The family entered the living room.
"Mom, I’m hungry." Little Ping’an said with a smile, touching his belly.
Mother Zhang glared at him and laughed, "This boy is really stubborn, just like his dad. Now you know you’re hungry."
Zhang Guoqing asked curiously, "What’s going on? Last ti when Jiao Jiao wasn’t ho, he wasn’t like this."
"That’s because you were ho last ti. This morning, your mom told him that you were coming ho today, so he kept going out to wait. Seeing it’s getting dark, he got a bit anxious." Mr. Zhang understood his grandson best.
Zhang Guoqing wanted to hold the child but noticed he was wet all over, he smiled and said, "Mom and Dad, let’s change clothes first before eating. Son, have so snacks first."
Zhou Jiao saw them going inside and took the child to the kitchen.
"Mom, Grandpa is amazing..."
Zhou Jiao fed the child, listening to his proud bragging, and gradually showed a bright smile, "Little chatterbox! You shouldn’t wait by the door anymore, understand?"
Ping’an nodded, "Mom, a lot of people are looking for Dad, they even gave candy. One old man even praised ."
Zhang Guoqing followed his parents in and heard this, looked at Mr. Zhang, who nodded. He didn’t ask any more questions; having dinner as a family was more important.
After dinner, in the living room, Mr. Zhang ntioned his plan to return to the village with his wife the next day. He hadn’t been back for a month and didn’t know how things were going there.
Zhang Guoqing saw this and offered to go with him.
"Don’t be in a hurry to return to the village. Mr. Liu, who sold you the house, has been looking for you these past few days. I guess he has sothing urgent. Since it’s raining, you might as well stay ho and rest these days."
Mother Zhang nodded in agreent, "There are quite a few people looking for you in the county. It’s fine for and your dad to return to the village. We’re just going to check the backyard, though I think we’re going for nothing."
Mr. Zhang wanted to discuss so matters in the village with his younger son, but after hesitating, he thought better of it. Natural disasters and misfortunes, there’s nothing anyone can do. In this weather, even he doesn’t know how much can be harvested this year.
After chatting for a few more words, seeing that the child was getting sleepy, Mr. Zhang suggested everyone rest early and talk about things the next day.
After returning to their room, Zhou Jiao washed up, held her son, and quickly fell asleep. She hadn’t slept well these past few days out, so now that she could finally lie comfortably on the kang, even in her sleep, she had a smile.
Zhang Guoqing initially wanted to discuss the next plans with her. Seeing this, he gave up.
By noon the next day, after seeing off Mr. and Mrs. Zhang, Zhang Guoqing was about to visit Mr. Liu’s house, only to find that Mr. Liu ca alone, braving the rain.
Seeing Mr. Liu outside the door startled Zhang Guoqing. What on earth could be so urgent for the old man? With a worrying heart, he invited the old man in.
In the living room, Mr. Liu took a sip of tea but was slow to express his purpose.
Zhang Guoqing glanced at him. He hadn’t noticed before, but now, looking closely, he found the man had lost quite a bit of weight. It seed life wasn’t easy for everyone.
After finishing his tea, Mr. Liu took a box from his bag, placed it on the coffee table, and gestured for the couple to open it.
Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao did not move, watching the old man. If he didn’t explain himself, they weren’t interested in opening it. It was obviously a jewelry box; they already had too many of these at ho.
"These are things I acquired from others when I was young, ant to exchange with you for food. I don’t need refined grains, coarse grains will do."
Zhang Guoqing chuckled, "Old man, even if I wanted to trade, I need to have food first. I won’t look at your items, nor will I take them. Just tell how much you need, and I’ll find a way to put it together for you, to tide you over for now."
Mr. Liu smiled and shook his head, pointing at him, "Others might not know, but how could I not understand you two? In the whole county, only you have a surplus of grains. The provincial city sends things every day, and your father-in-law surely supports you. You also have hunting skills. Don’t try to fool . Let’s be straightforward. You’re definitely going to Beijing, right? Over there, you won’t lack food; it’d be better to sell it all to ."
