Siheyuan: My Northeastern Farmhouse

Chapter 6 Struggle for Urban Hukou IV
Gu Weijun went into the house and put down the washbasin and towels. He saw Gu's mother still busy on the stove and didn't notice him. "Mom, I'm going out to play." He gently opened the door with his left hand and returned to the yard of his hometown in Northeast China. .

First, I went to the kitchen and made myself a bowl of pimple soup, nestled two eggs, and ate half full.Then he cooked a pot of cornmeal porridge for the big yellow dog, added salt and mixed two eggs, filled up the food bowl and water basin of the big yellow dog, and threw two eggs into the hot water kettle to boil.

Pick a cucumber from the yard, without washing it, just pull off the burrs with your hands, and start chewing it.

"Start today and become a happy old farmer!"

First stop, the pig pen!

Filling the trough with corn, picking up eggs, looking at the eggs, and counting them three times in a row, there were still 17. Gu Weijun looked up at the sky, thought for a while, and immediately returned to the main room again, placed the eggs, looked at the wall clock, and wrote down the time. .

Second stop, cornfield!
Find a sickle, rake, hoe, and shovel in the utility room. Grind the sickle with a terrazzo a few times, feel the blade with your thumb, and start working!The sickle harvests, the rake digs the roots, the shovel plows the ground, and the hoe digs up.

The third stop, the vegetable patch!

Carrying a basket on your back, pick beans, eggplants, tomatoes, cucumbers and other mature vegetables, and then carry them to the storage room in the north room of the West House to arrange them neatly. This is the coldest room in the house, and the temperature does not exceed 25 degrees in summer. , you can put vegetables there, and there is a freezer inside, which is also full.

Gu Weijun confirmed the time again. It was about an hour later. After a brief rinse in the shower room, he took out a box of lunch meat from the kitchen carton, cut it in half and then into slices. He packed it with air fryer paper, peeled the eggs, put them in his pocket together, and opened the door with his left hand. .

"Mom, is my dad back?"

Gu's mother was putting the chicken and potatoes on the plate and responded smoothly, "Is it soon?" Gu Weijun had a guess in his mind, "Has the Second Army come back?"

"Isn't this homework in the house?" Gu's mother looked at her son in confusion. The silly son was a little strange!
Gu Weijun held his trouser pocket with his right hand, pretended to walk into the bedroom casually, sat down on the edge of the kang, and made a silencing gesture to his younger brother Gu Weimin.He took out the luncheon meat and eggs and put them on the kang table. He pointed at the eggs and made the sign of one. He opened the paper package and made the sign of three. The younger brother smiled silently, grinning down to his back molars and his big eyes darting. Curved into a crescent moon, the head is like a chicken pecking at rice.

Gu Weijun stuffed an egg and the remaining luncheon meat bun into the schoolbag hanging on the wall. He stood up, put the glass of water in his brother's hand, pushed back his brother's raised hands, and pointed at his mouth.

Sitting on the edge of the kang, with his arms on the kang table, Gu Weijun smiled and watched his younger brother taste the eggs and luncheon meat, smiling at himself from time to time, thinking constantly in his mind.

Hearing the voices outside the room and the door ringing, Gu Weijun motioned to his brother to eat quickly and quickly walked out of the house. He stood by the door and called out politely: "Dad, uncle!"

Gu's mother also greeted her enthusiastically, "Lao Gu, his uncle, please wipe your face quickly and serve it to the table."

"The army is good, you are a big boy!" Uncle Huang Juekun was about 45 years old, with a medium height, a round face, a crew cut and glasses. He took the wet towel handed over by Gu Weijun, glanced at the dining table, and said with a smile: "Huo, Six dishes for Chinese New Year! And chicken!"

"Haha, sister-in-law, are you treating me as a weasel?"

Mother Gu, who was waiting for Dad Gu to wipe his face, turned sideways and said with a smile: "That's a beautiful idea. You and Lao Gu are just borrowing something from each other. Isn't Xiaoxia pregnant? It just so happens that the old hen at home can't lay eggs, so it's just right for me to Xiaoxia recuperates and you can take her back later."

Father Gu and the two sat down, and Uncle Huang greeted, "Brothers and sisters, hurry up and take your seats."

"I'm eating in Erjun's house with you. You guys have a good drink. Dajun, stay with me!" Gu's mother took two Erjun noodle buns in one hand and a vegetable bowl in the other, and opened the curtain and entered the house.

Dad Gu started, "Old Huang, what are the old rules?"

"Haha, it's the same old rules." Uncle Huang responded with a smile.

After saying that, each of them filled a bowl of cabbage and tofu soup, pinched two steamed buns with one hand, and started making them with their heads down.Gu Weijun also ate a steamed bun with him.

After a while, Uncle Huang took out his handkerchief to wipe his mouth, took out two taels of food stamps from his pocket and put them on the table, "Has the army graduated? How about it? Let's get some together?"

