Reborn in 1987: The Story of an Abandoned Girl

Chapter 19: the rapport with Li Tao

The next day, Li Haitang woke up late. He rubbed his sleepy eyes, washed his face with a basin of cold water, boiled an egg, washed an apple, and rushed to the wang family while eating.

As soon as they reached the main road, they met Li Tao and his uncle's cousin, Li Yang, who were carrying their schoolbags to school. The two of them were talking with their heads pressed down, but when they saw her, they both shut their mouths and looked a little flustered.

Li Haitang's mouth twitched slightly. She wasn't a monster, was she? Could it be that their hairless child has a secret that no one else can know?

In fact, they really didn't have any secrets, but the topic they were discussing was about Li Haitang. Now that she broke it, it was somewhat awkward.

Li Haitang saw that they were a little uncomfortable and did not speak much. After grabbing a handful of white rabbit milk candy from his schoolbag and giving it to them, he took big strides to Wang jia village.

The white rabbit's milk candy was a rare delicacy. The two of them split it equally excitedly, peeled one of each and put it into their mouths. After a few hard sucks, they licked their mouths with pleasure, then hid the rest in the guts of their schoolbags.

Li Yang was a year younger than Li Tao, and now he was in the fifth grade. He looked at Li Haitang's back and said with a childlike face, "Brother tao, actually I think sister haitang is better than sister ting. When there is good food to eat, sister ting eats it all by herself. She doesn't share it with us at all. She doesn't help us when we work. Sister hoi tong didn't have anything good to eat before, but when she went to dig for bamboo shoots or snails, maybe when she went to the mountains to pick wild fruits, she would give us some to the younger ones, and she always did the most work."

Li Tao's eyelashes trembled and he lowered his head, "She's the oldest."

"Really? However, the two sisters of zhao qian's family did the same thing, and their work was divided equally. Sister hoi tong used to be the only one in your family. Sister ting never worked. Even eldest aunt didn't work. She still had time to play cards." Li Yang didn't know whether he really didn't understand or was really thoughtless and kept telling the truth in front of Li Tao.

Li Tao did not answer him. He ate the milk candy gloomily and touched the bill in his pocket. He felt even worse.

When Li Haitang arrived at the wang family, she immediately started working. Today, Duan Meifang went to the county, and she had a lot to do.

Last night, the wang family gathered together to peel peanuts until very late. Li Haitang roughly estimated it to be 50 kilograms. She planned to finish it all in the morning. The two coal stoves started working at the same time, and wang li was called to help. The two of them were so busy in the side room that they didn't even have time to drink.

Until noon, 50 catties of peanuts were made into peanut cakes. Li Haitang and wang Lido were exhausted and went back to their room to take a nap after lunch.

An hour later, the two of them got up and started work again. Wang li went to peel peanuts with the women in the village, while Li Haitang was in the side room cutting the peanut crisp. Father of King, who had finished her work at home, came to help her pack and bag the peanuts.

Duan Meifang came back with a smile just as the morning's finished product was finished. As soon as she entered the room, she shared the good news she had received, "Haitang, this peanut butter is selling really well. We sold out all the 65 catties we sent by the shuttle bus yesterday in one day. The 100 catties I brought over today were sold out in half a day. My brother and sister-in-law are both very busy. We don't even have time to make lunch."

Li Haitang smiled and said, "There's always a craze for new things to come out of. They can definitely be popular for a long time."

"Yes, my sister-in-law said that today, several colleagues came to find out where the peanut butter was made. They also wanted to buy it. Let's make it quick. She will be in charge of selling it to the county." Duan Meifang's eyes sparkled as he spoke.

Li Haitang raised his eyebrows and said, "Sister-in-law, are you going to be our agent?"

"Yes, that's what the agent meant. My sister-in-law is really good at business. She dares to make a move. She's even better than my brother. I admire her very much." When Duan Meifang said this, there was no hint of jealousy at all, and there was genuine admiration in his heart and eyes.

Li Haitang smiled and said, "Sister-in-law duan is really talented in business and is good at seizing opportunities."

Duan Meifang poured a glass of water, took a few sips, patted his head and said, "By the way, I forgot to tell you. My sister-in-law helped us contact a factory that provides peanuts. The goods will be delivered to our house tomorrow. I ordered two thousand catties, six cents a catty for shelling."

