Zhang Guoqing rummaged through the tickets in his pocket, changed his shoes, and said cheerfully, "I’m going out for a spin first. I’ll leave picking up our son to you."
Zhou Jiao followed him out of the bedroom, "Be careful. If anything cos up, we’ll discuss it later."
"Shh... I’ve got it figured out."
Once out of the Big Courtyard, Zhang Guoqing wasted no ti, pedaling his "28" bicycle towards the Shangpo Team in the neighboring county. Lin Xuelin’s lover Hu Chunsheng’s grandmother, Gu Xiuya, is married to the first son of the Hu Family in this team’s first squad, Hu Daqian.
Zhang Guoqing didn’t go directly to the other village but turned to Jiang Lishi’s house, which wasn’t far off. Jiang was also a student council mber, and they usually got along well.
"Da Zhi, are you there?"
Jiang Lishi had just gotten ho not long ago, chatting with his grandfather. Hearing the familiar voice, he couldn’t quite believe it and quickly responded loudly while saying to his grandpa on the kang, "A classmate of mine, he ca over last year. Grandpa, I’m heading out for a bit."
"Invite the guest in first."
Jiang Lishi nodded happily and walked out, "Okay, grandpa. You sit tight. I’ll be right back." Out of the bedroom, through the bamboo fence, he saw Zhang Guoqing standing outside the courtyard with his bicycle.
He ran over, teasing, "Half a day apart and you already miss your buddy?"
Zhang Guoqing nodded with a smile, "You got it."
Jiang Lishi opened the courtyard gate, "Co on in. You wouldn’t co without a reason. So, what’s up?"
Zhang Guoqing pushed the bicycle inside with him, "Help find out which family has eggs. Sugar tickets or cloth tickets, anything will do. Is everyone in your family at work?"
"Everyone’s gone to the team, except for my grandpa who’s waiting for at ho. I’ll have my mom visit the neighbors later to see who has eggs. Were the eggs in the city not enough this month?"
"When were they ever enough? I should first pay my respects to the elder."
Jiang Lishi pointed to the vegetable plot in the corner of the courtyard, "Take so fresh vegetables for the child later. I’ll check the team to see if there’s anything good available. I think the countryside life is better; no need to queue every day."
Zhang Guoqing nodded with a smile, following him into the house, seeing an old man rrily watching him from the kang. He greeted, "Grandpa Jiang, how are you doing? I see each family’s vegetable garden is flourishing, and this year’s harvest looks much better than last year."
"Co sit over here. Indeed, it’s much better. We divided the plots for personal use last year, and now every family has a much better harvest. Are you kids getting enough to eat at school?"
"This year is much better than the past two."
After chatting idly for a bit, Mr. Jiang excused himself to go to the team for so business, strongly insisting he stay for dinner.
Zhang Guoqing didn’t delay, seeing him off with a smile. It was still too early for dinner, and if he did stay, his wife would surely worry. Watching the elder leave, he didn’t go back inside but smiled at Jiang Lishi, "Let’s take a walk."
"Sure, I’ll take you to the riverside to see if there’s anything to catch."
Zhang Guoqing’s intention was not the riverbank; he wanted to inquire about the Hu Family. If he rembered correctly, the Hu Family is near the mill not far from the Shangpo Team.
"Didn’t you say last ti your team’s tofu is famous? I’d like to see if there’s anything different about the tools near the mill. Is it convenient to check it out?"
Jiang Lishi shook his head with a smile, leading him out first, "Many have the sa idea as you. Previously, the entire county loved their silken tofu soup, thinking they had so secret. When the team first set up the mill, many rushed to see how the father and son operated it, but unfortunately, no one noticed anything unusual."
"The true masters are among the people. If it were easy to see, it wouldn’t be remarkable. So, does your team supply the city again now?"
Jiang Lishi nodded, speaking softly, "Since spring this year, not much, just one car to the county supply and marketing cooperative each day. The extra and tofu dregs are distributed to the team mbers."
Zhang Guoqing patted his shoulder; those team mbers sure were fortunate!
In the mill of the production team’s courtyard, only two people were soaking beans and washing tools in the tofu workshop. Not far off to the west, several middle-aged won were grinding cornal.
Zhang Guoqing pretended to be curious, strolling around the courtyard, listening intently to the nearby gossip.
A lady wearing work sleeves patched with large pieces of cloth was at the end of a queue, seemingly still waiting her turn. Seeing a stranger, she joked with Jiang Lishi, "Da Gouzi, who are you showing around from the city?"
Glancing at the gentle-looking Jiang Lishi, Zhang Guoqing couldn’t help but chuckle.
"Aunt Hua, could you please not call by my nickna? This is my classmate, just here to see sothing different. Why don’t you let sister-in-law co along? This grindstone’s heavy."
Aunt Hua waved her hand indifferently, "Heavy? I’m used to it. They dawdle with everything, not as fast as I am on my own. Did the girl your mom ntioned catch your eye last ti?"
Facing several onlookers, Jiang Lishi blushed deeply, quickly waving his hand, "I’m still young. It won’t be too late to talk about marriage after graduation."
Zhang Guoqing stifled his laughter and ca to his side, "A man should marry when grown, don’t be shy."
A nearby aunt’s eyes lit up hearing this and said, "He’s right. Settling down early and marrying right after graduation won’t delay your mother having grandchildren. Da Gouzi, let tell you, your grandma is just worried you’ll delay your younger brothers by not finding a partner. Last ti, she said as long as the girl looks decent and knows a few words, it’ll be fine. She doesn’t want you to find a city girl, you know? City girls aren’t as practical as village girls."
Not wanting to beco the subject of conversation, Jiang Lishi nodded and changed the topic, "Need any help?"
"No need, a bookworm can’t handle heavy work."
Zhang Guoqing sauntered to the stone mill, noticing the cornal still had kernels and skins, indicating the ongoing concern about food shortages.
"Hey, Dashun’s wife, how co the family next door hasn’t stirred today?"
Aunt Hua snorted, "They’re in a pickle. Did you see the newlywed couple? They say in two years, she’s had two pregnancies, but none lasted, and now they’re talking divorce."
"Serves them right! The forr wife was great, gave them a big healthy boy, and handled everything inside and outside the ho. Now look, trying to climb up and leaving the wife and child behind. Let’s see if they regret it now."
Zhang Guoqing’s eyes glead as he listened.
"What regret? The old lady said she’s their lucky star. They wanted Chunsheng to fetch the wife from the Yue Family. Who knows what’s going on, he’s not around today either."
"What a ss, wasting good days. Chunsheng even ntioned not planning to visit the Northwest. Initially, he was dead set on sneaking away; look at things now."
"Co and go as he pleases, who does he think he is? There’s no chance for this; I heard from the kid’s uncle, leaving is easy, returning is hard. No official title would work."
Having heard enough, Zhang Guoqing felt he had the information he needed. As it wasn’t proper for a man to linger long, he and Jiang Lishi bid them goodbye, passing by Hu Chunsheng’s house. Through the short fence, an old lady could be seen shuffling after a chicken that had flown into the vegetable garden.
That should be the maid of Gu Ruyi; he didn’t expect the maid to have bound feet. It indicated that she had quite a good standing in the Gu Family back in the day.
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