Chapter 46

“It’s really efficient,” said the carpenter, thoroughly enjoying himself.

Another one bent down, hands on hips, to inspect. “Will it get things clean?”

“More or less,” Qiao Wei said. “I soaked them beforehand. I grated some soap and dissolved it in hot water.”

But many of the town’s natives were like those in the countryside, reluctant to use soap.

Seeing the expressions on the carpenters’ faces, Qiao Wei amended, “I’ll try soapberries another day. I figure if I crush them in a mortar and pestle first, then dissolve them in hot water, it should have a similar effect to soap. That way, I can save on soap.”

Right now, the hardest things to come by were industrial goods.

Many households were hesitant to use soap. But as soon as Qiao Wei mentioned soapberries, the carpenters saw it differently.

They even suggested, “You could use wood ash to soak clothes.”

Since the stove burned wood or dry grass, the ash was made of grass and wood, which also had cleaning properties. It was an age-old method passed down through generations.

“Right!” Qiao Wei said. “Basically, it’s just changing from pounding clothes to soaking them. Pounding clothes is just to mix soapberries evenly with the clothes, isn’t it? In principle, it’s the same, just a different method.”

Her choice of words made her sound educated.

Her demeanor was different too; she was very open and natural, like someone from a big city.

Both carpenters regarded her highly, one even asking, “Did you draw this?”

“I did draw it, but the idea wasn’t mine,” Qiao Wei smiled. “I saw it elsewhere and wanted to learn it to save some effort.”

A carpenter gave her several thumbs up.

Qiao Wei’s smile was radiant.

The two carpenters left the Yan family’s place, pushing their cart and chatting as they went.

“This cadre’s family isn’t as rich as I thought,” one said. “Pretty simple. Did you see? They’re even wearing grass sandals.”

The other one remarked, “And what about those things on the bamboo bed? Pillows? They’re all made of coarse cloth. Only one of them is dyed.”

Among Qiao Wei’s three cushions, two are primary colors, and one is indigo blue.

Cotton fabric isn’t expensive, especially the primary colors, which are even cheaper than the indigo blue because they don’t require dyeing.

Captain Yan’s wife didn’t even want to make three indigo blue ones; she only made one, using primary colors for the other two.

Did she run out of fabric or something?

That’s a bit… plain.

“That can’t be called plain,” a carpenter said. “Look at how generous they are with sugar in their green bean soup and with cigarettes. They’re not… not that kind of person…”

Another added, “Yeah, yeah, not plain, not plain, uh…”

“Simple living!”

“Yes, that’s right, simple living, staying true to oneself.”

Qiao Wei had no idea that the two carpenters were discussing her countryside style behind her back. She happily washed a basin of clothes.

Just as Yan Xiang woke up from his nap, Qiao Wei called him over to help her wring them out, especially the long pants, which were harder to wring.

Although Yan Xiang was not very strong, as long as he held on tightly and didn’t let go, it was fine.

It was much easier with two people.

Yan Xiang even played “washing machine” for a while, having a great time.

Tuesday was the day Yan Lei had meetings.

After discussing routine matters, Yan Lei submitted a proposal to the leadership regarding “improving the nutritional supplement for the children of the military families through raising cows for milk.”

Who are the children of the military families?

It’s the wives and children of the leaders at this table.

Especially after Qiao Wei enlightened Yan Lei about issues regarding growth and calcium supplementation, he also shared this knowledge with everyone else.

The leaders thought, “This is good. Let’s get it done!”

The military already raises pigs and sheep on its own, and they used to have cows too, but those were beef cattle. There’s a big difference between beef and dairy cows.

Moreover, if the goal is to ensure milk for all or at least most of the children of the officers’ families, it’s not something that can be solved with just one or two cows.

This matter needs to be discussed and planned by the logistics department. It’s being put on the agenda seriously.

With the capabilities of the military, it can be achieved soon.

Yan Lei finished his meeting in the morning and took leave in the afternoon, leaving early with the political commissar.

As he left, the political commissar, still holding an enamel mug of tea, remarked to someone else, “Why is Yan so spirited today? Is something good happening?”