Gu Weijun looked at Dad Gu, who nodded, stood up and took a cup, then opened the bottle and poured wine, filled it for Dad Gu and Uncle Huang, and poured a third of it for himself.

Uncle Huang stood up and put the potatoes in the chicken and potatoes into a bowl. Dad Gu then got up and put two pieces of chicken into Uncle Huang's bowl, then put a bowl for himself, and put a small plate of peanuts, cold cabbage hearts, two The sliced ​​salted eggs, tofu mixed with spring onions were moved in front of the two of them.The two took a sip.

Uncle Huang sighed: "Three years of hard life have passed, and life in our country is getting better and better!" He pointed at the potatoes with chopsticks, "I remember when we entered the DPRK, we had two potatoes a day, and sometimes one. It's like a frozen stone! One time we ran out of food. Before the battle, Xiao Song told me that he wanted to eat a potato. I said we should eat canned food after the battle, but he didn't even eat the potatoes in the end!" After saying this, Uncle Huang had tears in his eyes. Dad Gu silently picked up the wine glass, and the two of them clinked their glasses and took a long sip.

Dad Gu continued: "Dead Eagle Ridge and Changjin Lake, how many soldiers have we sacrificed? I remember that year when Sister Wang brought the art troupe to the front line to help me transport the wounded. As a result, we were trapped on the battlefield together. Sister Wang How accurate is your marksmanship..."

The two of them talked more and more happily, "There was also the time when I sent the apples. Your boy had just been seconded from the 38th Army to the 15th Army. He had to make meritorious deeds, but he was blown up halfway..."

Dad Gu slapped his thigh, "My second-class merit!"

The more the two drank, the more stories they told each other. Gu Weijun silently added wine and food.

At the house of the deaf old lady in the next room, the eldest mother brought a steamed bun with noodles and a bowl of cabbage. The old deaf lady looked at the cabbage and smelled the chicken, and asked, "Has Zhuzi come back?"

"I'm back. I feel sorry for the children in the middle hospital. The lunch boxes were given to Lao Jia's family." The eldest mother knew what the old lady wanted to ask. The old lady curled her lips and said, "Those children will be white-eyed wolves from now on! I have them all." I haven't eaten meat for a long time!" The eldest mother quickly put the old lady's dirty clothes in the basin, "I'll ask Zhong Hai to tell Zhuzi later, old lady, you eat first, and I'll come and clean up later." She took the basin and went out.

The second uncle, Liu Haizhong, was also having dinner at his house. Liu Haizhong and Liu Guangqi had Erhe noodle steamed buns and a small plate of scrambled eggs, while Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu had a coarse-grain steamed bun and Chinese cabbage each.

"Is it so lively next door?" Liu Haizhong asked the second aunt. The second aunt put the wine and a wine cup on Liu Haizhong, "Said he is a comrade of Lao Gu!" Liu Guangqi answered, "It seems to be Secretary Huang of the trade union?"

Liu Haizhong picked up the wine cup and raised his neck. He picked up a small piece of egg with his chopsticks, as if he was blowing a horn. Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu grabbed the steamed buns and wolfed them down. They finished them in less than 2 minutes. They had dry eyes. Looking at Liu Haizhong and Liu Guangqi.Liu Guangtian licked his lips, "Dad, I gave my mother 5 cents today, so I can eat some eggs, right?"

Liu Haizhong glanced sideways, "You're not even a regular employee, so what qualifications do you have to eat eggs? Your eldest brother wants to be a cadre!" Liu Guangqi nodded reservedly and took a bite of eggs with his chopsticks.Liu Haizhong seemed to have just come to his senses and asked Liu Guangqi to confirm, "Did you just say that Secretary Huang from the labor union came to Lao Gu's house?" Liu Guangqi nodded in agreement.Liu Haizhong slapped the table and said, "My dear, go and scramble two more eggs. The old Gu family doesn't have the eyesight to ask me to accompany you for a drink. Guangqi, get a bottle of good wine and come with me!"

The knock on the door interrupted the chat in the room. Gu Weijun stood up and opened the door. The second uncle was holding a plate of eggs in his bangs. His big round face was full of flattery. Behind him was Liu Guangqi, who was holding a wine bottle. "Second uncle, Brother Guangqi!"

Liu Haizhong didn't seem to notice Gu Weijun, so he pulled him away and walked to the dining table, "Secretary Huang, I'll give you another dish!"

Secretary Huang also stood up, smiled and shook hands with Liu Haizhong, "Old Liu, this is a family dinner, so there's no need for trouble!"

"No trouble! No trouble!" Liu Haizhong nodded and bowed, then turned to scold Gu Weijun, "Weijun, Secretary Huang came to our hospital, how could you not notify me, the second uncle?"

"Secretary Huang, sit down, sit down!" Liu Haizhong sat down on Gu Weijun's seat, followed closely by Liu Guangqi, and Secretary Huang followed helplessly and sat down.

