fictionpage Chapter 66 Which is more important, a wife or food?
Chapter 66 Which is more important, a wife or food?
As Zhang Chengfei rode his bicycle, he told his nephew about the situation: "You'll have to stay with me for a few days. The factory will arrange a dormitory for you on the day you report for duty."
Zhang Wenkui was a little excited: "Third Uncle, Second Uncle said that if I do well, I can get a permanent position and become a city dweller."
Zhang Chengfei nodded: "You have the necessary qualifications and aren't too old, so the chances of you staying are very high."
Zhang Wenkui became even more excited, shouting that if he became a city dweller, he would no longer have to live a life of toiling in the fields.
Zhang Chengfei asked him what he had brought in the sack. After learning that there were only bedding and clothes, and no toiletries, he stopped the car in front of the Laodaokou Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
While walking into the supply and marketing cooperative with his nephew, he bumped into the chubby Zhao Xu again.
This guy was shamelessly trying to get close to Gao Fang, but she ignored him.
Seeing Zhang Chengfei arrive, Gao Fang greeted him warmly, finally showing her first smile since Zhao Xu arrived: "Comrade Zhang Chengfei, what would you like to order today?"
Zhang Chengfei glanced at Zhao Xu, who looked like a clown to the side, and then looked at Gao Fang: "Toothpaste, toothbrush, tooth cup, soap, towel."
Zhang Wenkui scratched his head: "Third Uncle, I don't mind. I can use your towels and soap, so there's no need to buy them separately."
"...But I despise you."
Zhang Wenkui: "..."
Zhang Chengfei thought for a moment and then said, "Oh right, bring two more basins, one for washing your face and one for washing your feet."
Zhang Wenkui was about to say that two basins weren't necessary, one would suffice; it could be used to wash one's face, feet, and even bottom. And when there were big meals during festivals, it could hold meat and vegetables.
But remembering how her third uncle had looked at her with disdain earlier, she couldn't help but swallow her words. At the same time, she felt a little disgusted with herself.
My third uncle hasn't been in the city for many years, but he's already developed quite a few bad habits...
When I get back to my hometown tomorrow, I'm definitely going to tell Grandma everything...
The little guy was excitedly anticipating how his grandma would scold him by twisting his third uncle's ear after he tattled on him, but when he turned his head, he found his third uncle looking at him with a half-smile.
That gaze seemed to see right through his skin and flesh, piercing through his thoughts... Zhang Wenkui couldn't help but shrink back, afraid to think any further.
After shopping, Zhang Chengfei pushed his bicycle and walked side by side with Zhang Wenkui toward the courtyard house.
At the main gate, I happened to run into Qin Huairu.
"Third Grandfather, who is this comrade?" Upon seeing Zhang Chengfei appear, Qin Huairu tucked a stray hair behind her ear and gave a perfectly timed smile.
"This is my nephew, Zhang Wenkui. According to seniority, you should call him Uncle Thirteen," Zhang Chengfei introduced simply.
Although Zhang Wenkui was the eldest son in Zhang Chengfei's branch of the family, he was the thirteenth son in the whole family.
Qin Huairu knew that although her mother-in-law's family wasn't in frequent contact, they were quite large. Since she couldn't remember them, she didn't bother. She'd just wait until they met.
She smiled at Zhang Wenkui and said, "Hello, Uncle Thirteen, I am Qin Huairu, Jia Dongxu's wife."
Having lived in the countryside for a long time, Zhang Wenkui blushed upon seeing a woman as fair-skinned as Qin Huairu for the first time, and stammered, "Ah, you, hello."
Qin Huairu smiled and said, "My mother-in-law will definitely be happy to have people from my hometown. I'll go and call her."
After saying that, he turned and walked towards the courtyard house, leaving Zhang Wenkui somewhat dazed.
Zhang Chengfei slapped him on the back of the head: "What are you looking at, you brat? This is your own nephew's wife! If you want to get married, tell your mother to arrange it for you."
