The two of them chatted and laughed while working. In just over an hour, they had tidied up more than 100 meters of channels.
"You haven't forgotten your work yet." Perhaps the chat with Tan Shuangxi made him feel better, and Cai Wang's expression also relaxed.
"After all, we are still farmers." Tan Shuangxi sat on the ridge of the field, looking at the newly repaired channel. The sun was shining on his body, making it hot and not uncomfortable. He could feel the sweat flowing on his skin.
.The fatigue and satisfaction brought by labor made him happy.
"Shuangxi, do you still remember the days when we were herding cows together when we were children?" Cai Wang asked
Tan Shuangxi smiled, "Of course I remember, at that time we always sneaked to the river to swim. When Father Chen saw it, he stamped his feet and cursed."
Both of them laughed, and those childhood memories seemed like yesterday.
"At that time, the cows belonged to Mr. Chen." Cai Wang said with emotion, "I just thought about when I would be able to tie up a big buffalo at home. I would never get tired of herding it every day."
Tan Shuangxi nodded, "Yes, our dream at that time was very simple, we just hoped to have a cow of our own."
Cai Wang smiled: "Your dream is not to have your own cow. At that time, you said: When can you go to Qiongzhou Mansion and take a look around, you will be satisfied."
Tan Shuangxi smiled sheepishly, "It was really naive at that time. Qiongzhou Prefecture felt almost like heaven. I didn't even know about Guangzhou, I only knew that there was a provincial capital."
"You have even been to Guangzhou now. In the future, you may go to the capital or further places," Cai Wang said seriously, "This can be regarded as a dream come true."
Tan Shuangxi looked at him, feeling a little heavy in his heart. He knew that Cai Wang didn't have much ambition, just thirty acres of land, a cow, a wife and children. If there were more land and more cows, it would be better to build a decent big house. Like this
It's not difficult to ask for it under the Senate's rule... It's really God's will!
Seeing that it was approaching noon, Tan Shuangxi said goodbye to Caiwang and returned home. His parents stayed in the field and did not come back, but Shuangqing came back and was putting lunch in a basket to be delivered to the field.
When Tan Shuangxi went out to serve in the army, Shuangqing was still a teenager. Now he is an out-and-out young man. But compared to the young people in the same village, he still looks very thin.
He looked at the dishes in the rice basket, shook his head and said, "No meat!"
Tan Shuangqing smiled and said: "Meat is expensive. Now is not the time to work hard in the busy farming industry. Just eat as much as you want. There is no need to use so much oil and water."
"At least boil a few eggs. The human body needs protein..."
"Dad said I had to keep the eggs in exchange for money, but I couldn't bear to eat them."
"How many cents can an egg be exchanged for? You don't necessarily want to dig your betrothal gift money out of the chicken's butt." Tan Shuangxi said with a smile, "Tell me, how much do the girl's family want as a betrothal gift?"
When it comes to life-long events, Tan Shuangqing is a little shy: "Sixty yuan. My family won't be able to come up with it for a while, and I haven't made a formal decision yet."
Tan Shuangxi couldn't help but get excited when he heard the number "sixty yuan", thinking that this also has a market price?
"Where is the girl from?"
"He is from the third village of Yanchang." Tan Shuangqing said, "He has a junior high school education. He can write and do math, and he can also do farm work."
Tan Shuangxi was excited again and almost said: "You don't want to go to higher education?" He was afraid of spoiling his brother's interest, so he pretended to be nonchalant and asked: "What's her name? I have many comrades over there in the salt field.
Maybe he is still the child of an acquaintance."
Tan Shuangqing was a little surprised and said: "She is a girl from the Hou family, her nickname is Baihua."
"Hou Baihua." Tan Shuangxi recited the name silently several times and kept it in his mind. He planned to go to the salt field tomorrow and secretly inquire about it in the name of hanging out with his comrades.
He changed the subject and said:
"No one here collects eggs, why do you want to sell them with horsetails?"
Because the Senate vigorously promoted rural chicken raising, almost every household in the countryside raised several chickens. Eggs became the most common source of cheap protein on the market. However, consumption in rural areas was limited, and most of them had to be sold in cities and towns.
"There is no need to go to Ma Niao." Tan Shuangqing said, "Dad Chen's family is now an agent, specializing in collecting eggs and duck eggs in the village."
"Agent, is he buying it for the Senate?"
"It's not the Senate, it's a businessman from out of town. I heard that he bought some kind of 'patent' from the Senate and opened an egg factory that specializes in processing eggs. Once the eggs are purchased and processed in the factory, they can be kept for a long time.
It has been shipped to far away places for sale. I heard that it is also being prepared to supply the troops."
This kind of statement would have been considered a fantasy by Tan Shuangxi more than ten years ago, but now it does not arouse the slightest surprise to him. After all, the impression that the Senate is omnipotent has long taken root in his mind.
"Dad Chen really knows how to make money!"
"He's so smart!" Tan Shuangqing packed up his rice basket and water jug and left. Tan Shuangxi had just turned back to prepare for lunch when suddenly someone outside shouted: "Brother Shuangxi! Brother Shuangxi!"
He hurriedly went out to take a look, but it was Uncle Huang from the same village. Uncle Huang was not very young, but he was already very old-looking. He was one of the poorest people in the village. In the past, his family did not have land to rent other people's fields for a long time.
