Chapter 190

Qin Jingru also helped to speak, "Guan Xiang, eat quickly, I'll take you out to play later."

"Oh, then if I want to eat white flour, I'll go to grandma's house and come back when I'm full."

Xiao Guanxiang had no choice but to take a steamed bread and took the chopsticks handed to him by his aunt.

Li Zhiguo smiled and said, "Huai Ru, look, this is definitely my own son. He has learned to use his brain to calculate without any teaching."

"This is not called calculation, it's just our Guan Xiang being smart."

Qin Huairu treated the idea of ​​having biological children as a joke, as she had already given birth to two big fat boys.

"Eat vegetables. Eat more vegetables to grow taller."

Li Zhiguo smiled and picked up some lettuce for his son. It is a green vegetable and very nutritious.

"Jingru, you eat too."

He then picked up some eggplant for Jingru, but it was a pity that the cabbage vermicelli was not cooked today, which was Jingru's favorite food.

Qin Huairu took a steamed bread, broke it in half and ate it slowly.

As for Li Zhiguo, he just picked up some food for the child and tasted it casually. Hey, it’s too greasy, not good... Never mind, let him get used to it slowly, after all, he is his own son.

"Dad, why don't you eat?"

Xiao Guanxiang has a good appetite. Although he was eating steamed bread, he still enjoyed it. He just wasn't used to the taste.

"Guan Xiang, Daddy is not hungry, you should eat more."

Li Zhiguo played the role of a kind father, and he had to share food with his wife and children.

"Oh!"

After a while, Xiao Guanxiang asked again: "Mom, why did you only eat half of the steamed bread? I ate half of it, and there is still some in the winnowing basket?"

"Guan Xiang, eat more. Mommy isn't hungry either."

Qin Huairu thought that there was not much corn flour left at home and she had to feed the children first.

"Oh!"

Xiao Guan Xiang ate some more food before putting down his chopsticks.

Li Zhiguo looked at Dabao with a smile on his face. He had a really good appetite. He was not even six years old yet, but he could eat three taels of staple food in one meal, and two taels of staple food with eggs in the morning.

Not to mention other meats, vegetables, fruits, etc., Guan Xiang only eats staple foods, which requires 24 kilograms a month, far exceeding the current ration. The purchase of eggs is limited to 10 per person per month, and children have to reduce it by half.

He has two sons, so it’s a pity that he didn’t have a third child because he couldn’t afford to raise one.

And there are Jingru and my mother-in-law, who have no fixed quota, so I really don’t dare to live with them.

"Brother-in-law, I'm full too."

Qin Jingru's appetite is not bad. She ate half a steamed bun and didn't seem to be full. It can be said that she was not hungry.

Li Zhiguo said with a smile: "Jingru, take this half steamed bread and take Guan Xiang out to play, take a walk, go shopping, don't rush back."

"Okay brother-in-law!"

Qin Huairu knew that there was delicious food in the pot. Although she was greedy, she didn't eat it for the sake of cultivating Xiao Guanxiang.

"Go quickly and keep an eye on the road." Li Zhiguo sent the two children to the corridor before returning to the house.

At this time, Qin Huairu had already come over with a basin, covered with a lid, to prevent others from peeking.

Li Zhiguo quickly closed the door and said with a smile: "Our son is very smart. There is still a long time to go, so you need to pay more attention to him."

"Well! Zhiguo, eat quickly, don't be hungry. How about you eat first and then call Guan Xiang back to eat."

Qin Huairu also feels sorry for her man.

"That's possible. It depends on the situation. I say, you used a lot of oil in cooking today, so take it easy."

Li Zhiguo shook his head. Oil is in short supply now. There is only a certain amount of lard available every month. The lard in his home was what he had saved in advance and what he occasionally replenished, otherwise it would have been gone long ago.

"I know, I'm just letting my son get used to it slowly.

Zhiguo, when Guan Xiang goes to school, you can let him eat white flour at night. I will eat steamed bread and save the fine grains for him. "

Qin Huairu still felt sorry for her child and couldn't bear to see him suffer.

"You can go to school, but you can't relax now."

Li Zhiguo was not so heartless. He was thinking that his son was six years old and it would be bad for his future life if he didn't suffer a little.

For example, he has suffered since he was young, which has enabled him to develop the qualities of perseverance, hard work, and steadfastness.

"I'll listen to you. This meat I steamed doesn't waste oil."

Qin Huairu said as she picked up a piece of meat and put it in the man's bowl, then cut it in half. She picked out the fat part and left the lean part.

Zhiguo said that he didn't like eating fat meat, but he always left it for her to eat. This shows that he was caring for her. Is there anyone in this world who doesn't like eating fat meat?

