Next, they came to the watch counter. On weekdays, they all checked the time on the wall clock at home. Today, they each picked a watch so that they could check the time more conveniently.
She picked out a Shanghai brand men's watch for Huang Wenbin, which was classic and elegant, priced at 70 yuan; the two sisters chose the same exquisite Seagull brand women's watch, which was small and exquisite, priced at 55 yuan each. They spent a total of 180 yuan, which instantly added a bit of elegance to their wrists.
Figuring she'd have to spend at least 320 yuan, Xu Mengyao didn't want to buy anything bulky and awkward, so she headed to the appliance section. There, a Lotus brand large-pulsator washing machine caught her eye, priced at 485 yuan, and her eyes lit up.
Considering her family's increasingly busy schedule and the winter drudgery of laundry, this washing machine was a lifesaver! Before purchasing, she asked the salesperson to let her and her sister test the weight of the washing machine, fearing it would be too heavy to lift. To their surprise, it was lighter than expected, and they placed the order without hesitation. The helpful salesperson even helped tie a handle with rope for easy carrying, a truly thoughtful service.
Carrying the newly bought washing machine, the two returned to the TV counter. Huang Wenbin's eyes widened when he saw the two carrying a large box. When he saw the three big words "washing machine" on the cardboard box, his expression changed from surprise to joy:
“Oh, you also bought a washing machine!”
Xu Mengyao proudly waved the invoice in her hand and paid the remaining balance for the color TV. Huang Wenbin put on his sister's new watch and hugged the color TV, looking so proud and proud that he walked through the crowd, his steps even carrying the wind.
Huang Wenrong laughed secretly in the background and whispered to Xu Mengyao, "Look at big brother, he's like the big rooster our mother used to raise, so valiant and full of vigor."
Walking out of the brightly lit door of the mall, Xu Mengyao was about to hail a three-wheeled motorcycle to go to the train station when she suddenly heard an enticing hawker's voice: "Authentic Pengcheng rice noodles, hot and spicy meat sauce rice noodles!"
She saw a woman carrying a shoulder pole, smiling and welcoming guests at the door. She smelled the aroma and moved over unconsciously. The woman selling rice noodles smiled until her eyes narrowed into slits, and enthusiastically introduced:
"Girl, the vegetarian version is 50 cents a bowl, and the one with meat sauce is 60 cents. The one with meat sauce is our signature dish, I guarantee you'll want more after trying it!"
Xu Mengyao readily ordered three bowls of rice noodles with meat sauce. While waiting, she noticed a gold and silver shop nearby. On a whim, she told her eldest sister and went to take a look.
The price of gold in the store was clearly marked: 96 yuan per gram. Although it was a bit more expensive than she had expected, at least there was no processing fee. She selected from a selection of classic styles. She had originally wanted to buy Grandma Huang a gold ring as a return gift, but considering the elderly woman's inconvenience in working, she finally settled on a pair of gold earrings weighing over three grams, which were both practical and stylish.
It was almost dusk when we returned to the mining area, the busiest time of the day in the village. Huang Wenbin, holding a large TV, walked proudly ahead, attracting the attention of the villagers.
"Hey, Binzi, what's that baby you're holding in your arms?"
"TV! Just brought it back from Pengcheng!" Huang Wenbin said proudly.
"Wow, your family is going to heaven. And what are those two girls carrying that big box?" Grandma Wu asked curiously.
"Grandma Wu, this is a washing machine." Huang Wenrong answered with a smile, feeling both proud and a little shy.
Grandma Wu was surprised and followed them home. She was so curious, like a cat scratching its head.
When I got home, the yard was bustling with activity. The three families were busy cooking. Huang Wenbin shouted as he entered the house:
"Mom, come and see what goodies we brought back for you!"
This shout attracted everyone's attention.
Huang's mother and grandmother quickly put down their work and gathered around. "What is this? Such a big box!" Huang's grandmother looked curious.
"Grandma, look here! This is a color TV, and that one over there is a washing machine! From now on, we'll let it wash our clothes, so you don't have to worry about your hands."
Huang Wenbin got busy as he spoke, unpacking the boxes and installing the TV in one go.
Everyone gathered around, chattering. Xu Mengyao placed the washing machine directly in the yard, and Huang's father deftly pulled the electrical cord and connected it to the socket.
She poured water and detergent into the washing machine, then called Huang Nai: "Nanny, throw all the dirty clothes in here, let's try this new thing!"
Grandma Huang smiled and stuffed all the clothes into the washing machine, turned the button, and it started to rumble. Everyone gathered around to watch the novelty, their faces filled with curiosity.
Aunt Feng curled her lips and muttered quietly, "Oh, you have to rely on a machine to wash clothes. Isn't this obviously lazy?"
After hearing this, Huang Nai quietly pulled Xu Mengyao over and said, "How can you clean it just by turning this drum twice? I think it's not as good as rubbing it with my hands. You're just wasting your money."
Xu Mengyao smiled and said disapprovingly, "Grandma, don't underestimate it. Come winter, our family won't have to wash clothes with red, frozen hands anymore. Wait until you see how good it is at dehydrating clothes, and you'll see how convenient it is. Let me turn on the TV for you to see what's new."
As soon as the TV was turned on, the colorful pictures instantly attracted everyone's attention. Grandma Wu's eyes lit up and she exclaimed in surprise:
"Oh my god, this TV is really in color. It makes me feel so relaxed watching it!"
Grandma Qiu also nodded repeatedly and praised the color TV as a worthwhile purchase.
While everyone was focused on the TV, Xu Mengyao quietly pulled Huang Nai into the inner room.
"What are you doing? The TV is so exciting, why did you drag me in?" Grandma Huang looked unhappy.
"Grandma, please stretch out your hand, I'll show you something good..."
Huang Nai stretched out her hand half-believingly, and a pair of glittering golden earrings jumped into her palm.
The old lady's eyes suddenly lit up. She covered her mouth with one hand, tightly grasped the earring with the other, and looked at it carefully.
"Juan, this...is this gold? Did you buy it for grandma?" Her voice was full of disbelief.
Looking at the old man's happy and surprised expression, Xu Mengyao nodded firmly:
"Grandma, you gave me all your treasures, so I'm going to buy you a pair of gold earrings, which is my due. I'll buy you more in the future and make up for the dowry you sold that year."
Huang Nai's eyes were filled with tears. She rubbed her earrings repeatedly, wanting to say something but stopping herself. In the end, she just nodded.
Xu Mengyao gently patted Grandma Huang's arm and said soothingly, "Grandma, put it away first. Let's go out and continue watching TV. There are still many good days ahead for our family."
That night, the Huang family kept the TV on until after nine o'clock, when the neighbors reluctantly left. The news about the Huang family spread quickly throughout the village, as if it had wings.
"Have you heard? The Huang family has a new TV and a washing machine!"
"Yes, yes, the TV is in color! I heard that the washing machine washes clothes very quickly and spins them dry."
"Tsk tsk, the Huang family is going to be rich! I heard that color TV is 18 inches! This is the first time we've seen such a big TV in our village!"
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