Rebirth of Bayi Fishing and Hunting in the Northwest

Chapter 242: Not Eating Commercial Grain Has Its Benefits

Li Long and Gu Xiaoxia brought their things back to the courtyard and began to decorate the room where Gu Xiaoxia lived.

Li Long packed up the old bedding in the room and piled it in the wing room, planning to wash it later. After spreading the new bedding on the bed, Gu Xiaoxia fetched some water and started to wipe it. Li Long started to pack up some unnecessary things.

After cleaning up, seeing that Gu Xiaoxia was still working hard, he went to the kitchen to cook something.

Li Long had a full lunch, so he planned to make some soup and stir-fry some vegetables and have a simple meal in the evening.

After dinner, seeing that it was getting late, Gu Xiaoxia wanted to go back to the dormitory - according to her, she hadn't moved out yet, and if she didn't go back in the evening, someone at school would say something.

Li Long took her thoughts into consideration and took her back to school on his bicycle.

After sending Gu Xiaoxia back to school, Li Long rode back to the village. Gu Xiaoxia started packing her things in the dormitory. Teacher Wang walked to the door and asked:

“Did you go to the county?”

There was envy in her tone.

I originally thought that Gu Xiaoxia was a new colleague and a younger sister who needed my care, but I didn't expect that she would be noticed by the leaders of the Education Bureau and directly seconded after less than a semester.

Anyone with a discerning eye knew that this secondee would most likely not return. As long as there was a job opening there, secondees like Gu Xiaoxia would definitely be the first to get the upper hand.

When Gu Xiaoxia was in the courtyard, she and Li Long analyzed the matter together. Li Long explained that the reason why Gu Xiaoxia was seconded was probably because she had good handwriting and a solid foundation in writing.

These days, many documents, examination papers, and official documents need to be handwritten or engraved on wax, which requires workers to have good handwriting.

Gu Xiaoxia's father, Gu Boyuan, was a very good calligrapher. He was not only good at writing with a brush, but also at writing with a fountain pen.

Gu Xiaoxia has been practicing calligraphy under the supervision of Gu Boyuan since she was a child. Because there were no copybooks, she practiced by following Gu Boyuan's handwriting. So her handwriting is not the delicate handwriting of a woman, but is majestic and has the feeling of a copybook.

Then there is Gu Xiaoxia's writing skills. Gu Boyuan is good at this, and Gu Xiaoxia is also good at it. She also likes writing. Although she was not very good at writing short stories since she was a child, Gu Boyuan is not like other parents who suppress, sneer or don't care. He will deliberately guide her. This is also the reason why Gu Xiaoxia's Chinese grades are relatively good and she finally teaches Chinese.

This is also the reason why she was selected by the Education Bureau for secondment - she laid a solid foundation when she was in school.

Teacher Wang is really envious. Who wouldn't want to work in the county? That's a higher level agency, with a broader stage and more room for development.

Gu Xiaoxia was actually quite proud after being at a loss. But Li Long also told her when they were chatting that the more proud a person is, the easier it is to forget oneself. So it is most valuable to keep a clear mind at this time.

After all, it's just a secondment, not like I'll never come back. I feel proud now, but if I really can't gain a foothold in the Education Bureau and eventually come back, won't it be embarrassing then?
In his previous life, Li Long had seen many cases on the Internet where friends and relatives around him could not bear to see others having a good life, and some of them were reported by people around them when they took civil service exams or postgraduate entrance exams.

So he would tell Gu Xiaoxia from time to time to keep a low profile and stay humble.

"Well, let's go find a place to live." Gu Xiaoxia stood up and walked to the bed, picked up a watermelon from under the bed and handed it to Teacher Wang:

"Teacher Wang, this was bought by my boyfriend. I'll give you one."

"So polite? Then I'll take it. Where is the melon here?"

"I bought it on the way." Gu Xiaoxia said with a smile. "I bought it on the way."

Seeing that Gu Xiaoxia did not become arrogant at all because of her secondment to the Education Bureau, Teacher Wang suddenly felt that this girl deserved this opportunity. She smiled and said while holding the watermelon, "We were talking about it before. If you really want to be transferred, you may not recognize us in the future..."

"How is that possible? Maybe I'll be back next semester." Gu Xiaoxia admired Li Long at this time. He was right. These people were really talking about her behind her back, and they were talking about her in a low voice. So she hurriedly said:

"I'm just on secondment, maybe just for a month or two. I envy you guys, you can have nothing to do once you take a vacation, but I would have to work every day if I went there."

"At a higher level, you have to work overtime." Teacher Wang joked, "Then you can clean up. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"No, no, I don't have much. I might have to come back later anyway, so I just bring some things I use frequently."

