"Oh, my child, what can I say? Look at you, you're here, but you still bring anything with you? It's so rude! Xiao Cui's little mushrooms are nothing compared to this big bowl of delicious food you've carefully prepared!"
When Zhang Bing saw Xu Qinghe step into the threshold, he hurried out of the house with a smile on his face.
But when he noticed the bowl of mushroom sauce that was about to overflow, he frowned slightly and seemed a little embarrassed.
In that era of material scarcity, oil and chili peppers were both precious. The value of the bowl of red sauce in front of him was difficult to measure in terms of money. Zhang Bing felt quite uneasy as if he was receiving something without any merit.
"Uncle Zhang, are we still so particular about this between neighbors? I didn't even pay a penny for those two puppies you helped me catch last time. They grew in my own fields, how could they be worth so much? Don't be so polite to me!"
As Xu Qinghe spoke, she stuffed the bowl into Zhang Bing's hand without any explanation. She stood there with her hands behind her back, blocking Zhang Bing's way back.
Although Zhang Bing felt a little embarrassed, since he had already accepted it, it would be inappropriate to refuse. He accepted the heavy bowl of gift and handed it to his son who was looking at him curiously. He smiled at Xu Qinghe and said, "Okay, then I'll obey your command. Come, I'll take you to see those two little guys. They were recently weaned and have already started learning to eat on their own. It's really interesting."
Following Zhang Bing's lead, Xu Qinghe stepped into the backyard, where three small and exquisite wooden houses came into view. They were the little world that Zhang Bing had personally built for his three canine companions. The houses were filled with all kinds of old clothes.
"Uncle Zhang, you treat these dogs like family. It's a blessing for them to have a good owner like you." Xu Qinghe's praise came from the heart.
Zhang Bing waved his hand and smiled nonchalantly, "What's that? During the war, these dogs saved countless lives. They were considered animals, but they understand human nature better than anyone else and are incredibly loyal. They would never betray their masters. It's this loyalty that I admire, and of course I have to take good care of them as best I can."
When talking about these loyal partners, Zhang Bing's eyes sparkled with infinite tenderness.
Xu Qinghe was also fascinated by what they were saying. The two of them sang in unison and had a very pleasant chat. It was not until Zhang Bing realized that he had talked too much that he stopped talking, walked towards the two puppies, gently picked them up, and carefully handed them to Xu Qinghe.
"Qinghe, I entrust them to you because I trust you. You must treat them well and teach them patiently, and they will surely become docile and obedient companions. Remember, don't use violence against them easily, promise me, okay?" Zhang Bing's eyes were full of sincerity, and the reluctance was hard to conceal.
Xu Qinghe nodded vigorously and assured firmly, "Uncle Zhang, don't worry. I will treat them like family. I love dogs myself, which is why I want to take care of these two little guys together. Besides, our two families are so close. If you miss them, you can come visit anytime."
The two puppies seemed to understand what was said. They lay in Xu Qinghe's arms, whimpering softly, as if saying goodbye to Zhang Bing. This made Zhang Bing feel mixed emotions.
"It's getting late, just take them back." Zhang Bing turned his face slightly, afraid that if he looked at them again, he would really be reluctant to let go.
At this moment, Xu Qinghe deftly pulled out a pack of exquisite Daqianmen cigarettes from his sleeve, quietly stuffed it into Zhang Bing's pocket, and whispered, "Uncle Zhang, I'll be leaving first!"
After she finished speaking, before Zhang Bing could react, she had already picked up the two puppies and walked away briskly.
By the time Zhang Bing came back to his senses, Xu Qinghe's figure was already walking away.
He touched the cigarette in his pocket and secretly sighed in his heart, the girl from the Xu family is really generous!
But this also made him believe that Xu Qinghe had enough ability to give these two little lives a bright future.
Zhang Bing smiled with relief, put the cigarettes away carefully, hummed a light tune, and walked towards the main house.
Zhang Xiaocui was surprised when she saw the happy expression on her father's face.
Logically, the father should feel lost because of the puppy's departure, so why is he so happy today?
"Dad, are you okay?" Zhang Xiaocui asked with concern, her heart full of doubts.
Zhang Xiaocui was in a state of anxiety, her steps were so hurried that sparks almost flew against the floor, and her eyes were filled with worry.
As she approached her father, her tone was full of concern: "Dad, are you really okay? If you have any worries, you might as well tell me and we can share them together."
Zhang Bing's pretended relaxed attitude seemed a little deliberate. He waved his broad palm in the air, and the arc of his lips concealed some secrets that he didn't want others to know.
He turned and walked into the house, the hidden cigarettes like his hidden thoughts, unknown to others.
The two puppies in Xu Qinghe's arms had one black and one yellow fur, and their eyes were full of curiosity and anxiety.
When they stepped into an unfamiliar environment, they instinctively chose to hide, with their small bodies tightly pressed against the edge of the table, leaving only the two round figures faintly visible through the gaps in the tablecloth.
Zhu Yunxiu's eyes were filled with loving wrinkles. Looking at these two adorable little lives, her smile was warm: "Dabing, you take such good care of them. Look at their chubby little appearances, they are so adorable."
Xu Qinghe brought out two warm eggs from the kitchen with gentle movements.
She gently cracked the eggshell, split it in half, and placed half in front of each puppy, using this simple food to build a bridge of trust.
The puppies tasted the delicacy for the first time and first carefully tested it with their wet noses. The temptation of the natural fragrance finally overcame their vigilance and they began to lick it in small sips.
Seeing this scene, Zhu Yunxiu felt reluctant, after all, food was precious in those days, but seeing the joy flashing in her granddaughter's eyes, she chose to give in.
The old man straightened up slowly, holding on to his old cane.
"It's late at night, you should go to bed early. Grandma will go back to her room to sleep first."
Xu Qinghe looked at the two little lives in front of him and responded softly. The voice was so gentle that it could melt ice and snow.
She decided not to let the two little ones who had just left their mother's arms suffer from the cold night, so she laid a soft mat in a corner of the room to create a temporary but warm haven.
Xu Qinghe poured deep emotion into naming them. The black one was called "Ink Ball", which has a profound and smart name; the yellow one is called "Orange Treasure", which makes people feel warm at the first sound.
On the other side, Sheng Minghuai's figure appeared particularly tall and straight under the dim light. Not long after he entered the radio station, he was urgently summoned by his superior to inquire about Xu Qinghe's situation.
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