Zhang Xingrong greeted Fourth Aunt: "Fourth Aunt, come in quickly."
"Oh, Rongya is back!" Fourth Aunt was very happy. She walked in and glared at her child.
Zhang Hechen took the initiative to greet her: "Fourth Aunt!"
Fourth Aunt looked up at Zhang Hechen and was stunned for a moment: "Is this... is this Chenzi? Chenzi is back?"
Zhang Hechen nodded. "Yes, I just got back today. Fourth Aunt, go and call Fourth Uncle to come have dinner together!"
"Hey! Wait a minute, I'll go back and call your fourth uncle!" Fourth Aunt was so excited that she stuttered. She quickly turned around and ran back.
Everyone waited at the table for a while, and soon they saw the fourth uncle and the fourth aunt coming, carrying basins of water with food in them. Rongzi followed behind them.
Rongzi can no longer beat Taozi or other children in the village, so he has learned to keep a low profile.
Fourth Uncle was very excited. He strode into the house, muttering, "I heard Chenzi is back. Where's Chenzi? I haven't seen Chenzi in several years. I don't know how Chenzi is doing!"
Zhang Hechen smiled: "Fourth Uncle, I'm here!"
Fourth Uncle turned to look at Zhang Hechen, took a look at him, and said excitedly: "It's really Chenzi, how long have you not been back?"
Zhang Hechen felt a little embarrassed: "I'm sorry for making everyone worry!"
He only wanted to get promoted and send more money back home so that his younger siblings could live a good life. He always thought that he didn't need to worry about his grandparents at home, but he didn't expect that his younger siblings could not survive in Zhangjia Village.
Thinking of this, Zhang Hechen couldn't help but ask, "I've sent you 700 to 800 yuan over the past few years. This money is enough for you to eat well. Didn't you get it?"
He only earned 70 or 80 yuan in his first year, but he was promoted in his second year. Every year, his allowance increased. Sometimes he also received meritorious service bonuses, so he must have earned 700 or 800 yuan in the past few years.
In addition, he also has to save a small amount of money for emergencies.
"Seven or eight hundred?" Zhang Xingrong was surprised. In that era, a private soldier's allowance was only seven or eight yuan a month. If it was so much money, his brother would be promoted quickly, but even if he was promoted quickly, the salary would not be that much unless he made meritorious service. But making meritorious service would also mean risking his life.
"My second brother and I used to eat mostly rice bran, but I was better off than him. Sometimes I could sneak in and snatch some white rice. And after Grandpa was sent to labor reform, I got 100 yuan. It seems he had other money."
She had never thought that her eldest brother would send so much money back. After all, the allowance was very small in those days. Even if she was reborn, she would not have thought of it.
Zhang Hewu was even more surprised. He had never known his elder brother would send money back. "Brother, why did you send so much money back without telling us?"
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