Courtyard House: Purchasing Agents' Comeback from the Great Famine

As Wang Feng drank tea with Qin's father, he told him about the things that had happened in the countryside recently, such as this family running out of food and that family facing difficulties.

As for Qin Dashan, he had long been sent to the kitchen to tend the fire.

"Dad, how is my aunt's family doing now? Are they still managing to get by?" Wang Feng asked.

Qin's father sighed: "My eldest brother's family is having a hard time. After all, neither of their sons nor daughters are filial. Their son married into another city more than ten years ago and has never come back once, not even a letter. It's as if he doesn't exist. Their daughter, Qin Huairu, hasn't come back to her parents' home for several years either. Even when she does come back, she doesn't bring anything back and takes her parents' belongings to the city."

After a pause, Qin's father continued, "Fortunately, my second brother is the village chief and has a good relationship with the production brigade leader. He arranged a slightly easier job for my eldest brother and sister-in-law, and they can get full work points every day. Otherwise, life would be even more difficult."

Actually, it wasn't just his older brother; the couple also had relatively easy jobs. If Jingru hadn't married such a good son-in-law and gotten Dashan a job in the factory, their family would have been just as poor as his older brother's.

Last year, before the ration was reduced, Wang Feng told him to stockpile more grain, and he used almost all of his family's savings to stockpile grain. Now that the ration has been reduced and cornmeal has risen to 1.5 yuan, he has fallen significantly behind many others.

It's no exaggeration to say that if he sold the more than 700 jin of grain he had hoarded earlier, he would immediately have a fortune of over a thousand yuan. That's more money than you could earn in a lifetime in the countryside. He owes all of this to Wang Feng.

Upon hearing Qin's father's words, Wang Feng nodded secretly.

Since Qin Huairu's mother used to treat Jingru very well, it's okay to help her a little, just make sure Qin Huairu doesn't get the better of her.

After all, marrying Qin Jingru has truly made him very happy. Qin Huairu's mother was good to Qin Jingru in the past, so it's only right to repay her.

Just as the two were chatting, Qin Jingru returned in a great hurry.

"Jingru, did your aunt accept all the gifts?" Qin's father asked.

Qin Jingru nodded: "We accepted it. At first, my aunt absolutely refused to accept it, saying that we should take it back and eat it ourselves. I talked until my mouth was dry before she finally accepted it."

"Dad, Wang Feng, please have some tea first. I'll go cook."

"Okay, go quickly."

When Qin Jingru arrived at the kitchen, her mother had already washed all the vegetables and pots. Knife skills are very important for making delicious dishes, so she didn't even ask her mother to help her chop the vegetables.

In the countryside, firewood is used for cooking. Qin Dashan was in charge of starting the fire, Qin's mother assisted, and Qin Jingru was in charge of cooking.

At noon, Qin Jingru cooked three dishes: braised pork, stir-fried mutton with scallions, and hot and sour cabbage. She also specially made a bowl of longevity noodles for her mother.

In less than an hour, the three dishes and longevity noodles were ready. If it weren't for the fact that making the braised pork took a long time, it would have been even faster.

"Dad, Wang Feng, dinner's ready."

Qin Jingru and her mother brought the dishes to the table, and Qin Dashan took out the steamed buns and invited everyone to start eating.

Qin Jingru only brought back four or five catties of white flour this time. She knew that there might not be any white flour at home, and Wang Feng was not used to eating coarse grains, so she couldn't let Wang Feng suffer.

Wang Feng opened a bottle of Moutai, poured a small glass for each person, then picked up his glass, stood up, and smiled at Qin's mother, saying:

"Mom, today is your birthday. I wish you good health and longevity, and that you will grow stronger with each passing year."

Qin Jingru also stood up and smiled sweetly: "Mom, I wish you happiness and joy every day."

With that, Wang Feng and Qin Jingru drank their wine in one gulp.

"Alright, alright, Jingru, Wang Feng, as long as you're doing well, Mom is happy."

Qin's mother wiped away her tears; these were tears of joy.

Like Wang Feng and the others, Qin Dashan said a blessing to Qin's mother, and then everyone started eating.

Qin Jingru suddenly remembered that she hadn't given her mother the watch Lu Banxia had given her yet, so she quickly took out the brand-new Shanghai brand watch from her pocket, placed it in her mother's palm, and said with a smile:

"Mom, this watch was a gift from one of my very good friends at the factory. She knew it was your birthday today, but she was too busy at work and couldn't get time off, so she asked me to give it to you."

Upon hearing this, Qin's mother looked at Qin Jingru in shock, waving her hands repeatedly in refusal, her hands even trembling slightly.

"Jingru, this is too precious, I can't accept it. Please thank this child for me."

"Cough cough."

Upon seeing this, Qin's father coughed lightly.

"Jingru, this watch is too expensive. I heard it costs several tens of dollars. We can't afford to reciprocate with such an expensive gift."

Wang Feng was terrified when he saw his parents. He smiled and explained, "Mom, please accept this watch. There's no need to return the favor. I know Jingru's good friend. I helped her a lot before, and this watch is a thank-you gift for me."

Qin Jingru blinked: "Yes, Mom, just accept it. Brother Wang Feng did him a big favor before. Compared to that favor, this watch is nothing. Besides, having a watch at home will make it easier for you to tell the time in the future."

Seeing Wang Feng and Jing Ru's confident expressions, Qin's parents reluctantly put the watch away. Qin's mother, in particular, stroked the watch with obvious delight, clearly enamored with it.

"Wang Feng, Jingru, then Mom will accept it. When you get back, please be sure to thank this girl properly for me."

Qin Jingru smiled and nodded: "Mom, don't worry about accepting it. When we get back, Wang Feng and I will thank them properly. Mom, let me put it on you."

Qin Jingru helped her mother put on the watch. Qin's mother looked at the watch on her wrist, admiring the exquisite dial and the silver hands, and couldn't stop smiling, she was overjoyed.

Qin Dashan looked at his mother with envy, his eyes filled with longing for the watch on her wrist. He didn't even have a watch. If he had one, it would be much easier for him to find a partner in the city.

Before he was unemployed, he really liked Xiaoli from the next village, but Xiaoli's mother looked down on him and had too high demands. She wanted a dowry of ten yuan and also wanted 36 legs. Xiaoli listened to her mother, so the relationship didn't work out in the end.

Now he's a city dweller, and he has a formal job. After two months of factory worker qualification assessment, he'll become a first-level fitter.

Since Xiaoli's mother used to look down on him, now that he's a city dweller, why should he hang himself on Xiaoli? Anyway, there are plenty of girls in the city, and they're all much better looking and in better shape than Xiaoli.

Most importantly, Xiaoli has a rural household registration and is not eligible for a work quota. With his meager salary, he can't afford to support Xiaoli, who is not eligible for a work quota. He can't expect Xiaoli to continue earning work points in the village after they get married, can he?