Chapter 13

"There are so many delicious things, and Xiaojuan even has a new set of clothes, which is very pretty." Han Xiaohao said, his face full of envy. New clothes, he had never heard of any family in Han Village giving their children new clothes, they were really beautiful.

"Xiaojuan has new clothes too?"

Han Guofu couldn't sit still anymore, and he slapped his thigh. "No way, I have to go see."

Han Weijun, Han Weiming, and the youngest son Han Weijiang, along with their two daughters-in-law Li Qiuju and Zhang Chunmei, the whole family. "I'll lead the way." Han Xiaohao said, already handing out milk candies to his younger brothers and sister.

Each of the children received half a milk candy, and they quickly put it in their mouths, savoring the delicious, milky aroma. "Brother, it's so good." The younger siblings grinned, and Han Xiaohao said proudly, "Of course, it's made from milk essence."

Han Guofu gave Han Xiaohao a slap. "Don't talk nonsense, what milk essence? Quickly lead the way."

Not just Han Guofu's family, the accountant Han Guobing, and the scorekeeper Han Guohong's family, almost the entire Han Village came to Li Dong's house to see the novelty.

A few elderly people who arrived early were greeted by Li Dong. "Xiaojuan, get some candy."

"These kids, we old folks don't need candy."

The elderly people said they didn't want it, but each of them grabbed a milk candy to take back for their own children to try.

"Milk candy, it's soft, good for old people to eat."

"What is milk candy made of?"

"Milk, of course. I heard that milk candy is made from milk essence, and it takes a whole bucket of milk to make just a few candies." An elderly woman said proudly, having heard this from someone in the commune.

"Oh my, a whole bucket of milk to make just a few candies, this candy must be very expensive."

"At least five cents each."

"Five cents, that can buy an egg."

The elderly people hurriedly put the milk candies in their pockets. Goodness, one candy is worth an egg, half a pound of salt, who can afford such things?

Looking again, Li Dong had a bunch of milk candies scattered on a flowered quilt on the bed. This must be worth more than ten or twenty eggs, what a waste.

Han Guofu and the others arrived just in time to hear the elderly people talking about the milk candies. Han Guofu had never seen milk candies before and didn't understand much, so he turned to ask Han Weijiang, who was studying in the commune. "Weijiang, does milk candy really cost five cents each?"

Han Weijiang looked at the milk candies, which had a picture of a white rabbit. This was the white rabbit brand, and he had heard about it before. The last time he went to the county town for an exam, he heard from the city people that this candy was very good, made in Shanghai, a big city, and not easily available to ordinary people.

Many people had to ask for help to get it, and it cost more than five cents. Han Weijiang didn't know the exact price per pound. "I'm not sure, but I heard that we can't buy it in our county, only in Shanghai and the capital, and even then, it's hard to get."

"What?"

Han Guofu was stunned. If it costs more than five cents each, this is incredible. One candy is worth an egg, and there are many other things. They hadn't seen canned fruits before, and the colors of the fruits were unfamiliar.

On the cutting board, a can of meat was opened, and there was a bowl of garlic sprouts stir-fried with cured meat. The aroma could be smelled from far away. Next to it was a bag of flour, and Xiaojuan had also put on new clothes.

Looking at the new clothes, the new flowered quilt, and the other items on the quilt, Han Guofu was speechless.

"Huh."

"A new iron pot?"

"A new iron pot?"

Everyone looked over, and sure enough, there was a new iron pot leaning against the cabinet. Iron pots required industrial coupons, and farmers found it hard to get them. In this era, a new iron pot was a big deal.

In Han Guofu's family, they only had two iron pots, one large and one small. The small one was made from a broken large iron pot, which was unique in the village. In most families, even after dividing the household, they only used one iron pot for cooking.

Few families could buy an iron pot before the end of the year, as iron pots were in short supply. Li Dong had a shiny new large iron pot, and everyone sucked in a breath of cold air.

Li Dong's relatives in the city must be very capable.

"Uncle Guofu, Uncle Guobing, you're here, come in and sit down."

Li Dong warmly welcomed everyone. "The room is small, everyone make do."

