Chapter 121 Today I will take you to a place you have never been to.
Returning to Zaohua Lane, Pei Che smelled the aroma of roasted sweet potatoes as soon as he entered the door. He looked at the bread oven over there and asked in surprise, "Is the oven usable?"
Ding Guo calculated the time and lit the stove before going out. He threw a few sweet potatoes into the stove, and the whole yard was filled with fragrance.
"It's usable. I baked a batch of sweet potatoes a few days ago and made some rusks, which I shared with my neighbors."
I recognized the neighbors in the alley.
Usually... she was used to the social style of later generations, and was not too keen on the way of visiting each other's houses at this time. She just wanted to get to know each other.
Ding Guo went over and picked up the iron hook beside him to pry open the baffle sealing the furnace mouth, picked up a thick glove and put it on, reached in, flipped it over, pinched it, and found the heat was just right.
Pei Che swiftly took the things off the bicycle and carried them into the house, while Ding Guo picked up the roasted sweet potatoes on an enamel plate and carried them back into the house.
The temperature has dropped sharply in the past two days, and people who are thrifty are reluctant to light the stove. However, Ding Guo not only lit the stove in the house, but also lit the kang when he went to bed, making the house warm.
The door still needs a cotton curtain, but Ding Guo doesn't have the skills to make it, so he measured the size, bought the necessary things, and asked his colleagues in the factory for help, but it hasn't been finished yet.
After eating a piece of roasted sweet potato and taking a short rest, Pei Che started to study the bread oven with great interest, wondering what he could make with this big oven.
Ding Guo was in the house sorting out the things Pei Che brought.
Two roast ducks, you can roast them again when eating, the taste should be better than steaming them in a pot.
Two large bags of jasmine tea, as well as the capital's special cakes, candied fruits, soybean paste and several jars of pickles.
There was something tied up in a woven bag next to it. Before it was unpacked, Ding Guo could smell the mutton smell. At this time, Pei Che pushed the door open and said, "Guo Guo, I brought two lamb legs. Shall we roast one?"
Ding Guo agreed very much. She also wanted to have a mutton hotpot, as mutton is the best food for winter.
"Do you have cumin and dried chili powder at home? If not, I'll go out and buy some..."
Ding Guo: “Yes!”
If you don't have it, you can buy it now.
"I'll go knead the dough, and we'll bake some pancakes. The crispy and fragrant pancakes paired with roasted lamb are so delicious just thinking about it..." Ding Guo said, his mouth watering.
Pei Che smiled and said, "I'll make some mutton soup."
"Then let's eat this today. We'll make a hot pot of mutton on the weekend."
The two of them were enthusiastically discussing the meals for the next few days. On the other hand, the fate of the Pan family cast a shadow over the Ding family.
Yue Hongmei's eyes were dry from crying, she felt that she had shed all the tears in her life this year!
Why is her Junjun’s life so miserable!
She got rid of the influence of her biological parents' class background, but got a pair of parents-in-law with questionable class background. She didn't enjoy the happiness for a few days after getting married, but had to live in fear.
She tactfully asked Nianjun whether she wanted to divorce Pan Dingfeng and completely cut off ties with the Pan family, but Nianjun disagreed. First, she was already pregnant, how would she handle the divorce? Second, she had real feelings for Pan Dingfeng. Finally, she implicitly said on the phone that although her parents-in-law were demoted, life would not be too difficult, as they had someone to protect them. This trip was just a formality, and they would come back one day.
After understanding this, Yue Hongmei felt a little more at ease.
"Junjun has accompanied the Pan family through such a disaster. When that old hag comes back, we'll see how she has the nerve to torture Junjun again." Yue Hongmei said in a hoarse voice. While muttering, she also carefully looked at Ding Zhigang's face.
Ding Zhigang's mood has been very unstable recently and he gets angry easily.
At this time, he was sitting on the sofa, smoking a cigarette, with his brows tightly furrowed into a "川" shape.
He was indeed feeling irritated, sorting out the past six months.
They couldn't understand why things turned out like this, but fortunately they also knew the reason why Pan Yuanzheng was demoted. It had nothing to do with their Ding family, but was a mistake Pan Yuanzheng made in his early years.
But he had a clear way of thinking. After knowing the whole story, he did not think that Pan Yuanzheng had any problems with his character. Instead, he lamented that the Pan family was really strong. The fact that the matter was not exposed until so many years later showed how powerful the Pan family was.
"We are unlucky and didn't catch up with the best times of the Pan family." Ding Zhigang sighed regretfully.
If the Ding family could have made friends with the Pan family during its heyday, would the Ding family have to worry?
