Chu Tian and Yao Youjun looked at each other. After a while, Yao Youjun stammered to explain.
"Well, that, brother-in-law, uncle is just like that, you, don't mind it."
Chu Tian looked at the nervous Yao Youjun and chuckled, "Well, I can see that my uncle has a very generous personality."
Seeing that his brother-in-law really didn't mind, Yao Youjun grinned happily and talked excitedly with Chu Tian as they walked back.
"Yes, my great uncle is not only generous, but also very strong. When I was a child, I clearly remember that he could carry a pig weighing 200 to 300 kilograms and walk for several miles! Even though he is old now and not as strong as he was when he was young, he is still very impressive. You may not know that during the autumn harvest last year, my great uncle could still carry over 100 kilograms of wheat back and forth to the granary without stopping!"
Chu Tian smiled but said nothing, thinking that he was almost tripped by Uncle Yao's slap just now, so how could he not know how strong he was?
Seeing that they were almost at the door of his house, Yao Youjun hesitated for a while, but still grabbed Chu Tian's arm. Under Chu Tian's puzzled gaze, he stammered and asked, "Brother-in-law, that, apprentice..."
Chu Tian thought Yao Youjun had suddenly grabbed him because of something, so he smiled and raised his chin towards the yard, "Let's talk about it when we get back."
Hearing Chu Tian's tone, Yao Youjun's eyes lit up and he responded loudly, "Okay!"
After hearing Chu Tian's request, Yao's father and mother fell silent, and Yao Youjun also fell silent.
At this point, even if Yao Youjun wanted to be an apprentice at the steel mill, he hesitated. Was it worth it for his family to be burdened with debt just for being an apprentice? Seeing his parents remain silent, Yao Youjun gritted his teeth, stood up, and shouted loudly.
"Dad, I'm not going."
Yao's father slammed his face and slammed his hand on the table, angrily scolding, "What nonsense are you talking about? This is a rare opportunity to change the family, how can you let it go so easily?"
Yao Youjun glared at his father, not wanting to be outdone. "You can't let our family owe hundreds of dollars in foreign debt!"
Father Yao took out his treasured bag of Mohe cigarettes, carefully rolled a cigarette, lit it and started smoking with a "puff, puff" sound. As he puffed out smoke, his expression was inexplicable. After an unknown amount of time, he spoke as if he had figured something out.
"It's only a few hundred dollars. It's not like our family hasn't owed money before. The worst that can happen is that your mother and I will tighten our belts and work hard for the next two years. In short, we must take this job. As long as you can go to work, no matter how hard or tiring it is, I, your father, will accept it!"
Yao's mother, who had been silent the whole time, nodded in agreement. "Youjun, your parents are still young and can still earn more than a hundred yuan a year. If you can earn more than a hundred yuan a year, you can pay it off in more than two years..."
Yao Youjun gritted his teeth and said, "But they want food. Even if we gather the money now, where can we buy it? We don't have food coupons at the supply and marketing cooperative, and even if we did, we wouldn't be able to buy anything. But who can afford to give out 200 kilograms of fine grain at once? We can't just buy a little each, right? Wouldn't everyone know?"
Chu Tian, who had been playing in the background, spoke up at this moment, "Dad and Mom, have you forgotten? I can get food, and I don't need any food coupons. Although it's not as cheap as the supply and marketing cooperative, it's much cheaper than the black market..."
Seeing the three of them looking at him, he continued, "Besides, I was originally planning to provide food to help our allies get this job first..."
Yao's mother glanced at Yao's father hesitantly, while Yao's father looked at Chu Tian silently. After a long while, he sighed, "Well, whether it's borrowing money or food from outsiders, if it's too little, it's easy to find an excuse, but if it's too much, it's really not easy. Lending yours is a good idea."
"But Chu Tian, even though you are my son-in-law and the brother-in-law of the friendly army, we will not let you give food to the friendly army in exchange for a job for nothing!"
Chu Tian was just about to say that it was only two hundred kilograms of food, which was really nothing to him, when he heard Yao's father continue.
"We really can't get two hundred kilograms of high-quality grain, but we can certainly provide you with money. It's just that we can't come up with that much at once. We borrowed two hundred yuan from the brigade some time ago. You can keep it first. When the friendly forces go back to work, keep a few yuan for pocket money. We'll pay you back the rest first, and we'll try to pay you back within two years."
"Do you think it's okay?"
"Dad, there's really no need, I..."
Chu Tian really didn't want to earn money from the Yao family. These two hundred kilograms of fine grains, whether rice or flour, were expensive products in this era of food and clothing shortages. However, in modern times, as long as you don't buy the particularly refined ones, you can buy two hundred kilograms for less than five or six hundred yuan. It's estimated that you don't even need half of that money...
Father Yao stood up and waved his hand, his tone brooking no refusal, "No, you must use it, otherwise you won't have this job! It's settled, Xiujuan's mother, go get the money from Chu Tian!"
Yao's mother stood up without objection and walked towards the inner room. After a while, she came out with a stack of money and stuffed it into Chu Tian's hands regardless of his resistance.
Yao's mother grabbed Chu Tian's hand and said with a firm look, "Take it! Even brothers have to settle accounts clearly, let alone the friendly army is just your brother-in-law!"
Chu Tian struggled several times but failed to win over Yao's mother. He sighed helplessly and compromised, "Okay, but the price is not as high as you think. Although I sell it for more than two yuan per catty, the purchase price is one yuan and fifty cents per catty. Two hundred catties is only three hundred yuan. Since my parents insist on paying, just give it to me according to the purchase price! Otherwise, I don't want anything..."
Father Yao knew that Chu Tian didn't want to earn his family's money. He was silent for a moment and then nodded. "Okay, three hundred is three hundred. Then we still owe you one hundred yuan."
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