Chapter 118
Passing by the post office, Zhou Jiani went in and made a call back. Comrade Xiao Qiu answered the phone. Perhaps because of what Yu Huifang had just said, Zhou Jiani felt that Comrade Xiao Qiu's voice on the phone was particularly lonely. She also unconsciously softened her tone and reported that she was safe.
We didn't talk much, as my parents were still freezing outside. We just said a few words and then came out.
Many educated youth came back to visit their families at the end of the year. As soon as the family of three arrived at the dormitory area, they ran into Wu Hong's family who were also there to pick up their daughter.
Wu Hong's husband is Li Chunsheng. Their daughter Li Yan was sent to work in the countryside in Zhejiang Province. She had to change trains twice and then take a long-distance bus. The two of them went to the long-distance bus station to pick up their child.
Li Yan saw Zhou Wanli and Yu Huifang, and greeted them with a smile: "Uncle Zhou, Aunt Zhou." After calling out, she looked at Zhou Jiani who jumped out of the car.
Zhou Jiani also called out, "Uncle Li, Aunt Wu Hong." She looked at Li Yan, dug up her name from her distant memory, and called out, "Sister Yan!"
It's really a distant memory. To be honest, it seems like they haven't seen each other for a lifetime. In her previous life, she saw Li Yan once when she came back to visit her relatives the year before she went to the countryside. Later, Li Yan went back and she also went to the countryside. She went back to the city a few times, but her home was not here anymore, let alone meeting Li Yan. It was really too long, so long that if she hadn't walked with Li Chunsheng and Wu Hong, she might not have recognized who this person was.
"Jiani, I received two letters from my mother this winter, both praising you. I heard that you are doing well in the countryside!" Li Yan said with a smile.
"No, no, it was my aunt who praised me." Zhou Jiani smiled modestly.
"You've changed so much." Li Yanting sighed.
When she received the letter from home, she was a little surprised. She really couldn't imagine that the delicate little girl next door could endure such hardship.
Now that she had met Zhou Jiani, and seen her bright eyes and eyebrows, slightly tanned skin, and the cheerfulness in her speech and behavior, she finally believed that what her mother had said in the letter was true.
But I'm still a little surprised. I really can't connect her with the little girl in my memory who only knew how to act coquettishly and never had to do housework.
Li Yan is three years older than Zhou Jiani. They didn’t play together much when they were young, and they were only familiar with each other as neighbors.
However, Li Yan now gives Zhou Jiani the same feeling as Tian Yumei. She is dark and thin, walks with great vigor, and can leave her parents behind with just a few steps. Her clothes are also simple, and she no longer has the foreign style that Zhou Jiani remembers. The change is really big, and Wu Hong has also become accustomed to this change in her daughter.
This year is Li Yan's third year in the countryside, and she has not yet qualified to return to the city.
The two families were walking and talking. When they got downstairs, they ran into Lu Cuilan. She looked at Zhou Jiani, rolled her eyes subtly, and walked past her.
Zhou Jiani came back to celebrate the New Year, but her daughter Ailing couldn't come back. I guess the neighbors will gossip about her family again.
Li Yan was a little surprised to see Lu Cuilan's reaction. She remembered that the little girl next to her had a good relationship with Lu Cuilan's third daughter, and they were inseparable when they were young. Why didn't she just not talk when they met, but also rolled her eyes?
Puzzled, she turned to Wu Hong and asked, "Mom, Uncle Liu's third daughter is about the same age as Nini. Did she go to the countryside or stay in the city?"
Wu Hong poked her and gave her a look. Li Yan knew that there was some reason she didn't know about, so she quickly shut up.
The Zhou family didn't say anything. They went upstairs to the door, said goodbye, and returned to their respective homes.
After Li Yan entered the house, her mother Wu Hong whispered about the conflict between the two families, including every detail and a series of subsequent chain reactions, and gossiped with her daughter.
Li Yan curled her lips slightly. "I remember before I went to the countryside... I forgot which year, but I told you all that the Liu family kids were quite cunning, especially Liu Ailing. She looked honest, but she was actually mean. Zhou family's Nini, although she looked smart, was actually the most innocent. And you still say I have bad eyesight."
Then he said, "Now it's verified, right? I told you not to play with Lu Cuilan, and you still complain about me nagging."
