The story of a cook

Chapter 36 A pair of shoes
The second child and Zhou Lan couldn't make it through at all, so they went back and divorced.

I don't know what the two of them are thinking, but the two of them are very uncomfortable. Neither of them wants their children to get divorced. Divorce is not a good thing in the countryside.

The second child's family is not rich, and he has an older brother who married and lived in another family.It is not easy to marry a child in the countryside. Even if the family conditions are good and the family has money, the money does not come from the wind.Marrying a daughter-in-law for a child is almost a skin for the parents. All the savings in the family have to be taken out, and what is not enough has to be borrowed from relatives and friends.

The daughter-in-law got married, and the parents had hairy hair.

Pity the parents of the world.

The water case is left to me, so I can get busy.

It's almost Chinese New Year, and there are workshop group dinners every day, as well as various department dinners.

Departmental dinners are held by leaders and arranged in private rooms; workshop meals are served by workers and arranged in the lobby.In this way, the leaders of the province and the workers met together, causing unnecessary embarrassment.

Most of the dinners are set meals, which are prepared in advance, and there is no rush with the help of the boss and the fourth child. I feel that it is lighter than usual.

The front desk staff was a little nervous. Zhou Lan and the second child went back, and Li Haina also went back. There was also a young waiter from out of town who was so homesick that she shed tears and went back early.Brother Feng found three laid-off female workers who lived near the hotel as waiters, and they came over too.

Twelfth lunar month 23, Xiaonian.

There are dinner orders at noon, but not in the evening.Xiaonian went home, and few people went to restaurants to eat.

I went to the mall after get off work at noon to see if the shoes I bought for my mother had arrived.I bought soft cotton leather shoes for my mother, and she has never worn leather shoes before.

Fortunately, it's here.

After shopping for shoes, I went shopping for a while. It's Chinese New Year and I have to buy something for Sister Zhao.They are very kind to me. They buy me clothes, shoes, sheets and quilts, and even bring me the pillows at home. They take care of me like a sister. I am very grateful.He treats us so well, we can't act like nothing happened, we have to buy him something no matter what.

Everything is reciprocal.

The first time I bought something for a woman, I didn't know how to buy it, and I didn't know what to buy.Think about it, I'm really doomed, I don't even know what women like, I don't understand women at all, and I have failed in life.

Walking around and watching slowly in the mall, I regret that I didn’t call Zhang Ling when I came out. It would be great if she was here. She is a woman, knows what women like, and she looks similar to Ms. Zhao, just thin Some, sister Zhao is slightly fatter and plumper than her.

I went to a stall selling scarves and was attracted by the scarves there.

Scarves come in many styles and colors.

What attracted me was the female boss who sold scarves. She had a face similar to Sister Zhao's, and her height and figure were almost the same as Sister Zhao's.Wearing a large scarf, XSBN style, very long and wide, light red, draped around the neck, with both sides hanging down the lower placket, and the long fringe swinging back and forth with the body, very atmospheric and stylish.

This scarf is wrapped around Sister Zhao's neck, so what's the point, the temperament immediately rises.

The female boss is introducing her scarves to several female customers.

"This is the new style this year, the most popular one. It's in my place. If it's at least 800 in Fengcheng Spring, if you don't bargain, I'm the lowest price, ladies."

"It's still expensive? You get what you pay for. Look at the quality. It's a genuine product. If it's not genuine, take it back and I'll accompany you for 1 yuan!"

A few women looked at it and wanted to buy it. After looking at it for a while, they left, said to go shopping, and came back to buy in a while.

After the girls left, the female boss was about to say something unpleasant, when she saw me, she smiled and asked, "Young man, do you want to buy a scarf?"

I said, "Well, buy a scarf."

"For yourself or for your girlfriend?" she asked.

"Buy it for my sister." I said.

The female boss froze for a moment, and immediately asked enthusiastically, "Buy it for your sister? How old is your sister?"

"32."

"Oh, the same age as me."

She is going to let me choose the scarf.

"The one on your neck is very nice, I'm in love with it." I said.

"This one? Did you fall in love with this one?" She asked, pointing to the scarf around her neck.

"Yes, it's just this one, it's a match." I affirmed.

"Hehe, I also fell in love with her. It seems that your sister is as tall as me. If she is not tall, she will not be able to surround her."

"Yes, I only bought it depending on how well you surround yourself."

"But this is the only red one, are there any other colors?" she asked.

"No, just the red one." I said directly.

"I also like the red one, and I plan to keep this scarf for myself during the New Year." She looked a little reluctant, looked at me, and realized that if I couldn't buy the scarf she was wearing, I wouldn't buy it, and said to me : "I see that you are very kind to your sister. It's the first time I've seen my brother buy something for my sister. I'll sell it to you."

"Thank you." I was also very happy.

So I happily bought this scarf, and also bought an orange one of the same style, which I planned to give to Zhang Ling.

