Chapter 236: New Year's Day

"Hmm, that's good. If these newspapers get rained on, I'm afraid they'll grow mold over time. It's better to sell them as soon as possible and fix up the courtyard properly."

"Hmm, I understand. Cousin, where are you living now?"

"I live at Nanluoguxiang 95 Courtyard. You can come visit when you have time. Since we've met, we should keep in touch more often."

"Okay."

Polan Hou quickly recalled the situation in Nanluoguxiang in his memory. Although it wasn't far from here, he rarely went there; after all, his base of operations was here, and his routine of walking the streets and alleys to collect scraps was mostly in this vicinity.

Returning home, Yan Bugui felt a bit more relaxed; after all, after persisting for over three months of searching, there was finally a perfect result.

"Dad, did you find him?"

"Hmm, it's your distant cousin. He's the only one in his family and makes a living by collecting scraps."

"Ah? Then let's bring some things to visit him on our day off."

"Hmm, I was thinking the same. It's not easy for him to live alone. Jiecheng, you come with me, and while you're at it, cook a good meal for your cousin."

When Yan Bugui had previously talked to Polan Hou about children, he noticed his expression was poor, so he didn't intend to have the whole family go, just in case it triggered him.

"Okay."

The family affection in this era was not like in the previous life, where it was all about comparison and showing off; instead, it was exceptionally cherished, and there was plenty of human warmth.

Han Chunming's family received secret financial support from Lou Bancheng. Although the whole family still looked sallow and occasionally went hungry, they could at least maintain basic consumption. Han Fu also saw hope and stopped his hunger strike.

"Resemblance, too much resemblance," Lou Bancheng said while sitting in the car, looking at the twelve or thirteen-year-old Chun Yan in the distance.

"Yes, if she were a bit older, she would be a twin to Xiao'e. Why don't we take her in..."

"What nonsense are you talking about? Don't you know what our current situation is? Bringing her here isn't doing her a favor; it's harming her."

"And Xiao'e, she's eighteen this year and should be married off. Go back and see if there are any suitable children of Workers," Lou Bancheng said, a flash of helplessness crossing his eyes.

"Our daughter is still young. Let's wait another two years. It's not like we can't afford to raise her."

"You... you go back and ask for Xiao'e's opinion."

This third wife was good in every way, but her foresight was lacking. Lou Bancheng didn't want his daughter to marry early either, but what could he do?

"Okay, then I'll go back and ask for Xiao'e's opinion."

"Let's go, A Fu. Next time you send cornmeal to their house, mix in some white flour."

"Very well, sir."

Over the past two years, Zhang Ping'an had also used Lou Xiao'e to send some things to Lou Bancheng during holidays, mainly Medicinal Wine and tea for nourishment, as well as chestnuts and hawthorns they liked to eat.

But Lou Bancheng would almost always return things of equal value, or even more, and Lou Xiao'e never came empty-handed whenever she visited.

"Xiao'e."

"Mom, you're back? Did you see her?"

"I saw her. She really does look a lot like you. She is your great-aunt's granddaughter."

"Oh, then can we bring her over to play with me?"

"No, and you shouldn't go looking for her either. With our family's situation, it wouldn't be good for her family."

"Oh, I see." Lou Xiao'e's mood instantly dropped.

"Mom came mainly to ask you one thing today."

"What thing?"

"Xiao'e, you're eighteen this year. Is there anyone you like?"

"Mom~ what are you saying? I'm still young." Lou Xiao'e's face turned red instantly, but Zhang Ping'an's face appeared in her mind involuntarily.

Once Lou Tanshi saw this, she understood her daughter's little secret. She sighed in her heart; she had previously thought her daughter was just purely going to play with Wang Xiaoling, but now it seemed...

"Xiao'e, your father's intention is to find a Worker's child for you to marry into."

"Mom, I'm not going anywhere. I'll just stay at home and keep you company, okay~"

"Go talk to your father about this; your mother can't make the decision."

