Chapter 55: Going to the Countryside as Educated Youth in the 1970s 18
[This is a parallel fictional world. Please do not take any similarities between place names and people as they appear.]
Xiaoyi went to the market at the end of April. He set off with his cart at three in the morning.
No matter how she tried to persuade her, she would not listen. She was told that she could ride a tractor instead. However, the brat Xiaoyi disagreed. He believed what Uncle He said, that something bad would happen if she went out.
Zhang Xiaojia didn't care. She went up the mountain to collect herbs, but there was really no animal on the mountain.
It seemed like she had a plant encyclopedia and a reader. She opened it directly and there was no different Chinese medicine. But she didn't need to look at it herself, the reader would remind her, and soon the basket was full. Since she was here, she might as well pick more and throw them into the space.
Zhang Xiaojia returned home. He Xinyan finished preparing the medicine and came over to ask, "Master, my cousin and elder brother were punished to kneel in the ancestral hall. Do you have any medicine to replenish their physical strength or ointment for the knees?"
Zhang Xiaojia had nutrient solution, but couldn't get it out. An adult wouldn't starve to death if they didn't eat for three days, but kneeling for three days straight would be painful if not handled properly. "You can secretly peel a few boiled eggs and let them eat them. You can give them ointment to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis."
"Thank you, Master."
As soon as He Xinyan left, He Liu came over.
He Liu had a simple expression on his face, and said with a smile, "Xiao Jia, how much is your anthelmintic medicine?"
Zhang Xiaojia promptly handed the anthelmintic to He Liu and explained in detail how to use it: "One pill a day for three days. This pack is for the kids who came back from yesterday's visit. Consider it a good deed, I'm giving it to you for free. But you have to spread the word about my good deed."
He Liu, still smiling, nodded repeatedly as he replied, "Of course. Our clinic is wholeheartedly concerned about the health of children, and we work tirelessly to make pills for these little ones. By the way, Xiao Jia, can adults get roundworms? If so, how much do you charge?"
"I'll pay 7 cents for a three-day supply for an adult."
"Okay, please give me the quantity for 500 people." He Liu took out 35 yuan and handed it to Zhang Xiaojia.
Zhang Xiaojia looked at him speechlessly and said, "Uncle He Liu, I'm not selling wholesale here. I don't have that much medicine right now. Come get it in ten days."
"OK."
After He Liu left, Zhang Xiaojia took inventory of the Chinese medicinal materials for making anthelmintic pills. It was not enough, so he simply took out all the Chinese medicinal materials for anthelmintic pills from the space grid and put them in the basket for later use.
I went to the house in the back alley, took out some scrap metal, found the materials I needed, and made a manual grinder and blender, and then a multi-function vegetable cutter. If you don’t use your hands to make medicine, your hands will be broken!
It's noon now! He Xinyan ran back and immediately steamed the buns and cooked some dried wild vegetables and egg soup.
"Master, it's time to eat."
Zhang Xiaojia took a bite of the bun, it was really delicious, Xiaoyi’s cooking skills were really good, ah!
Zhang Xiaojia: "Yan Yan, how are your brother and the others?"
He Xinyan smiled bitterly and said, "It's purple and swollen. My uncle said that if they get red, they will be expelled from the clan."
Zhang Xiaojia asked curiously, "Why was your brother punished to kneel in the ancestral hall for three days and three nights? Is it so serious?"
He Xinyan also whispered, "Master, they were about to join xxx, and Uncle Jiu found out. He told my uncle directly, and my uncle was furious. He arrested all the He family members who were studying in high school in the city. My uncle said that since no one is studying well, it would be better to let these people raise pigs and chickens. And none of them are allowed to leave the He family for three years, otherwise their legs will be broken."
Zhang Xiaojia pouted and said, "Those idiots. Oh, by the way, why have I never seen Uncle He Jiu?"
