Chapter 702

The things to be written were discussed, and how to handle it when going back was also discussed. The next things depended on Li Qing Xia's performance.

Du Chunfang didn't say much throughout the whole process. When Li Long was ready to leave, she had already brought out a basket of vegetables from the vegetable plot. That basket was brought over by Li Long when he bought peaches earlier, and at that time, it was left at the eldest brother's place along with the basket.

"This was just picked, from the vegetable plot in your front yard. Some have been pickled, and in some places, Chinese cabbage has also been planted. Take it back to eat."

In the basket were tomatoes, chili peppers, eggplants, and some celery.

Li Long didn't refuse either. He opened the car door, put the basket in the back seat, and when he was ready to start the car, he thought of something. He pulled the car door and turned to his father Li Qing Xia and said:

"Father, is Cousin Anmin's mother, my second aunt, still around? Is her leg and foot not good?"

"Yes, this year... she should be seventy-five, right?" Li Qing Xia thought about it and said.

"Anmin's mother not only has bad legs and feet, but her waist is also bad. Anmin's father died early, and she was tired from raising several children." Du Chunfang knew even more clearly than Li Qing Xia.

Immediately, she looked at her eldest son, then at her youngest son, and a sense of pride arose in her heart for no reason. How capable her sons were! At first, it was the eldest son who went out to venture, so that their family didn't starve much in those years, and even had surplus grain to help others.

Du Chunfang wasn't stingy, or rather, she didn't keep things in her heart. As long as she didn't starve, Li Qing Xia could give the family's surplus grain to whoever he wanted.

When others came to find her, she would directly push the matter away. Anyway, she wasn't the one in charge of the family. This kind of personality actually saved a lot of trouble in those years.

Next, the production was divided to the household, and the youngest son became successful again. They lived a life of eating meat every day. Who would have dared to think of that in the past?

Heh, she was just destined to enjoy happiness. People were just different from people.

"Then Father, when you go back, take that wine, the wine we soaked, with you. When you go, first put a bottle of wine for my second aunt, and just say this is for treating waist and leg pain. When the time comes, Cousin Anmin will definitely ask, so you just mention it, don't let him tell others."

"Mention what?" Du Chunfang didn't know what the soaked wine she drank from time to time was, and she felt that the smell was fishy and not as good as Daqu wine, so she asked.

"Mention that the wine is very expensive, one bottle can sell for over a hundred," Li Long said, half-joking.

"That's not right to deceive people," Du Chunfang immediately said with a straight face. She still valued character very much, and her attitude was quite serious.

"Xiao Long didn't lie," Li Jianguo also felt this idea was not bad. "This wine is very expensive. Father, just do it this way. Anmin is very filial. If his mother gets better, you can let him do whatever you want."

Li Long left, Li Jianguo and Liang Yumei were busy feeding pigs and preparing things for harvesting watermelon seeds. Du Chunfang had a matter on her mind. After returning to the room, she couldn't help but ask Li Qing Xia:

"Xiao Long said that wine costs over a hundred a bottle... is it really that expensive?"

Li Qing Xia actually already knew that what was soaked in the wine was tiger bone. Everyone didn't say it clearly, so he played dumb. Anyway, the old companion didn't ask either.

Now that Du Chunfang asked, he chuckled:

"Why are you asking this? No matter how expensive it is, isn't it all your son being filial to you? Just drink it... no matter what, how do you feel drinking it?"

"That is... really good." Du Chunfang didn't think so much before, but now thinking about it, she seemed to feel that she had really been quite good during this period, without so many small ailments.

Some things couldn't be felt all at once. After all, she hadn't reached the state of Anmin's mother, but after a long time and summarizing, she reacted.

"Then that's it, you don't care what it is. Let me tell you, this thing is put in our house, whether it's valuable or not is just a bottle of wine, but if it's taken out, it's valuable. We don't sell good things either, it just plays a big role at critical moments."

Li Qing Xia felt that the idea his youngest son Li Long came up with was really too right.

Really taking money to find Li Anmin was not as good as taking the past kindness, but Li Qing Xia's personality wasn't that kind of person. This time he originally intended to say it with a thick face, but the idea Li Long gave perfectly solved this problem.

Li Qing Xia's mood naturally became better.

