Bai Shuhua didn’t know what excuse Bai Dad had used to persuade the production brigade leader, but the production brigade leader brought up the matter of wanting to grow sugar beets at the whole-team meeting.
She also attended and heard the discussions from the surrounding team members.
In their understanding, sugar beets = white sugar. If the brigade could grow them, it would mean every household could be allotted sugar, so of course they had to grow them.
So there weren’t many people who objected to Bai Dad taking full work points every day and going out to look for seeds and learn techniques. Just like that, the matter was settled.
Bai Dad probably hadn’t expected that he could still slack off while getting “paid,” and he was excited beyond belief. At the meeting, he very earnestly expressed his determination.
He even instinctively started painting a grand pie for everyone, and a few people who didn’t want to give him full work points were also baffled by him.
Bai Shuhua knew right then that her dad was born for sales, he was just too good at bluffing.
It was Bai family dinner time again, and this time Bai Dad and Bai Mom had no way to keep a low profile while eating.
Grandpa Bai took the initiative to ask Bai Dad, “Where are you planning to go to look for sugar beet seeds?”
Bai Dad had definitely already thought about this question. “I’m planning to go to Harbin.”
Grandma Bai poured cold water on that. “You’ve never even been to the city. Won’t you be completely lost by then?”
Bai Zhenzhen also chimed in, “Harbin is the provincial capital, it’s huge. Third Brother will definitely not be able to find his way there.”
Bai Shuhua really found this mother-daughter pair annoying, even though they were her real grandma and real aunt. “My dad can find it. Doesn’t he have a mouth? What is a mouth for, besides eating? Can’t he ask people?”
“Hahaha…”
The loudest laugh came from Bai Dajun.
Bai Dad rubbed his daughter’s little head, clearly agreeing with what she had just said.
With her parents here, even if her aunt glared at her a few times, she wasn’t scared anymore.
So what if her eyes were going to bulge out? Whatever.
Bai Shuhua said again, “Dad, the newspaper said that you can buy seeds at a special seed store. Inside, there are all kinds of seeds.”
Actually, she wasn’t even sure if that was what it was called.
Or should it be called a seed supply and marketing cooperative?
Bai Zhenzhen was very unconvinced. “Now that there’s a place to buy seeds, where are you going to learn? Whose family’s secret skill is given away for free? You want to learn it and people will teach you? What kind of sweet dream are you having?”
Actually, that wasn’t wrong either, it was just a little sarcastic.
Grandpa Bai was also somewhat worried. “Didn’t the production brigade leader say he could give you something or whatever?”
Bai Dad really hadn’t thought along those lines. “I… I’ll ask tomorrow.”
Eldest Sister-in-law Bai was a little sour. “Old Third, if you learn for half a year, then you’d have full work points for half a year, right?”
Bai Mom took the initiative to speak. “The production brigade leader is sharp, how could there be such a good thing?”
Eldest Sister-in-law Bai said again, “Third Brother is going to the city, and that’s a big city. When he comes back, he should buy us some things that we don’t have here.”
As soon as those words were out, it was obvious that Grandma Bai and Bai Zhenzhen were both tempted.
Bai Mom was unhappy. “What is Eldest Sister-in-law saying? The father of the children is going there to do proper business. How would he have time to buy things? Besides, he doesn’t have any money or vouchers. Even if he wants to buy things, no one would sell them to him.”
Grandma Bai was still thinking about the vouchers in her hand and clearly hadn’t given up.
“All right, after dinner, go back. Third daughter-in-law, help Old Third pack up and see what he needs to bring.” Grandpa Bai confirmed again, “You’re leaving tomorrow morning?”
Bai Dad didn’t give a definite answer. “I’m going to make a trip to the production brigade leader first.”
He couldn’t go learn a skill empty-handed.
Bai Dad felt this was proper business. “Then hurry up and eat. After you’re done, go.”
Bai Dad sped up, and the others tacitly sped up by two notches as well.
Bai Dad came back carrying a torn sack.
“What is that?”
Bai Mom, Bai Shuhua, and Bai Xiaodi all crowded over.
Bai Dad set the sack directly on the kang. “Food from the production brigade leader, there are twenty-five jin of unhusked rice inside.”
