The Beginning of the World: Going to the Countryside as an Educated Youth

Chapter 125 Shopping for New Year's Goods

"It must be the delicious food made by the Zhao family. Xiaoru, go and see if they can get a plate of meat for our eldest grandson!" Old Mrs. Jia was picking up some pickles, swallowed her saliva, and turned her eyes to Qin Xiaoru who was standing beside her and said.

"Mom, why would they send us a plate of meat for no reason? They are not fools!" Qin Xiaoru replied weakly.

"I want to eat meat, I want to eat meat..." The eldest son, Xiao Gengzi, who was standing nearby, started crying and asking for meat when he heard his grandmother say there was meat to eat.

The other two little kids also started crying. Qin Xiaoru could only touch her head helplessly when she saw this.

"Okay, I can go, but we have to send something over first, so that they will send us something, it's reasonable to have a give and take relationship!"

"Um... this... it's up to you, you have to get a plate of meat anyway!" Old Mrs. Jia was a little reluctant, but she still agreed in order to eat meat!

Then Qin Xiaoru put the plate of shredded potatoes fried with oil residue that she had eaten at home into a small dish, tidied her appearance in front of the mirror, and then took the dish to Zhao Zhengguo's house and knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" Zhao Zhengguo stood up and asked when he heard someone knocking on the door.

"Uncle Zhao, it's me, Xiaoru!"

Zhao Zhengguo, Guo Ping and Zhao Dongchuan looked at each other, all a little puzzled.

Zhao Dongchuan's heart moved, and he guessed a little bit, and he couldn't help but feel angry and amused.

"coming!"

With a "Yaaaah!" the door opened.

Zhao Zhengguo was very surprised to see Qin Xiaoru holding a dish and standing at the door of his house!

Is this awkward?

"Uncle Zhao, brother Dongchuan is coming back today. Logically, we should give him a welcome dinner, but our family is not rich. So, I'll bring you a small dish so you can taste our cooking!" Qin Xiaoru smiled gently.

"That's not possible. Your family is not doing well. It's really unnecessary. Just take it back!" Zhao Zhengguo politely refused.

But who is Qin Xiaoru? How could she give up without achieving her goal? Naturally, there was a lot of pushing and shoving, and Guo Ping also came out when she saw this.

She finally understood what was going on. Although she was aggrieved, she knew that the other person had expressed his feelings. Since they were neighbors, it would not be a good idea to reject his kindness.

"Old Zhao, since it's so kind of them, just take it. This way you can also taste my cooking. Don't be disgusted!" Guo Ping took a plate, put some of each dish on it, and handed it to Qin Xiaoru.

"I feel so embarrassed! The food we have is so shabby! It can't compare to the delicious fish and meat you have!" Qin Xiaoru was quite good at speaking. She pointed out the difference directly and made it hard for people to find fault.

Although he said this, he did not refuse and took the plate directly and smiled.

"Hey, take it back and let the children try it. It's rare for us to eat so luxuriously. It's all for the children!" Guo Ping said meaningfully.

A complex expression flashed across Qin Xiaoru's face. She obviously understood what Guo Ping meant.

"Then I won't be polite! Thank you, Aunt Ping!" Qin Xiaoru said a polite word with a smile and left quickly.

Looking at Qin Xiaoru's departing back, Zhao Zhengguo and Guo Ping looked at each other and saw a hint of helplessness in each other's eyes.

“Oh, it’s not easy!”

"..."

Zhao Dongchuan did not come out. He saw clearly from the side that this person was begging for food under the pretext of giving gifts. However, he dared to do this and made it clear, which showed that he was indeed very scheming.

The family of three finished their meal happily, and Zhao Dongchuan washed the dishes.

Since there was nothing to do and they were not sleepy, the three of them made a cup of tea on the table and started chatting.

Zhao Zhengguo talked about some recent events in the capital and various rumors circulating in the streets. It was said that a group of students initiated some activities in front of the Forbidden City under the pretext of a mourning scene and wrote many inspiring poems. Many of these students were later arrested.

Zhao Dongchuan also talked about the difficulties of life in the countryside, how many people could not make ends meet at home and had to go out to beg for food.

He also talked about the "net-hunting" incident that happened in Pengcheng.

There are so many things, it’s really sad!

I care about family affairs, national affairs, world affairs, everything!

It’s not that no one can see it clearly, it’s just that most people are weak and their words carry little weight!

Most ordinary people have exhausted their energy on daily necessities and are unable to participate in major events.

…………

The next day, January 1976, , was New Year’s Eve!

After a day's rest, Zhao Dongchuan got up in high spirits. Yesterday, the three of them had a "tea party" until late at night.

Guo Ping was too weak to hold on any longer, so she fell asleep first, but the father and son were still chatting.

Men prefer to discuss these current political situations.

The factory did not have a holiday on New Year's Eve, but people would get off work early. Zhao Zhengguo had already gone to work.

Guo Ping is unemployed, partly because of poor health, and partly because she has no connections and it is difficult to find a job.

So Guo Ping wanted to take Zhao Dongchuan to the street to buy New Year's goods in the morning.

The three of them had breakfast together and then went out together. Zhao Zhengguo left on his bicycle, while Guo Ping and Zhao Dongchuan, mother and son, walked.

There was no reasonable excuse to use the bicycle in Zhao Dongchuan's space, so he put it aside for the time being.

Guo Ping took him to many shops in the morning. With the money and tickets given by Zhao Dongchuan, this year will definitely be a prosperous year.

Zhao Dongchuan had bags in his hands, all of which were New Year's goods purchased by Guo Ping, including rice, flour, oil, eggs, milk, Spring Festival couplets, cakes, candied fruit, fruits, vegetables, pork, and new clothes.

Fortunately, he has an excellent physique and great strength, otherwise he would not be able to carry so many things.

When purchasing New Year's goods, Guo Ping would occasionally meet some acquaintances. She would stop and chat with them, and inevitably talk about Zhao Dongchuan, and would inevitably be complimented by everyone.

He just stood there obediently, acting as a qualified smiling tool.

Of course, they did not mention anything about Zhao Dongchuan's publication of the article, but only said that he was recruited to work at the local cultural center in Huangyuan.

So it didn't attract undue attention. This was something their family had agreed on, and it was fine like this. He was too outstanding and was envied by others.

"Your son Dongchuan is getting more and more handsome. Does he have a girlfriend?" asked a familiar middle-aged woman in the vegetable market with a smile.

"Alas, young people have many ideas. We can't control their affairs. There is no rush for the time being. Career is the most important thing!"

"You're not too young anymore, you're already twenty, you can think about it!"

Zhao Dongchuan smiled bitterly. This was the Nth time he had heard such a conversation.

During the Chinese New Year, the questions that relatives and friends are most concerned about for the younger generation are nothing more than how much share your family got? What job your child was assigned? Does your child have a partner?

Zhao Dongchuan had been urged many times before! Naturally, he was immune to it. His face did not change, his heart did not beat, he just smiled and said nothing.

Soon, they returned to Nanluoguxiang carrying large and small bags.