As he spoke, he picked up the basket on the table and looked at it. It was obvious that it was not an ordinary style. He said, "This is made by the brigade that Jiani went to the countryside with, right?"
Wu Hong had long forgotten this incident from years ago. When her daughter asked about the basket, she quickly said, "Yes, it looks nice, doesn't it? I couldn't bear to buy a whole set, so I bought a lace one to put things in for the New Year. I'm telling you, there's a gold ingot-shaped basket that's also pretty, and there are several other styles... They're all on display in the department store."
"It looks good, it really does. I'll go to the department store tomorrow to look at other styles."
Li Yan put down the basket and started to unpack her luggage. Wu Hong came forward to help and said, "You take a rest, I'll clean it up."
Li Yan took out three bamboo cups from her bag and said, "I'll take them to Nini."
Wu Hong subconsciously felt a little distressed: "They already have a drinking jar, why do they need your bamboo cup?"
He gave three gifts at once, including the Zhou family’s twin sons.
Things made of bamboo are quite rare here. My daughter brought some back before, and she gave them away to relatives. It’s very prestigious to give them away. This year, a relative asked her early on whether her family’s swallow would come back for the New Year, and asked if she brought a bamboo cup, and to keep one for her.
Moreover, she remembered that her daughter and Zhou's daughter didn't play together very often, so why should she send something to the Zhou family?
Li Yan said speechlessly: "Mom, I have something to ask you." Then she took out another bag of kudzu powder.
Wu Hong felt even more distressed and asked in confusion, "What's the matter with you?"
There are so many things to give away.
When I saw my daughter took a few snacks from the south, I felt so distressed that my heart ached, but I didn't dare to stop her.
"Don't worry about it. This bamboo cup is free, and the kudzu powder was given to me by a local fellow. These two pieces of snacks are not worth much money. Why do you feel bad about it..." After saying this, Li Yan took the things and went out to knock on the door next door.
Zhou Jiani came back and was sorting out the luggage that the transport team had brought back a few days ago. She took out the suitcase sample and put it on the table, preparing to deliver it to Section Chief Xin of a spinning factory tomorrow.
Zhou Wanli also liked this suitcase very much. He didn’t know how many times he had looked at it over and over again, but he couldn’t use it. He just looked at it with envy.
Seeing his daughter take it out, Zhou Wanli glued his eyes to it again and said, "The things in your factory are really more beautiful than each other. I just don't need this box. If I travel frequently, I will definitely have to prepare one."
Zhou Jiani looked up at her father and smiled, "You can put it at home when you're not on a business trip. You can store some out-of-season clothes or something. Put it on top of the cabinet at home. I'll bring you one after the New Year."
Zhou Wanli rubbed his hands and glanced at Yu Huifang. He knew that this thing would not be cheap, and after buying it, it could only be used as an ordinary box. He wondered whether his wife would be happy about it.
Yu Huifang didn't think much about it. She wanted to support her daughter's career and said, "Buy it. If you have one, buy one. Nini can use it when she comes back often."
Zhou Jiani's heart suddenly moved, and she said to Zhou Wanli, "Dad, you don't use suitcases very often, but you use handbags a lot. Next year, I will discuss with the craftsmen in the factory to design a handbag. You and my mom will each get one, and we can carry them to and from get off work."
Zhou Wanli said hurriedly: "Oh, okay, okay, I can use the handbag."
Yu Huifang also laughed happily, went to get the bag her daughter brought back today, and asked, "Do you have any dirty clothes to wash? I'll wash them for you."
Zhou Jiani saw her mother taking out her handbag and remembered something. She went over and unzipped it, took out the certificate she had received earlier, and said, "Here, all my honors this year are written on this piece of paper."
The last time she came to deliver the goods, she was in a hurry and didn't take them back. Moreover, she mainly wanted to bring back the photos of her speech, which had not been developed and sent to the team yet.
As she spoke, she took out photos of her giving speeches from her bag, along with photos of the county and city.
Yu Huifang and Zhou Wanli's eyes sparkled with surprise. Even Jiang Xinfeng knew it was a certificate of honor and asked in a trembling voice, "Did the brigade give it to you?"
Zhou Jiani smiled and said, "It was distributed by the commune."
Yu Huifang's eyes were red with joy, and she said, "This is really great, I have to put it up..."
