Chapter 260 Goodbye
As dusk fell, the two brothers and other children in the yard ran and played in the woods. Wei Yang pulled a folded envelope out of his pants.
“My third sister and I discussed it, and here’s three hundred yuan. We’ll give it to your mom together in a bit.”
Song Lubai said, "This is too much."
Three hundred yuan is undoubtedly a huge sum of money.
Many families cannot save this much in several years.
Wei Yang said, "We had a quick wedding over there. In the capital, my sister said that weddings are all about 'three turns and one sound' (referring to a radio, a watch, and a bicycle). Last time we went to your house, we only bought a radio. Although we bought you a watch, a bicycle and a sewing machine are big items for a household. We didn't buy the items, but we have to make up for the money. You're with me, and I can't let you have neither substance nor face."
Song Lubai discovered that he was really good at talking.
The moment he opened his mouth, she believed he was telling the truth.
For a fleeting moment, his heartfelt words touched her so deeply that she felt an urge to cry.
She cursed herself for being spineless and said, "Don't give it to my mom today. I'll put the money under her blanket before I leave tomorrow and tell her when I go."
If she gave it to her in advance, her mother would definitely let her take it with her.
Although she didn't want to have too much to do with her mother in the future, she wasn't hard enough to completely sever ties with her mother.
A few days' journey later, I just need to know from afar that they are living peacefully here.
The sky was full of stars, and mosquitoes began to appear.
Song Lubai is prone to attracting mosquitoes, and when she returned to her room, she found that there were mosquito coils burning inside.
The window was covered with curtains, and the smell of wax was pungent. Her mother was still sewing clothes in this environment.
Song Lubai glanced at her mother, who seemed to be sewing that floral fabric.
"In such a hurry to wear it? Why bother making it when it's dark? It'll hurt your eyes."
Zhang Cui said, "I made this for you, and you're leaving right away. You two are getting married, and you don't even have a new dress. How can that be!"
Song Lubai said, "This fabric is too old-fashioned. Even if you finish it, I won't want it. I have enough clothes to wear, so there's no need to make new ones."
Zhang Cui put down the needle and inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief.
She knew perfectly well that her daughter wanted to leave the fabric for her so she could make her own clothes.
Although she didn't know what her daughter was fussing about before, she felt a little relieved now.
"Okay, I'll make you a pair of pants, and you can use this piece of cloth to make me clothes."
Song Lubai yawned and said, "It's getting late, so stop making them. Leave me a piece of cloth to make pants, and I'll take it with me. I'll make my own when I get there."
Making pants is simpler than making a shirt, and Zhang Cui was confident she could finish them that night. However, she was troubled by the lack of elastic for the waistband, so she could only cut out a piece of fabric.
Zhang Cui asked, "Are you leaving tomorrow or the day after?"
Song Lubai said, "His work there can't be delayed. He has to leave tomorrow, and it will take him three or four days on the road."
Wei Yang wasn't in a hurry to leave, but Song Lubai didn't want to stay there any longer.
Just like when she signed up to come to Xinjiang Province last year, she was filled with anticipation for the 16th Regiment.
Nothing was said that night.
Early in the morning, the aroma of scrambled eggs wafted from the kitchen.
Yesterday, everyone ate the chicken that Wei Yang bought for free. After discussing it, everyone decided to fry all the eggs they had saved up this morning as a way of giving back for the great deal they got yesterday.
The eggs are golden yellow, and the white and green scallions are scattered among them. It's incredibly fragrant with just a little salt for seasoning.
Besides eggs, there's also dandelion salad.
Aunt Gu said proudly, "There are a lot of bitter herbs in this field. The old ones have grown thorny buds. We only pick the tender ones. They are good for cooling down. With this land, even if there is a famine, we won't go hungry."
Aunt Gu's husband said, "Shut your mouth, what famine? This isn't our hometown. A few years ago, when there was a famine back home, how many people came all the way to the border begging for food? No famine will happen here, otherwise we wouldn't be able to support so many people. Things will only get better here!"
Aunt Gu glared at her, "I was just using an analogy to make myself look impressive!"
Aunt Gu looked at Zhang Cui with a smile and said, "Sister Zhang, no matter what, our tobacco station won't go hungry. After we harvest the tobacco leaves in a few days, we'll secretly plant some radishes and cabbages when the season comes. We'll be able to eat them until next spring. Although we're a bit far from the city, we're more free here than in the city."
Old Sun took a sip of porridge and said, "I like it here too. I feel more comfortable here than I did at the cigarette factory. It's more about being at ease."
During the meal, everyone chatted about all sorts of things, mentioning whatever came to mind.
Birds chirped in the treetops, the morning breeze was cool, the sun was rising, and everything was full of life.
Xu Yunru had wanted to leave for a long time, and with Wei Yang accompanying her today, she planned to go back to the city as well.
There was another bicycle at the tobacco station, but they couldn't use it.
So Wei Yang rode a bicycle, Song Lubai sat on the front bar, and Xu Yunru sat on the back seat.
After just one try sitting on it, Song Lubai felt like her butt was going to be ruined.
Zhang Cui asked, "How is it? Can you sit down? It must be uncomfortable. Why don't you stay today and leave tomorrow?"
Song Lubai said nonchalantly, "It's alright, not that uncomfortable. It'll only last two hours at most, not that long."
With little luggage to carry, Song Lubai placed the cloth on the pole as a cushion.
The old-fashioned bicycle could carry four or five hundred pounds of goods, but Song Lubai and Xu Yunru together weighed less than two hundred pounds, so Wei Yang didn't find it difficult to ride with them on his back.
Unfortunately, the road was full of potholes, and there were also gravel hidden under the loose soil.
The journey has been far from safe.
Song Lubai endured it for half an hour, but an hour later her buttocks had lost all feeling.
Seeing her shifting uncomfortably, Wei Yang parked his bicycle under a tree, and the three of them rested for a bit.
Only after she could no longer see anyone did Zhang Cui return to her room. Remembering her daughter's words before she left, she reached into the blanket and pulled out a bulging envelope.
After counting the numbers inside, Zhang Cui was shocked.
Her son-in-law is really very generous.
In her hometown, families with slightly better financial conditions might give the bride's family some money, but she had never heard of giving so much, not even more than a hundred.
With this money, she did feel much more at ease.
After enduring two or three hours of travel, the three finally returned to Shicheng.
It was almost lunchtime, so Xu Yunru went back to the cafeteria for lunch, while Song Lubai and Wei Yang went out to eat again.
Since I didn't have any meat coupons, I ordered two bowls of vegetarian noodles.
Noodles made from pure white flour, even if vegetarian, are incredibly fragrant.
In the afternoon, she took Xu Yunru to the ministry to find Section Chief Lu.
After reviewing Xu Yunru's certificate and letter of introduction, Section Chief Lu handed over the letter of introduction, recommendation, and certificate he had prepared for Song Lubai to her.
"The stamp on this document was put by Lou Yuchun. There are no other procedures required. You can leave now."
Lu Xingye's face showed no particular expression. Song Lubai smiled and said, "I hope we'll have the chance to meet again in the future. I wish you and Sun Hong a harmonious marriage. Goodbye, Section Chief Lu."
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