Chapter 498
, Point 1: Who knows what happened?
Chapter 498, Node 1: Who knows what happened?
As the sun rises higher, the bustling atmosphere of the morning market gradually diminishes.
Zhao Qiuju bought soy milk, fried dough sticks, and large meat buns. She came up behind Lin Xiaohe and looked warily at the two burly men in front of her: "Girl, do you know them?"
Lin Xiaohe quickly said, "This uncle is Wei Dapao, a model worker at the paper mill, and that uncle is Wang Qiang, a level four electrician at Changhong Radio Factory."
Hearing that both men had legitimate jobs, Zhao Qiuju's wariness lessened somewhat, and she explained, "Please forgive me, brothers, but the current environment isn't very safe. My daughter is still young, so I have to take extra care of her."
"I understand. All parents want the same thing, especially when it comes to young girls, so we really need to be careful."
“I work here every day, and all the vendors in the neighborhood know me, so you can rest assured.”
Zhao Qiuju did not explain her relationship with Lin Xiaohe. To be precise, she deliberately misled the two of them, saying that she and Lin Xiaohe were mother and daughter.
With Zhao Qiuju around, Lin Xiaohe didn't want to ask too many questions.
Lin Xiaohe took the breakfast from Zhao Qiuju and waved to Wang Qiang and the other man: "Goodbye, you two uncles."
When they returned to the government staff quarters, Zhao Qiuju stopped and said earnestly, "Xiaohe, do you know why I called you 'daughter' just now?"
"why?"
“When you’re out in the world, you need to be more careful,” Zhao Qiuju sighed softly. “Things are different now than before. When people are well-fed, they know etiquette. When they’re not hungry, they rarely think about other things. Especially having a formal job is another kind of constraint. They won’t be willing to risk losing their jobs and take risks for a few measly coins.”
"People, once they're free from the constraints of work and have no money, become completely reckless. You might think those two are good people, but what bad person would have the word 'bad person' tattooed on their forehead?"
"If they think we're mother and daughter, they won't act rashly. After all, a mother can risk her life for her daughter."
If someone calls you "Auntie," then the relationship is considered to be one level apart.
Lin Xiaohe was stunned.
This was a perspective she had never considered before.
Since she fought her way up to the Central Military Academy, she has rarely shown this kind of survival attitude of the weak.
But upon closer reflection, if Lin Xiaohe wanted to reverse the outcome at this juncture, wouldn't she have to do it by playing the role of the underdog and making a comeback?
If you continue to act with the mindset of being the master, you're going to run into big problems!
Lin Xiaohe adjusted her mindset and solemnly apologized to Zhao Qiuju: "I understand, thank you for teaching me, Aunt Zhao."
The word "teach" is used very well.
Zhao Qiuju beamed with joy: "Hey, what's with all this talk about teaching? I treat you like my own daughter."
After the two had breakfast together, Zhao Qiuju personally escorted Lin Xiaohe home: "Shuxiang, if the child does something wrong, we parents can hit her or scold her, but we can't kick her out of the house in the middle of the night! What if something happens? Won't you regret it?"
Last night, Wang Shuxiang regretted it, but she couldn't bring herself to say, "Okay, I understand. My family is making dumplings tonight, so don't cook. I'll bring them to you."
"That's great! Your dumplings are the best in the yard! Old Zhang and I love them. You don't need to bring them to us. We'll come over uninvited tonight and have a meal at your place. I'll call Old Zhang later and tell him not to go to Yingyingyan's house. Let's have a good get-together."
After arranging dinner for the evening, Zhao Qiuju left in a hurry.
Wang Shuxiang glanced at Lin Xiaohe and said awkwardly, "I'm going to buy groceries. You stay home and rest. You don't like dumplings. What would you like to eat tonight? I'll make something special for you."
Lin Xiaohe thought for a moment, then put her coat back on: "I'll go with you."
"Where are you going?"
"walk around."
Wang Shuxiang hesitated for a moment, but in the end she let her have her way.
Tonight we're making sauerkraut and pork dumplings. We have sauerkraut that Wang Shuxiang made herself, so all we need to do is buy some meat and whatever Lin Xiaohe wants to eat.
There were quite a few people around the butcher shop.
"Boss, give me two ounces of the fattier cuts." "How much for offal?"
"You've shaved this big bone so clean it's practically gnawed by a dog, shouldn't you give me a discount?"
Lin Xiaohe observed that there were many customers buying meat, but most of them bought only a few ounces at a time, and very few bought more than a pound.
In the butcher shop, meat was divided into one pile, bones into another, and offal into yet another. Unlike in later times, meat wasn't further divided into different cuts like pork shoulder or pork shank.
Soon it was Lin Xiaohe and Wang Shuxiang's turn, and Wang Shuxiang bought 10 jin (5 catties).
She doesn't have a formal job, and her family relies entirely on Lin Aiguo for support.
Lin Aiguo occasionally makes financial mistakes, and the money he earns is used to support women.
Wang Shuxiang wasn't always this stingy; she was frightened by the current situation of her siblings' families.
The butcher was delighted to finally have a big customer: "Here's a piece of pig liver for you. Welcome back next time."
Wang Shuxiang naturally didn't stand on ceremony: "Thank you, boss. I wish you a prosperous business."
"Sigh, what a mess, barely making ends meet." The butcher's face was full of worry as he sighed repeatedly. "In the past, when the New Year was approaching, every household would prepare 10 or 8 jin of meat. Even families with fewer members would prepare 2 jin to make dumplings. But now, buying even one jin of meat a month is considered a rare treat."
Speaking of this, Wang Shuxiang couldn't help but feel down.
She lent 500 yuan to each of her siblings, but that's the kind of money that disappears very quickly. I wonder how her older sister and her siblings will get through the New Year?
Thinking of this, Wang Shuxiang gritted her teeth and weighed another 10 jin (5 catties), froze it, and planned to distribute it to her brothers and sisters when the New Year was approaching, so that they could have some meat and vegetables.
Lin Xiaohe helped carry the meat.
On the way back, Wang Shuxiang kept her head down, seemingly lost in thought.
Lin Xiaohe followed behind her, lost in thought.
Whether the situation in this node world is the same as it was back then requires more detailed information and investigation.
"Mom, what's going on with Uncle and Aunt's family? Are they still at the old factory?"
Wang Shuxiang glanced at her and said irritably, "Why did you have to learn from your sister-in-law, who's so shallow?"
After scolding her, she still explained, "Your eldest aunt and second aunt's families both work in canneries, and your uncle works in a food factory. When you were little, you ate a lot of canned food and snacks that your aunts and uncle brought you."
As the saying goes, if the factory has it, my family has it too. How could workers in canneries and food factories possibly lack food at home?
Everyone does it this way; not doing it means you're not fitting in.
Lin Xiaohe: "Are these two factories not doing well either?"
That shouldn't be the case.
Northerners really recognize canned goods, especially canned yellow peaches, which are essential for visiting the sick and celebrating the Chinese New Year.
The snow was falling softly.
The snow on the road was left unswept; if you stepped on it, it would be up to your shoes.
Wang Shuxiang walked with uneven steps, her voice barely audible in the wind and snow: "Who knows?"
I've read all the comments from you guys.
Recently, due to the reduction in medication, my eye condition has been fluctuating greatly, and I need to control my screen time, so I won't be able to reply to everyone individually.
Thank you for your support, my darlings.