Chapter 21

Good heavens, with a dozen people almost filling the room, Li Dong sat by the table, holding his chopsticks, unsure whether he should start eating.

"Um... Uncle Liu, why don't Uncle Guofu sit down and have some?"

Although the buns might not be enough, politeness was still necessary. Besides, there was wine. Li Dong had a bottle of Gujing at his feet. After a tiring day, it would be just right to have a couple of ounces to relieve his fatigue and invigorate his blood.

"I have a bottle of wine here. Uncle Guofu, why don't you have some?"

Gujing, Han Guofu remembered, was the wine that the revolutionary committee cadres drank at the county's Da Zhai conference. It was said to cost two or three yuan per bottle.

This guy has wine, meat, and egg and leek buns. This is even better than what the old county magistrate ate. Even in the city, they can't afford such good things. It's a sin. If it were the young men of Han Village, they would have already hit him with their pipes. Even now, they wished they could hit Li Dong on the head.

"What a sin."

"Even *** wouldn't dare to eat like this."

"Indeed, with wine and meat, only capitalists and landlords eat like this."

"Doesn't this meal cost one or two yuan?" The older folks shook their heads. This is what farmers eat, even provincial cadres wouldn't dare to eat like this.

Having wine and meat was a luxury of the past, something only landlords could afford.

"One or two yuan, this bottle alone costs more."

Han Guofu took the bottle and placed it in the center of the table, careful not to drop it.

"Does this bottle cost more than two yuan?"

"About that, a bit more."

Li Dong muttered, what's wrong, does the production team have a rule against drinking? That can't be.

At first, Li Dong was startled. With a dozen people coming to his house with serious faces, he immediately suspected that his speculative activities had been discovered. But then he thought, that's not right. He didn't use his real name, Li Dong, but a pseudonym, Liu Dehua. If they were to catch anyone, it would be Liu Dehua, not him.

What's going on? He looked back at Xiao Juan, wondering if she had let something slip. But the little girl was also scared, thinking that Li Dong's secret fishing and selling had been reported.

Xiao Juan cried and ran to the bed, and it took some time for Aunt Wu to calm her down.

"More than two yuan, what kind of wine is this? Is it for the Jade Emperor?"

Uncle Liu tapped the bottle with his pipe, not seeing much difference. Usually, they drank sorghum or white liquor, which cost a few jiao per pound, and even that was a luxury. They only bought half a pound during the New Year, so why would they drink such expensive stuff on a regular day?

"Uncle Liu, three yuan and sixty fen."

Li Dong couldn't help but remind him quietly, "Old man, be careful, this bottle costs more than three yuan."

"What, how much, three yuan and sixty fen? That's enough to buy several pounds of meat?"

Uncle Liu was shocked. Good heavens, a bottle of wine for three yuan and sixty fen, do you think you're a high official, drinking such expensive wine? However, Uncle Liu didn't tap the bottle again, fearing that he might break it and have to pay for it, which would be a real pain.

Now everyone felt that Li Dong's problem was very serious, especially in terms of eating and drinking. It was too extravagant and wasteful, completely contrary to the great leader's teachings of hard struggle and thrift. This is hedonism, and it must be stopped.

Drinking wine and eating meat, this is what capitalists and landlords do. We can't do this. Being lazy and extravagant, and talking big, like building brick houses, is all exaggeration. There are many problems here.

"Uncle Guofu."

Li Dong, under everyone's gaze, felt a bit guilty. The buns were getting cold, and they wouldn't be as good if not eaten soon. "Look, why don't you all sit down? The egg buns will get cold and won't taste as good."

Han Guofu glared at Li Dong, who was still thinking about eating. He sat down and asked everyone to find a place to squat, opened his notebook, and was about to speak when Li Dong grabbed a big bun and gave it to Xiao Juan. "Eat quickly, Aunt Wu, Uncle Liu, you should try too. Uncle Guofu, there aren't many buns, so I won't offer you any."

To the older folks, Li Dong gave each one an egg bun. Aunt Wu, smelling the aroma, said, "It's fragrant, just like when I worked for a landlord. It's really fragrant."

Li Dong was at a loss. Aunt Wu, we're praising the buns, not bringing up landlords. That's a big hat we can't wear.

Li Dong wasn't stupid. When Han Guofu and the others heard this, their expressions changed. He knew he was in for a criticism for his lavish eating.

