Small Shop Owner in the 1960s

Chapter 33

Hearing the brothers making trouble, Xu Hong felt a little uncomfortable eating the gnocchi. She divided the grains and was confident, "Why can Erya eat dumplings, our family still can't eat them."

"What is noisy? Isn't this for food?" Old man Xu roared. The house was not going well today, the children were still making trouble, and he didn't even smoke his cigarette.

"Why yell at the children, what do you want to eat dumplings? Which kid is not greedy." Old lady Xu quit, her eyes went sideways and Li Jing glanced, "If the food distributed at home this year was not as good as before, I would have to cut it a long time ago. A few kilos of meat came back for the children to eat. Huh, our old Xu family is out of luck, one by one the catastrophes."

"Mom, you're right, sister-in-law, if it weren't for the second girl, Mom and I won't have to suffer, and the family won't be able to feed the children even a meal of dumplings." Zhang Cuiqin, who has been pretending to be a grandson, is arrested. She also yelled at the opportunity.

Since she pushed the old lady out at the last public trial, she has not been in this house as well as before. The old lady scolded her when she saw her, and sometimes had to pinch her. And the work that the old lady was supposed to do had to be done by her alone. Even her man Xu Jianhai thought she was stinky and slept with her under a quilt.

Zhang Cuiqin's life was sad, and now that he seized the opportunity, it was natural that Li Jing would not be able to make it easier.

This time the old lady rarely refuted her.

"Some people are just ignorant. Our family who gave birth to a girl has become like this. They don't know what's wrong." Zhang Cuiqin gloated.

Li Jing's cheeks hurt when she listened to her cynicism. It's just that Lao Xu's family didn't speak for her, especially the old lady staring at her. She didn't dare to refute this sentence, and could only hate her daughter.

I knew it was such a thing, so I should have thrown it away.

It's no use regretting now. Li Jing gritted her teeth and stood up and said, "I'll go and see if there is any meat, get some back, and let's make dumplings."

Zhang Cuiqin swallowed immediately. The old lady also snorted coldly.

Li Jing didn't feel like going out, and Liu Qiao stood up, "I'll go with my sister-in-law. She doesn't come back often, so don't go to the wrong place."

"What kind of flattery?" Zhang Cuiqin muttered behind her.

"You don't have to talk, you shut up!" The old lady reprimanded with her mouth tilted. The mother-in-law thought that she had turned over and caused herself to suffer a crime in the first place. She has always remembered this matter.

She was yelled at by the old lady for no reason, Zhang Cuiqin didn't dare to let go, and stood behind the old lady with her head down.

Xu Hong looked at her mother like this, and felt a little disgusted in her heart. She had also heard about her milk, and felt that it was indeed her mother's fault. The milk is so old, isn't it good for her mother to take the responsibility, so that one more person in the family suffers now. And just offended the auntie, what if the auntie is biased towards Xu Meizi in the future.

"Sister, can you give me food if you don't eat it?" Xu Ling next to him saw that Xu Hong hadn't moved his chopsticks for a long time, and asked, sucking her fingers.

When Xu Hong heard the words, she stretched out her hand and pushed her, took the chopsticks to eat, "I have never seen such a gluttonous one, just like your sister." She had to go to the city last time with Xu Nannan and Xu Xiaoman. I have eaten the big meat buns.

"This little girl film, I know I'm greedy. I can't do anything, and I want to eat. Like your two white-eyed wolf sisters, they are not good things."

The old lady yelled while sitting on the bed. She was angry at thinking about Sister Xu Nannan now. Seeing Xu Ling, who was somewhat similar to Xu Nannan's, naturally didn't have a good tone.

"Keep rolling, don't be an eyesore in front of my old lady, just look at it, it's the thing of a dead star." The old lady Xu cursed, and she stretched out her hand to fight.

Xu Ling was so frightened that she hurried out. He ran out of the old Xu's compound after walking with his short legs.

At Song Guihua's house, a meal of egg and wild vegetable dumplings was just eaten, and the pork dumplings were cooked again.

This time I really opened my belly and ate it. The white noodles and the fragrant pork make you drool just looking at it. The children were half full, and they were still around the stove, pestering Granny Chen to eat.

"It's all greedy cats." Song Guihua scolded, seeing that there was no firewood under the stove, she smiled, "If you want to eat quickly, you have to help with work. Go get some firewood in."

The three kids immediately ran out to help.

