RBCT Chapter 55 There's an art to gift-giving too.
Chapter 55 There's an art to gift-giving too.
"A radio ticket...?" Chen Guodong was a little surprised, worried that he had misheard, and asked again to confirm, "Xiangyang, you want to buy a radio?"
"Mhm." Li Xiangyang nodded: "Policies are changing too fast these days. I want to buy a radio so I can stay informed about the latest policies."
Buying a radio was a spur-of-the-moment decision for Li Xiangyang.
The purpose was to find an excuse to bother Chen Guodong, so that he could use the excuse of bothering him to send the chicken away later.
Only through give and take can a relationship be built and friends become acquainted.
One-sided giving will only be seen as a humble attempt to please, which is a major taboo in interpersonal relationships.
Upon hearing Li Xiangyang's affirmative answer, Chen Guodong's eyes unconsciously began to scrutinize the young man in front of him.
I secretly said:
"This kid from the Li family is something else. He's only been selling fish for a few days... and he's already eyeing appliances like radios."
Li Xiangqian, who tried to sell fish like him, not only failed to sell all his fish, but was also arrested and fined over 40 yuan.
In the 70s, weddings emphasized "three turns and one sound." The three turns referred to a bicycle, a sewing machine, and a watch, while the one sound was a radio.
In the 80s, the "Four Old Big Items" were changed to: refrigerator, washing machine, television, and tape recorder.
But this is still too far for the remote pastoral areas of Inner Mongolia.
Therefore,
Bicycles, sewing machines, watches, and radios are now their main pursuits.
"Very good, Xiangyang, you have a high level of awareness. Families with the means should definitely buy a radio so they can stay informed about what's happening outside."
Chen Guodong agreed: "Okay, I'll keep an eye out for you. If the team gets any tickets, I'll get them for you. Consider it a reward for being an 'Outstanding Individual'."
"Thank you, thank you so much, Uncle Guodong. You've really gone to too much trouble."
"No need, no need. Saying thank you is too formal. It's my duty as the brigade secretary to do things that benefit the team members."
"Alright, since Uncle Guodong said not to stand on ceremony, I won't stand on ceremony either."
Li Xiangyang felt his opportunity had come, and as he spoke, he opened the sack and took out the processed pheasant: "I went out for a walk this morning and caught two on a whim. I just happened to be here on business, so I brought one over."
This will also be a good opportunity to nourish Aunt Chunmei's body.
Li Xiangyang spoke casually, but Chen Guodong and Zhou Chunmei were not calm at all.
"Isn't this a pheasant? You actually caught a pheasant while you were out for a stroll?" Zhou Chunmei's eyes lit up.
She couldn't even remember the last time she had chicken stew with mushrooms; the taste... tsk tsk, it was simply amazing.
Thinking of this,
His throat involuntarily swallowed saliva, making a sudden "gurgling" sound.
It stood out exceptionally clearly in this quiet environment.
Feeling a little embarrassed, a blush instantly appeared on her pale face.
He quickly interrupted, "Guodong, Xiangyang's tea has gone cold. Why don't you get him a hot one?"
"Oh, okay," Chen Guodong understood, and went over to pour water for Li Xiangyang: "I was so busy talking to Xiangyang."
Although he is not one to take advantage of others, he is also a man who loves his wife dearly.
Seeing that Zhou Chunmei was very satisfied with the gift Li Xiangyang gave him, his resolve not to accept Li Xiangyang's gift wavered somewhat.
and,
After Li Xiangyang's explanation, it seemed there was no reason to refuse.
One second I was telling him not to be a stranger, and the next second he wouldn't even accept a chicken that someone offered him?
Isn't that like slapping yourself in the face?
Besides, Li Xiangyang came to me for help. If I don't accept his gifts, won't he think I'm being arrogant and unwilling to help him?
While making tea, Chen Guodong thought about many things.
Not refusing means agreeing.
