Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Small Schoolbag

In the afternoon, Meng Yufei returned to the office, took some money and prepared to go to the supply and marketing cooperative to collect supplies for the kindergarten. At that time, Director Zheng of the supply and marketing cooperative asked that the bill be settled only after the goods arrived.

After entering the supply and marketing cooperative, Zhao Meixia was in charge of receiving Meng Yufei. She said enthusiastically, "Director Meng, you are here. The batch of goods for the kindergarten was just delivered this morning and was placed in our office. I guessed that you would come to pick them up in the next two days, so I didn't let them deliver them to the warehouse. I didn't expect you to come this afternoon."

Meng Yufei said, "Doesn't the kindergarten start accepting applications tomorrow? If you come early and take it back, it won't delay the kindergarten's subsequent work."

Zhao Meixia smiled and said, "Okay, then I'll take you over there to count the things first." She turned to her colleague and said, "Xiao Peng, I'll go to the back, you can help me watch the counter for a while."

After that, she took Meng Yufei to the office in the back. There were several large bags of things on the floor. Zhao Meixia squatted down and opened the bag and said, "I put it here when I got here. We haven't even seen what's inside yet."

The bag contained some small toys from this era, two boxes of glass beads, a small bag of flower ropes, a few rubber bands, a dozen picture books, a wooden hand-grabber car...

The big item is a set of small wooden slides and four or five small wooden horses. The wood is polished very smoothly and has no barbs, so it won't hurt the children playing on it.

Zhao Meixia said, "These things are quite heavy. Director Meng, I'll ask someone to deliver them to you later."

Meng Yufei smiled and said, "Thank you for your help." She really couldn't get these things back by herself.

Zhao Meixia smiled and said, "What's the problem? We are all from the same family."

Meng Yufei said, "I have ordered everything, no problem. Director Zheng said last time that we can pay after the items arrive. I brought the money here today. Where should I go to pay?"

Zhao Meixia said: "Come on, I'll take you to find our treasurer."

After settling the bill, Meng Yufei asked before leaving, "Is Director Zheng not here today?"

Zhao Meixia said: "He is not feeling well and has gone home to rest. I guess he will directly apply for internal retirement later."

Meng Yufei said, "So that's how it is. Then who will be in charge of the supply and marketing cooperative from now on?"

Zhao Meixia raised her hand to tuck the strands of hair behind her ear and said with a smile, "I will temporarily take over the work here from now on."

Thinking of what Xia Junshan said at noon, that the troops will take over the supply and marketing cooperative in the future, and the person in charge here will also arrange his own people, it seems that it is most likely Zhao Meixia in front of him.

Meng Yufei smiled and said, "If I need help from the supply and marketing cooperative in the future, I will come to you directly."

Zhao Meixia nodded and said, "No problem, you can tell me anytime if you need anything."

After leaving the supply and marketing cooperative, Meng Yufei did not go back to the office directly, but went to the kindergarten in front first.

Both classrooms were almost cleaned in the morning. In the afternoon, several people came to clean the blackboard and then wrote a welcome message and notes for tomorrow's registration, such as school start time, school end time, class division information, etc.

Tang Jiayi's handwriting was the most beautiful. She had experience in blackboard writing before, so she was the one who wrote, and the others helped her.

Meng Yufei knocked on the open door and said, "This room is really clean."

Several people turned their heads and saw her. Mrs. Zhang was the first to come over and said with a smile, "Sister, why are you here?"

Meng Yufei said, "I came here to tell you that last week I asked the supply and marketing cooperative to go to the city to buy some toys. Now the things have arrived. The supply and marketing cooperative will send someone to deliver them later. You can receive them. By the way, where is Director Tian?"

Mrs. Zhang said, "She is sorting out the materials at the Women's Committee next door. We don't have an office here, so Director Wang asked Director Tian to work there."

Zhou Wenqian came over and said to Meng Yufei, "Sister Meng, let me go and call Director Tian for you."

Meng Yufei said, "No need. I'll go with you. I can also say hello to Director Wang."

After going to talk to Tian Ruizhi next door, she thanked Meng Yufei and said, "Sorry, Director Meng, these are exactly what our kindergarten needs right now."