Two days later, after breakfast, Gu Xiaoxia rode her bicycle to work, and Li Long drove the jeep to the Fourth Team.

In the past, when family members went on long trips, they usually got up at dawn to pack, feeling that the earlier they left, the better.

Now Li Long didn't do that. Anyway, he knew the train ticket was in the afternoon, and even if he went that day, he might not be able to buy a ticket, so there was no need to leave so early.

The main thing was that there was no need to wait for the car. Today he had to send his father to Wucheng.

Li Qing Xia was a decision-maker. Once a matter was decided, it was executed, and he never thought about dragging it out.

So he left today, intending to stay at home for about a month, and then come back after finishing things.

Of course, this month's time was flexible, it could be long or short.

Li Long tried to stuff some money to his father when he had time, but it shocked Li Qing Xia.

Li Qing Xia took out a thick stack of money and let Li Long see. Based on Li Long's experience, that stack of money had to be at least three or four thousand.

Thinking that his father had been catching fish in winter and summer for the past two years, and had no place to spend money, he understood.

"This is not all, I didn't dare to bring it all, fearing it wouldn't be safe on the road."

Indeed, it was troublesome if you brought a lot of money and were targeted on the road.

Li Qing Xia packed his things, which was a black canvas handbag. This handbag was quite large. According to Li Long's idea, it was best to divide it into two smaller ones, balancing left and right to carry.

Li Qing Xia didn't allow it, saying that carrying one bag made the other hand convenient for doing other things.

Li Long also intended to let his father use his backpack, but the old man didn't want it, saying he wasn't used to carrying it.

What surprised Li Long was that his eldest brother Li Jianguo also wanted to send him off.

If he wanted to send him off, then send him off. Anyway, his own car could sit.

"Did you bring the wine?" Li Long asked when he was about to get in the car.

"Brought it, brought it, got a small plastic cage, brought two catties." Li Qing Xia knew this thing was expensive, so he didn't bring much.

Li Long wanted to say something, but it was all packed, so he didn't say anything more.

Anyway, it could still be mailed at this time, and it was easy to mail.

When the jeep drove out of the village, people passing by either stopped to watch or greeted loudly.

Raising a cloud of dust.

"Is it time to tie large brooms?" Li Jianguo suddenly asked. "There are already people in our team cutting reeds."

"Eldest brother, are you not planning to tie brooms this year? I see the watermelons are almost ripe, right?"

"Can tie some." Li Jianguo sat in the passenger seat and said while looking out, "Tying one is earning one's money. If I'm busy harvesting watermelons, then I won't tie."

Actually, he still wanted to earn this money. Eldest brother Li Jianguo's ability to tie large brooms was still quite powerful. Of course, what he wanted most was to go into the mountains to cut wooden handles. That earned money faster.

Now, even if eldest brother Li Jianguo was clumsy, he knew there were many good things in the mountains, and it was easy to earn money.

Tying handles and hitting poles for one year could earn him money that ordinary farmers couldn't earn in two or three years.

Thinking that his younger brother Li Long also collected fritillaria. He knew how valuable fritillaria was. Heh, this speed of making money!

When the jeep turned onto the road to the township, Li Long finally breathed a sigh of relief and opened the window to let in air.

"Heh, when we come back, these corn cobs should be finished breaking..."

If it weren't for nothing to do, Li Qing Xia actually didn't want to go back much. Staying in Northern Tianshan, some small ailments in his body seemed to have disappeared, especially in winter, staying in a room with a stove and fire wall, wasn't it more comfortable than in a room filled with cold wind?

How to say it, in the past, winter mainly relied on the body to carry it hard, but now it was different.

But this big event still had to be done.

The jeep got on the Wuyi Highway and the speed became faster. Li Long's driving skills also became more proficient. Overtaking all the way, he arrived at Wucheng Railway South Station in less than two hours.

There were many people in the railway station square. When Li Long's jeep drove in, many people were avoiding it or watching curiously.

Although Wucheng was the capital, jeeps were not common. These people looked at the jeep curiously, and then were curious about what kind of people got off inside.

"Could it be an old cadre?"

"Is it possible that it's an official in the army?"

"Maybe they are just here to handle business."

When Li Qing Xia got off carrying a black ordinary canvas bag, glasses fell all over the ground—who could have thought that the one who got off was an old farmer dressed like them?

