"It's okay. I'm here." Gu Dong gently held Ai Cao's hand.
He comforted her with his eyes.
It was no wonder that Ai Cao was afraid of Ai Ershun.
This person was truly different from the others.
It had only been a little more than a month since Gu Dong was injured.
Ai Ershun had changed a lot.
In the past, he gave people the impression that he was the second son of the Ai family, who was thin and tall and wore patched clothes. He usually pursed his lips and did not like to talk.
But now? Ai Ershun was wearing a navy blue suit jacket. He was tall and thin and looked very straight.
His hair looked like it had been professionally fixed.
He looked very energetic. Although the smile on his face did not reach his eyes when he spoke, he did not have the alienation and indifference that he usually had in the past.
"Captain, Grandma, Third Master, Fifth Uncle." Ai Ershun walked from the back of the crowd to the front.
He first politely greeted a few of the more senior elders present. Then, he looked at Gu Dong and said, "You've recovered and come back. Is your body okay?"
"Brother, second brother,
Why are you talking so much? It's good that his brother, the landlord's son, is dead! "Ai Yaozong rolled his eyes.
He grinned and said disdainfully.
"What are you talking about!" Ai Ershun raised his hand and made a gesture to slap Ai Yaozong.
However, he swayed in the end.
Ai Yaozong tilted his body and dodged.
"Hahaha,
Second brother, why are you hitting me? What did I say wrong?
Oh right, even if he's going to die, he has to give us the money to save his life first, right? I've seen that supply and demand cooperative's bean paste pastries a few times, but our mother won't buy them. Hey, I'll help you get 100 yuan. If you want to give me bean paste pastries, I want half a catty. No! I want half a catty! "
Ai Yaozong's words were like a machine gun. He did not care about the situation and said whatever came to his mind. With his style, everyone in the courtyard, except for himself, even Old Madam Ai, who was usually spoiled, felt that he was not presentable.
However, Old Mrs. Ai did not intend to discipline her little grandson. Instead, she was thinking about how to talk about her daughter-in-law when she went back. Why didn't she buy bean paste cakes for her grandson? If his mother had bought it for him, he wouldn't be so greedy now.
"Brother Ershun, I'll remember you saving me for the rest of my life, but my family really doesn't have that much money. We're from the same village, and you know my family's situation. I just came back from the hospital, and I'm already in debt. I really don't have any money left. But Brother Ershun, if you really want money to repay this favor, I'll sell everything I have to get it for you, but 100 yuan is really too much. "
Gu Dong frowned and acted pitiful with a sad face. However, the others who saw this felt that his family was really pitiful.
It was already bad enough that he had to be hospitalized and take medicine for his injuries. Now, he had to extort money from the Ai family.
Human nature was really complicated sometimes. Many people thought that you could live well, but you couldn't live better than me. However, if you were much more miserable than me, even if I didn't live well, I could still feel superior for no reason.
The villagers in the courtyard now felt the former way of thinking about the Ai family, and the latter way of thinking about the Gu family. Although the 100 yuan from the Gu family had nothing to do with them, they still felt that it was wrong for the Ai family to be able to get a huge sum of 100 yuan so easily. There were also people who sympathized with Gu Dong. They felt that he was really pitiful. He owed a lot of money and still had to give money to the Ai family.
No matter what the people present thought in their hearts, there was a lot of noise and discussion. In short, there were not many things that were beneficial to the Ai family.
If it was in the past, Ai Ershun would definitely be able to get his hands on money. It was more important than any empty reputation. However, he had other thoughts now.
He was now working for the Township Reform Committee and was not an official employee. He wanted a good reputation. With a good reputation, when he became an official employee in the future, his salary and other income would definitely be more than 100 yuan.
People had to look at the long term. Therefore, he could not ruin the Ai family's reputation in the village because of his younger brother's Yaozong.
Ai Ershun looked at Gu Dong and then looked at the Ai Cao beside Gu Dong. He said with a kind face, "Don't listen to Yaozong's nonsense. When I saved you back then, I didn't think of anything in return. However, since you want to pay, I feel that 100 yuan is too much. 50 yuan can be considered as a token of my sincerity. This way, you won't be put in a difficult position and people won't say that you're ungrateful."
No one expected Ai Ershun to say something like this. He actually took the initiative to lower the price. Moreover, his words implied that he was thinking for Gu Dong's sake.
"This kid's personality changed?"
"Yo! Benevolent and righteous! "
"A life is worth more than this amount of money, right?"
"Wow, this kid is much better than his two brothers."
… …
Human nature was so complicated. Just a moment ago, they were still spitting on each other, but in the blink of an eye, they were back to square one.
"Second Brother, you …"
"Yaozong!"
This time, there was no need for Ai Ershun to do anything. Old Lady Ai directly pulled her youngest grandson, who had a look of surprise, indignation, and anger on his face. After all, where was the age gap? The bridge that he walked on was more than the rice that some of the younger generation ate. Her second grandson's behavior instantly changed the direction of the wind in the courtyard. Her mind instantly cleared up a little.
