Start from 1980

Chapter 26
The only place to visit is the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, a magical place that can basically meet all living needs.

Even before one gets to the front, one can smell the dank smell of soy sauce, vinegar, kerosene, grass rope, etc. mixed together.

The two sisters, Xue Yu and Xue Fang, chose fabrics of several colors, as well as needles and threads, and various melons and fruits prepared for the New Year.

Even some families who are not rich will tighten their belts, pull a few feet of cloth, and buy some decent New Year's goods at the end of the year.

This is why people in this era are looking forward to the New Year, because they can wear new clothes, eat sweets and meat.

But there are also a few that are more difficult. They wear leftovers from older brothers and sisters, especially those with more brothers and sisters in the family.

She and Xue Fang were the only two sisters in Xue Yu's family. They wanted a boy at first, but their mother fell ill and could no longer conceive.

One-child families and families with only two girls are more or less subject to gossip.

Fortunately, Xue Yu relied on her second uncle's relationship to work in the capital, and Xue Fang was also admitted to Tianda University, which made the old couple proud.

After buying what should be bought, Xue Yu said: "Let's go back."

"Are you going to walk back?" Su Chen was a little curious.

"Pfft!" Xue Fang said happily, "Of course not, it's a distance of more than ten miles. If you walk back, it won't be dark until you get home?"

At the same time, she was also curious about the meaning of her sister's colleague coming to the house.

"We came here by donkey cart." Xue Yu explained: "People in Zhuangzi usually come out to prepare New Year's goods. There is no cart, so we can only come here by donkey cart."

It turned out to be the case.

Anyway, as long as it has wheels, it can run on the road now.

She glanced at the gifts that Su Chen was carrying: "Come here, why don't you buy so many things? You really can waste as much as you have two dollars."

"How embarrassing to be empty-handed? Besides, isn't it the Chinese New Year?" Su Chen smiled: "Let me carry it for you."

After finishing speaking, he stretched out his hand and lifted all the things in Xue Yu's two sisters' hands.

Xue Fang suddenly felt a little embarrassed: "Mr. Su, how bad is this? You are a guest, how can a guest help you?"

"It's okay." Su Chen didn't care.

Xue Yu said helplessly: "Okay, since you are willing to carry it, then carry it, let's find a car."

The two sisters took Su Chen to the place where the donkey cart was parked. Three or four fellow villagers who came to buy things together had already bought things and were waiting for them.

Seeing the two sisters Xue Yu leading a man over, they couldn't help asking curiously: "Sister Xue Yu, this is..."

"This is my colleague, surnamed Su, who is doing historical research." Xue Yu thought of a perfect excuse: "Come and see our local customs."

Upon hearing this, the villagers were very enthusiastic: "So it is the teacher, this teacher is really young."

"Teacher Su, smoke a cigarette."

"..."

Since Xue Yu made a fuss, Su Chen had no choice but to continue:
"Thank you folks for your enthusiasm, I don't know how to smoke, thank you, this time is mainly to record the history worth writing in our base areas behind the enemy, so that it can be compiled into a book.

Let the world know the predecessors and martyrs who sacrificed back then, so there may be many places that disturb you, please bear with me. "

"Oh, Mr. Su, you are too polite."

"Mr. Su, it is your affirmation for us that you can come here in such a cold day."

"..."

Amidst the politeness, Su Chen and the Xue family sisters got into the donkey cart and headed towards Chongming.

Of course, if Xue Yu didn't use that excuse, it would be hard to explain.

Along the way, the villagers were very enthusiastic.

When they arrived in Chongming, they even invited Su Chen to visit their home, because someone in their family's ancestors was a clerk in the base area back then.

Su Chen responded one by one.

"Su Chen, this is our home." Xue Yu and Xue Fang brought Su Chen to the door of the house.

Compared with Su Chen's house, this is a serious rural house. There are several tile-roofed houses inside the low earthen wall, and there are two trees in the yard.

The neighbors are separated by a road about three to four meters wide. When it comes to eating, no matter it is breakfast, lunch or dinner, every household will hold the bowl in the left hand and the steamed corn bread with pickles in the right.

Eating while walking, or sitting in the open space at the door, chatting with everyone about family stories, or various anecdotes.

Various white slogans can still be seen on the wall.

Xue Fang carried the things they bought into the yard ahead of time, and shouted, "Mom and Dad, there are guests at home."

As soon as the words fell, two people walked out of the room.

Puzzled and asked: "A guest? Who is it?"

Xue Yu led Su Chen into the door: "Mom and Dad, this is my colleague Su Chen, who is doing historical research, mainly to see our local customs and customs."

She used this set of rhetoric more and more smoothly.

"Master, auntie, hello, I'm Teacher Xue's colleague." Su Chen held up the gift in his hand: "This time I mainly came to investigate history, and it happened that Teacher Xue lived here, so I came to bother you with the cheek."

In the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Ye is softly spoken, and Uncle is usually used to refer to a father's elder brother or a man who is older than his father but not too old.

"Come in and have a seat." Uncle Xue said with a smile, "It's costing you money to buy so many things."

"It should." Su Chen handed the things to Xue Yu, "There is still meat inside."

In addition to buying some candy, he also bought two catties of fat and thin meat.

Because it was a sudden visit, how embarrassing would it be if the family was not prepared?

The master's family keeps you for dinner, but there is really nothing to eat at home, so if you don't stay, you can't say it.

He bought the two catties of meat in Rongcheng. Fortunately, it is winter and can be stored for a long time.

Xue Yu took out the pork, frowned, and whispered, "Why did you still buy meat? Didn't you buy so many things?"

"Is it enough to just buy these?" Su Chen also replied in a low voice.

The old couple of the Xue family said: "If you come to be a guest, you can be a guest. Why do you still buy meat?"

"This kid is too polite, come in and sit down."

The old couple welcomed Su Chen into the house.

Xue Yu's father's name is Xue Wangting, and his mother's name is Zhao Fangyu. The Xue Yu sisters are separated from their mother's name.

Moreover, both of their ancestors used to be famous big families, so both of them could read and write, but they were hit a few years ago...

"Mr. Su, do you smoke?" Xue Wangting asked, picking up a long tobacco rod.

Su Chen shook his head: "Master, I don't know how to smoke, you can call me Su Chen."

Xue Fang and Zhao Fangyu went to the kitchen to cook, leaving only Xue Yu, father and daughter and Su Chen.

Because Su Chen came here under the pretext of investigation, so he was looking for topics, asking about the customs and historical sites here.

Xue Wangting was very polite and knew everything without saying anything.

It didn't take long for the three of them to chat, and lunch was ready.

When guests come to the house, naturally they will not go out to eat with a bowl.

Zhao Fangyu was also very polite: "Su Chen, let Xue Yu take you out for a walk in a while, and stay at home when it's cold, don't freeze outside."

"Good lady." Su Chen replied honestly.

Xue Fang asked, "What about me?"

"You are honestly staying at home to read your book, what are you going out for?" Xue Wangting said, "Mr. Su Chen came with a mission, so it's fine if you are accompanied by your sister. Why are you joining in the fun?"

Su Chen really came with a 'mission'.

And this task is very important.

So, after eating, Xue Yu took him out.

After going outside, he opened his mouth: "You said that you are really, you came here yesterday without an appointment. It's so cold, if you can't find a car, do you really have to walk over here?"

"Otherwise?" Su Chen stopped in his tracks: "Looking at the sky at dawn and looking at the clouds at dusk, I miss you when I walk, and I miss you when I sit, so I came here."

(End of this chapter)