Siheyuan: I am the seventh uncle of Banggen - Page 173
"Uncle, it's fate. He didn't live a good life, but his two sons were fine. In the end, he was beaten to death. He is an unlucky man," said Zhang Dabao with a sigh.
"Does the other party have strong connections? It's not easy to deal with. I heard Minister Shi say that day, but I didn't dare to ask," said Li Huaide.
"I don't know whether there was any connection or not, but we can't find the person. On the day my eldest brother died, their entire village caught fire and more than a hundred people were burned to death. How could they deal with it? Everything was reduced to ashes," said Zhang Dabao.
"Is it such a coincidence?" Li Huaide understood what Shi Kejun said that day.
"Uncle, this is the law of karma. Good deeds will be rewarded. This is not just a simple saying. I feel that there really are gods," Zhang Dabia said in a low voice.
"Really? I feel the same way," Li Huaide said casually, but in his heart he was thinking, if I believe this, I'm really sick. Good deeds are rewarded, why don't you say that good people don't live long, but evil people live for a thousand years? More than a hundred people, you are really cruel.
"Director, the meal in the canteen is ready. Who else do you want to call?" Li Guoqiang came in and asked.
"Call Xu Sinian and Wang Cheng. Xing Baoguo is here. Then call Chen Jie and Zhang Cuihua. Do you know Zhang Cuihua?" Li Huaide asked Li Guoqiang.
"Sister Hua is very famous in the factory, how could I not know her? She is Deputy Section Chief Zhang in the Women's Federation office downstairs," said Li Guoqiang.
"It's her, Dabiao, it seems your sister is more famous than you," Li Huaide joked.
"The main reason is that I don't like to take off clothes for people. Let's add one more person, that's Meng Wutong. I went to pick her up. She contributed a lot to Wang Peng's matter. Once my eldest brother got into trouble, I forgot about her." After saying this, Zhang Dabao walked out of the factory director's office and came to Ma Si Hutong.
Fortunately, there were a lot of supplies prepared for Meng Wutong, otherwise it would be bad. I picked up Meng Wutong and came to the canteen. At this time, Zhang Cuihua had already arrived. Since all the people present were leaders and elders, she was a little restrained and sat there a little stiffly.
"Da Biao, Wutong" Zhang Cuihua was particularly friendly when she saw the two of them come in.
After having a meal in the small canteen, Li Huaide rewarded Zhang Cuihua and Meng Wutong with some money individually, and also asked Zhang Cuihua to bring some money to the sisters who helped her. Zhang Dabao said that he would get 40 to 50 kilograms of meat for Zhang Cuihua in the afternoon for team building.
Li Huaide returned to the office. There were still three people in the cafeteria: Zhang Dabao, Zhang Cuihua and Meng Wutong.
"I'll put the meat in the yard for you. Dongxu gets off work early, so let him process it. Brother Zhuzi can also go home early to cook for you. You can eat it when you get home from get off work. If there is any leftover meat, share it with everyone. We should eat together when we have been through hardships, and now that life is better, we should enjoy the fruits of victory," Zhang Dabao said to Zhang Cuihua.
"Da Biao, you said I got a promotion, would you like to treat everyone in the hospital to something to eat?" Zhang Cuihua asked shyly.
"I'll make dumplings in the evening and give each family a bowl. Do you still need this little bit?" Zhang Dabao said to Zhang Cuihua with a smile.
"Sister Hua, I'm not going to work today. I'll go home early to make dumplings with you." This may be the most glorious day for Meng Wutong in more than 20 years. She used to be a problem girl. When her father died and she took over the factory, she was always looked down upon. But today, she had dinner with a department-level cadre and three deputy department-level cadres. The leaders called her "Little Meng" and toasted her without any intention of looking down on her. After the meal, the factory director also rewarded her with 50 yuan and 10 kilograms of food coupons. She knew that this was the reason why she followed her good sister Zhang Cuihua, so she was very excited.
"You all go early. We are happy today, so you must eat and drink well," Zhang Dabao spoke, then said hello to He Yuzhu, left the factory, found a place, rested on the motorcycle for a while, and returned to Compound No. 95 with a piece of meat. He cut half of it and put it in the Jia family, and put the other half in his own kitchen.
