Chapter 2882
People's Livelihood Gradually Improving
Chapter 2882 People's Livelihood Gradually Improving
As dawn broke, a grayish-blue mist slowly rose from the cracks in the brickwork of the courtyard house.
Middle Court.
Spiderwebs hung from the eaves, covered with dewdrops, trembling in the morning light, like a string of candied hawthorns about to melt.
Old Ye opened the door and came out, strolling around the yard in his cloth shoes for a bit. Then he picked up a bamboo broom from under the window and swept it across the blue bricks with a "swish-swish," making a few locust leaves swirl around.
In the backyard, the old Taoist priest was bending over and poking at the stove, and a smell of coal smoke wafted out instantly.
The iron hook struck the furnace with a clang, startling the sparrows that were dozing on the eaves.
Yang Xiaotao carefully pulled his arm out from under Ran Qiuye, so as not to wake her.
Then cover the other person with the blanket.
I looked up at the calendar on the wall, a faint sense of anticipation rising in my heart.
If I remember correctly, today will be an important day.
After getting dressed, Yang Xiaotao went into the yard. At that moment, Old Ye and the old Taoist were taking a walk, followed by two small dogs.
People in the courtyard were also getting up to prepare breakfast.
"Grandmaster, old Taoist priest, let's eat together!"
Yang Xiaotao greeted the two of them.
The old Taoist priest looked at Yang Xiaotao. In his memory, whenever Yang Xiaotao got up this early, it must be because something was wrong.
Otherwise, this guy wouldn't have gotten up so early.
However, the two of them didn't say much, and then the three of them strolled out.
After the National Day holiday, the mornings in Beijing were a bit chilly, but there were still many people on the streets, and the roadsides were bustling with activity.
The three walked through the crowd, looking around, Yang Xiaotao's gaze lingering on the faces of the people around him.
Tofu pudding~
A voice with a drawn-out tone came from the alleyway. Turning my head, I saw it was Old Liu from the alley entrance, greeting the guests with a smile.
Shila~
Just as I walked up to a griddle, an older woman was squatting in front of a dark coal stove, dipping the tip of her chopsticks in cottonseed oil and dripping it onto the griddle, then spreading out the batter with a sizzling sound, her hands moving incredibly fast.
Yang Xiaotao paused for a moment, and the aunt looked up and smiled, "Comrade, would you like some flatbread?"
Yang Xiaotao smiled and shook his head. The aunt didn't mind and continued working. The three of them continued walking forward.
On the way, whether it was people buying breakfast or selling breakfast, Yang Xiaotao had a sudden feeling of realization.
"I haven't been here for a long time."
"The change is so big?"
Yang Xiaotao stood by the roadside, watching the passersby.
The scene I remember is a few scattered breakfast stalls in the morning, where it was lucky if there were a few people sitting inside.
"Just tell me what you want to eat already! We need to find a place to sit down and eat!"
After walking around the streets with Yang Xiaotao for a while, the old Taoist priest realized that Yang Xiaotao's mind was not on eating at all.
Yang Xiaotao stopped when he heard the sound behind him, and then looked at the breakfast stall next to him.
"Soy milk and fried dough sticks?"
Yang Xiaotao tentatively asked, but the old Taoist priest, seeing the steamed bun shop open nearby, grinned and asked, "You're on your way?"
Yang Xiaotao nodded, "Okay!"
"Alright, let's have steamed buns today!"
As he spoke, he walked toward the steamed bun shop next door, and before he even sat down, he called out, "Old Bao, two baskets of steamed buns, pork and scallion, please!"
After saying that, he found a place to sit down.
Yang Xiaotao looked around and saw several middle-aged people sitting on a long wooden bench eating steamed buns and chatting as they ate.
White smoke billowed from the steamer, carrying a faint aroma; it didn't seem like a losing proposition.
The old Taoist priest was clearly a regular customer, and he spoke to him without any airs.
"Old Zhang, you're here!"
"Oh, Teacher Ye, you've come too? Please have a seat!"
When the boss, Lao Bao, saw the old Taoist priest, he hurriedly stepped forward to greet him. Then, seeing that Yang Xiaotao looked somewhat familiar, he slapped his forehead and said respectfully, "You've arrived. Please have a seat."
