Chapter 33
Cheng Su brought two handkerchiefs from home, one embroidered with yellow flowers and the other with green flowers. She gave the green flower to Aunt Zhen and kept the yellow flower for herself.
The best handkerchief is given to the best Aunt Zhen.
In this way, every time Aunt Zhen saw the handkerchief, she would think of her, as if they had a close and inseparable relationship.
Meng Hua came home from work and threw his handkerchief onto his mother's bed.
"What?"
"A handkerchief, a gift from your sweetheart?"
"Little lover?" Zhen Zhen raised an eyebrow, "Could it be you who gave it to me? Didn't someone say that my son was my mother's little lover in her previous life? Tsk tsk! This embroidered cotton handkerchief is quite high-end. When did you become so discerning? I have to say, our Huahua has grown up and knows how to give gifts to his mother."
Meng Hua was originally feeling a little depressed, and after hearing what his mother said, his face turned red with embarrassment.
From the way his mother said this, it seemed as if he was so unfilial. How could a grown man like him buy such a sissy gift?
"It wasn't given by me, it was given by Cheng Su. She seems to like you very much."
Zhen Zhen was a little surprised and picked up the two handkerchiefs to examine them carefully.
In the original novel, the heroine gave the hero a handkerchief, but the man did not take it seriously and used Cheng Su's handkerchief to wipe Yin Xue's sweat, which made the heroine very sad.
The handkerchief given to the male protagonist eventually became hers. Does this prove that she has changed the trajectory of the original work?
Zhen Zhen put the handkerchief in his pocket and glared at Meng Hua unhappily:
"Yes, Mom is just so lovable. Take a good look at yourself and find out where your charm is lacking."
Meng Hua: ???
The next day, Jiao Huilan made the cold kelp shreds that Zhen Zhen had been looking forward to for a long time. It had a sour and spicy taste and was paired with the cold noodles that Zhen Zhen had tried to make, and it went very well with rice.
When men are out working at noon and are not at home, their families will send them a meal.
Since they didn't like snacks, Zhen Zhen cut the small round cake in half, chopped up the brine meat, added some poached eggs and vegetables to make a meat bun.
Each person gets four meat buns, which are enough for him to eat, and he can also drink some green bean soup to cool him down. Isn’t this food better than anyone else’s?
The men working in the village were both envious and greedy.
"Daguo, what kind of life do you live in? You have meat every day! Has your mother spent all your savings?"
Although they were greedy, they all guessed that it was because Daguo's father's death benefit had not been spent. No one would envy or be jealous of such money.
Meng Daguo smiled innocently. His mother used fatty hind leg meat to make the roujiamo (rice dumplings), and she would even add some fat to the dumplings for his brothers. It tasted especially delicious.
"My mother knows how to eat." Meng Daguo said while eating a meat bun.
Meng Eryong had no time to speak and just stuffed food into his mouth.
Meng Hua did not answer. He sat under the shade of the tree and drank mung bean soup after eating until he was full.
Zhen Zhen was not stingy and brought some meat-filled buns for Old Lady Meng and her father as well, two for each person and no more.
However, she brought a lot of mung bean soup and shared it with several of Mr. Meng's sons.
The whole family was very happy and accepted Zhen Zhen's favor.
If Zhen Zhen hadn't gone out for a walk, he wouldn't have known how hot the sun was. The villagers were so dry-lipped and parched by the sun, but they didn't dare to slack off, for fear that Li Decheng would be unhappy and deduct their work points.
After Zhen Zhen returned, he asked Jiao Huilan to cook two large pots of mung bean soup, cooled it in well water, and then pulled it over on a board with wheels.
"Everyone drinks mung bean soup, and everyone has a share." Zhen Zhen said with a smile.
Gou Zi's mother was also working, and was surprised: "Everyone gets a share? I say, Zhen Guizhi, there are so many people in our village, you are willing to give it to them!"
Zhen Zhen sighed:
"Seeing you guys working so hard reminded me of when Daguo Daddy was alive. He always said that everyone has a hard time and we should help if we can. You all work outside and there is no one at home to bring you water and food. It's not easy to get by in the hot summer. I can't afford to bring you food, but I can still treat you to mung bean soup."