Zhang Wenkui rubbed his head: "What are you talking about, Third Uncle? I have no intention of getting married."
"What are you looking at if you don't want to marry me?"
"Can't I even look?"
"No way!" Zhang Chengfei didn't want his nephew to become the next Sha Zhu, so he emphasized again, "If you're craving a wife, have your mother find you one."
Zhang Wenkui scoffed, "I'm not stupid. If I get married, it'll just mean another mouth to feed. I'll have to share my already meager food rations with her."
Which is more important, a wife or food? The young man believed he could tell the difference.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chengfei glanced at him, then glanced at him again, and finally felt completely relieved.
Just from what this kid said, you can tell that he hasn't figured things out yet.
You think getting a wife means you have to eat and share food? The little guy doesn't understand at all. Getting a wife doesn't mean you have an extra mouth to feed. It means you have two more mouths to feed!
Tut tut...
……
In the courtyard, the news that Zhang Chengfei had brought his eldest nephew spread like wildfire throughout the entire compound.
The residents came over one after another to inquire and find out what was going on. They learned that Zhang Wenkui was there to recruit workers for the machinery factory. Although they didn't say it aloud, they were all talking about it in their hearts.
Another group of people are paying attention to the heating.
"Dafei, your room is so warm, it must be seventeen or eighteen degrees Celsius!"
"I think it's more than that. I'm sweating even in my padded coat; it must be about 20 degrees Celsius..."
"This heating system is really great. With it, we won't be afraid of heavy snow next month..."
"This stuff is a coal guzzler; who in their right mind could afford it? Only a cadre like Dafei could afford it..."
"Second Uncle Er Ya, your nephew's here and he's not leaving, right? Is he going to live with you long-term?"
Everyone chimed in with their own opinions, but Zhang Chengfei deftly deflected them all.
After seeing off the onlookers, only Zhang Chengfei and Zhang Wenkui remained in the house.
Since it was his nephew's first time visiting, Zhang Chengfei naturally wanted to prepare something nice for him.
He pretended to take something out of his bag, but actually took out a piece of meat and a piece of tofu that he had won in the lottery yesterday, and then brought a cabbage from under the eaves.
When he transmigrated, the season for storing Chinese cabbage for winter had already passed, but fortunately, the supply and marketing cooperative still had them available.
Zhang Erya asked him for money, bought 100 jin of corn stalks, and neatly stacked them under the eaves, even thoughtfully placing bricks underneath.
With cabbage, tofu, and meat prepared, Zhang Chengfei grabbed a handful of vermicelli from the dried goods his second brother had brought last time.
"Wen Kui, can you cook?" he asked as everything was ready.
Zhang Wenkui looked at the side dishes on the cutting board: "My braised pork with vermicelli is very fragrant."
Zhang Chengfei handed over the kitchen knife: "Then you cook, I'll go read a book for a while... Oh, by the way, when you're stewing, stick a ring of flatbread around the edge of the pot, that way we won't need to prepare any dry rations."
After saying that, he patted his bottom and sat down on the kang (a heated brick bed), picking up a book to read. It's really nice to have heating on; I don't even feel cold inside wearing just a sweater.
Zhang Wenkui stared blankly at the kitchen knife in his hand.
No, wasn't my third uncle going to throw me a welcome-back dinner? How come when I turned around I found him sitting down and I have to start working?
The more enjoyable and delicious Zhang Chengfei's pork stew with vermicelli was, the more painful and smelly his sleep was at night.
Zhang Wenkui had all sorts of bad habits in his sleep, like farting, grinding his teeth, and snoring, but what he couldn't stand was that this guy never washed his socks after washing his feet.
At six o'clock in the morning, Zhang Chengfei, who was training the children with his second uncle, couldn't take it anymore and kicked Zhang Wenkui under the kang (a heated brick bed).