Zhou Jiani chuckled and took out another newspaper, saying, "Another newspaper, a newspaper about your future son-in-law. Of course, I also have my contribution."
The family felt that their eyes were not enough, so Jiang Xinfeng asked Zhou Wanli to read the certificate twice and read the newspaper to her.
Yu Huifang looked at the photos, including group photos with leaders at all levels, and quietly wiped the corners of her eyes. These photos also had to be put in the frame so that the neighbors who came to visit during the New Year could see them.
After Zhou Wanli finished reading the newspaper, he said, "My daughter really makes me proud, and Xiao Qiu is proud too."
This plastic greenhouse was originally her daughter's idea, but she was too busy to take care of it, so Xiao Qiu became the main person in charge, but sooner or later they will all be family members.
"I have to have a couple of drinks tonight."
Yu Huifang rolled her eyes at him and said, "It's not your honor."
Zhou Wanli chuckled as he untied the picture frame and added the photo inside, saying, "Hey, my daughter's honor is more worth celebrating than mine."
Jiang Xinfeng also smiled from ear to ear and asked Xiao Qiu if he had returned to the capital. When she learned that he was spending the New Year in the countryside, she also reprimanded him: "We should have asked him to come with us."
As they were chatting, they heard someone knocking on the door. Li Yan came in with something and saw Jiang Xinfeng and called out "Grandma Zhou".
Jiang Xinfeng smiled and said, "Swallow is back. Can she stay until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month?"
Li Yan smiled and said, "Yes, we can leave after eating Yuanxiao this year."
Jiang Xinfeng smiled and nodded: "Okay, that's good."
After greeting Jiang Xinfeng, Li Yan turned to talk to Zhou Jiani: "Nini..."
She saw the suitcase on the table, her eyes lit up, and she exclaimed, "Wow, where did you buy this suitcase? It's so beautiful!"
Zhou Jiani quickly offered her seat and said with a smile, "Our factory has just produced a sample and it will be sent out tomorrow."
"Can I see it?"
"Yes, let's see."
Yu Huifang went to make honey water.
Li Yan looked at it over and over again, liking it very much. However, the workmanship and size made her feel that it was not cheap. She said, "It's so beautiful." She added, "I heard from my mother that you led the rural team to do weaving and greenhouse vegetable cultivation. Didn't my mother buy one too? I saw it, it's really beautifully made..."
Zhou Jiani suddenly thought of the place she was on a business trip and said, "Sister Yan, bamboo is produced in Hangzhou Province, right? How about bamboo woven products? Those baskets and other things should be very beautiful too. They are different from the common woven products here, right?"
Li Yan nodded. "The styles are completely different. Even some of the baskets commonly used there are not usable here." She added, "The baskets your factory makes are also quite different from the style we usually use."
Different from the traditional baskets, sheaths and baskets, it is practical and exquisite. It can only be said that she has too little experience. She didn't expect that there are such talented people in the villages in the surrounding counties.
Looking at the suitcase again, Li Yan liked it even more.
She gave Zhou Jiani three bamboo cups and a bag of kudzu powder. Zhou Jiani gave her a pair of hairbands of different colors. She looked at her mother again, and then at the dried kelp hanging in the corner. Yu Huifang went to unpack the dried kelp and give it back to the other party later.
Li Yan exclaimed in a low voice: "Is this a new style of head ornament? This head ornament is beautiful and can be worn by people of our age."
And it's not the bright red or green ones that little girls wear. This hairband feels a bit... well, low-key and beautiful, not too exaggerated. She can wear it too, even if she goes back to the countryside in the south after the New Year. She immediately put her hair up and put on the hairband.
"I only need one." Li Yan said, "Thank you, Nini."
"Take them all." Zhou Jiani also liked this bamboo cup. It was not specially carved. It was just a piece of bamboo with an opening and polished smooth. It was suitable for drinking water or as a pen holder.
Pick it up and smell it, you can smell the fresh fragrance of bamboo.
Zhou Jiani smiled and said, "If it were longer, I could make bamboo rice."
Li Yan laughed in surprise: "You also know about the bamboo tube rice in the south? When I come back next year, I will bring you some fresh bamboo tubes and ask Aunt Zhou to make bamboo tube rice for you."
Subconsciously, she thought Zhou Jiani couldn't cook.
