"The little girl is here again. How are the shoes I made? Aren't they comfortable?"
"Comfortable, here we are again."
"Then you can choose. Single-layer shoes are 1.5 yuan, and cotton shoes are 2.5 yuan."
Zhang Hongmei took a liking to a pair of square-toed shoes with a slightly wide strap. She tried them on, but they were a little too big, so she took a pair of insoles and put them on, and they fit perfectly.
"Hongmei, your socks were bought in the city, and they look very comfortable."
"Hehe, I found these on the black market in M City. Do you want them? I have two more pairs."
"I don't want to, I'll do it myself."
"These socks are available in Shanghai. I'll go and bring you a few pairs."
"Thank you so much, Brother Jingze. Don't worry about buying too much, buy as much as you can."
Based on the size of the shoes she had just tried on, Zhang Hongmei picked out two pairs of square-toed shoes and two pairs of round-toed shoes with elasticated fabric. She bought cotton shoes that were a bit too big.
Five pairs of shoes: four pairs of flip-flops cost six yuan, one pair of cotton shoes cost two yuan and fifty cents, for a total of eight yuan and fifty cents.
The old lady who sold her shoes gave her five more pairs of insoles and nine yuan.
"By the way, ma'am, do you know how to make embroidered shoes?"
"Yes, look at this pair, do you like them?" After saying that, she took out a bundle from the basket, which contained three pairs of embroidered shoes and a pair of soft-soled shoes, probably for wearing on the kang (heated brick bed).
One pair of bright red shoes is embroidered with yellow peonies, another pair of green shoes is embroidered with red peonies, and the third pair of soft-soled shoes is yellow and embroidered with pink lotus flowers.
Zhang Hongmei liked it at first sight. Er Ya knew Zhang Hongmei best and knew that money would be spent again today. What's the use? We're not allowed to wear it outside anymore.
“Girl, these shoes are a little big, but they fit you. They’re made of silk. If you want them, I’ll give you three yuan a pair. These shoes were made for my daughter, but we can’t even afford to eat now. What’s the use of keeping them? I was thinking I’d sell them if someone wanted them, but if no one wants them, I’ll keep them for my daughter.”
Er Ya immediately objected, "These three pairs of shoes are worth at most seven yuan. We don't need the extras." Er Ya gripped Zhang Hongmei's arm tightly.
"Okay, here you go. I'll make it for my daughter when I get back."
Liu Jingze took out seven yuan and handed it to the old lady selling shoes, refusing the money Zhang Hongmei offered.
Er Ya pulled the reluctant Zhang Hongmei back.
Back home, Zhang Hongmei happily put on the embroidered shoes. "Sister Erya, aren't these shoes pretty? Pick a pair."
"What use would I be? I wouldn't dare wear it out. You can just keep it at home and enjoy yourself."
"I know, but even if I wanted to wear them, I couldn't go out. Do you expect me to wear embroidered shoes with trousers? I'd rather die than do that."
"Hehe, that's true. Hongmei Jingze is really good to you."
"That's right, he's my best male friend."
What is a best friend?
"My best friend, you are my female best friend."
Tomorrow Liu Jingze will be going to Haishi. Thinking about the jade pendant and embroidered shoes that Liu Jingze gave him, he decided to repay him.
I took a piece of meat from the storeroom, chopped it up, added some scallions, and made meat patties for him to take on the train.
I also brought him a small bag of blanched pine nuts, put the meat patties in his lunchbox, and left some dried sweet potatoes for him to chew on in the car when he was bored.
Liu Jingze was overjoyed to see so much delicious food. In addition, the pancakes that his grandmother had prepared were enough to last him for ten days if he ate them sparingly.
Zhang Hongmei also brought the old lady some meat pies, which delighted her. Many people know how to make these, but these days nobody does it anymore. There's no wheat flour, no meat. What can they make them with? They're lucky to have anything to eat.
In the morning, Zhang Hongmei rode her bicycle to take Liu Jingze to school. She originally wanted Zhu Zi to go, but he suddenly had something to do and couldn't go, so Zhang Hongmei had to go by herself.
Since I'm going to the countryside anyway, why not deliver the New Year's gifts?
Li Juying received 20 jin of dried pumpkin, a small bag of pine nuts, and a bag of brown sugar. The principal received 20 jin of dried pumpkin, 20 jin of sweet potato flour, a bag of brown sugar, and a bag of pine nuts.
They were all packed into large bags, which were then placed on the front beam.
Liu Jingze didn't bring much; just a suitcase and a large backpack, which were probably full of food.
"Hongmei, I'm riding my bike."
"Okay, put this bag in front."
What is this?
"I'm not planning to go out again after I deliver the New Year's gifts to the primary school principal and the Women's Federation; it's too cold. Here are some gloves for you, so your hands don't get cold while riding your bike."
"Then let's go."
"By the way, where are you going to stay when you go back to the city?"
"We're going to stay at Third Master's house, and his cousin is coming along with us."
“I was thinking that if you didn’t have a place to stay, you could come to my house. I even brought the key.”
"That's great! I was too embarrassed to say it. I don't want to go to Third Master's house if I have a place to stay."
Zhang Hongmei left when they arrived at the township station; she still had to deliver gifts. Her main concern was finding the principal's house, as she only knew the general location.
First, they went to the township government compound and found Li Juying. This time, she did not refuse, but instead took out two pairs of red corduroy cotton shoes and a pair of square-toed shoes from her bag and gave them to Zhang Hongmei.
"Aunt Li made this for you. She didn't know your foot size, so she made it a little big. Try it on and see if it fits."
"Thank you, Aunt Li, but I really don't know how to make shoes." She tried on the cotton shoes; they were a little too big, and she figured she wouldn't be able to wear them through the winter. The flip-flops, however, were a bit too big, but perfect for spring.
"They all fit well and are comfortable to wear."
"If it fits perfectly, it's fine."
Zhang Hongmei chatted for a while longer before leaving.
The old headmaster should invite me to stay for a meal. He also gave me a two-pound piece of cured meat. It's not slaughtering pigs yet this year, and as far as I know, the village can't slaughter many pigs. I'll go back and ask Dashan if he can save some for me.
Actually, there are three large wild boars and three wolves inside the ring, but I don't know how to kill them.
This year, the canteen should serve dried pheasants and rabbits for the Lunar New Year. Every time someone goes into a trap, they bring the prey from inside to the canteen, saving it all to eat on New Year's Eve.
We can't keep bringing in wild boars. We should just have a meal of meat; too much of anything is not good.
This year, I don't need to fish myself; the village has arranged it, so I can just wait to eat.
Finally, they found out where the old principal lived and knocked on the door.
The old principal opened the door and was very happy to see Zhang Hongmei.
"Come in quickly, I've been talking about you for ages."
"Hehe, I've come to wish you a Happy New Year and bring you a gift in advance."
At this moment, an elderly woman with a full head of white hair came out. "You must be Hongmei? Please come in and sit down. I've heard so much about you, and I'm so glad to finally meet you today."
Hello, Grandma!
"Okay, all good. Quickly make some tea for Hongmei."
Zhang Hongmei felt their genuine welcome and enthusiasm.
"Grandma, you don't need to bother anymore. I'll be leaving in a bit. I brought you some pine nuts; eat some when you have time."
"Alright, we've been eating all your food during this famine year, how can we leave without eating? There's also the meat we bought the day before yesterday, let's make dumplings today."
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