Chapter 62

“Yes, I’m here to pick up the cabinet from Uncle Mao. This is my brother.”

Tang Wan didn’t stop her bicycle. “Xinghua, you go ahead. I’ll wait for Uncle Mao at his house.”

“Okay.”

Xinghua was a cheerful person. She walked quickly with her load, not noticing the sad expression on Tang Zhou’s face under his straw hat.

“Zhouzhou, you have to get used to it.”

Tang Wan whispered to Tang Zhou while riding her bicycle.

“Actually, Mom and Dad are doing well now. At least they’re healthy.”

“I know. Did they see us?”

Tang Zhou hung his head. He really wanted to run into his mother’s arms and snuggle up to her, but he knew he couldn’t.

They rode their bicycles and disappeared from the villagers who were working in the fields. Qin Su’s hand holding the big spoon trembled slightly.

“Susu, if you’re too tired, rest on the side. I’ll do it.”

Tang Shi no longer had his usual gentle demeanor. In just a few days, his skin had tanned a lot.

Qin Su desperately suppressed the tears in her eyes and continued to fertilize the ground, scooping up the manure one spoonful at a time.

She had only seen Zhouzhou. As long as her children were okay, it was worth it for them to endure any hardship.

Tang Wan had already taken Tang Zhou to Uncle Mao’s house. There was someone at home.

It was Uncle Mao’s wife, Aunt Mao. She had come home early from work to cook for her family.

She was stunned when she saw Tang Wan. “Comrade, who are you?”

There were no girls in their brigade who looked as beautiful as her.

“Hello, Auntie. I’m from the family compound next door. I ordered some cabinets from Uncle Mao the day before yesterday. I’m here to pick them up today.”

Tang Wan stopped her bicycle and looked confidently at the five-drawer chest of drawers in the living room.

She pointed to Tang Zhou and said, “This is my brother. He can’t stay home alone, so he came with me to help out.”

Aunt Mao understood. “So it’s Comrade Tang. Come in, come in.”

She quickly ran into the house and poured two glasses of sugar water. This was a special treatment reserved for honored guests.

Tang Wan felt warm inside. She greeted Tang Zhou, who was feeling a little better.

“Zhouzhou, thank Uncle Mao’s wife.”

“Thank you, Auntie.”

Tang Zhou was still a little dazed after the shock he had just experienced.

But he still politely took the glass of water that Aunt Mao had poured and sipped it slowly.

“Comrade Tang, my husband will be back soon. I’ll have him borrow an oxcart to help you transport the five-drawer chest of drawers to the family compound.”

As Aunt Mao was speaking, the sound of people returning from work could be heard outside. In a short while, the Mao family members rushed back.

Uncle Mao was at the front. When he saw Tang Wan, his face lit up. “Comrade, you’re here.

We agreed that you would pick up the five-drawer chest of drawers yesterday. You didn’t come yesterday. I was worried that something had happened.”

Behind him were his children. They all looked like farmers. Several of the boys couldn’t help but blush slightly when they saw the pretty Tang Wan.

“I just arrived at the army and have a lot of things to settle. I was too busy yesterday, so I didn’t come.”

Tang Wan explained her identity in a few sentences, making those boys sigh.

Their budding crushes were crushed.

“I see. There are many children at home. They helped me, and the wardrobes are already done.”

Uncle Mao said happily. “I’ll go borrow an oxcart from the brigade now. I’ll help you transport the five-drawer chest of drawers and the wardrobes.”

“Thank you, Uncle Mao.”

Tang Wan didn’t refuse. She stayed at the Mao family’s house for a while. Aunt Mao invited her to stay for dinner.

But in this era, food was scarce in every household. Many people brought their own food when they went to visit others.

Tang Wan naturally couldn’t mooch off of them with Tang Zhou.

Fortunately, Uncle Mao came back quickly. He drove an oxcart. His family members helped to load the five-drawer chest of drawers and the two wardrobes onto the oxcart.

“Comrade Tang, I’ll take you back.”

Uncle Mao enthusiastically jumped onto the oxcart, making Tang Wan feel touched. She rode her bicycle in front to lead the way.

Uncle Mao drove the oxcart behind her.

Tang Zhou was in a bad mood today, so Tang Wan didn’t plan to take him to see his parents.

But she didn’t expect to run into Tang Shi and Qin Su, who were returning to the cow shed from work, on the way back.

When they met face-to-face, Tang Shi quickly pulled Qin Su aside to make way for them. Seeing that their children were fine,

they finally felt relieved.

Tang Zhou also looked at his parents across the street. He almost couldn’t help but jump off his bicycle.

It was Tang Shi who grabbed Qin Su and quickly averted his gaze, as if he didn’t know them.

The two groups passed each other. Tang Shi and Qin Su didn’t even dare to watch Tang Wan and Tang Zhou leave.

They looked away as if they were strangers.

The oxcart was in front. Tang Wan felt a very faint sound of sobbing coming from behind.

No matter how strong he was, Tang Zhou was still a child. He couldn’t help but feel sad when he saw his parents.

They had been riding for several minutes. Finally, they arrived at the family compound. When they saw that Tang Wan had brought back so much furniture,

the military wives’ eyes changed!

“Isn’t that Lu Fuduan’s wife? Why did she buy so much furniture?”

“Oh my, she’s pretty and well-proportioned. But she’s too extravagant. Lu Fuduan will be heartbroken when he comes back.”

“She’s a deputy director’s wife, and she’s newly married. What’s wrong with buying some nice things? I think you’re just jealous!”

“…”

The last sentence was said by Zhang Hongyan. She glared at the few military wives who were being sour.

Then she ran back home. She also wanted to buy a cabinet. She would ask how much it cost later.

Tang Wan had heard these sour remarks, but she didn’t take them to heart.

The oxcart arrived at the entrance of their small courtyard. Lu Huaijing came out of the yard when he heard the noise.

“You’re back so early?”

Perhaps because they had had an intimate exchange last night, Tang Wan felt a little uncomfortable facing him. Her voice softened involuntarily.

“Why didn’t you wait for me?”

Lu Huaijing’s voice was filled with helplessness. He went up to Uncle Mao and greeted him.

The two men tacitly carried the things into the house. At this time, Zhang Hongyan finally caught up.

“Big Sister.”

“Sister-in-law.”

Tang Wan asked Tang Zhou to go inside and calm down. When she turned around, she noticed that several military wives were following behind Zhang Hongyan.

“Big Sister, this cabinet looks practical. How much does it cost?”

Zhang Hongyan’s eyes scanned the five-drawer chest of drawers and the remaining wardrobe. She liked it very much.

Besides her, the other military wives also seemed to have a gleam in their eyes.

“This large wardrobe is five yuan, the small wardrobe is three yuan, and the five-drawer chest of drawers is four yuan. If you like them, you can talk to Uncle Mao.”

Tang Wan pointed to Uncle Mao, who was coming out of the yard. “He lives in Mao Zhuang Brigade, not far from here.”

“That’s expensive?”

Someone couldn’t help but gasp. One large cabinet could buy a lot of grain!

The few military wives who had come with her looked at Tang Wan with envy. Some of them felt a pang of jealousy.

“Uncle Mao has to pay the brigade for the wood. He didn’t really make much profit.”

Tang Wan patiently explained for Uncle Mao. When Uncle Mao, who had just come out, heard Tang Wan say this, he was immediately grateful.

Zhang Hongyan, on the other hand, heard the price and waved her hand. “We just moved here.

We don’t have anything at home. We can’t put our things anywhere without a cabinet.

Comrade Mao, after you finish making Big Sister’s cabinets, can you make one for me when you have time?”