Teacher Wang returned to her dormitory with the watermelon in her arms. She still felt that Gu Xiaoxia was a good girl and her heart had not changed. Some people from the school were seconded to other units in the county before they left, and they regarded themselves as superiors before they left. She still remembered that character.

The difference between Gu Xiaoxia and that one is obvious.

Li Long rode his bicycle, loaded with watermelons, back to the village. The sun had already set.

Li Qiang was playing with some kids in the mud on the roadside behind the settlement. Now all settlements are in shaded areas, so the team directly released water from the small lake to the canals in the settlements. There was mud in the canals behind, so we could play.

The rules are as follows. Each player takes a pile of mud that is almost the same size. Shape the mud into a bowl, hold it in one hand, and take turns throwing it on the ground. Whoever has the biggest hole in the bottom of the bowl wins. The winner can take a pile of mud from the loser to fill the hole. Then repeat the game until the winner has used up all the mud. A trick is to make the mud at the bottom of the bowl thinner, but not too thin.

At this time, Li Long's hair, clothes and hands were all covered with mud. He naturally didn't care about anything else and was excitedly wrestling with others.

Li Long saw that there was the most mud in front of Li Qiang, and he was very excited about winning at this time.

But when I go back, I can't avoid Liang Yuemei's complaints - these clothes must be washed.

"Qiangqiang, let's go home!" Li Long shouted.

"Uncle... let me play for a while longer." Li Qiang saw Li Long's eyes light up, but he was reluctant to leave the pile of mud in front of him.

"Look at your clothes. Your mother will scold you when we get home!"

Li Qiang then realized that he was in trouble when he saw the mud on his body. He curled his lips and his previous smugness disappeared completely.

The mud he won was of no use, so he had to stand up and walk towards Li Long.

Li Long helped him onto the beam and said as he pedaled the bike:
"Let's go home and eat watermelon."

"Uncle, did you buy watermelon?"

"Well, look at the back of the car. There's enough for you to eat."

"That's great! A few days ago, I saw a car selling watermelons passing by behind me. I shouted at it, but it didn't stop."

Li Long thought, it's strange that they will stop if you yell at them. Even if you tell them you have money to buy a six or seven-year-old kid, they won't believe you!

When I rode my bike back home, Du Chunfang and Li Juan were preparing pig food in the yard. From the door, I could see people in the wheat field and the Li family's horses were there too.

Li Jianguo and Liang Yuemei should be busy.

"Hurry up, take off your clothes, then go to the well and wash off the mud on your hair and body. Leave your clothes there and I'll rub them off for you later." Li Long said, "When your parents come back, we'll cut some watermelon and eat it."

Li Qiang was very obedient at this time. He took off his clothes quickly and went to wash his hair and arms.

"Mom, where is Dad?" Li Long asked.

"You didn't come back, so he and Daqiang went to set the nets." Du Chunfang said as she stirred the pig food. "There are endless surprises in a day!"

To cause a fright and to do something strange are usually used together, but I didn't expect that my mother would use it on my father.

Li Long was also a little surprised that his father went to fish with Daqiang. "Just go ahead and catch some fish. I'll sell them tomorrow," Li Long said with a smile.

He unloaded the watermelon and carried it into the house, rolling it under the bed in the master bedroom. It seemed like a habit that had been in place for many years in northern Xinjiang. When the season came, there would be a bed of watermelons under everyone's bed.

Li Jianguo and Liang Yuemei came back after more than ten minutes, and took the horse to the stable and put it down. At this time, Li Qiang had already washed and changed his clothes, and Li Long had also rubbed the muddy clothes and hung them up. In the hot summer, the clothes dried overnight.

Liang Yuemei knew what was going on and glared at Li Qiang fiercely. But since there were so many people around, she didn't say much.

"Let's not have dinner tonight." Li Long said with a smile, "I bought some watermelons. Let's each have half a watermelon. It's best to eat it with some dry steamed buns. I can't eat much, so I'll make you some porridge."

"Great." Li Qiang was the first to applaud.

"How many watermelons do you want to buy?" Li Jianguo had no objection. After working all day in such hot weather, it was natural to have watermelons to cool down.

"A sack, leaving a few for Xiaoxia."

Li Long went into the house and carried out two watermelons, and Li Qiang followed and carried out another one.

Li Juan went to the kitchen and took out an iron spoon. Since Li Long started making money, the family has more spoons. These daily necessities were bought by him every now and then.

At the small table outside, the watermelon was cut and then cut into small pieces with a knife, and everyone was free to choose.

At this time, Li Qingxia and Tao Daqiang came back carrying tires. When they saw the watermelon on the table, they were immediately happy.