If Old Ershun became an official in the village government in the future and had a firm foothold, then her youngest and eldest grandson would also have a good life. Perhaps they would also be able to enter the government in the future and get a position. Hmph, these little bastards, just wait. When her grandson entered the government, it would be a waste of time to settle accounts with these unkind and righteous people.
Old Lady Ai couldn't hold back her youngest grandson, who was like a calf, by herself. While comforting him, she gestured to her eldest grandson, "Yaozong, don't move. You'll have enough to eat. When we go back later, I'll give you money to buy bean paste cake! Da Bao! Come here and hold your younger brother! "
Now, the courtyard was divided into three groups. Those who were watching the show and those who were setting it up. Now, both sides had their own ideas.
Gu Dong wanted to use this matter to pay money to sever the relationship between the two families. The Ai family wanted to get money and benefits at the same time to leave a good reputation.
"Okay!" Gu Dong's face was sullen. Even though Ai Ershun cut the amount of money by half, he still didn't smile at all. "Since Second Brother has said so, even if the family is in trouble, I can't be thick-skinned and ask for anything else."
He definitely had to pay money. Originally, Gu Dong had expected to pay around a hundred yuan. He didn't expect Ai Ershun to be so easy to talk to. He couldn't help but look at him a few more times.
At this time, Ai Ershun stared at Ai Cao again. It seemed like he had no choice but to ask for money just now. He explained, "Cao 'er, don't blame Second Brother. I know that your family is in trouble right now. Also, you should have heard that Second Brother wants to prepare a wedding gift. Right now, our Ai family needs money, so Second Brother won't ask for a hundred yuan. Giving you fifty yuan is considered helping the family."
Although the villagers tacitly agreed that a married daughter was like spilled water, as long as she got married, she would belong to the family. When she returned to her maternal home, she would only be a guest. However, if the son or grandson of the family needed it, the daughter should still help. Moreover, it was best if the daughter did her best to contribute to the family's' seedlings'.
The reason was very simple. The son and grandson were carrying on the family line, so it was natural for the daughter to contribute to the son and grandson. Moreover, Ai Cao was an adopted daughter of the Ai family. Now that her older brother was getting married, even if there was no need to repay his kindness, in the eyes of many villagers, it was natural for her to pay the money.
There were respected elders in the village in the courtyard, and the brigade leader was also present. Soon, the two families reached an agreement.
The Gu family gave the Ai family the rice and flour in the courtyard and kept a portion of coarse grain for themselves to pass the winter. Then, they gave the Ai family fifty yuan. Then, the two families would coexist peacefully and no longer cause trouble.
At this point, the onlookers were very satisfied with this outcome. They felt that it was a good deal for both sides. The Gu family, on the other hand, was a little depressed because the Ai family needed cash. Gu Dong had no choice but to borrow money on the spot. Some villagers who sympathized with him gritted their teeth and lent him one or two yuan.
The happiest person in the Ai family was Ai Yaozong. This was because when the money was in Ai Ershun's hands, he rushed forward to snatch it. Although his second brother dodged in the end, under the pressure of Old Madam Ai, Ai Ershun still respectfully gave him fifty yuan in front of everyone.
After sending away the onlookers in the village, the courtyard returned to silence. Grandpa Gu's sigh was particularly ear-piercing.
"Sigh, it's all my fault." The old man was already so old, but he still took the blame for everything that happened to him. "If it wasn't for Grandpa …"
He felt that he was the one who dragged his grandson and the others down.
"Grandpa, it's okay. We don't blame you. It's good that we gave them the money and settled this matter. In the future, they won't come and cause trouble for us so easily. We can also live in peace." Gu Dong comforted his grandfather.
The Ai Cao entered the kitchen and brought out a bowl of hot water for Grandpa Gu. "Grandpa, it's so cold. Don't be angry over this matter. It's not worth it."
"Grandpa knows. Just treat this as using money to pay for the disaster. But now, winter is coming. There's only so much food at home. How are you and Dongzi going to celebrate the New Year? Not to mention enduring until next spring, even if you eat porridge all day, you won't be able to last until the end of the year!"
In the end, the old man was still worried about the food rations of his grandson and granddaughter-in-law. He was afraid that the family would really run out of food and the two of them wouldn't be able to survive this winter.
"A living person can suffocate to death!" Gu Dong glanced at the open courtyard door and pulled the old man to sit down in the central room. Then, he whispered in his ear, "Your grandson isn't that stupid to let a rat take away all the family's property."
Grandpa Gu raised his hand and quickly put the bowl of water back on the square table. He looked at Gu Dong with a face full of surprise, wondering what he meant by that.
"I've been hospitalized for so long. These days, many people have come to the hospital to visit this' hero 'of mine. Did you really think that I only received these things? Hehe, it's more than that! "Gu Dong smiled with a hint of treachery.
After two seconds, the old man slapped his thigh and smiled like a chrysanthemum. "Good, good! As expected of my, Gu Huairen's, grandson! You know how to hold back. You've grown up. You've really grown up! "
"Hehe, I still have some things in a friend's house in the county. I'm afraid that if I bring back too much at once, it'll attract attention." If the family's food was taken away by the Ai family, the Ai Cao would definitely take food from Zhuangzi to get through the winter. However, there had to be a reason. He had given Grandpa Gu a reason.
