Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Daily life during the winter.
Mu Mian had never been to a place like the black market.
But Comrade Mu Fugui has been there many times, mainly to buy things.
After all, these days the amount of many things you can buy each month is limited, and once they’re used up, you can only think of other ways to buy them.
Although the black market is a bit more expensive, you don’t need a ticket, so there are a lot of people buying things and selling things.
As long as you are brave, you can still make a lot of money.
You know, the prices of the things there are almost doubled compared to those at the supply and marketing cooperative grain station.
High returns come with high risks. Except for the time when he dealt with the wild boar in 1963, Mu Fugui would always quietly buy things and leave, being very cautious.
In the kitchen, Mu Fugui said carelessly, "Because of this incident, I made an unnecessary trip. I even walked there quietly and didn't even dare to push my bicycle in."
"If I had known it was Comrade Xiao Xiang, I would have just bought it from him."
Liu Shuangcui made a "tsk" sound, "Keep your voice down, just understand, pour the water and eat."
Mu Fugui stood up with a basin in his hand, "Eat, eat, eat! I'm starving!"
When he passed by, Mu Mian casually stuffed a cake into the direction of his father's mouth.
Mu Fugui didn't answer it. "I'm eating. Leave this for you and your sister-in-law."
Mu Mian handed it over again, and whispered quietly like a thief: "You can buy more from the educated youth after you finish eating."
She didn't know that Xiang Xuewen had started a business so early. If she had known, she might have bought it from him a long time ago.
The craftsmanship is really good. After eating the food made by Xiang Xuewen, I really feel that those sold in the supply and marketing cooperatives are not so good.
Even with this ability, he is still not liked by his own father at home.
It can be guessed that even if there is a recipe, it is from the mother's side.
But these had nothing to do with her, so Mu Mian didn't care much.
---
The winter days passed quickly. After several families in the team finished their weddings, the New Year was almost here.
The Chinese New Year is celebrated late this year. It is already early February of 1979 in the Gregorian calendar.
That day, there was heavy snow outside and the kang in the house was very hot.
The old lady was sitting on the kang sewing shoe soles. Liu Shuangcui went to the team leader's house to talk to Liu Guizhi.
There was a radio, a notebook and a pen on the kang table. Mu Mian was sitting cross-legged in a sweater, listening to the radio, writing and drawing, and teasing Xiao Xixi.
Little Xixi, who is nearly eight months old, is no longer the little baby who used to lie down and listen to the radio and suck her fingers when she had nothing to do.
After learning to crawl, it was like a wild horse that had broken free from its reins, and its arms and legs couldn't stop moving.
Look, ever since the little guy woke up from his nap, it has been difficult for Mu Mian to pick up the pen.
Little Xixi really liked to crawl from one end of the kang to the other, and then be carried back by Mu Mian to crawl again, as if the kang was a one-way street and she couldn't turn.
Mu Mian was quite patient when facing his adorable, fair and tender niece, and enjoyed doing it over and over again.
The aunt and niece were playing here when Nie Sihui pushed the door open. She had sat with Jian Mulan for a while before.
Nie Sihui took off her thick coat and put it on the kang, rubbing her hands, "It's really cold today."
Zhao Meihua: "It will probably warm up after the Chinese New Year."
Mu Mian carried Xiao Xixi and said, "I feel like this snow will continue to fall for several days."
The three of them were talking to each other.
On the kang, Xiao Xixi saw
After leaving his mother, he did not continue to climb the one-way street. Instead, he turned a corner and headed straight towards Nie Sihui.
The little mouth chattered, "Ahhh..."
Nie Sihui answered, "What? You slept for a long time."
Xiao Xixi: “Oh…”
The little fellow was talking while pulling at Nie Sihui's clothes and trying to stand up. His hands were very strong and he really stood up with just a push of his two little hands.
Mu Mian opened his arms and clapped his hands, "Come on, take a few steps and come over here."
