Eating melons and raising children in the period literature

The next morning, Yang Qinghe and his wife had already gone to work. Yang Qingqing packed herself and the children and went to Ma's mother's house.

"Good morning, Auntie. Is Uncle home?"

"Qingqing, why are you up so early? Your uncle is in the room! Go in and find him."

"Okay, I'll go first."

"Good morning, uncle. I want to ask if there is any result on the matter I talked about yesterday?"

"Yes. I asked for you. If you rent it, you have to pay 10 yuan a year, and if you buy it, it will cost 300 yuan. If you rent it, I will take you to the brigade to handle the formalities."

"Okay. But I still want to buy it. I know what my second brother means. But I think buying a house is a sure win, and we'll have to buy one when Wenxuan and Wenyuan grow up. It's better to do it sooner rather than later. I can earn money for my dowry. I want to go to the county town to get the money first, and then go to the brigade. I just want the children to stay with you for half a day. Do you think it's okay?"

"Buying a house is not a trivial matter. Are you really not going to discuss it with Qinghe? Don't worry about the child being here, it won't be a hassle. I thought you were going to rent a house, so I didn't ask what the procedures for buying a house were? Shall I take you to ask now?"

"Okay, thank you for your help, uncle."

"Auntie, I have something to do and need to go out for a while. These children will stay at your house for a while. Sorry to bother you."

"No trouble, go ahead. Let them play with Wen Dan and the others."

Brigade Headquarters

"Uncle Ma, you are here. Is this the person who wants to rent a house?" said a simple and gentle man in his forties.

"This is our brigade's accountant, his surname is also Ma, and we are from the same family. Qingqing, you can call him Brother Changgen."

"Brother Changgen, we are here to ask what procedures are required to buy a house. Also, can our food supply be transferred to the village?"

"Qingqing, you want to transfer the grain supply to the village. Does your second brother agree?"

"Well... I didn't tell my second brother. If I can transfer to the village, I don't want to make it difficult for my second brother to transfer to the military area. It will be more convenient for us to buy a house if we transfer to the village, right?"

"That's right. If you are a villager buying a house, it would be easy. The thing is, since you are not a villager, you only need the consent of the village's housing rental team. If you want to buy a house, we have to hold a village meeting to decide. If you are a villager, you only need the consent of the housing purchase team. But the price the secretary told you yesterday is already the cheapest. It is the price for the villagers, and it cannot be less."

"I understand. We will leave the grain relationship to the village. I will go to the county town to get money so that we can buy a house."

"Qingqing, you made the decision without telling your second brother. You should discuss it with Qinghe. Otherwise, you will feel that your uncle is taking advantage of you because you are young and ignorant. If I knew this was the case, I would not have brought you here."

"Uncle, it's okay. I'll explain to my second brother later. But can our village accept us? After all, we have many children, but not many of them can work."

Uncle Ma and Yang Qingqing both looked at Ma Changgen

"Don't look at me. I can't make the decision. We have to hold a meeting to decide. At least the majority of the team must agree. If that doesn't work, we have to hold a village meeting. Uncle Ma, you know that the educated youth who came here before were all very disgusted by the villagers. They couldn't carry anything, and they were always looking for trouble. It was very annoying."

"That's true, but they are all children of martyrs. Our village accepted them. It's an honorable thing, and it's different from the educated youth."

"Okay, I understand. With your help, I believe this won't be difficult. We'll give you a definite answer this afternoon."

"Okay, it's settled. Qingqing, let's go back first. Come back in the afternoon."

"Okay, please."

After leaving the brigade headquarters, Ma Qingqing asked, "Uncle, I'd better go to the county town to withdraw money first. I also need to buy some things on the way. What time does our bus leave?"

"Our trip will leave in the morning and return in the afternoon. Now all the buses have left. If you want to go, you can go to the village entrance to see if there are any bullock carts. Sometimes bullock carts from other villages pass by. There are still some at this time. If not, go again tomorrow. Another way is to go to your eldest brother Changhui and borrow a bicycle. If he doesn't have one, he can lend it to you."

"Uncle, I'd better take a look at the oxcart first. If that doesn't work, you can take me to borrow a bicycle."

"Okay, go ahead. Do you want me to go with you?"

"No, I can do it. Go ahead and do your work. I'll try to be back at noon."

