Chapter 29
Human cubs also win the love of adults based on their looks.
Erya was born beautiful, and Zhen Zhen was willing to take care of her. However, this kid looked like a wretched old man when looking at people, which made Zhen Zhen feel a little disgusted.
It's not easy to raise children these days, so she didn't dare to take it lightly. In the evening, she asked Jiao Huilan to stew some pig's trotters for Tao Aihong.
Zhen Zhen didn't know whether pig's trotters could produce milk, which involved her blind spot in knowledge.
However, Tao Aihong has no other hobbies except eating. If a pregnant woman eats something good, she will be in a good mood and can naturally pass on the good mood to her child.
The child hasn't been named yet, so Zhen Zhen calls him Sanwa for the time being.
Although she didn't know how to raise a baby, she felt that the third baby was just hungry. He was so young but he was already playing tricks. He looked around while feeding, unlike Erya who ate with relish and always fell asleep while eating.
Dinner consisted of pig's trotter soup and fish hotpot. Tao Aihong had never expected her mother-in-law to be so generous to her and was a little overwhelmed.
When the family gathered together to eat watermelon after dinner, Tao Aihong almost burst into tears.
The sweet ice watermelon is a great way to cool down in the summer. It makes you feel cool to the core. After eating two pieces, you can take a cold shower to cool down. If you feel hungry, your mother-in-law will give you some soy milk powder and eggs soaked in brown sugar. If you are hungry, you can also have some red dates.
This is a magical day!
She never dared to do that again. She couldn't get used to being a mother-in-law and had to go back to her parents' home to suffer hunger and humiliation. Her mother said she felt sorry for her, but she gave all her money to her brother and didn't even keep the delicious food for him. She had seen through everything.
After this move, Meng Hua finally moved out, and Zhen Zhen was relieved. She packed up her third son's clothes and sent them over.
"Take care of yourself. Even though you haven't started a family yet, you still have to look good."
Meng Hua was staring at a two-inch black-and-white photo of Cheng Su. When he heard his mother talking, he stuffed the photo under his pillow, and was seen by Zhen Zhen.
"Is this a photo of Cheng Su? Where did you get it?"
Meng Hua was a little nervous and confessed:
"I didn't steal it. Cheng Su dropped it on the ground and I picked it up. I wanted to give it back to her, but I never found it."
Zhen Zhen was too lazy to think about how true or false this statement was. It was just a photo and there was no chance of it being too wrong.
"Return it to the owner tomorrow to avoid causing trouble for him." Zhen Zhen reminded.
"Got it, Mom. I'll return it tomorrow."
I don’t know whether I will return it to my mother or not, but it is necessary to deal with women’s obedience.
Zhen Zhen stuffed his clothes into his closet and went to the kitchen to take a shower. The newly built house was made of good materials and was warm in winter and cool in summer. It was much cooler than the previous thatched house.
She hung up the mosquito net, swatted the mosquitoes inside to death, and made sure that no mosquitoes flew in before she picked up the fan and lay down to fan herself.
The child next door cried all night, and Zhen Zhen didn't sleep well. She woke up at dawn the next day, wiped her face, and stood in front of the mirror to look at herself.
The original owner had a good foundation, but her skin was a little rough. After Zhen Zhen came here, she never worked on the ground, and used the big-brand skin care products in the space. After half a year, her skin was well maintained and much tighter than before.
However, I only have a few sets of skin care products, which I bought to stock up during the Double Eleven shopping spree. They can be used until next year at best. After they are used up, I can only use Dabao.
Uncle Zhou drove the donkey cart, and Zhen Zhen sat on it wearing a straw hat. She went for a walk around the supply and marketing cooperative.
There was only one brand of milk powder in the county, and there was no choice. Thinking of the dazzling array of shelves in future supermarkets, she felt like crying.
"Comrade, how much is the milk powder?"
The salesperson looked to be in her thirties and her attitude was much better than the other salespeople. She took out the milk powder and showed it to her before asking:
"Did you bring your ticket? The infant formula supply ticket?"
Where did Zhen Zhen get this ticket? He shook his head, "No, comrade, but my grandson refuses to drink milk, so I want to buy a pack."
Although I know it is impossible, all impossible things in the world are done by humans. Even if we move a tree, it will die. We have to try it at least.
