Chapter 449

Because of this instruction, the members of the poorest production team in Manshan Commune have been walking with extra vigor these past few days.

Team Leader Jiang didn't feel it was appropriate to go find Lu Qiaoge to talk, but he kept glancing into the room, his ears pricked up, very much wanting to hear what the young Factory Director Lu had to say...

At this moment, Lu Qiaoge was looking at Zhao Xiaoman, who was wearing a red cotton-padded jacket; her brows were like willow leaves and her eyes like stars—and it had to be said, she was truly very beautiful.

Zhao Xiaoman clenched her hands, feeling a bit shy and also a bit nervous. She said, "That... Young Factory Director Lu, you've come. Thank you, thank you."

"I'm just here to watch the excitement too, what are you thanking me for? This is a token of our neighborhood office's heart, and this is a blanket bought with money pooled together by everyone. The rest are all here; I'll put them on the kang for you."

Lu Qiaoge and the three from Chen Zhi's side carried the items inside, introducing them as they placed them on the kang.

Zhao Xiaoman was at a loss, not knowing what to say.

Lu Qiaoge, however, pointed to the objects on the kang cabinet and asked, "Are these the crafts you wove using corn husks?"

Zhao Xiaoman said embarrassedly, "They're just some small items. Some were woven before, and some I've been pondering over these past two days. I wouldn't dare call them crafts; they're just... just..."

Just what, she didn't seem to know how to say.

Lu Qiaoge smiled, but she looked at them one by one very seriously. She had to admit that whether they were from before or now, even the ones woven casually were very exquisite and beautiful.

These were things woven within the scope of what she had come into contact with and could imagine.

There were seat cushions, floor cushions, coasters, fans, tote bags, and even a candy jar, and a pair of vases with lotus flowers and lotus leaves made of corn husks inserted in them; although not as fresh and tender as real lotus flowers, they had a unique artistic charm.

What surprised Lu Qiaoge was a corn cob that looked so real it could fool anyone.

At first glance, she really thought it was a corn cob placed to the side.

When Lu Qiaoge picked it up, she was truly shocked for a moment, and turned her head to look at Zhao Xiaoman, who was sitting on the kang: "Is this corn also woven by you using corn husks?"

Zhao Xiaoman nodded and said softly, "Inside, I used the corn cob core; it was thoroughly dried. I was just weaving it for fun at the time."

"This is not bad, really not bad at all." Lu Qiaoge praised her sincerely.

The corn cob core that Zhao Xiaoman spoke of is actually the corn cob itself.

In rural areas, it can be crushed and used as pig feed.

At this time, some elderly people in the village heard the news and also walked toward this side.

Shao Le, who was talking to Qin Heng outside, also entered the room.

In front of everyone, he took out 50 yuan and handed it to Zhao Xiaoman, saying, "Your Brother Yonggang has a special task today and needs to work overtime to finish it. He probably couldn't get leave, so he asked me to bring this money to you. He said he hopes you live your life well and hopes you get better and better."

Hearing these words, Zhao Xiaoman's eyes turned red.

Zhao Xiaomei, who was beside her, was very clever; she took the money and stuffed it into her sister's hand.

Shao Le had been to the Zhao house several times. In the past, when Zhao Laolai was at home, both inside and outside the house were filled with a stifling, heavy atmosphere that made it hard for people to breathe.

Moreover, the smell inside the house was also very unpleasant.

But now, although nothing had been added, it felt clear and airy.

Even the most timid Zhao Xiaomei dared to look up at him.

Shao Le smiled at her, thinking to himself that Zhao Laolai was truly a scourge, and he should think of a way to keep him inside for a few more years.

He then introduced Chen Zhi to them.

Xiaoman called out, "Sister-in-law Shao Le..."

The other two also called out the same way.

Shao Le smiled and asked, "Is there anything else you need me to do?"

Zhao Xiaomei finally gathered the courage: "Then... then Brother Shao Le, can... can you carry the second sister out for her wedding?"

People of this era, except for soldiers who had relatively good physical fitness, were mostly thin; even if they had thick hair, one had to admit they were all quite thin.

She didn't know if Shao Le could carry her.

Shao Le still nodded and said, "Alright, I'll carry her."

Zhao Xiaoman over there lowered her head and wiped away tears.

And at this time, the jeep that caught up from behind also parked in the same place as Qin Heng's jeep.

Shao Yonggang led his two children and walked toward the Zhao house.

The two children were born in the Wogouzi production team.

Although they had adapted to life in the city, when they arrived at the Wogouzi production team where they had lived for several years and saw their familiar little friends, they immediately broke free from Shao Yonggang's hand.

Before they came, their grandmother had put candy in the pockets of their cotton-padded jackets.

Little Douzi shouted in the cold wind: "Gouzi, Gouzi, come quickly, I have candy here! Erdan, Erdan, where are you? I miss you!"

Shao Yonggang's somewhat tense expression relaxed a lot at this moment. He said to his father, Shao Fu, who was driving, "Dad, do you want to get down?"

Shao Fu thought for a moment: "Alright."

He also got out of the car. This was a car borrowed from his unit, and it wasn't easy to find someone else to be the driver. It just so happened that he could drive too, so he sent his son over.

Otherwise, seeing him sitting restlessly at home, he didn't feel right in his heart either.

These children of the Zhao family were quite good and not the type who loved to take advantage of others.

They had a good sense of propriety and knew etiquette.

He didn't persuade them, nor would he stop them; he just let things take their natural course.

Shao Fu naturally wasn't coming to the countryside for the first time, and he knew what kind of life it was in the countryside.

His voice was a bit hoarse as he said, "Yonggang, you've suffered all these years."

Shao Yonggang shook his head: "Dad, let's not mention the past."

"Alright, alright, let's not mention it."

He changed the subject: "This car belongs to Representative Qin Heng; he should have come too."

The father and son quickened their pace and soon arrived at the Zhao house.

Team Leader Jiang didn't expect that two more people had come, one of whom was naturally familiar—Shao Yonggang, who had grown up, started a family, and established a career here.

The other one... it had to be said, his brows and eyes looked somewhat like Yonggang's.

He must be Shao Yonggang's biological father.

At a glance, he was clearly a big cadre from the city.

Team Leader Jiang sighed in his heart.

Qin Heng over there took the initiative to make introductions. Then he nodded gently toward Shao Yonggang.

And at this time, Grandma Gouwa in the room squinted her eyes and said to Zhao Xiaoman: "You always say your mother was bad, your mother was bad; you should thank your mother. Back then, she swapped your Brother Qin and Zhao Yonggang. Look, look, with this swap, you gained two brothers. Where else under heaven can you find such a good thing?"

The old lady's voice was very loud. Shao Yonggang in the courtyard heard it, and a sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth.

Zhao Xiaoman's expression sank.

She hated hearing such words the most.

It seemed she had gained an extra brother.

But what was the price for this?

How could she have the heart to thank that muddled and weak mother?

Lu Qiaoge, who was examining the corn husk crafts, also looked at the old lady who said these words.

And at this time, Shao Le was standing to the side. Before he could speak, this Grandma Gouwa also said: "Shao Le, you too. Ever since you recognized your ancestors and returned to your clan, I haven't heard you say a single good word about your mother. You should thank your mother.

Without your mother, could you have such a good life as you do now?

Perhaps you would be just like these young men in the village, growing up in the village, farming the land, facing the yellow earth and backing the sky. You want to be a worker? Keep dreaming!"