Chapter 355 Relatives
Zhao Hongying ignored Liu Zhigao and handed the jar directly to Song Lubai: "Take this back and put it in your food. I'll make more when I find some chili peppers in a few days."
Liu Zhigao, standing to the side: I knew you were just trying to please the regimental commander's wife again!
Liu Zhigao smiled broadly, "Comrade Song, if you had said you wanted some earlier, I would have saved more for you. I also have some pickled radishes at home, can I give you some of those too?"
Song Lubai felt that in Liu Zhigang's eyes she had become someone who openly stole food. She shook her head and said, "I'll take these. I'll return some to you when I have something good to eat at home."
Liu Zhigao quickly waved his hand: "Oh, it's just a little bit of dried radish, it's not worth much. Just tell me if you want some, and my Hongying will make it for you."
Zhao Hongying glanced at her man speechlessly.
This guy always calls her a bootlicker, but when he flatters her, she has to call him "big brother."
Song Lubai smiled and said, "You guys go ahead and eat, I'm going back now."
The couple saw Song Lubai to the door and told her to walk slowly.
The auntie next door, who was eating on the doorstep, rolled her eyes inwardly, thinking to herself, "This couple are both smooth talkers and suck-ups!"
After Zhao Hongying and her husband entered the house, Zhao Hongying jumped three feet high.
She excitedly said to Liu Zhigao, "Do you know what Song Lubai is going to do with my dried radish?"
Liu Zhi picked up his bowl, took a piece of dried radish, and said, "It's just eating, isn't it? I should have known you would make more this year. If I had known she could eat more, I would have brought back more seasonings. Let's plant more chili peppers in the back this year."
Zhao Hongying said excitedly, "It's not just about eating it; who knows, my dried radish might become famous in the future..."
She excitedly told Song Lubai about her plans.
Liu Zhigao calmly said, "Don't be too happy yet, the radishes haven't been planted yet."
Last year they said they wanted to set up a food workshop, but they didn't have enough vegetables. They don't know what will happen this year. What's the use of being happy now?
Zhao Hongying glared at him. "What do you know? Even if it doesn't work out, I'll still be happy."
Two days later, Song Lubai, Yang Xiue, Director Liu of the supply and marketing cooperative, and others set off together.
The main purpose of this trip is to deliver the shoes, and the supply and marketing cooperative will also pick up some other goods to take back.
One donkey cart, two bicycles, and a total of five people.
Apart from Song Lubai and Yang Xiue, the other three are all gay men.
There might be robbers on the way; there are two axes under the felt on the donkey cart.
There was a dagger in the cloth bag in front of Song Lubai.
The road was full of potholes, and we swayed and bumped our way into the city.
The corps was poor. When people from the supply and marketing cooperative went out, they could only get reimbursed for their hotel expenses. They didn't go to places that were too far away, and they had to bring their own food.
At noon, everyone ate the flatbread they brought with them, and then went with Director Liu to the superior supply and marketing cooperative to get hot water to drink.
After finishing his water and wiping his mouth, Director Liu said, "I'm going to find their director to see if there's anything we can take back. Xiao Song, bring your shoes and come with me."
Song Lubai glanced at Yang Xiue and said, "Sister Xiue, why don't you go in with Director Liu?"
Yang Xiu'e quickly waved her hand, "Go, go, Director Liu is calling you."
Just imagining the scene that would unfold made Yang Xiue's throat tighten.
Song Lubai put two pairs of shoes in a cloth bag and followed Director Liu to the office near the warehouse.
The office door was open, and Director Liu waited outside for a while after seeing that someone was inside.
When the people inside came out, Song Hai from the superior supply and marketing cooperative waved from inside, "Brother Liu, you've arrived."
Director Liu led Song Lubai into the house with a smile, took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and lit one for Song Hai.
Song Lubai took the initiative to greet Song Hai.
Song Hai nodded and said, "You're new here, right? I've never seen you before?"
Song Lubai said, "I was transferred to the 16th Regiment with my husband last year. I used to work at the Shicheng Supply and Marketing Department. I've been in the 16th Regiment for almost a year now, but this is the first time I've come out to purchase goods with our Director Liu."
Director Liu chuckled and said, "Brother Song, our Comrade Song also shares the surname Song. Who knows, you might have been family hundreds of years ago."
Song Hai was interested in the fact that Song Lubai had worked in the supply and marketing department. He asked, "Do you know Zhou Mingying, and Xie Lin? Last year, the material supply department and the commercial department merged, so you should also know Lou Yuchun, right?"
Song Lubai thought for a moment and said, "Is Xie Lin, whom you mentioned, from the personnel department? He was transferred to the tobacco and alcohol company last year. I used to be Vice Minister Lou's secretary."
Upon hearing this, Song Hai's gaze towards Song Lubai changed completely.
"Where are you from? I can't hear your accent."
Song Lubai's Mandarin is already standard, and she spent two years in Xinjiang Province, so it's normal that others can't tell her accent.
"I am from Yangcheng, Henan Province..."
Before he could finish speaking, Song Hai gestured for them to sit down.
"You've come all this way, so sit here and chat for a bit. We don't have much to give your 16th Regiment, and we'll finish unloading it in no time."
Director Liu felt heartbroken upon hearing this.
“Yangcheng? My hometown is also Yangcheng. Down from Yangcheng, there’s a village called Songjia Village in Baiyang Commune. It seems to belong to the Seventh Brigade now.”
Song Lubai's eyes widened in surprise.
"Uncle, I have to call you uncle. My father was from Songjiazhuang. He was a martyr who passed away a long time ago. I don't know if you know him. His name was Song Baogang. Do you know him?"
Director Liu was completely dumbfounded.
He just said that to build rapport, but it turns out there's actually some real family connection.
Song Hai said excitedly, "Uncle Baogang? You're Uncle Baogang's daughter? When we were little, your dad and I used to play in the mud together in the village."
Song Lubai was a little embarrassed. "So you mean I have to call you 'brother'?"
Song Hai laughed heartily.
His children are all about the same age as Song Lubai, but according to seniority, Song Lubai should indeed call him brother.
Song Hai, smoking a cigarette, said, "Your dad is five years younger than me, but I still have to call him 'uncle,' right? It's a pity he had a bad life; he passed away early. In recent years, I haven't had much contact with people from my hometown, and I don't even know his daughter's name anymore..."
The two began to reminisce.
When Song Hai inquired about Song Lubai's family situation again, it wasn't entirely for ulterior motives like before.
After talking for a while, they finally started working. Song Hai wrote down everything he could give to the 16th Regiment in his notebook and asked Director Liu to take the notebook to the warehouse.
The items in the batch consisted only of salt, soy sauce, wine, a small amount of tobacco and a few pieces of tobacco leaves, as well as some other items that were not particularly scarce.
Director Liu said, "Brother Song, why don't we have biscuits, soap, cloth, face cream, vegetable seeds, etc.? Our regiment is really short of those."
Song Hai said, "I'd like to give some too. If I have any, I'll give them to you."
Director Liu took the form and left, leaving Song Lubai with a hesitant expression.
Song Hai said, "Just tell me what's wrong, and I'll take care of it if I can. Is there anything you need?"
Song Lubai took out two pairs of shoes from her bag and said, "I have something to do, brother. Do you buy shoes here? These were made by our regiment's shoe-making team. The regiment has also informed the division headquarters, so it's all official..."
After Song Lubai finished speaking, Song Hai said with a smile, "How many are there? Seven cents a pair. If you agree, we can buy them all for you."
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