My courtyard shelter

Wang Xiujuan just left not long ago.

Xu's father brought Manager Yuan over to visit Xu's mother. Manager Yuan only found out about this today, so he took advantage of his off-duty time to come to express his condolences.

However, the other party left after less than ten minutes, leaving behind a box of donkey-hide gelatin, which was already considered a very expensive gift.

Xu Ma opened the tablet and continued watching cartoons with the three brothers.

Xu Dong was chatting with his father.

"Dad, I just heard from Manager Yuan that you are going on a business trip next week. Where are you going?"

"Qiantang City, didn't I tell you at the last annual meeting that we would introduce several bread production lines there."

Originally, the father and son had agreed to go on a business trip to Qiantang together, but unfortunately, Xu Dong had just become the section chief at that time and could not spare the time.

Next, I was delayed by Xu Ma's affairs, and it has been delayed until now.

But fortunately, the preliminary negotiations have been ongoing. This time, the main purpose was to sign the final agreement. If it is quick, we can come back the next day.

"Do you want me to accompany you there?"

Father Xu shook his head: "Forget it, your mother can't live without people, I can go alone."

"How many days are you traveling for?"

"Two or three days at the earliest, no more than a week at the latest." Father Xu replied.

"How's the price negotiation going?"

Dad Xu nodded: "The price has been negotiated. There are a total of five production lines, each with a price of 25 million, which adds up to a total of 2.5 billion, including freight and production line modification costs."

"Why did it exceed so many all of a sudden?"

Xu Dong frowned. If he remembered correctly, his father mentioned last time that the estimated purchase price should be between 70 million and 90 million.

"Originally there were only three production lines, and two more were added later, but don't worry, bank loans have been secured, so funding is not a problem." Father Xu explained.

"Are two more?" Xu Dong asked doubtfully.

"This is Mayor He's intention. He wants to speed up the promotion of baguettes. In my opinion, the supply of rations this year should be very tight, otherwise he wouldn't be in such a hurry." Father Xu sighed.

Xu Dong touched his chin and recalled it.

Starting this year and running until 2028.

This period of time will be called the "lost five years" by many scholars in later generations. It is not clear in other places. At least in Anhui, life will become more difficult every year.

"Since there is no shortage of funds, why not purchase a few more?" Xu Dong asked curiously.

Father Xu waved his hand: "It's not necessary. Mayor He has entrusted an equipment factory in the city to design a production line for us. It will be completed and put into production as soon as the middle of the year."

After all, baguettes are different from ordinary breads. There are differences in the production process. Even the production line purchased from Qiantang still needs a major transformation.

"Can it be accommodated in the factory?"

"Put three in the old factory and put the other two production lines in the new factory."

Xu Dong was shocked: "When did you build the new factory?"

"The lease we just signed a few days ago is located at the Dayang Road Wholesale Market in the south. It used to sell agricultural products, but now we have rented them all." Father Xu said proudly.

"All rented? How much area is there in total?"

"Of course they are all rented. It will be our main production base in the future. The current construction area is 70,000 square meters. We don't have to worry about insufficient space in ten years."

Xu Dong was speechless and could only give a thumbs up. Dad Xu, an ordinary retired worker, could actually survive to this point. He really lived up to the old saying:

Times make heroes!

He was curious, where would his father go in the end?

…

At seven o'clock in the evening, Yang Lina brought the Coco sisters over to deliver meals. Xu Dong had to fulfill his filial piety tonight, so he also had a lunch box.

"Nana, take the children back quickly, don't go hungry." Xu Ma waved her hand.

"Say goodbye to grandma!"

Coco was the first to speak: "Grandma, bye..."

"Grandma, I'm coming tomorrow." This was Dabao's voice.

"Dabao, dear, you have to go to school tomorrow, so don't come to the hospital. Grandma will go home soon." Xu Ma coaxed.

"No, I'm coming." Dabao shook his head, took his father's arm and begged: "Dad, can you bring us over tomorrow?"

"Okay, Dad promises you."

Xu Dong immediately agreed that it is a good thing for children to be filial and should be encouraged.

Dad Xu smiled and added: "If dad doesn't have time, grandpa will bring you over when the time comes."

"Grandpa is so kind." Erbao said happily.

"Okay, grandpa will take you home."

After the group left, Xu Dong and his mother started to eat. The food tonight was not bad. There were three dishes, two vegetarian and one meat. The staple food was rice.

In addition, Xu Ma also has a glass of milk.

Mother and son chatted while eating.

"Lao San, where is Mom's car? Have you driven it back?" Xu's mother asked.

Although there was a small accident this time, she has become accustomed to the mobility scooter, especially when she buys groceries every day, she cannot live without it.

She is not the kind of person who stops eating because of choking.

Xu Dong's eyes widened: "Mom, do you still want to drive?"

"Why don't you open it? Just be careful next time," Xu's mother said matter-of-factly.

"It's too late. I would have sold the car as scrap."

As the saying goes, those who don't make mistakes are pigs, but those who make mistakes and don't correct them are stupid pigs. Xu Dong thinks that he is a normal person.

"What?" Xu's mother didn't even care about eating, and said anxiously: "Why didn't you tell me, kid?"

"The car is badly damaged, the motor has been deformed, it can't be repaired, the motor must be replaced." Xu Dong deliberately exaggerated the extent of the damage.

"Then replace the motor?"

"Mom, the manufacturer has stopped production a long time ago, and the same model of motor is no longer available on the market. This car has been scrapped and is useless."

Xu's mother stared at her youngest son: "You didn't lie to me, did you?"

Xu Dong shook his head quickly.

"Then what should I do when I buy groceries in the future? Otherwise, you can buy a bicycle for me, it's better than walking."

Xu's mother couldn't help but sigh, and suddenly felt that the food in the bowl was not fragrant.

In fact, you can also take the bus.

But it's too crowded, and it's crowded all day long regardless of time. After all, there are tens of millions of people in the city, and less than 3% have private cars.

"Mom, we often have sandstorms here, riding a bike is worse than walking!"

"Is there no other way?"

"This is simple, I get up early every day and pick you up to buy groceries in person, it's close to home anyway, half an hour is enough for a round trip."

"Too much trouble!"

The main reason is that it's hard to park near the grain store, and it's so convenient for the elderly to park anywhere.

"Mom, how about this, I'll buy you a second-hand car and hire a full-time driver..."

Mother Xu interrupted quickly: "Mom is just buying groceries, why hire a driver, it's funny, I think you just have too much money to burn!"

PS: Happy New Year to everyone! Also, don't forget the monthly pass, it's a waste if it expires!