In 1959, what's wrong with me pedaling a tricycle?

Zhao Guizhi nodded, but did not continue the topic.

She was forced to work here by her son-in-law, who did it so that they could get housing.

It has all been agreed that if Li Chunmei fails to get into a vocational high school after graduating from junior high school in a few years, she will take over her job.

Since there were many people around and it was inconvenient to discuss these matters, the group tacitly agreed not to continue the discussion.

When it was time to leave work, everyone tidied up and left the night market in twos and threes, heading home.

Wang Xingguo carried Li Xiuping, who was carrying a lunchbox, back home. It's good to live close by; it only takes a few minutes to get home by bike.

After washing up, the two went to rest.

The next day at noon, Wang Xingguo was woken up by his sister, while Li Xiuping had already woken up and gone to talk to Shen Qingqing.

Wang Xingguo yawned and asked his younger sister, "Third sister, has someone come?"

Wang Xingning nodded and said, "Yes, it's Director Zhao. Second Brother, you'd better get up quickly."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xingguo nodded, went to greet them, washed up, and then returned to the living room.

As Wang Xingguo offered him a cigarette, he asked with a smile, "Uncle, what brings you here today?"

Director Zhao took the cigarette, lit it, and then said, "Xingguo, National Day is in a few days. I was wondering if you have any thoughts on it?"

Wang Xingguo was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, but quickly recovered and asked with a grin, "Uncle, are you worried about supplies?"

Director Zhao smiled and nodded, saying, "That's right. The supplies allocated by the subdistrict office are too few, not even enough to distribute to the families of martyrs and elderly people living alone. So I was wondering if you had any ideas."

Wang Xingguo chuckled and said, "That's easy. Just tell me what you need, and I'll figure out how to get it for you. Anyway, the money in my little stash is perfect for this kind of thing."

Director Zhao lowered his voice and said, "I'm afraid that more units will try to take advantage of you this year. Last year during the Spring Festival, you brought out so many things to support the subdistrict office and various units, and quite a few people were envious at the time. It's hard to say, every unit has families like that. The people we in the subdistrict office are responsible for do not include those people they are responsible for."

Wang Xingguo knew about this. In fact, many families of martyrs are like this. The father sacrificed his life, and the mother was given a job. There are many families where a woman raises several children alone. Therefore, their work unit needs to take care of such families.

Another group consists of elderly people living alone. Most of them are left without anyone to support them because their sons had accidents at work, and their employers are also responsible for their care.

These units aren't envious of the money at the night market; they're after the supplies that are currently very difficult to obtain.

Wang Xingguo said helplessly, "Uncle, now that you're here, they must have already spoken to you, right?"

Director Zhao nodded and said, "You're a bright kid, you get it right away. They did come to me, but I didn't give them a definite answer, I just said I'd ask around on your end."

After thinking for a moment, Wang Xingguo said, "How about this? I don't have much to get right now, but I'll bring out 1,000 jin of frozen ribbonfish, 1,000 jin of cornmeal, 1,000 jin of rice, and 1,000 jin of wheat flour. I'll have the district commerce bureau and the public security bureau contact you, and you can distribute them among everyone, how about that?"

Director Zhao slapped his thigh and said, "That's settled. With so many supplies, no one can say anything now."

Wang Xingguo sighed, "Damn it, it's just that we can't get anything from Tianjin now, otherwise I really want to make a trip to Tianjin and bring back two truckloads of goods."

Director Zhao shook his head and said, "It won't work now. You were really lucky last time you went to pick up things. Who knew things would change so much by June?"

Wang Xingguo was certainly aware of this. The major night markets were barely surviving because they lacked channels for obtaining supplies. The limited supplies they were getting through special channels were simply not enough to meet demand.

Er Gouzi hasn't been here for quite a while because he's worried about supplies. It's only because he has a village supporting him that he's run out of things to sell.

Nowadays, there's not much resource sharing, so there's no need for everyone to run around so often; everyone's just staying put in their own little corner of the world.

The matter was settled, but it's not time yet. We'll deliver the items to the neighborhood office in three days, at the end of September.

After finishing this matter, Wang Xingguo said to Director Zhao, "Uncle, the house will be repaired soon. Would you like to live on the first floor or the second floor?"

Director Zhao thought about the house over there for a moment, then said with a smile, "Let them live on the first floor. It will be more convenient for my grandchildren to play. They are too naughty, and I'm worried they'll fall down the stairs while running around."

Wang Xingguo nodded and said, "Okay, I'll pick out a nicer one for you then. Also, I don't plan to plant flowers and plants. All the open spaces in the courtyard can be used for everyone to grow vegetables. It would be nice if each family could have a small plot to grow some scallions, cilantro, or something."

Speaking of this, Director Zhao particularly agreed. Now the higher authorities are encouraging everyone to make use of vacant land and plant vegetables in front of and behind their houses, which is to say, vegetable substitutes. So planting vegetables now is a behavior that complies with the policy.

He smiled and said, "Your idea is excellent. Everyone is short of food right now, so it's good to grow more vegetables. It's a pity it's too late this year."

Wang Xingguo shook his head and said, "I think you can encourage everyone to grow some vegetables indoors. After all, our compound has a boiler for collective heating, and the indoor temperature will be at least ten degrees Celsius. It's also heated all day long, which is perfect for growing some vegetables on the windowsill. It's also a way to actively respond to the call."

Director Zhao laughed heartily, saying that it was indeed a pretty good idea.

After seeing Director Zhao off, Li Xiuping asked curiously, "Xingguo, why do we have to contribute everything for National Day?"

Wang Xingguo joked, "What's wrong? Are you worried about spending too much money from your secret stash?"

Li Xiuping rolled her eyes at him and said, "What are you talking about? If I really cared, I wouldn't have agreed to you building a house. Look at how much money we've poured into this compound, and now we have to give up most of the house. The more I think about it, the more my heart aches..."

Wang Xingguo laughed and said, "Alright, don't be so stingy. You just don't understand the big picture; your perspective is too narrow. Since this slush fund can't be pocketed, why not spend it? The houses do need to be distributed, but I'm the one who gains favors. The supplies also cost money, but I'm the one who keeps a good record of what I receive. These units also care about their reputation; they won't take things for nothing. They'll say something nice about the night market. Spending money that will never go into their pockets to gain favors and a good reputation—why not?"