Even if I get implicated when the Pan family falls, at least I have experienced glory.
It’s not like now. I didn’t get the benefits I wanted, and none of the dreams of success in my plans came true. Instead, I got into trouble.
It’s almost the end of the year, and he had previously wanted to compete for the position of workshop director, but now, let alone compete, he doesn’t even have the qualifications.
This matter has nothing to do with the Pan family. If anyone is to blame, it should be Ding Guo.
The fact that he wanted her to marry Pan Dingfeng was revealed by Ding Guo himself, causing some bad influence in the factory.
Soon after, the second son was expelled from his original unit for stealing state property. Yue Hongmei retired from her position and was replaced by the second son. The reputation of the Ding family deteriorated again.
Later, Yue Hongmei's purchase of test questions for Ding Nianjun was exposed, and Ding Nianjun was fired from the factory again...
Although the adopted daughter was not an employee of the steel plant, Yue Hongmei was a family member of the steel plant, so Ding Zhigang's reputation was ruined again.
The last time the factory selected a new cadre team, his name was at least mentioned. Being nominated meant that he could still move up, but now, his name will no longer appear on the list of candidates for the new leadership team.
How could Ding Zhigang feel better after such a blow?
Hearing Yue Hongmei still mumbling and cursing Pan Dingfeng's parents, Ding Zhigang impatiently scolded: "Alright, shut up, if you have such a powerful strength, why don't you use it in front of others? You are not as good as Ding Guo, she can still stick her neck out when others hold a gun, but you can only gossip behind their backs. Hurry up and make your meal!"
Yue Hongmei felt angry and aggrieved when she was yelled at like that.
This bastard has no real ability, but his temper is getting worse and worse, even worse than when he first knew Nianjun's identity.
Before, when she wanted to cling to the Pan family, she had one attitude. Now that the Pan family has completely collapsed, she has seen her dream go up in smoke. Her attitude has changed immediately, and she has become more and more impatient. She has a sullen face all day long. She is not willing to come back after the eldest couple moved out. Jianshe doesn't like to stay at home. Her Xiangxiang and Jiandang are not as lively as before at home. She has to check their father's face from time to time. Only Ding Tao has no sense of taste. She doesn't care about anyone's face. She eats and drinks as she should. She has a big appetite, which makes the family's ration tight. But she doesn't dare to say anything. As long as she mentions this, Ding Zhigang will talk about the situation of raising Ding Nianjun.
Ding Zhigang also feels wronged.
The plan to curry favor with the powerful and influential came to nothing. The ruined reputation in the factory was only part of the problem; the other part was the loss of the family’s savings.
Then when he couldn't sleep at night he couldn't help but do the math.
I found out that Yang Ding Nianjun is truly a money-loser.
He had been well fed, well clothed and well fed for so many years, but he had never swept the floor or washed a single dish. After he started working, he did not hand over a penny of his salary to his family, and instead took all the marriage gifts to his in-laws' house. His biased wife even gave him a large dowry.
Although the money in the dowry was returned, before she could even warm up to it, she was instigated by that money-loser Ding Nianjun to pay it out again.
With all these things happening, you still expect him to be in a good mood and look good. Who can be in a good mood?
Ding Zhigang didn't dare to think about it too much now. If he continued to think about it, he would have heart pain.
The door was pushed open and Ding Jianshe came in, wrapped in cold wind. Seeing his father's face, he also felt annoyed.
It's endless. It's like this at home all day long. Everyone has a sullen face and they start quarreling after just a few words. There's really no end to it.
"Going to play cards again?" Ding Zhigang looked at his second son and frowned even more tightly.
This is also a cause for concern. Even though the family is in such a mess, Ding Jianshe still has the mood to go out and play cards.
Ding Jianshe said with a fearless attitude: "Why don't you go out after work? I stay at home and listen to you scold me and quarrel with mom every day?"
Ding Zhigang snorted angrily.
If it was a daughter, he would still say, "Can't she help her mother with some chores after work, such as washing clothes and cooking?" But this is a son. Although he often helped Yue Hongmei in the kitchen before, he never taught his son this way. Ding Jianshe suddenly raised his voice towards the kitchen, thinking of something, and said, "Mom, I saw Ding Guo today. She was with a pretty boy. Is she dating someone?"
Yue Hongmei became excited when she heard this. Junjun had also mentioned this when he came back last time, saying that Ding Guo seemed to have found a soldier. How come he became a gigolo again?
"What does that man look like?" Yue Hongmei came out of the kitchen and asked anxiously, "Isn't he the soldier that Sister Nianjun mentioned?"