Meng Yufei smiled and said, "I am just following the leader's instructions. Director Tian, ​​if you need any help from our finance department in the future, please feel free to come to me."

After talking to Director Wang again, Meng Yufei returned to the office. She sat on a chair with her hands on her chin, staring at Xia Qinqin at the door, then ran over and hugged her mother's waist.

"Mom, I missed you so much. Why have you been out for so long?" Xia Qinqin hugged Meng Yufei and said coquettishly. She wanted to go out with her just now, but was rejected by Meng Yufei. The distance from here to the supply and marketing cooperative and back was not short, and the weather was a bit hot today.

Meng Yufei patted her daughter's shoulder with amusement and said, "Mom went out to do something, and now she's back."

Xia Qinqin pulled Meng Yufei to sit on the chair, "Mom, you should take a break." She stood on tiptoe and pushed the teacup on the table towards her, "Mom, drink some water."

Meng Yufei's heart softened, she picked up the cup and said softly: "Okay, I'm thirsty, thank you Qinqin."

Xia Qinqin raised her face and gave Meng Yufei a brilliant smile.

Xiao Zhang watched the interaction between the mother and daughter and sighed again: "I want to have a daughter in the future. This is so thoughtful."

She said to Xia Qinqin: "Qinqin, you miss your mother after just being apart from her for a while. What will you do when you go to kindergarten?"

Xia Qinqin thought for a moment and said, "Grandma said that every child has to go to kindergarten. Hmm...when I graduate from kindergarten, I can stay with my mother forever."

Xiao Zhang laughed and said, "But after kindergarten, there is elementary school, after elementary school, there is middle school, and after middle school, there is college."

Xia Qinqin thought for a moment and asked Meng Yufei, "Mom, can I not go to school? I want to work with you."

Meng Yufei patted her head and said, "Let's talk about this later. Your current task is to study hard in kindergarten."

Xia Qinqin nodded and said, "Okay."

The afternoon passed faster than the morning. After get off work, Meng Yufei took her daughter to the cafeteria to get food.

The cafeteria made steamed pork with rice flour today. The fragrance could be smelled from a long distance away. Meng Yufei took out her lunch box and ordered one portion for 45 cents, plus two taels of meat coupons.

The vegetarian dish was cold mixed bamboo shoots, which looked refreshing and cost five cents a portion. The soup was vegetable and egg soup, also five cents a portion.

The staple food is still rice. The rice here can be harvested twice or even three times a year, so the supply of rice here is relatively sufficient.

After returning home, Xia Qinqin poked her head towards the kitchen, looked around the living room, and said to Meng Yufei, "Mom, we came back earlier than Dad this time."

Meng Yufei put the lunch box on the dining table. "Yes, Dad must have been busy at work in the afternoon, so he came back late."

Xia Qinqin said, "Then I'll go to the door to pick up Dad." Then she ran out of the house, stopped at the door, turned around and said, "Mom, I won't run out of the yard." She still remembered her mother's instructions.

Meng Yufei nodded and said, "Okay, go ahead."

Xia Qinqin trotted into the yard, lay at the far door and watched for a long time but Xia Junshan didn't show up. She ran back to the yard bored and was attracted by the grape trellis she had built. A few days ago, Xia Junshan asked for a few grape trees from the commune and planted them next to the pillars of the trellis. He also tied the branches of the grapes to the pillars with ropes, so that the grape branches would grow along the trellis in the future.

Next to the grape trees was newly dug soil that had been piled up and had not been cleaned up yet. The surface was dry, but the inside was still damp.

Xia Qinqin squatted down, reached out and grabbed it, and with a little force, the dry soil on the outside broke into pieces and turned into dry powdery particles.

Xia Qinqin poked the soft soil inside with her fingers and found it quite fun. She grabbed a handful of soil in her hand and, just like the sand she played with the day before, she could mold it into different shapes.

Wow, she found sand that she can play with at home...

When Xia Junshan entered the yard, he saw his daughter squatting under the grape trellis playing with mud. Her hands were covered with mud, and her little face was staring at her movements while playing with the mud.

Xia Junshan walked over and asked, "Qinqin, what are you doing?"

Xia Qinqin heard her father's voice, turned around and happily raised the mud in her hand, which she had kneaded into a ball. "Dad, look, I'm making an orange. Does it look like one?"

