Chapter 23 Date in the Park
After watching Xia Yuhong disappear at the entrance of the alley, Zhu Xuefeng rode to the supply and marketing cooperative in Nanluogu Lane. He still had to prepare for going to the park tomorrow.
Arrived at the non-staple food counter, a group of salesmen were gathering together to chat.
"Hello, comrade, let me buy some candies."
An older female salesperson got up and walked over, and said angrily: "What do you want to buy?"
"Ah, comrade, please help me get some candy."
Zhu Xuefeng struggled with the title, but fortunately the aunt didn't say it.
"Comrade, hahahaha..."
A group of young salesperson girls, all about twenty years old, laughed so hard that they all fell forward and backward with laughter.
One of them imitated Zhu Xuefeng’s tone:
"Sister Ajiang, your student brother is calling you, hahaha."
Zhu Xuefeng also blushed. It was not because he wanted to call him aunt, but because his body automatically did it.
“What do you want to order?”
The lesbian surnamed Jiang was teased by her colleagues, and she didn’t look good on Zhu Xuefeng, so she became impatient.
“Give me some of this, this and this.” Zhu Xuefeng pointed to several kinds of candies.
“What else do you want?” After weighing the scales, the female salesperson quickly packed them with straw paper.
"Is there any bread?"
"Yes, there are only four kinds of bread. Which one do you want?"
Zhu Xuefeng picked the milky and coconut flavored ones. There were three of each. Looking at the bread wrapped in wax paper, Zhu Xuefeng was a little dazed. It was very simple, but it was so fragrant. He hadn't smelled the fragrance of milk in a long time.
This kind of bread is usually prepared by families during holidays, as the only foreign snack.
Also, when the children organize group activities such as spring outings, parents will bite the bullet and prepare one for lunch. I have not tasted it in several years.
I bought a few more boxes of cigarettes. The cheapest one was only 70 cents. I didn’t want it. I bought some mid-range ones, which cost only a few cents. The 35 cents at the front door was pretty good. Peony and Double Happiness were both here. A few packs, there are more expensive cigarettes, but you have to ask for a ticket.
A total of three dollars and forty-six cents was spent. I quickly paid and left. I really couldn’t stand the teasing of the salespersons and sisters.
When I got home, I simply made scrambled eggs with green peppers, fried shredded potatoes, patted a cucumber, steamed some steamed buns I bought, and opened a bottle of chili sauce I made when I was free.
Zhu Xuefeng made the roasted chili sauce himself. He likes spicy food, so he spent two days making five jars of it. The jars were leftovers from various canned fruits.
For several days, people in the yard complained that someone was tossing peppers, which were too choking. After seeing that it was Zhu Xuefeng who was tossing them, they became quiet.
I gave a bottle to Uncle Zou. Uncle Zou smiled and said:
“Xiao Zhuqian’s chili sauce tastes really good, but it’s too spicy. I guess we have to eat this bottle. Many months”.
Uncle Zou is quite reserved. Isn’t it just too spicy? I can’t stand it. I will eat it for a few months, haha.
Northerners still can't eat spicy food because the climate is too dry.
Zhu Xuefeng smiled and left without paying much attention. Next time he would bring something less spicy. The old couple took good care of the three siblings.
The younger brothers and sisters have not finished school yet, and Zhu Xuefeng is also taking exams in the past few days, so he came back early. He came to the middle room and looked in the pot. Seedlings have been unearthed and are working hard to grow.
Zhu Xuefeng made this with dried chili seeds. It was impossible to buy seeds. According to the land certificate, a small patio in the north of Beifang and the cellar below belonged to Zhu Xuefeng's family.
There is a small flower bed in the patio, which is only more than ten square meters. It should have been planted with flowers before, but it has been abandoned for a long time. Zhu Xuefeng spent an afternoon tidying it up and wanted to try growing some vegetables. Unfortunately, I couldn't get any seeds, so I had to plant some small peppers first. They are very spicy and don't require much digging, so I just wanted to try them first.
Zhu Xuefeng planted the pepper seedlings one by one in half of the field. This thing can grow very well. The peppers in half of the field really started to grow, and a family of three could not use them at all. If it’s not finished, leave some more space for later use.