Don't have a ticket but want to buy something?
The salesperson kept shaking his head. "It won't work without a ticket. Milk powder is already in short supply. If you have four baby sugar supply tickets, I can help you think of a solution."
Zhen Zhen grasped the key information. Sure enough, these days the sales clerks in the supply and marketing cooperatives and tobacco and liquor stations all have connections.
She leaned forward and lowered her voice:
"Comrade, although I don't have a ticket, I have a lot of good things that I can exchange with you."
The salesperson's eyes widened and he looked around nervously. He didn't expect her to be so bold.
She whispered, "What good stuff do you have?"
Zhen Zhen thought for a moment and said, "I have noodles, flour, and rice."
The salesperson kept shaking his head and said, "No matter how expensive rice and flour are, they are not as expensive as milk powder. Many women have no milk and their children refuse to eat, so they count on milk powder to save their lives. These things obviously don't work."
"I'll tell you straight! These things can be bought on the black market. If you can't exchange them for milk powder, you can only trade them for higher-quality goods. If you have a pot, a watch, a bicycle, a Watson electric fan, or something like that, I can help you think of a solution."
Zhen Zhen had not expected that milk powder was in such short supply, and she had not expected the salesperson to be so courageous. She had two unused iron pots in her space. In order to save money, she had bought the most basic ones at the wholesale market, so they would not look out of place when she took them out.
"I have a cauldron!"
The salesperson's eyes widened, as if she felt that she had underestimated her.
Who is this person? The child is drinking milk powder, and he has noodles, flour, and rice in his hands. How can he even take out a big iron pot?
The saleswoman is named Zhao Meilan. She was born and raised in the county town. She has four children. Her parents-in-law are in poor health. Her husband lost an arm in a work-related injury last year and retired from his job. She is the only one who earns money to support the family.
When the salesperson had many customers, her husband gave her an idea and asked her to help these people make connections and earn some commission from it.
The man runs errands for her, and she can earn a dozen extra dollars a month by attracting some customers.
When she heard that Zhen Zhen had an iron pot, she remembered that Director Yang of the garment factory said last month that he wanted an iron pot, but where could she find one? She would have to wait in line until next year, and she couldn't buy it on the black market. Who would have thought that Zhen Zhen actually had one?
"Do you really have an iron pot? What kind does it look like?" Zhao Meilan asked excitedly.
"Yes, I will go get it later. I will meet you in the next alley in ten minutes. You can check the goods."
Zhao Meilan nodded, asked her colleague to help her check the counter, and went to meet Zhen Zhen.
Zhen Zhen’s iron pot is of very good quality, and it seems to have a layer of coating inside. In short, it is quite different from the pots we have now.
"This pot is really stylish, like a foreign product."
"Yes, my relative brought it back from Shanghai. It's imported. I wonder how many packs of milk powder this pot can buy."
Director Yang's children are all grown up, so they should have no shortage of sugar and milk powder coupons. Zhao Meilan's home is next to the supply and marketing cooperative, so she went home and asked her husband to run errands to give Director Yang a message.
When the other party heard that there was a big iron pot, he didn't dare to delay and came out on his bicycle soon.
The two of them put the money together and said, "Give me three milk powder tickets, six yuan."
Zhen Zhen didn't know the market situation and was afraid of being cheated, so he showed some dissatisfaction on his face, obviously feeling that it was not enough.
Director Yang was about fifty years old, a mid-level executive in the garment factory. He had a lot of experience and was knowledgeable. When he saw the pot, he wanted to hug it in his arms.
Seeing that Zhen Zhen thought it was too little, he quickly said, "Six yuan for a pot is not a small amount. Besides, three milk powder coupons are worth a lot of money!"
Whether something is valuable or not is not determined by the item itself. For example, many museums these days have to sell their antiques because they have no money to operate. Things that would have been auctioned for hundreds of millions or even hundreds of millions in later generations only cost five or six yuan each these days.
Is the value of an antique equivalent to that of a cast iron pot?
It's not like that. These days, supplies are scarce. You won't starve to death without antiques, but you can't cook without a pot.
Zhen Zhen is not stupid, after thinking for a while, he said:
"This is imported from Haishi. How can it be compared with ordinary pots? Three milk powder coupons, ten yuan, think about it again."