"Yes, you did the right thing! The people in the village might call you a hero on the surface, but if you're really living better than them, they'll definitely think of some dirty tricks behind your back. With our family's background, it's better to keep a low profile. "
At noon, the three of them ate sorghum noodles and sorghum bread made by the Ai Cao along with hot and sour vegetable and egg soup. Although it wasn't fine white flour, the amount was sufficient. Moreover, it was freshly cooked. In this cold November, eating it really made people feel comfortable.
"Ai Cao, although there's still food, you have to be careful when you cook. By the spring of next year, the family mustn't run out of food. It's okay to eat less in the future. Just bring the eggs from Dongzi." No matter how much food there was, it couldn't stop people from eating freely. Grandpa Gu felt that even if there was food stored outside, there wouldn't be much left. Therefore, he left the good things for his grandson to nourish his body. The two of them should save as much as possible. After all, there was still a long way to go.
"Okay, I understand, Grandpa." The Ai Cao who was cleaning up the dishes heard Grandpa Gu's words and raised his head to show that he had heard it.
"It's okay. Our family's food will definitely be enough, Grandpa. Outside … "Gu Dong wanted to help the Ai Cao say a few words. He couldn't eat his wife's food and let his wife be criticized. However, he was stopped by the Ai Cao's gaze. Then, he said unhappily, "I'll help you!" He lowered his head and quickly helped the Ai Cao to clean up the dishes and take them to the kitchen.
"Why didn't you let me speak just now?" As soon as he entered the kitchen and saw that his grandfather couldn't see him, Gu Dong said what he was unhappy about.
"Grandpa is used to being thrifty. If you tell him, he'll only worry. In the future, as long as the family doesn't lack food, he won't say anything." Grandpa Gu was old. If he could comply with the Ai Cao, he would be willing to listen to him. Moreover, it was only good words.
"Okay, you're filial!" Gu Dong curled his lips. However, he turned around and said with a smile, "My wife is the best!"
"Go to hell! Don't move! "
"Hahaha, I'll move!" Gu Dong mischievously poked the Ai Cao.
The two of them played around in the kitchen. Their laughter spread to the living room. The corners of Grandpa Gu's mouth couldn't help but curl up.
After eating coarse grain for two days, Gu Dong saw that the leftover grain could last them for another five to six days. He decided to bring Mugwort to the county town as soon as possible to exchange the beans, grains, and corn in her hands for some refined grains. Then, he would see if he could exchange them for some meat.
However, when Gu Dong left the next day, it started to snow when he woke up in the morning.
"It's snowing!" The Ai Cao leaned against the window and pointed outside excitedly to Gu Dong.
"No wonder. The wind was so strong yesterday. Come back quickly. Don't catch a cold!" As he said that, he reached out and pulled the Ai Cao, who was watching with great interest, back into the warm quilt.
"I'm not cold. I want to get up!" Another year of winter came. This was the first snow of the year. The Ai Cao was very excited now.
"Okay, okay, okay! I'll get up for you! " Gu Dong had nothing to do because it was snowing. He originally wanted to lie in the warm quilt with his wife. However, he and the quilt were not as tempting as the snow. His little fool liked the outside world more.
The Ai Cao woke up. There was one less person in the quilt. Gu Dong also woke up. Wearing the newly made cotton-padded clothes this year, Gu Dong felt like a ball. He was very happy to see the mugwort jumping around. He secretly went out and made a snowball. He pretended to put it on the Ai Cao's neck.
"Ah! Cold! No! Go away! Ah, haha, haha! "Gu Dong didn't put it in. Instead, the Ai Cao grabbed a handful of snow and threw it directly at Gu Dong.
"Yo! Good job, little girl! "Gu Dong raised his hand and hit the Ai Cao's back with the small snowball.
The snowball was very small and didn't weigh much. However, the two of them played back and forth happily. The courtyard was full of chatter. Their home seemed warm and loving in the cold wind.
After playing a snowball fight, Gu Dong showed off to the Ai Cao: "This is a little little. If you have more snowballs, I'll make a snowman for you!"
The snow on the ground was now two centimeters thick. Although it was still snowing, Gu Dong felt that the snow wouldn't get bigger. It should stop soon.
"You know how to?" The Ai Cao's watery eyes stared at Gu Dong when she heard his words.
"Of course. Isn't it just a snowman? It's very simple! When it snows heavily, I'll make one for you in the courtyard! "
"Okay! But I want two! "The Ai Cao pulled his arm excitedly.
"Okay! Okay! I'll listen to you. I'll make as many as you want! " Gu Dong looked at the Ai Cao imitating him like a child. He also became more active and showed the behavior of a child his age.
Just as Gu Dong expected, the first snow of winter didn't fall for long. After clearing the snow in the courtyard, the Ai Cao prepared breakfast. Before the two of them finished eating, the snowflakes had stopped.