Gu Weijun reluctantly added two more sets of bowls and chopsticks and stood aside.Liu Haizhong had a straight face and waved his hand to Gu Weijun, "Weijun, we are going to talk about some important work later. If you are not suitable to listen, please go inside first!"

Gu Weijun looked at Dad Gu and Uncle Huang with a wry smile, and entered the house at their signals.

Liu Haizhong poured himself a full bottle of wine and picked it up, then said to Secretary Huang, "Secretary Huang, the team leader I was last time..." was interrupted by Secretary Huang, "Hey, Old Liu, every position is for the people. Service, contribution to the factory? Come on, come on, have a drink."

Liu Haizhong took a sip and said, "Secretary Huang, don't I want to make more contributions?"

Secretary Huang said loudly: "These are good comrades. We should study more and contribute more to the motherland in our respective positions! Eat food, eat food!"

Liu Guangqi, with quick eyes and quick hands, picked up a piece of chicken.

Liu Haizhong picked up the wine glass and was about to speak when Secretary Huang quickly asked: "Old Liu, your workshop..."

After the aunt returned home, she put away the dirty clothes that Yi Zhonghai had changed and said to Yi Zhonghai: "Zhonghai, today the old lady asked if Zhuzi is back? I want to eat meat again!" Yi Zhonghai thought for a while and answered the question inappropriately: " The old Gu family is inviting someone to dinner in the backyard, right? It seems to be Secretary Huang from the labor union?"

"Give me the meat coupons you just issued this month, and I'll get a bottle of wine and go to Zhuzi for a drink."

The door of Sha Zhu's house was open, and Sha Zhu was drinking from the thin peanuts on the plate. Yi Zhonghai came in with meat tickets and wine, "Zhu Zhu, I will drink some with you today!"

"How dare you! Sir, please sit down first, and I'll mix some cold dishes." Silly Zhu quickly mixed a plate of shredded cabbage and a plate of shredded radish, and added a few drops of sesame oil to the table.

Yi Zhonghai drank a few sips of wine with Silly Zhu before speaking: "Your aunt said that you felt sorry for the child and gave the lunch box to Qin Huairu. This is a good thing! We can't always look after ourselves!"

Silly Zhu was so excited, "That's right! How can we, a cook, miss a mouthful of food? We can eat enough for one person and the whole family will not be hungry! No matter what, we can't starve the children!"

Yi Zhonghai gave Silly Zhu a thumbs up, "Zhuzi, in our courtyard, the younger generation must look up to you. You are kind-hearted and enthusiastic. We all must respect the old and love the young!"

"The old lady in the backyard is still talking about you today, saying that I haven't seen you in a while and miss you. The old lady is the ancestor of our courtyard. Please go and see more when you have time." After saying that, he took out the meat ticket and handed it to Shazhu, " I’ll buy some meat tomorrow and make some braised pork for my ancestors to send over. The old lady will definitely be happy when she sees it!”

"Okay, just look at it, the old lady will swallow all of them tomorrow!"

"Haha, Zhuzi, you have nothing to say about your craftsmanship!"

"That means there's not enough ingredients, or let me show you the taste of my family's Tan family cuisine!"

The two chatted for a few words, and Yi Zhonghai started the conversation again.

"Zhuzi, are you okay with bringing four lunch boxes back?" Yi Zhonghai pretended to be concerned.

Silly Zhu scratched his neck, "Hey, uncle, you don't understand. The cooks don't steal and the grains are not harvested. It's been an old rule for many years. Factory Director Yang also agrees! Besides, I hope their leaders drink the workers' blood. They are not allowed to do it." Can I have some soup?"

Yi Zhonghai nodded, took a bite with Sha Zhu, and pretended to be worried, "Our hospital, Yan Jiecheng and Liu Guangtian, are old and have not yet had formal jobs. I wonder if they can enter the factory during the expansion of the factory?"

Silly Zhu curled his lips, "It's difficult. When I was in Xiaozao, I heard them say that based on the name of our factory, tens of thousands of people are expected to sign up."

"The second uncle in the backyard only sees his eldest son, and the third uncle in the front yard is like that? He's not someone who takes the initiative to find relationships, so how can he get into the factory?"

"Alas," Yi Zhonghai sighed, "Yes!" He casually mentioned, "No wonder your aunt said that Lao Gu's family in the backyard invited Secretary Huang of the trade union to dinner today."

Hearing this, Shazhu's eyes rolled around a few times.Seeing this, Yi Zhonghai continued to ask: "Zhuzi, are there people in your canteen this time?"

"Our canteen is responsible for the factory's logistics, and then there's Xiao Zao. There's no shortage of people, so what's the point?"

"You said that this time the factory expands, the affiliated health center must also have people, right?"

The first man and Silly Zhu chatted one after another until they saw Secretary Huang walking to the middle courtyard, and they all walked out of the room to say hello.

(End of this chapter)