"This white flour is hot. Come in a whole piece, don't break it in half."

Li Zhiguo gave his wife a bowl of white flour and he grabbed two with one hand so that he could enjoy the food more.

……

"Guan Xiang, my family has meat today." In the middle courtyard, Bang Geng just happened to run out of the house after dinner.

"Oh, my family doesn't eat meat. The vegetables I eat are also very delicious."

When Xiao Guanxiang said this, several aunties who were washing dishes shook their heads after hearing it. Life was hard these days, even Li Zhiguo had begun to live a hard life.

On the contrary, the Jia family can still eat meat. This is not human. Why don’t they choke to death or die by drinking cold water?
"Li Zhiguo, take a rest." Xu Damao came back and went to Chunyan's parents' home to see the children as usual.

"Da Mao, have you eaten? If not, I still have some steamed bread."

Li Zhiguo was enjoying the cool in the yard. He needed to digest his meal and would go out for a walk later.

"I have eaten. My second uncle and second aunt also came home today and they held Little Red Star tightly in their arms."

Xu Damao felt deeply moved when he talked about this. His son brought him honor.

"That's great!" Li Zhiguo hadn't seen Little Red Star for half a year and missed her a little.

"By the way, Li Zhiguo, my second uncle is going to be transferred to the Yili Food Factory in Xuanwumen, which is the factory that produces high-end boxed soda crackers and fruit bread."

Xu Damao is bragging. From now on, his family will no longer be short of these high-end goods.

"Yili Food Factory, I know that. Just outside Xuanwumen, near Guang'anmen. Not far from Qianmen Street."

Li Zhiguo really knew the location. It was behind the three-story courtyard of his house.

As for Yili, his biggest impression was not the high-end bread or something, but the fact that this factory was related to another period drama "Under the Gate of Zhengyang". Han Chunming, that kid, came back from the countryside and initially worked at the Yili Food Factory.

"That's the place. My second uncle is going to be transferred there to be the factory director. This is a gilding job. Maybe he will be promoted to the Second Commercial Bureau in the future."

The Second Commercial Bureau that Xu Damao mentioned has four pastry factories, five food factories, a bean products factory, a dried fruit factory, and a soda factory.

Another business bureau produces clothing and has nine clothing factories under its umbrella.

The General Grain and Oil Corporation is also under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Commerce, and is responsible for both clothing and food.

"That's good!"

Li Zhiguo nodded. He had a deep impression of the Second Commercial Bureau because after his Xinyuanzhai brand was transformed into a public-private partnership, he built a new Xinyuanzhai Food Factory and registered it under the Second Commercial Bureau.

But this is not a problem. He doesn't have the authorization contract. Chen Xueru signed it on his behalf. After the reform and opening up, he will set up Xinyuanzhai, which will be worthy of the legacy left by his grandfather.

"Yes, that's good. If I hadn't gotten used to working in the steel mill, I would have wanted to be transferred to the Propaganda Department of Yili."

Xu Damao really had this idea, but there were benefits in the steel rolling mill. He could go out to show a few movies, make money and receive gifts, so he couldn't bear to do it.

"I'm used to it, too."

Li Zhiguo smiled. He had feelings for the steel mill. After all, he had spent his youth there, and he would cherish it for the rest of his life.

After chatting for a while, Xu Damao went back to clean up the house.

After Qin Huairu finished her housework, she went out with Li Zhiguo to look for the child.

……

The next morning, after waking up naturally, Li Zhiguo counted the purchase receipts, including not only this year's but also those from previous years.

For example, in 1955 and 1960, only pork was restricted from purchase.

But two years ago, restrictions were imposed on keeping beef, mutton, pork offal, eggs, fish and chicken.

Last year, there was no purchase limit on fish because there was more frozen food, which was the only thing sold in grocery stores.

This year, there is a purchase limit on sugar, but there is no purchase limit on chicken, so ducks are safe.

It is adjusted every year based on the market.

Also, if there is nothing to sell, there is no limit. Otherwise, the quantity is written on the purchase certificate, and you have to find a way to adjust the goods to make up for it.

In addition, peanuts and melon seeds are not for sale this year. As for sesame paste, each household can buy one or two ounces during the festival, just enough to taste it.

The purchase of tea is also limited. Each household is allowed one tael, and a bachelor is allowed two cents, which is ten grams. This is the annual amount. Can you imagine it?
This is not the most difficult time yet, so just tighten your belt and live your life.

After coming to his senses, he washed up and went to the grain station. Today was the 27th, and he could buy food for next month. Because Yan Bugui had exchanged for white flour before, the family was running out of corn flour, and Guan Xiang and Jingru would be out of coarse grains.