To be able to run a breakfast business outside this courtyard house, one must not only be capable but also register with the local street office, making it a joint public-private venture. Naturally, one must be very familiar with the situation of this courtyard house.
Yang Xiaotao rarely ate breakfast outside in the past, so he didn't see people around him often.
But that doesn't mean that people don't recognize him.
Especially the Yang family's children, who were often taken out for breakfast by the old Taoist priest.
I'm naturally happy to have Yang Xiaotao over for dinner.
"Two baskets of pork and scallion buns, here they come!"
Old Bao skillfully opened the steamer, then took down the two steamers and easily placed them on the table. The steaming appearance made Yang Xiaotao unconsciously swallow his saliva.
"Comrades, please enjoy your meal!"
"This is the first batch of pork and scallion buns this morning, they smell amazing!"
"Oh, and here are some pickled radishes, feel free to help yourself!"
Old Bao rubbed his hands together. The steamer was scalding hot, but he just picked it up with his bare hands, which showed that he did this often.
"Old Bao, you don't have many customers this morning!"
The old Taoist priest casually remarked, then picked up a palm-sized bun from the steamer. The pleats of the bun were twisted together, resembling a button.
Old Bao chuckled, "It's getting cold, so everyone's probably staying home. They'll come out in a bit!"
Then, watching Yang Xiaotao eat the steamed bun, she carefully said, "Enjoy your meal, and let me know if you need anything!"
As he spoke, Lao Bao continued working, while the old Taoist priest turned around, picked up a pickled radish, and started eating it.
Yang Xiaotao also picked up a bun and took a bite. The skin was thin and the filling was generous, and most importantly, there was a lot of meat inside.
"good to eat!"
Yang Xiaotao said something, and the old Taoist priest next to him immediately laughed and said, "If it's delicious, eat more!"
Yang Xiaotao nodded. He had exercised quite a bit last night, so he needed to eat something to replenish his energy.
Old Ye also picked up a steamed bun and started eating. He glanced at the old Taoist priest, knowing what the other was thinking, but didn't expose him.
After all, Yang Xiaotao comes from a wealthy family, and he can also bring a few of his children back home.
"Old Bao, where did you get this meat from? You won't lose money with so much meat, will you?"
Yang Xiaotao picked up the third steamed bun and savored it carefully.
When Lao Bao, who was busy at work, heard Yang Xiaotao's question, he immediately smiled and said, "The pork is bought from the supply and marketing cooperative. We have quotas, so we can get the meat!"
"However, the supply and marketing cooperative has had a lot more meat in the past two years, so we don't have to worry about shortages like before!"
"As for losing money, not really. Anyway, we're making more money this year than before, and life is much better than before," Lao Bao said with a smile. Yang Xiaotao put down his chopsticks. "Is there too much pork?"
During this period, Yang Xiaotao was focused on the various research projects of the Ninth Department and knew very little about these things.
However, when I returned to the village, Yang Dazhuang mentioned that the village's pig farm was doing quite well, and now the students at the school could eat meat three times a week.
This was something that could only be done during the Lunar New Year in the past.
When Yang Xiaotao asked, Lao Bao put down his work and sat down to the side. "I actually know a little about this matter."
"To talk about pork, we have to start with pig farming."
As Lao Bao explained, Yang Xiaotao finally understood the reason behind the matter.
In recent years, thanks to the high-yield corn and high-yield hybrid rice, the local production brigade has seen its grain harvest increase exponentially, resulting in more grain being distributed to each household.
In the past, under the "70% work-to-50%" policy, people often had to earn work points to obtain surplus grain.
But now that grain production has increased and the basic needs have been met, the grain distributed according to population is basically enough to satisfy the family's food needs.
Work points earned can be exchanged for more food or money.
With surplus grain in the production team and extra grain at home, they responded to the national call, accepted the task of purchasing grain from higher authorities, and started raising pigs at home.
Under such circumstances, the amount of pork in circulation naturally increased significantly, and pork in the city became less scarce.
"So, when the people have surplus grain, we also benefit."
"If we can't even get enough to eat, how can we have enough grain to feed pigs?"
Old Bao's words, though rough, are not without reason.
After listening to Lao Bao's explanation, Yang Xiaotao took another big bite of the bun, feeling even more proud at that moment.
I am proud of the Yangcun No. 1 project that I created.