"Yes, the price is fair." Li Haitang said as he brushed the pot. The unskinned ones in the shop cost fifty cents a catty, which was a good price.

Duan Meifang smiled and said, "I heard they have a sheller in their factory. It's much faster than our manual shelling."

In the afternoon, with duan meifang's help, the two of them worked together, much faster. When the sun set, they made nearly a hundred kilograms, plus 50 kilograms in the morning, and the two small baskets were full.

Li Haitang was thinking about the news from Li Jianguo, so he went home early that day. When he got home, he cooked rice and fried half a bowl of bacon. After eating, he took a quick shower and went to the li family.

In the past, Li Jianguo had already returned from work, but he went to work in the fields again.

Li Tao didn't need to do his homework for the final exams these two days. He was feeding the chicken and planning to cook dinner. When he saw her coming, he naturally knew that she was going to ask for information. For the first time, he took the initiative to talk to her, "Dad went to the field to weed. He just left."

"Yes. I haven't cooked yet. Let me help you." Li Haitang had seen Li Tao's cooking skills yesterday, and he could not imagine what life they had been living for the past half month.

Li Tao didn't refuse either, so he went into the house to wash the rice and put it on the stove to cook. He glanced at her from time to time.

Li Haitang found a small stool in the kitchen and sat down. After washing the beans and chilies in the basket, he cut them and asked, "What else can I cook in the evening besides beans?"

Li Tao pointed to the half piece of bacon hanging on the wall, and his voice sounded a little natural, "Stir-fry the bacon with chili, just like last night."

Li Haitang curled her lips. It was really not cute of her not to argue with a little kid. After washing the bacon, she cut it into thin slices. When her dishes were ready, Li Tao also washed the pot.

When Li Haitang was cooking, he taught them as he cooked, regardless of whether he listened carefully or not. Every step was very detailed. After all, she couldn't come to cook for them often in the future. It was always good for him to learn early.

A 12-year-old child was half a labor force in the farm. When she was 12, she could do all the housework. It was not that she was studious, but that she was forced out by Deng Wenfang. If you don't learn or can't learn, you will definitely get a scolding. The scolding is still light, and you will be beaten occasionally. Compared to her, this little brat had a much happier life. No matter how bad Deng Wenfang was, he was really good to his children.

Li Tao had been having a hard time for the past half month. He was ridiculed and ridiculed by his classmates at school for some fucking thing. When he returned to his desolate home, he suddenly realized that he knew nothing and had to cook, but he could not even swallow what he had cooked. He had been hiding in the house crying so many times.

Yesterday's meal was the most satisfying and satisfying meal he had eaten in the past few days. Last night, he lay in bed and thought about it for a long time. When he finally thought of his mother, tears flowed down his face and he cried himself to sleep.

Li Jianguo was not good at cooking either, and both father and son were equally good. It was difficult for Li Tao to find someone to teach him. Now that Li Haitang took the initiative to teach him, he would not miss this opportunity. She spoke very carefully, and he listened very carefully. He had almost memorized all of her words in his head. He was sure that he would not burn the two dishes tomorrow.

Perhaps through the exchange of cooking, the two of them sat down for a rare chat. Li Haitang asked about his study exams, and Li Tao asked about her peanut butter business.

When Li Jianguo came back with a hoe on his shoulder, he saw the two sisters of the past sitting at the gate chatting, and his son's rare display of affection, his footsteps also relaxed a bit.

"Dad, you're back." Seeing that he was back, the two of them stood up and shouted.

"Well, you guys play a little longer. I'll take a shower first." Li Jianguo put down the hoe, said a word to them and went to the backyard to take a bath.

When he left, Li Tao boldly asked, "When are you going to the county again? Can you take me for a day?"

Li Haitang scribbled on the ground with a stick in his hand. He looked up at him and said with a smile, "What do you want to do in the county?"

Li Tao felt numb from her gaze and said awkwardly, "I just want to see it. I heard from my classmates that there are a lot of tall buildings there. I want to see them."

"Poof!" Li Haitang burst out laughing. The words" tall building" were really... She coughed softly and said seriously," I'm not free these two days. I have to go to school the day after tomorrow. After you receive the notice."

"Well, you promised. Don't go back on your word." Li Tao's heart jumped with joy. He had never been to the county since he was so old. He had begged his mother before, but he was scolded as soon as he opened his mouth.

Li Haitang rolled his eyes and said in a speechless voice, "When have I ever lost my word?"