"Seventh Uncle, there is too much meat. It's still early for the New Year. Isn't it a bit of a waste to eat it like this now?" Jia Dongxu came home from get off work and saw forty or fifty kilograms of meat. He came over to ask Zhang Dabao.
"Isn't your mother a leader? Her sisters are coming for dinner. You give three pounds to each of them, and you can use the rest to make a few more dishes. The important thing is to cut four or five pounds of stuffing. Your mother and the others will be here soon, and we'll need to make dumplings. Jingru, I think the leeks in our shed are ready to eat. Go and cut a few pounds. Someone will be eating tonight." After Zhang Dabao gave instructions to Jia Dongxu, he called Qin Jingru over.
"Okay," Qin Jingru agreed and went to the cross-yard.
"Stop wasting time and get to work." Zhang Dabao saw that Jia Dongxu was still in a daze and yelled at him.
"Of course I have to work quickly. I have never eaten leek and pork dumplings in the middle of winter. I couldn't even think about it before, but now I think they are delicious just by thinking about it." Jia Dongxu wiped his mouth and left Zhang Dabao's house.
Zhang Cuihua and the others left the factory at around 95 o'clock. They walked towards Yard , chatting and laughing. When they reached the main street, Zhang Cuihua saw her old friend Liu Chuncao. She called her, "Old Liu, why don't you talk to me? Where are you going?"
"Chief Zhang, I'm going to the front to buy some soy sauce." Liu Chuncao saw Zhang Cuihua calling her and replied a little awkwardly.
"Are you crazy? Why are you calling me Section Chief Zhang?" Zhang Cuihua smiled.
"Your status is different now. You are an official state cadre. I can't scold you anymore. When I address you, of course I have to call you by your position, which is more formal," said Liu Chuncao.
"No, I..." Zhang Cuihua didn't know what to say. She felt that she might never be able to go back to the past. In the past, she and Liu Chuncao could quarrel on the street three times a week, but now she hides when she sees her. She thought that all her skills would not be useful on Hongxing Street, so she felt a little bored.
After saying goodbye to Liu Chuncao, the few of them came to the backyard of No. 95 Courtyard and started working.
"Sister Hua, this is too grand. Where did you get the leeks? I have lived for more than 40 years and have never seen leeks in winter," said Sister Chen from the workshop.
"My younger brother Da Biao did it. He built a greenhouse across the yard and planted chives. When you come, I must treat you with the best things. We'll make dumplings and give a bowl to each of our neighbors first. You can all enjoy my business together," said Zhang Cuihua.
"It's time to liven up the atmosphere." A group of women took off their coats and started to help.
"Zhang Cuihua is really going too far. She doesn't even bother to treat the people in the courtyard to a meal. She hangs out with this group of women every day." Yang Ruihua said sourly when he saw Zhang Cuihua's sisters entering the backyard.
"Zhang Cuihua is very thoughtful. She is the section chief and these people are her subordinates. Wouldn't it be inconvenient for her to arrange work for them after inviting them to dinner?" Yan Bugui said.
"These widows are the smartest," said Yang Ruihua.
"It's too cold this year, and Jie Cheng hasn't written to me, so I'm a little worried," said Yan Bugui.
"Who made him do that? He looks down on this and refuses to accept that every day. It's his fate. Have you had your holiday?" Yang Ruihua asked.
"Tomorrow is the holiday. After the holiday, I will go to Houhai for winter fishing. Catching more fish can improve my life. I feel that this year is more difficult than last year," said Yan Bugui.
Alas! Both of them sighed.
Chapter 392 Chive Dumplings
Today, all the people eating at Jia's house were women. Making dumplings was a piece of cake for them, so they made them very quickly. After the dumplings were cooked, since Jia Dongxu was cooking, Zhang Cuihua asked her grandson Banggeng to deliver a bowl of dumplings to each family. Liu Guangtian's girlfriend Chen Hong also came, and Banggeng delivered another bowl to Liu Guangtian's family. Zhang Dabiao also sponsored Liu Guangtian with two cans of food.
"Guangtian, the dumplings are made of leeks? Where did you get the leeks?" Chen Hong and Liu Guangtian did not eat in the Liu family's backyard. Instead, they were in the back house allocated to Liu Guangtian. Chen Hong was looking for partners everywhere, until the last time the spy was caught, she finally understood that her previous requirements were too high.