He Xinyan looked around and whispered more quietly, "Uncle Nine is the first man in the He family to be a live-in son-in-law. Back then, Grandpa (the old clan leader) and Uncle (the young clan leader) had a quarrel over whether to give Uncle Nine a share of the profits. Uncle was even punished by Grandpa to kneel down. In the end, it was decided by a vote, and Uncle Nine got one more vote in favor of a share of the profits."
"Tell me quickly, why does Uncle He Jiu want to be a live-in son-in-law?"
"Uncle Jiu and Aunt Jiu gave birth to a son named He Jiafu. Uncle Jiu said that the second child would have Aunt Jiu's surname.
Later, an accident happened. Uncle Jiu was in the Armed Forces Department, and Aunt Jiu was in the Public Security Department. While they were on a mission, Aunt Jiu was shot to protect Uncle Jiu and could not have any more children. Uncle Jiu changed his son He Jiafu's surname to Song Jiafu, which made Grandpa so angry that he almost stabbed him with a knife. Uncle Jiu said that Aunt Jiu's family had only one son for nine generations, and the He family had so many children that they didn't have to worry about the inheritance being broken.
"Your uncle is pretty good!"
"Well, Uncle Jiu is very handsome, the most handsome of my father's generation. Aunt Jiu is also very capable and is now the captain of the city's criminal investigation team. The old clan leader said that any child born by Song Jiafu in the future must have the surname He, otherwise Uncle Jiu will be expelled from the clan. Aunt Jiu agreed immediately, and the matter was settled."
Zhang Xiaojia thought of the fact that their three children in their previous life all had different surnames.
…
Xiao Yi came back pushing the cart and saw his sister and He Xinyan chatting about gossip. He was in the compound and hadn't noticed yet.
He went to the kitchen, picked up the buns from the pot and started eating them.
Their gossip was interrupted by the crowing of a rooster.
"Xiaoyi, you're back, why didn't you tell me?"
"hehe……"
Zhang Xiaojia opened the cart and was stunned by what he saw: two big roosters, a skinned rabbit, a pumpkin, a big bundle of pumpkin seedlings, and a big bag of radishes, weighing about 300 kilograms.
He Xinyan asked in surprise, "Xiaoyi, why did you buy so many radishes?"
Xiao Yi: "Half pickled radish, half dried radish. I'll ask Brother Zhao and Sister Qiao to come over to dinner tonight, okay? It's so hot, we can't leave the chicken offal until tomorrow."
“Okay, scramble a few more eggs.”
"Don't worry, sister. I know what's going on."
When dinner arrived, Zhang Xiaojia looked at the dishes on the table and thought it was quite a feast: chicken feet, chicken necks, and chicken wings in a vermicelli stew, stir-fried chicken with kimchi, scrambled eggs with green onions, braised hairtail, stir-fried tofu with green peppers, braised bamboo shoots, a cold salad with shepherd's purse, and half a chicken stewed with potatoes. The main course was sweet potato bread.
When Zhao Bin and Qiao Xinyi walked into the room, they were immediately attracted by the table full of delicious food. They stared with their eyes wide open, unable to believe what they saw.
Xiao Yi excitedly shouted: "Brother Zhao, Sister Qiao, come and sit down, we have been waiting for you to have dinner together!"
Qiao Xinyi smiled and responded: "Xiaoyi, Xiaojia, you are so polite! You actually prepared so many sumptuous dishes!"
Zhao Bin continued, "Xiao Yi, I won't be polite with such delicious food!"
Several people sat around a round table and began to enjoy their dinner, chatting happily while savoring the food.
Although Zhao Bin and Qiao Xinyi's family conditions are relatively good, such a sumptuous meal is rare for them.
There was no need to worry about leftovers from the whole table, as everyone has a big appetite these days. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the satisfaction brought by the delicious food.
After dinner, Zhang Xiaojia made a cup of digestive tea for everyone.
