Chapter 34 Jade Buckle
As soon as Tao Nanfeng came back, Feng Chun'e immediately felt that the atmosphere at home had changed.
Tao Shouxin's heart and eyes were filled with only his biological daughter. Not only did he leave Tao You aside, but there was also an undisguised coldness in his expression when facing Feng Chun'e. At night, Feng Chun'e wanted to get closer to him, but he turned his back to her and didn't even look at her.
Tao You also felt that his father had changed.
In the past, when Tao You acted coquettishly, Tao Shouxin would always smile indulgently. But now he always calls her "Nanfeng, Nanfeng" and never stays alone with her. What’s even more terrifying is…the study room that Tao You used to be able to enter and exit freely is now locked!
What, what does this mean? Has my father begun to lose trust in me? Tao You was completely panicked.
But Tao You didn't dare to question him face to face, she didn't have the confidence to do so. Tao You's original surname was Wang, but he changed it to Tao when he was ten years old. His stepfather was gentle, generous and doting to him, which gave him an illusion that his stepfather would always treat him as well as his own father.
Sure enough, kiss is kiss! Even though he usually pretends to be a good person, his father has changed now that Tao Nanfeng has returned from working in the countryside as an educated youth.
Tao You gritted his teeth, but could do nothing about it. A feeling of jealousy and hatred gradually arose in her heart: Tao Nanfeng was such a pampered girl, why didn't the hard life on the farm torture her to death? !
The next morning, Feng Chun'e smiled and wanted to prepare breakfast for Tao Nanfeng, but Tao Shouxin coldly refused: "I'll take Nanfeng out for breakfast."
Jiangcheng’s breakfast is famous throughout the country for its richness.
This was once an important port on the Yangtze River with a large number of dock workers. Their requirements for breakfast were large, filling and cheap. Therefore, the most famous dish in Jiangcheng is hot dry noodles.
The noodles, which have been dusted with oil in advance, are chewy and non-sticky. When customers come, pick up a handful of noodles with chopsticks, add sesame paste, diced radish, green onions, and brine, and mix them together to make a bowl of fragrant noodles. The rich aroma of sesame paste is very appetizing.
Mixed noodles, not hot, eat quickly;
The noodles, dusted with oil, are smooth and refreshing;
Sesame paste is rich and high in calories, and when mixed with noodles, it is very filling. If I eat a big bowl of hot dry noodles in the morning, I won’t feel hungry for five or six hours.
In 1975, it was still a planned economy and market management was strict. No one dared to do small business, and only state-owned restaurants were still serving breakfast. Tao Shouxin walked with his daughter for more than ten minutes to the breakfast shop they often visited and shouted, "Hot dry noodles, eggnog, two servings each."
Tao Nanfeng couldn't help but smile when he heard the names of these two breakfasts that he often ate as a child.
When it comes to eggnog, the key is to have it fast.
Beat the eggs, pour boiling water over them, add two spoons of rice wine and one spoon of sugar, and you will have a delicious eggnog. Although hot dry noodles are delicious, they are a bit dry and will make you feel choked after eating them. Paired with a bowl of eggnog, it’s a sweet and salty combination, so refreshing!
Just as I was sitting at the simple little square table enjoying my breakfast, I heard a cheerful voice: "Ha! You're here."
Tao Nanfeng felt the voice sounded familiar, looked up and saw it was Chen Zhilu, then stood up and introduced him to his father. Early in the morning, Chen Zhilu came from Jiangbei to Jiangnan with a very positive attitude towards work.
When Tao Shouxin suddenly saw his daughter's male friend, he subconsciously became alert. He nodded slightly reservedly, quickly glanced at Chen Zhilu, and said seriously: "You and Nanfeng went to the countryside together? What are your plans for coming back together this time?"
Chen Zhilu has a lively personality, but he is naturally afraid of teachers. When he saw Tao Shouxin, who was dressed in bookish clothes and had a stern face, the past scenes of studying came to his mind. He was so scared that he stood up straight and said with a smile: "Yes, we are from the same batch of educated youth from Jiangcheng. We both work at Xiufengshan Farm and live in dormitories next to each other. We are quite familiar with each other. I came back this time to inquire about the process and precautions of phosphate mining."
Tao Shouxin listened to his detailed and polite answer, and his expression eased a little: "Sit down, eat something first."
While Tao Shouxin stood up to get the eggnog, Chen Zhilu whispered to Tao Nanfeng, "Your dad looks really fierce..."
Tao Nanfeng glanced at him with a hint of warning in his eyes.
Chen Zhilu shrank his neck: "I dare not."
