Traveling through 70's wine

Ezhong is the capital of Hubei Province and a major north-south transportation hub. The station was crowded with people and tired faces were everywhere.

Wen Qing did not inform her family in advance, so she was unsure of the original owner's family's attitude.

According to her memory, she changed buses twice, walked along a long street with her backpack on her back, and found a yard among a large number of bungalows. Wen Qing was a little hesitant, pondered for a moment, and pushed open the gate.

This is a large courtyard with 8 families living in it, each family occupying 1 to 2 rooms.

There were not enough rooms, so every family built their kitchen in the middle of the yard. The haphazardly built sheds, messy electrical wires, garbage piled on the ground, and clothes drying in the yard made the yard seem smaller and messier.

An old lady who was washing clothes in the yard looked at Wen Qing who came in, was stunned for a moment, and suddenly said: "It's Wen Ermei? You're back?"

Wen Qing searched her memory, "Granny Wu, are you washing clothes? I'm back."

Wen Qing walked to the east wing and knocked on the door. The door was not locked and there was someone inside: "Who?"

Wen Qing stood outside the door and said softly, "I, Wen Qing."

An elderly woman's voice came out, "Ah, Xiaoqing, you're back!"

An old lady in her 60s came out. She was wearing a black cotton jacket and trousers and a red woolen hat on her head.

Wen Qing smiled and said, "Grandma, it's me."

Wen Qing's grandparents live with her parents, and three generations live in two rooms.

When Grandma Wen saw her coming back, she said indifferently, "Second sister is back. Your mother is cooking and your father hasn't gotten off work yet."

She called out to the kitchen, "Su Mei, my second sister is back."

The kitchen of their house was built next to the room. Wen Qing's mother Su Mei came out of the kitchen and saw Wen Qing standing at the door with a big bag on her back. She asked her to come in and explained, "You take a rest first. I'll go cook."

Wen Qing's family occupied two rooms in the east wing, each room was about 17 or 8 square meters, which was considered large.

This yard was built by workers when they built the factory in the 50s.

Originally, it was a staff dormitory surrounded on all sides, facing south, with 6 rooms on the north side, 50 rooms each on the east and west sides, the courtyard gate in the middle of the south side, and two rooms on each side. There was an open space of more than square meters in the middle of the courtyard where trees were planted.

Wen Qing sat in the room and looked out through the open door.

There are 6 rooms in the middle of the yard, and the west wing is connected to a room facing north. There are shabby cabinets on both sides of the aisle in front of the courtyard gate, making the aisle narrow. There are several bicycles parked in the open space in the yard. This is before people get off work. It is estimated that after people get off work and come back, there will be only space for people to pass by in the open space in the yard.

Wen Qing found the thermos and poured herself some boiled water to drink. Her grandmother did not come in.

There were two rooms in their house. In the room where she was sitting, there was a square table, four benches, and a large bed inside. At the end of the bed, against the wall, there was a one-meter-high red lacquered wardrobe with two wooden boxes on the wardrobe. Next to the bed was a red lacquered low cabinet with some medicines, boxes, and wool baskets on it. Near the window was a washstand with two enamel washbasins on it and two towels hanging on the shelf. The thermos was placed on the ground next to the washstand.

There were two bowls of leftovers on the square table, covered with a gauze cover.

One corner of the room was covered with a curtain, probably the bathroom corner.

Wen Qing sat on the bench, feeling the chilly winter in central Hubei, and couldn't help but tighten her cotton coat.

After sitting for a while, a loud voice said, "Second sister is back? How come you have time?"

Her father Wen Dayong walked into the room, saw her and asked again, "Is Xiaoqing back?"

Staring at her backpack, Wen Qing stood up: "Dad."

Su Mei brought in the dishes and placed them on the square table: "Second sister, why are you back?"

Wen Qing said awkwardly: "Dad, Mom, there is not much work in the winter, so I asked for leave and came back."

Wen Dayong asked, "How much food did you get?"

Su Mei also asked: "Did you bring back any food?"

Wen Qing replied: "100 kilograms of food were distributed, and I brought back 20 kilograms."

Taking out 20 kilograms of corn from his bag, Wen Dayong asked: "You were given 100 kilograms of food, and you only brought back this little?"

Grandma Wen Qing came over and interrupted, "You guys only got a small amount of food, but the girl from the Li family next door said she got more than 180 kilograms of food, and she sent 20 kilograms of flour to her family before she came back."

Su Mei quickly said, "Okay, Xiaoqing has been very tired along the way, let's have dinner first."

He then asked, "Is this little food enough to eat?"

