Chapter 347 Busy
They only conducted propaganda for two companies in one day. When they returned to the dugouts arranged for them by the companies, the women huddled under their blankets and didn't move.
It was cooler down there than outside, but there was no stove, so they had to tough it out in the cold.
Although the sun has been out these past two days, the temperature at night is still quite low.
The experience from the first day enabled them to do a good job in the work of three companies on the second day.
Before the materials arrive, preparations must be made in advance so that those eager to try their hand at it can hone their skills.
After three days of not eating well and being chilled at night, the three of them couldn't take it anymore and went home early.
When Zhao Hongying got home, she wanted nothing more than to crawl into the stove. She sat there shivering and warming herself by the fire.
Her husband, Liu Zhigao, wrapped the blanket around her and said with concern, "I see you've lost a lot of weight, and your face is all chapped from the cold. Take a good rest at home for a few days, or you'll catch a cold."
Watching Liu Zhigao busy cooking for her, Zhao Hongying felt that she should do more. The more capable she was, the better her husband's attitude towards her would be when she got home.
Her man had never been this attentive before.
She said, shivering, "I'll just rest at home for one day. I have to go back to the company the day after tomorrow. I think I can finish in three or four more days."
Liu Zhigao said, "Then you should wear more clothes, and I'll pack you a few more steamed buns. Or you can bring the tea bottle too."
Zhao Hongying could feel her man's care for her, and she felt especially comfortable.
With a smile, she said, "What do you think? If our group runs a shoe factory in the future, could I become a junior manager there?"
Having a little power, she wanted more power, just so that she could be respected wherever she went, and that everyone would give her a thumbs up and greet her with a smile and respect.
Liu Zhigao shook his head vigorously, "Open a factory? How is that possible? You think you can open a factory when you have nothing? I think you're joking."
Zhao Hongying is now brainwashed by Wei Zhao. She feels that anything can happen in the future, and maybe the troupe will actually have the conditions to set up a factory.
Zhao Hongying didn't like what Liu Zhigao said. She snorted, "Comrade Wei Zhao said that when doing things, you have to set a big goal. As long as you move towards the big goal, even if you don't reach that big goal in the end, you may still reach a much better situation than you are now."
After saying that, Zhao Hongying scratched her head. She had forgotten exactly what Wei Zhao had said, but that was the gist of it.
Liu Zhigao said, "Okay, then you guys do a good job. From now on, you'll be the face of our family business."
Zhao Hongying was amused, "Look at you, so pathetic."
Liu Zhigao said matter-of-factly, "We only need one hard-working person in our family. If you're busy outside, I'll have to take better care of the family and the children. If you're successful, I'll be proud of you too. Just keep up the good work."
Zhao Hongying said, "You're better off than Secretary Feng. Sister Xiu'e has to watch her step if she wants to do anything..."
Zhao Hongying praised him a lot, and Liu Zhigao was also very pleased.
Unlike the harmonious family life at Zhao Hongying's home, Yang Xiue didn't receive the same treatment when she returned home.
Feng Gang couldn't help but complain.
He complained that Yang Xiue hadn't been home for several days, and there was no one to cook or clean the house, so he had to do all the chores.
Seeing that Yang Xiue was quite cold, Feng Gang said, "If you hadn't done it, you wouldn't have had to suffer this cold. You've really brought this upon yourself."
Already feeling cold and uncomfortable, Yang Xiue became even more furious after hearing this. "The work has already started, so I have to do it properly. You don't care about me, and you even make sarcastic remarks. What can I do for you in the future?"
"I've already done it, and I'm freezing. When you come back, you'll scold me for how I treated you before."
Feng Gang recalled the past, when he would shiver from the cold in winter, and when he got home, Yang Xiu'e would put his hands inside her clothes to warm them up.
Thinking back on the past, Feng Gang finally stopped complaining.
He got up and put Yang Xiue's two icy hands inside his clothes. The moment her cold hands touched his stomach, he shivered.
Yang Xiue chuckled, then held back the tears welling in her eyes.
Feng Gang said awkwardly, "Is this alright now?"
Yang Xiu'e snorted and pinched the flesh on his waist. "I want hot soup rice. Make it for me in a bit."
Feng Gang grumbled, "...You've gotten addicted to ordering me around."
If it weren't for the fact that the child was still alive, Yang Xiue would definitely have hugged her husband and said some sweet words.
"I've been taking care of you for so many years, what's wrong with you taking care of me just this once?"
The two have been married for many years, and they've already worked through the differences. Even if they're angry, they won't hold a grudge overnight.
The shoemaking class is progressing steadily, and the group obtained the first batch of shoe-making materials before the 15th anniversary.
Many of Song Lubai's neighbors went to collect the materials.
The amount received must be recorded, and there are standards for how much material a pair of shoes would cost. Everyone who receives materials is aware of the compensation system.
Song Lubai had put in a lot of effort to make those shoe soles, and her fingers were pricked and bled from the needle. She didn't want to suffer that pain, so she didn't go to collect them.
School will officially start after the fifteenth, and Song Lubai sewed three cloth bags specifically for the three children to carry their things.
Because of a coal shortage, almost all residents have stopped burning coal in their homes.
Song Lubai's family also ran out of coal, and they were burning wood blocks in the stove.
At this moment, Zhao Hongying was sitting in her house, warming herself by the fire while sewing shoe soles.
Deng Hong entered while the two were talking.
Deng Hong has been a little unhappy lately.
Yang Xiu'e has become the leader of the shoemaking class, and Deng Hong was the first person to get along well with Song Lubai and Wei Zhao. How could they not include her?
Seeing Deng Hong's grumbling face, Song Lubai took out some biscuits from the cupboard and offered them to her.
"What's wrong? Did you have a fight with your husband, Lao Wu?"
Deng Hong took a biscuit and, watching Zhao Hongying's hands moving non-stop, said sourly, "Comrade Zhao is now a group leader, more successful than me."
Song Lubai knew what was wrong with her today.
Zhao Hongying said modestly, "What success do I have? I'm just destined to be a hard worker. I try to earn some money for my family whenever I have a spare moment. I'm not like Comrade Deng. My life isn't as good as yours, so I can only work harder. Luckily, I know how to make shoes, otherwise I could only watch others make money."
Deng Hong didn't take it as a compliment at all. She snorted, "I also want to do my part, but no one is asking me."
Song Lubai chuckled and said, "Sister Hong, don't worry. You've been putting in the effort. I didn't participate in the shoemaking class either. Sister said she would take you with her, but I said no way. If you join the shoemaking class, where am I going to find people when we start the food workshop?"
"Are you going to abandon me, Sister Hong? Leave me to fight alone? I won't do that! We're on the same page, so we should work together from now on. I wouldn't do that with anyone else."
These words made Deng Hong beam with joy.
"I thought you'd forgotten about me. Well, it's a deal then, you have to take me with you."
Just as the atmosphere inside the room improved, there was a knock on the door. When she pushed it open, the faces of Zhang Cui and Zhang Jianshe came into Song Lubai's view.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