He muttered to himself, no wonder Tao Nanfeng was so quiet, her prestige in the educated youth center was so high that most people didn't dare to joke with her, it turned out it was because she had a powerful father who was a professor.
The three of them ate breakfast quietly, and they could hear many diners coming and going. The restaurant was packed.
Even though the country does not allow private business now, it cannot stop the people of Jiangcheng from liking to stay out early. The breakfast business in state-owned restaurants is very lively, with waiters taking out tickets, cooking noodles and preparing seasonings each having their own responsibilities.
"Noodles or rice noodles?"
"Two or three taels? Do you want chili oil?"
"Put the green onions, coriander, and pickled beans in there yourself..."
In this atmosphere, Chen Zhilu skillfully mixed the hot dry noodles and sighed, "This is what life is all about! Everything else on the farm is fine, except for the breakfast, which is only porridge, pickles, and cornbread, which is very bland."
Tao Nanfeng nodded thoughtfully.
Tao Shouxin felt distressed when he heard this: "How do you usually eat in the mountains? Can you eat enough?"
Tao Nanfeng didn't like to complain, and she only mentioned her daily life in the letter. What she talked about most with her father was architecture and construction methods. Tao Shouxin rarely met his daughter's companions, so he carefully inquired about the details.
Chen Zhilu was a talkative person. He answered questions and the content was substantial and to the point. After a few interactions, Tao Shouxin's impression of him improved. Tao Shouxin was somewhat dissatisfied because he had previously seen him as a man of medium height, average looks, wearing a military coat and looking sloppy. But now he felt that this young man was not such a big deal, as at least he was articulate and had a sincere attitude.
The more he heard, the more distressed Tao Shouxin felt.
Their daughter was spoiled. Even though Feng Chun'e and Tao You treated her badly, they didn't let her do any housework. To be honest, Tao Nanfeng had to boil a pot of hot water to wash his underwear in winter. He thought of her making fire, cooking, and washing clothes with her friends on the farm. There was no electricity, no running water, and she had to use mountain spring water for washing and bathing. She also had to dig soil and repair roads in the winter...
Tao Shouxin felt his throat was blocked and he lowered his head without saying a word.
Tao Nanfeng saw his father stop eating after two bites, knowing that he was reluctant to let himself suffer on the farm, so he cleared his throat and comforted him softly: "Dad, labor is the most glorious. I am doing well on the farm and I haven't suffered much."
Chen Zhilu observed the expression on his face and quickly added to what he had just said: "Uncle Tao, Tao Nanfeng is very famous in our farm. She is now the head of the infrastructure department. She is very strong and no one dares to bully her. Do you know? Tao Nanfeng has a particularly loud nickname: Tao Sanchui..."
Tao Nanfeng's heart skipped a beat. It's bad!
She had always claimed to others that she was born with great strength in her dreams, but she did not expect to be confronted here.
Tao Shouxin raised his head and looked at Chen Zhilu quietly: "Tao Sanchui?"
Chen Zhilu gestured with his hands and feet: "No matter how big the rock is, Tao Nanfeng can break it into more than a dozen pieces with just three hammer strikes. With Tao Nanfeng in our road construction team, the progress has been more than doubled. Especially when blasting the mountain, she drills holes very quickly, which is amazing."
Tao Shouxin's expression gradually became solemn.
Chen Zhilu is a person who likes to socialize. He came here early in the morning and saw that the breakfast shop was crowded, so he planned to join in the fun. Unexpectedly, he met Tao Nanfeng and his daughter. After chatting for a while, he could not control his excitement and began to talk about the legend of Tao Nanfeng incessantly.
Smash the desk with one fist, and get ten centimeters and an iron pot;
With great strength, he carried a package half a person's height to the office in a storm;
He made a bet with Huang Xingwu and led the educated youth to break rocks and make grooves for the foundation, and the brick and tile house was built in just 20 days.
After two punches, Director Jiao had one arm broken and left the stage...
After hearing this, Tao Shouxin's eyes became redder and redder. He put down his chopsticks, walked out of the restaurant quickly, and stood on the side of the road without saying anything.
It is cold in Jiangcheng in winter, and the leaves of the sycamore trees on the roadside have almost all fallen, with only a few still hanging on the treetops. At this moment, Tao Shouxin's heart seemed like the dead leaves of the phoenix tree, shivering in the cold wind.
Chen Zhilu looked around in panic, staring blankly at Tao Shouxin's back: "Did I say something wrong?"
Tao Nanfeng snorted, then walked out and stood quietly beside his father, waiting for his father to ask.
