Zhou Cuiling was about to go back, Meng Tao walked to the main house, took out a piece of ham meat weighing more than a pound, and put it in her blue seed: "Return the gift." ”

Zhou Cuiling looked at it and said with a smile: "This is good, I'm not welcome." You haven't finished eating the things sent by your brother in the provincial city? Last night, I saw that the table was added twice, both of them were in large plates, and I grabbed them one by one, and I love to eat them. ”

"Brother Taurus and I aren't in the county these days, eating in the hospital canteen, how can we have time to eat this? So it's been saved until now, and there is a four or five catties, which can be eaten by guests and the New Year. ”

"I remember, my mother said that the family will prepare two chickens for the New Year, and I will give you one to entertain at that time, and two cabbages."

"No, the commune grocery store sells it."

"Then you don't want money? My mother said that if you save money and spend the dowry money, it will be useless for you to cry then. ”

Meng Tao sighed, her little dowry money really deserves to be spent!

"When I marry someone who doesn't need a dowry, but has to give me a bride price, do you think it's okay?"

Zhou Cuiling pointed at her and laughed: "Why did you think of a piece with Zhang Guoqing?" Zhang Guoqing said that he didn't need my family to prepare a dowry, and he also gave a bride price! I'll see it, you'll find one like this in the future! ”

"Shouldn't your Zhang Guoqing come back? Why don't you see anyone? Meng Tao asked.

Zhou Cuiling wiped the tears that came out of her laughter with the back of her hand: "He said that there are special circumstances and he will not be able to come back for a few days late." ”

"Oh." Meng Tao wondered if he would come back with Meng Zhehan and Shen Yu? Those two people want to come to Xingyang County, and they don't know how to go, so it is possible to ask Zhang Guoqing to lead the way.

After Zhou Cuiling left, Meng Tao went back to the Golden Bull House, went to the wall and fiddled with the brazier, which was filled with the fire that had been burned under the stove, and the fire gradually went out after a long time, and the house was not warm enough, she thought that the county supply and marketing cooperatives had charcoal to sell, and the commune should also have it, so she went to the commune again while the weather was sunny and bought some charcoal back, otherwise it would be cold in the snow.

There were two stacks of firewood in the courtyard, which were burned and roasted casually, but the dust was flying all over the house, and the clothes on the head were full of wood ashes, and they were not in shape.

was helping Taurus learn pinyin, and the courtyard door rang again, this time it was the rough voice of Captain Bao: "Where are the people?" ”

Meng Tao ran out again: "Here, Uncle Bao, you're here." ”

Captain Bao led an eighteen or nineteen-year-old man into the Golden Bull House, and Meng Tao recognized him as the son of a family surnamed Wang in the village, but he didn't know what it was called.

Wang Tiegen smiled and shouted at the Golden Bull: "Brother Golden Bull." ”

The Golden Bull also greeted: "Brother Tiegen." ”

Hey, these two still know each other.

Captain Bao said to Meng Tao: "Last time the Golden Bull came, I followed the team to pave the village road with stones, and Tiegen and him made a group, and the two of them were quite able to talk." These days, Tiegen has been asked to come over from time to time to take care of the golden calf, scrub and go to the toilet or something, and stay with him at night. ”

Meng Tao looked at Tie Gen: "Your family also agrees, right?" ”

Captain Bao: "Why do you agree or disagree?" Everyone is a production team and must help each other. ”

"I'll accompany Brother Taurus, and the family agrees."

Tiegen said a little embarrassed: "My sister had a fight with her brother-in-law, and brought three nephews home to live. Speaking of accompanying Brother Taurus, I actually came to set up a shop with Brother Taurus. ”

Meng Tao nodded: "That's good, the educated youths have also gone home, there is a bed frame in this house, I will lay it for you...... Come and eat with us tonight. ”

Tiegen waved his hand: "No, no, I'm going home to eat." ”

Captain Bao took out a telegram from his pocket and handed it to Meng Tao: "Yours." Last time, I helped you get a telegram, and this time the postman asked you to help pick it up. ”

Meng Tao took the telegram and looked at it, it was taken by Meng Zhehan in the provincial capital, and ten words expressed one meaning: On the twentieth day of the lunar month, he and Shen Yu went to Linshui Village.

I can't help but slander: It's popular to shoot telegrams in this era, and whoever takes a telegram before traveling.

What is a good day on the twentieth day of the lunar month? Liu Yongsheng arrived that day, and so did Meng Zhehan and Shen Yu, and they actually came together!

This small courtyard has only been empty for two days, and it will be full again.

Captain Bao asked, "Who took the telegram, what did you say?" ”

Meng Tao replied: "Uncle Bao, the last time I went to the provincial capital, didn't there be an elder brother surnamed Meng who recognized his relatives, and he also came." ”

"Come on, come on, he sent you a package, food and clothing, very concerned, since he is a relative, he has to move around, how many does he want to come?" Captain Bao was not surprised.

"Two."

"Plus Mr. Liu, four or six people, can live. If the quilt is not enough, borrow it from the educated youths first, and then you can wash and dry them later. Entertaining the guests, listen to the Zhou family's words to give you a chicken, two catties of dried beans, I will also give a chicken, add ten eggs, five radish, a few handfuls of dried vegetables; You still have that wild boar from last time, right? That's almost enough, what about the grain? You have to carry some back to the mill to grind it, and when you are ready, there is nothing to panic about. ”

"There is food, and some meat and vegetables are prepared, so that we can eat them. That is, Old Man Liu is old, and I am afraid that he will not be able to stand the cold, so I want to go to the commune to buy two bags of charcoal and come back. ”

"How much is it to buy two bags? Can the old man still live in your house until the Chinese New Year? Twenty pounds is enough! You girl who doesn't count, I'll watch you toss that little bit of money to the end. ”

Meng Tao smiled mischievously: "It's not over, there's more!" ”

Captain Bao was angry and helpless, glaring at her: "These days, the ox carts are running towards the commune, you can go with the car yourself or let the old Liangtou gang bring it back." Tell me what you're missing. When the guests arrived, you and Uncle Zhou and I came to accompany them. ”

"Hey, trouble Uncle Bao and Uncle Zhou."

Captain Bao waved his hand and left.

Meng Tao showed the telegram to Jin Niu, and when she chatted with Jin Niu in the hospital before, she said that there was a brother Meng in the provincial capital, but he didn't mention Shen Yu, so he told him: "Brother Meng Zhehan's good friend is called Shen Yu, last time I called them in Mengzhou, Brother Meng was out on a business trip, Shen Yu asked me to buy a gift for him to comfort you, those books, he wants to give you." ”

Taurus said gratefully: "Then when he comes, I have to thank him well." ”

"Hmm."

There is no work to do in winter, with Wang Tiegen accompanying the golden bull, Meng Tao can go out with confidence.

The next day, I rode my bicycle to the commune early, the supply and marketing cooperatives and non-staple food stores had just opened, and there were fewer customers.

The ticket for the whole country is good, and the meat that is limited to the purchase of non-staple food stores will turn a blind eye to her, so that she can buy five catties of fresh pork belly, five catties of pork ribs and two pork knuckles, and two roast chickens and ducks;

Buy 50 catties of charcoal at the supply and marketing cooperative, and buy two more enamel basins printed with red peony flowers, two kerosene lamps, towels and toothbrushes and other toiletries, and the guests should bring their own, and she should also prepare some.