"Back, are these all things brought by your relatives?"

"Of course."

Li Dong complained. "You see, they didn't bring any grain, just look at what they brought: ten pounds of cooking oil, a new iron pot, several bottles of tropical fruit canned from Taiwan, and this southern meat can."

"Ten pounds of cooking oil?"

"Tropical fruit?"

Oh my, everyone knew the price of cooking oil.

Everyone looked at the oil jug by Li Dong's feet, which was full. Li Dong continued, "You see, what kind of things are these? Only the milk candies are good, Xiaojuan likes them. I asked them to bring some fresh meat, but they said it wouldn't keep in the heat, so they brought a few pounds of cured meat. Cured meat isn't as good as fresh meat."

Hearing this, everyone in the room, young and old, wanted to strangle this kid. Complaining about cured meat, what a waste. With so many good things, it would be enough to propose a marriage. Just the tropical fruit cans, which no one had heard of before.

Canned meat was even rarer. Not to mention cured meat and cooking oil, this kid was still not satisfied, truly a waste of such good relatives.

"This letter says, when I go to the city next time, they will bring more good things."

Li Dong unfolded the letter, and it was clearly written. Not just Han Guofu, but Han Guobing and others were also surprised. "Comrade Li Dong, what does your relative do?"

"Yes, they are very capable."

"I don't remember clearly, but my second uncle is a cadre at the slaughterhouse. Oh, my second aunt is a cadre at the supply cooperative, and my cousin works at the department store. I don't remember what the other relatives do." Li Dong had thought this through.

In this era, the supply cooperative, department store, and slaughterhouse were all enviable places. They had everything, and it was hard to get such good things elsewhere, but the supply cooperative and department store could easily get them.

Han Guofu and others sucked in a breath of cold air. No wonder there were so many things. The supply cooperative and department store, these places had everything. Everyone was envious, wishing they had such good relatives.

Li Dong thought, seeing everyone's reaction, they were convinced. In this era, suddenly getting rich wasn't a good thing, as it might lead to reports. But having good relatives in the city was something to be envied.

"Ah."

Li Dong sighed. "They say they are relatives, but they can't help much with returning to the city. They can only bring more things, so I won't worry about food and daily necessities in the future."

Everyone agreed. Having such good relatives meant no worries about food and daily necessities in the future.

Many people looked at Li Dong differently, thinking they should speak well to him, and maybe ask him to buy things for them, like an iron pot.

Knowing these things were brought by Li Dong's relatives, Han Guofu and others were relieved. "I think, the cured meat, canned goods, and cooking oil, don't just think about eating them, use them to trade for rice and grain."

"Okay."

Before Li Dong could speak, Xiaojuan nodded. "Grandpa, the cooking oil, Dad said to pay off debts."

Pay off debts? When did Li Dong say that? He was joking. The ten pounds of cooking oil were for his own use, not to pay off debts.

"This is a good idea, everyone go home and bring bottles."

Han Guofu thought, cooking oil was scarce in every household, hard to buy, and required coupons. Now, with Li Dong's ten pounds of cooking oil, each household could get at least two ounces, which was good.

No, Li Dong saw Xiaojuan put away the cured meat, fruit cans, and meat cans, and locked them up. The milk candies were put at the bottom of the box. His father was too generous, giving away such delicious milk candies.

This wouldn't do. Li Dong even wanted to give away the cracked iron pot, but Xiaojuan stopped him, saying it could be repaired and used. He couldn't be so wasteful. The ten pounds of cooking oil paid off most of the debts, leaving only a little over a pound.

Li Dong said, "I won't use it to pay off debts anymore, I still have eggs."

"No, Xiaojuan, leave two, we can make leek and egg buns later, they are so delicious."

Xiaojuan looked at her pitiful father and finally nodded, leaving two eggs, but a piece of cured meat was used to pay off a debt.

"Xiaojuan, leave some for Dad."

Li Dong was sad. All the good things were used to pay off debts, what would he eat for the next half month?

This is forcing me to go to the city to earn money. How can a daughter be so heartless?