Chapter 53

The spacious threshing ground was filled with villagers from Mao Zhuang Brigade. In the center of the threshing ground stood a few people.

This was the first time Tang Wan had seen her father, Tang Shi. His hair had been shaved into the legendary yin-yang style.

Tang Shi was also wearing a sign that read “Bad Element.”

He was standing in front of the haggard Qin Su. The beautiful face of Qin Su was covered in dust.

Her black hair had been cut short. She had lost weight in the few days they had been apart and looked haggard and frail.

There were also some rotten vegetable leaves on them.

Besides the couple, there were three elderly people and a middle-aged man being criticized.

The villagers were chattering, listing their wrongdoings. They weren’t actually laying a hand on them.

Tang Wan thought that this must have been due to Lu Huaijing’s efforts.

Even so, seeing Qin Su, who was so weak, Tang Wan almost burst into tears.

However, her sudden appearance was a bit abrupt, and everyone’s eyes were drawn to her.

When Tang Shi and Qin Su saw Tang Wan, their faces, which had been expressionless, showed a ripple of emotion.

They both lowered their heads in unison, but their hearts were filled with a storm of emotions.

They couldn’t recognize each other even though they were family.

“Comrades, you’re all busy. I heard that Uncle Mao in your brigade is a good carpenter. I want to ask him to make some furniture!”

Tang Wan frantically suppressed the cry in her heart and forced a smile.

“Looking for me?”

Uncle Mao was overjoyed to hear that someone wanted to have furniture made. He quickly walked out of the crowd and then looked at the captain of Mao Zhuang Brigade.

“Captain, I have something to do. I’ll go home first.”

“Okay, go ahead. Let’s end it here for today. Everyone is busy at home. Who has time to deal with these bad elements all day long!”

The captain of Mao Zhuang Brigade took the opportunity to wave his hand, looking weary. Hearing this, the crowd dispersed.

However, some people didn’t forget to spit at them as they left, their eyes full of contempt.

Those who lived in the cow shed quietly lowered their heads and avoided the crowd as they left.

Tang Wan used all her willpower to control herself from looking in the direction her parents left.

Uncle Mao saw that Tang Wan was neatly dressed and riding a bicycle. He guessed that she needed a lot of furniture.

He smiled and said kindly, “Comrade, what kind of furniture do you want to make?”

“I want a large wardrobe, a small wardrobe, a five-drawer chest of drawers, two desks, and six chairs.”

Tang Wan had planned this out in her mind on the way here. She and Lu Huaijing would use the large wardrobe, and Tang Zhou would use the small wardrobe.

The five-drawer chest of drawers would be placed in the kitchen for bowls, chopsticks, and kitchen utensils. She and Tang Zhou would use the desks for studying.

“That’s a lot of wood.”

Uncle Mao was delighted. This woman was obviously from the city and was generous.

Could she be a young intellectual from another brigade?

“No hurry. Uncle Mao, you can take your time. I live in the family compound next door.

When you’re done, just send me a message, and I’ll come and pick it up.”

Tang Wan followed Uncle Mao to his house. Uncle Mao opened the courtyard door.

There was a lot of wood in the yard. It was clear that he often made things.

“I made a five-drawer chest of drawers a few days ago. I was going to give it to my son. If you want it, you can take it first.

As for the rest, it’ll probably take five or six days. When it’s done, you can come to our brigade and take it back.”

Uncle Mao took Tang Wan to see the brand new five-drawer chest of drawers in the living room. It was simple in style, unpainted, but very smooth.

“Okay, how much will all of this cost?”

Tang Wan nodded readily. She was thinking about going to see her parents and was a little absent-minded.

Uncle Mao rubbed his hands and said cheerfully, “The large wardrobe is five yuan, the small wardrobe is three yuan, and the five-drawer chest of drawers is four yuan.

The desks are two yuan each, and the stools are thirty cents each.”

It was a total of seventeen yuan and eighty cents. Uncle Mao felt a little embarrassed because it was a lot of money.

He explained, “The wood is from the brigade. I have to pay the brigade for the wood.”

Otherwise, he would be undermining the capitalist system. If he was caught, he would be sent to a farm.

Tang Wan understood the difficulties of this era. Moreover, in her eyes, seventeen yuan was really not a lot.

But she didn’t want to make it seem like she was very rich.

So she pondered for a moment and said, “Uncle Mao, can you give me a little discount? How about the stools are free?”

“Okay!”

Uncle Mao readily agreed. The stools were small and didn’t use much wood. He had made them with leftover wood.

After paying the brigade for the wood, he could still make a good profit.

Tang Wan: …

She had bargained, and the other party agreed immediately. She felt like she had asked for too low a price.

“Uncle Mao is a straightforward person.”

Tang Wan’s bicycle couldn’t carry such a large five-drawer chest of drawers. She would have to come back tomorrow.

After paying Uncle Mao, he grinned and said,

“Comrade, if you need anything else in the future, just come and find me.”

“Okay.”

Tang Wan nodded. Thinking of the criticism meeting earlier, she said casually,

“I met a female comrade at the village entrance. She told me that you were at the threshing ground.”

She described Xinghua’s appearance. Uncle Mao felt warm inside. “That’s Xinghua. She’s my niece.”

His niece was so capable. Uncle Mao was very happy about it.

“Oh, Comrade Xinghua is indeed very capable.”

Tang Wan praised her. Then she said with a puzzled expression, “But Uncle Mao, do you hold criticism meetings every day?

You have to work during the day. Won’t it be too tiring to make furniture for me after work?”

“No, no, it’s not tiring. The criticism meeting is held once every five days.

The brigade is busy. There’s no time to manage those people in the cow shed every day.”

Uncle Mao waved his hand. “Besides, the captain is also busy. Each criticism meeting only lasts half an hour at most.”

“I see. Then, thank you for your hard work, Uncle Mao.”

Tang Wan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Once every five days was better than every day.

She made an appointment with Uncle Mao for the delivery date and asked for directions back to the army. Then she rode out of his house in the twilight.

There were many people in the brigade at this time. It was noisy and crowded. Tang Wan didn’t go directly to see her parents.

Instead, she rode her bicycle out of the brigade. She found a secluded place and put the bicycle away.

Then she went to her space and packed some things: meat buns, dumplings, brown sugar, some fine grains, and medicine.

She put these things in a basket. It was just time for the villagers to eat dinner, and it was getting dark.

Tang Wan quietly walked back to the brigade. When she came back with Uncle Mao, she had observed the location of the cow shed.

It was at the foot of the most remote mountain. She didn’t walk towards the houses. Instead, she walked along the foot of the mountain.

Soon, she could vaguely see the cow shed. She was about to walk over when a figure rushed out from the mountain.

“Wanwan, come here.”

It was Tang Shi. As soon as he saw Tang Wan, he guessed that his daughter would come to find them.

So he and his wife had been squatting at the foot of the mountain waiting for her.

“Dad.”

Tang Wan looked at Tang Shi, who had lost a lot of weight. Her eyes were red. In the original owner’s memory, Tang Shi was elegant and gentle.