“My husband Gu is taking family visit leave. We’ve already bought the train tickets for tomorrow, and we’ll be heading back home together. I wish both of you sisters-in-law a prosperous business and great sales!” Chen Lishu said with a smile.
“You’re going back home?” Lin Xiaoyue and Zhao Guiying looked disappointed upon hearing her words.
Zhao Guiying, in particular, hadn’t been in the military dependents’ area for very long. She had only gotten along well with Chen Lishu in the past two years, and their homes were across the hall from each other, making it easy to chat. It was a shame that after her husband returned for just a few days, she was already leaving for home again.
“Once we’ve made some money, we’ll treat you, our strategist, to a big meal after the New Year.”
Chen Lishu smiled, “I’ll be waiting for that promise to be kept.”
While the women chatted here, the children were also gathered together, conversing.
“Gu Rui, why don’t you not go back with Aunt Gu and them? Stay for New Year’s at my place. Don’t you love my mom’s fried dough fish the most? She’ll definitely make it for Chinese New Year,” Wang Yanhui tried to entice his good buddy with food.
Rui Rui frowned, “There are many relatives at home. My mom said that New Year’s is for the whole family to be reunited.”
“Do you get any lucky money when you visit elders? Let me tell you, my grandma is so stingy, she doesn’t give me or my brother a single cent. She also scolds people for no reason. Anyway, we don’t want to go back.”
Rui Rui said, “Then, after I get my lucky money, we’ll go buy marbles together.”
“Brother, marbles, I want them,” Wu Yan walked over, clinging to Gu Rui’s shoulder, tilting his little head as he spoke.
“Marbles are too small and easy to swallow. You can’t play with these,” Gu Rui said with a small frown, his expression serious. “But I can buy you delicious food when I get back.”
Upon hearing about food, Wang Yan Chun, the third son of the Wang family, immediately dropped his duck toy and rushed over. He shoved Wu Yan aside, then grinned, revealing a few tiny teeth, and bared them at Rui Rui, his desire to please exceptionally obvious.
Wu Yan, who was accidentally pushed, lost his balance and fell directly onto the ground. However, he was sturdy and didn’t cry or fuss, getting up from the ground himself. He stood where he was, glanced at Wang Yan Chun, and then lunged at him.
“Waa—!”
The children’s crying immediately interrupted the conversation between Chen Lishu and the other two women. Seeing the two children fighting, Zhao Guiying and Lin Xiaoyue quickly came over to break them up.
In the end, a slap on each of their bottoms was considered a resolution.
After Chen Lishu took Rui Rui home, she began to pack their belongings. The three of them had quite a few changes of clothes.
The next day, driver Xiao Sun from the camp drove the family of three to the train station.
Meanwhile, Li Xiulan was overjoyed to learn that Gu Xingdong would also be returning home for the New Year. She slaughtered a chicken early in the morning and began preparing food for the next day with Zhang Qin.
“Mom, new goods arrived this morning. Frozen mackerel. I’ll grab a chunk on my way back after delivering the goods to the supply and marketing cooperative,” Gu Xingye entered from outside, carrying a net bag of frozen fish, each about four to five catties in size.
With a bumper harvest of grain this year, the lives of farmers had significantly improved. They had a bit more money in hand. While they could be frugal and unwilling to spend at other times, they were determined to have a good New Year.
Since it was too troublesome to go to town to buy things, Gu Xingye made the trip to the town’s farmers' market every five days. He would buy things that could be stored for a longer time, such as bean products and frozen fish, and sell them slowly at the supply and marketing cooperative. He didn’t charge high prices, only earning a small profit from the transportation costs, and his business was doing quite well for the time being.
Generally, people wouldn’t buy just one item when entering a store. Gu Xingye’s actions also drove sales for many other items at the supply and marketing cooperative.
“Alright, you can put it in the storage room. We’ll take it out to thaw in the kitchen first thing tomorrow morning,” Li Xiulan said while scalding the chicken feathers, the hot water in the basin still steaming.
“Did your dad say when he’ll be back from your second brother’s shop?”
Gu Xingye had driven to town early that morning to bring Gu Shoufou and Gu Xingmin’s couple along. As the end of the year approached, Gu Xingmin and Liu Yuemin’s shop was busy, so they asked Gu Shoufou to help out for a while.
“He said he’ll be back after mealtime, just in time for the car returning to the village.”
Li Xiulan nodded and continued with her work.
On the train, Chen Lishu, who normally never got carsick, felt uncomfortable from the moment she boarded. Especially with the smell in the carriage, though she had been fine when traveling by car from Beijing a couple of days ago.
“Is it too stuffy? Have some water first, then lie down on the bed for a bit.”
Gu Xingdong took the insulated water bottle from his bag, poured a cup of hot water for Chen Lishu, blew on it to cool it down, and then handed it to her when the temperature felt right.
Chen Lishu sat on the edge of the bed, took the cup, and drank a few sips. She finally felt a slight improvement in her discomfort.
“Mom, I have candy here. Have one, and you won’t feel carsick anymore,” Rui Rui took a fruit-flavored hard candy from his pocket and offered it to her.
Normally, Chen Lishu was reluctant to buy him candy, fearing it would be bad for his teeth. She had prepared a few pieces for him in case he felt unwell during the journey, and now they came in handy.
Chen Lishu took it, unwrapped the plastic candy wrapper, and placed it in her mouth. Instantly, a strong orange flavor filled her taste buds, and she immediately felt much better.
Meeting Rui Rui’s concerned gaze, Chen Lishu smiled, “Thanks to this candy from my son, Mom is much better.”
“You should rest for a while,” Gu Xingdong said, helping her take off her outer coat, tucking her in with the blanket, and then sitting down with Rui Rui on the opposite bunk.
…
“Dad, with the number of customers decreasing, how about I ask Master Tang to make you a bowl of noodles before you leave?”
Gu Xingmin had just sent a table full of plates and bowls to the back. When he lifted the curtain and came out, he saw Gu Shoufou putting on his coat and spoke.
Since the couple took over this shop, business had been good, especially with the approaching year-end, which brought even more customers. They were reluctant to spend money on hired help, so the couple had to bear the brunt of the work themselves.
Yesterday, their bicycle tires had been punctured again, and they didn’t get home until past eight in the evening.
There was no other way, so they had to ask Gu Shoufou to help for a few days. The shop would close in a couple of days.
“It’s still early, and I’m not very hungry. I’ll eat when I get home. You don’t need to fuss over me. You two should also rest when you have the time,” Gu Shoufou said, having already put on his clothes. He put on his hat and turned to leave the shop.
“Dad left?”
Liu Yuemin was washing plates and bowls, her movements unhindered as she saw him enter.
She had initially thought opening a shop would be quite good, but she hadn’t expected it to be so exhausting when they actually started doing it.
The couple worked from morning till night. They were certainly making money, but they were truly tired.
“Yes,” Gu Xingmin nodded. “I originally wanted Master Tang to make him a bowl of noodles, but he said he wasn’t hungry and left.”
Liu Yuemin pouted and didn’t say anything.
Now, they were practically using one person as eight, so where was the time to cook noodles for him? Besides, a bowl of noodles at the shop cost two dimes, so eating at home was more economical.
“Is the boss in?”
Just as the couple exchanged a few words, more people entered the shop. Gu Xingmin quickly responded and went out.