"You stay in the house. I'll sweep the courtyard again." Because the snow didn't stop when they were sweeping the courtyard, there was still a thin layer of snow in the courtyard.
"I'll help you!"
"No need. I'll finish in two minutes!" Gu Dong didn't let the Ai Cao go out. Even though they were wearing winter clothes, it was still cold outside. There was a brazier in the house to warm them up.
Not long after school, Fu Fang and Tian Yuanyuan came to play with the Ai Cao. The three girls were chatting around the brazier in the house.
Originally, the Ai Cao and Gu Dong planned to visit them the day after they came back from the hospital. However, they didn't expect that the Ai family incident would happen. Therefore, the two of them waited for two days before they came. When they came, they were carrying something in their hands. It was pastries and mountain products.
"Why are you still carrying things when you're here?" The Ai Cao looked at the small bags they put on the table and said.
"Hey, these aren't for you. They're for Gu Dong. They're for Gu Dong." Fu Fang said with a smile.
"They're not expensive. Most of them are mountain products. There are wood ears and mushrooms. There's also a handful of jujubes. It's a token of our appreciation." Tian Yuanyuan explained.
"How are you guys now? Is everyone okay? Why don't I see Duan Xue? " There were three girls in total. Now that two of them were here, the Ai Cao was a little curious. Why didn't Duan Xue see her?
"She? Hahaha. She went to town to deliver a letter. She doesn't have time to come here for the time being! Hey, I haven't seen you for a month. You've changed so much. You're so much prettier! "Fu Fang stared at the Ai Cao's face with a smile.
"Yes. It's only been a month. You don't look like yourself anymore." Tian Yuanyuan felt that there was an indescribable change in the Ai Cao. Not only did her face become fairer, but her facial features also became more beautiful. Her temperament also seemed to have changed.
"No, nothing. Maybe it's because I was recuperating with Gu Dong when I was living in the city. I ate better and gained weight!" The Ai Cao said a little awkwardly. She quickly changed the topic: "By the way, I heard what you said just now. Did something happen to Duan Xue?" She asked Fu Fang with a face full of gossip.
"Hey, you don't know. Duan Xue just received a letter from a high school classmate the day before yesterday. She replied to her letter today. Hehe. It's a male classmate!"
"Not all of them. They are also replying to letters from home." Tian Yuanyuan explained for Duan Xue.
When it came to replying to letters from home, even Fu Fang's smile disappeared by half.
For the educated youths, they had all left their hometown. It was already November, and the New Year was not far away. They had been living in the countryside for half a year. How could they not miss home?
"She received a letter from home a while ago. It seems that her mother was sick and hospitalized. Sigh." Fu Fang sighed. She also missed home.
"What are you sighing for? Cheer up. Aren't you getting married next month? Cheer up. Also, I heard that you can go home to visit your family, right? "The Ai Cao patted Fu Fang's hand.
"There is a chance that they won't, but the possibility is not high. Qi Fang is already making preparations. She has been going to Captain's house a lot these days. But I'm not going back. I'm getting married. I'm not going back!" Fu Fang said in the end.
"Don't be unhappy. After you get married, you can go back together. Your parents will definitely miss your three children." Tian Yuanyuan comforted her.
Fu Fang was the eldest in the family. She had a younger brother and sister. When she decided to marry Fu Jiu, she wrote a letter to her family in advance. However, her family only asked about the man's family situation. In the end, they said that it was up to her whether she wanted to marry or not. After all, she was already an adult. She should make her own decision about her marriage.
When she received the letter, Fu Fang was actually a little nervous. She originally thought that her parents would ask about her marriage. She also secretly thought about how to persuade them if they didn't agree to her marrying Fu Jiu. However, she didn't expect that they didn't object. They only said that it was up to her.
"I'm not going because I'm getting married. I'll spend my first New Year at Fu Jiu's house. What about you? Yuanyuan, why aren't you going back? "Fu Fang asked Tian Yuanyuan curiously. Even Cao Aiguo, who was getting married in the middle of this month, was trying to find a way to go back. However, Tian Yuanyuan didn't seem to have any intention of going back.
"I'm not going back. My family said that I have to pay for the bus ticket back and forth. It's better to save some money to buy New Year's goods and have a good New Year." Tian Yuanyuan looked down at her hands and said with a lonely expression.
Although her family was in the city, they had a total of eight children. She was the fifth child. She had two older brothers and two older sisters. She also had two younger brothers and one younger sister. Her family's financial situation wasn't good. Moreover, she was stuck in the middle and wasn't favored at home.
"This … It's good that you don't go back. We'll give you more gifts for New Year's. You should be able to have a good New Year." Fu Fang comforted her.
Every family had their own difficulties. In this era, there were many children who couldn't survive after being born. Therefore, for those who could survive, most of them were given a mouthful of food. In fact, there were even more who didn't have the conditions to do so.
Ai Cao saw that everyone was unhappy when the topic of going back home was brought up. He quickly found another topic. "By the way, I saw some scarves in the city. They looked very thick. Because there were some small flaws, I didn't want a ticket. In order to thank you for your help when Gu Dong was sick, I bought a few back. I hope you don't mind. "
After saying that, Ai Cao stood up and went into the house to get the scarves that he had prepared. Fu Fang and Tian Yuanyuan were embarrassed.
