Chapter 76 Love You
Xiangbei walked side by side with Tao Nanfeng, reporting to her in detail the progress of the tobacco factory as they walked.
Xiangbei took the head of the Propaganda Department Zhou Linhu to De County several times. Zhou Linhu was eloquent, humble and polite, and his relationship with factory director Yuan Feng became increasingly familiar.
De County Cigarette Factory is planning to introduce a set of imported cigarette production lines from Country D. The old equipment will be transferred to Xiufengshan Farm at a very favorable price, and a preliminary agreement will be signed. After the farm builds the factory, the equipment can be towed up the mountain to produce De County cigarette brands on behalf of the farm. After the planned targets are met, the excess can be sold by the farm itself.
The more Tao Nanfeng listened, the happier he became.
"This is good, as the initial cost is low. Although our farm is making money from phosphate production, there are many other places where money needs to be spent. After the hospital is built, we will also build a middle school so that the children of the employees and the Nanbei slopes will not have to go down the mountain to Quping Town to go to school after graduating from elementary school. In the future, we will build dormitories for the employees, a workers' cultural palace, shops, and cinemas... so that everyone can live and work in peace and contentment."
The blueprint that Tao Nanfeng described was so beautiful that Xiangbei also took over the conversation with great interest.
"Your father said that environmental protection and education should be prioritized. I remember that. Although phosphate mining is good, it still destroys the mountain. The bamboo forest is completely destroyed. Once the cigarette factory is established, we will slowly think of other ways to make money and try to close the phosphate mine in a few years."
The two of them returned to the small red building while talking. As soon as they entered the yard, Tao Shouxin came out excitedly to greet them.
"Xiangbei, what did you say just now? I seemed to hear you say that you wanted to close the phosphate mine?"
Xiangbei responded seriously: "Yes, Professor Tao. You said before that we should protect the environment, and I have always kept it in mind. The farm is too poor, and phosphate mining is only a stopgap measure. First, the profit from selling the ore is actually not high, far lower than the profit from phosphate fertilizers and chemical products; second, digging the mountain to extract the ore will damage the environment of Xiufeng Mountain, which is unsustainable."
When Tao Shouxin heard this, his eyes suddenly lit up and he grabbed Xiangbei.
"Well said. We want to develop, but this development cannot be at the expense of the environment. I didn't expect that you would remember what Tonnanfeng said to you and put it into practice. You are good! Very good!"
Xiangbei felt warm in his heart after being praised. He looked at Tao Shouxin and said, "Professor Tao, you are a far-sighted architect and planner. It is right to listen to you. My power is very small. I can only promote your ideas on the farm."
Tao Shouxin now likes Xiangbei more and more: "Let's start from a small scale and take our time. One day, we will be able to promote it nationwide."
He glanced at his daughter and saw that her eyes were smiling and she was obviously in a very happy mood. He couldn't help but secretly feel lucky that he didn't object to it.
"Let's go! Xiangbei, I'll treat you to a nice meal at Jiangcheng Hotel to welcome you."
Xiangbei smiled and said, "Professor Tao, I brought two chickens from the farm. They can't be kept for too long. It's still early now, I'll kill the chickens and make soup. Can we eat at home tonight?"
Tao Nanfeng also pulled his father's arm and said, "Yes, Dad, we still have to drive to Jiangcheng Hotel, and we have to go north to be tired. Let's eat at home."
Tao Shouxin glared at her and said, "Killing a chicken and making soup, won't it make Xiangbei tired?"
Xiangbei was busy protecting Tao Nanfeng: "Not tired, not tired, I'm used to doing things like killing chickens and cooking, I'm not tired at all."
Tao Shouxin looked at Xiangbei, then at Tao Nanfeng, his eyes behind the lenses full of smiles. It's a good thing for young lovers to respect and love each other.
"Okay, then Xiangbei will go kill the chicken." He raised his hand to help his daughter take down her schoolbag, "You go and help."
After that, Tao Shouxin put his schoolbag on the shoe cabinet in the entrance hall, took his lunch box and walked out leisurely: "I'll go to the cafeteria to get two dishes, and then Xiangbei and I will have a drink and chat in the evening."
Tao Nanfeng raised his hand and opened his mouth, but in the end he said nothing.