As she spoke, she was about to take the iron pot away.
How could Director Yang be willing to give up?
She looked at Zhen Zhen inconspicuously. Is it common for people to speak Mandarin these days?
Although his clothes were not expensive, they were clean, elegant and tasteful. Besides, people in their thirties were not as easy to fool as young people.
It was not cheap, but if she missed the chance to buy a pot of that quality, she would never get it again. She could only grit her teeth and say:
"Okay, ten bucks! Deal!"
Milk powder is 1.2 yuan a pack, which is quite expensive. Zhen Zhen bought three packs at once. It is impossible to ask Erya to watch over the three children, right? Milk powder is not forbidden.
It cost three dollars and sixty cents in one go. Even in the 1970s, Zhen Zhen felt the pressure of raising a child.
Zhao Meilan received the bribe and smiled, "Sister, next time you have something good like this, give it to me and I will help you sell it. I guarantee you will get a high price!"
Zhen Zhen wanted it very much. She didn't have much, but plenty of material resources.
"There's rice, flour, eggs, pork, and plenty of toilet paper."
In order to be able to go to the end of the world to exchange supplies, she stockpiled a lot of toilet paper. She bought some for her own use at the supermarket and also bought thousands of packages of toilet paper at the wholesale market. Some were sold by kilogram. Zhen Zhen didn't use this kind of paper much because it was a waste of time.
Zhao Meilan's men occasionally go to the black market to resell supplies, but the problem is that they have no connections and can't find the supplies at all. Who would have thought that Zhen Zhen actually has so many good things!
"I can help you sell whatever you have. My commission will go to the buyer, and you don't have to pay a penny more."
Zhen Zhen thought this was a good deal, so she lied and said she was going back to get something, and brought Zhao Meilan ten boxes of toilet paper, ten pounds of pork, and ten packs of noodles.
The price Zhao Meilan offered was definitely not as good as what Zhen Zhen would offer herself, after all, she would make a profit from the difference, but she still gave her twenty-two yuan.
Zhen Zhen roughly calculated that according to her selling price, Zhao Meilan could earn three yuan. However, Zhao Meilan was knowledgeable and her selling price must be much higher than hers, so she would earn more.
But she didn't have to get up early, didn't have to do any work, and wasn't too hot or too cold, so she was naturally happy.
Zhen Zhen bought another milk bottle from Zhao Meilan. Milk bottles were not rare because they were not necessary. Many families fed their babies milk powder with a spoon.
Zhao Meilan moved one out for her.
When Zhen Zhen returned with the money and milk powder, Meng Daguo had just finished work. The summer harvest was very hard and the sun was scorching. He got up early and came home late. His skin was sunburned and his body and face were two different skin colors.
Zhen Zhen shook her head: "Daguo has suffered, and mother sees it with her own eyes, and it hurts in her heart."
Meng Daguo's heart was filled with sweetness, and he smiled innocently:
"Mother, your son is not suffering. You earn money from work and spend it on it. You don't have to do anything. You can just lie at home and enjoy your life."
Yes, the eldest son is more aware.
Meng Hua and Meng Eryong also came back, but it was obvious that they did not try their best, and their skin was much paler than Meng Daguo's.
Meng Hua is fine. He is young but smart. Even if he doesn't do hard labor, he can still contribute to the family in the future. But Zhen Zhen finds Meng Eryong unpleasant no matter how he looks at him.
When Tao Aihong went back to her parents' home, he ran away without a trace. When Tao Aihong came back, he came back to enjoy his life. Sanwa was a money-smashing machine, and Zhen Zhen decided to get it back from Meng Eryong.
Meng Eryong was startled by the look, "Mom? Why are you staring at me? Are you missing your son?"
Zhen Zhen nodded with a smile. Meng Eryong felt that his mother had a hidden dagger behind her smile, so he ran away with half a watermelon in his arms.
Zhen Zhen was too lazy to pay attention to him. She took out three packets of milk powder, locked two of them in the cupboard, opened one, poured half of the milk into it, and asked Jiao Huilan to feed it to Erya with a spoon.
Erya is getting older and drinks happily with a spoon. Jiao Huilan has to go to the fields to harvest these days. Erya doesn't eat well, so having milk powder as a supplement to breast milk is good for her growth.