Xu Nannan was sitting under the stove to add fire, and looking at the little smile on his face, he was finally relieved. The child has become more and more cheerful now, and it seems better to be with the children. Well, when Xiaoman has a solid foundation, I'll send her to study. Go back to discuss with Teacher He.

Xu Xiaoman ran outside with the wood and stone, and the two little brothers didn't let her do anything, "Standing standing, we are a man, let's come. What do you do with a woman?"

"My sister said, a woman can hold up half the sky." Xiao Man said in disbelief.

"Oh, you are the little man who can hold up half of the sky? If the sky falls down, it will fall on our man too." The stone patted his chest.

Xu Xiao's flat mouth was full of anger.

Wood immediately patted the head of the stone, "It's not too small to be a small man, and it will definitely grow taller in the future."

Stone touched his head and saw that Xiaoman was upset. He immediately smiled and said, "Yes, that's right, Xiaoman will grow taller. If you hit him the next day, he will hit Xiaoman first."

Mu Mu couldn't help holding his head. Why did he have such a stupid brother.

Xu Xiaoman also stomped depressed, and turned away from him. When I turned around, I almost jumped when I saw a small head sticking out at the door.

After seeing the head clearly, she said in surprise, "Five girls?"

Wuya Xu Ling walked out from behind the door, pinched the corner of her clothes, licked her lips, "Sister Si, I'm hungry."

Seeing the stone and wood, immediately ran to the kitchen to call Xu Nannan.

When Xu Nannan ran out of the kitchen, she saw Xiaoman crying in her arms and Xu Ling.

Xu Nannan hasn't seen Xu Ling for a long time, and now that the child doesn't seem to grow at all, he knows that he is also malnourished.

Seeing Xu Nannan coming, Xu Xiaoman took Xu Ling's hand and said, "Sister, Wuya didn't eat, and the family didn't feed her, so she scolded her."

Xu Xiaoman is a person who has experienced hardships. He knows what it feels like. It is very uncomfortable to see his own sister like this. Especially when I just saw the little Wuya revealing her small head from behind the door, she looked very pitiful with her timid look.

She couldn't figure it out, her parents didn't want her and her sister anymore, so they did the same to Wuya. They are just a child like Wuya, why doesn't it hurt.

Xu Nannan walked over to wipe Xu Xiaoman's tears, and touched Xu Ling's head, "It's okay, sister has food, let Xiaoling eat."

Song Guihua also came out of the kitchen and saw the three sisters doing this, and said, "Let Xiaoling eat here, let's eat pork dumplings."

A child can't eat much better. Also a poor child.

Xu Ling's eyes sparkled immediately, and she swallowed a few mouthfuls.

Granny Chen didn't say anything about Xu Ling's arrival, but only asked Xu Ling why she ran out. Xu Ling talked about the family affairs again. She is small, but she has a sharp mouth, but she speaks very clearly.

Hearing that the old lady didn't even give her gnocchi, and that Li Jing was going to buy pork to make dumplings for her nephew and niece, Grandma Chen shook her head with her mouth in her mouth.

"Sister, let's tell Wuya not to go back, okay?" Xu Xiaoman said suddenly.

Since she came out, she knew that her home was not a place for people to stay. In the past, I always couldn't eat enough, and I was beaten and scolded. Since my sister and sister came out, I can learn knowledge and have enough food.

She wanted Wuya to come out too.

Xu Nannan was in trouble. She and Xu Xiaoman were able to leave the old Xu family, half of which was won by her, and half by luck. It is not easy for Xu Ling to come out now. After all, Xu Ling is the only girl whom Li Jing and Xu Jiansheng are raising by their side. It's the same thing if they don't let go.

She asked Xu Ling, "Xiaoling, do you want to live with your sister?"

Xu Ling shook her head hesitantly, "I want to go to school. Dad said that when I get older, he will send me to school."

Xu Xiaoman said, "We can also let you go to school. In the next year, my sister can also earn work points in the field, and I can also share money in the future."

"The fourth sister, you don't go to school? Mom and Honghong said that you can earn a lot of money by studying. Fourth sister, you also want to study. When I get older, I want my dad to send me to school. Reading, I can't read it?" Xu Ling was unconvinced.

Xu Nannan didn't expect this child to have a temper. But he was not persuading Xu Ling to live with them.

To be honest, she is not too good to have been on the mountain with Xiaoman now. Xu Ling didn't do any good except to follow them without starving.

Although Xu Ling was wronged in the village, after returning to the city, Xu Jiansheng would not treat the only remaining girl. At least it won't be like treating her and Xiaoman.