"Comrade, the ration for next month will remain the same, but there will be changes in the month after that. Here is the table, please take a look."

The comrade at the grain station pointed to the notice posted on the wall, which was just announced today. "Wow, the price has increased."

Li Zhiguo saw the eight levels of quantitative division written above, which corresponded to the eight levels of food rations in rural areas.

He is a light laborer of the third category. His original ration was 36 kilograms, which increased to 25 kilograms last month and has now increased to 27 kilograms.

Yan Bugui is a mental worker and belongs to the fourth category. All the clerks in state-private joint-venture shops belong to this category, and some of them are even less qualified than the college and high school students in the fifth category.

At this time, the ration for ordinary residents also increased by 1.5 kilograms, reaching 21 kilograms, which means they finally have 7 taels of staple food every day. However, the ration for retired elderly people only has 18 kilograms.

Further down are infants, toddlers, and children.

By October, Guan Xiang will be six years old and Chaoyang will be three years old, and the quantity will be increased by one level, which is a good thing.

"Comrade, let me ask you something. Why is the grain ration increasing when the grain production is decreasing?"

Li Zhiguo asked in confusion, saying that something was wrong and it was not yet the time for sweet potatoes to be on the market.

"It's like this, the autumn harvest was better than expected, and the ration increased by half. I heard that the water pump played a big role.

You can exchange this month's food first, and save the food coupons for the month after next. By the end of October, one pound of coarse food coupons can be exchanged for five pounds of sweet potatoes, and one pound of fine food coupons can be exchanged for ten pounds. Each household can exchange a total of fifty pounds."

The staff at the grain station knew Li Zhiguo and would come to give him cigarettes every time, and sometimes even give him some candies. What a good comrade he was.

Li Zhiguo nodded and asked again, "What about single people and households with multiple members?"

The staff member quickly replied: "Singles are limited to buying ten kilograms. Families with more than ten people can exchange for one hundred kilograms of sweet potatoes."

"I see. Thanks."

Li Zhiguo then changed the ration for August, but also left some food coupons. Not to mention that he occasionally ate out, he also had to leave food coupons for Qin Huairu to use in the cafeteria at noon.

It’s a disaster year, so we have to get by. Once we get through this year, there are still two years left, and good days will come.

After returning to the yard, he called Qin Jingru to give her some instructions.

"Jingru, you can make steamed buns for Guan Xiang at noon, and put less white flour in them. As for the vegetables, you can decide. If they are out, go buy some. I'll put the purchase receipt on the bedside table."

"Okay, brother-in-law. If there's no vegetables, we can just eat pickles."

Qin Jingru is not young anymore. She started school later than others. She has been able to work since she was young and is now an expert at housework.

"Okay, my brother-in-law needs to go out for a while and probably won't be back until the evening."

He made an appointment with Yan Bugui and Dongxu to go on an outing and they had to set off soon. The journey was a little far, so he would not take the children with him.

After giving the instructions, I went to the Intermediate Court. This is where the advantage of not having to go to work comes in: I have more free time.

"Dongxu, let's go."

"Here I come, bro."

Jia Dongxu hurried out of the house, carrying a bag with tools in it and holding a bamboo basket in his hand, ready for a big harvest.

When they arrived at the front yard, Yan Bugui was ready. Not only that, he was willing to bring Yan Jiecheng along.

"Brother, I'm going today too."

Yan Jiecheng's complexion has improved a lot. He will soon find a job, and his gloomy life finally has hope.

"Okay, there are exactly two bicycles. Let's go to Zuojiazhuang."

Li Zhiguo also brought a bag as a prop, otherwise if he failed and got hungry, he wouldn't be able to conjure anything up.

The four people left the yard. It was not easy for the four of them who did not work to gather together to eat.

"Go away!"

Jia Dongxu was carrying Li Zhiguo, and Yan Jiecheng was carrying Yan Bugui, just right.

"Uncle, you are quite familiar with Zuojiazhuang!"

Li Zhiguo started chatting with Yan Bugui who was in the car next to him.

"Of course not. I exchanged them for sweet potatoes a few years ago. Otherwise, where would I get all those dried sweet potatoes?"

Yan Bugui can definitely be a tour guide, we have to rely on him today.

"Then let's not go back empty-handed. My family is waiting for extra food tonight."

“That’s my family too!”

The two chatted along the way. Jia Dongxu, who was riding the bicycle, was fine. His legs were strong, which was the result of training from riding the tricycle.