Gou Zi's mother never thought that she was really different.
"I used to think you were a difficult person to get along with, but I didn't know you were a cold-faced person with a warm heart."
Zhen Zhen sighed:
"After Daguo's father passed away, I was depressed and my temper became strange. Sometimes I wanted to talk to you, but I was afraid that you would look down on me as a widow."
After saying this, he buried his head and looked miserable.
Gou Zi's mother and Li Decheng's wife said quickly:
"Daguo Daddy is a martyr, he sacrificed his life for the country. We all admire martyrs, so how can we look down on you?"
"That's right, Daguo Niang, you really think too much. You should spend more time with us in the future. Only by spending more time with us can our relationship improve."
The old ladies around him all gave their assurances, and Zhen Zhen finally agreed.
They all brought bowls, and Zhen Zhen served each of them a bowl of mung bean soup. The cool and sweet mung bean soup refreshed them.
Gouzi's mother also said: "I felt dizzy when I was working just now, but I feel much better after drinking!"
"We women tend to get dark eyes when we bleed and sweat, so we need to replenish sugar. That's why I added a little more sugar for you to replenish."
Gou Zi's mother kept saying that she was kind, and besides, she owed them a favor for borrowing the Meng family's thermos last time.
Zhen Zhen had some selfish motives in taking the initiative to deliver food to everyone this time. In a few years, she wanted Meng Hua to take the college entrance examination, which would require political review, so it would definitely be a good idea to have good relationships with the villagers.
There are so many advantages to having a good reputation these days.
Gou Zi's mother wanted to return the favor, so she pulled her aside and whispered:
"Guizhi, I heard a piece of news that you should take to heart."
"Um?"
"I heard that the recommendation for Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University is about to be carried out. Your Meng Hua has always been a good student. Why don't you try to get in?"
Zhen Zhen was stunned. Last year was the only time that workers, peasants and soldiers needed to take the college entrance examination to go to university. In 1974, the college entrance examination was cancelled and it was changed to a recommendation from the local revolutionary committee or the poor peasants' association to go to university.
Last year, Meng Hua worked hard for a long time to go to university, but he failed the political review. There is no doubt that Daguodie is a martyr, but because of that rumor, the attitude from above was vague and they did not dare to let Meng Hua pass.
Meng Hua lost his place in university and felt disappointed and lonely, so he actively built relationships with the local soldiers and went there to participate in sports.
But this year, Daguodie received the death benefit, which means that the organization recognized his status as a martyr.
Children of martyrs are given preferential treatment these days and can be recommended by local authorities to go to university.
Daguodie’s rank in the army is not low, and Meng Hua’s possibility is much greater than others.
Zhen Zhen didn't expect this to happen, so he went straight to find Li Decheng.
"Meng Hua wants to sign up?" Li Decheng wiped his sweat and glanced at her.
"Uncle De, don't get me wrong. I'm not sending you mung bean soup today to bribe you. In fact, I just learned the news."
Li Decheng's face looked better. "Daguo's father was a martyr, and your Meng family has been poor and middle peasants for 18 generations. The conditions are definitely met. With the recommendation of the poor and middle peasants in our village and the guarantee of the president of the Poor Peasants' Association, Meng Hua can get in."
What matters most right now is political outlook, and it goes without saying that Meng Hua is right on this point.
Three years of practical experience, junior high school education is required, and the age also meets the requirements, around 20 years old.
Li Decheng finally realized that Zhen Guizhi was not a simple person.
Not to mention the three brothers of the Meng family. When they go out, they have the temperament of being the best among men. Who would believe that they are just farmers who work in the fields?
The Meng family will have a bright future sooner or later. If he gives them a hand now, they might remember him for a favor in the future.
"The president of the Poor Farmers' Association is my classmate. I will make a trip for you tomorrow." Li Decheng took a puff of his pipe and said with squinted eyes.