Wen Qing continued her words: "I was injured while working in May. Now I can't do heavy work, so my work points are even less."

Turning to look at Wen Dayong, "Dad, can you help me find a job?"

Wen Dayong glanced at Su Mei and said, "You are injured? What happened?"

Wen Qing recounted the story of how she got injured while carrying mud from the river dam, and then said, "I wrote a letter back. Did you receive it?"

Su Mei said: "What letter? Why didn't I receive it?"

Grandma Wen interrupted and said, "Hurry up and call your grandfather to come for dinner."

Grandpa Wen walked over slowly and sat next to Grandma Wen. At this time, Wen Qing's sister Wen Yu came back, washed her hands and sat opposite Wen Qing. "Sister, you're back?"

Wen Yu is one year younger than Wen Qing. He just graduated from high school this year and is now idle at home.

Wen Qing did not answer, but looked at the table. Today the family had steamed sorghum and corn rice. She picked up the bowl and filled it with a large bowl of rice. On the table there was a bowl of fried shredded radish, a bowl of fried cabbage, a bowl of pickled cowpea and minced meat, and an egg and seaweed soup. Everyone started eating and started chatting about family matters.

Wen Yu only said, "Dad, Mom, I heard from my little sister that the steel plant is going to set up a large collective. The children of the steel plant employees can sign up and they can be admitted if they pass the exam."

Wen Qing looked at Wen Dayong hopefully, but Wen Dayong didn't look at her. He turned to Wen Yu and said, "I'll go ask around."

Wen Yu picked up a piece of cabbage for him with chopsticks and said coquettishly, "Dad, please go and sign me up."

During the meal, Wen Qing learned that her father Wen Dayong is now the deputy workshop director of the first branch of the steel plant, Su Mei is a warehouse manager at the second branch, and her brother Wen Lei is a worker in the steel rope factory. They now have dormitories and usually do not go home.

Wen Qing finished her meal, took the initiative to clean up the table, went to the kitchen to wash the dishes, wiped her hands and came out, and asked Su Mei: "Mom, how am I going to sleep at night? Should I go live with Xiaoyu?"

Wen Yu immediately said: "My bed is too small, it can't accommodate two people."

The room was divided into two rooms, Wen Yu lived in the outer room, and Wen's grandparents lived in the inner room. There was an aisle in the outer room, so the room was very small.

Su Mei said, "Xiaoyu's bed is small, Xiaoqing, I'll make a bed for you in the kitchen. It will be quieter if you live alone."

He added, "You should go to bed early, and get up early tomorrow morning to make the bed. You also have to make breakfast for your dad because he has to go to work early."

He went to clear the clutter on the kitchen floor, took two long benches and a cool board, built a simple bed, put an old mattress on it, gave her a thin quilt, and said, "Xiaoqing, you know that the conditions at home are not good, so just make do with it."

After saying that, he walked out without caring about how Wen Qing washed up.

There was no entertainment at that time of night, not even a TV. Everyone closed their doors, and the only sounds coming from inside were talking and children playing. Wen Qing sat on the kitchen counter, feeling calm.

Although it was winter and there was no spoiled food in the kitchen, there was always a smell of pickled vegetables mixed with oil smoke, which was very unpleasant.

Wen Qing opened the kitchen door to get some fresh air. After practicing, her perception became more sensitive. She heard the people in the room talking. Su Mei: "Xiao Yu mentioned the tertiary industry. Go and ask about it tomorrow and help her sign up. Otherwise, if she hangs out outside all day after graduation, there will always be problems."

Wen Dayong: "I'll go ask."

Su Mei hesitated, "Xiao Qing was injured, and she said she had very few work points. Can you help her ask if she can be transferred back?"

Wen Dayong said: "Even if a large group is recruiting, it's good enough if one family has a quota."

After a pause, he said, "Look, the house is so small, there is no room for him to live. Xiao Lei lives in the dormitory now and doesn't come back often."

Su Mei said, "Why don't we go ask around and see if there are any houses for rent?"

Wen Dayong: "You are stupid. The two of us only have 60 yuan to support four people. My parents don't have city hukou and don't have tickets. We have to buy high-grade grain and expensive meat every month.

I also need to save some money. Xiao Lei is going to get married in two years, and I don’t know how to solve the housing problem.

Xiaoqing is in the countryside, at least she doesn't have to worry about food and shelter, what's wrong with that?"

Su Mei was silent.

Wen Qing sneered. It seemed that this home was not a place worth reminiscing about. No wonder the original owner hadn't returned home for three years.

She took out a sheet, spread it on the old mattress, and fell asleep.