"Don't worry, you can take the bus back in the afternoon."

"Okay, thank you. I'll go to the village entrance first."

"Just go to the village entrance where you got off yesterday."

Yang Qingqing was lucky enough to meet an ox cart from another village and arrived at the county town.

Yang Qingqing walked around the county town and found that there were only two busy streets: one street was home to the supply and marketing cooperative, hospital, state-owned restaurant, bank, etc., and the other street was home to the police station, county government, grain station and other government departments.

Yang Qingqing took the money and thought about whether she could find a black market or a job.

Yang Qingqing walked through almost all the alleys in the county town, but she didn't find any black market, let alone work. She thought about going to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy things first.

Yang Qingqing walked around the supply and marketing cooperative and was very interested in the conversation between the two people.

"Sister Zhang, you are about to give birth. Have you found a reliable person to take charge of your shift? My sister-in-law is very efficient. If you haven't found anyone, let her try." A woman in her twenties with a long face, small eyes and a big mouth said with a smile.

"No need, I'll look again. There are two people who are quite suitable, but I don't know which one to choose. You go and get busy, there's someone coming to your counter." The other person sent the person away with an embarrassed look on his face, then sighed.

"Hello, I want to buy some wool"

The woman who just got pregnant is the counter selling wool

"I want to buy enough wool for two children's sweaters. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, I just wanted to talk to you in detail." As she spoke, Yang Qingqing secretly handed a few candies to the woman.

"I don't even know you. I have nothing to say to you. Are you sure you want yarn? What color do you want?"

"I want the black and blue ones. I'm from the Majiawan Brigade, my name is Yang Qingqing. My brother is a soldier, serving in Majiawan. I really mean no harm. I think it's almost time to get off work, can we go to the state-owned restaurant to chat?"

The woman still looked a little hesitant, and Yang Qingqing immediately said, "Sister-in-law, you go ahead and do your work. I'll be waiting for you at the door of the supply and marketing cooperative. You must come."

Yang Qingqing turned around and walked out. The state-owned restaurant was not far from the supply and marketing cooperative. Yang Qingqing went to see what food was available and see if she could make a reservation.

"Hello, beautiful sister. What do we have for lunch? Can I reserve a seat in advance?" He handed over a handful of White Rabbit milk candies.

"Hey, sister, what are you saying? I'm so old! You still call me sister? You should call me aunt." If she hadn't laughed so hard that her mouth reached her ears, Yang Qingqing would have believed it.

"You look young, just a few years older than me, how can you be called aunt? I can't say it out loud." Yang Qingqing smiled and returned.

"Sister, you are really good at talking. We accept guests here. We don't have reservations. But today we have our chef's specialty, braised pork. Mixed potato shreds, smashed cucumber, braised fish, braised pork slices and sweet and sour pork. The staples include steamed buns, steamed buns, noodles, dumplings and rice. We still have half an hour before the meal starts. You can order first and I can ask the chef to cook it for you."

"Okay, I'm going to bring my sister-in-law here for lunch. She's pregnant, and I want to give her some nourishment and something good to eat. Sister, please help me! My sister-in-law works at the supply and marketing cooperative."

"I know the people in the supply and marketing cooperative. You are talking about Yue Mei, right? We are very familiar with each other and live in the same alley! How come I don't know you?"

"Oh, what a coincidence. I met sister-in-law Yue Mei by accident. It's normal that you haven't seen me. Sister, please help me! My sister-in-law can't leave quickly. The child is important, please." Yang Qingqing clasped her hands together and begged

"Okay, for Yue Mei's sake, I can keep it for you for a while, but don't keep it for too long. Otherwise, I'll be criticized."

"Okay, okay, thank you, sister. I'll order the dishes first. I want braised pork, stir-fried pork slices and smashed cucumber. What do you think? I'll order the staple food after my sister-in-law comes. Then please help me make it first. We can eat when we get here." Then he handed over a handful of candy.

"I'm going to pick up sister-in-law Yue Mei. I'll leave first. Thank you, sister."

On the way back, Yang Qingqing thought that she should buy something as a gift for Yue Mei and the sister at the restaurant. Otherwise, it would be difficult to ask for help. As the saying goes, if you take something from someone, you will be grateful.