Can we just have a meal in peace? Li Dong didn't say anything, just ate the big buns and meat, and decided not to drink the wine.

The aroma of the meat and the egg and leek buns made everyone's mouths water. This kid must have used a lot of cooking oil and meat, and he was generous with it, giving half a bowl of meat to Xiao Juan and pouring the rest into his own bowl of porridge. Who eats like this, having enough meat for three to five days in one meal?

What a sin, he really doesn't know how to manage his life. Everyone shook their heads.

Li Dong ignored them, eating until his belly was full and feeling very comfortable. If he could have another couple of ounces of wine, it would be even better, but given the situation, he couldn't drink now.

"Done, finished eating?"

"Finished."

Li Dong slapped his arm, the mosquitoes were out. "Xiao Juan, light the mosquito coil. The mosquitoes are still active even though it's getting cooler."

The weather was getting cooler, but the mosquitoes were still around. Li Dong planned to cover the windows with cloth, but Xiao Juan refused, saying it was too wasteful for a few mosquitoes. She promised to fan Li Dong every night, so he didn't cover the windows.

Fortunately, there was mosquito coil. Otherwise, he would have to rely on Xiao Juan to fan and drive away the mosquitoes, or he wouldn't be able to sleep.

Xiao Juan had learned how to light the mosquito coil. She took out a disposable lighter, a coil, and lit it, placing it in a box.

Han Guofu and the others were stunned. What was this thing that lit with a click? And what was this coiled thing?

None of them had seen such things before. They forgot why they were there and stared at the mosquito coil and the transparent lighter in Xiao Juan's hand.

"What is this?"

Aunt Wu was startled, and Xiao Juan wiped her tears.

"A lighter."

"What kind of machine?"

"A lighter, made by the Japanese." Li Dong took the lighter and demonstrated it for everyone.

"What is this, a Japanese thing?"

"This is not good, throw it away."

"No."

Li Dong quickly stopped them. "Uncle Liu, Aunt Wu, this is worth one or two yuan."

"So expensive?"

"This kid, matches only cost two fen per box, and this thing costs one or two yuan. You young people are really wasteful." Aunt Wu and Uncle Liu shook their heads. They would count every fen, and even a one-fen candy for their children would be a big deal, let alone such extravagant spending.

"What is this?"

Han Guofu didn't know what to say. This Li Dong had serious issues with his lifestyle, being hedonistic. This can't be allowed. Farmers can't act like this, or they'll become good-for-nothings. It seems that criticism and education are necessary.

Moreover, he must find a capable wife for Li Dong, someone who can manage the household. Otherwise, he won't be able to control this kid.

Li Dong was scared by Han Guofu's gaze, sensing that something bad was about to happen.

"Uncle Guofu, this is mosquito coil, to drive away mosquitoes."

"Mosquito coil?"

Everyone heard it for the first time. Could this smoke really drive away mosquitoes? It sounded like a lie.

"Hey, the mosquitoes really are fewer."

"How much does this cost?"

"Not much, just a few yuan."

Li Dong regretted saying that, forgetting that a few yuan was a fortune in those days. As expected, Han Guofu's eyes bulged, and Uncle Liu's pipe hit Li Dong on the head.

"Ouch."

Li Dong held his head. Uncle Liu, you're so old, why are you still so quick-tempered?

"Let me go, I need to teach this kid a lesson."

"A few yuan, for what? Just to avoid a few mosquito bites, what a sin."

Uncle Liu got more and more angry. "During the three years of hardship, one yuan could save a family's life."

Everyone nodded. Being bitten by a few mosquitoes wasn't a big deal. Spending a few yuan to drive away mosquitoes was a waste. They could use grass sticks to do the same, even if the smell was a bit unpleasant. It's true that you don't know the value of things until you manage a household.

Li Dong regretted it. Why couldn't he have just endured it? Being bitten by a few mosquitoes wouldn't have been so bad. Sigh, there's no place to reason.

Finally, everyone calmed Uncle Liu down. He sat down and smoked his pipe, staying far from the mosquito coil, saying he couldn't afford it. Only landlords could enjoy such things, and he, a poor peasant, couldn't.

Li Dong noticed that Han Guofu and the others were setting up a serious scene, as if they were about to criticize him.

He was scared, inexperienced, and anxious. What should he do?