I bought a scarf for Sister Zhao and Zhang Ling, and I thought I would buy it for the sister I met outside. There are five other sisters at home.Touching the pockets can only mourn for myself for 3 minutes in my heart, and I have no money.The money I earn is still low, so I can’t help but spend it. Scarves are really expensive.

I said in my heart to work hard to make money, and I must buy the best for my five sisters.

There are not many guests at night, so we finish early.

The eldest and the fourth child left early, and the younger year is also the new year, so I went home to celebrate the new year with my family.I think my mother will spend the new year at home by herself today, she must miss me very much, and tell myself to go back during the new year and spend the new year with my mother.

After coming out of the kitchen, there is still a small table of guests in the hall, and it seems that it will be over soon.

Brother Feng was standing at the bar, saw me and said to me: "The boss and the fourth brother are gone, and you are left alone."

I said, "Yes, my brother is the only one."

Zhang Ling said at the bar: "I'm the only one left at the front desk."

I didn't see Sun Mei, so I asked Brother Feng: "Where is my sister Sun, have you gone home?"

"No, I went to sing in the city with her friends." Feng Ge said.

"Brother Feng, you go too." I joked.

"They're all old women." Feng Ge said, "The child has a cold, I have to go back to see the child."

I didn't say anything, and I thought so. It's not impossible for the mother to go out to sing when the child has a cold, and the father to take care of the child at home, but it's a bit unreasonable.

I asked Brother Feng, "Can you cook some dumplings and bring them home?"

"It's okay, third child, you cook some dumplings." Feng Ge said.Then I remembered something, and said to me: "By the way, cook more, and you can take some back home, and make the whole dish, and cut some sauced beef."

I said, "I don't need it, we're done eating."

"Isn't it Xiaonian today, just you, go back and drink some by yourself, after drinking the sleeping fragrance." He said

"Bring me a copy too. I'm not celebrating Chinese New Year, so I'll drink some too." Zhang Ling said.

"Can you drink? I didn't see you drinking during the dinner, so I just had a drink." Feng Ge said.

"That's a lot of people, I'm embarrassed." Zhang Ling said.

"That's how it is, third child, go cook some dumplings, cut some sauced beef, see if there is any ready-made whole thing, just bring me some dumplings, you and Zhang Ling go back and have a drink, just you two The two of them are also lively, it's Chinese New Year."

I agreed and asked Zhang Ling, "Sister, do you really want to drink?"

"Drink, why not drink, who doesn't drink during Chinese New Year."

Back to the kitchen to cook dumplings and cut beef.

The last table of guests left, and Zhang Ling and I went back to the dormitory. There was a dispute over whose dormitory to eat dumplings. When I mentioned the men's dormitory, she said no, she was not used to it, and asked me to go to the women's dormitory. I said the women's dormitory was too clean. ,I'm not used to it.Finally she said: "Listen to my sister, even if I eat with my sister."

"Okay, you go back first, I'll pack up before going over." I compromised.

"What are you packing up? Isn't it like this all day long? It's not a blind date, and you pretend to pack up." She laughed.

"Then I have to tidy up and wash my face, it's all oily."

I went into the house and washed my face, changed my overalls and trousers, and went over with the scarf I bought for her.

The women's dormitory is different from the men's dormitory. The room is clean and fragrant.This is the second time the hotel has reopened and entered the women's dormitory. The first time was when Zhang Ling scratched her hand.

She has already placed dumplings, beef sauce, and peanuts on the table. Seeing that I came in, I found two drinking glasses and poured the wine.

"Come on, let's eat and drink!" She seemed very happy.

Give her the scarf and say, "Sister, I'll buy you a scarf."

She was pleasantly surprised: "Oh, buy me a scarf!"

After speaking, hold it in your hand and read.

"It's still the orange color I like, which is great."

She put the scarf on and went to the mirror to look around, and said to me happily: "Thank you, brother, I wear it just right."

"It's fine."

"You're pretty good at shopping, I like it."

"As long as you like it, I'm afraid you don't like it."

"Can I not like what my brother bought for me?" She said happily.

Seeing her happy look, I thought of the five older sisters. If I bought a scarf for each of the five older sisters, they would be as happy as her.It’s a little unreasonable to be able to buy it for the sister I met outside, but not for my own sister at home. I will tell Brother Feng tomorrow that I will advance part of the salary and buy one for each of the five sisters.

"Sister, let's eat the dumplings first, it will be cold in a while." I said.

She took the scarf off and put it on the bed, and we sat down to eat dumplings.

"When Zhou Lan and Li Haina left, didn't they say they would come back after the New Year?" I asked.

"Li Haina should come back, Zhou Lan didn't say anything, it seems that it's not enough." She replied.

"It should be that I can't come back, even if I come back, I can't work here. The second child is in the kitchen and she is at the front desk. How embarrassing." I said.