The two chatted for a while about the places they had visited and their experiences in the countryside. Li Yan also explained her purpose and said, "Nini, can I ask how you managed to sell your products to the provincial department store?"
It is not easy to get into these state-owned units. She is very curious and wants to learn from Jiani. She really needs to achieve some results.
"sure."
The two of them were thousands of miles apart, and Li Yan's learning of her ways would not have any impact on her.
However, there are huge cultural differences between the north and the south, so Li Yan may not be able to successfully copy her approach. It depends on how much she can learn from it. But I still talked to her in detail and helped her come up with some ideas based on my own insights.
Li Yan listened carefully and thanked him sincerely. They exchanged contact information and agreed to keep in touch through letters in the future.
Seeing Li Yan getting up to leave, Yu Huifang called out, "Nini, is it okay to stick the certificate here? Come and see if it's crooked."
Zhou Jiani: ...
Li Yan asked casually, "Is this the certificate Jiaping and Jia'an received?"
Zhou Wanli said: "No, it's Nini's certificate."
Li Yan took a look and immediately turned to look at Zhou Jiani with admiration. She smiled in surprise and said, "Oh, Nini, it's really possible. You didn't even say anything just now!"
Zhou Jiani: Didn’t my mother say that?
"This is amazing." Li Yan was full of admiration, and then she saw the newspaper next to her and the photos that Zhou Wanli showed her very clearly. She looked at them again and again, feeling a little encouraged. After the New Year, she would go back and work hard.
Before leaving, Yu Huifang, having finished showing off, stuffed some dried kelp into her mouth. Li Yan couldn't refuse, so she took it and said, "Thank you, auntie."
"You're welcome. Come and play with Nini when you're free."
"Okay, auntie."
Wu Hong was waiting at home. When she saw her daughter bring back dried kelp, she immediately smiled and said, "Did your Aunt Huifang give it to you?"
Li Yan: "I gave gifts to ask for favors, but I didn't expect Jiani to give me two hair flowers, and Aunt Huifang also gave me some dried kelp."
Wu Hong pressed on to ask what she wanted from Zhou Jiani, and Li Yan simply replied, "When will I ever stop working in the fields? There are plenty of people who work harder than me, so I have to find another way."
When Wu Hong heard about this, she no longer felt bad about the things her daughter had given away, and quickly asked, "Did Nini teach you?"
Li Yan nodded: "He also gave me other ideas. Whether I can do it or not is not discussed here, but as long as he gave me some advice, I have to remember this favor."
Wu Hong said hurriedly, "Yes, yes, I'll send your Aunt Huifang something else to repay this favor later."
Li Yan nodded and continued, "Nini's team was featured in the newspaper because of their greenhouse vegetables. Nini also gave reports to the local commune, county, and city, and even won a certificate of honor from the commune. Aunt Huifang was very happy. You should go and see her... First, get me a bath ticket so I can go take a bath and then come back to sleep for a while..."
At that time, such an honor was a great thing in everyone's eyes. Wu Hong went out with her daughter to see Zhou Jiani's certificate and newspaper. Before dark, not only did the whole building know about it, but even Director Huang heard about it and came to her house to read the newspaper.
After all, he had at least helped to find the information, and now he actually felt a little proud looking at it.
Knowing that Zhou Jiani had given three reports locally, Director Huang encouraged her: "Keep going, and strive to submit your report to the provincial level next year."
Zhou Jiani nodded: "I'll try my best!"
On the other side, Jiaping and Jiaan, who had been out playing for the whole afternoon, were met by a room full of neighbors as soon as they entered the house. When they heard that their sister had brought back a certificate and had given several reports, they squeezed over to see. Their two little faces were full of pride, and they turned around and ran out to show off to their friends.
Zhou Jiani didn't go out. She sat there accepting everyone's praise and looking at the shining glory on the faces of her grandmother, parents.
After the neighbors dispersed, I listened to my grandmother gossiping about the neighbors, and then I listened to her mother talk about what supplies had arrived recently and the fights that broke out at the scene when people were trying to grab things.
I didn't study at night. I washed up early and went to bed.
The next day, I packed my suitcase and went to a spinning mill. Of course, I called the factory before going, not only to confirm that Xin Guangrong was there, but also to set a meeting place.
It's not a good idea to deliver such a large item at the factory gate.
