Out of the station, Zhang Guoqing pulled Zhang's mother and sat directly on the co-pilot. Looking at the few gray hairs on her head, my heart was sour. It's not easy in his mother's life. From dawn to late at night, he worked in the fields, cleaned up the house, and took care of his family. I have survived until I am old, and I have not enjoyed a good day of life. I have stayed in the village for most of my life, and it is the first time I have come to the provincial capital.

Driving the car, Zhang Guoqing secretly pondered to himself, take his mother to have a good meal first. Driving from the street of the hotel, he paid attention to the fact that there are friendship shopping malls and department stores, which are quite lively. He plans to accompany her today, go shopping slowly, and see the big provincial cities. It just so happens that the car still has gas, and tomorrow I will drive it to the military region to return the car, and it will be convenient to go back empty-handed to do some things.

"Mother, my mother-in-law is finally gone. Now let's go to dinner first. After eating and drinking, I will show you the best shopping malls in the provincial capital. Jiaojiao gave me a lot of overseas Chinese remittance coupons, and told me to take you to see them and pick the ones you like. ”

Zhang's mother looked at the car and touched the glass with her hand. Her in-laws were there just now, and she was embarrassed to take a closer look. "Let's send a telegram to his grandmother's house first, or we'll forget about it later. Eat casually at noon, the provincial capital is expensive. ”

"You will listen to your old son. First go to the post office to send a telegram, and then take you to eat something delicious. I won't return the car today, and I'll drive it myself tomorrow. I'll take a good look at the big city with you today. Zhang Guoqing stopped, asked pedestrians about the direction of the post office, and drove there.

Zhang Guoqing sent a telegram at the post office, specially noting: Arriving in Beijing at 5 o'clock on the 23rd, Lin alone brought 500 pounds of heavy goods and urgently needed to go to the station to pick up people and things. In order to avoid misunderstanding on the other side, he didn't save the comma. No way, the old man only left yesterday, and when he got home, he didn't know if the train was delayed, and he didn't know if he arrived at the station before and after, and he always had to pick her up from his family.

"Mother, the telegram has been sent to the capital, and their family will receive it by tomorrow night at the latest. Now let's go to dinner first, and you wait for your son to take you to play, your son's pocket is bulging. ”

Mother Zhang sat in the co-pilot seat and looked curiously at the crowd of people off work on both sides. Seeing that there are a lot of cyclists, few of them wearing patched clothes, I sigh that it is better to be in a big city, there are more people to see, and there are more cars. Their family has two bicycles in the village, both of which are enviable. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of them. There is no need to work in the field to earn work, and you have to peel off your skin when you encounter farm work. Look at the people in the city, they are not swarthy, full of energy, full of spirit, and all of them are smiling. The children were clean, carrying school bags, running around, and saying that the city was so good.

It's time to get off work, and there are a lot of people and cars, all of whom are workers from nearby factories. This is the most lively city center, the standard of living must be relatively good, and the education of children is also valued.

Zhang's mother didn't see the remote places in the city. Those people are clothed, fed, and lived, and they can't even compare to their village. At least the courtyard in the village is large, unlike in the city, where more than a dozen families live in a courtyard, and the grandparents and grandchildren are crowded on a kang for generations. If people in the city have a large population, small children, and rely on wages to support their families, even food and clothing are a problem. However, Zhang Guoqing didn't explain, so he just let her watch the excitement and be happy.

When he arrived at the restaurant, he took Zhang's mother to find a place to sit, went to the counter to order food by himself, and ordered several dishes in a row. If you can't finish eating, you can also fill a cup and take it back to his father.

Mother Zhang watched him serve several plates of meat and vegetables, and happily took them, while complaining in a low voice. She knows that she can't embarrass her son when she is outside, and her little five is the person on the card. Look at the enthusiasm of those people for him today, but it is different from ordinary people. Besides, if you give the money, it's not easy to return, so you will eat less and bring it back to your family to taste the dishes of the provincial capital.

After eating and drinking warm lunch, the two took the leftovers, got into the car, and went directly to the Friendship Mall not far away.

Zhang Guoqing showed the overseas Chinese remittance coupon, and after the inspectors read it, they took Zhang's mother into the hall.

Faced with a completely different environment, Zhang's mother was a little nervous. Looking around at the glass windows and glass cabinets, looking at the clothes on my body. Relieved, he looked around cautiously, and said in a low voice: "Xiao Wu, I don't think you can go in without this ticket." ”

Zhang Guoqing patted her hand lightly and told her not to be nervous, "That's right." It is mainly those overseas Chinese and some leaders who come here, there are no overseas Chinese remittance coupons, and people do not give them in, and it is estimated that it is for safety. Mother, we start from the first floor, a total of three floors, everything, the price and quality are better than the outside. Kiko said that she could take all the good things and issue invoices, and then settle the payment together. Unlike supply and marketing cooperatives, it is so troublesome to issue a bill and pay the money first, and then run back to get something. ”

Mother Zhang was dazzled from the moment she came in, and she didn't answer when she heard Zhang Guoqing say, but nodded straight. She looked at it the same way, the things were really good, and even the price on it was good.

