Return to the 1982 Staff Compound

Chapter 97 The power went out

Early on Tuesday morning, Qiu Jianjun and Chen Sumiang simply packed their luggage, and took Qiu Hongling with them to Chengnan Station to catch the early morning bus. There is only one train a day to and from Wucheng County and Jiangkou County. It departs from Wucheng County in the morning and arrives. After Jiangkou County, take a rest before driving back.

Chen Suniang entrusted all the household matters, big and small, to Qiu Huoming and her eldest sister.

Qiu Jianshe has no other talents, but he is very stubborn. He wrote down in a notebook all the promises made by Hu Weidong when he came to propose marriage. This time, he wants to go over the old accounts with his son-in-law one by one.

They are both elders, and since they are both talking about filial piety, they should just talk it out. If the fuss goes too far, they can ask the grandfather with the highest seniority to come out and calm the situation. Of course, this was just Chen Suniang's angry words, and there was no need to do this.

After all, she still hopes that the young couple can live a good life.

In the remaining days, Qiu Huoming and his two sisters tried all the restaurants nearby, and the younger sister was so happy that she didn't want to leave.

When I came back from school on Friday, I met Zhang Yougen at the intersection outside the compound. He was squatting on the curb smoking. His recovery ability was indeed strong, and the scars on his face were almost invisible.

"Brother Yougen! Are you okay?" Qiu Huoming hurriedly stopped the car and greeted him.

He grinned and said, "What can happen to me? It's just a small matter, but it caused a big uproar in the city."

"Are you getting out of school? I heard that you got first place in the exam?" Zhang Yougen put out his cigarette, looked up at him and asked.

"It's just luck. It's not the college entrance examination." Qiu Huoming said modestly.

He looked around and saw that there was no one here. Qiu Huoming coughed lightly and said, "Brother Yougen, I have a suggestion. Do you want to hear it?"

Zhang Yougen seemed to be in a good mood. He stood up and slapped Qiu Huoming on the shoulder, "Tell me about it."

"I have a classmate whose family has some connections. He said that next year there will be a severe crackdown on illegal activities." Qiu Huoming stared at Zhang Yougen with a serious expression.

"You've been fooled, kid. It's still next year. It's only a few months this year. How could such policy-related information be revealed so early... Tsk, you're still too naive."

Zhang Yougen turned around and walked towards the direction of the urban-rural junction in front. After walking a few steps, he suddenly stopped. Perhaps he felt that this had somewhat dampened Qiu Huoming's good intentions. He turned around and said, "Okay, I get it."

"Brother Yougen..." Qiu Huoming wanted to persuade him again, but Zhang Yougen had already taken long strides and walked away quickly.

Since his rebirth, Zhang Yougen has always been very good to him. He can feel that he really treats him like his younger brother. If possible, Qiu Huoming also wants to protect him. If he doesn't listen to his advice, he will go back and talk to Sister Hong.

Fortunately, there was still time. Qiu Huoming turned the car and slid towards the ramp at the entrance of the compound. The little yellow dog came to greet him, wagging its tail. Several children in the compound were playing in the open space, and the sounds of their laughter could be heard from far away.

Ever since he got the title of writer and won the first place in the exam, the well-informed residents of the compound became friendly to him.

It was already dark, and several families were shouting for their children to come home for dinner...

As soon as he reached the entrance of the alley, Qiu Huoming was stopped by someone. It was Master Chen, one of the richest families in the compound, and also the second family in the compound to buy a TV.

"Uncle Chen?"

"Huo Ming, I was just about to go to your house and it's a good coincidence that I met you. I came back from another place and brought some honey bee cakes with me. I'm afraid it would be wasted if I can't finish them, so you can take some back."

In his hand he held an oil-paper bag tied with a red string, with tiny oil stains seeping out of the bag.

"No need, Uncle Chen, please give it to your second son." The second son is Master Chen's youngest son. He is still young, less than 7 years old.

"He has it, take it, take it, I will be angry if you don't take it." Master Chen frowned.

"Okay, okay, then I'll take it. Thank you, Uncle Chen!" Qiu Huoming reached out and took the pastry.

"Let your Hongshuang have time to come to my house and watch TV. Xiaoyun has been talking about her today. Let's go, let's go home for dinner." After giving the gift, Uncle Chen felt relaxed. He turned around and walked out of the alley.

People in the compound are still very humane these days. Just like the last time Chen Suniang made dumplings, after cooking them, she sent a bowl to an old sister she met in the compound.

There are countless things like temporarily borrowing salt or jealousy.

Entering from the alley, Qiu Huoming saw that the light in his kitchen was on. His eldest sister seemed to be cooking, and his youngest sister was standing beside him, not sure whether she was helping or playing.

Qiu Huoming stood outside the kitchen window, holding up the cake in his hand and said, "Uncle Chen brought this from outside. It's honey bee cake. Would you like a piece?"

"Let's not eat it tonight. Save it for breakfast tomorrow." When Chen Suniang was not at home, the eldest sister became the main person in charge of housework. In the past two days, she had been eating out every day. Seeing her eldest brother spending money like water, she felt a little guilty. So tonight she decided to save money and cook at home.

Qiu Huoming took out an empty plate from the kitchen. This kind of pastry should be placed in a bowl with its packaging, and then placed in a glass cabinet. Leaving it in the kitchen will attract ants.

There was an ant nest in the kitchen, near the window next to the sink. I tried many methods several times but couldn't clean it out.

My eldest sister made egg custard, cooked rice, and stir-fried snow vegetables with chili peppers. Tonight, we mainly had a light meal.

Just as the three people brought the dishes into the living room, the light flickered and went out instantly.

The eldest sister exclaimed, and the younger sister was brave enough to let out a cry of joy in her voice, "Brother, we can light the kerosene lamp again!"

"Don't panic, sister. Just stand still and don't move. I'll go get the flashlight." Qiu Huoming groped his way into Chen Suniang's bedroom in the dark. The flashlight was on the bedside table.

The flashlight turned on and he walked quickly into the living room.

The eldest sister then breathed a sigh of relief.

The little girl was already standing on the chair, leaning forward on tiptoes to get the kerosene lamp placed on the top of the cupboard.

Qiu Huoming was frightened by what he saw.

He quickly walked forward, grasped her staggering body, and held her still, then stretched out his arm to take down the kerosene lamp.

The little sister had no idea of ​​the danger. She turned around, jumped off the chair, and ran into the kitchen in the dim light to get some matches.

"Little sister, you might be a monkey reincarnated." Qiu Huoming took the match and lit the kerosene lamp. The little sister giggled and thought her brother was praising her, so she handed him a pair of scissors.

"Brother, use the scissors to adjust the wick..."

After adjusting the wick, the light became brighter. The shadows of the furniture were dim under the flickering kerosene lamp, and it seemed as if something was hidden in the darkness.

Qiu Huoming pushed his bicycle in to the door, closed the kitchen door, entered the living room, and then closed the door. In this completely dark environment, the stubbornness of the flying insects to fly into the fire was astonishing.

If the door is not closed, the screen door will be covered with a black layer of insects in just one night.

After dinner, Qiu Huoming took a flashlight and went out for a walk. There were already quite a few people standing in the open space in the courtyard.

Qiu Huoming came over and asked, and several people who knew the situation said that someone's home used several electrical appliances and the fuse in the compound had burned out. There was an electrician in the compound and he was going to fix it now, and it would be fixed in a while.

After getting the accurate information, Qiu Huoming turned around and went home.