Chapter 15: Going to the County Town (Part 1)

Zhao Xiulan glanced at Ma Yumei, who was sitting at the table eating with her head down. This woman is up to no good again!

Besides whispering in Zhao Weiguo’s ear, she seems to do nothing else!

Zhao Xiulan smiled and said to Zhao Weiguo, “Dad, you previously told me to uphold the spirit of comrades, isn’t it about not expecting anything in return and being willing to help others?

“Our family is now short of food and living a difficult life. We shouldn’t covet other people’s things! Otherwise, our revolutionary ideals will be tarnished and become impure!”

With such rhetoric, if Zhao Weiguo were to say anything now, he would appear morally deficient. In this era of ideological purity, any deviation would surely invite criticism and condemnation. Even Zhao Weiguo couldn’t argue against Zhao Xiulan.

Unaware of Zhao Weiguo’s thoughts, Zhao Xiulan continued, “Dad, our family is short of food, and it requires the efforts of all of us. So, I’ll go to the county town tomorrow and see if I can beg for some food. I’ve heard that kind-hearted people in the county town sometimes give food to the poor. I can try my luck. If I manage to get some food, I can give some to Aunt Mei’s baby!”

Zhao Weiguo looked at Zhao Xiulan, surprised by her initiative.

Considering what he had said earlier, which included a hint of criticism towards Zhao Xiulan, Zhao Weiguo felt guilty.

Thinking about Ma Yumei, he also felt that she was being excessive. She always spoke ill of Zhao Xiulan, criticizing her, yet Zhao Xiulan was always considerate towards her. Refusing the food wasn’t to deprive her of food but to uphold good morals.

In comparison, Zhao Weiguo’s heart naturally leaned towards Zhao Xiulan.

Zhao Xiulan was unaware of Zhao Weiguo’s thoughts. Besides avoiding him from turning towards Ma Yumei, she also found an excuse to go to the county town.

Zhao Weiguo nodded, “Alright, Xiulan, you can go to the county town and give it a try! If you manage to get some food, it will at least add a little to our supply. Tomorrow, I’ll ask the team leader for a day off for you!”

“Okay, Dad!” Zhao Xiulan happily agreed. Just thinking about going to the county town made her a bit excited. With so many items in her space, only in the county town could they be of use.

Furthermore, Zhao Xiulan also wanted to see what the county town was like. She had never seen a county town in this era.

As she hadn’t been to the county town before, Zhao Xiulan asked about some matters regarding the trip, such as the route and how long it would take to get there.

The county town was quite far from the production team, but fortunately, the route was not complicated. They would just have to head south along the main road and walk for about two hours.

It would be quite challenging to walk such a long distance on foot, but in this era where transportation was underdeveloped, there was no public transportation available for people to go to the county town. They could only walk there.

Li Lijuan tapped her chopsticks a few times, sneering, “In this day and age, how much food do you think you can beg for? I think some people just want to be lazy, don’t want to work for work points, and deliberately find excuses to go out and play! They talk the talk but don’t walk the walk!”

Zhao Xiulan narrowed her eyes, staring at Li Lijuan, and sneered, “Li Lijuan, what you’re saying lacks conscience! Who is lazier than you? Have you earned any work points these days?

“I’m just seeing that there’s not much food left at home, and Aunt Mei can’t go hungry. I can only think of more ways to help. I’ll see if I can beg for some food in the county town!

“And you? Look at you, have you ever thought about this family? Do you have the nerve to come here and criticize me?

“We are a family, and we should work together. Li Lijuan, in my opinion, what Aunt Mei needs from you is care. You should go out and earn more work points to exchange for food to feed Aunt Mei. That’s more important than being lazy at home. Like us, go to the production team and work to earn work points!”

(End of Chapter 15)