"Why are you spending so much money? Your family needs money right now. We're all friends. It's only right that we help." Fu Fang waved his hand and didn't let Ai Cao take it.
"That's right. I didn't help much. If you don't want to give it to us, you can keep it for yourselves. It's a bit cold this winter." Tian Yuanyuan didn't know if it was because she was used to living in the city and it was her first year in the countryside, so she felt extra cold.
"It's okay. It's just a small token of my appreciation. I bought it a long time ago. But let's talk about the fact that someone really didn't want a ticket and bought it as a defective product. I just added a little. I hope you don't mind." Ai Cao took out a dark gray but very clean cloth bag and sat back in his original position. Then he opened it.
"Here, look. It's these scarves. I'm planning to give one each to the two of you and Duan Xue. There are also scarves for Fu Jiu and Fu Qiang. They're all here now. Fu Fang, you can help Fu Jiu choose one so that you can match it."
"Wow, this material is not bad. It's very thick! Hey, you said it's a defective product. How come I can't find a defective product? " Fu Fang looked left and right at the scarf with the green willow branch embroidered on it. She couldn't stop smiling.
"Do you see that small willow branch? The previous one had a bit of oil stain. I used other threads to embroider the willow branch to cover it." Ai Cao pointed at the embroidery and said to the two of them, "Also, this scarf here and here. These scarves originally didn't have any embroidery. The embroidery you see now was to cover up the original oil stain. I found other threads to embroider it on."
Ai Cao was very embarrassed when he finished speaking. However, Fu Fang and Tian Yuanyuan didn't mind at all.
"Wow, your hands are so skillful! Ai Cao, your stitches are better than the master tailors I've seen in the tailor shop. "Tian Yuanyuan touched the embroidery of a rich peony and was a little reluctant to put it down.
"No, it's just for fun." Ai Cao waved his hands modestly. However, he was very happy and beaming with joy.
The three of them chatted for a long time. When it was almost time for lunch, the two of them happily hugged the scarves in their arms and carried them back home.
Grandpa Gu didn't eat with them, so there were only Ai Cao and Gu Dong at home. Therefore, when the door was closed, Ai Cao didn't hesitate to take out good things.
"What else do you want to eat? Stewed fish with vegetables, scrambled eggs, or steamed rice. Is that okay?" Ai Cao asked Gu Dong, who was lying on the bed with his legs crossed and leisurely reading ghost stories.
"Okay! I'll eat whatever you make! "Gu Dong put away the books and stuffed them under the pillow as he replied to Ai Cao.
He had bought these books with money when he was wandering around the city. These miscellaneous books weren't worth much. They were all bought by the catty. You could buy a few books with just one corner. Gu Dong didn't like reading books. He didn't like reading those tasteless textbooks. However, he was quite interested in these ghost stories. Therefore, Ai Cao hid half a basket of "miscellaneous books" in Zhuangzi for him.
When she was bored, Gu Dong would read them. Sometimes, she would read them as well. After reading one or two books, she also found them quite interesting.
Although the ghost stories were attractive, Gu Dong didn't slack off when it was time to work. When he saw Ai Cao preparing the meal, he hurried over to help. When he was around, Ai Cao didn't need to do the work herself.
When they were cooking, the two of them worked together in the kitchen and talked about the family traditions in the village.
"I heard that the courtyard where Zhang Xianglan got married has been found. It's the courtyard where Third Brother's Grandpa used to live. Do you still remember? The old house at the back of the mountain? "Ai Cao asked Gu Dong.
"Yes, after Third Brother's Grandpa passed away, no one lived in that courtyard for five or six years. The courtyard is quite old. But this way, Zhang Xianglan's father is very kind. Where can he find a new courtyard for her in such a short period of time? He doesn't even have enough time to build a new house! " Gu Dong actually didn't care about the fact that Zhang Xianglan and Cao Aiguo had gotten into a fight within such a short period of time.
"If a man really likes her, he can just go to her house and ask for her hand in marriage. But he got her pregnant and now he's talking about getting married. Why does he look so reluctant? Who is he putting on an act for? I think all the books he's read have gone down the drain! "
Gu Dong had a small piece of firewood in his mouth. He tilted his head and spoke with disdain towards Cao Aiguo.
"Sigh, I can't say for sure. He is indeed not a responsible man. But if Zhang Xianglan doesn't agree, they can't do anything about it." One must have self-respect. If one didn't love himself, how could others respect him?
"Yes, wife, you're right!" Gu Dong stared at Ai Cao and said loudly. In the hospital, he often touched his wife, but he was always pushed away by Ai Cao in the end.
Although they were in a single room in the hospital, his wife still told him to be careful in public.
In fact, she didn't know that Gu Dong cared about her health the most. He was afraid that she didn't recover well. Otherwise, with her small strength, she wouldn't be able to resist Gu Dong's strength.