The jeep was parked in the parking space. Li Long let his eldest brother and father wait by the car first, and he went to buy tickets.

Li Jianguo wanted to go, but Li Long said he was young and easy to squeeze—it wasn't that they didn't queue to buy tickets at this time, it was mainly because some people squeezed and wanted to cut in line. At this time, being young and having strength was an advantage, ensuring his position. Li Long entered the ticket office and found that there weren't many people inside. Li Long started queuing, and after more than ten minutes, it was his turn. After telling the ticket seller the destination, he asked if there were any hard sleepers, and as a result, the ticket seller looked at him and asked:

"Upper berth, middle berth, or lower berth?"

Eh? There actually were? Li Long was stunned for a moment and hurriedly said:

"Lower berth, one, how much?"

"One hundred twenty-four yuan and eight," the ticket seller replied.

Li Long quickly counted out one hundred thirty yuan and handed it in, and said another sentence:

"Add two platform tickets."

Most of the people queuing behind were looking at Li Long.

In this day and age, hard seats were snatched, but not many people snatched sleepers.

After all, it was more than twice as expensive.

Soon the ticket seller handed back the tickets and the change.

Li Long put the money in his pocket, looked at the time, it was past five in the afternoon, Car 9, Berth 3, the position was good, he could find the car as soon as he entered the station, no need to run to both ends, saving effort.

(No Chinese characters)

Platform tickets were bought for sending people off, using this ticket to enter the station and get on the platform, able to send luggage into the car, but not able to ride the car—of course, when tickets were tight, some people couldn't snatch tickets and would buy platform tickets to enter the station, then mix into the car, and then supplement the ticket after mixing in.

Later, I don't know when the platform tickets were cancelled.

Taking the tickets out, walking to the jeep, Li Jianguo asked:

"Which car's ticket?"

"Car 9," Li Long handed the ticket to his father. "I bought you a sleeper, it's three days, sleep and have a good rest."

"Why buy a sleeper? Can you buy it without proof? Doesn't it have to be what level to buy?" Li Qing Xia's first feeling was shock, this sleeper could also be bought?

Then he reacted:

"What to buy a sleeper for? Buy a hard seat! That sleeper is so expensive... go return the ticket, return it, I'm not old, this hard seat can also sit!"

"Not returning," Li Long waved his hand. "We are not without money, if we can be more comfortable, we will be more comfortable. I remember it was you or eldest brother who said it, poor family rich road, on the road we must be more comfortable. You are going back to do big things, sitting on the road all the way, back waist sore back pain, won't that affect efficiency?"

Li Jianguo smiled.

"I didn't say it, that must be what your eldest brother said." Li Qing Xia still wanted to return the ticket, Li Long pointed to the surroundings and said, "Father, stop talking, let others make a joke, let's go, time is almost up, let's go eat lunch."

Li Qing Xia also knew that it was not appropriate to talk more at this time, so he got in the car.

Li Long was relatively more familiar with Wucheng, drove to a state-run restaurant, and naturally ate mixed noodles.

Arriving in Wucheng, Li Jianguo actually wanted to ask why Li Long was fired at that time. But Li Long never mentioned this matter. When Li Long first came back, he asked, Li Long didn't say, and Li Jianguo didn't ask again.

Although curious right now, he didn't ask in the end.

After eating, Li Long thought about whether to buy some more things for his father to take back. Li Qing Xia refused. According to his words, close relatives were all on this side, there were no close relatives on that side, they were all juniors, he had already brought a few kilograms of sugar, this was for the children, the wine was for the sister-in-law, and the rest was nothing.

Long seniority, could have this attitude.

After eating, the three people came to the South Station again. Li Qing Xia and Li Jianguo waited in the car. Li Long went to buy some dried fruits—there were stalls selling dried fruits on the east side of the square of Wucheng Railway South Station at this time, and there were many.

Raisins, dried apricots, red dates, and other specialties were all bought some. After packing, Li Long went to buy sponge cakes, naan, and other things to eat.

At present, there was no instant noodles. Li Long knew his father definitely wouldn't eat the dining car food, so he could only buy some to prepare.

Sending the old man on the car with Li Jianguo, and then driving back to send the eldest brother home, this matter was considered to be here.