Xia Junshan noticed that Xia Qinqin's clothes were also stained with mud, and so were her white sneakers...

"Like, the orange Qinqin made is so like it." Xia Junshan nodded and praised, smiling and said to his daughter: "Please leave the orange here to dry for a while, and let's go wash our hands and eat, okay?"

Xia Qinqin looked down at the muddy orange in her hand and asked in surprise, "Does it like to bask in the sun?"

"Yes, it likes it." Xia Junshan put the mud orange in her hand on the ground, picked up the little man with both hands and put it next to the faucet to wash her hands.

After washing my hands, I went into the house. When I stood at the door, I took out Xia Qinqin's little slippers and replaced her muddy little white shoes.

Meng Yufei was setting the table, and when she saw the father and daughter coming back, she said, "Come over and have dinner."

When Xia Qinqin came to her, Meng Yufei noticed the mud on her body and asked, "Why is there mud on this dress?"

Xia Qinqin came over and presented her treasure, saying, "Mom, I found that we also have sand to play with in our house. It's next to the grape tree. I just made an orange. Dad said that I made it very similar to an orange. It likes to bask in the sun. When it's done basking in the sun, I'll get it and show it to you."

Meng Yufei looked at Xia Junshan in confusion. Xia Qinqin spoke very quickly and frequently, and she didn't understand what was going on.

Xia Junshan explained with a smile: "The mud under the grape trellis has not been cleaned up yet, and Qinqin found it and played with it as if it were sand."

Meng Yufei glanced at Xia Qinqin's hands, which had been washed clean, and then looked at the mud on her clothes, her brows slightly wrinkled.

Xia Junshan said hurriedly, "It's time to take a shower after dinner. Let's change together. I'll wash her clothes separately. Oh, I see the clothes and mosquito nets in the yard are dry. Let's eat quickly and take them back after dinner."

"Okay, let's eat first." Meng Yufei nodded.

Xia Junshan hurriedly carried Xia Qinqin to the chair and put her down. He saw the steamed pork with rice flour on the plate on the table and smiled, "Oh, there is steamed pork with rice flour in the cafeteria today. I was wondering why I could smell the fragrance as soon as I entered the room. The master's steamed pork with rice flour is made of not only crushed glutinous rice flour, but also corn flour. It absorbs a lot of oil, so the steamed meat is fat but not greasy."

Meng Yufei said with a smile: "You have done a lot of research on food. So, are you planning to transfer to the kitchen team?"

Xia Junshan handed Meng Yufei a bowl of rice and raised his eyebrows, saying, "You know what, when I first joined the army, I really considered going to the kitchen. When I saw the whole pot of rice and vegetables, I couldn't walk the first time I saw it."

Meng Yufei picked up a piece of steamed pork with rice flour and gave it to Xia Junshan, saying with a smile, "It's a good thing the organization didn't give it to you, otherwise you would be like a mouse falling into a rice jar."

"The organization is wise." Xia Junshan picked up the steamed pork with rice flour and put it into his mouth. He squinted his eyes and nodded with satisfaction: "Well, it's delicious."

Meng Yufei picked off the fat on the steamed pork with rice flour with chopsticks, put the lean meat into Xia Qinqin's bowl, and gave the fat to Xia Junshan.

Xia Qinqin ate the steamed pork with rice flour and imitated her father, squinting her eyes and saying, "Mm, delicious, delicious~"

Xia Junshan ate the fat in the bowl in one gulp, and then picked up a piece of steamed pork with fat and lean meat and gave it to Meng Yufei, "Try this, I guarantee you won't get tired of it."

Meng Yufei picked up the chopsticks and took a small bite, then nodded and said, "Indeed, it's not as greasy as fat, but rather quite fragrant."

Xia Junshan said, "Right, when I have time, I will make you some steamed pork with rice flour."

Meng Yufei picked up a piece of cold bamboo shoots and gave it to Xia Qinqin, and said with a smile, "Then I'll be waiting."

…

Zhao Meixia was in a good mood all day today.

When I came in the morning, I learned that Director Zheng had gone home to rest for health reasons. He would retire internally and would no longer come to work at the supply and marketing cooperative.