Xiao Xixi tried to step out with her chubby little feet, but failed. Her little one fell straight into Mu Mian's arms. After Mu Mian caught it, he moved it a few times, and the little one giggled as it was rubbed.
After laughing, he climbed his own mother as if she were a tree, and then fell into his aunt's arms, with endless energy.
In this respect, he can be said to have inherited Mu Zhuo's genes 100%.
Nie Sihui didn't make a fuss with her daughter. It was already late, so she went to the kitchen with the old lady to cook.
Mu Mian was taking care of the children in the house. Little Xixi had slept for a long time last night and was now very noisy.
About half an hour later, when the meal was almost ready, Comrade Mu Fugui came back.
When little Xixi heard the sound of the bicycle, she raised her head and looked towards the window. Her big eyes were very bright and she made "ah ah" sounds, as if reminding her aunt that there was movement outside.
Mu Mian: "Your grandpa is back."
Xiao Xixi: “Ah…”
Mu Mian responded to every word, "Yes, Grandpa, Grandpa is back~"
Xiao Xixi was still crying when Mu Fugui pushed open the door and came in, holding a big package in his hand.
Mu Mian smiled and said, "Dad, did you get it?"
Mu Fugui: "Yes, I went to get it at noon."
Mu Zhuo called me earlier and said that he had sent something back. It should arrive in about half a month at most.
But this year the weather was exceptionally cold, with heavy snowfall in many places. The package was delayed on the road for a long time, and ended up wandering around for more than a month.
Luckily I got it before the post office closed for holiday, otherwise I would have to get it after the Chinese New Year.
Mu Mian took the package, and Mu Fugui sat down on the kang, not caring what was inside. He reached out to Xiao Xixi and said in his rough voice, "Is our eldest granddaughter well behaved today? Did she miss grandpa?"
Xiao Xixi: “Ah~”
Mu Fugui: "Yes, Grandpa, come and read with me, Grandpa."
Xiao Xixi: "Alas!"
Mu Mian burst out laughing. It turned out that in the process of teaching a child to speak, no matter who it is, someone would be taken advantage of.
When little Xixi saw the package, she crawled over and sat next to it, looking at it curiously. Although she was very small, her nature of wanting to get involved in everything was already beginning to show, much like her father.
The package was a little dirty, so Mu Mian squatted on the ground to open it.
Mu Zhuo had already told him what was inside when he called before, there were some dried sea fish, milk powder, and new clothes for Xiao Xixi to wear for the New Year.
It was the first year my daughter spent in this world. As a father, I couldn't be there and felt guilty about not being able to celebrate, so I sent a lot of things back to her.
Xiao Xixi's clothes are a complete set, including cotton pants and a cotton jacket. The cotton pants have open-crotch suspenders, which can be pulled up to cover the belly and chest. It looks very warm.
The little girl seemed to know that the clothes were for her, waving her little arms and making "ah ah" sounds.
Mu Mian stood up with the clothes in his hand, "Come on, try them on, your father bought them for you."
As he said that, he put a condom on Xiao Xixi. The whole condom was red and thick. After being wrapped like this, Xiao Xixi turned into a ball, and looked even whiter and plumper.
It was lying there like a little turtle with its arms and legs dangling, unable to turn over no matter how hard it moved. It was so adorable.
Zhao Meihua came in with the dishes and was shocked when she saw Xiao Xixi like this. "Whose lucky doll is this that landed in our house?"
Mu Mian hugged the chubby little Xixi and waved her little hands, "Your grandma is asking you, who are you from?"
Xiao Xixi stared at the food with her big round eyes, "Ahh..."
The appearance of the little greedy cat is clearly visible.
Zhao Meihua put the dishes on the kang table, then reached out and took Xiao Xixi and admired her.
Mu Fugui: "Boss, you bought really good clothes."
With his hands free, Mu Mian squatted on the ground again, "Let me see what my brother bought for me and my sister-in-law."