Zhang Guoqing shook his head, "Don’t believe if you don’t want to. We really don’t have extra grains at ho. How much is there on the supply register? My godfather did send things over, but that is only enough for my son to eat. His family has two teenage boys; how much could he spare us? It’s true my father-in-law gave so grain coupons, but not a lot. Rember, I have four brothers and sisters; every ti we support them, so how can there be any extra grains left?"
Mr. Liu looked at him suspiciously, "You really have no stored grains?"
"At ho, only the basent could store any grains. Not convinced? I’ll take you to see it, alright? My parents just returned to the village to see if there’s anything left in the backyard. Would I let them go back in the rain if we had grains?" Zhang Guoqing said, glancing at him.
"Ha ha... you’re well-connected, help this old man check how things are in the provincial city?"
Zhang Guoqing silently cursed the old fox; he had been drawing him out, but this was the real intention, right?
He helplessly smiled at Zhou Jiao, pointed at her with his finger, and said with a wry smile, "Jiao Jiao, you tell the old man. No matter what I say, he doesn’t believe ."
Zhou Jiao patted him, then spoke to Mr. Liu, "Old man, don’t plan on getting food from the provincial city anymore. We went there this ti, trying to gather so national grain coupons, but there wasn’t a soul at the black market. Later, we found an acquaintance, and they directly advised us to return and wait for the autumn harvest before trying again."
Mr. Liu sighed disappointedly, "It seems the provincial city isn’t doing better than our place."
Hearing this, Zhang Guoqing imdiately leaned forward, "Who has it in the county?"
Mr. Liu reached out and smacked him on the forehead, "I didn’t say anyone has it. Even if there is so, it’s just bits and pieces, not worth your while."
"Just tell ."
Mr. Liu hesitated for a mont, then spoke softly, "Hei Mazi has so brown rice, but he’s greedy, selling at eighty cents a pound, and you can only buy up to ten pounds at a ti. Dried sweet potatoes are at ten cents, also with a limit of ten pounds."
Zhang Guoqing looked at Zhou Jiao in astonishnt. How many tis had the prices inflated?
"Ha, just this bit of talk and you’re scared? If this rain continues, prices will increase. There should be others selling in the county, but it’s a pity you can’t buy without a connection," Mr. Liu said.
The three of them spoke in hushed tones, not noticing Ping’an taking small steps forward, already about to pick up the box.
"Son, don’t touch it." Zhang Guoqing quickly picked him up.
"It’s fine, let him see. Anyway, it’ll belong to soone else soon," Mr. Liu waved dismissively, stopping Zhou Jiao from putting the box back.
"Daddy, I like the bird."
Zhang Guoqing glanced at it, seeing the child liked the box, and said with a smile, "Tomorrow, Daddy will carve you lots and lots of birds. This bird isn’t good; see, its eyes are broken."
Mr. Liu snorted disdainfully, "Even your son has more sense than you. Can you carve this Phoenix? Bird, that’s what it is! This box’s material may be ordinary, but the craftsmanship is top-notch; it’s a pity so idiot scratched it."
He then lovingly stroked the box’s surface, thought for a mont, opened the box, took out a pair of Mutton Fat Jade Bracelets and a Jade Pendant, stuffed them into his pocket, and handed the box to Ping’an.
"Old man, don’t listen to the kid, put it back," Zhang Guoqing quickly took the box from Ping’an and returned it to the old man.
"It’s not worth anything anyway. Forget it, let the child use it for small toys. Alright, I’m leaving. If you have ti, help find out if anyone has connections, and rember to keep it confidential."
Since it wasn’t anything valuable, Zhang Guoqing didn’t say much. He handed the box to Ping’an and personally saw the old man out. However, he was quite puzzled as to why the child was interested in this broken bird. They had no shortage of Phoenix or double dragons playing with pearls at ho.
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