Later, Tiandihui focused on reclaiming wasteland, and the reclaimed land was sold to his family at a low price with a long-term low-interest loan of 30 acres, and he finally had his own land.
Although they had land, the life of Uncle Huang's family was not much better. From "starving and cold" to "barely having enough food and clothing". Bad luck seemed to always surround his family. First, the cow lent to them by the Tiandi Society died; within two years
, the daughter-in-law she married for her son, who almost lost everything, also fell ill and died. Then, Aunt Huang died last year. There are more than 200 households in the village, and even the refugees who came naked can survive as long as they settle down for a year or two.
Better than his family.
Seeing him, Tan Shuangxi began to sigh in his heart. Before going to the mainland, he went home to visit relatives. Uncle Huang borrowed money to treat his daughter-in-law. Originally, his father was not willing to borrow the money, but Tan Shuangxi felt that his family was a member of the military after all, so he should work in the village.
As an example, I persuaded my father to borrow six yuan. However, when I came back a few days ago, my father accidentally mentioned that he had not paid back a penny in the past few years - naturally, his family's situation has not improved much.
Judging from his appearance, he looks pretty good, but his eyes are evasive. Obviously he is not here to pay back the money.
He wasn't here to repay money, so he certainly wasn't here to reminisce about the past. Because he was poor and in debt, the villagers had almost no contact with his family. Needless to say, he came to visit him to borrow money.
But Tan Shuangxi always remembered the teachings of the army, "the army and the people are one family", and she could not be embarrassed and chase him away. She could only smile and said: "Uncle Huang! Have you eaten? If not, let's eat together in the house..."
Then you have to invite him in.
But Uncle Huang waved his hand and said in a low voice: "It's okay, I'll just stand here and talk." After saying that, he looked around again, as if he had something shameful to say.
"What's up?"
"I want to ask about something," said Uncle Huang. "You are in the army and an official. You must know more than others."
"I'm not an official," Tan Shuangxi hurriedly humbled himself, "Just tell me. Whatever I know, I will definitely tell you."
"The village is recruiting soldiers this fall. My son has also signed up..."
Tan Shuangxi said in surprise: "Da Luo? Isn't he an only son? There is no need to apply."
"If you don't join the army, you won't have a way out at home." Uncle Huang looked bitter, "The recruiter said that if you are willing to go, you can join the army voluntarily, and you can get an extra ten yuan for settlement allowance."
"Oh, why are you doing this!" Tan Shuangxi started talking incoherently. He was about to say that he was in a war now. After joining the army, he would most likely go to the front line to replenish the team. What if he was disabled and died in the battle? But when he thought about this,
It would be suspected of "shaking people's hearts" if he came out. I was preparing to take the exam to apply for officer candidate, so I couldn't say the wrong thing at this time.
After thinking about it, he changed to a euphemistic way of saying: "Well, now you only have three grandsons and grandsons in your family. If Da Luo goes to serve as a soldier, what will happen to your family's land and what will happen to your grandsons?"
"Earth, I don't want to plant anymore." Uncle Huang lowered his head, "With the situation at home, I can't afford to repay the debts of Tiandi Hui if I plant again..." At this point, he didn't say any more and asked, "I am now
Let me ask you something..."
"You say, you say."
"Dad Chen's little boy is also on the enlistment list for this recruitment. He came to discuss with me a few days ago and said he was willing to trade with Da Luo..."
"Change?" Tan Shuangxi asked in surprise, "Change for what?"
It turns out that those who volunteer to serve like his son can choose to serve in the National Army troops stationed in relatively stable areas. This batch of National Army troops are supplemented to serve in Taiwan, and the safety factor is relatively high. However, the corresponding resettlement fee is only half of that of the Fubo Army. Even if it is increased
The subsidy for voluntary enlistment is only twenty-two yuan.
The new Fubo Army recruits this time are said to be the second battalion in Sanya. This battalion has been serving as a reserve force in Sanya.
Now Father Chen is talking to him, and is willing to give him 100 yuan if they are willing to change their enlistment quota.
"...I just want to ask, will the battalion in Sanya be sent to fight on the mainland?"
Tan Shuangxi felt mixed emotions in her heart. Thinking about the scene at the banquet in Daya Village and what Zhang Laicai said, she felt panicked.
"I don't know about the situation of the Second Battalion. I don't know if it will go to fight on the mainland." He said reluctantly, "I can only say that any unit has the possibility of being transferred to the front line."
This answer obviously did not satisfy Uncle Huang, but he did not pursue the question any further. He just lowered his head and let out a long sigh, seemingly unable to make up his mind.
Tan Shuangxi couldn't help but advise: "If you really want to be a soldier, I would rather join the National Army."
Uncle Huang shook his head helplessly: "If you join the National Army, you won't even be able to pay off your settlement expenses and loans."
Tiandihui's land purchase loan will expire next year. It will cost more than 93 yuan with principal and interest in seven years. Naturally, he will not be able to get this money.
"If you accept it, accept it. You and Daluo will not be short of food and clothing if you work as farm workers on the farm. Why take this risk? If it doesn't work, the Nanyang Company is now recruiting immigrants to Nanyang. If you go, you will be given land and resettlement allowance...
..." Tan Shuangxi no longer cared about being "cautious" and tried his best to persuade