"Not necessarily, I think Zhou Lan doesn't care at all, and Hai Na doesn't care too much, as if it doesn't matter whether you get divorced or not."

"I don't understand, who knows what I'm thinking."

"You can think whatever you want, it has nothing to do with us, little brother, come, have a drink."

She scrambled to drink, took a sip and put down the glass, took a dumpling and dipped it in garlic sauce and put it in her mouth.

"You are quite careful and know to bring back some garlic sauce." She said while eating.

"It's not good to eat dumplings without garlic sauce. I must have garlic sauce when I eat dumplings."

"Me too. When I eat dumplings at home, I have to dip them in garlic sauce and add some vinegar."

"We people in the Northeast are all like this. We like to eat dumplings dipped in garlic sauce, and we have to drink some wine."

"Dumplings are just wine. The more you drink, the more you will have. If you eat dumplings without drinking, it's better to feed the dog."

After she finished speaking, she giggled, and her face began to turn red. Women like to blush when they drink alcohol.

While drinking and chatting, the glass of wine was quickly finished, and she wanted to pour another glass.

I said, "Can you still do it? If not, don't drink it."

She said, "Do you see that I drank too much? I'm fine."

"People who drink too much never say they drink too much."

"It's okay, let's have another half a glass. After drinking, lie on the bed and sleep without going out of the house. It's nothing."

Poured her half a glass.

Xiaonian is very lively in the countryside, and it is the day when the Stove Lord ascends to heaven.Every morning, my mother would invite the Stove Lord to come down and burn it in the stove. While burning it, my mother muttered: "The Stove Lord, he has ascended to heaven, and I will give you more good things. I will pay you back after the New Year. Yes, you are the head of the family."

I asked my mother, "Why is he still the head of the family?"

Mother said: "Isn't this left over from the old life? It's just Ling Daoer. I hope it will be auspicious and I will feel at ease."

My mother doesn’t believe in anything. My family has never offered immortals, fox immortals, horse immortals, and cow immortals. My mother often said that it’s useless to believe in those things. It’s better to believe in God. People are kind and kind. There is.No matter whether you are poor or rich in your life, don't lose your conscience. It is better to be worthy of your conscience than anything else.

My mother has been doing well all her life. Although her life is poor, no one dares to say that she has a bad reputation. Everyone in the camp admires her mother.A woman has been widowed since she was 47. She has six children and owes a lot of famine. It is not easy to live today.

The strength of a mother is not on the outside, but a strength rooted in her bones.

After drinking the second glass of wine with Zhang Ling, she asked me: "You said to buy shoes for your mother, I almost forgot, are those shoes here?"

"Here, I bought it today." I said.

"I bought it today, why didn't you call me?" she asked.

"I didn't call you because you were so tired," I said, and then said, "I bought a pair of shoes for my mother last year. I know the size and I can buy them."

"You guys can't buy it well, what kind of one did you buy?" she asked.

"Soft leather, cotton shoes." I said, "Last year I bought cloth shoes, but this year I bought double leather shoes. I don't know if she likes to wear them. My mother never wears leather shoes."

"I love to wear it, I guarantee that I will love to wear it, can my old son buy it and not love to wear it?"

"should be."

"The shoes I bought for your mother last year, why do I buy shoes again this year? I don't want to change them, just buy clothes or something." She blamed me for not being able to buy things.

"I don't know, I just want to buy a pair of shoes for my mother."

After finishing speaking, he took a sip of wine, took out a cigarette and lit one.

"Sister, you don't have a hard life, you don't know. I remember when I was young, I was young, and I played with the children in the camp in summer. At that time, my family was poor, and I didn't wear shoes on my feet, so I ran barefoot. There is a river in front of my house, the water is not big, and it has just lost face. We play in the water in summer. At the beginning of noon, all the children go home for dinner, and I wait for my mother to come back from the production team. I'm hungry too, so my mother can cook for us when I go home."

"I remember that day when my mother came back from walking, I yelled from a distance, and my mother walked up to me and touched my head with her hand. I said mom, I was hungry, and my mother said to go home, and mom cooked. "

"I stood there and said Mom, you carry me. My mother looked at me and said that Mom was tired, so I didn't carry it anymore, and I walked across the river by myself. My mother walked forward and stepped on the river directly. When she stepped on the river, I saw the cloth shoe on her foot, the front was torn, and the toes were exposed——"

"I remember very clearly that my mother's protruding toes were very conspicuous in the sun—"

"My mother stepped her foot into the river like that, and the river quickly covered her feet and shoes, and she crossed the river like that, both feet, and the cloth shoes were all wet——"

I followed behind my mother, tears kept falling—”

"I haven't played by the river since then."

"I just want to buy a pair of shoes for my mother, one pair a year—"

My eyes are wet.

Zhang Ling's face was full of tears.

(End of this chapter)