Siheyuan: I am the seventh uncle of Banggen - Page 176

"Okay, Seventh Uncle." Qin Minghui and his companions carried the things in the car and left with Qin Huairu, Qin Jingru, and left He Yuzhu behind.

"Da Biao, life in the village is really hard," He Yuzhu said.

"Let's go. When we get downstairs, you have to wait for me for a while. I'm going to burn some paper for my brother and tell uncle that my sister has become a cadre." Zhang Dabao smiled bitterly and turned the car around.

After burning paper at the grave and fulfilling the request of his two sisters, Zhang Dabao came to Zhang Zhiling's house. He Yuzhu was embarrassed to go with him, so he went to Zhang Daliu's house by himself.

"He was promoted to the next level and took on the position of first deputy director of the Metallurgical Bureau, becoming a full-time department-level cadre. He is also the director of the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill. I was about to come to the village yesterday, and he told me that the factory would need temporary workers after the Spring Festival. How many people can our village send?" said Zhang Dabia.

"What's the meaning of sending so many people? Do they want as many as we want?" Zhang Zhiling asked.

"Uncle Si, you're overthinking it. How many people are there in our village? What is our main task? It's farming. You don't farm the land and let the villagers work as temporary workers in the factory. Will the commune be happy if they find out?" Zhang Dabao poured a basin of cold water on Zhang Zhiling.

"Yes, our main task is farming, but it's not raining, you say..." Zhang Zhiling was full of helplessness.

"Let's do the same as last year. Send out fifty people. The rest of the people will be a little tired, but they can still do the work in the fields. When the busy farming season really comes, Daliu, you can bring a few more people back to help. We still have to seize the opportunity to make money. It's very difficult to earn a penny in the village now," said Zhang Zhiling.

"I know. Let's come to my house for dinner today. Lianhua's boyfriend is here too. Dabiao also brought some cooked food. I asked Shouqian's mother to call his fifth and sixth uncles," said Zhang Daliu.

"Lotus and her boyfriend are here too? They are distinguished guests. I'll bring a bottle of wine." Zhang Zhiling went to the inner room, took two bottles of wine, and went to Zhang Daliu's house with his two nephews.

Chapter 398: Jia Family Affairs

"Minghui, you guys go back." Zhang Dabao got out of the car and greeted the two of them. He put the local specialties they brought from their mother's home into the car, and went to the village to pick up Zhang Lianhua, He Yuzhu and Xiaodang. He returned to Compound No. 95 at around four o'clock in the afternoon.

"Seventh Uncle, how much did Zhuzi drink?" Jia Dongxu went home early. When he got home, only his son was at home. His wife and two daughters were not there. He felt a little uncomfortable, so he waited at the gate of the courtyard. As soon as he opened the car door, He Yuzhu came out staggeringly.

"Your uncle-in-law is an honored guest, you know that? Your uncles and three grandfathers should have a good drink with him, right?" Zhang Dabao said.

"I'm visiting my uncle's house, why is there no one to have a drink with me?" Jia Dongxu said dissatisfiedly.

Zhang Lianhua and Qin Huairu laughed when they heard Zhang Dabao's words.

"Next time I go to my uncle's house, I'll ask Zhuzi to come along." Jia Dongxu immediately thought of a good idea.

"Dongxu is smart. But doesn't your mother forbid you to drink?" Zhang Dabao also laughed and asked Jia Dongxu by the way.

"My mother doesn't allow me to drink too much, but it's okay to have one or two cups," Jia Dongxu smiled awkwardly.

"Seventh Uncle, there is a lot of meat in your kitchen, but you may not be able to use it all," said Jia Dongxu.

"Just divide it up if you don't need to write anything. Share it equally among the families. I'm coming back from a business trip and should be able to bring back some local specialties or something. You don't have to leave any for me," said Zhang Dabao.

"Seventh Uncle, did you drink tomato soup yesterday?" Jia Dongxu followed Zhang Dabao to his home.

"Look at how ugly you look. What's so good about tomato soup? Let's make hot and sour soup tonight. It's sour and spicy, appetizing, nutritious, and can warm the stomach and drive away the cold. For people like you and Zhuzi who love to drink, it's great. A bowl of soup after a few drinks will make your stomach feel good," said Zhang Dabao.