The next day after breakfast, Sister Yang looked after the children, and Li Long went to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

Here, the shift had just been handed over. Li Xiangqian was wiping the glass on the office desk. Li Long saw that the glass had cracks, so he said:

"Section Chief, aren't you going to change this glass?"

"Change what, it's not broken, it's just a little ice flower crack." Li Xiangqian folded the rag and put it aside, asking:

"Heard the news?"

"What news?" Li Long poured himself water familiarly, sat on the wooden sofa and asked: "I haven't heard?"

"Then let me tell you, two pieces of news, one is the issued document, one is heard," Li Xiangqian said with a smile, feeling full of gossip:

"The document for tying large brooms has come down. Our cooperative's task this time is eight thousand, can you get them?"

"That's naturally no problem, hasn't the price changed?"

"Changed, changed, five yuan for one broom, the document specially mentioned one sentence, the quality must be high, at least the same as last year, can you do it?"

"That's definitely no problem." Li Long thought, eight thousand, five yuan each, an amount of forty thousand.

What could reach his hand was almost more than ten thousand yuan, not little.

"There is another piece of news, heard, I don't know if it's accurate, but the probability is true, and it's related to you."

"Related to me? What news?" Li Long suddenly became interested.

"It's still about this large broom matter. The leaders in the autonomous region have different opinions. Some leaders' opinion is to buy bamboo large brooms from the mouth, that is cheap, two or three yuan each. Some leaders insist on using our side's reed large brooms, saying that local products are used for a long time.

At that time, the leader who hoped to purchase bamboo brooms said that this reed large broom was not strong, and it would fall off after sweeping for a period of time, and then it would fall apart, not only not clean but also affecting hygiene.

That leader who purchased reed large brooms said no, saying that what his family used was the reed large broom issued by the unit, the quality was very good, swept for more than a year, almost swept bald, and the reeds didn't fall off.

That leader who hoped to purchase bamboo brooms didn't believe it, and then found a new broom from the warehouse on the spot, swept for three days in the compound, except for the broken reeds, it really didn't fall off. This time he was convinced. He also said that the reason why he said reed brooms fell off grass was that he used similar ones when he was a leader in a certain prefecture before, and it did fall off grass. Now it seems that it should be a quality reason, so finally it was determined to purchase reed large brooms.

Later, the leader asked about the source of these brooms, saying that they were pulled from our side, and then our county and prefecture became famous..."

No wonder the quantity increased so much all of a sudden, and there was such a thing?

Li Long remembered that in later generations, units indeed used more bamboo brooms. Although this reed broom had been used among the people, it was used less by units.

But those who tied well, the reed large brooms tied by those old men in the Fourth Team for him, were basically discarded only when they were swept to the end to become a broom head, leaving the iron hoop and handle to be reused.

Those bamboo brooms would also fall off bamboo and leaves.

But the people who used it couldn't control it, they used whatever was issued above.

If it weren't for the leader noticing this, it would really be hard to say.

Was this caused by the butterfly flapping its wings?

However, eight thousand large brooms, the Fourth Team definitely couldn't eat it, there weren't that many reeds.

The quantity on the Qingshuihe side could be increased a bit more.

The price naturally also had to be increased a bit, which was also to increase everyone's enthusiasm.

Li Long made a decision in an instant, and at the same time, he was looking at how to divide the work.

The Fourth Team didn't have enough reeds, and the handles weren't enough, this was indeed a big job.

Jobs that earned money naturally had to be prioritized for one's own family, so he thought of his eldest brother's words yesterday, so let his eldest brother participate.

Anyway, there was still a little time before harvesting watermelons, so earn a little if you can.

Of course, quality inspection still had to pass. The first two batches of large brooms were all checked by him one by one. Li Long had great strength, and those that could be pulled off by him were naturally unqualified. If he couldn't pull them off, then they couldn't be swept off either.

It was just that these eight thousand, checking them took a lot of time.

"Then that's it, this large broom job is yours. No time, forty days, you have to hurry."

"The director didn't say anything, right?" Li Long was still worried about Director Wei.

"The director is very happy. After all, you won face for our county cooperative. Otherwise, the prefecture cooperative couldn't have given us so much. You can go ahead and do it boldly, just control the quality."

Only then did Li Long feel relieved. (End of chapter)