Two days after the snow melted, Gu Dong went to the city. Originally, he was just there to cover for Ai Cao to take Dongzi out. He didn't expect to find a source of income.
"This year's winter is colder than last year. Many people don't have enough firewood. In the past, 500 grams of firewood cost at most 1 cent. Now, the price has increased to 1.5 cents. Didn't you say that your village is next to the mountains? You can find a car to deliver firewood to us. Zhuang Yan's house has a small back door that is locked all year round. Come early and we can deliver the firewood from there to Zhuang Yan's yard. As long as it's not too bad, I'll take your firewood for 2 cents. What do you think? "
In Jiangyuan, other than going to the paper factory to paste paper boxes, he was also running around on the streets. He knew a lot about the current situation and was well-informed. He knew that the price of firewood would increase this year.
"Okay! How much do you want? " Even if it was 500 grams of firewood, there were a lot of withered branches in the old forests in the mountains. It was a business that didn't cost money other than effort.
"You can send 500 grams first. I want to test the water and see how it sells." Although the black market was relatively lax now, and the buying and selling of firewood was not so strict, he had never really done it before. He wanted to give it a try first. 500 grams was not a lot. Even if the black market could not sell it, he could sell it to his neighbors.
"Okay, then I'll go home and think about how to send it. I should be able to send it over the day after tomorrow." 500 grams! If it was less, Gu Dong could still carry it in a wicker basket or borrow a cart. But 500 grams was too much. He estimated that not only would he need to borrow a cart, but he would also need to find a donkey from the team.
"You must come early in the morning! It's best to come when it's dark. It won't be good if people see you in the morning. " Jiang Yuan reminded Gu Dong: "Come early. When the sun rises, you can go back with an empty cart. Otherwise, it won't be good if you are caught."
"Don't worry. I will definitely not come when it's too eye-catching!" Gu Dong was more cautious than Jiang Yuan because of his background.
On the way back, Gu Dong and the Ai Cao discussed what to do. First of all, he did not have a cart or a donkey at home. He had to borrow both. Secondly, the firewood at the back of the mountain could be collected by anyone. It was not a problem to use as much firewood as they wanted. But if they really sold the entire cart, the villagers would be jealous of them. They could casually use the excuse of stealing the village's property to torment Gu Dong for a whole winter.
"It's best if you can bring Fu Qiang along. This way, you will have a cart and a donkey. Even if the villagers know about this, the team leader will definitely have scruples and won't dare to say anything." The Ai Cao suggested to Gu Dong.
"It's good to look for Fu Qiang, but it's not good to look for Fu Qiang directly through Fu Jiu." When he was recuperating, Fu Jiu had helped them a lot. Now that they had a way to make money, it was not right for them to look for Fu Qiang and not Fu Jiu.
"Then let's bring Fu Jiu along. Although we have to share the money with one more person, we will still need one more person to work. Maybe Fu Jiu is not free. Isn't he getting married next month? He should have started to prepare now." The Ai Cao knew that Zhuangzi did not lack food, so he was not worried. Also, he felt that it was not worth it to hurt their friendship for a few RMB.
"Okay. Let's call Fu Jiu along. Maybe there will be more than one cart." Gu Dong quickly decided to go back to look for Fu Jiu. Then, the two of them will look for Fu Qiang together.
It was about 500 kg, and they could earn about 20 RMB. Each person could get more than 3 RMB. In winter, there was no farm work, and they had nothing to do. 3 RMB was already a lot.
Also, Fu Jiu was getting married soon, and money was needed everywhere. That was why Gu Dong's eyes lit up when he told Fu Jiu about this.
"Good job, Dongzi. You gave me this money at the right time. If I don't get married, I won't know how expensive it is to get married!" Fu Fang did not ask for much, but he still wanted to get the Fu Jiu for Fu Fang. He did not want Fu Fang to suffer any grievances.
"Sigh … I don't have much RMB left." Gu Dong rubbed his nose and felt a little guilty. Actually, the Ai Cao had money. But this money could be said to be exchanged with his own food in Jiang Yuan. But in Fu Jiu, there was no reason for him to give this money. Furthermore, he had just been hospitalized and had to give money to the Ai family. Being poor should be his family's true colors.
"No matter how small a mosquito's leg is, it's still meat. It's okay. Also, there are quite a few RMB here. It's enough to buy a lot of things."
With Fu Jiu around, it was easier to find Fu Qiang. But Fu Qiang did not want to go with them. This was because Gu Dong was the one who found this way. His family was short of money, and Fu Jiu also needed money for his wedding.
"You can use the cart and donkey, but I will not go with you." Without the money, he would not miss the Fu family's New Year. But to Gu Dong and his family, it was a different matter.
Although Fu Qiang wanted to help them, the rest of the Fu family did not think the same way. They discussed this matter in the central room of Fu Qiang's house. The Brigade Leader and Fu Qiang's mother were at home.
When Fu Qiang's mother heard that her son wanted to reject the money, she was a little anxious. She wanted to say something, but the Brigade Leader coughed and stopped her.