Zhen Zhen quickly thanked him and brought him a bowl of mung bean soup.
Zhen Zhen told this story during dinner and the three sons were shocked.
"Don't accuse me of being partial. I only registered your brother and not you two. Even though you got into the university through recommendation, you still need to have good academic performance. Otherwise, if you can't read or write after entering the university, you will be rejected by the university, which is really embarrassing."
Meng Daguo had no objection. His grades were not good to begin with, and besides, he was a family man who could not leave either of his two children at home.
Meng Eryong had even less objection. He would fall asleep whenever he read and he was not cut out for it.
Meng Hua: "Mom, why haven't I heard about this?"
These days, with the lack of information, many important things are missed if they are not mentioned.
Zhen Zhen said: "I also heard about this from Gou Zi's mother. It's not certain yet. If you can't go in the end, don't be sad. There will be another chance next year."
Meng Hua has not yet recovered from the news. He has not opened those books for a long time. If he can really go to college, it means that he can study cultural knowledge seriously in school.
This is the dream of all students.
Meng Hua was very excited. He stayed in Zhen Zhen's room all night and talked to her about college. Zhen Zhen couldn't stand it and kicked him out. Only then did she get a moment of peace.
Tao Aihong returned to her room and said to Meng Eryong:
"You said your mother loves you the most, but I think she still favors the third child! Why did she recommend Meng Hua but not you? How are you worse than Meng Hua?"
Meng Eryong was actually stunned for a moment.
"Tao Aihong, you think too highly of me. I copied your answers on every test when I was in school. You were the second to last in the class, and I was the last. How can someone like me go to college?"
Tao Aihong was angry at what he said, "Who said that only those with good grades can go to college? Doesn't recommendation mean that anyone with good connections can go?"
"You're right, but I'm not a good student. You have to give Meng Hua credit for that. In the past, when it snowed in winter and there were no candles at home, he would stand outside with a book in hand and read by daylight. I really can't compare to him."
Tao Aihong just felt that she was at a disadvantage. Why should such a good opportunity be given to Meng Hua?
If Meng Hua goes to college and stays in the city after getting a job, he will become a city dweller.
Country people like them will never be able to compare to them.
The next day, Zhen Zhen and Jiao Huilan cooked two pots of dried duck neck together.
After the duck neck is made, we steamed mung bean and red bean paste steamed buns. They are small in size, about the size of eggs, with sweet fillings, and taste like snacks.
I made some extra, mashed it up and soaked it in milk powder, and then Erya can eat it.
Erya has already started eating complementary food, so Zhen Zhen took out the vegetable and fruit noodles in the space.
Erya likes tomato flavor the best. Zhenzhen boils the noodles until they are mushy, then mashes them with a spoon, adds some spinach and carrots, and feeds them to her.
Jiao Huilan likes to feed rice noodles, but Zhen Zhen thinks that rice noodles are made of rice, which is good, but still needs to be paired with something else.
After eating complementary food, Zhen Zhen also made fruit puree for Erya, of course using the most common apple.
Put a spoon horizontally on the apple to scoop off the surface layer of puree and feed it to her together with the juice and flesh.
Erya likes it very much and is very well behaved every time she eats the fruit puree.
Afraid that Daya would get jealous and think that everyone loves Erya and not her, Zhen Zhen always cuts the apple in half.
Of course, the third baby is still very young, so he doesn’t have these.
The Dragon Boat Festival is here, and Zhen Zhen bought candied dates and several kinds of beans early, took out the pickled duck egg yolks in advance, and asked her three sons to find zongzi leaves in the fields, and then went home to soak them in buckets of water to prepare for making zongzi.
Daya sat on a small stool next to Zhen Zhen, picked up the rice dumpling leaves and learned from Zhen Zhen.
"Grandma, how do we put the rice dumpling leaves in? My hands are too small to fit them."
Zhen Zhen taught her carefully, "Fold it like grandma did, there should be no gaps at the bottom, and then put some glutinous rice in it."
"And then?" Daya asked in a baby voice.
“Then just add some of your favorite ingredients.”
