" You're back. Hurry up and sweep. You'll catch a cold if your clothes are wet." Tian Runye saw Sun Shaoping enter the room, so he put down the dumplings in his hand and picked up a broom.
" Aiya, this snow is really heavy. Auspicious snow is a sign of a bumper harvest. There should be a good harvest next year... I wonder if it's snowing in Huangyuan..." Sun Shaoping opened his arms and let Tian Runye pat his body.
" It should be raining. It won't be as dry as this year next year... It's just inconvenient to go out and visit relatives." Tian Runye took over Sun Shaoping's words.
" Sigh, relying on God to eat. The people there are really too difficult. I don't know how the Chinese New Year is this year. Are there dumplings to eat..." Sun Shaoping inexplicably missed the strange and familiar home.
Tian Runye said," It's still okay to eat dumplings during the New Year, but there's a difference between having meat and not having meat…Our village is still considered good. I heard that some members in remote villages can already have a full meal a year. Let alone eating anything good, a young lady in her twenties doesn't even have clothes to wear. In the end, she's still poor. Look at the people in the city. No matter how difficult it is, no one has ever seen their family reach this stage. Why is there such a big difference between the two?”
Sun Shaoping smiled and said," There is a problem with your question. We are also considered city people. What position are you standing in? With your current status, you should be asking why we added carrots to our meat dumplings?”
" Isn't it better to add some radish?" Tian Runye smiled.
"When the people in our hometown pursue meat to eat, we pursue how to taste better. In the ancient text, we are barely called 'carnivores.' If 'carnivores are despicable,' that includes us. The peasant uprisings in the past dynasties of the Celestial Dynasty were all for meat to eat, but in the end, only a few could eat meat. As for political demands, it was said by the literati, and it was still the same now. I can shamelessly say that I became an official because I wanted to have meat to eat, but I don't want to say that I want everyone to have meat to eat. I want to taste what meat tastes like first…Hehe, why am I telling you this?”Sun Shaoping shook his head in self-mockery.
Tian Runye thought about it and asked,"What about my second dad?"”
" He really wants everyone to have meat to eat," Sun Shaoping said with a smile." That's why he doesn't feel at ease and eats in pain. However, this doesn't change the fact that he's a carnivore and has meat to eat…Let's not talk about this. Let's make dumplings."”
Tian Runye's dumplings were much bigger than Sun Shaoping's. This might have something to do with the character of the people in the northwest. Sun Shaoping's dumplings were a little bigger than the southern ones, which made them look small and exquisite.
" Where did you learn your cooking skills from? These dumplings look better than mine," Tian Runye asked with a smile.
Sun Shaoping rolled out a piece of dough and said," Do you still need to learn this? You'll learn it once in a while. It's not enough to learn from spiritual humans, but it's not enough for stupid people!"”
Tian Runye smiled and knocked Sun Shaoping's head with a rolling pin.""Are you saying that I'm stupid?"
Sun Shaoping quickly said," Your dexterity is famous in Shuangshui Village. I won't allow anyone to say that you're stupid. Make the dumplings bigger. I'll apply for a Guinness World Record for you and give you an award or something."”
"What is the Guinness Book of Records?"
"It's a competition to see who can make bigger dumplings.”
"You like to insult me with your mouth. Do you want to be beaten up?"
……
It was still snowing. Sun Shaoping went to Zhao Youliang's house to pay his New Year's greetings and gave Liang Liang ten yuan of New Year's money. Zhao Youliang and his wife insisted on keeping Sun Shaoping for dinner. Sun Shaoping said that Tian Runye had already been prepared. He had to pay his New Year's greetings to Li Bing and his wife before he could get rid of them.
Li Bing's house was tidier than Zhao Youliang's house, perhaps because they did not have children. Li Bing was still so stingy with his words. Sun Shaoping's congratulatory words were like a stand-up comedy, but he did not receive any response. Sun Shaoping, who had nothing to say, cupped his hands and prepared to leave. Zhang Qian held a piece of bacon and said,"Take it and try it. I brought it from my hometown.”
Sun Shaoping didn't stand on ceremony and took it. He sniffed it and said,""It's smoked by pine branches. It tastes very good. Thank you.”
"It's good that you like it." Zhang Qian smiled.”