On the other side, the old Xu's family also started to make dumplings.

Li Jing was cruel this time, cut two catties of meat in one breath, and almost used all the money she brought with her. Fortunately, Mrs. Xu was very satisfied this time, and she didn't ridicule anymore when she came back.

Mrs. Xu even got out of bed and chopped stuffing to make dumplings.

Only half of the meat was used, and the other half was rubbed with salt and hung up by Mrs. Xu. Save it for bacon. Li Jing looked at the hanging meat and regretted buying too much. Obviously they are making dumplings, so I have to save them for bacon. Will she not be able to eat it when she goes back to the city?

Seeing Mrs. Xu doing this, she even felt that what Liu Qiao said to her before made sense.

Scorer, otherwise this will be a bottomless pit in the future.

After busying most of noon, the dumplings are finally out of the pot.

The old lady took the spoon herself and made a big bowl for the old man Xu, his two sons and grandson. The two granddaughters made half a bowl, and Liu Qiao and himself made half a bowl. Li Jing was about to go to serve half a bowl, but was stopped by the old lady.

"You can eat a lot in the city, so you still grabbed it with the kids. It's not ugly. There are still gnocchi in the pot, and it's not uneaten."

Li Jingqiang held back the anger in her heart and said with a smile, "Mom, isn't there a lot of money left in the pot?"

"You have to finish the meal? It's not hot this day, I can't eat it tomorrow? You know you are not benign, you will lose everything, just like your mourning star girl."

The old lady pointed to her nose and cursed, and went out with dumplings.

Liu Qiao glanced at her, did not speak, and went out with the old lady carrying the bowl.

The old Xu family gathered around the table to eat pork dumplings. The children cried out as they ate, and no one remembered that there was another child who hadn't come back.

Zhang Cuiqin also carried the squishy bowl and pulled one from the bowl of his two children from time to time. She doesn't even have the qualifications to enter the kitchen now, and if the old lady doesn't give it to her, she won't be able to eat.

Li Jing sat aside, watching the squishy bowls she was holding, watching the lively appearance of the family, and forbearing it a few times, she was shocked to suppress the anger.

When everyone was almost eating, she put down her chopsticks.

"While everyone is here today, I want to discuss something with my family."

"Is there anything to say." Old lady Xu pursed her lips and said with displeasure. She is uncomfortable seeing Li Jing now. The old Xu's family didn't treat this daughter-in-law badly, and as a result, two small evils were born.

Li Jing pursed her mouth and smiled, "Mom, I can't do anything about this. The situation in my family is now the same. Recently, I am going to convert from a farmer to a non-licensed household. When the time comes, people will be able to see the composition of our family. It will definitely affect it at that time. I wondered whether to separate the hukou so that it would be easier to handle."

"Huh, do you want to separate?" Old lady Xu's eyes widened suddenly.

The others also looked at Li Jing. Especially Old Man Xu, his eyes narrowed and his face expressionless.

Li Jing said nervously and swallowed, "Parents, I am not alone for me. After all, if I can also turn into a farm, I will have greater hopes for the children to enter the city in the future. Jiansheng did not also write before. Do you want to let my nephews and nieces go into the city? I don’t worry less about this. What I’ve done to my children over the years, and how many children know, I’m really doing it for their good."

"You can't separate families like this, why do you want to separate families?"

For Mrs. Xu, separation of family is absolutely impossible.

The only thing she can still have confidence in now is to take charge of this family. All the food at home is in her hand. As long as the family is not separated, the daughter-in-law must listen to her. She wants to make life difficult for whoever has a bad life.

"Mom, this is not about dividing the family, it is about dividing the household registration. Didn’t Jiansheng also transfer the household registration at the beginning? This is to enter the city. Our family is..."

"Bah, you are too embarrassed to talk about our family's composition. No matter how poor our family's composition is, it is better than yours. Your parents ran with the landlord. Why don't you say that your own composition is poor?"

After Li Jing married, she broke off with her family. Later, I heard that the young lady from the landlord's house had come back from outside and took away Li Jing's parents.

Because of this incident, Li Jing has also been unable to look up. Now the old lady said this again, which made her feel extremely embarrassed. I can't help resenting my parents for not thinking about her.

Li Jing clenched her fists tightly, her nails pierced her palms.

"How do you want to divide?" Old man Xu suddenly said.

"Old man, what do you mean, are you really letting them divide the household registration?" Mrs. Xu exclaimed.

