Chapter 275 Digging Wild Vegetables
When she arrived at the gate, her heart sank to the bottom as soon as she glanced around.
The three people in front of me were dressed in rags, their faces covered in dust, their shoes covered in yellow dirt, and their trousers were even worn out at the hem.
Second Brother Qiao Xuezhi carried an old cloth bag covered in patches, his shoulders slightly hunched, his face etched with deep wrinkles, and he looked uneasy. Second Sister-in-law Li Hongmei held Xiao Miaomiao's hand with one hand and tightly gripped the corner of the bundle with the other, her head down, not daring to look at anyone. Xiao Miaomiao stood in the middle, her big eyes timidly looking around, her little face dirty, yet still showing a hint of childishness.
"Second brother, you..."
Qiao Wanyin hurried over, her voice full of surprise and worry, "Why didn't you call ahead? It's such a long way, why didn't you tell me beforehand?"
Qiao Xuezhi rubbed his rough, chapped hands, chuckled dryly, and looked away, appearing somewhat embarrassed: "Well, it's nothing much, it's just... I just thought it's been a long time since I've seen you, so I stopped by to see how you're doing..."
Before he could finish speaking, he coughed twice and lowered his head to avoid his sister's gaze.
"Auntie!"
The moment Miao Miao saw Qiao Wanyin, her face lit up instantly, as if a lamp had been suddenly lit in the darkness.
She broke free from Li Hongmei's hand, ran over, and threw herself into Qiao Wanyin's arms. She tilted her little head up, smiled sweetly, and her two dimples sank deep into her cheeks. "Miaomiao missed you so much! I even dreamed that my aunt took me to eat candied hawthorns!"
Qiao Wanyin squatted down and hugged the little girl tightly, smelling the familiar scent of soil and sweat on the child.
She reached out and ruffled Miaomiao's soft hair, feeling the tiny knots and dust on her fingertips. Her heart ached so much she could hardly contain herself. "Auntie misses you too. Miaomiao has grown taller, her face is rounder, and she's even more adorable now."
She smiled, but a hint of sadness welled up in her eyes.
This child, who should be running and playing in the sunshine, has instead traveled thousands of miles with adults and appeared here covered in dust and dirt.
Li Hongmei kept her head down, her fingers twisting the hem of her clothes incessantly. Her voice was extremely low, almost as if she were talking to herself: "Little sister, I heard you're really doing well now. You've become a principal and even opened a kindergarten? That... that's really something..."
Her tone was a mixture of envy, shame, and a barely perceptible hint of flattery.
Qiao Wanyin looked down at her, knowing very well that given their family's usual character, they would never take the initiative to come to her door unless they were desperate.
Moreover, without even a phone call, their sudden appearance must mean they have something to ask for.
She slowly stood up, turned her gaze to her second brother, and spoke in a very soft voice, yet with an undeniable seriousness: "Second brother, second sister-in-law..."
Has something happened at home?
She led them into the house, and as soon as Li Hongmei entered, she stopped in her tracks, as if she were being held firmly by something.
Her gaze swept in from the doorway, first landing on the floor, then the walls, and finally settling on the sofa in the center of the living room—her eyes widened instantly.
The cement floor was polished to a shine, reflecting the light from the ceiling and gleaming with a layer of red paint.
A brand-new portrait of Chairman Mao was pasted on the wall, its edges carefully nailed shut with thumbtacks, upright and solemn, without a single wrinkle.
A low, wicker cabinet stood in the corner, with a pair of enamel tea mugs on it, their lids upside down, all clean and tidy.
What she couldn't take her eyes off was the sofa.
The sofa has a dark brown wooden frame, a wide and sturdy backrest, and armrests that are polished to a smooth, mirror-like finish. Even with their eyes closed, people sitting on it can feel dignified and distinguished.
The most eye-catching item was the snow-white crocheted mat, with intricate patterns woven stitch by stitch, laid out neatly and without a single messy corner, like an exhibit just taken from a department store.
The four corners were finished with dark red silk thread, the stitches were fine and dense, showing the owner's meticulous attention to detail.
This is a rare item that can only be obtained by exchanging industrial vouchers!
They're long gone from the market. Even if someone pulls strings, you'll have to wait for at least half a year, and there's no guarantee you'll get a spot.
"My God!"
Li Hongmei gasped, her voice trembling.
She carefully reached out her hand, her fingers gently caressing the large peony on the sofa. Her fingertips touched the delicate cotton thread, and she couldn't help but rub it back and forth a few times, as if to confirm if it was real.
The peony flower was as big as a bowl, with layers upon layers of petals, the color gradually changing from white to pink, making it look very lifelike.
"How many coupons do I need?"
She murmured to herself, her eyes filled with shock and envy.
Qiao Xuezhi quickly tugged at her sleeve, a small gesture that carried a clear warning. He moved his lips slightly and whispered, "Don't lose your composure, keep your voice down."
His face was flushed, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. Standing in his sister's living room, he felt both proud and awkward.
Miao Miao remained motionless, as if frozen in place, her gaze fixed on the Red Lantern brand radio on the dresser, unwilling to even blink.
The radio had a dark brown wooden casing with a round dial on the front, clearly visible silver hands, and a brass trim around the edge.
The speaker grille is made of fine metal mesh, gleaming with a soft, dim light.
This is something only city dwellers can afford; the music coming from the radio station can be heard for miles around.
She could even imagine that every morning, the family would wake up to the sound of this radio chiming the time.
"Second brother, what happened at home?"
Qiao Wanyin asked softly, her tone gentle, with a hint of worry.
She gently pushed the candy jar with the three red characters "Double Happiness" printed on it in front of Miaomiao. The jar was polished to a shine, and the "double happiness" character on the lid was glittering.
"Here, Miaomiao, have a piece of candy to quench your thirst."
Qiao Xuezhi rubbed his hands together; his palms were covered in thick calluses, with several deep cracks, and dirt stuck in his fingernails.
He lowered his head, not daring to look into his sister's eyes, and said in a muffled voice, "This year there was a severe drought, and the fields yielded nothing. The work points from the team are useless. The little food we earn isn't enough to eat... We ran out of food last month and had to dig up wild vegetables to fill our stomachs."
Li Hongmei immediately chimed in, speaking at a rapid pace like a machine gun: "Little sister, let's not beat around the bush. Your second brother works as a laborer at the commune's brick kiln, carrying bricks every day. Each load is worth more than three hundred yuan, and he makes more than ten trips a time. His shoulders are worn raw, his shoes are worn through, and his toes are sticking out."
She became more and more agitated as she spoke, her voice trembling, "But what did it all amount to? The work points were only exchanged for eight ounces of coarse rice, not even enough to feed the children! My back is almost broken, and I can't even get enough to eat. How am I supposed to survive?"
“You’re different now. You’re a military officer’s wife, and some people even say you’ve become a kindergarten principal… Can you…”
As she spoke, her voice lowered and her eyes flickered, as if she was afraid of being rejected, or as if she was afraid that her words would not come true.
"Wanyin, you keep your second brother and sister-in-law company for a while. Your second brother and I are going to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some vegetables."
Song Yazhi suddenly interjected, her face beaming with a smile, but her movements were swift and efficient.
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