"Our Erya is still easy to raise!" Zhen Zhen praised his granddaughter.
Erya seemed to understand what her grandma said and smiled happily.
Daya was very happy and said, "Grandma, I want to drink it too!"
Jiao Huilan rejected it at the time:
"This is baby formula. You are four and a half years old. You can't drink this."
Milk powder is so expensive! Each pack costs more than one yuan. A child needs to drink several packs a month. It’s okay for Sanwa alone, but if Erya is added, the family’s monthly work points are not enough to feed the children. If Daya is added, it will be a disaster!
Daya pouted, a little sad. Zhen Zhen smiled and said, "Make some for her to drink. I'll think of a solution after she finishes it!"
Jiao Huilan said that her mother-in-law was too used to children, so she gave some to Daya.
After drinking, Daya hugged Zhen Zhen's thighs and said, "Grandma still loves me. Grandma is the best! Daya loves Grandma the most!"
Jiao Huilan snorted: "Yes, I am the stepmother!"
Several people laughed.
Jiao Huilan is more cheerful than before, no longer timid as before. Zhen Zhen is very happy to see such a change in her.
Zhen Zhen made another bottle of milk. She didn't dare to make too much, so she only made 50 ml.
When Tao Aihong saw her mother-in-law, she was stunned for a moment and stared with eyes wide open:
"Mom, is this milk powder?"
"Yes!" Zhen Zhen was a little annoyed. Although she still let Tao Aihong come back, she still held a grudge.
Tao Aihong was unhappy, but she had to admit that her mother-in-law loved Sanwa very much. She actually bought milk powder, which is such an expensive thing, for Sanwa to drink?
After all, he is the eldest grandson, so he is different!
Tao Aihong was just thinking about feeling proud when she turned her head and saw Jiao Huilan feeding Erya at the door, also with milk powder!
Even Daya drinks milk powder!
Tao Aihong didn't want to talk anymore.
The bottle has a glass bottom and a brown nipple that is thin and easy to hold.
Sanwa was disgusted at first and kept spitting it out. Zhen Zhen dropped two drops in his mouth. He tasted it, and after he came to appreciate the taste, he sucked on the bottle and started to drink it up.
How many days has this child been hungry? 50 ml was not enough, so Zhen Zhen made another 30 ml. After finishing the bottle of milk, he fell asleep.
The child was full and didn't make any noise or cry. He woke up at night and kicked his legs. I fed him 80 ml of milk and then fell asleep again after that.
I didn't hear a single cry the whole night.
It might rain in a few days, so the brigade did not dare to delay and organized the villagers to work day and night in order to prepare the public grain and hand it in before the rainy season came.
The village was filled with a tense atmosphere, as if it were a major exam in the future, and everyone was on high alert.
Zhen Zhen is fine. She doesn't have to work and occasionally plays with her grandchildren. She has been knitting for the past few months, but maybe she knitted too much and she hasn't been in the mood for it in the past few months. She hasn't picked up the knitting bag for a month.
These days every family has a little private plot of land, but because everyone is hungry, villagers usually grow some food to fill their stomachs.
There are quite a few vegetables planted in the gardens in the village, including cucumbers, zucchini, leeks, green onions, and zucchini. Unfortunately, the harvest is not good, and the vegetables are occasionally sold to make up for the shortage of public rations, so the villagers get very little.
Zhen Zhen had nothing to do before, so he set up a small vegetable garden to grow vegetables, and he grew his favorite vegetables, such as cucumbers and tomatoes.
After the weather got hot, the fruits began to grow. The cucumbers grew crooked and looked average, but the tomatoes were large and sandy and tasted very good.
Zhen Zhen occasionally picked some to satisfy her hunger.
She picked a few, washed them and put them in the water jar, thinking about making money. With Zhao Meilan, she had one more way to make money, but she also wanted to get her sons busy. She couldn't just focus on the fields, right?
But what to do?
She wanted to sell duck necks, which do not require tickets and have very low costs. Another option is to sell melon seeds, which are dry and easy to pack.
As she was thinking about it, she saw Zhang Qiaohong from Mrs. Meng's house coming over and saying that Meng Li had returned and Mrs. Meng asked her to go over.
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