"Telling you this dish means I know how to make it. Cut some meat into shreds. There's a piece of tofu inside, I'll take it out and shred it as well. There's no ham, forget it, I won't use it. Cut two carrots into shreds and soak some black fungus and cut them into shreds. I'll tell you how to make it later. Make more and give each person two bowls," Zhang Dabao said to Jia Dongxu.

After receiving the order, Jia Dongxu took the tofu to Zhang Dabao's kitchen and started to get busy.

Qin Jingru steamed some buns made of two tbsp flour, and under the guidance of Zhang Dabao, Jia Dongxu made a big pot of hot and sour soup. He Yuzhu, who had drunk too much, drank two bowls of it directly and kept praising it for being delicious.

"I couldn't even imagine the life I have now in the past. Let alone eating well, I couldn't even think about having enough," said Zhang Cuihua after she had her fill.

"Da Biao, you said that life is getting better and better. These days, I think of Youfulai every day. What do you think is going on?" Zhang Cuihua asked.

"Why do you miss him? Isn't the New Year almost here? Let Dongxu and you go back to take another look before the New Year. You should have a good talk with Jia Youfu. He is still lucky. I have never seen such an unlucky person," said Zhang Dabao.

"Seventh uncle, I always feel that there is something wrong with the names my great-grandfather gave to people like my father," said Jia Dongxu.

"Didn't your mother tell you? If you find a problem, you must correct it. Go back and tell Brother Youcai to change his name to Wucai. How about that? Look at his family. They still have the nerve to call themselves Youcai, but they are so poor. It doesn't matter whether your father and Brother Youwang change their names or not," said Zhang Dabia with a smile.

"If you know it's not good, just shut your stinky mouth. Dongxu, are you free? Or are you itching to do this again? You keep doing this kind of nonsense every day." Zhang Cuihua became angry again.

"Mom, I'm just talking, that's all," Jia Dongxu quickly explained.

"Do you have the right to say the names of your father, your second uncle and your third uncle? Who do you think you are? When you are really successful, see that your younger brothers are not doing well at home, and give them a hand. This is a serious matter. You don't want to work hard, and you want to change your father's name every day. You are really a good son." Zhang Cuihua scolded Jia Dongxu.

"If you change my grandfather's name, I will change your name too when you die." Banggeng immediately stood up to support his grandmother.

"Bang Geng, don't you get a certificate? Go get your results tomorrow and the teacher will give out certificates. If you can't get the certificate, I'll show you how I'm going to deal with you," Jia Dongxu said angrily.

"What if I can get a certificate?" Banggeng asked Jia Dongxu.

"Then I'll give you two cents," Jia Dongxu offered.

"Dad, I'm raising geese with my seventh uncle. We earned more than ten yuan in the past few months. I don't care about three or two cents. You got the certificate, so you can save money to buy a bicycle for grandma. I will also take out all my money," said Bang Geng.

"I sponsored the tickets," said Zhang Dabao.

"No, my mother is so fat. If she falls off her bicycle, it will be very serious and she will have to see a doctor. No, it is absolutely not possible," Jia Dongxu shook his head repeatedly.

"Jia Dongxu, you bastard, you are worse than a child. If I had known you were this kind of person, I should have thrown you into the toilet and drowned you when you were born." Zhang Cuihua was almost angry to death when she heard what her son said.

"Mom, I don't have the money to pay back. It's only two dollars a month. I'm not as rich as Banggeng," Jia Dongxu said aggrievedly.

"Okay, I also don't think it's appropriate to buy a bicycle for your mother. I think we can consider buying a tricycle, which is the same as the carts on the street, but smaller, with a cargo box at the back that can pull people and is very stable to ride. I can assemble it. Dongxu, take out the money from your small treasury, and add Banggeng's money. Your mother can pay for the remaining money herself. Go to the store to buy spare parts, and I will assemble it for you when I come back from my business trip," said Zhang Dabia.

"This is a good idea. I will buy some accessories for Lotus, and then you and Da Biao can assemble it together," said He Yuzhu.

Everyone said this was a good idea, but Jia Dongxu held his pockets tightly. He had saved a total of eight yuan and sixty cents, but it seemed he could not keep it.

Chapter 399 Exchange

In the winter mornings, the capital city is always foggy, and there is some indescribable smell in the air. Zhang Dabao drove all the way to Yan Jingkai's hometown. Since he left early in the morning and was familiar with the road, he arrived at Yanjia Village at five in the afternoon.

"Xiao Ming" happened to meet Yan Fangwen at the entrance of the village.

