Returning to the small mountain village of '86, intelligence updated daily.

Chapter 121 "Two Bowls of Clear Soup Noodles Consumed Over 100 Kilometers"

"How will you get back?"

The factory manager stopped the two of them, as he had other ideas to share.

The Zhou father and son, who were about to ride their tricycle home, turned around when they heard the shout.

"Director He, is there anything else?"

After Zhou Rui turned around, he asked He Laiyou a question.

Kaku walked over to the two of them, pointed outside, and asked, "Are you planning to just ride back like this?"

"Yes, it's a bit far, but it's about time to get there now."

Zhou Shiwei estimated the time and replied with a message.

Although tricycles are slow, they have advantages over buses. Buses are too bulky and can not travel as fast as tricycles on some roads.

Moreover, the two of them can take turns riding it.

That's why I wanted to go home as soon as possible.

But He Laiyou smiled broadly, then pointed outside, signaling the two of them to follow him out.

After the two followed him out, they finally understood what He Laiyou was up to.

There was a tractor parked outside.

He Laiyou meant that he could arrange for someone to take the two of them home along with their cargo tricycle.

The Zhou father and son exchanged a glance, and then Zhou Rui said, "No need, let's just go back like this. Thank you for your kindness, Director He."

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After saying that, without waiting for He Laiyou to stop them, the two got on their tricycle and left.

While walking, Zhou Shiwei took Zhou Rui to a restaurant. Instead of ordering stir-fried dishes, they ordered a bowl of clear soup noodles.

This noodle dish is clearly not as high-end as the one from this morning; there's hardly any oil or grease in it.

Of course, this is the cheapest clear broth noodle soup. There is also a more expensive version with meat sauce, but neither of them ordered that.

Anyway, the Zhou family's meals have been pretty good lately, so there's no need to be greedy for this little bit of extra food.

After having a satisfying meal at a restaurant in the county town, the Zhou father and son hurried home while it was still light.

The road connecting the county town and the town is in bad condition, and there are no streetlights on the road. However, as long as the two of them reach the town before dark, there won't be much of a safety hazard even at night, as they can walk on familiar roads.

Because the sun was still strong from noon to afternoon, the scorching temperature made the two of them take off their coats and each wear a T-shirt.

They took turns pedaling the tricycle, which was Zhou Rui's insistence, as he didn't want his father to shoulder everything anymore.

However, the final outcome was:

When Zhou Rui was riding, he would push the bike uphill, and he would only ride on it occasionally on flat ground; otherwise, he would walk.

However, when Zhou Shiwei rode the tricycle, he always had Zhou Rui sit in the back of the tricycle, except when going uphill.

The two walked for about five hours before finally reaching the town market.

It was more than an hour slower than the bus, but that's normal, since the bus uses gasoline, while the two of them "consume a bowl of plain noodles per 100 kilometers".

When the two arrived in town, it was already around six or seven in the afternoon. The sky was getting dark, and the setting sun was hanging low.

When they finally arrived in town, the last rays of golden light remained on the horizon, as if lingering to illuminate their way home.

They didn't linger in town. The Zhou father and son either pushed their bikes uphill or rode them downhill, finally returning home before the last rays of the setting sun completely disappeared from the horizon.

The sight of them along the way caused a small disturbance, with many people whispering among themselves that buying a farm tricycle in those days was no less expensive than buying a car in later years.

At the Zhou family home, it was past seven o'clock and the whole family still hadn't eaten.

This was Zeng Jiamei's suggestion, because in the morning she asked, "Are you coming back today?"

Zhou Shiwei: "We want to go back."

"Okay, be careful, and remember to come back early. We've prepared dinner and are waiting for you..."

'

When the father and son returned home, Zhou Ming was the first to greet them, looking around at them.

The others also came forward, with Zhou Yun following his cousin Zhou Ming around excitedly.

"I hope the journey was smooth."

Zhou Yong'an asked a question, explaining that he wouldn't be going to Zhou Shiping's place until next month, so he was still at home this month.

Zhou Shiwei pushed the tricycle into his home, replying to Zhou Yong'an's words.

"Everything went smoothly. Inspector Zhou was a great help to us. We should thank him properly later."

"Oh? What did this kid do?" Zhou Yong'an asked with interest.

"He introduced someone, so he saved about a hundred yuan and got it at the factory price. It was originally over a hundred yuan, but your grandson did something that saved him forty yuan."

Zhou Shiwei parked his tricycle and beckoned the younger generation and the two elders back to the dining table. After saying this, he turned to Zhou Rui and continued, "However, losing this money isn't necessarily a bad thing. You have to admit our eldest grandson is quite shrewd. I only found out later how complicated things were..."

Zhou Shiwei recounted the process and outcome of Zhou Rui's "reverse bargaining," and those who understood gave Zhou Rui a thumbs up.

Those who didn't understand, like Zhou Shijie, looked completely bewildered: "Why are they giving us an extra forty...?"

'

He had barely finished speaking when Zhou Guo'er covered his mouth.

"Dad, stop talking so much, let's eat..."

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Although Zhou Guo'er didn't understand social etiquette, she understood a little when she heard Zhou Shiwei say that the kindness of twenty yuan might have to be repaid at a greater cost.

There weren't many dishes on the table, but there was still one meat dish. The Zhou family could eat meat almost every day now.

Zhou Shiwei originally suggested that we shouldn't be so extravagant, but Zhou Rui unusually refused his father, saying that our family's nutrition must be adequate every day.

Therefore, there is always a meat dish on the Zhou family's dining table. At the same time, with the nourishment of various medicinal herbs and precious ingredients, Zhou Yong'an and others who originally had poor health have gradually become rosy-cheeked.

This is what Zhou Rui really wants to see. Money can be earned back, but the health of his family is something that no amount of money can bring back.

After the family finished their meal together, they sat and listened to the radio for a full hour because today's program was "Journey to the West," a show loved by the whole family.

After listening to the radio, the whole family went to bed, because there really wasn't much to do in the countryside at night in 86.

The next morning, Zhou Rui was woken up again by Zhou Ming shaking him.

Zhou Rui didn't stay in bed any longer. She went out of her room to check the time; it was still a few minutes before eight.

Perhaps because he was too tired yesterday, Zhou Rui has been sleeping until now and doesn't want to get out of bed.

However, there is another big, very important thing to do today.

Today is the seventh day of the eighth lunar month, which is September 10th in the Gregorian calendar.

The siblings Zhou Guo'er and Zhou Xing are starting school today.

In the past, Zhou Shiwei and Zeng Jiamei would usually go to register together, but this year, Zhou Rui also wanted to go, and Zhou Shijie also wanted to go.

Zhou Shiwei had no reason to refuse such a request, which led to the scene where Zhou Ming woke him up earlier, because they were about to leave while Zhou Rui was still asleep...