I had said on the phone before that it was a tweed coat, the capital style. Mu Mian really didn't know what it looked like specifically, as he was just busy trying it on Xiao Xixi.
Zhao Meihua: "Eat first, then we'll do it after dinner."
Mu Mian was indeed a little hungry. Although there was not much physical work to do that day, her brain did not stop.
They had a simple meal in the evening. After eating and cleaning up, Mu Mian tried on the tweed coat. It was indeed nice-looking, but it was not thick enough to wear in winter. It was just right to wear in spring.
Nie Sihui didn't try on the clothes, but opened the envelope and took a look.
Four photos were revealed first. Xiao Xixi tried to grab them, but Nie Sihui dodged and said, "Don't tear them up."
Mu Mian leaned over to take a look. One photo was of her eldest brother, and the other was of Brother Wen.
The separate photo that Brother Wen took was for Teacher Yang.
The other two photos were the same. It was obvious that they were taken once and developed twice. They included her elder brother, elder brother Wen, and a strange gay man she had never seen before.
Liu Shuangcui picked up a picture and said, "This is Xiao Dong. He looks quite handsome."
Mu Fugui said carelessly, "Why can't this guy find a partner?"
Mu Mian replied, "They are busy, so they can only find it when they have time."
The adults gathered together, and little Xixi crawled over to retrieve the photo again.
Mu Fugui stretched out his arms and held the little guy in his arms, then pointed at the photo in his hand and showed it to Xiao Xixi, "Can you recognize which one is your father?"
Liu Shuangcui glanced at her man and said, "What can she recognize?!"
Mu Fugui was very patient and pointed, "The one at the edge is your father. Come and repeat after Grandpa, Dad."
Xiao Xixi: "Alas!"
Mu Mian leaned on Nie Sihui like a boneless person, laughing, "Dad, you are both my grandson and my son."
Several female comrades laughed together.
---
The next day, the weather was still not good.
When I got up in the morning, the yard was covered with a layer of white again. Snow was still falling from the sky and it didn't stop until mid-morning.
Taking advantage of the snow stopping, Mu Mian took the things and photos in the package for Teacher Yang and planned to go to the cowshed.
She had just put on her thick coat when little Xixi started crawling towards her using her hands and feet, making some "dudu" sounds.
Nie Sihui stretched out her legs to stop him, "Your aunt has something important to do."
Little Xixi refused and lay there with her hands outstretched, "Duah..."
No matter what the weather is outside, the little guy likes to run along.
Even at such a young age, she is very good at reading people's faces. She never follows her grandfather when he goes out because she knows he won't take her with him. She always stares at her aunt.
And every time Mu Mian faced his niece whose eyes and eyebrows resembled his own, he always felt soft-hearted.
For example, at this moment, being stared at by Xiao Xixi's big watery eyes, Mu Mian hesitated for two seconds and said, "Okay, I'll take you there."
Nie Sihui grabbed her daughter's thick coat and wrapped it up so that only a pair of eyes were exposed.
Mu Mian held the things for Teacher Yang in one hand and easily picked up Xiao Xixi with the other hand. The little guy was chubby, and because of his thick clothes, he looked round and weighed about twenty pounds.
It was a very cold day and there was hardly anyone outside. Even Eleven, who usually liked to run around, was too lazy to move and just curled up on the kang and fell asleep.
When Xiao Xixi saw the white area, she was very happy and giggled several times.
Mu Mian walked steadily all the way.
The weather was cold, and every household had their doors and windows tightly locked. Mu Mian didn't have the hands to knock on the door, so he stood at the door and shouted twice, "Teacher, open the door."
As soon as she finished speaking, Yang Youqin's voice came from inside, "I'm coming."
The door opened, and Yang Youqin was surprised to see little Xixi, "Why did you bring Xixi here?"
Mu Mian: "She insisted on following."
Yang Youqin stretched out her hand, "Come and give me a hug."