I still don’t understand what happened to Director Zheng. How could a man in his early 40s retire early?

She was then notified that Zhao Meixia would temporarily take over Director Zheng's job and be responsible for the daily management of the supply and marketing cooperative.

Zhao Meixia was delighted. Could it be that... they were going to promote her to be the director of the supply and marketing cooperative?

On this day, the employees in the supply and marketing cooperative probably all thought the same, and their attitude towards Zhao Meixia had obviously changed. When the vegetable stall at the door was closing in the evening, the unsold vegetables were distributed to everyone as usual. This time, everyone tacitly let Zhao Meixia choose first.

Thinking that she might get a promotion, Zhao Meixia rejected everyone's kindness today. "My mother-in-law has planted a small vegetable plot in front of her house. The cabbage has just matured in the past two days. We don't need vegetables for the time being. I don't want it. You can share it among yourself."

"Oh, that's so embarrassing. We are taking advantage of you."

"Yes, Sister Zhao, these vegetables look fresh, why don't you take some home?"

In the end, Zhao Meixia didn't take the vegetables. She carried her bag and walked briskly towards home.

When they got home, Mrs. Tang came over with the finished shoes and said, "Meixia, look, the shoes are ready for you."

Zhao Meixia took it and sat on the sofa to try it on. She nodded with satisfaction and said, "It fits my feet very well. The sole is soft and breathable. Mom, thank you for your hard work."

As he said this, he took out three yuan from his bag and handed it over. In the department store in the city, a pair of top-quality adult cloth shoes only costs about three yuan, and it will be even cheaper in the counties and towns below.

Mrs. Tang waved her hands repeatedly and said, "No, no, how can I take your money?"

Zhao Meixia smiled and stuffed the money into Mrs. Tang's hand.

Mrs. Tang took the money and couldn't help but smile widely. The wrinkles on her forehead and cheeks became deeper. "The rice is simmering in the pot. It will be ready soon."

As he said this, he looked at Zhao Meixia's shoulder bag again. She would usually take out the leftover vegetables from the vegetable stall from her bag. Although these vegetables were not worth much money, who would refuse free things?

Zhao Meixia said, "Mom, I won't bring any vegetables home for the time being. I think the Chinese cabbages in the vegetable garden outside the door are ready to eat. You can pick two bunches and stir-fry them later. Eat them while they are tender. They taste best."

Mrs. Tang thought to herself, she also knew that the vegetable tasted good when it was tender, but it would shrink a lot when fried. Two handfuls of the vegetable would only make a small dish after being fried. If she waited a few more days, one handful of the vegetable would make a whole dish.

However, after touching the money in her palm, Mrs. Tang didn't say anything. She just nodded and said, "Okay, I'll go right away."

—————

After dinner, Xia Junshan washed the dishes and went to boil water for a bath.

Meng Yufei took back the clothes and mosquito net that were hung out to dry in the yard. Xia Qinqin also wanted to run over to pick up the clothes, but Meng Yufei looked at the dried mud on her clothes, declined her daughter's kindness, took out the chess set she bought at the weekend, and let her play on the table.

Xia Qinqin's attention was immediately attracted. She opened the box, took out the chess pieces one by one, placed them on the table and started playing.

Meng Yufei also specifically reminded her: "Qinqin, just sit here, don't go to the sofa, okay."

If the mud on her clothes got onto the sofa, it would get on the sofa cover as soon as she moved, and then she would have to take it off and wash it.

"Yeah, okay." Xia Qinqin nodded in response, holding the red car in one hand and the red handsome in the other. She knew these two words.

Meng Yufei folded the washed new clothes one by one and put them in the closet. She also folded the two mosquito nets and put them in there, waiting to put them up again after a while.

I took Xia Qinqin's pajamas out. Xia Junshan had just finished taking a bath. He walked out of the kitchen, dusted off the dust on his body and said:

"Fei Fei, the bath water is ready, you bathe Qin Qin first. I'll go to Captain Song's house and bring back Qin Qin's schoolbag."

Meng Yufei hurriedly said, "Wait a minute," and then she opened the cupboard in the living room and handed him a bag of pineapple cakes and a bag of peach cakes. "How can you go empty-handed? Take these two bags of snacks as a thank you gift."