Hearing this, Lou Xiao'e decisively abandoned Lou Mu, ran to Lou Bancheng's study with a pitter-patter, and started acting spoiled.

"This girl," Lou Tanshi also smiled helplessly.

In the end, under Lou Xiao'e's spoiled offensive, Lou Bancheng helplessly agreed, but only gave her two years.

Lou Xiao'e was actually deeply influenced by her family and believed it was normal for capable men to have multiple wives and concubines, but she still lacked confidence when facing Wang Xiaoling.

Lou Xiao'e could also roughly guess the thoughts of that little girl, Aihua; wasn't she just a replica of herself back then? This was also the reason why she could play with this girl; their topics when together almost never left Zhang Ping'an.

On their day off, Yan Bugui and his son took the purchased vegetables and went to Polan Hou's house.

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Who is it?"

"It's me, cousin."

"Cousin, why have you come?"

"I was in a rush last time. Since it's a day off, and my son is studying to be a chef, I let him come over to cook for us so we can have a drink."

"Cousin."

"Hey, hey, alright, come in quickly."

Polan Hou was a bit surprised; he didn't expect this cousin to be a teacher and his son to be studying cooking, but thinking of the current environment, he couldn't find any fault with it.

What Yan Bugui brought was basically pig offal, which didn't require coupons, and there were also two taels of meat, enough for a plate of stir-fried meat.

Soon, Yan Jiecheng finished cooking four dishes: Nine-Turn Intestines, stir-fried liver tips, tender kidney slices, and stir-fried meat.

"Hmm~ nephew's culinary skills are good. It smells fragrant, and they are all great dishes for drinking."

"Come, come, let's have a drink."

………

Time quietly arrived at New Year's Day of '62. The second aunt and second uncle brought gifts and were invited to Lv Aimin's house.

"Xiaoyan, Laiwen, come here."

"Brother Lv Aimin, is this your wife?"

"Yes, this is your sister-in-law, Yang Xiaofang. Xiaofang, these are my younger sister and brother-in-law from my hometown."

"Hello, Xiaoyan, brother-in-law."

"Hello, sister-in-law."

"Let's all go inside to talk; don't stand outside."

"Alright. Xiaoyan, your Brother Lv Aimin has been thinking constantly about the taste of home-cooked food; you must teach me how to make it later."

"Of course, sister-in-law, I will hold nothing back."

Lv Aimin's initial thought was to invite Shazhu over, but once he considered that his own sister's cooking suited his taste better, and that his wife could also learn a trick or two, he simply called the two of them over instead.

At this moment, Zhang Laiwen was a bit nervous; it was fine when his second aunt was around, but facing a ministerial-level leader alone made him, a common citizen, feel somewhat tense.

"Laiwen, no need to be nervous, just treat it like your own home. Your Rolling Mill's Deputy Factory Director will be coming over later, and we'll watch a movie together."

"Alright, Brother Lv Aimin."

No sooner had the two finished speaking than Factory Director Yang arrived carrying some things, followed by Xu Damao and his apprentice, who were both carrying a film projector.

"Minister Lv, should we set it up in the living room, or?"

"Just here is fine. And Zhiguo, this is home, why call me Minister?"

"Alright, old Squad Leader. Damao, hurry up and set it up."

"Alright, Factory Director." Xu Damao then glanced at Zhang Laiwen, who was sitting to the side.

"Second Uncle?"

"Hmm?" Everyone's gaze turned toward Xu Damao, and Zhang Laiwen also found Xu Damao somewhat familiar.

"Uh, I live in the same Siheyuan as Uncle Zhang Ping'an, I've seen you a few times."

"Oh, oh, I remember now, it's you."

"Oh? Xu Damao, right? You live in the same Siheyuan as Zhang Ping'an?"

"Yes, leader."

"Hmm, not bad. Your Siheyuan really is a gathering place for talent. That He Daqing and his son live there too, right?"

"Yes, yes, yes, they are all together."

"Old Squad Leader, who is this?"