Just then, a hissing sound came from afar, and then the loudspeaker under the eaves of the wall started playing.
Yang Xiaotao, with a steamed bun in his hand, immediately perked up his ears.
The old Taoist priest and Elder Ye also became serious.
Not only the three of them, but also the people eating around them stopped eating and listened attentively.
"Workers, peasants!"
"Good morning, students and friends from all walks of life!"
"Now, we're broadcasting some very exciting news..."
"At the 26th General Assembly, our country's representatives successfully entered..."
"The adoption of this resolution demonstrates the broad international recognition of my country's legitimacy, signifies that my country has become an important force in the international arena, and will undoubtedly play its due contribution to world peace..."
The announcer's strong voice came over the radio and rang out three times before ending.
At this moment, the people who were eating already understood what had happened.
After a moment of silence, a worker holding a fried dough stick suddenly raised it high, swallowed it, and immediately shouted, "Long live the People's Republic of China!"
"Long live!"
Then, more people around joined in the shouting, and shouts could be heard from afar as well.
More and more people are leaving their homes and taking to the streets.
"Old Bao, the bill's due!"
Yang Xiaotao finished eating the steamed buns, and then ordered three more baskets to take back with him.
Regardless, I'm in a good mood today, and these steamed buns are delicious, so there's no reason not to buy some.
Old Bao is currently cheering along with the people around him.
He probably doesn't know what the Five Constants are, or what the purpose of going there is.
But for him, as long as the country makes progress, it means that the country has become stronger, and that is something to be happy about, something he should be happy about.
"Have you finished eating?"
Yang Xiaotao nodded, "The steamed buns are good, very delicious!"
Old Bao was even happier with a compliment, saying, "Your praise is an honor to my little shop."
Yang Xiaotao waved his hands repeatedly, "It's delicious, it's delicious, I'm telling the truth."
Old Bao then smiled and said, "Alright, thank you for the compliment."
After saying that, he took out a small notebook from the shop. "You ordered five baskets of pork and scallion buns. Each one costs five cents, so a basket is twenty-five cents, plus three ounces of grain coupons."
"So the total was one dollar and twenty-five cents, plus one and a half pounds of grain coupons!"
"Well then, since it's such a joyous occasion, I'll round it down to one dollar and twenty cents!"
Old Bao said with a chuckle.
"Is this appropriate?"
Yang Xiaotao knew the other person's feelings, but didn't want to take advantage of them.
But Lao Bao said nonchalantly, "What are you saying? Today is a joyous occasion, everyone should be happy together!"
"You've eaten so much, and it was a great deal. Aren't you happy?"
"I'm happy too, so everyone's happy, and we all have to celebrate!"
The old Taoist priest, who was standing nearby, started picking up the buns with an oilcloth to take back. Hearing the two laughing and talking, he immediately chimed in, "Yes, everyone is happy!"
"We all need to celebrate!"
Yang Xiaotao had no choice but to take out money and food coupons and hand them to Lao Bao. Then, looking at the happy crowd around him, he asked, "Lao Bao, your buns are really good. I'll promote them for you and let everyone come and try them!"
Hearing Yang Xiaotao say this, Lao Bao was overjoyed. "Great! If you help me, I'll continue to give you a discount on breakfast from now on."
They both burst into laughter.
Carrying the steamed buns, Yang Xiaotao and his two companions returned to the courtyard house. The sudden broadcast made everyone in the courtyard get up.
When Yang Xiaotao returned, Director Wang from the subdistrict office was giving Yan Fugui some instructions. Yang Xiaotao went up and listened for a while. The gist of it was that they were going to celebrate in the streets.
Of course, this is something that courtyard houses are already very familiar with.
After greeting Director Wang, Yang Xiaotao arrived at the Intermediate People's Court and placed the steamed buns on the table. Ran Qiuye had already gotten up and was making her bed.
"I bought these steamed buns for you, eat them while they're hot!"
"I reckon I'll have to have a meeting again today, so I won't be able to see you off this morning!"
Yang Xiaotao spoke from the side, and Ran Qiuye nodded.
"It's okay, you can go ahead with your work. I'll stay with Cuiping and Feng Nan."
"However, drink less tonight..."
Ran Qiuye began to give instructions again, and Yang Xiaotao nodded. Then, despite Ran Qiuye's reluctance, he kissed her and walked out.