Once the husk is removed from unhusked rice, it becomes rice.
“He also gave me forty-two yuan, but this money is for buying the round-trip bus fare and the seeds.”
Bai Shuhua quickly did the math. “Dad, this money isn’t enough, right? You still have to eat and drink, and you’ll need somewhere to sleep too. You can’t sleep on the street, can you?”
Bai Mom also agreed. “He can’t expect us to pay this money ourselves, can he? That’d be way too much of a loss.”
Bai Dad sighed. “It’s not much, but there’s nothing to be done. The brigade really has no money left. The production brigade leader said that if I don’t mind it being heavy, he can issue me another ten jin of cornmeal. I’ll have to take it from home first, and he’ll make it up to me later.”
Bai Mom frowned. “Cornmeal can’t be eaten raw either.”
“The key is that it’s hot now. Even if I made it at home, it wouldn’t last two days.” Bai Dad was also a little worried. “I’ll go to the main room first and get the cornmeal.”
No matter how it was eaten, just take it first.
Bai Dad came back from the main room with not only cornmeal, but also ten yuan and some vouchers.
“When did our mom become so generous?” Bai Mom could hardly believe it.
Bai Dad answered, “This is for me to buy things in the city.”
Bai Mom couldn’t hold back and curled her lip, with a look that said, “I knew it.”
“I figured it out. It won’t even take ten yuan, I can still have two or three yuan left.” Bai Dad had also done the math. Only because he thought he could get a bargain out of it did he agree to help buy things.
“Dad, I thought of a place where you’re definitely going to learn the art of growing sugar beets.” Bai Shuhua felt it was about time to say it.
She was also afraid that when her dad got to the city, he’d run into wall after wall. He only had that little bit of money, and if he ended up hungry and cold, how miserable would that be?
As a considerate little padded jacket, she would feel heartache too.
Anyway, with the “all-purpose newspaper” taking the blame, she could say a lot more.
“What place?”
Bai Dad and Bai Mom asked almost in unison.
Bai Shuhua answered理直气壮ly, “School. Teachers know everything.”
Bai Dad and Bai Mom both couldn’t help showing disappointed expressions.
Bai Shuhua had no choice but to explain again. “Dad, I’m not joking. There are agricultural universities. Inside, they teach people how to farm. There must be teachers who know how to grow sugar beets, and the school also has dormitories…”
Bai Dad’s eyes lit up. “There are dormitories…”
What Bai Mom was thinking about, however, was, “There are even people who teach farming. Would anyone really study that? Who would study for several years and then go back to the team to farm? Isn’t that just being sick in the head?”
Bai Shuhua let out a heh-heh laugh, for a moment not knowing how to explain.
Then Bai Dad asked, “That was also written in the newspaper, right? Where is it? Let me see too. What’s that university called?”
Of course Bai Shuhua didn’t have it. She pointed at Bai Xiaodi. “He tore it up.”
Hmph, he dared to tear up her newspaper. It’s not that it won’t be repaid, it’s just that the time hasn’t come yet.
Bai Xiaodi was “loved” by Bai Dad and Bai Mom, and ended up sobbing himself to sleep, looking a little pitiful.
Bai Shuhua also obediently lay down and skillfully pretended to sleep while listening to the “kang chat.”
Bai Mom lowered her voice. “The father of the children, you’re leaving tomorrow?”
Bai Dad gave a hum. “The introduction letter has already been issued, and the production brigade leader is having an ox cart take me to the county seat.”
“Then I’ll get up early too. Tomorrow morning I’ll steam you a few wotou. Mom also didn’t say how many eggs she’d give or anything.” Bai Mom sounded a little resentful.
Bai Dad didn’t care at all. “If she doesn’t give them, then she doesn’t give them.”
He was thinking about how to find the school after entering the city.
“No way, in the morning I’ll talk to Dad. Dad will definitely give them.” Bai Mom had made up her mind.
“Oh, wife, don’t think about eggs. Think about me. I’m going to be gone for many days…”
“Annoying, keep your voice down. The children just fell asleep.”
Bai Shuhua silently sighed. Here it came again. Didn’t old dad fear having weak legs tomorrow morning?
Cover her ears, fall asleep in a second.
For the sake of her physical and mental health, they’d better consider separating into different rooms.