Chapter 39

At this time, Lu Qiaoling and Lu Xiaosi were both by her side.

Lu Qiaoling said in shock: "Isn't this our family's swallow?"

Lu Qiaoge made a "shh" gesture to her and Xiao Si.

The two hurriedly shut their mouths.

The Naughty Swallow told Lu Qiaoge: 【They are salvaging steel ingots in the middle of the lake. The old turtle and the big carp have gone to the reed marsh. The old turtle said this is white water bamboo; eat it once a week, there are no taboos, just eat it directly. Xiao Si is young, don't let him eat more than eight or nine stalks. The old turtle also said, if it's inconvenient, let me take the white water bamboo away. Also, this white water grass tastes so fragrant; if it grew on the shore, it might have been eaten up long ago...】

Lu Qiaoge gently pinched the white water bamboo, and sure enough, a hint of comfort passed into her palm.

Since she could understand these little things, her feelings were exceptionally mysterious.

The Naughty Swallow took off into the air, chirped happily over the heads of the three siblings for a while, and then, according to Lu Qiaoge's instructions, deliberately landed on Xiao Si's shoulder.

Xiao Si was so happy he didn't dare to move, and only after the swallow flew away did he let out a long sigh of relief.

Lu Qiaoling squatted on the beach and beckoned the other two to squat down as well.

Lu Qiaoge deliberately lowered her voice and said: "Have you heard the story of the swallow repaying kindness?"

Lu Qiaoling and Lu Xiaosi shook their heads in unison.

Lu Qiaoge: "Once upon a time, there was a very, very poor scholar who saved an injured swallow and took care of it carefully. After the swallow could fly, it brought him a seed. He planted the seed in the courtyard, and unexpectedly, it soon grew into a big tree that bloomed. During the day, the fragrance of the flowers overflowed, and at night, the petals fell and turned into golden petals. From then on, the scholar lived a happy life."

Lu Xiaosi said happily in a low voice: "Second Sister, then let's plant this seedling too. I'll take care of it, and I'll definitely make it grow into a flowering tree that drops gold every day."

Lu Qiaoling looked at the water grass suspiciously and suddenly said: "It feels like the knotweed that grows by the river in our hometown, just a different color."

Lu Qiaoge: "Xiao Si, the swallow just landed on your shoulder, it should be letting you eat it. But don't be in a hurry to eat it; let's wait until we get home and ask Grandma and Mom and Dad before deciding."

Unexpectedly, Lu Xiaosi took the white water bamboo from Lu Qiaoge's palm and stuffed it directly into his mouth to chew.

Lu Qiaoge and Lu Qiaoling were both stunned.

Lu Xiaosi said while eating: "Second Sister, Third Sister, I've been eating medicine since I can remember. I've even eaten bird droppings, am I afraid of water grass brought by a swallow?"

Lu Qiaoge and Lu Qiaoling looked at each other; they really didn't know about this.

Lu Xiaosi finished eating quickly and said happily: "It's so sweet and fragrant, much better than bird droppings and Chinese medicine soup."

There was no such thing as eating bird droppings in Lu Qiaoge's memory.

She hurriedly asked: "Did you remember wrong? How could Mom and Dad feed you bird droppings?"

Even if it was a folk remedy, it had to be somewhat reasonable.

Lu Xiaosi: "Bird droppings are also called 'white cloves,' they are sparrow feces..."

Lu Qiaoling hurriedly stopped him: "Stop talking."

Lu Qiaoge rubbed Xiao Si's head, poor child.

Actually, this was normal; medicine wasn't developed nowadays, and ordinary people believed more in folk remedies to cure serious illnesses.

Just at this moment, Lu Qiaoge heard several grass carp talking.

【Why are they squatting, aren't they here to catch fish?】

【Don't know, if they don't come soon, the little wheat-ear fish won't be able to be circled.】

【There are many humans in the middle of the lake today, everyone has scattered. Even if we don't help, that human who can understand us won't return empty-handed.】

【Wow, she is so amazing!】

Lu Qiaoge stood up; the white water bamboo was eaten, it was edible anyway.