Little Xixi doesn't recognize people and can be held by anyone. When Yang Youqin teases her, the little one immediately becomes very happy and the small room is filled with her laughter.
Mu Mian sat next to him and sorted out the things in the package. "Brother Wen sent two photos."
Yang Youqin tilted her head towards Mu Mian and said, "Let me take a look."
Mu Mian handed it over.
Yang Youqin: "Nothing has changed.
He looks very energetic. The boy has changed a bit. I haven't seen him for many years. ”
Mu Mian looked curious, "What was Brother Dong like before?"
Yang Youqin smiled and said, "He didn't look as steady as he does now. He used to be tough, jumping up and down like a monkey."
Mu Mian laughed out loud, and Xiao Xixi didn't know what the two were laughing at, so she laughed along.
Because he brought Xiao Xixi with him, Mu Mian didn't sit here for too long and went back after about half an hour.
On the road, the snow made a crunching sound when stepped on.
Little Xixi nestled in her aunt's arms, her eyes darting around, she was so curious to see a cigarette lit in the house that she stretched out her little arms as if she wanted to grab the cigarette.
Xiao Xixi: “Ah…”
Mu Mian: "I'm cooking, are you hungry?"
Xiao Xixi: “Du…”
Mu Mian: "Yes, aunt~"
As early as more than six months old, Xiao Xixi could unconsciously make some sounds like "ma" and "du", which sounded like calling people, but not so clear.
Xiao Xixi: “Du…”
Mu Mian was very patient and taught tirelessly, "Aunt, Aunt, we still have your great-grandmother, mother, grandmother, grandfather, and your father. But we don't know when your father will be back. Wait until he comes back..."
Mu Mian is still chattering to the little guy.
The little Xixi in her arms made two "baba" sounds, and suddenly said in a clear and loud voice, "Gu!"
Mu Mian's unfinished words got stuck in his throat, and he looked surprised, "You called me aunt?"
Xiao Xixi: “Du…”
Mu Mian taught twice more, and little Xixi kept humming.
Until she reached the door of her house, Mu Mian didn't hear the clear and melodious "Gu" again, but this didn't stop her from showing off. As soon as she entered the door, she started chattering, "Grandma, guess what Xiao Xixi did on the road just now?"
The old lady raised her eyes and said casually, "What did she do? Did she pick up money?"
Mu Mian chuckled, "Hehe, she called me aunt, so clearly, I heard it clearly."
The old lady was a little surprised, "Really?"
Mu Mian: "It couldn't be more true!"
Nie Sihui held Xiao Xixi in her arms and pretended to be jealous, "As expected, you are best friends with your aunt. The first person you call is always your aunt."
Xiao Xixi: "Auntie!"
Mu Mian raised his eyelids slightly, with surprise in his eyes, "Look what I said!"
Liu Shuangcui said in a very understanding tone, "I will be close to whoever brings me more."
Mu Mian rubbed his head against Xiao Xixi's belly, making the little guy laugh.
The family was having fun together, and before they knew it, it was New Year.
Naturally, the three families still celebrated New Year's Eve together. As the family conditions had improved over the past two years, the dishes during the New Year had become more and more sumptuous, and everyone ate until their stomachs were full.
After dinner, the adults chatted and stayed up all night in another room.
The children all crowded on the kang in the old lady's room, chattering so loudly that their voices almost blew the roof off.
Little Xixi was woken up and cried loudly twice, calling for her aunt.
Mu Mian quickly picked him up and comforted him.
Xiao Xixi is very easy to coax. After a nap, the child is particularly energetic and wants to go outside as soon as he stretches his arms.
Mu Mian: "It's dark now, I can't see anything, what are you doing outside?"
Xiao Xixi: "Aunt."
Mu Mian: "It's no use calling me aunt, let's just play on the kang."
Xiao Xixi: "Aunt."
Ever since the child learned how to call people, he has become more and more proficient in doing so.
As it kept calling, it grew up in the blink of an eye.
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