Xia Junshan took the snack and said with a smile: "Okay, you are very thoughtful."

Captain Song's family had dinner early.

Tang Jiayi was sitting at the dining table, with two children sitting on her left and right, doing their homework on the table.

The two children are twins, seven years old this year, and just entered the first grade of primary school. Now, after dinner every day at home, I have one more thing to do, which is to help the children with their homework.

An old lady with bound feet slowly walked out of the small room. Her gray hair was neatly tied behind her head. Although there were a few wrinkles on her face, her delicate features still showed her beautiful appearance in her youth.

At this time, Captain Song's mother-in-law, Tang Jiayi's mother, Aunt Liu.

She took out a military green backpack from the room, handed it to Captain Song and said, "Mingyuan, the bag that Captain Xia brought over the other day has already been altered by him. You can give it to him."

Captain Song took the schoolbag and nodded, saying, "Okay, I'll give it to him right away."

Tang Jiayi, who was sitting at the dining table tutoring her two children, said, "Hey, isn't Captain Xia's relative Director Meng from the Finance Section of the Logistics Department?"

Captain Song nodded and said, "Yes."

Tang Jiayi said, "Then put your bag on the sofa. I'll bring it to Director Meng when I get to work tomorrow. You don't have to bother making a trip."

Captain Song said, "Okay," and put the bag on the sofa. "I'll put it on the sofa."

His son Lele was distracted while doing his homework again. Tang Jiayi knocked on the table to remind him. When she heard what Captain Song said, she said impatiently, "I know! Didn't I just say to put it on the sofa?"

Aunt Liu patted her daughter's shoulder gently and said, "Jia Yi, people are reminding you in a gentle and kind voice, why are you speaking so harshly?"

Captain Song smiled and said, "It's okay, Mom. It's inevitable that she will be a little impatient when she is helping the children with their homework."

Lele was attracted by their conversation again. Tang Jiayi suppressed her anger and said, "Lele, look at your homework carefully. Don't even think about leaving your chair until you finish your homework tonight."

Coincidentally, Yueyue, who was sitting next to me, had finished her homework. She happily held it up to her mother and said with a smile, "Mom, I've finished it!"

Tang Jiayi took the homework book and nodded with satisfaction when she saw the neat handwriting on it.

Yueyue asked: "Mom, can I go to play with Xiaohui next door?"

Tang Jiayi said, "Go ahead."

"That's great~" Yueyue jumped down from the chair suddenly, causing Aunt Liu to hurriedly say, "Good boy, go slowly, don't bump into anything."

Yueyue smiled and said, "Grandma, I'm fine. I'm going out to play first."

Tang Jiayi reminded him from behind: "Don't play too late, remember to come back before dark."

Captain Song said, "Let her go. I'll pick her up after dark."

Lele pouted and watched her sister run out to play, looking at her father for help.

Captain Song noticed his son's look for help and shifted his gaze, "Well, I'm going to go outside and trim the branches of some flowers that Mom planted." Then he picked up the scissors and went out.

Lele looked at Aunt Liu again and said coquettishly, "Grandma, I want to go play too."

Aunt Liu smiled and said, "You can go out and play after you finish your homework."

Tang Jiayi tapped the table with her fingers together and urged, "Don't waste time, concentrate on your homework!"

Seeing Lele reluctantly lowering his head to do his homework, Aunt Liu shook her head in amusement, slowly walked to the sofa and sat down, picking up the half-made clothes on the armrest.

This dress is made for Tang Jiayi, and is made of silk, which is most suitable for summer wear. Aunt Liu thought: Jiayi is now working outside, so she needs to make some decent clothes for her.

Aunt Liu was very good at needlework. She embroidered a branch of asparagus fern on the lapel of her dress. It looked so lifelike that you could almost see the fluttering leaves.

When Xia Junshan arrived at Captain Song's door, he saw him pruning a flower with a pair of scissors and asked, "Captain Song, what are you doing?"

Captain Song looked up and said with a smile, "Captain Xia, why are you here? I'm here to trim the branches of this flower."

Xia Junshan said, "I'll get the schoolbag."

Captain Song extended his hand and invited him in. "Come in quickly. The schoolbag has been altered. My family will take it to the logistics department to give to Director Meng tomorrow."

