Chapter 22: It would be best if I could exchange it for some grain

Lu Qiaoge nodded to indicate she understood. She went to the study, found two books to pass the time, and then carefully completed the registration on the desk.

When she came out, Sun Qin handed her a small iron bucket. However, the bucket wasn't empty; there was actually a lunch box inside.

Sun Qin said, "There are steamed dumplings inside. Don't worry, they're from my own home."

Lu Qiaoge did not decline; people in this era were very warm and sentimental.

Even the small fish she had rescued twice had been given away to many people.

When she made the sauce-braised small fish, she had also sent a small bowl each to her neighbors, Auntie Lin and Master Zhu.

By the time Lu Qiaoge returned home, Lu Zhiguo and the others had also arrived.

Liu Feng had apologized to his face, which served as a way to salvage some dignity. However, Lu Zhiguo was still very angry.

Thinking about it, it was because people looked down on the Lu family and him.

He secretly vowed to work hard, strive to become a permanent employee as soon as possible to lighten his parents' burden, and eventually make a name for himself to support his sisters.

Of course, he had to ensure Xiao Hui lived a good life with him.

In the past, Old Lu would scold his eldest son when he saw him being hot-tempered, but not today. He empathized; he had already unilaterally cut ties with Old Dong.

From the day Old Dong began to despise his second daughter, he hadn't spoken a single word to him since.

He could be scolded, but to humiliate his daughter made him an enemy.

"Alright, it's getting late. Everyone, hurry up and rest."

Old Lu then turned to Meng Xia and said, "Our second and third children aren't old yet, so there's no rush to find partners for them. But this time, we can't just agree to anyone. We must investigate thoroughly before any meeting."

Meng Xia had already been thinking this way.

From now on, they couldn't just go meeting any random person.

——

The next morning.

The lunch box of steamed dumplings Lu Qiaoge had brought back last night was packed full by Sun Qin. After steaming them again in the pot, an enticing aroma soon filled the air.

Su Hui said, "Sun Qin's cooking is truly excellent."

Lu Qiaoge replied sweetly, "Sister-in-law, your cooking is great too."

Su Hui smiled tenderly at Lu Qiaoge.

Her second sister-in-law used to be reluctant to talk to her, but now they were very close.

Because of this closeness, her mother-in-law also found her much more agreeable.

Everyone was given one steamed dumpling, and the rest were left for Old Lady Lu and Xiao Si.

Lu Qiaoge glanced at her younger brother; the child had been taking Chinese medicine constantly.

When he was first born, everyone thought he wouldn't survive his first month.

For various reasons, he hadn't attended school, but the child was sensitive and felt like a burden, so he always helped by folding paper boxes.

Seeing Xiao Si's eager expression, she said, "Mom, let Xiao Si come with us too."

Appropriate exercise would be beneficial.

Lu Xiao Si jumped up happily and lunged toward Lu Qiaoge, giving her a tight hug. "Second Sister, Second Sister, I like you so much!"

The furthest he had ever been was the provincial hospital; he had never left the city, let alone ridden in a large truck.

Lu Qiaoge teased him, "Take Huahua with you."

Nowadays, the tabby cat was practically a member of the Lu family.

When Lu Qiaoge went to the transport team, Captain Jin was still waiting. Seeing her approach, he immediately assigned her a vehicle.

Lu Qiaoge asked the driver to head to the Street Office first.

Director Hu and Huang Juan, who had arrived early for work, were beaming with joy.

They were wondering inwardly how Captain Jin had agreed to this.

However, no one would ask blindly.

They would wait until the green vegetables were brought back before saying anything.

Until the vegetables were in hand, any talk was useless.

Then, Director Hu handed a canvas bag to Lu Qiaoge, telling her it contained daily necessities advanced by the Street Office.

He placed it directly into the truck bed and asked Lu Qiaoge if it was enough.

Lu Qiaoge took a look and said with a smile, "It should be enough for the advanced items."