The Brigade Leader looked at his wife and cleared his throat. He knocked on his pipe and said slowly: "They are kind and treat you like a brother. Why don't you do it? You don't like them. Idiot! "
He was from the countryside and had suffered a lot. Usually, when he saw wheat grains in the field, he would pick them up one by one. When he ate, he would even pick up peanuts that fell on the table. Not to mention three yuan, he would not spend more than three cents if he could. That was why he scolded his son for being stupid.
Because of Fu Qiang's relationship, not only the cart and donkey were easy to get, but they could also get ropes and tools from the Brigade Leader's storeroom. This was because the Brigade Leader had the keys to the storeroom. The donkey and cart were directly at their house.
The next day, the three of them busied themselves for the entire morning on the mountain. They only managed to bundle up about 500 KG of firewood.
"Put it here and use some straw to block it. We will come back tomorrow morning to pull it!" Gu Dong said as he helped Fu Jiu unload the firewood from his shoulders.
"Well, let's just leave it here. It's a cold day, and this place is remote. There shouldn't be many people coming here." Fu Qiang looked around. It was winter, and the mountain was very desolate. Even living things were rare.
The first cart of firewood was sent to Jiang Yuan in the middle of the night. After unloading the firewood, Jiang Yuan directly pulled them into their house to drink a pot of soup before sending them off. Before they left, they promised Gu Dong that if the firewood sold well, he would also ask someone to send them a message saying that their relatives in the city needed help.
Perhaps it was because the winter was really cold, Jiang Yuan's firewood was very popular. It was sold out in less than three days. Moreover, there were even more people who wanted to buy firewood. There were even some rich people who directly bought a few hundred KG of firewood.
There was a limited supply of coal in the city. Most people did not have enough to use, so they could only use firewood to make up for the cold weather.
Therefore, in the next few days, Gu Dong and the rest delivered another six to seven carts of firewood. Only then did they stop. From start to finish, they earned a total of 156 RMB and 28 RMB.
When the total amount was calculated, even Fu Qiang who did not pay much attention at the beginning was stunned. The three of them could get 50 RMB each. This was a huge sum of money. It was almost equivalent to half a year's income for some people. If he had really rejected him, then … …
Fu Qiang suddenly felt that he was still the father. He was much worse than his father.
In the end, when it was time to split the money, Fu Qiang took the initiative to take 50 RMB and said that they would split the rest between themselves. But Fu Jiu was not willing to ask for more.
"50 RMB is enough. Without Dongzi's connections, let alone 50 RMB, we can't even get 5 RMB. So I also took 50 RMB. If it wasn't for the urgent need for money for the wedding, I would feel embarrassed to only give a small change."
The three of them split the money and had a drink at Gu Dong's house. This was considered a real farewell.
Time passed quickly. Soon, it was the day of Zhang Xianglan and Cao Aiguo's wedding ceremony. They were all from the same village. There were not many people who wanted to receive gifts from their neighbors. They only received 50 RMB from Sanmao. Then, on the day of the Zhang family's big day, the families who received the gifts went over to eat alone.
On the day of the ceremony, Gu Dong and Ai Cao both went to watch the fun. However, neither of them was willing to stay for the banquet. Although there was wine and meat, the banquet was held in the open air. The temperature had almost dropped to zero degrees Celsius, and the dishes would turn cold soon after they arrived. Eating a single bite was not enough to make up for the suffering.
Ai Cao felt that it was not worth it. She had everything she wanted to eat in her Zhuangzi. So, she did not want to eat. Gu Dong was spoiled by Ai Cao. If it was in the past, being cold was nothing. It was more practical to be able to eat. But now, he could even chew on a bone in front of a brazier at home. He was not willing to suffer from the cold.
More importantly, in the past, no one in the village invited him to their weddings. But after he came back injured and became a hero, the villagers became more enthusiastic about him. Gu Dong did not want to join in the fun. Also, when he got married, he was too shabby. On this kind of occasion, when the old men gathered together, they would often brag about their wedding. He did not want others to talk about him and Ai Cao.
"Then what should we do? If we don't leave it to others, there will be gossip. "Ai Cao now knew how to get along with the neighbors in the village.
"Let Grandpa come. The old man has prepared three tables. They are all arranged in the east wing. I just saw that there are braziers inside."
Although Gu Dong would send food and meat to Grandpa every now and then, Grandpa did not lack food. But Grandpa should be very happy to sit and drink with the old men in the village.
After settling Grandpa, the two of them went back home hand in hand. Gu Dong asked Ai Cao to catch a chicken. They were going to stew chicken today! If the whole village was filled with the smell of meat, they would still be willing to eat radishes.
"Here, eat more!" When a big pot of chicken was placed on the table, Gu Dong gave Ai Cao a fat chicken leg. He also handed over a steaming hot mixed grain bun.
"You eat it. You eat it yourself. I don't eat this. I will take it myself!" In the past, when she was poor and hungry, Ai Cao felt very happy to be able to eat meat. Now that the conditions have improved, some of her habits from her previous life slowly came back.
"I don't know who you learned from. You don't want the chicken leg with meat. You insist on eating the chicken wings without meat. You don't know how to enjoy the good food!" Gu Dong laughed at her.