Her feelings and the swallow's wouldn't be wrong.

The old turtle that was about to become a spirit didn't need to lie to her either.

She had to cherish the big grass carp going to such trouble to help her drive the fish.

Thus, Lu Qiaoge returned fully loaded with her sister and brother.

Meng Xia was still very happy.

She let Lu Qiaoling send a basin to Fourth Uncle Lu, and she put the rest into a large iron basin, which also contained palm-sized fish.

Lu Qiaoge picked out some, originally wanting to dry them into fish jerky, but upon thinking that there would be a rainstorm the day after tomorrow, she gave up the idea.

Let's talk about it after the rainstorm passes.

Unexpectedly, when she went to work the next day, the Xiang Yang Neighborhood Office also received instructions.

They must do a good job in all aspects of work before and after the rainstorm arrives.

Especially for some old, dilapidated bungalows and those in low-lying areas.

Lu Qiaoge knew that Qin Hengzhi had believed her.

Because last night, her dad secretly told her that he had told Qin Hengzhi about those things in his and Old Lady Lu's name.

So, the missing steel ingots, the mechanism at the bottom of the lake, and the bad elements had all been resolved.

Then Lu Qiaoge also knew that Qin Hengzhi would be leaving soon.

Director Hu over there also said: "The steel ingot case has been broken, and Representative Qin might leave soon. I heard the factory is going to hold a farewell party, and our neighborhood office also has to put on a program."

Shao Le raised his hand: "I can sing 'We Workers Have Strength'."

Ren Xiaocui: "Our neighborhood office can compose a clapper talk. It's about praising the new era."

Huang Juan said: "They are all quite good, but we must first take care of this rainstorm, so as not to suffer too much disaster."

Lu Qiaoge naturally couldn't interrupt; she listened to everyone talking with a smile while neatly wiping the table.

She liked the atmosphere of this era very much; although materials were scarce, the human touch was particularly strong, and even as cadres, very few were high and mighty.

She wiped the table clean, laid newspaper in the drawer, making it look clean, and then put the items she could use—diary, fountain pen, pencils, lunch box, handkerchief, towel—into the drawer.

A white porcelain cup for drinking water was placed on the table.

After tidying up, Lu Qiaoge remembered the book with money and coupons tucked inside.

She took the book and handed it to Director Hu in front of everyone.

"I bought a pile of books and a broken bookcase at the scrap collection station yesterday. Unexpectedly, I flipped these things out of this book. It must be a worker's salary, but I don't know why it was sold. Director, what do you think we should do about this?"

Without exaggeration, the cadres of the neighborhood office all felt that Lu Qiaoge did the right thing. This was not keeping what one found, it was doing a good deed, just like picking up a cent on the side of the road and handing it to the police uncle.

So this matter was very ordinary. Director Hu handed it to Officer Liu of the security station: "Go post a notice, and then let the neighborhood committees publicize it."

There was no need to instruct further; even a fool knew that not stating the amount of money and the book title would be a false claim.

As for commending Lu Qiaoge, there was no need; this was what a neighborhood office cadre should do.

Lu Qiaoge tidied up the table, and the work over there had already been arranged.

Lu Qiaoge and Sister Qiao were responsible for the notification and investigation of the West First District.

Basically, everyone was very cooperative, and the work proceeded very smoothly.

However, at noon, they encountered a family, the rather difficult Zheng family.

The Zheng family was all there, including two big young men, and Old Zheng.

Old Zheng said: "Our family has no time. You two are big cadres, help us tidy up the roof. Look, the ladder is there, but our family has no tiles, help us get a few pieces."

Sister Qiao was quite angry, but she hadn't thought about what to say.

Lu Qiaoge immediately took out her diary and fountain pen and asked very seriously: "The targets we help are the old, weak, sick, disabled, and those who have lost the ability to work. I need to register it. Who among you is sick, disabled, or has lost the ability to work?"

Before Old Zheng could speak, Lu Qiaoge added: "After registration, I need to report it to the factory office. After verification, you can receive subsidies."

The result was naturally Old Zheng, with a flushed face, "politely" sending them out.