Zhao Bin said, "Xiao Yi, the village is planning to build a primary school. Are you planning to be a teacher?"
Xiao Yi shook his head and said, "Brother Zhao, I only have a junior high school education, it's impossible. You and Sister Qiao both have high school educations, so you can compete."
Qiao Xin also shook her head and said, "I won't go. The village accountant has retired, and now the team leader has asked me to be a scorekeeper and also let me take over the accounting work. Accounting doesn't count as work points, only scorekeeper work points. I'm very satisfied now that I don't have to go to the fields."
Zhao Bin also said, "Yes, I won't argue. I've been transferred to raise pigs now. I get 10 work points a day. It's a bit hard and smelly, but the work isn't too long, so it's okay."
Zhang Xiaojia: "Brother Zhao, I have some small opinions on pig farming"
"Xiao Jia, you talk, I listen"
"Brother Zhao, you'd better work harder at the beginning. Clean the pigpen spotlessly, clean the pig manure pool, and then cover it with bamboo. When the pigs poop, clean it immediately. The pigpen won't smell anymore, and you'll be more comfortable staying in the pigpen in the future.
Summer is coming soon. Don’t cook pig food all at once and feed it for the whole day, as this will easily cause diarrhea in pigs. If you have time, add a meal at 9 o’clock in the evening, as pigs eat more at night.
Xiaoyi knows some herbs. Ask him to teach you some insecticidal herbs. Pick them, dry them and apply them every day. Mosquitoes and insects won't bite the pigs, so they won't get swine fever. This is your unique skill, and no one can take away your pig-raising job. When you have time, ask your family to go to the Beijing Library to find some books on pig-raising to improve yourself.
Even if the pigs are sick, I can still give it a try.”
Zhao Bin thought thoughtfully. The work in the pigpen was not hard and the work points were high. There were four pigs in the village and many people wanted to do it. He was given the job because he saved the secretary's son. Xiao Jia's suggestion was very good. Only if he was irreplaceable would he not be replaced.
Zhao Bin said gratefully, "Xiao Jia, thank you."
Zhang Xiaojia smiled and gave him a few words of reminder. It was up to him whether he listened or did it.
After they left, Xiaoyi said, "Sister, thank you."
Zhang Xiaojia touched his head and said, "You are my younger brother. Besides, among this group of educated youth, I have the best impression of these two people. From the first time we met, there was no jealousy in their eyes towards me."
Looking at the rations they brought on the table, Zhao Bin had 3 taels of sugar and 2 jin of sweet potatoes, and Qiao Xinyi had 1 jin of mung beans and 1 jin of sweet potato noodles. The rations were not light.
By Tuesday afternoon, almost all the women in the He family had come. Zhang Xiaojia first took their pulses, then asked Yanyan to try it. If she felt there were any problems, she would put them aside. After a round, 40% of the cases were gynecological diseases.
If there are written cases, Yanyan will be asked to perform acupuncture or cupping according to the cases. If there are no cases, Zhang Xiaojia will do it himself.
After cupping and acupuncture, a group of women were gossiping, and Zhang Xiaojia listened to the gossip with an expressionless face.
Hahaha……
He Ba only had 50 cents of pocket money every month. Last time, he helped her make furniture for 160 yuan, and gave 150 yuan to his wife, embezzling 10 yuan. Three months passed and he had not spent a penny. He was even discovered by his wife and slept on the floor for a month.
He Qi's wife had been dead for nearly sixteen years, and he was only 35 years old. During this period, matchmakers came to his house every day.
He Shiwu's wife is a man, and now she wants to adopt an orphan from the He family. The old patriarch firmly disagrees. Not expelling him from the clan is already a sign of the He family's tolerance. He still wants a child. What if he leads the He family's kid astray?
They also talked about He Fei. Just because he didn't get married, none of the children of his generation got married.
It’s strange that the old patriarch He shouldn’t have asked him to change his name. Now he is flying high in the sky and far away from home.
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