Xu Damao followed the established schedule and spent half a month before the new year. He went around the villages around the capital city to play movies one by one. His professional screening skills and unique narration made all the villages give him a thumbs up in satisfaction. They all requested to come back to the countryside after the new year.
In this half a month, all kinds of good food and drinks were provided. Xu Damao felt that he had gained a few pounds.
The villagers at the last stop warmly sent them off and they set off on their way back.
Just his bicycle alone was filled with farm goods, ranging from onions, ginger, garlic, to wild mushrooms. There was a fat old hen hanging on each side of the bicycle handle.
For the first time, Xu Damao felt the enthusiasm of a simple farmer. People were still very simple these days. Xu Damao's bicycle was squeaking under the weight. The seat was tied with two rings of dried vermicelli. He could no longer ride it.
Even though he repeatedly refused to ask for more, the enthusiastic villagers still pressed ten catties of noodles on his fragile 28-pound big shoulder.
Xu Damao did not dare to stay any longer, afraid that the villagers would continue to give gifts.
Coincidentally, when he passed by the entrance of Red Star Commune, he saw Qin Jingru with two braids squatting at the side. After seeing Xu Damao, she ran over happily.
"Jingru, are you…waiting for me?”
"Yes, yes. I heard from the neighboring village that you happened to return to the city for the New Year today. You've been waiting here since early in the morning.”Qin Jingru's face was red from the cold. She took out a bag of peanuts from her pocket. It looked like it weighed five to six pounds.
"My mother asked me to bring this over. She said that people in the city eat this.”
"Help me thank Auntie."
Xu Damao thought for a moment and took out ten yuan and twenty catties of food stamps from his pocket and handed them to Qin Jingru.
"Big Brother Xu, I can't accept these.”Qin Jingru quickly waved her hand." Besides, how can these peanuts be worth so much?”
"It's a misunderstanding, isn't it? Last time, I tasted the grain wine brewed by your family and decided to buy some. How about this? Help me collect ten catties. You can bring it back to the city after the New Year.”Xu Damao said.
There were no food stamps for rural households. They were all self-produced and sold. Therefore, some farmers would use their own sweet potato wine to exchange for food stamps in the city, commonly known as "eight and two", that is, 80 cents 2 catties of food stamps =1 catty of sweet potato wine.
This pure grain wine was really not bad. After getting drunk, he did not have a headache the next day.
It would be very difficult to buy such pure grain wine in the future, so it would not be a loss to buy more and try it.
"I see! Thank you for taking care of my family, Big Brother Xu." Qin Jingru happily accepted the money. If she sold the grain and wine at home, she could eat more dumplings during the New Year." Then you're giving too much. Ten catties of sweet potato wine is eight yuan."”
"How can I let you work for nothing? Take these two yuan as compensation for your hard work!" Xu Damao smiled and said," Besides, you have to pay the fare to come to the city. How can I, the host, let you pay for it yourself?”
"Besides, you haven't tried the soda at the city gate, right? 15 cents for a bottle.”
When Qin Jingru heard this, she immediately beamed with joy. She had earned two yuan for nothing!
It was equivalent to a fat chicken and half a pound of eggs!
To her, it was a huge sum of money.
She was envious of the soda at the city gate every time she entered the city. She heard that orange flavored soda was the best. This time, she had to taste the soda!
Qin Jingru happily accepted the money and tickets.""Alright, Brother Xu. I'll send it to you when I enter the city after the New Year!”
"Then it's settled. Write me a letter before you come. I'll pick you up then!”
After waving goodbye, Qin Jingru jogged all the way home. She nervously covered her trouser pocket, afraid that the money would fall out. She looked quite funny.
Xu Damao struggled to get back on his bicycle. Fortunately, he had been practicing the Twelve Duan Brocade for the past half a month. He was beginning to see results. He didn't feel tired even if he rode to the city gate.
When he returned to the entrance of the alley, he saw Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui holding paste and preparing to paste couplets on the courtyard door.
"First Uncle, Third Uncle, you're busy putting up couplets!”
"Da Mao came back from the countryside to play a movie! Aiyo, your harvest is not small…"
Before Yi Zhonghai could say anything, the Third Master Yan Bugui's eyes were wide open. He almost drooled when he saw Xu Damao's bicycle returning with a full load. He took the initiative to greet him warmly.
Xu Damao took out a bunch of wild mushrooms from the cloth pocket of the car handle and said,"A little mountain product, please accept it.”
Third Uncle accepted it with a smile. For a scheming miser like him, no matter what it was, he would be happy for a long time.
First Uncle was not so thick-skinned. He smiled and declined politely.
Xu Damao didn't mind and said politely,""You two uncles can go ahead with your work first. I still have to go back to the factory to make an appointment. I'll leave after putting down my things. When I'm free, I'll visit you two uncles at your house.”
Yi Zhonghai waved his hand." Damao, you don't have to be so polite. We're all from the same courtyard."”
Xu Damao said," It's not that I'm being polite. This time, the comrades from the village were too enthusiastic. They gave me more seasonings such as ginger, garlic, and pepper. I thought that I wouldn't be able to eat so much alone. You two make dumplings at home during the New Year. It's better to add more seasonings, right?!"”
Seasonings!
This thing was not easy to get. Every household could only get some onion salt at most. How could they have the spare money to buy seasonings? More importantly, the supply of this thing was too small and the price was not low.
Even in Silly Pillar's canteen, spices like pepper, aniseed, and cassia were only used when the factory manager treated them.
"Alright, alright, alright. I'll be waiting for you!”
Yan Bugui's lips curled into a smile as he nodded his head like a chicken eating rice.
Yi Zhonghai was also speechless. He wanted to reject Xu Damao, but Xu Damao had given him too much!
Xu Damao continued," First Master, the Deaf Old Lady is getting old and her taste buds have deteriorated. She usually says that eating is tasteless. This year, make dumplings at your house and add some seasonings so that she can have a good meal."”
This time, the First Uncle was too embarrassed to refuse. He said gratefully,"Da Mao, you're so thoughtful!"
"Alright, then I'll leave first!"
"Okay, okay, okay. You go ahead!"
Yan Bugui chuckled as he helped Xu Damao carry the rear wheels over the threshold.
At the thought of getting a share of the benefits by talking to him, Third Master's eyebrows danced and he said with emotion,"This projectionist position is really a lucrative one. No wonder Xu Damao said that he could earn half a month's salary by going to the countryside! This is not bragging!"
Yi Zhonghai's focus wasn't on this. He sighed and said,""Da Mao has changed. He's much more mature than before!”
"That's true. He's much more steady in his words and actions. More importantly, he's open in his actions and respects his elders!”Third Uncle received the benefits, which was a great compliment.
Yi Zhonghai smiled." Third Uncle, let's go around and see who hasn't written a couplet yet. Thank you for writing it."”
"It's not hard, it's not hard. Just moisten the pen a little!”
“……”
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。