Chapter 208: Showing Off and Frugality

Sihe Academy

Shazhu returned to the courtyard carrying melon seeds and candy, just in time to run into Qin Huairu who had just finished work.

"Shazhu, are you having relatives over? Buying so many melon seeds and candy."

Shazhu said with a face full of joy: "The Old Lady asked Matchmaker Du to introduce a girl to me, she's coming to the house for a blind date tomorrow."

Qin Huairu's heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly asked: "Where is the girl from? What does she do?"

Shazhu smiled and said: "Qin Jie, why are you more anxious than me."

Qin Huairu glared at Shazhu: "Isn't your sister concerned about you?"

Shazhu said: "Thanks, Qin Jie. The girl is from the West City, works at the flour mill. Alright, I won't chat with you anymore, I have to go back and tidy up the house."

Watching Shazhu carry the things back to his room, Qin Huairu felt a bit low.

This Deaf Old Lady is really meddlesome!

If Shazhu gets married, what will happen to her family?

Qin Huairu washed clothes with worry, various thoughts flashing through her mind.

She didn't want to lose Shazhu's help at all.

After washing the clothes, Qin Huairu returned to the kitchen to cook.

Banggeng walked in, limping: "Mom! I want to eat meat!"

Qin Huairu said irritably: "We can barely afford corn buns at home, where would I get the money to buy you meat."

Banggeng had become picky about his food while recovering from his injury.

If he didn't eat meat for a few days, he would feel uncomfortable from the craving.

A flash of cunning crossed Qin Huairu's eyes: "Your Foolish Uncle bought a lot of melon seeds and candy, you can go over and ask for some."

"There's candy!"

Hearing this, Banggeng's eyes lit up, and he turned and ran toward the He family.

In a short while, he ran back, his pockets bulging, and his hands full.

"Mom! I grabbed all of Shazhu's candy!"

Jia Zhangshi said happily: "Good grandson, give the candy to Grandma, Grandma will help you keep it."

"No!"

Banggeng turned and ran out of the room, not giving Jia Zhangshi a single piece of candy.

"This ungrateful thing!"

Jia Zhangshi stomped her feet in annoyance: "Look at the good son you've taught!"

Qin Huairu buried her head in cooking, ignoring Jia Zhangshi who was full of resentment.

It's your own doing!

You have money but won't pay for Banggeng's leg, do you really think Banggeng is a one-year-old child who doesn't understand anything?

"Cao Weiguo! Buddy is going on a blind date tomorrow!"

"My date is from the city!"

Qin Huairu was cutting pickles when she suddenly heard Shazhu's proud voice.

"Congratulations! I wish you success in winning the beauty!"

Cao Weiguo said with a smile and pushed his bicycle toward home.

Shazhu stared at Cao Weiguo's bicycle with jealousy in his heart: "Hmph! What are you showing off for! You still married a village girl from the countryside!"

Cao Weiguo returned home, and Song Yulan had already prepared dinner.

Stir-fried shredded potatoes with meat, pickles, white flour steamed buns, and cornmeal porridge.

Cao Weiguo said: "Wife, didn't I tell you to buy more meat?"

Song Yulan said: "I bought over a catty."

Cao Weiguo shook his head helplessly: "You! I really don't know what to say to you."

The family clearly didn't lack money, but they were stingy in their daily life.

The excessive frugality made Cao Weiguo somewhat dissatisfied.

It was fine for a day or two, but in the long run, it made him feel uncomfortable.

Song Yulan didn't notice Cao Weiguo's expression and smiled as she picked up food for Cao Weiguo.

"Taste if the shredded potatoes I stir-fried have improved."

Cao Weiguo took a bite: "Hmm, very good, a big improvement."

The two were eating dinner when Third Aunt Sun came to the house.

"Weiguo, do you need these industrial coupons?"

Cao Weiguo took the industrial coupons, his face full of smiles: "Yes, I was just thinking of buying some things."

These industrial coupons included towels, iron pots, thermos bottles, wool, cigarettes, and white liquor.

Third Aunt Sun smiled and said: "As long as you need them!"

Cao Weiguo took out the liquor coupons and cigarette coupons and handed them to Third Aunt Sun.

"Third Aunt Sun, could I trouble you to help me buy a carton of Da Qianmen and three bottles of Moutai."

Third Aunt Sun said: "Da Qianmen is no problem, but the quota for Moutai is too small, I can get at most one bottle."

Cao Weiguo smiled: "One bottle is fine, buy Fen liquor for the rest."

One bottle is better than none!

If he didn't have Third Aunt Sun's connection at the supply and marketing cooperative, he feared he wouldn't be able to buy even one bottle.

Cao Weiguo looked at Song Yulan: "Wife, give me ten yuan."

Song Yulan went into the room, took ten yuan, and handed it to Cao Weiguo.

Cao Weiguo gave the money to Third Aunt Sun: "Third Aunt Sun, thank you for the trouble, this is for the cigarettes and liquor."

Third Aunt Sun took the money and smiled: "It's just a small thing."

After Third Aunt Sun left, Song Yulan frowned and asked:

"Why buy so many cigarettes and liquor?"

Ten yuan for cigarettes and liquor, that's too wasteful!

Cao Weiguo said: "Wife, I need to interact with people at work, these things are for giving as gifts."

Song Yulan said unhappily: "That's too many gifts! Ten yuan is enough for the family's expenses for a month."

Cao Weiguo sighed: "Wife, if I don't handle interpersonal relationships well, how can I sit firmly in the position of deputy section chief? Without the title of deputy section chief, where would I earn a high salary? This money isn't saved, it's earned..."

After saying a lot, Song Yulan finally relaxed.

But she still felt pained about those ten yuan.

Cao Weiguo ate dinner and then dived into the study.

Recently, Lu Jin Peng had sent back many old objects.

They were varied and numerous.

Just identifying and organizing them required a lot of energy and time.

Among them was a golden Kadampa stupa; it felt heavy in the hand, as if holding a brick of gold.

Looking closely at the pagoda body, the bronze was smooth and delicate, with the deep and shallow rust colors and protrusions of old patina, the bright ancient bronze color at the corners, and the "gold-inlaid" embellishments formed by different alloy ratios.

"The false color shines outside, the true color melts inside; it emits a strange light from the dimness, just like the skin of a beautiful woman, soft and pinchable."

This bronze Kadampa pagoda was a treasure from the Ming Dynasty; when shaken gently, it emitted a slight metallic clinking sound.

In addition, there was a Ming Dynasty bronze-bodied cloisonné flower and fruit pattern tripod furnace, a Ming Dynasty Longquan kiln celadon carved bowl, a snuff bottle from the Qianlong period...

The various objects made Cao Weiguo feel very happy.