"Uncle, I'm passing by here on a business trip and wanted to go home to visit," Zhang Dabao walked up and greeted him.

"This time you can go back to your own home. Your house has been built for you," Yan Fangwen said happily.

"Wait a minute, I'll go call someone." Yan Fangwen ran to the village. After seven or eight minutes, Yan Fangwu and a dozen other people came out. They greeted Zhang Dabao and got in the car to take the rice, flour and other things that Zhang Dabao had brought to the village.

"Xiao Ming, are you coming back for the New Year?" Yan Jingda asked Zhang Dabao.

"Second Grandpa, I'm passing by here on a business trip. I'll stay at home for one day and have to leave tomorrow," said Zhang Dabao.

"Just stay for one day," Yan Jingda said.

"Brother, you're not old anymore, why are you still doing this?" Yan Jingda didn't quite understand.

"Second Grandpa, he's in a special department and will be here soon." Zhang Dabao likes these simple people very much. Their concern for you is pure and their longing for Yan Jingkai is real.

"I brought back some photos of my grandfather, you can take a look." Zhang Dabao thought of the photos he took of Yan Jing in Hong Kong.

"Brother, I'm still young when you look at me. It seems he is living a good life," Yan Jingda said while stroking the photo.

I had dinner with Yan’s relatives in the evening.

In the morning, Zhang Dabao took photos of the courtyard of his hometown from various angles. Yan Jingkai would like it after seeing it. It is almost the New Year and there is a custom of worshipping ancestors before the New Year. Zhang Dabao burned paper and kowtowed at the grave of the Yan family, and waved goodbye to the Yan family. Driving to Datong, Shanxi.

I have never been to Datong, Shanxi in my two lifetimes. My impression of Datong is that this place produces coal, and the quality of Datong's coal is very good.

It's a bit late for me to set out today. According to the map, it's at least 500 kilometers from here to Datong Yanggao, which cannot be reached in one day. My goal today is to pass the capital and then run as far as I can, preferably to Zhangjiakou.

In fact, for a cultivator in the fifth stage of foundation building, not sleeping for one or two days really has no effect. Why do they still need to sleep? Zhang Dabia thinks it may be more of a habit.

The power of habit is too great.

After getting up in the morning, he took care of some personal problems, ate something, and set off again. Zhang Dabao's task today is to reach Yanggao County, rest in the county, and then visit his comrade Xin Zhongyuan's hometown tomorrow. If there is nothing else, he will return to Yanggao County, take out his letter of introduction from the supply and marketing cooperative, and purchase some local specialties. Zhang Dabao doesn't know what the local specialties are.

I looked at the map again in the car. There were still a hundred or so kilometers to go, so today's mission was a lot easier.

At about 3:00 p.m., Zhang Dabiao arrived at the Yanggao County Guesthouse, took out his letter of introduction and checked in. He first went to the bathroom to take a shower, then went to the front desk to ask the waiter what the local specialties were and where he could buy them.

"Our local specialty, our apricots are the most delicious, but they are out of stock now; and the millet here is delicious, but the harvest is not good this year, and I don't know where to buy it. Why don't you go to the supply and marketing cooperative and ask." The waiter's attitude was still very good.

Zhang Dabao said thank you and left the guesthouse.

"Brother, I'm from the Red Star Supply and Marketing Cooperative in Beijing. Isn't it Chinese New Year? The leaders want to buy some local specialties. Is there anything you can recommend?" Zhang Dabao found the Yanggao Supply and Marketing Cooperative and, under the guidance of the salesperson, came to the manager's office. He came with gifts and walked directly to the front door.

"Brother Zhang, the harvest this year is not good. We used to be rich in millet here, but this year's output is less than half of that of previous years. The crops are not easy to get," said the manager nonsense.

"Brother Hu, it's okay if it's difficult to get. As long as I have it, it's fine. I can exchange it, for example, cigarettes and military coats," said Zhang Dabao.

"You're bringing these things with you on a business trip?" Hu Lai was a little surprised.

"I drove out and passed by here. There are military coats in the car, which I just exchanged from somewhere else. We will pay the market price. I don't ask for much. Two thousand kilograms of millet will be enough. If the deal is done, I will give Brother Hu a military coat." Zhang Dabao offered the conditions. Of course, he also heard the hidden meaning of Hu Lai's words. It is not easy to do. The reason why it is difficult to do is that your conditions are not good enough. If the conditions are in place, he will find it easy to do as long as he has them.