Someone else replied, “I don’t think so…”

Unusual.

Because the officers usually ride back home together in a jeep, Yan Lei’s return time is usually very consistent. Qiao Wei would time dinner preparations accordingly.

But at that time today, Yan Lei was not seen back. Just as it was strange, Yingzi from Captain Zhao’s family came: “Auntie, my dad asked me to tell you that Uncle Yan asked for leave today to do something. He said he might come back later. Call him. He left food.”

“Oh, okay. Thank you. Yingzi, don’t leave yet~” Qiao Wei stopped Yingzi, opened a can, and gave her two biscuits. “Here.”

Yingzi took the biscuits happily and went back.

She ate one on the way and took the other piece back home, breaking it into two halves, giving one to Junzi and the other to Wu Nier.

The two kids immediately stuffed them into their mouths, afraid their brothers would snatch them if they were a second too slow.

In a large family, eating quickly is a skill.

“Where did you get those?” Sister Yang asked when she saw them.

“From Auntie Qiao.”

“Silly girl, I told you not to ask people for food!”

“I didn’t ask! I was leaving, and Auntie Qiao stopped me and gave them to me on purpose.” Yingzi held her head high. “Auntie Qiao is really generous. Those are high-quality biscuits that people don’t mind buying, and she even opened them to eat.”

Sister Yang narrowed her eyes. “Who can compare to her family, just one child. How many mouths do I have to feed?”

Yingzi retorted, “Hmph. Then don’t have so many.”

It’s clear that Yan Xiang’s life is much better than theirs. Wu Nier mentioned a few days ago that she had canned peaches at Yan’s house. She was so jealous.

She asked her mom to buy some, but when they went to the supply and marketing cooperative, there were none left.

Sister Yang gave her a smack.

“But,” Sister Yang praised, “your Auntie Qiao is really generous. That’s something others can’t compare to.”

Yan Xiang returned a bit later, accompanied by someone, a fellow villager.

“Come, come, come, just leave it here.” He carried a sack himself and led the villager into the yard.

The villager carried a big bundle of hay on his shoulder.

When Qiao Wei came out and saw, she immediately understood: “You went to buy hay?”

“No, I didn’t buy it, I didn’t.” The villager waved his hand busy, “I gave it to him, as a gift.”

Qiao Wei stuck out her tongue: “Right, a gift.”

Between individuals, buying and selling couldn’t be discussed.

Yan Lei lightly tapped her, then went inside. Soon he came out again, took out money and ration coupons for the villager.

Ration coupons were something specific to cities; farmers didn’t have ration coupons. But for various reasons, farmers still had some demand for ration coupons.

In the Spring Festival Gala of the 1990s, there was a sketch about farmers pushing bicycles to “exchange rice for ration coupons.” Farmers exchanged rice with urban residents for ration coupons.

The villager took the agreed money and ration coupons, hesitated for a moment, and wanted the sack back.

In these times, even a piece of torn paper couldn’t be thrown away, and everything was used until it was worn out.

Yan Lei didn’t argue with him, poured the hay from the sack onto the cooling bed, and returned the torn sack to the villager.

He was so generous that the villager was very happy and was reminded before leaving, “If you need anything, just find me, I’m nearby.”

Yan Lei closed the door and turned around, Qiao Wei was using her hands to twist the hay: “Why are there loose ones and also hay pads?”

It turned out that the hay in the sack was loose, and the big bundle carried in by the villager was tied into hay pads.

“This one is for stuffing pads for you,” Yan Lei said, “This one is for bedding.”

“This thickness should be enough, so your knees won’t ache in the future.” He pinched the brim of his hat, with a gleam in his eyes.

“Comrade, don’t talk about this while wearing this outfit.”

Qiao Wei felt immense pressure and a sense of guilt for corrupting a serious person. She hurriedly pushed him, “Go change your clothes, dinner’s ready.”

Yan Lei took the hay pad inside.

He first uncovered the mat on the kang bed, rolled up the mattress, revealing the brick kang bed underneath. He laid the thick hay pad, then the mattress, covered it with the mat, pressed it with his hand, soft and warm!