Liu Guangtian, whom Zhang Cuihua introduced to her, was not bad either. At least he looked good and was tall. His family was just a little poor, but being poor is okay, as people have wealth. Liu Guangtian didn't mind that she looked ugly, nor did he mind that she was five years older than him. He treated her well, so Chen Hong also decided on Liu Guangtian.
"Sister Hong, this is Zhang Dabiao from our backyard. Dabiao grows the chives. He has a cross-yard where he grows chives. Didn't Aunt Jia get promoted today? She invited colleagues to dinner, so Brother Dabiao cut the chives for them. By the way, Zhang Cuihua is his cousin, they have the same grandfather," Liu Guangtian explained.
"Zhang Dabao? I'm not very familiar with him. Does he also work in the steel mill?" Chen Hong said.
"Of course. He is the vice chairman of the factory's trade union and a director-level cadre, which is higher in rank than my father-in-law. He is only 21 years old this year and is very generous to us," Liu Guang said.
"Now that you mention it, I remember. He's Director Li's nephew, right? My father said so." Chen Hong finally remembered.
"Did he give us the canned food as well?" Chen Hong said, looking at a can of meat and a can of fish.
"Of course, he told me last time that he would send some dishes when you came. The child who delivered the dumplings was his grandson. I should have told him about it when I went back. He also said that when we get married, he will drive you over," said Liu Guang.
"Guangtian, you are so nice," Chen Hong said happily.
"If I'm not nice to you, who can I be nice to? Eat it. Eat one can and take one back to your father-in-law," said Liu Guang.
Yan Bugui looked at the dumplings brought by Banggeng and counted them first. There were twenty in total. The eldest son in the family had gone to the northwest, and the second son was working in a machine repair factory, so there were exactly four people in total. Five dumplings per person was just right.
"And it's leek pork. I'm so old, but I've never eaten leek dumplings in the middle of winter. Zhang Dabao is so awesome. I really admire him," said Yan Bugui.
"Didn't you believe it at that time?" Yan Jiedi asked her father.
"I didn't believe it because I knew nothing about it and it was beyond my understanding. Now that I have seen the real thing, I have no choice but to believe it." What Yan Bugui said made sense.
"I really didn't expect the Jia family to live like this. They used to be poorer than ours. It seems we can't catch up with them," said Yang Ruihua.
"If our family had a relative like Zhang Dabao, it would definitely be better than the Jia family," said Yan Bugui.
"Now Zhang Cuihua is in a good position. She has become an official state cadre, her son has also become a small cadre, and most importantly, her family has moved to the city. In the Jia family, whatever Zhang Cuihua says is the final word, and Jia Dongxu dares not even fart," Yang Ruihua continued.
"Jia Dongxu is just a little bit dumb, but he is not stupid. His aunt's and uncle's families are in the same courtyard. He has two cousins and an uncle's family in the next courtyard, and there is a large group of uncles and cousins not far away. He doesn't want to be beaten, so why does he provoke his mother? Isn't Zhang Cuihua closer to him than those people? Every time Zhang Cuihua beats him, it is right. Look, Jia Dongxu has improved a lot now," Yan Bugui sighed again and said.
“Dad, this is what they call one person’s success brings prosperity to the whole family,” Yan Jiekuang summed up.
The people at the Jia family didn't just eat. After the meal, Zhang Cuihua also shared the meat and gave them the money that Li Huaide rewarded them. This showed that it was Director Li's intention. Who wouldn't be happy after eating good food and sharing meat and money? So the atmosphere among the women at the Jia family was quite high, and they flattered Zhang Cuihua so much that she felt a little embarrassed.
Qin Huairu had also finished her confinement, but she did not attend the dinner with Zhang Cuihua and others. Instead, she ate with Qin Jingru, Zhang Lianhua, and He Yushui.
"Jingru, are you going back home to celebrate the Spring Festival? Or are you spending it in the city?" Qin Huairu asked her sister after dinner.
"Let's stay in the city. Someone needs to take care of my seventh uncle's shed, and there's nothing to eat at home. I can't get used to the food at home after eating good food in the city every day," said Qin Jingru.
"You've only been out for a few days? You're not used to the meals at home?" Qin Huairu said with a smile.
"I went back once during the Mid-Autumn Festival. At that time, my family ate wild vegetable dumplings, which were bitter and astringent and not tasty at all. Not every family has such food. Only middle-class and above families can afford such food. This year's harvest is not as good as last year. This winter, they should still eat one meal a day and lie on the kang after eating," said Qin Jingru.