When they returned to Tian Runye's room, she had already laid out the dishes. Sun Shaoping handed the bacon to Tian Runye and said,"Zhang Qian gave it to me. Hang it up first. I'll go find some bamboo shoots another day.”
The New Year's Eve dinner for the two was very simple. There were tofu, cabbage, bean sprouts, stir-fried New Year's vegetables, hot and sour shredded potatoes, cold beef, red oil ear shreds, and two plates of dumplings.
Sun Shaoping went to his room to get a bottle of Fenjiu, poured a glass for both of them, and said,""Let's have a drink together today. I wish you a good mood every day.”
Tian Runye also picked up his wine glass and said with a smile,"I also wish you all the best."
The wine glass wasn't big, but there was still one or two. Both of them drank it in one go. Tian Runye choked and coughed, while Sun Shaoping laughed.
"Sis, I have a gift for you." Sun Shaoping stopped laughing.”As he spoke, he took out a small rectangular box from his pocket.
Tian Runye took it with a smile and asked,"What is it?"”
"Open it and see for yourself," Sun Shaoping said.”
After Tian Runye opened it, there was a black Parker fountain pen inside. She recognized the logo of this pen. A few years ago, the president of the United States gave Leader Mao a pen like this. It was even reported in the newspapers.
Tian Runye took it in his hand and looked at it. Then, he put it in the box and said,"It's too expensive. I don't want it."
Sun Shaoping smiled and said," It's not expensive. It's fine as long as you like it. If you don't want it, I'll give it to Zhao Youliang's son. This kid is in the third grade. He can use it."”
Sun Shaoping chose this pen from the Friendship Store. It was indeed not cheap.
Tian Runye smiled and said," Then I'll accept it. I can't let a child ruin a good thing. However, I have a gift for you too. Don't mind it."”
Tian Runye got up and took out a pair of cotton shoes from the cabinet."Try and see if it fits."
Sun Shaoping said," I have bigger feet. It has to be suitable even if it's not suitable."”
Tian Runye smiled and patted him.""You're just a glib talker. Come and try it. I'll change it if it's not suitable.”As he spoke, he squatted down to help Sun Shaoping change his shoes.
Sun Shaoping quickly took the shoes and said," I'll do it myself. My feet smell strong. Be careful not to smoke you."”
This made Tian Runye a little embarrassed. She smiled and said,"Then do it yourself."
This pair of shoes was indeed well-made. The stitches on the bottom of the thousand-layer cloth were fine, and they were very warm when worn. They did not feel bloated at all.
Sun Shaoping walked a few steps and said,""Sister, thank you. The size is just right.”
Tian Runye said," It's good that it's suitable. Quickly go wash your hands. The dumplings are already cold!"”
In the former West County Revolutionary Committee compound, Tian Xiaoxia picked up the red wine in her glass and said with a smile,"Grandpa, I wish you a happy new year. I wish you a long and happy life. Dad, Mom, I wish you good health and a smooth career in the new year. Tian Xiaochen, since you didn't give me any red pocket money, I won't wish you any.”
Xu Aiyun laughed." You child. Your brother is still studying. Why do you give him red packets? You're always shouting about your age. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"”
Tian Xiaochen also smiled and said," I'll give you the New Year's money that Grandpa gave me. I don't want you to pay New Year's greetings either. Just don't call me by my name in the future."”
Tian Fujun took a sip of wine and said," Xiaochen, I've been busy these past few days and didn't ask you. How's your studies recently?"”
Tian Xiaochen put down her chopsticks and said with a smile," The results of the cultural studies exam are not bad. Moreover, when the school criticized the 'right-wing reversal of verdicts,' my article was even published in the school magazine.”
Tian Fujun frowned and said,"Is this what you learned in school?" Then I want to ask you, what is the right-wing style of overturning cases?”
Seeing that her father's expression was not right, Tian Xiaochen quickly lowered her head in fear and did not dare to say anything else.
Tian Fujun sighed and drank the wine in his glass. He smacked his lips and said,""You don't even know what 'right-wing reversal' is? Is this how you went to university? It was wrong to restore the social order of the country to normal. Was it right to continue to be chaotic?”At the end of his sentence, Tian Fujun slammed the table, giving the whole family a fright.