He changed his clothes and came to the courtyard, seeing the manually operated washing machine beside the well: “Installed? How is it? Is it good?”

“It’s good. I’ve already washed a basin of clothes.” Qiao Wei said, “I’ll handle the laundry from now on, you just need to deal with the dishes.”

She sat on the cooling bed trying to stuff hay into the pad.

The first attempt failed, so she simply took out all the germinating cloth strips, mixed them evenly with hay, and stuffed them back in together. This time it worked.

With all three pads stuffed, Qiao Wei leaned on them and was pleasantly surprised: “It really doesn’t sink.”

The mixture of hay and cloth strips could support the pad. The feeling of fullness was almost the same as a fabric sofa’s backrest.

Yan Lei ate his meal, smiling as he watched her.

Qiao Wei comfortably leaned back on the pad: “What are you looking at?”

Yan Lei said, “Looking at you.”

Qiao Wei: “?”

Yan Lei said, “Looking at how pretty you are.”

His eyes carried a smile.

It’s done, the serious old cadre has really been led astray by her.

Today, I actually took leave just to buy that hay pad. That’s the military for you.

The heart of Sima Zhao is too obvious.

Qiao Wei turned her face away and smiled.

Yan Xiang, bewildered, didn’t know what his parents were laughing about. The child had already packed up his things and urged, “Dad, hurry up and eat. Let’s go take a bath!”

On Wednesday morning, Qiao Wei woke up full of regret.

After putting the hay pad on the kang bed, it did soften quite a bit, and her knees wouldn’t ache anymore.

But she had let the cat out of the bag.

The man’s already good self-learning ability was finally used where it should be.

This person had endless energy and a strong desire to explore.

Clearly, before opening the sluice gates, he had a self-disciplined persona, but now he was completely out of character.

Considering Qiao Wei’s perspective, she felt that two or three times a week was a very good frequency for young people in their twenties. Why two or three times? Because there had to be rest in between.

Yan Lei, without resting, tossed and turned until midnight for two days in a row, nearly falling apart.

His early morning jogging fitness plan was disrupted.

You reap what you sow. Qiao Wei hated it so much that she pounded the bed.

“Mom, are you awake?” Yan Xiang heard her voice and ran in, “Dad left a note for you.”

He ran out again and brought the note in: “Here!”

Qiao Wei took it and saw that the handwriting was a bit sloppy, obviously written hastily by Yan Lei:

【There’s no food at home. If you really can’t get up to buy groceries, go eat at the canteen.】

Of course, Qiao Wei knew there was no food at home. She hadn’t been able to get up yesterday morning. The local farmer’s market was an early market; if you went late, there would be nothing left.

Yesterday, she was too tired from his antics to get up and buy groceries. Today, there was absolutely no food left at home.

“Have you eaten?”

“I had some biscuits.”

Damn it, the irresponsible dad made his son eat biscuits for breakfast two days in a row.

“Bring a piece over for Mom, I’ll take a bite, let’s quickly go buy groceries!”

Little did they know, as they walked out of the courtyard gate with the woven basket, Sister Yang, with a grim expression, came over.

“Xiao Qiao!” She grabbed Qiao Wei’s arm forcefully, trembling slightly. Her emotions were unstable, either angry, fearful, or both.

Sister Yang’s lips moved.

Qiao Wei grabbed her arm. “Let’s go, let’s talk at home.”

She led Sister Yang back home, letting Yan Xiang play by himself, and pulled Sister Yang to sit on the cooling bed. “What’s wrong? What’s going on?”

Sister Yang’s chest heaved, and she calmed down a bit, but her eyes reddened: “At the market, I overheard them… they said… our Old Zhao, he’s involved with a female soldier.”

Qiao Wei was stunned at first.

She was a traditional woman, her whole life was devoted to bearing children and supporting her husband in raising them.

Whenever the man succeeded, she enjoyed a good life with him, and every time they returned to their hometown, they were admired by relatives.

But when she heard that her man was involved with another woman, she was completely dumbfounded.

However, after a moment of contemplation, Qiao Wei asserted, “It’s impossible.”