Old man Xu tilted his desk with a cigarette stick.

Hearing Old Man Xu’s words, Li Jing suddenly became energetic and immediately replied, “I think it’s useless for me to move out by myself. It’s better to let the youngest family move out too, and my household registration will temporarily be the same as that of the youngest. The family stays together. When I move out in the future, the children will be able to move out with me. After all, Cui Qin also has problems now."

When Zhang Cuiqin heard this, he immediately shouted, "What do you mean, I'm not all the harm you raised by the good girl. I won't let my child be the same as you."

When dealing with Zhang Cuiqin, Li Jing has always been comfortable, "Cuiqin, do you want Honghong and Leizi to transfer their registered permanent residence to the city in the future? If they want to enter the city in the future, the registered permanent residence must also be with me. ."

"Auntie, I am willing to transfer out."

Xu Hong immediately said.

Xu Lei took Zhang Cuiqin's arm and shouted, "I also want to be a city man, Mom, why don't you let me be a city man."

"I agree to let Leizi and Honghong's accounts be transferred out." Xu Jianhai said.

Zhang Cuiqin couldn't believe it and watched her sons and daughters and her husband ‘rebellious’. Angrily for a long time speechless. Finally, I couldn't help it, and sat down on the ground and started crying.

"Why cry? I haven't agreed yet." Mrs. Xu patted the table and said.

"I agree to this matter." Old man Xu took a mouthful of cigarettes and said with a calm expression. "You will have to transfer your account sooner or later, and it will be the same sooner or later. Transfer early so that you can enter the city later."

"Old man, how can you agree?" Old lady Xu was suddenly anxious.

"Do you still think that your grandchildren will stay with you to clean the toilet? My old Xu family can't afford to lose such a person. If the grandchildren do not succeed in the future, I will have no face to see the old Xu family's ancestors."

This sentence was stupefied to mean that Mrs. Xu couldn't answer it.

After a while, he said again, "Then Liu Qiao and Jianping can't go, it's the same as the children turned around."

Li Jing didn't refute this time. Anyway, she only needs children. It's just that the others don't go.

Liu Qiao smiled, "Mom, Jianping and I didn't think so much. It's the same everywhere. But this year, our family will distribute less food than in previous years. I'm worried that the village will use Mom and Ersao's affairs as an excuse next year. At that time, our family’s food will be reduced. I and Jianping will be split out, so I should be safer. Mom, how is Jianping and I, can you still not know?"

He said that he kicked Xu Jianping secretly. Xu Jianping also hurriedly said, "Yes, mom, and Qiao and I must be filial to you."

"Divided, divided." Old man Xu stood up and left a word, and walked out.

He knew that the old Xu family's heart had begun to dissipate.

The separation of the old Xu family also caused a little excitement in the village. But it gave the village another more talk. Xu Nannan just listened to it as a joke.

After the autumn grain was divided, the village was not as busy as before. Only Xu Nannan is a little busy here, and the pigs on her side have to be handed in.

However, even though Xu Nannan was busy, He Qiusheng still did not let her be free. As long as she had a rest, she would give her lessons and spot check her knowledge. Let Xu Nannan feel a little exhausted. I wondered if Uncle He became addicted to being a teacher, and he panicked if he didn't teach for a day.

Of course He Qiusheng is not busy. As a reform-through-labor worker, even if the work in the mountains is finished, there is still a lot of work waiting for him in the village.

It's just that Xu Nannan is about to enter the city. This kid doesn't know it, so of course he is not in a hurry. But he can't help but worry as a teacher. This kid is smart, he teaches a little bit more, and this kid may walk farther in the future.

Busy, Li Chengwen's letter finally arrived in the village. ,

The letter was sent directly to the team leader Xu Gensheng, recruiting workers in the name of the mine, and inviting Xu Nannan to work as a worker in the canteen of the mine. Of course, only temporary workers.

At this moment, the whole Xujia Village became lively.

As long as they are from Nanjiang, there is no one who does not know about Nanjiang Iron Mine. When Xu Jiansheng went to work as a cadre in the sub-mine, how many people got red eyes.

Going to the Nanjiang Iron Mine, it is an iron rice bowl. In the future, I will become a decent urbanite, with the state's wages, eating and supplying food, and I heard that I will divide the house.

What a great thing this is.

So after hearing that Xu Nannan was recruited to the iron mine, everyone was shocked.