Lu Qiaoge led her sister and brother toward Guzi Village.

The driver was Brother Gu Wenbo, a man who was on good terms with Lu Zhiguo.

From this, it was evident that Captain Jin was a clever man.

Gu Wenbo was an orphan; both his parents were martyrs who died in the line of duty. He had just been discharged from the military last year.

He wasn't much of a talker, but he was very steady.

His driving was the same.

He didn't say much to Lu Qiaoge along the way, but he did tell her, "Don't worry, you can use this truck for the whole morning. If Guzi Village doesn't work out, we can go somewhere further. I've heard that in the countryside, there are still private plots, so there should be many households growing vegetables."

At this time, Lu Qiaoge was sitting in the driver's cab, while Lu Ling and Xiao Si were in the rear cargo bed.

However, in this season, standing in the back holding onto the railings felt like catching a breeze.

Lu Qiaoge said cheerfully, "Brother Gu, don't worry. Once something is agreed upon, it won't change that easily."

Gu Wenbo smiled and stopped talking.

Once they entered Guzi Village and parked at the designated spot, Captain Lin, who had been waiting anxiously, happily used a loudspeaker to call out to the villagers of Guzi Village. He told them to follow what was said yesterday: regardless of the vegetable, it would be one bundle per jin, and they could pick as much as they wanted to exchange.

But, they must not bring any bad or rotten ones.

Only then did Lu Ling feel completely at ease, and Brother Gu also breathed a sigh of relief.

Captain Lin's prestige was quite high.

As soon as the loudspeaker went off, the whole village sprang into action.

He said to Lu Qiaoge, "The villagers got up before dawn. Don't worry, Comrade Lu, they are all fresh and crisp."

The accountant, with a face full of smiles, invited the driver into the brigade headquarters to rest for a while.

Gu Wenbo waved his hand, saying there was no need.

He opened the cargo bed to make it easier for the villagers to load the vegetables.

There was a dedicated registration area at the brigade headquarters.

There were also people specifically assigned to check the quality of the vegetables.

These were all arrangements Lu Qiaoge had made with the Captain yesterday.

Lu Qiaoge laid out the items brought by the Street Office on the outdoor tables.

Matches, candles, towels, socks, soap, and even face creams.

Captain Lin saw the villagers' eyes go wide.

He shouted to the villagers in line, "We aren't doing it right now, and these are only a portion. If we decide who gets what later, you'll say it's unfair. This is considered a deposit from the military factory. In a little while, I will go to the military factory to bring back the rest, and we will distribute everything uniformly. Don't worry, no household will be left out."

Then, he carried these items into the brigade headquarters. Lu Qiaoge followed suit, as she was also carrying a large canvas bag.

This was the one she had brought from home.

Upon reaching the headquarters, Lu Qiaoge opened the canvas bag and handed a stack of gloves to Captain Lin.

She said with a beaming smile, "These are the labor protection supplies issued by my father. If you don't mind, please accept them. And if you'd like to have more exchanges in the future, please accept these as well."

After speaking, she looked at Captain Lin sincerely.

Captain Lin intended to decline, but the gloves had already been firmly pressed into his hands by Lu Qiaoge.

Moreover, Lu Qiaoge spoke so pleasantly; how could he possibly find them "unacceptable"?

Such good gloves weren't even sold at the supply and marketing cooperatives.

And if there really were a next exchange, that would be wonderful.

Since last year, in the summer, the one thing the countryside never lacked was vegetables.

Thus, the Captain carefully put the items into a drawer; he wouldn't take them for himself, as he had to share them with the others in the brigade headquarters.

Captain Lin felt he had gained a lot of face, and he was naturally not a fool. He asked Lu Qiaoge with a face full of smiles, "Comrade Lu, is there anything else you would like to exchange for?"

Lu Qiaoge smiled and didn't stand on ceremony: "Besides vegetables, it would be best if I could exchange for some grain."

(End of Chapter)