After dropping them off, Gong Tao hurried away with the speed of an ox cart, as he noticed that each one of them was worried he’d waste their money and food if he stayed.
Gong Dajiang first went to the post office to send an urgent telegram informing them that the items were gone, and not to send money, as they were planning to return.
Then the elderly couple went to the station to buy train tickets; they initially rembered there was a train back around 2 PM, but when they asked—
"No tickets." The ticket seller said impatiently.
"How could there be no tickets? It’s still so early." Zhang Lan got anxious; if they couldn’t catch this train, they’d have to take the one past 10 PM.
Usually, not many people take the train at this broken-down station, so it felt quite desolate and the cold northwesterly wind wreaked havoc inside. During the day with the sun out, Zhang Lan already felt a chill she couldn’t imagine enduring at night.
How could there be no tickets, the ticket seller was displeased. "What do you an by saying there are tickets I won’t sell to you?"
"You should look at what ti it is now, a small station doesn’t have many tickets." The ticket seller’s face and tone exuded complete annoyance, "If you’re not buying tickets, don’t waste ti."
This kind of attitude, Zhang Lan was very pissed off. Gong Dajiang saw the situation was turning bad and quickly pulled Zhang Lan aside to avoid her erupting, as nothing good would co from it.
"Sister, it’s not that we’re in a hurry to go ho, sorry, is there no way for a little accommodation?" Gong Dajiang could only plead apologetically.
At this ti, ticket sellers were king, plus Zhang Lan’s attitude was all kinds of confrontational, so the ticket seller was already in a bad mood, and no matter how Gong Dajiang tried to be polite, the seller’s mood didn’t improve.
"No, there’s only the 10 PM train left, do you want it?" The ticket seller rolled their eyes.
"Yes, yes, yes." Even if it’s late, they had to leave, what else could they do? Gong Dajiang understood it wasn’t possible to go back, after all this fuss by the ti they returned it would already be dusk, and then they’d have to wander around for a few more hours to get out again?
Moreover, going back would an missing out on witnessing the celebration, to avoid upsetting himself, Gong Dajiang could only buy those two tickets.
"We’re leaving tonight..." Zhang Lan was entirely unwilling to endure the cold wind for that long.
Now, Zhang Lan regretted, she had been insistent on letting Gong Tao go back earlier, otherwise, they might have still managed to get a carriage ride back.
"We’ll figure sothing out when the ti cos." Gong Dajiang glanced around and noticed the station duty room had an old man inside, so he went over to chat and slipped him two cigarettes, arranging to stay in the duty room at night.
Everything settled, Gong Dajiang really didn’t want to wander around, knowing they would have to sit on a train for over twenty hours, then transfer, with no idea of the situation on the next train.
Zhang Lan insisted on dragging Gong Dajiang around the county, even though she dissed the environnt for not being good enough, and the county not being big.
But after all, having co here, she knew her friends would inquire about it back ho, and Zhang Lan certainly didn’t want to admit she just spun around such a small area.
The crucial point is, before leaving, Zhang Lan had promised Gong Xiaoyu to bring at back, but now there was not so much as a trace of at, not even scraps, Zhang Lan couldn’t bear to see her grandson’s disappointed face.
Gong Dajiang was completely clueless about where to buy at in the county; could such at be openly sold?
Of course, these sorts of transactions happened under the radar; few knew, and even fewer would talk about it.
Gong Dajiang led Zhang Lan on a long stroll around the county but failed to find a place to buy at. Other than checking the farr’s market and supply cooperatives, they found no place that stocked at.
But even knowing about the market, they had no ration tickets, so there was no way to make any purchases.
Zhang Lan was furious and scolded Gong Tao, "Knowing full well Gong Xiaoyu loves at, why didn’t he try to sort so out?"
"Zhao Gang’s family occasionally has so at, why didn’t he go and ask for so?"
Zhang Lan had always been partial to her eldest grandson, which Gong Dajiang would usually ignore, as a long grandson’s status is naturally different. But after the New Year’s eve incident, where no at was left for him, Gong Dajiang now had so opinions about this grandson.
If he were truly a filial child, how could he not think to leave a bit for the elder, "Xiaoyu’s father didn’t bring anything for his nephew, so why should Gong Tao give them sothing?"
"You, always thinking everyone should be nice to Gong Xiaoyu, but after all, he is just a nephew; those with sons, who’s going to care for a nephew?" Gong Dajiang spoke so sensible truths.
Though these words were unpleasant, Zhang Lan didn’t argue as the old man made a fair point, "Sigh, we can’t rely on Gong Tao to send anything back in the future."
They were never reliable; this ti, hospitality was ceaselessly downgraded, "If they bring up ginseng again, I won’t co."
Gong Dajiang was also tired; though their son’s future is important, an elderly man like himself can hardly spare himself so rest.
"Seeing Gong Tao so unaccomplished makes feel bad." Gong Dajiang truly couldn’t understand why Gong Tao had such a stubborn temperant; he was like this back ho and still the sa in the Northeast, does he really think his abilities exempt him from considering outside factors?
"True." Zhang Lan was also concerned about how they would cope if they kept visiting and Gong Tao and his wife kept crying poor; plus, here, she’d have to be cooking and stoking fires again, it’s really laborious in so many ways.
As for ginseng, Zhang Lan figured they wouldn’t be needing it every ti.
Gong Tao had no idea that it was his cries of poverty and later miserly antics that squashed Gong Dajiang’s desire to visit the Northeast; he was excitedly catching a ride ho.
"We must have a good al once ho."
"And then a good night’s sleep." On the way back, Gong Tao kept thinking about what delicious als to make; though he occasionally sneaked a bit of at, he didn’t dare eat his fill.
Afraid that even speaking might let out the scent of at, Zhang Lan surely would have cried and made a scene, and Gong Tao wasn’t in the mood or had ti to console her.
Gong Tao was planning on having a proper feast when he returned, and back ho the place was bustling, "Make more venison, it’s good stuff."
"As for rabbit, I’ll roast it later."
Zhao Gang was busy digging out various stored foods, directing everyone to get busy, in any case, this dinner must be ample, otherwise it wouldn’t live up to these days’ efforts.
Gong Ruiwen was overwheld by Zhao Gang’s directions but was feeling ecstatic, "I love being busy."
Gong Ruini nodded in agreent nearby, "Yes, yes, busy for food, my favorite."
Seeing the lively scene, Gong Ruini wondered if it was like celebrating pests finally leaving. She didn’t know how Gong Dajiang and the others felt upon boarding the train, but they might have felt relieved, and were probably thankful to finally leave this lousy place. Just by saying Zhang Lan labored for a few days, she visibly withered and hardly made a fuss.
If they ca again in the future, this might be the way to deal with them, then we’ll see if they dare co again.
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