My father has been taking medicine for three months for his spleen and stomach problems, and now he is almost recovered. Mr. Mei asked my father to stop taking the medicine and have a good rest. Normally, he should not drink alcohol. But it's rare that he's happy, so let him take a sip when the time comes.
Xiangbei knew that Tao Shouxin was making room for them to be intimate, and he felt so happy.
As soon as the door closed, Xiangbei hugged Tao Nanfeng in his arms.
"Ugh..." Tao Nanfeng only had time to make a slight sound before his whole body was pressed against the door panel. Xiangbei held her tightly in his arms and kissed her with his warm lips instantly.
On a cold winter day, there is a heat wave rolling in the room.
The rich fragrance of wintersweet seeped in through the window, combined with the scent of pine wood on Xiangbei's body, enveloping Tao Nanfeng.
As if she was on top of a mountain, she transformed into a spring orchid, with sunshine and dew falling, moistened by mountain mist, and with a mountain breeze blowing, the branches trembled gently, and the buds shyly bloomed.
The kiss lasted for a long time, until his lips became numb, before Xiangbei's kiss ended.
He placed one hand behind Tao Nanfeng's head, looked into her confused eyes with tenderness, took a deep breath, and suppressed the surge of emotions with extreme self-control.
Xiangbei slowly lowered his head and kissed her on the lips, his voice a little hoarse.
"Love you."
His sudden confession was like an electric current passing through Tao Nanfeng. He felt a tingling sensation in his tailbone and he could hardly stand.
She stretched out her arms, wrapped them around his neck, and offered her lips to him.
"I love you."
I love you, so I am happy to see you and my heart is moved by you.
The two of them lingered for a while, and the clock in the living room began to strike the time.
Bang! The small glass door above the clock suddenly opened.
Coo coo... coo coo...
A cuckoo came out and began to sing.
clang! clang!
The chime clock began to ring.
Xiangbei stopped the deep kiss and slowly left Tao Nanfeng's lips. A flash of water passed by and Tao Nanfeng's face turned red with shame.
Xiangbei suddenly sighed, put his forehead against hers, and chuckled, "Nanfeng, I really don't want to leave you, what should I do?"
Tao Nanfeng felt the changes in his body and became a little nervous. He didn't dare to move or speak.
Xiangbei kissed her cheek again, put his hands on her shoulders, distanced them further, and coughed: "But, we still have to kill the chicken..."
Tao Nanfeng met his gaze, and could see his inner struggle, and couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Hurry up and kill the chicken. I'm waiting to drink chicken soup."
The two smiled at each other, and the ambiguity and tenderness just now were gradually replaced by warmth.
Xiangbei ordered Tao Nanfeng: "You boil water, I'll go catch chickens."
Tao Nanfeng did as he was told.
When they were on the farm, the educated youth did not feed the chickens, so naturally they never killed any chickens. Although he had drunk chicken soup many times at Xiang Bei's house, it was never Tao Nanfeng's turn to get involved in the task of killing chickens. Tao Nanfeng felt very fresh to be able to be commanded to help this time.
Xiangbei's movements were indeed skillful.
In his left hand he grabbed a fat hen with thick legs and shiny fur. The chicken was very strong and weighed about eight or nine pounds.
Xiangbei prepared a bowl of cold boiled water and put some salt in it. He pinched the chicken's neck with his left hand and skillfully wiped it with the knife in his right hand, and the blood flowed into the bowl drop by drop.
He controlled the still fluttering hen with his left hand and stirred the blood with chopsticks in his right hand. Seeing a hint of doubt in Tao Nanfeng's eyes, Xiang Bei patiently explained: "We need to add some salt to the water so that the blood will coagulate."
Blanch, stew, add red dates and wolfberries. When the rich aroma of chicken soup began to spread in the kitchen, the whole building could smell this overbearing fragrance.
"Whose family is stewing chicken? It smells so good, doesn't it?"
"Where can I buy chicken? I can't even buy it at the market right now."
"It seems like the fragrance is coming from Professor Tao's house? He doesn't usually cook at home, weird!"
Tao Shouxin walked around the campus, then went to the cafeteria to get two stir-fried dishes and walked slowly home.
As soon as he walked onto the path leading to the family quarters, the neighbors poked their heads out with curiosity and greeted him.