"I'll spend the New Year in the city and wait until I go back. Then we'll go together. Huaihua's month old is full, so I have to go back to my parents' home too," said Qin Huairu.
"I also want to go home. I didn't go back after my elder brother passed away, and I always feel uncomfortable. Let's go together then. I'll talk to Dabiao and ask him to take us home." Zhang Lianhua thought of her elder brother Zhang Dasong again while eating.
"That's great, I can also exchange some food to bring back home," said Qin Jingru.
Zhang Dabao ate a plate of dumplings and went back to the room, ignoring He Yuzhu and Jia Dongxu who were eating dumplings and drinking at the same time. They were not heavy drinkers and liked to drink. They both had this problem, which made their drinks very sticky, and Zhang Dabao simply couldn't stand it.
The New Year is coming soon, and I should visit Yan Jingkai's hometown. The harvest this year is even worse. It is a mountain village, so the situation should be even worse. The people there treat me as a member of the Yan family, making me feel the warmth of family.
I also want to go to Datong, Shanxi, where the mothers of my comrades-in-arms live. Many of my comrades-in-arms have gone to Hong Kong. Several times, I dreamed that a comrade-in-arms who could make knife-cut noodles went to Central Plains. Every time I dreamed of him, he would ask me to work in a noodle shop with him.
It seems that something must have happened at my comrade's home. We had agreed at the time that if he died, we would go to visit his parents. However, I went through a lot this year, so I was unable to go. When I come back next year, there will be even less time. I can't delay it any longer. If I delay any further, I may not be able to go.
While I was daydreaming, the door opened and Xu Damao pushed it open.
Chapter 393: Jia Dongxu came up with a good name
"Brother Damao, have you been to the countryside? Have you eaten? There are dumplings over at Dongxu. I'll bring you a bowl." Zhang Dabao stood up and said to Xu Damao.
"Da Biao, I've eaten. Xiao'e has given birth, so I came over to talk to you," Xu Damao said happily.
"It's born. That's good news. Isn't the due date not yet here?" Zhang Dabao asked.
"No, because she is pregnant with two children, both boys. She gave birth to two sons at once. Dabiao, I, Xu Damao, have a son." Xu Damao laughed with tears in his eyes.
"Two sons? That's great. You guys decide whether to celebrate after twelve days, the full moon, or the hundredth day. I will provide meat, fish, eggs, and vegetables." Zhang Dabao was also very happy.
"My father-in-law hasn't said anything yet, but from what he said it seems like he wants to celebrate during the New Year," said Xu Damao.
"That's twelve days later. I'll prepare some food and send it to Mr. Lou's house tomorrow. You can put some meat or something at home. You should at least treat the villagers in the courtyard to a bowl of soup, right?" Zhang Dabao said.
"Thank you, Da Biao," Xu Damao said excitedly.
"Brother Damao, what is our relationship? Isn't it too far-fetched to talk about these things?" Zhang Dabao said.
"That's right, I still have to go to the hospital, I told you," said Xu Damao.
"Wait a minute." Zhang Dabao turned and went to the inner room, took out a bottle, two large cans of milk powder, and a few cans of meat, and gave them to Xu Damao.
"Wait a moment, Dongxu still has dumplings. I'll pack a lunch box for you. Xiao'e might like it." Zhang Dabao went to the place where Jia Dongxu and He Yuzhu were drinking and put the dumplings into a lunch box for Xu Damao.
"Da Mao, is there a happy event?" He Yuzhu stood up shakily.
"Zhu Zi, I have good news, very good news. Today I have two sons. Two sons, aren't you happy?" Xu Damao said happily.
"Damn, twins? And they're all sons? Damao, you're really good," He Yuzhu said sourly.
"Zhu Zi, work hard." Xu Damao patted He Yuzhu's shoulder, picked up the lunch box and the bag given by Zhang Dabao and left.
"Why should I work hard? My wife is pregnant now, don't you know, you idiot," said He Yuzhu.
"Zhuzi, don't be discouraged. My aunt's belly is also quite big, but when my cousin is born, I will personally give him a good name." Jia Dongxu had obviously drunk a little too much, so he stood up and comforted He Yuzhu.