Chapter 21: 21. Chapter 21: Second Uncle, the Big Red Flower (1)

Chapter 21: Second Uncle, The Big Red Flower (1)

Bai Lie was unaware that, through a twist of fate, his daughter’s impression of him had completely flipped.

But this time, he felt that his daughter was closer to him, and Bai Lie was very happy about it.

He estimated the time, picked up the sweet potato strips Shuyue had brought over, and while eating, explained to her, "The reason Dad was able to come back early yesterday was thanks to the help of one of your uncles.

Dad promised him that I would go and meet up with him. Later on..." Bai Lie thought for a moment, "By noon, you'll be able to see Dad."

Bai Lie acted mysterious, "There will be a surprise for you then!"

A surprise?

Shuyue watched as Bai Lie finished the sweet potatoes, gulped down the water in his army-green canteen, and climbed out the window again. Her mind was still occupied with what kind of surprise her own father was preparing for her.

Could it be that he was bringing her dried sweet potatoes?

Or...

What kind of delicious food would he bring?

Shuyue licked her lips.

Fine, since her own father wanted to give her a surprise, she didn't feel stingy about those sweet potatoes at all, really!

What’s more...

He had given her so many good things!

When Bai Lie was there just now, Shuyue felt a bit shy, but now that he had left, she carefully examined the items in the box he had given her.

It was the late 1950s. One tael of gold (32.5 grams) could be exchanged at the bank for about 130 yuan before taxes.

And the bracelets, chains, and ornaments in the box she held were all exceptionally exquisite in style. Just looking at the weight of the gold alone, it wasn't something that could be measured by a mere two or three hundred and thirty yuan.

Shuyue clicked her tongue in her heart. Yesterday, when she and Er Ya went out, they didn't catch any fish, but she had gathered quite a bit of information.

In the countryside, for a strong laborer earning full work points, the annual dividend from the production brigade after grain distribution would be at most twenty yuan.

Even the monthly salary of most city dwellers was only around twenty yuan, and that was something many people envied.

Yet, the box of things she held in her hands was worth what a city worker would have to save for several years without eating or drinking.

During this period, pork was 0.78 yuan per jin, eggs were 0.05 yuan each, matches were 0.02 yuan a box, and salt was 0.13 yuan per jin...

With so much money, she could buy so many, many things!

Holding the box, Shuyue suddenly felt it burning her hands...

The sky was overcast, looking like it might rain at any moment.

Shuyue was waiting for the surprise her father had prepared for her at noon. She peered through the window at the sky several times, feeling as if time was passing exceptionally slowly.

However—

Suddenly, the sound of gongs rang out in the distance.

Shuyue was confused, only to see the dark and thin Er Ya darting home, throwing her basket into the yard, and shouting at her, "Hurry up! There’s a big meeting!"

Shuyue: "..."

Before Shuyue could react, she was pulled along by Er Ya. She hurriedly locked the door before being dragged along by Er Ya’s momentum as they ran outside.

The gongs were ringing from the direction of the threshing floor.

When Shuyue followed Er Ya’s footsteps, along with a bunch of kids who didn't have to work, to the threshing floor, she saw the scene before her and felt like her eyes were being blinded.

There, on the threshing floor, a public security officer in uniform was beating a gong, shouting loudly. Shuyue listened carefully and heard him talking about how Bai Lie had acted bravely for a just cause, was eager to help others, and was worthy of being learned from, and so on.

And Bai Lie?

At this moment, Bai Lie, with his buzz cut, stood with his head held high and chest out, wearing a large red flower on his chest. His mouth was split wide, revealing a row of white teeth, and he was using a pitchfork to energetically stack straw, one forkful at a time.