Daya made a flat triangular rice dumpling and felt very accomplished. She asked her mother to keep it for her and not let anyone else eat it.
Zhen Zhen put some red bean paste and candied dates in it. She likes both sweet and salty rice dumplings, but meat rice dumplings are average, and salty rice dumplings only contain duck egg yolks.
Batou Village is neither north nor south, and its eating habits are a mixture of northern and southern cultures. For example, people usually eat rice at noon, and porridge and noodles in the morning and evening.
As for rice dumplings, local people mainly eat sweet rice dumplings, and few people eat those with duck egg yolks.
Gouzi's mother came to return the thermos and was so surprised to see them putting duck eggs in it that she almost jumped up.
I went back and told people that the Meng family actually ate duck egg rice dumplings, how disgusting that must be!
In order to distinguish sweet from salty, Zhen Zhen uses cotton thread to tie sweet rice dumplings and uses rice dumpling leaves to tie salty rice dumplings.
Put them together in the pot and steam them. Jiao Huilan loves eating rice dumplings. In previous years, her family could not afford to eat rice, so of course she could not be so willful.
This year my mother steamed a big pot of it. In this weather, it would not last for a few days if she didn’t eat it, so she could finally eat her fill.
After steaming, the whole kitchen is filled with the fragrance of reed leaves. Zhen Zhen really likes this smell.
She used a colander to scoop up eight rice dumplings, six sweet and two salty, and asked Meng Hua to give them to Old Lady Meng and Old Lady Meng's father to taste.
Meng Hua was full of energy. He wiped the sweat off his face and walked away with the rice dumplings in his hand.
Old Mrs. Meng is now accustomed to her daughter-in-law sending her food. When she sent her meat-filled steamed buns and mung bean soup the day before yesterday, which old sister would not envy her?
It is said that Zhen Guizhi, who looks the most naughty, is now the most filial.
He also said that although Daguo's father is gone, his daughter-in-law is still just as filial.
The old couple were naturally happy to hear others praising their daughter-in-law in this way, and now they felt even happier eating rice dumplings.
"Your mother is so generous. She put two candied dates in one rice dumpling! She also put red beans in it! She really knows how to eat!" Old Mrs. Meng exclaimed.
Old Mrs. Meng picked up a salty rice dumpling at random. She was a little uncomfortable with it at first, but the more she tasted it, the more she wanted to eat it.
"It's my first time eating duck egg rice dumplings. Your mother is really thoughtful." Old Mrs. Meng praised.
After Meng Daguo and his friends got off work, the family started preparing dinner. There was no big dish today, only a plate of scrambled eggs with tomatoes, which was specifically requested by Daya. Zhen Zhen didn't want to let the little girl down, so she asked Jiao Huilan to prepare it.
What we eat are various kinds of rice dumplings. Nowadays, people love to eat steamed buns, rice dumplings and sugar cakes, mainly because they can't be eaten more than twice a year.
Meng Daguo ate six rice dumplings in one go and still wasn't full.
There was also a dish of white sugar on the table. Whoever wanted to dip it in the sugar could do so. If they were thirsty, they could drink some mung bean soup. The Dragon Boat Festival would be over.
After dinner, Zhen Zhen’s task was to wash the dolls.
The tools were two buckets of water filled with mugwort, and the target was three babies.
Wash this one and then that one, rub the dolls' armpits, elbows, and soles of their feet until they are clean. If any of the dolls giggle, just smile at them and they will be very happy.
By the time she had finished washing all the dolls, she was really exhausted.
Pick them up, wipe them dry, put some perfume powder on them, put on small clothes, and then tie five-colored threads on the three children.
It is tied around the neck, wrists and ankles, and then cut off and thrown on the roof. It is said that magpies will take the five-colored threads and use them to build a bridge for the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl to meet each other.
Meng Hua has submitted his university application form, and Li Decheng has also greeted the president of the Poor Farmers Association.
Actually, it was said that they had given a greeting, but Zhen Zhen knew that there were very few people in the surrounding area who met the recommendation requirements. They were children of martyrs, and Daguo's father had won first-class merit.