But Yan Jiecheng had a hard time. He stayed in bed at home for more than a year and was almost disabled. After a while, he fell behind and was severely scolded by Yan Bugui.

"Jie Cheng, you are not even as good as Jia Dongxu. How can I count on you for my retirement? We have agreed that the money you gave as gifts at work will be deducted separately and will not be counted in your retirement money."

"Dad, you are too calculating. I haven't even started working yet, and you're asking for 10 yuan for retirement. Jia Dongxu only pays 4 yuan a month, and it started with 2 yuan."

Yan Jiecheng wanted to cry whenever he thought of this. His father was so stingy.

"Can you be the same as Jia Dongxu? I fed you, clothed you, raised you up, and you repeated your senior year to take the high school entrance exam, but ultimately failed. I didn't scold you, did I?

You've been lying at home for more than a year, and I'm the one who supports you. Ten dollars a month for your retirement, not a penny less, and the sixty dollars for gifts must be supplemented."

Yan Bugui thought that Li Zhiguo had relied on his wife's family to live a good life, and he had to rely on his four children.

"Ugh!"

Yan Jiecheng sighed, then gritted his teeth and chased after Jia Dongxu in front of him. He didn't have to pay for riding his bike today, so he made a profit.

Li Zhiguo asked Jia Dongxu to slow down, and when Yan Jiecheng caught up, he saw Yan Bugui giving him a look.

He gave a thumbs up in response. This was tacit understanding. In fact, he didn't know what Yan Bugui was thinking.

Yan Bugui is still calculating for his son. In addition to the pension money, he also has to pay rent and living expenses every month to set an example for his younger brothers and sisters.

"Hey, go left from Zuojiazhuang, don't take the wrong road." Yan Bugui shouted, and they had already reached the suburbs.

Along the way, Li Zhiguo saw courtyard houses in the suburbs. In the early 1980s, they were sold for only two thousand yuan and each had its own entrance.

Now the value has been cut in half, so it’s impossible to buy it.

"Li Zhiguo, we have arrived. Zuojiazhuang is in front of us. We cannot enter the commune."

Yan Bugui is experienced. Today he is here to do a no-cost business, digging wild vegetables and trapping rabbits, and seeing if he can get some crops at the same time.

"Okay, hide the bike first."

Li Zhiguo has no experience in this area, but he has a good brain.

"Yes, hide the car first."

There is strength in numbers, and we hid the car in the hay in a short while. The day was really hot and it didn't rain, otherwise we could have gone to pick mushrooms.

The few of them then entered the woods, but found nothing. They continued forward, but still didn't find any wild vegetables, and instead felt extremely hot.

"Uncle San, is this place a good choice for you?"

Li Zhiguo was in a good mood. He came out to relax after lying down for a long time.

"It's absolutely reliable. There's a reservoir in front. If you can't find it, you can go fishing there."

Yan Bugui had made a careful plan, but when he arrived at the location, he found that the reservoir was almost dry and the water level had dropped sharply.

The key is that there are people guarding it, how can you fish?

Jia Dongxu said, "How about we find a place to trap rabbits?"

"Yes, yes, trap the rabbit."

Yan Bugui changed his route again, but it was already past noon when he only found a handful of wild vegetables, which were still edible. As for rabbits, there was no trace of them.

Li Zhiguo experienced the hardships of his fellow villagers. Fortunately, he was not in the countryside, otherwise he would not be able to lie down.

"Dad, you are so unreliable."

Yan Jiecheng collapsed to the ground. He had only eaten one steamed bun in the morning and could not bear it any longer.

"Oh, I didn't expect that someone has been to such a remote place."

Yan Bugui was also speechless. He failed and made a wasted trip. Moreover, there were people in the fields ahead and there were people guarding them at noon, so he couldn't even pick the sweet potatoes.

Li Zhiguo observed for a moment, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he said, "Wait, you see, after the fish are caught in the reservoir, they are transferred to the fish pond below."

"Hey, it's true."

Yan Bugui pushed the frame of his glasses and looked over there curiously.

"If anyone is brave enough, find a chance to catch some fish. We can't return empty-handed."

Li Zhiguo couldn't afford to lose face if he didn't go himself.

"I can't go. I'm a teacher. If I get caught, I'll be finished." Yan Bugui shook his head. He couldn't afford to lose face.

"I can't do that either. I have to go to work soon. If I get caught, I'll lose my job."

Yan Jiecheng didn't have the courage and could only watch the fun.

The three of them looked at Jia Dongxu. Since he was unemployed, it didn't matter if he was caught.

"Oh my gosh!" Jia Dongxu gritted his teeth and decided not to miss this opportunity.

(End of this chapter)