When the two arrived at the state-run restaurant, the receptionist immediately called out to them, "Dinner isn't served yet."
I glanced at my watch and realized, well, I was indeed a bit early; it was only around ten o'clock.
Yu Shaoheng looked around for a while and said, "Xiao Fan, shall we go and take a look at the supply and marketing cooperative?"
Xiao Fan glanced at him. "Do you still have money to transfer?"
"Yes, I have about ten yuan left."
I just made a phone call for more than half an hour, which cost more than 30 yuan. I have about 10 yuan left.
Xiao Fan certainly knew roughly how much money he had left, and it was precisely because he knew that he asked the question.
Phone calls are so expensive, costing 1.1 yuan per minute, yet this guy never stopped talking, sometimes for half an hour straight.
If he hadn't reminded him, this guy probably would have continued fighting.
"Even if your family sends you money today, it will take at least half a month. At the rate you spend money, will ten or so yuan be enough to get you the remittance slip?"
"Of course I can. I've thought about it. The brigade has nowhere to spend money, and I won't be coming to the commune anymore, so I won't have to spend a single penny."
That seems to make sense.
Xiao Fan didn't say anything more and walked towards the supply and marketing cooperative.
But less than a day later, he realized that this was utter nonsense. This guy didn't come to the commune, yet he spent money even more outrageously than when he did.
The two went to the commune, walked around, and left without buying anything, not for any other reason than that neither of them had any ration coupons.
Xiao Fan didn't plan to bring any other coupons besides a few dozen kilograms of grain coupons and a dozen kilograms of meat coupons.
Looking back now, I have to admit I'm impressed. He wasn't there for sightseeing, yet he didn't bring any of his other tickets.
He was even more furious. He had no life experience and couldn't think of anything else. Didn't his mother have any? She hadn't even prepared any other receipts for him.
Is this preparation for him to beg his aunt and uncle for money?
A sense of irritation rose in his heart, and Yu Shaoheng comforted him when he saw this.
"It's alright. Once my family sends the money next month, we can buy other things. At worst, we can just continue renting, like we have these past few days."
They didn't bring much luggage with them when they went to the countryside. Apart from a few clothes, a kettle, a teacup, and toiletries, they didn't even have a basin.
I've been washing my face with water from a teacup for the past two days. I'm also taking a bath in a rented tub, and I'm eating at a fellow villager's house.
Since we'll be living here long-term, we'll definitely need to buy some daily necessities. But Yu Shaoheng isn't in a hurry at all.
Xiao Fan knew that there was no use in being anxious. This guy was even worse off than him. He had run away from home and didn't have much money to begin with. He had spent all his money on the way.
"Let's go check out the operations department."
I have meat coupons, so I'll go buy some meat and take it home.
However, the meat available at this time had already been sold out.
He didn't manage to buy any meat, but he did get to meet Lu Yuan and Lu Yuanchao.
The two parked their oxcart and bicycle outside the business office and were leaning against the oxcart talking to each other.
"Comrade Lu, Comrade Lu!"
Yu Shaoheng waved to the two of them from afar, calling out enthusiastically.
He called out twice, clearly greeting each of the two individuals separately.
Xiao Fan simply nodded at Lu Yuan with a smile on his face.
He looked Lu Yuan up and down and realized that he really looked like his aunt. No wonder he felt a sense of familiarity before.
At that time, he subconsciously rejected this feeling, thinking that he admired this person and wanted to get close to him, but he was not someone who was willing to deal with just anyone, so he subconsciously rejected it.
Now that he knows the other person is most likely his cousin, he tries his best to show goodwill.
Lu Yuan was a little unaccustomed to his sudden change. He had gotten used to his cold demeanor these past two days, and his sudden smile was a bit scary!
Lu Yuan was on high alert. Something was definitely amiss; this person probably had something on his mind.
"Yu, the educated youth!"
Lu Yuan and Lu Yuanchao responded with smiles.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lu Yuan and Lu Yuanchao prepared to go to the state-run restaurant, and Xiao Fan offered to go with them.
He added, "It's on me."
Yu Shaoheng happily agreed, "Great! It'll be more lively with more people. I'll treat you next time."
Lu Yuan and Lu Yuanchao looked at each other in bewilderment. When did their relationship become so good that they could treat each other to meals?
She quickly declined, saying, "No, no, no, we can share a table after we get our food."
Xiao Fan didn't say much, but when he arrived at the state-run restaurant, he looked at the menu on the blackboard and quickly ordered four or five dishes.
We ordered a braised pork belly, a spicy and sour fish, a minced meat stew with vermicelli, two vegetable dishes, and three jin of rice.
This is clearly a portion for three or four people.
Lu Yuan didn't know what to say, so he silently noted down the price and handed half of the money to the other party.
Xiao Fan refused to accept the money. How could he accept payment for the first time he treated his cousin to a meal? He absolutely could not accept it.
It didn't look good for two grown men to be pulling and tugging at each other, so Lu Yuan let it go. He just wanted to see what this guy was up to.
Besides, he can repay this favor sooner or later, so he's not in a hurry.
The four found seats and sat down. Soon after, the window announced that the food was ready, and the four quickly went to get it.
With fish, meat, and rice, the meal was so plentiful that, apart from Lu Yuan, the other three all swallowed hard.
The four began their meal, and just as they picked up their chopsticks, two familiar figures entered the state-run restaurant. Instead of going to the order window, they walked straight towards Lu Yuan and his group.
"Brother-in-law, Xiao Zhiqing, Yu Zhiqing, Comrade Lu, are you having dinner?"
Lu Yuan lifted his eyelids slightly, gave a soft "hmm," and then lowered his head to continue eating. Wasn't that obvious?
Xiao Fan didn't even raise his head, let alone give him a glance.
Lu Yuanchao glanced at Lu Yuan, but seeing that he was indifferent, he didn't reply.
Yu Shaoheng responded with a smile, "Yes, we're here to eat. Are you here to eat too? Then hurry up, Comrade Lu said that the oxcart will be heading back to the village soon after we finish eating."
Seeing that only one person was paying attention to her, Mo Lijuan bit her lip, feeling extremely frustrated.
She thought that no matter what, Lu Yuan would at least say something polite and invite her to dinner because they were relatives.
She would immediately agree to any invitation.
But to everyone's surprise, the other party didn't say a word.
She had lost all her money and had no money to buy food, so she could only force a couple of awkward laughs before stopping herself, looking at Lu Yuan with a pitiful expression, and finally pursing her lips and saying nothing.
Lu Yuan and the others kept their heads down and ate, completely unaware of her series of reactions and her aggrieved expression.
Yu Shaoheng did see it, but he couldn't understand it, so he didn't say or ask anything.
Mo Lijuan rolled her eyes in anger. So all her performance had been for nothing?
Lin Xiaofang, who was standing to the side, was furious and directly blamed Lu Yuan.
"Comrade Lu, Lijuan is your wife's cousin. You're eating lavishly at the state-run restaurant, how can you completely ignore her?"
"You knew perfectly well that she lost all her money and tickets on the train, and had no money for food, phone calls, or shopping, yet you didn't care about her at all. What kind of relative are you?"
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