We have to find another time to arrange the fence to prevent children from making noises. Zhu Xuefeng stood up, clapped his hands, poured some water with a bucket, and packed up to go home.
Growing some vegetables is not to save money on vegetables, but mainly to declare sovereignty over the small patio. Zhu Xuefeng also has nothing to do and is thinking about giving space farming some experience. After all, there will always be seeds. Give it a try, just in case it works.
I also planted peppers in the space, not much, less than one square meter, just for experimentation. Now are the most difficult years. The ration standards of urban residents have dropped. A family of three has lost almost ten kilograms. They are mainly all kinds of whole grains.
If we can open up some places to grow some food, it can also help tide over the difficulties.
The two children have come back, dinner has been laid out, and knowing that the eldest brother is thinking about the vegetable garden, the two of them are tidying up the house honestly.
In the evening, I carefully studied the Kung Fu Kung Fu, and I managed to gain a little bit. I had played Sanda for two years before, but I was not famous. Although it had nothing to do with the Kyo Kung Kung Fu, it was somewhat helpful.
Seeing that there is one more skill, the basic level of Guoshan Gong is not even the first level. Just practice slowly, you have no choice.
After cleaning, we went to the kang early in the morning. My younger brother was huddled aside. We had to find time to repair the south room. It was embarrassing for the two young men to huddle together.
…………
The next day, the weather was not bad. Zhu Xuefeng had been waiting at the agreed alley entrance for a long time. He was used to touching his pockets and had not had a mobile phone for more than 20 days. Now, this problem has not been corrected, so I have to find an opportunity to buy a second-hand watch. Why second-hand? No votes.
In this era, if you want to buy a watch, radio, bicycle, sewing machine, etc., you have to buy a ticket. TV? It seems that the black and white version has been successfully developed, but it is not available in Di’anmen Department Store yet.
After a short wait, Xia Yuhong appeared at the entrance of the alley. From a distance, she looked very different from her usual school attire. Her double ponytail was changed to a high ponytail, making her look even more youthful and beautiful.
Wearing a white blouse on the upper body, a red pleated skirt underneath, a bit like Bragi's design, a pair of white socks, a pair of black buckled cloth shoes, and a small school bag slung across the body .
Looking at myself again, there is no difference from what I usually wear, a white shirt, trousers, and a pair of green rubber shoes. This is a bit of a slight.
Xia Yuhong jumped over and stood opposite Zhu Xuefeng.
The smiling face is pink, the little mouth is red and tender, and the two big eyes are shining.
"I'm sorry for the long wait. I'll give you this." He said and handed over a small cake wrapped in wax paper.
"I've just arrived, let's go." Zhu Xuefeng held the cake in his mouth, supported the car across the beam, and patted the car seat.
Xia Yuhong did not refuse this time and sat in the back seat generously. Zhu Xuefeng stepped on the pedals, leaned down and started walking.
Xia Yuhong sat sideways, with nowhere to put her hands. Zhu Xuefeng did not dare to ride fast and walked slowly along the inner street towards Shichahai Park.
"Classmate Xia Yuhong, isn't it awkward for you to sit like this? It's easy to fall off."
"No, your idea is not good, you will be laughed at."
Zhu Xuefeng kept trying to induce her, but Xia Yuhong just ignored her. Zhu Xuefeng carefully looked at the girls on the street and saw that no one was hugging the waist, so he had to sigh and let it go.
Fortunately, the journey is not far, and we arrived in a short time. After parking the car, the two of them entered the park together. The weather was really suitable. There were many families in the park. The children were playing and playing. Grandpa Grandmas jogging closely behind.
The two of them had no purpose or direction, walking side by side, not daring to hold hands. Holding hands was a big deal in this era. Zhu Xuefeng was a little speechless. It was their first date.
The weeping willows by the lake are all green. From a distance, the green is very eye-catching. The willow branches dance in the breeze, and the continuous weeping willow trees are dotted with countless unknown wild flowers.
The two walked slowly along the lake, dodging the playful children from time to time. Zhu Xuefeng still felt extremely comfortable and relaxed, chatting with Xia Yuhong.
(End of this chapter)