Xin Guangrong still thought it was an unexpected surprise. After all, it was just a casual remark at the time, and there was no movement for such a long time. He thought that the other party had not figured it out, or it was just a polite remark at the time.
Moreover, the goods promised to them were shipped last month, and the payment had already been received. They did not make any further requests to him at the end of the year, but unexpectedly, the suitcases were still delivered.
When Xin Guangrong saw the box Zhou Jiani brought, his eyes lit up: "Oh, this box is so beautiful."
Even the empty box is a bit heavy to carry.
There is no way. Zhang Laosi and his team have tried their best. In fact, suitcases in later generations also have a certain weight. This woven suitcase is only slightly heavier than those in later generations.
But unfortunately, they couldn't figure out the technology for the wheels, so they didn't install them.
But it looks good too. Zhou Jiani even ordered one from the factory. She doesn’t really need it, she just likes it, just like her father Zhou Wanli.
"Comrade Zhou, this box is great. Thank you so much. Please also thank the staff of your company on my behalf. I like it very much." Xin Guangrong had never failed to praise anything he had seen and eaten. The joy on his face did not seem fake. It seemed that he really liked it.
Xin Guangrong carefully placed the box on the back seat of the bicycle and opened it to look.
A layer of fabric lining is added inside. Not only are there two inner pockets on the left and right sides of the inner layer of the lid, but a small pocket is also added on one side of the bottom, which is very convenient for storing small items.
There are also elastic cords to secure luggage.
The outer layer of the box is painted with tung oil, the color is slightly darker than the original wood color, and the overall appearance is very good.
In short, the more I watch it, the more I like it.
The finished product was finally completed after many reworks and a lot of materials were wasted. It is truly excellent.
Zhou Jiani fell in love with the finished product as soon as it came out. If she had not promised Xin Guangrong long ago, this product would have fallen into her hands first.
"As long as Chief Xin likes it."
"I like it, I like it very much, thank you very much."
This gift really touched his heart. Xin Guangrong thanked him repeatedly and couldn't help but start thinking in his heart that when he got back, he would make arrangements and give priority to the Qianjin Brigade's orders for the new year. After all, the quantity required was not large and he could always find some space for it.
There is also the issue of information resources. Years ago, they only supplied the floral cloth to Qiyang Department Store and did not supply it to surrounding areas, so they really could not supply it.
After all, it's almost the New Year, and things should be a little looser after the New Year. At that time, he should pay more attention to the documents, notify Comrade Zhou earlier, and ask Comrade Zhou to do favors for him locally.
After chatting with Section Chief Xin about future cooperation plans and wishing him a happy new year in advance, he casually pulled out a newspaper from his bag and handed it to him before leaving. He said, "Section Chief Xin, our brigade is in the newspaper. Please take some time to take a look. If you pass by us on a business trip after the New Year, you are welcome to visit and give us guidance."
The twenty newspapers Zhang Baosheng had were not enough to distribute, so he asked the commune's secretary Xiao Zhao to buy twenty more copies. Zhou Jiani came back with a few copies, and she felt it was necessary to distribute some to the cooperative units.
We need to show our partners that they are constantly improving and are a hard-working and progressive team.
Section Chief Xin sighed and said, "Okay, okay, I'll definitely read it. If I pass by your place after the New Year, I'll definitely visit you."
He thought the newspaper was about the weaving factory, but when he got home and unfolded the article, he realized it was about the greenhouse vegetables.
Zhou Jiani went to Teacher Meng again and gave her a newspaper.
I went to two department stores again. I originally wanted to go shopping and see if I could find some bargains, but I found that there was no crowd in front of any counter, so I went straight to the office building to wish the leaders a happy new year in advance and deliver the newspapers.
I didn't meet Director Zou at the Friendship Store, but luckily I called in advance and gave the letter to the waiter at the door, asking him to help pass it on.
In the rest of the time, I help with cleaning at home, discipline the twins, and occasionally entertain neighbors who come to visit.
I went to a big market on the 29th day of the lunar year, but I went with my parents and twins. I didn't buy anything, I just found a chance to find a scalper and quickly bought a few tickets.
In the afternoon, a colleague from the factory came to my house and said, "Jia Ni's aunt and her family are back from Henan Province. They will be at the station at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning."
Jiang Xinfeng uttered an 'ouch' and her eyes instantly turned red: "I, Peilan, am back."
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