Xia Junshan smiled and said, "We were the ones who asked you for help, so of course we came to get it ourselves."

After entering the house, Captain Song said, "Mom, Jiayi, Captain Xia is here."

Xia Junshan nodded and greeted: "Auntie, sister-in-law, have you had dinner?"

Aunt Liu put down her needlework and said with a smile, "I just ate." She pointed to the sofa beside her and said, "Captain Xia, please sit down. Jiayi, quickly pour a glass of water."

"Let me do it." Captain Song hurriedly poured a glass of water.

Xia Junshan took the cup, put two packets of snacks on the table, and said with a smile: "I'm here to get the schoolbag. This is a thank-you gift for Auntie. Thank you for your trouble."

Captain Song said, "Xia Tuan, what are you doing? You are being too polite. Take it back now."

Xia Junshan said: "This is a thank-you gift from us, the younger generation, to the older generation. Otherwise, we would be embarrassed to take the schoolbag."

Aunt Liu smiled slightly and said, "Captain Xia is a man of courtesy." Then she picked up the schoolbag on the sofa and handed it over, saying:

"This is a modified backpack. I removed the original single shoulder strap and made it into a double shoulder strap. The size of the strap is based on the size of my daughter Yueyue's two years ago. It can be lengthened later."

Xia Junshan took the backpack in his hand, nodded repeatedly with satisfaction, and praised: "You did a great job." He touched the shoulder strap and said curiously: "Why do I feel that the strap seems to have become soft?"

Aunt Liu said, "I stuffed some old cotton inside so that the child's shoulders will feel more comfortable when he carries her on his back."

Xia Junshan looked at the fine stitches and sighed, "It doesn't look like it's been opened before. Auntie, you really took the trouble to stuff cotton in it."

Aunt Liu said: "My two children complained of shoulder pain when they had to carry school bags when they first started school, so I came up with this idea. The cotton is from old cotton-padded clothes, but it is useless in our weather."

Xia Junshan thanked Aunt Liu again, talked for a while, and then took his bag and went home.

Meng Yufei took the schoolbag and was also surprised. She looked at it carefully and noticed that there were words embroidered inside the schoolbag.

"Oh, Aunt Liu even embroidered Qinqin's name on it."

Xia Junshan also came over to take a look, "Really? Let me take a look."

Xia Qinqin, who was originally sitting on the sofa, also stood up and tiptoed and said, "I want to see it, too, Mom. I want to see it, too."

Xia Junshan picked up his daughter and said, "Okay, okay, let's watch it together."

Meng Yufei turned the words over and saw the three words "Xia Qinqin" embroidered on it with blue embroidery thread.

"This is my name." Xia Qinqin recognized her name and reached out to touch it curiously.

Meng Yufei smiled and said, "Yes, because this is your schoolbag. Do you want to try carrying it?"

Xia Qinqin nodded her head vigorously, "Yes, yes!"

Xia Junshan put his daughter down, Meng Yufei gave her the schoolbag, and Xia Qinqin grabbed the shoulder straps and ran around the house happily.

"Mom, Dad, does my schoolbag look good?"

"nice."

"Run slower, don't fall."

Xia Junshan and Meng Yufei smiled as they watched Xia Qinqin running around in the living room. She suddenly remembered something and ran to the big room. She looked in the mirror on the closet and admired herself carrying her schoolbag.

Meng Yufei asked Xia Junshan: "Do you know where this Aunt Liu came from?"

Xia Junshan thought for a moment and said, "I heard that he used to be a worker in a garment factory. After retirement, he followed his daughter and son-in-law to the island to join the army. What happened?"

Meng Yufei said: "Nothing, but I saw the few words that were just embroidered. The font used was small regular script with flower-shaped hairpins. It was obvious that it was written by someone with excellent calligraphy skills."

Xia Junshan said, "I was wondering why I thought those words were particularly beautiful. Aunt Liu looks like she has read a lot of books. She might have come from a wealthy family."

The two of them just chatted about it, not really curious about Aunt Liu's background. As a military family member, her identity must have been checked before coming to the island, so in principle there must be no problem. As for the story behind it, there is nothing to explore.

After all, China has just experienced a century of turmoil, and those who have survived must have a lot of stories behind them.