"Yes, yes, yes. I don't know how to enjoy the good food. So, you can have the chicken leg. I will eat the chicken wings!" Although the meat was stewed very soft and fragrant, Ai Cao still felt that the chicken leg was not as delicious as the chicken wings.
The young couple chatted while eating. They were very satisfied.
"By the way, I saw a radio in their house today. Didn't we say we were going to buy one last time? We have to wait. Our family is very poor now, so we have to wait until next spring. Our family is in a hurry to pay off the debt! "When talking about being poor, Gu Dong waved the chicken leg in his hand with a smirk.
"It doesn't matter. We are not in a hurry to use it." Ai Cao did not care about this matter very much. It was very easy to talk about it. "But I didn't expect that she could really get this thing. I thought a bicycle was enough to make Zhang Kuan's heart ache."
Previously, when Zhang Xianglan got married, she wanted a bicycle. Her father, Zhang Kuan, did not want to buy her a bicycle. So, the father and daughter quarreled a lot about it. The whole village was in an uproar because of this.
"Hey, you don't know this. This radio was not bought for her at all. But she is quite capable to get it."
"What do you mean?" Ai Cao swallowed the food in her mouth and looked at Gu Dong with a puzzled expression.
"You have heard that Zhang Kuan and He Yanmei are having an affair, right?" Gu Dong blurted out. After he finished speaking, he felt that his wife was still young and it was not good to discuss this matter with her.
"I have heard of it!" Ai Cao's face was full of gossip. After staying with the women in the village for a long time, sometimes even if you asked specifically, your ears would be full of "fresh news".
Seeing that his wife wanted him to continue talking, Gu Dong took a bite of the pancake and suppressed the uneasiness in his heart. Suddenly, his interest was aroused again.
"He Yanmei is pregnant. She is already eight months pregnant. Zhang Kuan found someone to take a look and said that this baby is a son. It seems that Zhang Kuan promised He Yanmei that if she was pregnant with a son, he would buy her a radio. So when he couldn't find one last month, Zhang Kuan found a way to get one and sent it over. "
"Then why did he appear at the wedding today? How did he gain face?"
"No!" Gu Dong glanced at the courtyard. When he saw that there was no one in front of the courtyard door, he continued, "Do you think that Zhang Kuan's wife knows about He Yanmei and Zhang Kuan's affair?"
Ai Cao looked at Gu Dong in disbelief.
"Unbelievable? Hey, actually, this is nothing. They have shared a bed for 20 years. How could she not know about her husband's situation? No, she knows about Zhang Kuan's affairs, but what can she do even if she makes a fuss? She can't have another child. Moreover, she doesn't care about Zhang Kuan's affairs outside. Zhang Kuan more or less feels guilty in his heart. He still cares about his wife and daughter, so he will make do with the rest of his life. "
Sure enough, harmonious and beautiful families were few and far between. Even though Accountant Zhang was usually a little harsh and treated his wife well, only the couple involved in the marriage could understand the good and bad days behind the scenes of the marriage.
"Don't think too much. They both have their own motives. Neither of them will lose out. His Yanmei is not the only one who knows about this. This time, Zhang Xianglan also knows that He Yanmei is pregnant. So when they got married, she tried her best to ask for something. She threatened He Yanmei if his father didn't give her anything. Anyway, the weather is so cold now. It's very common for pregnant women who are seven or eight months pregnant to have an accident. "
"Does she dare? Will Zhang Kuan be threatened by her? "Ai Cao asked in surprise. She didn't expect that Zhang Xianglan, who usually looked a little shrewish, would do such a thing.
"People are forced to grow up. If her father really has a young son, he definitely won't leave her anything at home. So, she took advantage of the fact that her son hasn't come out yet. She can get a lot of things if she's ruthless. But it's a matter of life and death. If she really did it, she would send herself to prison. There's a high chance that she said something ruthless. But sometimes, it's not strange for a woman to do something crazy. Zhang Kuan doesn't dare to gamble on the possibility of a son he's been waiting for for so many years. Moreover, there's a tigress at home. "
"Zhang Xianglan's mother usually spoils her. She probably doesn't have Zhang Kuan in her heart. Her only hope is Zhang Xianglan." Ai Cao thought about the news about Zhang Xianglan and her daughter in the village. In this place where boys were highly valued, Zhang Xianglan's mother actually doted on her daughter.
"That's right. Zhang Xianglan's mother's thoughts are all on her daughter. If her daughter really dies because of a bastard, she'll definitely fight Zhang Kuan to the death. That's why Accountant Zhang would rather fork out the money than let anything happen to his son, whom he has never met, and anything bad happen to his family. "
Not only were there so many twists and turns, even an ordinary family of three in a small village had so many twists and turns. Ai Cao really felt that everything needed to be learned. In the future, when she lived in this village in this world, there were still many things she had to learn and pay attention to.
After Zhang Xianglan's wedding, Ai Cao studied at home. She planned to take the high school exam next year. Gu Dong, on the other hand, was called away by the village to work.
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