Yang Qingqing went in and bought a pound of peach cakes before waiting at the door of the supply and marketing cooperative. She also took a gauze scarf from the supermarket and put it in her pocket.

The scarf is for sister-in-law Yue Mei, and the peach cake is for the sister in the restaurant. The restaurant is a very good source of information. Maybe there will be good news! Besides, it will be convenient to have a meal with acquaintances in the restaurant in the future.

"Sister-in-law Yue Mei, let's go to the state-owned restaurant and talk while we eat. I have already ordered the dishes. I am just waiting for you." Yang Qingqing stepped forward to support Yue Mei.

"How do you know my name? I didn't tell you! Did you investigate me?" Yue Mei said vigilantly, pushing Yang Qingqing away and taking two steps back.

"No! No! I just talked to the sister from the state-owned restaurant. She said, I didn't investigate you. Don't get me wrong. There are so many people on the road, I can't do anything!"

"Okay, I'll believe you for now. Tell me what you want from me? I'll go home if nothing else." Yue Mei obviously didn't want to say more.

Yang Qingqing stepped forward to support Yue Mei and said, "Oh, I don't mean any harm. Let's go to the restaurant and sit down and talk. I've ordered the dishes and I'm waiting for you."

"Hey, Yue Mei, you guys are here. If you don't come, I won't be able to keep the table. There's only one table left, go and sit down. The dishes are ready." The sister said with a smile.

"Okay, thank you beautiful sister. I'll help my sister-in-law sit down first, and then I'll serve the dishes."

"No, I'll bring it to you. No one else has this treatment." He turned around and put the dishes on the table with a large tray. "Eat slowly, I'm going to work."

"Thank you, sister."

"Thank you, Sister Wang"

"Sister-in-law, what staple food would you like to eat? I'll go order some more."

"I'm fine with anything, just get on with the business. I still need to go home."

"Okay, I'll order another serving of dumplings and rice."

The dumplings were ordered for Yue Mei. In this era, dumplings were only eaten during the Chinese New Year, and they were perfect for entertaining guests. Yang Qingqing wanted to eat rice herself, and braised pork with rice was a perfect match. This is how she likes to eat in modern times.

"I'm talking about business. I heard your conversation and I think I can take your place for two months. I can also give you all the invoices I get. I just want the money. First, we didn't know each other before. If something goes wrong in the future, I don't want to give my job back to you. You can let me go and deal with me without any scruples. Second, my brother works in the military region here. You don't have to worry about not being able to find him. He can control me. This is better than others. Let's pay for the goods. It's good for you, me and everyone else. What do you think?"

"How do I know whether what you said is true or not? What if you lie to me?"

"That's impossible. My brother's name is Yang Qinghe, and he's the second battalion commander of the second regiment. If you don't believe me, you can ask your family to go to the military district to inquire. I'll come to see you tomorrow, how about that?"

Yue Mei thought for a while before saying, "Okay, if it's true, I'll let you take over."

"Okay, I'll go to the supply and marketing cooperative to find you tomorrow. I also have this silk scarf for you. It's very beautiful. My brother brought it to me from Kyoto. It suits you very well. You must accept it."

"That's not good. I didn't even agree to it. It's not good to take your things. Take it back."

If Yue Mei hadn't been staring at her, Yang Qingqing would have believed her words, which was obviously not what she said. Yang Qingqing stuffed the scarf into Yue Mei's hands.

"Hehehe, then I won't be polite." Yue Mei was very happy. She kept laughing and felt closer to Yang Qingqing.

The portions of food and rice were huge, so I ended up borrowing a lunch box from a pretty sister and gave the rest to Yue Mei to take home. She didn't want it at first, but Yang Qingqing persuaded her for a long time and said it was really inconvenient to take it, so she accepted it.

Yang Qingqing didn't expect that she would have an unexpected gain during her visit to the county. She was so excited. Although it was a part-time job, it was not bad to find a job for two months. Maybe she could find a long-term job in these two months!

Yang Qingqing also bought a large backpack from the supply and marketing cooperative to prepare for taking things home. She didn't put anything heavy in the backpack, but put a large quilt in it to make it bulge out, and then covered it with a piece of cotton cloth to make it look like there were a lot of things. In fact, it was not heavy at all.

Yang Qingqing set out on her journey home.