"I didn't see it clearly, but Zhao Zhiming said the man's face was quite white, even whiter than a woman's." Ding Jianshe urged his mother, "If you're curious, just go and ask!"
Ding Zhigang also regained some energy and nodded, saying, "We have to ask and find out what the man's family situation is like. As parents, we have to help her check on such a big matter."
If it's suitable, decide on it quickly and see if you can get it done before the New Year so that there will be a happy event in the family.
No matter what Ding Guo said, she definitely couldn't be allowed to take all the betrothal gifts back home.
He didn't necessarily want to exploit his eldest daughter, but he had no choice. The family's savings book had become a piece of waste paper. Not to mention buying a house, they couldn't even afford the food rations beyond the quota.
At worst, I can just borrow Ding Guo's money first, and then give her the money when this situation at home is over.
"Take some time to ask her and explain to her that marriage is a big deal, and without parents' help and approval, you will definitely suffer..."
Yue Hongmei also thought of Ding Guo's betrothal gift, so she went there impatiently the next day... but came back empty-handed.
Knowing that Ding Guo was working the night shift, she came over again in the afternoon to wait, and soon saw the pretty boy her son was talking about.
Even though she disliked Ding Guo, and also disliked anyone related to her, Yue Hongmei was still stunned for a moment. This pretty boy's face was actually more handsome than Ding Feng's.
But being good looking is not enough to make a living; it mainly depends on your family conditions.
"Ding Guo, come here."
Yue Hongmei waved to Ding Guo.
Ding Guo rolled her eyes and let Pei Che ride away by himself. She walked over and asked, "Why are you here again?"
Yue Hongmei pretended not to hear the impatience in her tone, forced a smile, pointed at Pei Che who was walking away, and said with a wink: "I heard from Jianshe that he saw you walking with a guy yesterday. Are you dating? The young man looked very energetic. What does his family do? Which factory does he work in?"
Ding Guo didn't know that he was seen by an irrelevant person when he went to pick up a passenger yesterday. Not only did he see it, but he also went back to gossip about it. He really has nothing better to do.
"Does this have anything to do with you? Comrade Yue Hongmei, I am only one piece of written document away from severing my relationship with you. Why are you asking these questions?"
Yue Hongmei was so angry at Ding Guo that she got furious. But thinking of Ding Zhigang's instructions, she gritted her teeth and held back her anger, saying, "Is she from the army? Last time I heard Junjun say that she saw a letter from the army to you. Where is that kid from? How is his condition? I tell you, you can't just look at her looks..."
Ding Guo roughly understood why Yue Hongmei came to see her. She glanced at the time and was too lazy to continue arguing with her. She simply blocked Yue Hongmei's way in one breath: "He is my boyfriend. He is a poor soldier. He does not have a prominent family background to help you rise to prominence. His monthly allowance is not as high as my salary. He can't afford much betrothal gift to marry me. Of course, I don't have any dowry saved. Anyway, we have already discussed it. When we get married, he doesn't give a betrothal gift and I don't give a dowry. We can just sign the marriage certificate and live together. What else do you want to ask?"
Yue Hongmei was anxious. Ding Guo was really attracted by the man's face. But before she could say anything, Ding Guo interrupted her and said, "Oh, I have something else to tell you. My relationship with my partner is clear in the army. If you interfere, you will destroy the military marriage. Okay, I'm done. I'm going to work!"
After saying this, Ding Guo turned around and went into the factory.
"..." Yue Hongmei was so angry that she stood at the factory gate for a long time.
When he turned around, he saw the child in the staff compound, the one who played cards with Ding Jianshe all day long.
"Dog...Zhiming, why are you here?"
Zhao Zhiming was still in a trance. He only came to his senses when Yue Hongmei called him. He hurriedly said, "I, I was just passing by. Auntie, was that Sister Ding Guo just now?"
Yue Hongmei rolled her eyes and said, "It's the troublemaker in our family."
She looked at Zhao Zhiming riding Lao Zhao's bicycle and asked again, "Are you going back to the compound? If so, give me a ride."
"Hey, come back, Auntie, please come up." Zhao Zhiming was very attentive. He sent Yue Hongmei back, and when Ding Jianshe got off work, he called him out and said mysteriously, "Hey, why don't you ask your sister to help us get some eggs from the countryside and send them to her factory?"
Ding Jianshe rolled his eyes: "Not so good..."
As soon as he opened his mouth, Zhao Zhiming interrupted him, hooked his neck and walked out, "Don't rush to refuse, think about it carefully later... Come on, let's play cards first. Today I'll take you to a place you've never been to, let's have something exciting..."
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