"Xiaolong bought some watermelon? It's hot now. Come on, Daqiang, you have some too!"

"Xiaolong, let's go fishing together and we'll be back in a while. How about you guys? We'll have the whole afternoon..."

Du Chunfang never gives Li Qingxia face, but what he says is the truth.

"Well, we don't have Xiaolong's ability to cast the net," Li Qingxia didn't feel embarrassed at all. "It's not easy to sit on a tire and sink into the water while paddling and casting the net..."

Tao Daqiang nodded vigorously in agreement. He had watched it many times, but he still couldn't use his mouth to cast the net like Li Long.

"Come on, come on, eat the melon first." Li Jianguo went in and picked up another melon. Liang Yuemei took out the dried steamed buns from the sun and placed them on the small table.

"I don't want to eat anymore..." Tao Daqiang felt a little embarrassed.

"Then take one home and eat it with your dad." Li Long could see that he was a little uncomfortable. "Come and get the net tomorrow morning."

"Okay." Tao Daqiang did not refuse.

Li Long picked a large watermelon weighing about ten kilograms for Tao Daqiang, walked him to the door, stuffed ten yuan into his pocket, and sent him away.

The Li family sat together and ate their own food. Li Long then told them that Gu Xiaoxia was going to be seconded to the county.

"Xiaoxia is so lucky. She got engaged here and moved to the county there..." Du Chunfang always felt that it was Li Long who brought good luck to Gu Xiaoxia.

"That's because she's capable." Li Qingxia wanted to argue with his wife as usual, "The more capable your daughter-in-law is, the better Xiaolong's life will be in the future."

"That's... It seems that Xiaolong will have to buy a house in the county in the future." Du Chunfang sighed, "I don't know when Xiaolong will be able to eat commercial grain..."

"I don't want to eat. The supply and marketing cooperative ahead wanted to give me a quota, but I didn't go." Li Long said something earth-shattering, causing everyone to stop eating - except Li Qiang.

Even Li Juan vaguely knew that those who ate commercial grains were much more "noble" than the farmers who worked in the fields!
"Are you telling the truth?" Li Qingxia asked.

"Well, Dad, don't be surprised. Think about it, if I go there, I can only earn thirty or forty yuan a month. Can I still earn hundreds of dollars a time like I do now?"

"That wouldn't be the case." Li Qingxia nodded.

"But that's stable." Li Jianguo couldn't help but say, "Work more all year round, get that salary and eat commercial grain, how good!"

"It's different." Li Long shook his head and said, "Others may be like this, but I'm different. You know, I can earn a month's salary from selling fish in one day. If you ask me to go to work honestly for a day, I can't stay."

No one else spoke.

Du Chunfang just felt it was a pity, Liang Yuemei also felt it was a pity, but according to Li Long himself, it was not much of a pity.

After all, what Li Long said was true.

The money he earns in a month is more than what a worker earns in a year, two years, or even three years. So what's the point of eating this commercial grain?
"Besides, I've already bought the house in the county, the big one." Li Long said, "Our whole family can live in it, with such a big yard, for 500 yuan!"

"Five hundred? So many!" Du Chunfang exclaimed.

"Five hundred? Worth it!" This is Li Jianguo.

"There are so many rooms in there...but aren't you worried?" This is Li Qingxia.

"Don't worry, I don't have to worry anymore." Li Long smiled. "If I were a worker and ate commercial grain, I don't know how long it would take me to earn enough money to buy a house. By then, I might not have this opportunity."

The whole family was convinced.

Continue eating watermelon and soaking steamed buns.

It feels extra sweet.

When he was taking the nets out the next day, Li Long discovered that the nets were a little tight, and nearly one-third of the fish were gone - there were six nets and about 40 kilograms of fish.

There are still about ten kilograms of fish in the basin, which is quite a lot.

Li Long has already planned to put more cage cloth on the basin to prevent some fish from being squeezed to death.

He went to Shicheng to sell fish again. When he came back, he went to the courtyard to put down the basin and scale, then picked up two roe deer whips and went to the supply and marketing cooperative.

Li Xiangqian was drinking tea in the office. Seeing Li Long coming in with something wrapped in newspaper, he smiled and asked:

"Hey, what are you doing here? And you're bringing something to my place?"

"Section Chief, I have something to ask of you." Li Long said with a smile, "I can't come here empty-handed."

"What did you bring?" Li Xiangqian knew that Li Long was sensible and would not make excessive demands, so he pointed at the newspaper:

"If the quantity is not enough, I won't do the job!"

"Don't worry, the portion is definitely enough!"

(End of this chapter)