Li Tao smiled awkwardly, put his hands on his knees, and looked down at the "Ghost symbol" on the ground opposite him. The joy in his eyes could not stop.

While the father and son were having dinner, Li Jianguo mentioned the news that he had visited today. "Haitang, today I asked someone I know to call his relatives in tan city to ask. His niece is also studying in the Tam city 1 middle school. He said that tan city's One middle is a key high school in the city, and the cost is slightly more expensive than the others. Tuition, accommodation and so on add up to about 120 yuan a semester, living expenses about 15 to 20 yuan a month."

"Gulong!" Li Tao's untimely swallowing started.

Seeing Li Haitang staring at him with an ambiguous look, he smiled awkwardly. The main thing was that the money was too valuable now. That day, Li Haitang gave him five yuan for pocket money. He thought it was a huge sum of money, enough to buy a lot of snacks to eat. Now that her tuition and living expenses were nearly 200 yuan a semester, it was really astronomical for him.

When Li Jianguo heard about the huge tuition fees, he was also very uneasy. His monthly salary was only forty yuan, which was just enough to support his family. Deng Wenfang and Li Ting had almost lost their savings. He had no money to send Li Haitang to school, so when she asked him for advice that day when they broke up, he had to turn it down.

Three children went to school, and his family's living expenses and personal contacts were all on him. He was very tired and helpless.

The news he had received was similar to what Li Haitang had expected, so she did not have a lot of ups and downs in her heart. She said calmly, "There are more than 400 yuan a year in high school, a lot of money. It seems that I have to take advantage of this summer vacation to make money."

Li Jianguo felt a little heavy in his heart. He stammered a few times and said in a tentative voice, "Haitang, if you enter the County one middle school with your grades, you will definitely be able to free tuition and accommodation fees. If living expenses are paid by the wang family's food factory now, you don't have to worry about it. You can study at ease in the future. Do you want to think about it?"

Li Haitang shook his head decisively and said, "No. If I can really be accepted by the Tam city 1 middle school, I will definitely go there to study. After all, the school's teachers and all aspects are much better, this opportunity is very rare, I will not miss it. As for the money, I'm not worried. I have a way to earn it."

"What can you do?" Li Jianguo knew she was smart, but he didn't think she could make that much money in a short time.

Li Haitang shrugged his shoulders lightly and smiled, "I've already thought of ways to make money in my mind, but I haven't started yet. Even if it doesn't work, I'm sure I can find other ways to make money. This summer vacation has been nearly three months, and I am confident that I can earn enough for my first year's tuition. As for the money for the next two years, I will talk about it later. There's a way out when the car comes to the mountain, and when the boat comes to the bridge, it goes straight."

When Li Jianguo saw her talk about making money, she was so excited that she didn't show any worry. Thinking that she should really have a way, he sighed and said, "If it's not enough, dad will borrow some more."

"No, I'll just figure it out myself. If it really doesn't work out, I'll just borrow some from the wang family. Li Tao is going to junior high school next semester, and the tuition fees are getting higher. The rest of the expenses at home are quite heavy. You can use your money at home." Now that he was cut off from his relationship, there was no reason for him to go back to school. Li Haitang would not spend his money to avoid being gossiped about by others.

After the father and son finished their dinner, Li Tao took the initiative to send her back. When he saw the "Water margin" on the desk in her room, he begged her to lend it to him for the first time and promised that he would return it intact.

Li Haitang knew that he liked to read comic books. Now that he was interested in fame, he naturally wouldn't be stingy. He lent him the books and asked him to take them back.

As soon as Li Tao left, she sat in her chair and recalled her past life. She remembered that the eighties were the golden age of poetry, and one of them, "High school campus poetry journal," was particularly popular back then. A group of talented and enthusiastic high school students appeared all over the country. The carefully selected poems were published in this newspaper, which caused a strong response in the school. Later, the major cities also took turns to hold high school students'school poetry gathering, which was no less popular than later celebrity concerts.

Li Haitang recalled the time when the newspaper was most popular in the past two years. She was in time for a good season. After making up her mind, she immediately picked up a pen and started working.

Li Haitang was not at all calm that night because he had resumed his old job. The more he wrote, the more excited he became. He could not stop at all. It was not until the neighbor's first chicken crowed that she put down her pen, turned on the light, and went back to bed to sleep.