Meng Hua himself has a high level of education. The president of the Poor Farmers Association met him once and liked him very much.
Tell him that if he goes to college, he must not forget his hometown.
The process was not difficult. When the house was built last time, Zhen Zhen did a great job and the villagers had a better impression of her. In addition, because of the favor of Daguo Daddy, all the poor and middle peasants in the village voted for Meng Hua.
They just have to wait for approval.
If all goes well, Meng Hua will leave home to go to college soon.
Zhen Zhen hopes that he will leave earlier, and go to university to study and see the world while his feelings for Cheng Su are not too deep. As time goes by, many things will naturally fade away.
Zhen Zhen wanted to take over the melon seeds business, but Meng Hua refused. Although there were subsidies from the government, he still wanted to make some money for future use.
Zhen Zhen took the opportunity of going to the county town to buy melon seeds and took out three quilts from the space in advance.
He was given an old quilt to spread underneath him, a new 12-pound cotton quilt to cover himself, and a small 5-pound cotton quilt on top. He should not feel cold when he goes to college.
Meng Hua has a lot of clothes, but they have turned white from being washed in the summer, so Zhen Zhen plans to make one for him.
There are three sons in the family, and it would not be enough to make one for just one, so I simply asked Zhao Meilan to buy three portions of cloth.
The two were now familiar with each other and exchanging supplies very smoothly. Zhen Zhen gave her forty bags of noodles, forty kilograms of flour, forty bags of steamed buns, forty kilograms of toilet paper, and forty dried duck necks.
"I want to invite your customers to try this dried duck neck. If you like it and want to buy it again, I will send it to you next time."
Zhao Meilan was overjoyed and tried her best to help her, and soon got her the best Dacron cloth.
"This fabric is cool, comfortable and durable. My husband has always wanted to make a piece of Dacron for me, but my salary is not particularly high, and I have a large family to support. I was afraid that if I wore something nice, people would be suspicious, so I never dared to make one for him."
Zhen Zhen touched the Dacron, which was indeed a high-end fabric compared to the coarse cloth people wear nowadays.
The important thing is that in an era without air conditioning, wearing this was very cool.
Zhen Zhen nodded. "You two are so careful at your age. I'm sure you will be fine in the future."
Zhao Meilan was very pleased with the praise.
"There is nothing I can do about my parents-in-law's poor health. They were very good to me before and I took good care of them during the confinement period. I must be good to them."
Besides, even though they are not in good health, they will try their best to help them take care of the children.
It is different after all that there is someone looking after her at home so she can go out and work.
Zhao Meilan's ideas are considered advanced even in later generations, let alone in this era.
It is estimated that she was one of the first people to go to the sea to eat crabs in later generations.
"Although your husband's hand is injured and his job is not that respectable, you can still earn a few dozen yuan a month with him running errands for you. Your salary is good to begin with, and the benefits of the supply and marketing cooperative are good... Although your husband has retired, he still receives a little subsidy every month. You and your wife work together, and all you have together should make a good living."
When Zhao Meilan heard her mention money, she immediately said modestly:
"How can I earn that much? I just earn enough to buy rice and noodles."
Zhen Zhen smiled and said nothing.
She also bought Meng Hua a pen, a stack of notebooks, a pile of rough paper, and a pair of white shoes.
I bought a pair of Jiefang shoes for the eldest and second son, and a pair of white sneakers for each of my two daughters-in-law.
On the way back, she gave the cloth to tailor Feng, and secretly put away the school supplies prepared for Meng Hua, only taking out the shoes to share.
Meng Daguo usually wore Jiao Huilan's cloth shoes, but his mother suddenly bought him a pair of Liberation shoes, and he suddenly felt a little uncomfortable wearing them.
He seldom wears new shoes, and he was so happy that he didn't know where to put his hands.
"Mom, you still remember the size of my feet!"
Zhen Zhen smiled: "Of course! I remember the sizes of you three brothers very clearly. I care about you all, and I'm definitely not just saying it!"
