Chapter 37: Decision

The two sat back down. Bai Ruojiao asked, “Is that the textile factory where you repaired the machine before?”

“Yes,” Zhao Sihai nodded. “It’s the vice director of the textile factory’s Revolutionary Committee.”

Bai Ruojiao thought for a moment, “Why don’t we go to the factory and take a look later?”

Zhao Sihai shook his head, “I only agreed because I couldn’t refuse. This kind of technology is only in the hands of others. Even experts can’t figure it out. How can I fix it?”

Bai Ruojiao lightly pursed her lips, “What if you know the structure and manufacturing principles of the machine? Could you fix it?”

Zhao Sihai looked up. Seeing that she was still serious, he couldn’t help but chuckle, “How could I possibly know?”

Bai Ruojiao glared at him, “Just answer me honestly.”

“Alright, alright,” Zhao Sihai sighed. Although he thought his wife’s last glance was like a flirtatious gesture, he didn’t tease her anymore.

“If I knew the detailed structure and manufacturing principles, the possibility would be about 30%.”

“Only 30%?” Bai Ruojiao frowned.

Zhao Sihai helplessly put down his chopsticks and explained to her seriously.

“First, I don’t know where the machine is broken, how serious it is, whether any parts are damaged, and whether we have suitable replacements for the damaged parts. Then, for a machine with such precision manufacturing, we need to rely on some machines to help with the inspection. Sometimes, even a clever woman can’t make bricks without straw.”

After he finished speaking, he saw Bai Ruojiao’s frown deepen and asked in confusion, “You hope I can fix it?”

Bai Ruojiao looked up at him and sighed, “If we can fix it, we won’t have to spend money to buy a new one, and we won’t have to be at the mercy of others.”

Ordinary people in this era might not feel it deeply.

Only when they look back decades later will they realize that the humiliation China suffered during these few decades was no less than before the founding of the country.

Moreover, if she was right, the machine tools they would buy in the future would be scrap metal that had been replaced by newer ones.

It was really annoying to be deliberately treated like a fat sheep and be slaughtered.

Zhao Sihai heard this and sighed, his eyes darkening.

He was also unhappy, but what could he do when the technology was in the hands of others and foreign countries were imposing a technological blockade on China?

As they were silent, they heard someone calling out numbers from the window.

Zhao Sihai quickly stood up and brought the remaining two dishes to the table.

An’an saw them and exclaimed.

He pointed at the pearl meatballs and asked, “Mom, what is this?”

Bai Ruojiao smiled slightly, “These are pearl meatballs. They’re meat balls wrapped in a layer of glutinous rice.”

Zhao Sihai smiled and put one on each of their plates. He said softly, “Don’t think too much. Eat.”

Bai Ruojiao nodded and continued eating, but she had made a decision in her heart.

The portions of the three dishes were all very generous. The honey-glazed plum meat filled a whole plate, and there were twelve pearl meatballs. Each serving was more than half a pound of meat. It was quite substantial.

An’an only ate a few wonton and dumplings, one winter melon roll, a piece of plum meat, and one pearl meatball before he was full.

Bai Ruojiao was also full after eating the wonton. They had only taken a few bites of the three dishes.

Zhao Sihai could finish it, but he didn’t want to waste it. He packed the leftovers in an aluminum lunch box to take home.

After they finished eating, the family of three held hands and strolled down the street.

As they passed the Red Maple Photo Studio, Zhao Sihai suddenly pulled them in, “Let’s take a family photo.”

“Hey…” Bai Ruojiao was pulled in.

As soon as they entered, the photographer, who was fiddling with the parts of his camera, looked up.

“Hello, comrade. We want to take a family photo,” Zhao Sihai said.

The photographer took a second look at Bai Ruojiao, “Just one photo?”

“Yes.”

“One yuan.”

“Okay.” Zhao Sihai quickly paid and then held An’an, pulling Bai Ruojiao to the second floor with the photographer.

The second floor was a small attic, with no decorations.

There was a vertical camera covered with a red cloth, and opposite it were some chairs.

There were two-seater chairs, single-seater chairs, and long benches for multiple people.

Behind the chairs was a whitewashed wall, and the lighting was good.

This was An’an’s first time taking a photo, and he was a little confused. He didn’t understand what taking a photo was.

He heard that people were put into paper and was a little scared.

The three of them sat down according to the photographer’s instructions, posing and making expressions. Under the photographer’s guidance, they successfully took a photo.

Why did they say successfully? Because the first time, An’an was scared by the flash and the sound of the camera.

Bai Ruojiao comforted him, and they succeeded on the second try.

However, Bai Ruojiao gave the photographer an extra yuan to have the failed photo developed as well.

After leaving the photo studio, Zhao Sihai pulled them into the department store.

The department store had many more things than the Zhangmu Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

Basically, all the categories were complete.

But this time, Bai Ruojiao didn’t indulge Zhao Sihai.

After walking around, they each bought a pair of shoes.

When Zhao Sihai heard Bai Ruojiao say she wanted to make her own clothes, as soon as they left the department store, he pulled her to the sewing machine shop across the street and bought a sewing machine.

Bai Ruojiao looked at the sewing machine and could already imagine the gossip that would spread in the village.

But this time, she didn’t object.

Having a sewing machine would be much more convenient.

She had a lot of fabric in her space. She could find a chance to take it out and make some clothes, quilts, and other things, saving her from having to buy them.

They paid two yuan for the sewing machine to be delivered.

Zhao Sihai was eager to take them to the Qingyang Theater to watch a movie, but unfortunately, it was closed.

Although there wasn’t much to do in the county town, the family of three wandered around until the afternoon before returning to the village.

The happiest person on this trip was An’an. On the way back, he kept talking about finding Jingguo gege to eat cake together.

The bicycle stopped right in front of Fang’s house.

It wasn’t time for work to end yet. Fang Jingguo was squatting by the well, shelling corn kernels.

He heard An’an’s clear voice and looked up in surprise.

“An’an! Aunt Qiao, Uncle Hai.” Fang Jingguo quickly wiped his hands on his pants and ran over.

Zhao Sihai carried An’an down, and Bai Ruojiao smiled and handed the cake box to An’an.

“Jingguo, are you the only one at home?”

“My little aunt is still out in the fields watering. It’s just me at home. Aunt Qiao, who are you looking for? I’ll call them back for you.” Fang Jingguo smiled, looking at the shiny bicycle with envy and longing.

“No, we’re fine. An’an said he wanted to come find you to eat some snacks. Okay, you two go play. I’ll come back for dinner.”

“Okay, Aunt Qiao, Uncle Hai, don’t worry. An’an is with me. I promise he’ll be fine.” He confidently patted his chest.

The two of them were amused by his grown-up attitude.

“Then we’ll go back first. An’an, don’t run around. Listen to your brother, okay?”

“Okay! Bye, Mom and Dad!” The little guy had already run over and held his brother’s hand, waving goodbye to them with a smile.

Bai Ruojiao got back on the bicycle seat.

As soon as they got home, Bai Ruojiao immediately closed the door.

Then, she walked quickly into the house, not forgetting to turn back and tell Zhao Sihai, who was putting away the bicycle, “Hai ge, put away the bicycle and come in quickly.”

Zhao Sihai was stunned. He watched her hurried figure, then thought of something and his eyes lit up.

Then, he couldn’t help but look at the sky, which was still bright, and seemed hesitant.

But his body was more honest than his mind. He had already walked towards the main room.