What is true cannot be false, and what is false cannot be true. No matter whether my father believes it or not, no matter whether this matter is absurd or not, I must explain it clearly to my father.
"I……"
Before he finished a word, Tao Shouxin stretched out his right hand and gently patted his daughter's shoulder, his voice trembling: "Nanfeng, you have suffered."
Tao Nanfeng originally thought that his father would question why he became stronger, and that his father would be angry that he was hiding something from him. Unexpectedly, his father's focus was not on that at all, but on the suffering he had suffered.
Why smash the desk? Isn’t it because Director Luo Xuan withheld the subsidies for educated youth that he wants to give himself a “beating of the stick”?
Why would they retreat in the wind and rain carrying heavy packages? Isn’t it because the quality of the thatched house on the farm is poor?
Why should we lead everyone to build brick and tile houses? Isn’t it because Huang Xingwu, the head of the infrastructure department, does not do his job?
Why is Jiao Liang played? Isn't it because he thinks I'm pretty and wants to bully others?
It's not about being brave or fearless, it's just that there is no other way.
What to do when faced with difficulties? Are you crying? Give up? If all else fails, you can only grit your teeth and move forward!
Tao Nanfeng's frightened heart finally calmed down. She pulled out the red rope around her neck, revealing the emerald green and transparent jade buckle.
"Dad, I brought this jade buckle from mom with me when I went to the farm. Maybe it was mom's spirit in heaven that blessed me, my body gradually became stronger and my strength increased a lot. Don't worry, I suffered a little when I first went to the farm, but now I am fine. The farm leaders have been replaced, and we will definitely build a better farm with concerted efforts."
Looking at the familiar jade button in front of him, Tao Shouxin's heart softened.
Nanfeng is eighteen years old this year and has really grown up. Being strong and fit is a good thing, no matter what the reason is. Fortunately, fortunately, fortunately she was wearing this jade button, and the legend that Xiqin once told her might be true.
In the early morning, the roadside is empty and the lively crowd is in the breakfast shop.
Tao Shouxin nodded, signaling his daughter to put the jade button away, and his voice became very soft, almost a whisper.
"This jade button was left by your mother. It is said to be the most expensive item in her family. I handed in a lot of things when the Four Olds were destroyed, but this jade button was passed down from your grandmother. Your mother has worn it since she was a child. I have kept it well hidden for fear that someone would confiscate it."
He paused, "This jade button has a name - a way out of a desperate situation."
When Tao Nanfeng heard the name, he immediately understood. That's what it was!
According to what the book said, the road I was walking on was a dead end. But because of wearing this jade buckle, he managed to find a way out.
Isn't this a way out from a desperate situation?
The father and daughter looked at each other and put a finger to their lips at the same time.
——Silence.
A gentleman does not speak of strange and supernatural things. The current situation is tense. Superstition and speculation can all be punished by law. This is known to you, me, heaven and earth, but must not be known to anyone else.
Chen Zhilu held a bowl of noodles in one hand and a tea bowl of eggnog in the other, and stood at the door and shouted, "Don't waste it. Come back for breakfast soon..."
Tao Shouxin and Tao Nanfeng smiled at the same time and returned to the hotel side by side.
After dinner, Tao Nanfeng and Chen Zhilu went to the fertilizer factory together, while Tao Shouxin returned home alone.
Tao You now works in the library and is also on winter vacation. He sits on the sofa leisurely eating an apple. Seeing his father coming back, he stood up and asked, "Where's Nanfeng? Why didn't she come back with us?"
Tao Shouxin stared at her for a long time, which made Tao You feel uneasy: "Dad, what's wrong with you?"
All kinds of past events came to Tao Shouxin's mind.
When I first met Tao You, she was just a thin little girl. He was only a few months older than Nanfeng, but his attitude was humble and pitiful. When she was given a piece of candy, his big eyes sparkled brightly, as if he had never tasted sweetness in his life.
Compassion made Tao Shouxin treat her with extra tolerance. He took the initiative to change her surname, held her hand to go to school, taught her calligraphy, and used fatherly love to protect her wounded heart, slowly helping her build up self-confidence.
But who could have known that the story of the farmer and the snake would happen in your own home?
Tao Shouxin sat down slowly, his eyes calm, "Nanfeng came back on business this time, and visited his relatives by the way. He went out to do some work with his colleagues today."
Tao You nodded nonchalantly: "Oh, oh."
She was thinking, is this really an official mission? As a young educated youth, how could she have the opportunity to go on a business trip? How strange! Could it be that Tao Nanfeng had a bright future by being an educated youth?