Tian Xiaochen raised her head and mustered up her courage.""But…but the school wants it. If I don't criticize it, I might be said to be against the revolutionary line of the working class…"
Tian Fujun said earnestly," Xiaochen, you have to know what is right and what is wrong in your heart when you do things. I don't object if you're just trying to protect yourself. However, your essay being selected for the school magazine shows that you've put in a lot of effort. I don't have high expectations for you. I just want you to have a clear conscience."”
Tian Xiaochen blushed and said,"Dad, I'll remember it."”
Xu Guoqiang snorted." We're not from the Revolutionary Committee. We can't even have a good meal together!"”
Tian Xiaoxia hurriedly tried to smooth things over." Grandpa, don't be angry. You don't understand my dad. Every day, his hands would itch if he didn't slam the table. Sometimes, my mom would even apply medicine for his swollen hands.”
Tian Xiaoxia's naughty words made the whole family laugh. Xu Guoqiang pointed at Tian Xiaoxia and said with a smile,"You and Sun Shaoping, that kid, are both oily mouths!”
"I'm not like him," Tian Xiaoxia argued,"I'm not like him who has no hair on his mouth. He's saying things from heaven to earth…"
"Is there fur on your mouth?" Xu Aiyun laughed. Shaoping speaks differently from you. Why don't you work in the coal department?”
Tian Xiaoxia pursed her lips." That's because my dad got in through the back door. Otherwise, he would still be in school like me."”
Tian Xiaochen looked at his father in surprise. In his impression, his father was an extremely party-minded cadre. How could he let others in through the back door? His father refused to help him even when he was recommended to go to university. It was only because his grandfather secretly used his connections that he was selected.
Tian Fujun smiled and said to Tian Xiaoxia,"If you have his talent and contribution, I'm willing to go through this back door."”
Tian Xiaoxia still admired Sun Shaoping's talent. Not to mention the big coal mine that he discovered, but the big problem that he helped his father solve that time could also show his ability. Moreover, his vision was broad and knowledgeable, unlike a high school student from the countryside.
"Who is Shaoping?" Tian Xiaochen was confused.”
Xu Aiyun said unhappily,"He's the brat who kidnapped your Sister Runye."”
"They eloped?" Tian Xiaochen asked excitedly.”
Tian Xiaoxia almost spat out the food after taking a bite. She covered her mouth and laughed so hard that her stomach hurt.
Xu Aiyun knocked her son's head with her chopsticks and said,""What are you thinking about all day?"
Tian Xiaochen blushed and said," You're not making things clear. What exactly happened?"”
Xu Aiyun sighed and said," Your Sister Runye didn't want to date Li Xiangqian from Li Dengyun's family. In the end, she quit her job and ran away from home. She went to Beijing to look for Shaoping. Shaoping didn't even know how to persuade him. He even found a job in Beijing and settled him down. You don't even know how angry your father was because of this. He didn't eat for a few days."”
Tian Xiaochen smiled and said," It's fine if you don't want to be together. Do you have to run away from home? Besides, why didn't my Sister Runye go somewhere else but went to Beijing? There must be something wrong."”
Xu Aiyun was also lost in thought by her son's words. She turned to her daughter and asked,""Have you contacted Shaoping recently?”
"No, why?" Tian Xiaoxia asked blankly.”
Xu Aiyun smiled and said," You two are classmates and have a good relationship. Why don't you write a letter to show your concern for your friend?"”
"He's so busy with work, how could he remember me as a friend?" Tian Xiaoxia pouted.”She had indeed written a few letters, but she had never sent any of them. Just because she looked generous did not mean that she did not have the reserved qualities of a girl. The key was that this guy had never written her a single letter.
Tian Fujun smiled and said," You young people should communicate more. Shaoping is a knowledgeable child. There are many things you can learn from him. It's not bad for you to communicate with him more.”
Xu Aiyun took over Tian Fujun's words and said,""That's right. You can only improve if you communicate with others. Look at your sister Runye. Didn't she improve to the capital? When you graduate from high school, ask Shaoping to find you a job in the capital.”After saying that, he glanced at Tian Fujun.
Tian Fujun could only shake his head with a bitter smile.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]