Chapter 69
"Kong Yue, you are standing here waiting for someone."
A little after five in the afternoon, before the sun set, a group of old ladies came down the mountain. They saw a figure standing straight like a pine tree, with shoulders stretched into a line. They all stopped.
Kong Yue nodded politely and looked at the person who had just greeted him, "Aunt Zhao, have you seen Lu Qin and the others?"
There are several small hills behind the Dongyang Brigade. The trees are short, mainly ferns, and there are two bamboo forests. There are fields at the foot of the hills. The brigade cultivates the fields every year, so there are no dangerous animals. At most, there are wild rabbits and snakes.
Therefore, the people in the brigade dared to explore the area. In spring, they picked wild vegetables; in summer, they picked taro, prickly ash, and loquat; in autumn, they picked wild persimmons and pears.
You can run all over the mountains and plains.
Spring is the time to pick wild vegetables and dig bamboo shoots. If Kong Yue were to look for someone himself, he really didn't know when he would find him.
Another aunt, who remained silent, said, "Just now when I was coming down the mountain, I saw them digging bamboo shoots on the slope of the bamboo forest next to the southern ravine. They dug all afternoon and found quite a lot."
It was hard for them not to notice the combination of two women, one man and one child.
"Thank you, Auntie." Kong Yue thanked her and saw one of them carrying a bag. He walked forward in two or three steps and said, "I'll take you back first."
"Hey! No, no. Go find your wife and the others. Mine is not heavy." The old lady in the middle waved her hand to refuse.
After being rejected repeatedly, Kong Yue gave up his intention to help. He said goodbye to them and strode forward.
"What are you two looking at? Let's go back quickly."
"Well, it's a hard life. Go back to work."
In the leeward part of the bamboo forest on the mountain, shadows of the trees swayed. Kong Dongdong stretched out his short legs and sat on his uncle's coat. He held a military water bottle and watched several people busy in the distance.
"Aunt, we've dug too much." Lu Qin raised his arm and wiped the sweat from his forehead. His hair was wet with sweat and hung down on his forehead. His face and lips were red.
"Just make two more trips later."
There are a lot of bamboo shoots this year. They are like birds entering a fruit orchard, digging up the bamboo shoots as soon as they see them. They really can't help themselves.
"It's okay, one trip is enough."
Lu Qin sighed, sealed the bag in a few seconds, and then lifted it up and stood still, his fair and slender arms tensed. "Sister, please get out of the way first."
Lu Chunnong stood aside and looked up, only to see her brother Lu Qin loosen his hand and kick the bag with him. Then the full bag rolled down the slope smoothly.
“…”
Sun Laimei's words were on the tip of her tongue, but she watched helplessly as the bag rolled down and turned into a white dot.
Lu Qin clapped his hands, his eyes shining, "How about this? Now I don't have to carry it anymore."
Sun Laimei held onto a bamboo stick, hoping the bag wouldn't break.
She picked up a basket beside her, which contained only two or three bamboo shoots. "Let's go. It's getting dark. Let's go back quickly."
Kong Dongdong heard the sound and quickly put the kettle aside. He turned to the right side, facing the ground, and put his hands on his clothes. He kicked his feet and arched his butt to get up. He clapped his hands and raised them up. The series of movements were extremely smooth. He stood still and jumped, "Uncle!"
Lu Qin wiped his sweat again, turned around to look at him, and pointed at his feet, "Stand still and don't move."
Kong Dongdong's jumping short legs stopped, "Mom, grandma, wait for me."
He looked like he was afraid of being left behind.
Lu Chunnong stood at the bottom of the slope, putting away his sickle and hoe. "I'm waiting for you, don't move."
"oh!"
Lu Qin climbed up with the help of the bamboo, walked to Kong Dongdong, lifted him aside, picked up the clothes on the ground and shook them, then stretched out his hand to him, "Let's go home."
Lu Chunnong and Sun Laimei stood below, staring at his feet, "Be careful, take your time."
Lu Qin let Kong Dongdong lie on his back, then tied him to his body with clothes. He turned around and reminded him, "Kong Dongdong, hold on tighter. Uncle is going downhill."
"good!"
Hearing his answer, Lu Qin protected him with his left hand and went down the slope holding the bamboo with his right hand.
Lu Chunnong and Sun Laimei were relieved to see that he was safe.
As soon as Kong Yue arrived at the foot of the mountain, he saw a familiar bag at the foot of the mountain. He picked up the bag and put it aside, then walked up the mountain.
After walking only a few steps, Sun Laimei led them down.
"mom."
Kong Yue's voice immediately attracted all their attention.
"You got off work so early today," Sun Laimei came over with a backpack on her back, panting.
"No, my backpack is not heavy." She avoided her son's outstretched hand.
Kong Yue reached out to take Lu Chunnong's hoe. Lu Chunnong looked at him and shook his head to indicate that he didn't need it.
Lu Qin said silently, turning his back to him, "Brother-in-law, this."
Kong Dongdong was getting heavier and heavier. Just now, that little claw almost scratched his shoulder and hurt him.
Kong Dongdong had a piece of clothing tied around his body and was lying on his back like a turtle.
Kong Yue walked over and carried the man down, "Why did you dig so much today?"
Sun Laimei took a breath and said, "There are bamboo shoots everywhere in the mountains. We can dig them up and dry them to eat for half a year. Besides, you all have jobs now. You can bring them to your colleagues at work and they won't be left with nothing."
Kong Yue had nothing to say now. He picked up the big bag beside him and went home with a group of people.
