Chapter 279 Decision
Wei Zhao gripped the note tightly. Song Lubai didn't see what it contained, but she had some guesses in her mind.
She helped the person back to bed, and looking at the three children who were standing around the bed looking at her expectantly, she said, "Go and gather some firewood, I'll cook in a bit."
Chen Shaohua asked anxiously, "Auntie, has something happened to my dad?"
Of the three children, the youngest, Chen Dongyang, was still quite naive. But when she heard her brother's question, she opened her big eyes and asked anxiously, "What happened to Dad?"
"Mom, why didn't Dad come with us?"
Chen Shaohua, sensing something was about to happen, already had tears welling up in his eyes.
"Mom, has something happened to Dad?"
Wei Zhao, who was lying on the quilt, sat up and said, "Your dad is fine. I was just dizzy from being in the sun. I feel much better now."
Chen Shaohua tilted his head and asked incredulously, "Are you really okay? When can Dad come and join us?"
Wei Zhao rubbed his head and said, "Go get me a basin of cold water, I want to wash my face."
"Jingwen, take Dongyang to the back and get some firewood."
The children had all been sent away, and Wei Zhao sat blankly on the bed, no longer speaking.
"Sis, tell me what's wrong, don't keep it to yourself and suffer."
Wei Zhao shook his head and remained silent.
Before Wei Yang returned home from get off work at noon, Song Lubai steamed two pots of cornbread and filled two tea bottles with water.
I smashed the cucumber, added salt, garlic, and vinegar, and mixed it all together. A simple meal was ready.
When Wei Yang returned, he was carrying a bag of sweet potatoes. Song Lubai handed him a mug of cooled boiled water and whispered, "My sister received a telegram earlier and hasn't left the house since she finished reading it."
Wei Yang gulped down the water and said, "I'll go in and take a look."
Song Lubai placed the dishes on the stools in their room and called the three children to come and eat.
In the other room, Wei Zhao, upon seeing his younger brother, choked up and said, "Old Chen is gone."
Wei Yang took the note from Wei Zhao and remained silent for a moment after reading its contents.
After a long pause, Wei Yang asked, "Do you want to go back?"
Wei Zhao clutched his chest and said, "I didn't even get to see him one last time."
Wei Yang felt that going back or not made little difference, but for her sister, the situation was too cruel. If going back could bring her peace of mind, then she should go back.
"Go back if you want. I'll find someone to take you to Shicheng. Don't worry about the child, we'll take good care of him."
Wei Zhao nodded silently.
It was too hot, so Song Lubai brewed a pot of sweet potato tea in the afternoon.
The sweet potatoes Wei Yang brought back at noon were newly harvested local sweet potatoes this year. They turned orange-red when cooked and tasted soft and sweet. Song Lubai thought that the same variety grown in Xinjiang Province was even sweeter.
I threw a few into the stove and buried them; the aroma of roasted sweet potatoes wafted far and wide.
No one in the family cared about sweet potatoes anymore, because people had been using them to fill their stomachs for so long.
Sweet potatoes, no matter how sweet, are not as precious or delicious as wheat flour.
While peeling a sweet potato, Song Lubai said, "I'll try to get some soybeans and fatty meat. I'll make some fermented soybean paste and store it. If I make a lot, it will last me a whole year."
After Wei Yang agreed, he said, "I'm going to the company tomorrow afternoon, and I might not be back tonight. I'll have someone take my sister to Shicheng to catch the train. I'll have to trouble you to look after the three kids these next few days."
Song Lubai asked, "Did something happen to Third Sister's ex-husband?"
Wei Yang nodded, sighed, and said, "Nobody expected this..."
He had never called his brother-in-law "brother-in-law" before he passed away. Now that the man was gone, he felt more sorrow than sadness, but he was truly heartbroken for Shaohua's three children.
It was past eleven o'clock when Song Lubai finished sewing Chen Jingwen's pants and blew out the candles.
The room was plunged into darkness. She had barely lain down when Wei Yang pressed himself against her.
He placed his hand on her waist and whispered, "Sleep."
Song Lubai, who had been slightly tense, relaxed her body.
Wei Zhao next door didn't close his eyes all night, and when he woke up in the morning, his eyes were bloodshot.
I cooked sweet potato porridge and steamed cornbread.
Knowing that her third sister was leaving today, Song Lubai made a cold cucumber salad and fried the only four eggs left in the house.
Wei Zhao had a poor appetite and looked very haggard. Song Lubai persuaded her to finish a bowl of porridge.
Wei Zhao wished she could fly back to the capital immediately, so Song Lubai packed some cornbread and cucumbers for her to eat on the way.
"Shaohua, listen to your uncle and aunt these next few days. I have to go out for a few days. Take good care of your younger brother and sister, understand?"
Chen Shaohua wasn't some clueless little kid; he noticed that his mother had started acting strangely ever since the telegram arrived yesterday.
Although his mother wouldn't admit it, he felt that something had happened to his father.
Looking at his younger siblings, Chen Shaohua nodded sadly yet understandingly.
Song Lubai said to Chen Dongyang, "How about you come with me to work at the supply and marketing cooperative today?"
The two boys are not young anymore, so she feels at ease leaving them at home alone, but she needs to keep an eye on the little girl.
Chen Dongyang glanced at her mother, and seeing her mother nod, she obediently nodded back.
Wei Yang and Wei Zhao left together, leaving the three children staring longingly at the doorway.
Song Lubai locked the room where she and Wei Yang lived, gave Chen Shaohua a few instructions, and then took Chen Dongyang to the supply and marketing cooperative.
As soon as she entered the supply and marketing cooperative, the sales clerk who had previously ignored her greeted her proactively.
"Comrade Song, who is this child...?"
Song Lubai said, "My niece has no one at home, so I let her come to work with me."
Li Cheng took out a piece of candy from his pocket.
Chen Dongyang looked at Song Lubai, and only after Song Lubai nodded did she take it and say, "Thank you, Uncle."
Li Cheng said, "My daughter is four years old. I'll bring her here too, so the two of them can play together."
Song Lubai thought it was pretty good.
There's a courtyard behind the supply and marketing cooperative, where children can play. You can see them at a glance from the office, which makes it easier to work with peace of mind.
Director Liu went to a meeting at the office. Two new temporary workers, a man and a woman, came to the institute. They looked to be about the same age as Song Lubai.
Inside the office, Song Lubai's plan was being discussed.
The vegetable garden was not a big deal in itself, but it was the first order Wei Yang issued after taking office, and it overturned the previous decision, so it became an important matter.
Everyone read through the plan, and someone raised a question: "Isn't it inappropriate to divide the vegetable plots into zones for unified management, and also to divide the harvested vegetables into different zones? Shouldn't they all be harvested and then distributed uniformly?"
Song Lubai explained this issue to Director Liu, and after the explanation, Director Liu also agreed to the division of management and allocation by area.
“Our regiment’s population is roughly the total of two companies. Dividing the land into sections and allocating it by area ensures that residents will take care of their vegetable plots. Although the vegetable plots are managed by the regiment, the residents nearby are still responsible for fertilizing and watering them. If everything is allocated uniformly, everyone’s enthusiasm will be low and the yield will not be high. A section is like a collective, which can both mobilize enthusiasm and not violate regulations. How is that inappropriate?”
No one spoke. Wei Yang said, "Then let's proceed according to this plan."
"Next, let's discuss the plan to set up a vegetable-growing team and open up vegetable plots to grow vegetables for the winter."
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