Li Xiangyang understood the rules for adults.
"Uncle Guodong, could you please make an announcement over the loudspeaker at the brigade headquarters to inform the villagers to assemble at the brigade headquarters in half an hour? I'm going home to get the horse-drawn cart ready."
After giving his instructions, Li Xiangyang pushed open the door and left.
Now that the goal has been achieved, there's no need to stay any longer; the couple can have a private chat.
really,
Seeing that Li Xiangyang had left, Zhou Chunmei immediately picked up the pheasant on the table and laughed.
"Sigh, this Li Xiangyang... how should I put it? He treats me better than my own brother."
"It's your brother; it's not good for him to keep taking other people's things," Chen Guodong complained.
Zhou Chunmei was displeased after hearing this: "Don't you often help his family too? When Donkey Egg stole the sheep, Cheng Cai led a team to his house to catch speculators, and this time you helped him apply for radio tickets."
"These are all part of our duties, how can you call it helping?" Chen Guodong frowned, lit a cigarette and started smoking.
"Oh dear, you just told them not to be shy. What's wrong with friends helping each other out?"
"Alright, alright." Seeing that Zhou Chunmei was about to start rambling, Chen Guodong stopped talking and said, "I'll go to the brigade headquarters now and set up the broadcast."
............
After half an hour,
When Li Xiangyang arrived at the brigade gate in his horse-drawn carriage, he was dumbfounded.
There were quite a few people, but they all dragged sleds. How long would it take to get to the Deadwood Beach?
and,
They all looked like relatively poor villagers, and most of them were older.
"Xiangyang, you're here." Seeing Li Xiangyang coming over, Zhao Youcai squeezed through the crowd to the front to speak: "All the young people in the village and those with horse-drawn carts have gone to haul the goods, and now only we old poor people are left."
"I'll be walking slowly later, so please don't mind."
"It's nothing, it's nothing." Li Xiangyang shook his head, put away his whip, and got off the carriage.
Although the journey was a bit long, he decided to walk with them.
The route isn't too complicated; they'll understand once you take them there.
He can get on the carriage and hurry back later.
A large group of people walked for nearly two hours. It was very cold outside, and their hands and feet were almost numb from the cold, but not a single one of them fell behind.
This is something that Li Xiangyang greatly admires.
They all seem to be hardworking and honest people.
But in this day and age, the more honest and simple-minded you are, the worse you live!
However, things will be better in another year or two when the economy is fully liberalized.
Unlike horse-drawn carts, sleds don't carry much. They are pulled by manpower, and if they are loaded too much, they can't be pulled. It is estimated that each person can only carry about 2 kilograms of wood before pulling them back.
On the contrary, Li Xiangyang, who had arrived in a horse-drawn carriage, was still slowly chopping down dead trees.
"Xiangyang, thank you. We'll head back now."
"Okay, you guys go first."
Zhao Youcai led the way to greet Li Xiangyang, then dragged the sled back.
An hour and a half later, Li Xiangyang finally loaded enough wood for his home and drove the horse-drawn cart back home.
"After hauling this load, we should have enough wood at home to burn until next spring."
As Li Xiangyang pondered this, he drove the carriage. When his carriage reached the village entrance, he discovered that on the village road not far away...
It was surrounded by people.
Just as he was wondering, a sharp-eyed villager spotted him and ran over.
"What happened up ahead?" Li Xiangyang asked.
"Xiang, Xiangyang, your...your brother-in-law, the carriage overturned into a ditch!"
"What?"
Li Xiangyang's face turned pale instantly.
He jumped off the carriage and rushed over.
This carriage overturning into the ditch is terrible. If someone gets trapped underneath, will they even survive?
Liu Jianguo is driving his horse-drawn cart to their village right now, so there's no doubt he's bringing them straw. If something happens to him because of that...
How could Li Xiangyang possibly face his parents-in-law then?
Facing his wife Liu Xiulan...?