From the big bag of bamboo shoots, some can be stir-fried fresh or used to make meatballs, while the rest can be cut, cooked, and then dried into bamboo shoots, which can be kept for a year.
When you actually put it in your mouth, the combination of the freshness and crispness of the bamboo shoots and the salty fragrance of the meat is so natural and delicious that it is indescribable.
Lu Qin took some of it and prepared to give it to people at the factory. After dividing it carefully, he didn't think it was too much.
Even Mr. Huang, the gatekeeper, was given two bamboo shoots.
In the Propaganda Department, everyone looked at the things on the table.
"Comrade Lu, this is what you brought."
Lu Qin poured himself half a cup of tea and blew on it gently. "I dug some fresh tea from the mountain yesterday. Take it back and cook it for yourself."
Secretary Niu picked one up and examined it carefully. She pinched the bottom with her fingers, leaving a small mark where she pinched. It was very tender. She sighed, "The countryside is still the best. If you want to eat fresh food, you can get it right at your doorstep."
In the Propaganda Department, Lu Qin was the only one who was from the country, but his face didn't look like one, so no one would remember it unless they were specifically reminded.
Secretary Liu put the things under the table and said, "You can't say that. They each have their own merits."
"That's right." What can be bought in the city may not be available in the countryside.
After sighing, he continued to work.
Lu Qin took a sip of tea, looked around, and then walked up to Section Chief Zhao. "Section Chief, let Liu and I produce this week's promotional newspaper."
Section Chief Zhao looked up at the voice and said, "You can discuss the details with Secretary Liu when the time comes."
He suddenly remembered something, "Your job has been completely transferred to our Propaganda Department. Work hard in the future."
In other words, Lu Qin is a formal employee of the Propaganda Department from today on.
Lu Qin was stunned for two seconds. If he hadn't been told, he would have thought of himself as a propaganda officer.
Fortunately, he reacted quickly, "Excuse me, Chief. I will work hard in the future."
"Yeah." Section Chief Zhao glanced at the two bamboo shoots under the table and chose to take them.
Back at his seat, Xu Youzhi looked up when he heard the noise and asked him in a low voice, "Has he been converted to a regular employee?"
They were chatting quite loudly just now.
Lu Qin raised his eyebrows. "Well, from now on we'll be real colleagues."
"Congratulations." Xu Youzhi was genuinely happy for him.
Lu Qin's brow relaxed, he said thank you, picked up the things beside him and started to write the manuscript.
At lunchtime, the two of them walked out of the Propaganda Department. Xu Youzhi nudged him with his elbow and asked, "Are you looking for me?"
Every time Lu Qin left the factory gate, the gatekeeper was particularly kind to him.
When Lu Qin looked up, he saw Uncle Huang standing there waving at them.
I couldn't think of what it was.
He walked over with an enamel cup and asked, "Uncle, have you eaten yet?"
When Mr. Huang saw him, he was very happy, with a gossipy glint in his eyes. "There's a young lady at the door looking for you. Hurry up, I have to go guard the door."
If it were someone else, he would definitely wait there and would not come here in person.
"Okay, excuse me, sir."
The figures of Zhu Hong, Li Xiang, Qin Shi and others flashed through Lu Qin's mind, but he couldn't figure out who they were for the time being.
"If you have something to do, I can help you get some food." Xu Youzhi came over at some point.
Lu Qin simply stuffed the enamel cup into his arms and said, "Then help me with it."
"By the way," he added, "if the lady serving the food asks you anything, just say I'm busy, so she won't mistake me for a person."
Xu Youzhi didn't realize what he meant. Lu Qin turned around and went back to the Propaganda Department. A moment later, he left with something in his hand.
At the door, Qin Shi was waiting with the chicken soup made by her mother, Director Sun, and she looked inside from time to time.
Mr. Huang called out to her, "Comrade, Xiao Lu will be here soon, don't worry."
Qin Shi curled her lips and said, "Okay, I'm not in a hurry. Thank you."
"It's okay." Uncle Huang waved his hand and wanted to ask something else.
The female comrade's eyes lit up and she walked over with something in her hand.
The young man's slender figure became clearer and clearer.
As soon as Lu Qin saw her, he remembered what he had reminded her before, "Comrade Qin, why are you here?"
He didn't say the last sentence out loud to avoid being overheard.
Qin Shi raised her eyebrows and said, "No, I'm fine. This is the chicken soup my mother made at home. She thought you hadn't had lunch yet, so she asked me to bring it over for you to try."
Lu Qin lowered his eyes and saw the lunch box in her hand.
"Ah, this..." This happened so suddenly that he couldn't react.
Qin Shi's pretty face showed a generous attitude, "You take it, I should go back to eat."
"Okay." After thinking for a moment, Lu Qin took the lunch box from her and handed her the food in his hand. "Please thank my aunt for me. You can take these four bamboo shoots back to eat."
Qin Shi took it and said, "Okay, then Comrade Lu, I'll leave first."
Lu Qin waved at her and said, "If you have anything, come to me."
He picked up the lunch box and looked at it in front of him. A rich aroma hit him. When he turned around, he saw Uncle Huang with his hands behind his back, looking like he was watching the fun.
"You are a lucky boy."
Lu Qin held up his lunch box and said, "Uncle Huang, would you like some chicken soup?"
"No, no, eat it yourself."
As he walked towards the cafeteria, Lu Qin had another lunch box in his hand.
He looked around and saw Xu Youzhi's seat and sat down.
With a thud.
Xu Youzhi looked up and pointed at his bowl. The woman serving the meal had already taken the enamel cup, but when she saw him, she stopped. Fortunately, he explained and she was able to return with a full enamel cup.
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