"Professor Tao, who is cooking at your home? The chicken soup is so delicious!"
"Where did you get the chicken? Buy me one too."
"Yes, Professor Tao, if you have a way, please buy it for us. Farm chicken essence is very expensive now. You can't even buy one for ten yuan."
Tao Shouxin chuckled and said, "We have guests at home. You can't buy chickens raised at home in the countryside."
The aroma of chicken soup wafted over in the air. Tao Shouxin closed his eyes and smelled it, feeling happy.
My daughter has good taste. Just for her cooking skills, I can give Xiangbei five points. Coming all the way here to send you a local chicken deserves another five points for the thoughtfulness.
Having agreed to their relationship before, Tao Shouxin silently gave Xiangbei a passing grade in his heart.
Now, with two more five points, I can barely get 70 points.
When Xiangbei’s score reaches 100, we can get married.
Tao Shouxin happily pushed the door open and walked into the house. The rich aroma was so appetizing that it whetted his appetite. Smelling the aroma of the chicken soup, the passage from "The Travels of Lao Can" came to my mind.
"My internal organs are as smooth as if they were ironed with an iron; my 36,000 pores are as comfortable as if I had eaten ginseng fruit."
Tao Nanfeng walked out of the kitchen, took the lunch box from his father, and was about to get another plate to put it on when he said to Xiangbei, "It's cold, can I heat it up?"
After a while, chicken soup and hot dishes were served on the table.
Tao Shouxin smelled the rich and mellow chicken soup and looked at the yellow oil beads on the soup surface. He couldn't help but praise: "Xiangbei's cooking is great."
The hot dishes were also processed further north.
Dried bamboo shoots were added to the green pepper and pork slices, black fungus was added to the braised fish cubes, and some garlic leaves were sprinkled on top, making the dish full of color, aroma and flavor.
Xiangbei knew that the father and daughter of the Tao family didn't like to cook, so this time he came here specially with a handful of garlic and a large piece of bacon.
He brought another pot of steamed bacon with fermented black beans and took off his apron. "Professor Tao, where's the wine? I'll pour it for you."
Tao Shouxin laughed, walked into the study, and took out a bottle of Moutai from the cabinet: "This is what Nanfeng and I opened last year during the Chinese New Year, and we never finished it. It's just right that you're here, drink with me."
The three of them sat at the dinner table, talking and laughing, having a great time.
Tao Shouxin knew that the girl didn't like him drinking, so he took out a small wine cup of two cents and said, "Nanfeng, I only drink this little."
Tao Nanfeng was relieved: "Okay. If you really want to drink, wait until you return to the farm and see Mr. Mei and see what he says."
Tao Shouxin pretended to complain, but he was actually very proud: "Look at my Nanfeng, she is like a little housekeeper, she even controls me when I drink."
Xiangbei stood up and served Tao Shouxin a bowl of soup. There were a few red dates and wolfberries floating on the yellow soup, which was a feast to the eyes.
"Nanfeng is concerned about you. Come, have some soup first."
Tao Shouxin took a sip of the soup, which was mellow and smooth, and his stomach immediately felt warm.
"You guys have the soup too. This soup is really good. When I came back just now, the neighbors were asking where to buy the chicken."
Xiangbei joked, "When I come to pick you up next time, I'll put two cages of chickens in the trunk of the car and sell them at the university. That'll cover the travel expenses and gas money."
Tao Shouxin took it seriously: "This is a good idea, but... the country is now strictly regulated and does not allow free trade. It doesn't matter if you sell chickens, I will report you if you do."
Xiangbei smiled and nodded: "Yes, yes, we can't sell it, we eat it ourselves."
Tao Shouxin seemed to have thought of something and sighed.
"Sharing happiness is worse than enjoying it alone. Our home was lively when Xiqin was here, but after she left, it became much quieter. When Nanfeng was young, he was like a little magpie chirping all day long, but later he became less talkative."
Xiangbei heard what Tao Shouxin said, it's not that he doesn't like being in the crowd, he's just not good at dealing with people, which is why people mistakenly think he's aloof.
He smiled slightly: "If you want to have fun, I have a good idea that will make sure everyone comes happily."
Tao Shouxin's curiosity was successfully aroused: "What's a good idea?"
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