Zhang's mother followed him, from the first floor to the third floor, looked all the way, picked up something cheaper than the price of the supply and marketing cooperative, and hurriedly pulled him away. She wasn't used to this place.

Out of the gate, Zhang's mother secretly breathed a sigh of relief, "Little Wu, where are we going next?" ”

Zhang Guoqing drove the car and stopped not far away, "Mother, this is the largest department store in the provincial capital." Like the supply and marketing cooperatives, some need to use tickets, I have a lot of tickets here, you can buy whatever you like, don't worry about not having enough money. ”

The department store is nothing more than a two-storey red brick building at the intersection of two roads, and the walls are covered with slogans.

"Defeat/overthrow American/imperialism and realize communism."

"Workers' and peasants' alliance, mutual aid between urban and rural areas!"

"Hard work, diligence/thrift/construction/country!"

"Take the road of cooperation/cooperation/transformation to achieve common prosperity!"

The big red letters are very conspicuous, and the people at the door are very lively, and there are no empty hands when they come out of it, they are all big bags and small bags. The two of them entered from the gate, and as soon as they arrived, they heard the radio playing: "Today's preferential supply to buy liberation shoes, one person can buy a pair." There are defective products in the textile area on the second floor, and you can buy them without a ticket. It is available in stock on the first floor and can be purchased without a ticket. ”

Zhang's mother listened to the radio and hurriedly pulled Zhang Guoqing to the inventory counter on the first floor, and she didn't ask others. If you see the most people in the distance, you will squeeze in. Zhang Guoqing finally protected her and squeezed into the crowd, watched her choose excitedly, and after all the selections were made, he went to line up to pay and get the tickets to the salesperson.

Squeezed out of the crowd, Zhang Guoqing followed his mother closely, his mother bought a feeling, and now she was too excited, hurriedly listened to the radio and went up to the second floor, asked where the defective product was, and went there.

Zhang Guoqing looked at the crowded crowd with a headache, and it was all women choosing, shouting loudly for the salesman to bring it to her. The counter was crowded with people, one person and one sentence, and if they didn't listen carefully, they couldn't figure out what they were saying, and it was a mess. There was no way, I still had to follow behind Zhang's mother and wait outside. After she picked out the towels and fabrics that she was most satisfied with and felt less flawed, and waited for the salesman to issue the invoice, more than half an hour had passed, he hurriedly ran to the first floor with the list to line up for payment, got the stamped invoice and ran back to the second floor.

I was finally relieved, but luckily the processed products were over. Next, you can take a slow look, this is like a fight and you have to rush to buy, for fear that you can't buy it, and they are all women, so he is embarrassed to squeeze in.

"Mother, we all have tickets next, I'm all ready, don't you worry."

Zhang Mule looked at the things he was carrying, "You don't understand." If I knew we would have come here first, maybe there would be good things sooner, and they were all picked out. It's cheap. ”

Zhang's mother thought about it, she should be familiar with the buying and selling process of the supply and marketing cooperative, and pulled Zhang Guoqing to the left counter on the first floor to start looking, and the two of them spent a long time, and finally Zhang's mother was satisfied with the plan to go home.

Zhang Guoqing looked at the things in the hands of the two, but there were not many things. Most people look at the goods, not buy the goods. I don't know what's fun to see if you don't buy it. He found that shopping was still delicate, the goal was targeted, and he took it and left.

I used to hear my friends complain that they shouldn't go shopping with their mothers, and they wouldn't go next time they were killed. He also thought it was strange to be able to accompany his mother shopping, carry bags for her, and watch her happily and happily shop, how good it was, and he regretted that he didn't have a mother.

Now that he is slapped in the face, if he can see that friend, he will definitely sympathize deeply, and give a hug to that buddy when he sees each other, especially his mother, just looking at it or not, he is anxious for her, and in the end, Zhang Guoqing, who looks like it and is reluctant to spend money, pays the bill directly.

He also felt more and more that his Jiaojiao was not squeamish at all, his temperament and habits fit his temper, the two of them turned from ordinary to rich, she has not changed much, always shopping, whether as a person, she is always living seriously, and will never spend time doing useless things. I guess if she is doing this, she has to be in a hurry with you.

