Affection for Sidaogou during the Famine

When we met again, Grandma Zheng looked even thinner than last time, with a sallow complexion. Due to lack of nutrition, the white hair on her head was dry like weeds, without any luster. However, it was combed neatly by the old lady and tied into small buns at the back of her head.

After receiving the fish from her, Grandma Zheng took out half a rabbit from the jar in the corner and insisted on putting it in her basket as a return gift.

"Zhao Zhao, I've kept this rabbit for you for a few days. It was caught by your Grandpa Zheng and his men in the mountains. We ate half of it, and we were afraid we couldn't keep the other half, so we salted it.

Don't worry, it can be stored. Go back and hang it in the kitchen to air dry for a few days, and cook it when you want to eat it, stir-fry it, or stew it."

Han Zhaozhao said she would not take anything. Mr. Zheng had poor legs and feet, and it was not easy for him to get some game. How could she take it?

"Grandma Zheng, please keep it for yourself. We don't like rabbit meat."

Skinny Grandma Zheng didn't know where she got so much strength from, she pulled for a long time and held her hand tightly to prevent her from moving.

"You little girl, you're lying to your grandma! Who doesn't like to eat meat?

You must take it back. This is our return gift. Otherwise, you can take the fish away.

If you don't accept our things, we are too old to have the nerve to accept your things.

Everyone is having a hard time, how can we just wait for you grandparents to help us? "

Alas, this old lady is stubborn! Seeing that the old lady's lips were trembling with anxiety, Han Zhaozhao had no choice but to accept the half rabbit.

"Grandma Zheng, do you have enough food? If not, just tell me. We have a backyard and grow some vegetables every year. I can't say anything else, but I'll give you some pumpkins and potatoes to mix with. You won't go hungry anyway."

Han Zhaozhao wanted to support the elderly, but he didn't dare to give them food. It wasn't that he was reluctant, but he couldn't explain where the food came from. With the family's vegetable garden as a cover, it would be better to give them some potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, etc. than to watch them starve.

Grandma Zheng waved her hands repeatedly, "No, no, there are only two of us at home, how much can we eat?

There is enough food supply. If it weren’t for your Grandpa Zheng who often takes care of his comrades from other places, we wouldn’t be able to eat!

You are growing taller, let your grandmother cook for you, don't worry about us."

Han Zhaozhao refused Grandma Zheng's invitation to stay for dinner and walked out of the Zheng family compound.

Not long after returning home, Section Chief Bai came and brought Han Zhaozhao ten feet of cloth coupons, two kilograms of cotton coupons, and a cloth shoe coupon.

"Mr. Bai, why are you so anxious? I have clothes to wear, and our family is not short of cloth coupons. I just spoke quickly and said it casually."

Only then did Han Zhaozhao realize that even at this time, a ticket was required to buy ready-made clothes.

In the past, her mother bought clothes for her. But in the past two years, all her clothes were made by her grandmother using her mother's clothes. She never bought ready-made clothes again.

"You can just joke about it, but I can't ignore it. I took the bag of delicious food back to the office and shared it all. How can the uncles take advantage of you, a little girl, after getting your good things?

This clothing ticket was given by Director Sun, who said that the department store had a corduroy jacket that would look great on you girls. His daughter just bought it last month, so this month's ticket is for you.

The cloth coupons were collected by several people in our office. It's not much, just enough to make a piece of clothing. We also said that we will save up after we get our salary and buy you a set of cotton clothes and pants for the winter.

Leather shoe tickets will be issued at the end of the year. I will save one for you and ask your grandma to take you to buy a pair of small leather shoes. I heard that leather shoes made in Shanghai can make little girls look very fashionable! "

"How can I do that? Your family members will need it too. These are enough. Please thank them for me. You don't have to leave any for me in the future."

Section Chief Bai touched her head. The little girl had short hair that was so smooth and clean that he liked her from the bottom of his heart. Alas, why didn’t he have such a lovely daughter in his family?

I spend more money to dress her up. Little girl, she will be more adorable when she is dressed beautifully.

"No need to thank me. Not to mention that they ate your buns, even if they didn't eat them, they are the elders and should take care of you, the younger generation. Food is expensive now, and what you gave them are all good things. They know it.

If you give it to you, take it. If you don’t take it, it will be a waste. There are a few uncles who are still single. They don’t need the cloth coupons themselves, so they usually give them to others.

It is better to give you a good deal than to give it to outsiders! By the way, you should go around the institute more often and get to know the people there. If you have any difficulties at home, you can ask for help if Director Sun and I are not around.

Don’t be embarrassed, most of the people in the institute are retired from the army, and they are all your relatives.”

The children of soldiers are their own children. Both the police and the military are extremely dangerous professions. The public security in New China also has a very high rate of casualties, not to mention that most of them are military transfer personnel, and they may be injured and sacrificed one day.

When they see the little girl, they think of their own children, and they all have empathy. They know that if they encounter such a thing, their colleagues will also take care of their own family members.

It is not an exaggeration to say that the army is the mother's home of the police. The little girl's parents sacrificed their lives and live in their jurisdiction, so it is their responsibility. It is easy for them to take care of the child.

Even if I can't help in other ways, it's easy to stand up for the orphans and the widows, and to deter ordinary neighbors with bad intentions from bullying the grandparents and grandchildren.

Han Zhaozhao understood that these were connections that came to her doorstep. In times of turmoil, they would serve as her family's protective umbrella, and she must hold on to them firmly.

The county magistrate is better off managing it now. With the care of the local police station, their family will have fewer troubles and their lives will become more stable. She must build a good relationship with Section Chief Bai and his people.

Han Zhaozhao picked up the backpack and went down to the cellar. He filled half a basket with potatoes and four pumpkins from the cellar and insisted that Section Chief Bai carry them back to share with his colleagues.

Section Chief Bai refused resolutely, but Han Zhaozhao even took him for a walk in the backyard.

"Mr. Bai, you see, we really don't lack food. This patch is planted with potatoes, and we can harvest about 200 kilograms in two or three months.

These beds are planted with eggplants, tomatoes, cucumbers, beans and kidney beans. This bed has just been harvested with lettuce, spinach and cabbage. After turning the land over, a few rows of sweet potatoes can be planted.

These can be used as both vegetables and food, so we, the grandparents and grandchildren, will never go hungry.

You see, there are pumpkins, loofahs and zucchini planted at the foot of the wall. If we can’t finish them in the current year, my grandmother will dry them every year so that we will have enough food at home until the next year.”

Section Chief Bai's eyes sparkled, "Wow! The place is not big, you planned it very well!

There is not a single vacant piece of land left, all of it is planted with crops. If the harvest is good, it will really provide food for you and your grandchildren.

Zhaozhao, the government does not allow growing crops at home. You can grow some vegetables, but don't go against the wind and violate the regulations.

Let me tell you, as military dependents, we must pay attention to this.

Some people nowadays are mentally disturbed. They don’t want others to live well, and they just report others and find fault with them.”

After seeing Section Chief Bai off, Han Zhaozhao stopped doing anything and concentrated on preparing for tomorrow's exam.

After packing my schoolbag and taking all my stationery, I went to Xiaoyun's house in the evening and made an appointment to go to school together to take the exam the next day.

After dinner, I went into the space to pick some fruits and dried them. I left the space at ten o’clock and went to bed early.