Tao Shouxin seemed to know what she was thinking and raised his voice: "Nanfeng was not deported, but was sent on a mission. Did you hear that clearly?"
At such a young age, he has so many evil thoughts!
Why didn't I realize before that her eyes were so quick and that every seemingly unintentional word she said was always misleading others?
I treat her as a child, and she will say whatever she wants. But she was covered with a weak and innocent appearance and bullied Tao Nanfeng as much as she could. She pretends to be a loving sister in front of herself, but criticizes Tao Nanfeng wantonly in front of teachers, classmates and neighbors, saying that she is spoiled, cold-blooded, and a capitalist lady. Is this what a child would do or say?
Perhaps she is still like her domestic violence and alcoholic biological father at heart? There isn't even a bit of the Tao family's integrity!
Whenever Tao Shouxin thought of the suffering Nanfeng had endured, he felt as if his heart was being cut by a knife. Nanfeng was working on the farm and he couldn't help much, but he should at least clean up the mess at home and not let her ruin Nanfeng's reputation.
Seeing that his father's reaction was not right, Tao You quickly corrected his attitude and said, "I heard it."
Now that Tao Shouxin was sure that his daughter was protected by the jade buckle, he had no more worries.
"At the beginning, the people from the Youth League Office and the Employment Office came to my house and suggested that one of the Tao sisters go to the countryside and the other stay in school to work. I gave you the opportunity to choose. If you don't want to go to the countryside, I won't force you, right or wrong?"
Tao You didn't know why his father brought up the past, and he felt a little uneasy.
"Yes, that's right. I thought my sister was weak and it would be difficult for her to adapt to rural life, so I took the initiative to sign up to go to the countryside. I grew up in the countryside when I was a child and did farm work. After all, I suffered more than her, and I'm the older sister, so I should be the educated youth."
Tao Shouxin's face was expressionless: "You said it beautifully, but the fact is that you were injured before leaving, and Nanfeng went for you."
Tao You became more and more nervous as he listened, and stood up hurriedly in fear and trepidation: "Dad, I know my sister has suffered, but... I didn't want to break my hand, I'm sorry!"
Feng Chun'e felt something was wrong and hurried out of the room to smooth things over.
"Teacher Tao, don't blame Tao You. We had no choice in that situation. I'm just a worker. I don't have much experience. I didn't know that I could postpone the departure date and wait for you to come back. Oh! Blame me, blame me!"
Tao Shouxin's face was as gloomy as water, with deep disappointment in his eyes.
"People are all made of flesh and blood! Ask yourselves how I treat you. Although Tao You's surname is Wang, I treat her as my own daughter and have never let her suffer any injustice."
When Feng Chun'e heard this, she felt something was wrong and tears started falling.
"Teacher Tao, you are tearing my heart out by saying this. Don't I treat Nanfeng like my own daughter? I prepare meals every day, change bedding once a week, wash clothes by hand every day, and always give Nanfeng first when making new clothes. Tao You is the elder sister, but she wears Nanfeng's old clothes. What else do you want from me?"
Tao Shouxin waved his hands, unwilling to listen to her continue to boast.
If he wants to take credit, hasn't Tao Shouxin done enough?
The monthly salary of 56 yuan was all given to Feng Chun'e to manage. Whenever she returned from a business trip, she would bring gifts for her daughters, and she would get as much as Nanfeng and Tao You. Whenever Feng Chun'e's poor relatives from the countryside came to ask for money, he would give them extra money.
Be true to your heart. In Tao Shouxin's view, these things are his responsibilities and not worth mentioning.
"There are three things I want to clarify. First, I have clearly asked someone to contact the Youth League Office to let Tao You go to the Red Flag Brigade in Jing County near Jiangcheng to work in the countryside. It is close to home and convenient for taking care of him. Why did you take the initiative to move to the most difficult Xiufengshan Farm thousands of miles away?
Second, Tao You was injured. He could have gone to the Youth League Office to explain the situation and wait for the second batch to go. Why did you insist on forcing Nanfeng to take his place?
The third thing is that Nanfeng traveled thousands of miles away from home to go to Xiufengshan Farm. Why didn’t he send someone to inform me of such an important matter? Although I am involved in closed design, I am not completely cut off from the outside world.
I think I treat you well, but what about you? What do you give me in return! Knowing that Nanfeng was weak, he still asked her to travel a long distance to the high mountain farm with an altitude of more than 1,000 meters.
Why? Answer me! ”
The louder Tao Shouxin spoke, the heavier his voice became. Every word he said hit Tao You and Feng Chun'e like a bolt from the blue.
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