After Zhang Guoqing got into the car with his mother with the bag, he thought about it, and went in to buy some creams, Harry oil and soap, there is no woman who doesn't like these, and his mother is only 46 years old, not old at all, that is, in the countryside, there is no maintenance. Besides, when you come to a major provincial capital, you always have to bring some gifts to your sister-in-law and sisters at home.

"Mother, give these to my sister-in-law and sister, you share a point. All the extra is for you. When it's cold, you won't crack your hands when you wipe it, and your face will be maintained, and I think those women like this. ”

"Oh, my old son. I thought you were buying. These are precious, they are all rare things, you bring them back to Jiaojiao, why do you buy so much. Mother Zhang looked at these things happily and distressedly, not to mention that she really liked them, and they were fragrant.

Zhang Guoqing looked at his mother funny, don't think you didn't see her expression, and couldn't put it down and touched the box. Also, even if her monthly salary is not high, she bought Jiaojiao high-end cosmetics from abroad, and she is also distressed and can't put it down.

In which book did I read those words: women don't love cosmetics, women want to have their own young beauty. No matter how old a woman is, she is always unhappy to hear someone ask her age after the age of 18, which is more difficult to say than to hear someone ask about her private money.

"Mother, Jiaojiao, her mother gave it. You can use these with confidence, your old son knows it in his heart, and he will not slap his fat face and become fat. I have real money in my hands. Tell you secretly, don't say it, Jiaojiao's mother gave a lot of money, and the rent in the capital for 6 years was given to her, 50 yuan a month, how much do you calculate? In the future, as long as the house is rented, it will be 50 yuan per month. My mother-in-law said, let's spend hard, but we can't finish it. My brother-in-law's salary is only 36 yuan a month. So, I secretly told you, we really don't lack money, you keep your own money, and tell me what you want to buy. “

Mother Zhang snapped her fingers in shock, her heart was pounding, and she couldn't calm down and figure out how much. Incoherently whispered, "I—I still don't count." Xiao Wu, don't talk about such a big amount of money, not even your father. Remember, don't say it. My mother, my grandmother, is really a golden doll. No wonder your mother-in-law buys things in a car, without blinking. ”

Zhang Guoqing laughed, it is estimated that his father guessed that he was not short of money, knew that Jiaojiao had a big yard for rent, and also understood his mother-in-law's temper, and he also knew it. However, for these, both of them tacitly remained silent. This is also to see that his mother is reluctant to do this, reluctant to that. He just told her, and as for the rest, he didn't plan to tell anyone else, not even his mother.

"Now I'm relieved. Okay, if there is anything you want to buy that you can't afford to buy, let's take a look. ”

Mother Zhang nodded temptingly, and then shook her head again, "Forget it, you can't spend money indiscriminately, keep it for peace, you will have children in the future, and the days will be long." ”

Zhang Guoqing took out the bills, put them in the position, and picked out all the tickets that were close to expiration, "I will find out all the tickets that are about to expire, and we will buy them according to this, otherwise it will be a pity if they expire." ”

Zhang Guoqing locked the car and took his mother into the department store again. This time, Zhang's mother was obviously happy and bought what she needed. and Zhang Guoqing used up all the bills they picked out.

After shopping, Zhang Guoqing drove Zhang's mother to the park to have a look. Then he took her to the movie theater, and was pulled out by his mother's refusal to live or die, Zhang's mother said that it was going to be dark after watching the movie, and the family was worried. There was no way, Zhang Guoqing took her and asked someone on the street, where to buy used bookstalls and tapes?

After driving the car and finally finding a place, he first went to look at the cassette tapes and bought some cassette tapes of revolutionary songs. I asked his mother, and I bought opera and storytelling. Zhang Guoqing knew that these opera and storytelling tapes would be hard to find in the future, and no matter how expensive they were, he bought a large stack and told his mother in detail what those tapes were about. Otherwise, she would have to be in a hurry, it's really expensive, and now his eldest sister only has a monthly salary. The most expensive tape costs 1.5 yuan, and the cheapest stack costs 0.50 yuan, which cost Zhang Guoqing almost 50 yuan.

After that, Zhang Guoqing took her to a place not far away, which was full of used book stalls. In the end, it is a provincial capital, and the two alleys are full of used book stalls, and he quickly picks out good books, and the price is cheaper than that in the county seat. He took two trips back to the car.

"Well, it's getting dark. When we go back, your father must be in a hurry, and Jiaojiao doesn't know what to eat at night. Let's go. I've had enough of visiting the provincial capitals. ”

Zhang's mother is afraid of him now. I've never seen anyone who spends money like water, good guys, those people are all stupidly watching, if it weren't for the car parked there, it is estimated that someone would have robbed it.