Although it was only a temporary worker, it was the Nanjiang Iron Mine, and it was still the kind of oily and watery fertilizer in the cafeteria. Such a good thing was knocked down by this kid.

Could it be Xu Jiansheng for the operation?

Even the people of the old Xu family heard the news, and the first reaction was Xu Jiansheng's arrangement. So the old lady let her two sons go to the city to question Xu Jiansheng overnight.

Only Xu Nannan knew that this matter had nothing to do with Xu Jiansheng's dime.

"Uncle He, did you arrange this? You asked Li the mine manager to arrange the job for me?" Xu Nannan asked mixedly.

He Qiusheng was working. Hearing this, he stopped and looked at her, "What's wrong, do you think this job is not good?"

"Uncle He, don't say this deliberately. Everyone knows that this job is good. I just know that this job is good, so... so I feel quite surprised. I think this kindness is too great."

Xu Nannan lowered his head, somewhat wondering how to face He Qiusheng.

When she heard the news, her first reaction was pleasantly surprised. She felt that a big pie had fallen from the sky, which made her a dream come true and she was able to enter the city.

But after reacting, she felt heavy in her heart. This matter must be arranged by Uncle He, otherwise Li Chengwen is okay, so why do you want to help her an inconspicuous little rural girl.

Because of this, she felt heavy. She wondered why Uncle He was doing such a great help to her. After all, she couldn't say much to Uncle He. Except for giving him food when he was sick, he basically didn't do anything good to Uncle He. Even Uncle He taught her and Xiao Man secretly.

He Qiusheng smiled and said, "Why, I'm afraid that it won't be repaid in the future?"

Xu Nannan nodded, "Yes. Uncle He, you have changed the destiny of me and Xiaoman. But I can't change your destiny."

Xu Nannan didn't think that he would pass the recruitment examination and go to the city to become a full-fledged worker. But she also knew that it was too difficult. So many people are staring at a position, she has nothing, even no education, how to fight. Even if you can earn it, it must be a long process.

"Nan Nan, you are a very cautious child and think a lot about things. This is very good, but it is not good. You think too much, so you put too much pressure on yourself. Sometimes, you need to be more free and easy and calm. Accept what others give, and you will have the opportunity in the future. It is enough to get someone around you who need help. It is not necessary to have a clear account. The debt is unclear and endless. and Let Xiaoman go to the city together, try to live a good life, and have achievements in the future, come back and tell me, let me know that this is not in vain."

After He Qiusheng spoke earnestly, he suddenly said with a stern face, "Also, you are only a temporary worker now, don't think that Li Chengwen will help you get a regular job, you have to take the exam yourself. There is a recruitment exam in the first year. You have to work hard to get in, but don't lose my face, so that I will have no face to see Li Chengwen as a student in the future."

Xu Nannan couldn't help but his eyes were sore, he pressed his mouth tightly and nodded, "Yeah", his voice choked, "I will definitely pass the exam, and I will come back to celebrate with you then." Then he bowed deeply to He Qiusheng, " Uncle He, I will always remember what you said, and if I have the ability in the future, I will also help those around me who need help."

He Qiusheng smiled and nodded. There was a bit of relief in his eyes.

Because Xu Nannan was about to go to the city, Song Guihua offered to celebrate together, which was considered a practice for Xu Nannan and let her go to the city smoothly.

The author has something to say: What is it?

Someone said that he didn't understand why He Qiusheng was kind to Xu Nannan sister. Maybe everyone thinks that Xu Nannan's entry into the city is simply a big deal. Why is He Qiusheng doing this for her?

Let's take a look at the identity of He Qiusheng before. The professors of the provincial capital university, and once had the ability to save Li Chengwen and their troubled students, it shows that there are some decent people. Even if such people fall into the situation later, they still think that entering the city is not a big deal. . So in the eyes of He Qiusheng, this is really not a big deal. Some people may say, what if there is no Li Chengwen? As a university teacher, He Qiusheng has been teaching for many years. If only Li Chengwen is such a good student, wouldn't it be too bad.

He is not good to Nannan and them for no reason. There was basically no contact with Nan Nan before. Why treat Nan Nan well? When he fell ill later, his mind and body were so dispirited. When he was lying in bed and couldn't get out of bed, Nan Nan had a bowl of millet porridge every day. Millet porridge is nothing, but it is precisely because of a bowl of millet porridge that He Qiusheng sees a little hope. Of course, there are also characteristics shown by Xu Nannan and Xu Xiaomansuo that he admires.