The three sons were all very happy. Meng Eryong glanced at Meng Hua's little white shoes and felt a little jealous at first.
Later I understood what my mother meant. This was intended for Meng Hua to wear when he went to the big city.
The cleaners in the university are clean, so it’s okay for them to wear white sneakers. But for those who work in the fields, wouldn’t it be a laughing stock if they wore white sneakers?
Meng Eryong also tried it on and it fit perfectly. Not only him, but also Jiao Huilan and Tao Aihong found it was just right, with no faults to be found.
Tao Aihong wore the shoes she had just bought for the first time in her life and was so excited that she looked left and right.
"Mom, are they really beautiful? Are they a little small? How do I brush my teeth with such white shoes?"
"It's not small. Use toothpaste to brush it, then put some toilet paper on it. It will be very white after it dries in the sun."
Meng Hua secretly kept it in mind.
Tao Aihong was very happy, maybe because she always quarreled with her mother in the past, and now her mother suddenly treated her well, so she felt a little flattered.
Jiao Huilan never stopped laughing, and then she noticed that her mother-in-law didn't buy anything for her, so she went back and said to Meng Daguo:
"Mom is so good to us. She left all the good things for us, but she herself was reluctant to eat or drink."
Meng Daguo was stunned. "Is this true?"
"Don't you know? Mom only eats steamed bread slices and drinks the thinnest rice soup every day. She only eats vegetables for meals and only eats lean meat. She also keeps saying that she is losing weight. Although Mom didn't say it explicitly, I know that she is secretly saving money."
Meng Daguo had actually discovered it a long time ago, but he was not as careful as Jiao Huilan. It was only after Jiao Huilan reminded him that he realized that his mother had not bought him new shoes.
"Go back to the county and buy me a pair of nice shoes."
The two of them still had a few dollars on hand, and Jiao Huilan agreed that since her mother-in-law was generous to her, she would also treat her mother-in-law well.
Her natal family had long since declared that they no longer recognized her, and she had already considered her mother-in-law as her own real mother.
None of the sows in the village could give birth, so Zhen Zhen went to the next village to buy eleven sows from someone, but of course he bought them from someone in a different village.
Ten pigs were released into the mountains, where a pigpen had already been built. The wall was made of local materials, using stones from the mountain, and then wood was used as a barrier. Because there were so many pigs, they were afraid that the pigs would knock down the wall when they grew up, so they specially made the wall higher.
The remaining sow was placed in a pigpen built with old dirt blocks behind the house.
When the pigpen was just built, people from the village gathered around to see it. Old Mrs. Meng and her father also came. They were very happy to see that their daughter-in-law was taking better and better care of the family.
Daya also lay on the pigsty, "Pig, don't worry, Daya goes out to cut pig grass every day to feed you, you grow up well."
Meng Daguo used rice bran as pig feed. When the weather was hot, there would occasionally be rotten food at home, and Zhen Zhen would bring it to feed the pigs.
Educated people talk about everything scientifically.
Zhen Zhen thinks that pigs should be raised scientifically. It is not enough to feed them only with rice bran. They should be supplemented with protein, such as bean cakes and peanut cakes. These things are very nutritious. It is also better to add some mineral elements.
The summer harvest has come to an end for the time being, and Meng Hua has nothing to do in the short term. It is time to start the next wave of selling melon seeds.
He came over on a bicycle. It was a borrowed bicycle from Dachuan, but Zhen Zhen didn't treat him badly. Every time he returned the bicycle, he would give him something, either rice or eggs and apples. He was always very happy.
But it is inconvenient to use someone else's car. Bicycles are more scarce than BMWs these days. If someone else's car is worn out and broken, even if they don't say it, they will feel it in their heart.
Besides, if they kept borrowing money, their melon seed business might be exposed, so Zhen Zhen urged Zhao Meilan to help inquire about whether they could get a bicycle over.
Meng Hua was not busy and was planning to go to the city to sell melon seeds. However, Zhang Cuihua brought a piece of news from the next village, saying that the child of Zhen Zhen's second brother was hospitalized in the county.
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