Reborn in a small village in the 1990s

Chapter 255

Zhao Chunni's house was recently built; it has five rooms...

To be precise, there should be many rooms.

In the very center is a corridor, symmetrical from east to west. Next is a space similar to a living room, followed by a small kitchen, and then the sleeping area.

The room in the middle is actually quite awkward.

For rural areas, having a living room is somewhat redundant...

However, there are still many such houses in later generations. The idea is to have a living room like the people in the city, but in the end, people still have to sit on the kang (heated brick bed), since the living room is only useful in the summer and too cold in the winter.

In reality, people are quite busy during spring planting and autumn harvest. Who would sit indoors during the hottest days of summer?

Therefore, this useless setup is particularly awkward and ineffective.

Zhao Chunni's family has a north-facing kang (heated brick bed)...

In northern China, most houses are oriented north-south, so that in winter, sunlight can enter the house and directly reach the kang (heated brick bed), making the house slightly warmer and more comfortable.

Of course, only newly built houses by wealthy families with glass windows look like this.

Old Zhao's old house is still an adobe house, so they don't worry about sunlight in winter at all. After all, they brick up the walls in winter, leaving only a window the size of a palm...

It's already quite good if you don't use lights during the day.

Zhao Chunni's house has large windows in the front, so the natural light is really good.

It's true that it's not very warm.

It's the north-facing kang again, and the back wall is almost covered in ice...

Zhao Da'e felt a bit cold inside, let alone wearing a cotton-padded coat.

Zhang Yumei was indeed a very good girl. She peeled open the peanuts and then gave the peanuts to Zhao Da'e.

"Goose, eat more peanuts. They're nutritious and delicious."

Zhao Da'e ate happily.

Zhang Yumei then asked, "Big Goose, how is my second uncle's health? How is my second aunt's health?"

"Your second uncle is fine, but your second aunt ran away..."

"Forehead……"

Zhang Yumei then remembered that Zhao Chunni had mentioned that Cheng Jinxiang had gone back to her parents' home because of childbirth issues.

"Cousin, your dog is gone. Do you think my aunt will be angry?" Zhao Da'e asked tentatively.

After all, even when beating a dog, one should consider its owner. Coming to someone's house for business and then beating their dog half to death and abandoning it is rather inappropriate.

This is why Zhao Tingxu has a bad temper while Zhang Ruifeng is an honest and simple person. Otherwise, if the father-in-law came to his son-in-law's house and beat the dog to death, the son-in-law's family would also have something to say, right?

Zhang Yumei shook her head: "Impossible. My mother would be lucky if she didn't feel guilty enough after the dog bit my grandfather. A dog can't be more valuable than a person."

Zhao Da'e nodded.

This statement is correct; people should always come first, no matter what.

Zhao Da'e ate the peanuts and felt they were quite good, though they were a little bland.

"Auntie, if you put just a tiny bit of salt in, it will make peeling peanuts faster."

Zhao Chunni responded and actually added a little salt, continuing to fry the peanuts.

"By the way, cousin, what grade are you in again?" Zhao Da'e asked.

“I’m in my final year of junior high, and I’ll be taking the high school entrance exam soon,” Zhang Yumei replied.

Zhang Yumei had always been a good student, and in her previous life she had indeed been admitted to a good university and achieved great success.

Zhao Da'e scratched his head: "Should I apply to No. 1 Middle School or No. 2 Middle School?"

Zhang Yumei looked embarrassed and said, "I'll go wherever I can get into. It's hard to say, my grades aren't very stable right now. It would be best if I could get in. If I don't, it's unlikely I'll study for a retake, maybe I'll be getting married or something."

Zhao Da'e chuckled and said, "Forget it, cousin, you're smart, everyone knows that. You're the smartest person in the family, you can definitely do it, you'll definitely pass the exam."

Zhang Yumei was overjoyed; getting into high school was her dream. Having lived in the countryside for so long, she knew how impoverished rural life often was, with her parents sometimes struggling to make ends meet, even for just a few dollars. To change her fate, she knew she had to go out into the world; only by venturing out could her dream have a chance to become a reality.

Hearing Zhao Da'e say that made her happy. She had never said that Zhang Yumei was guaranteed to get into high school.

Although Zhang Yumei's family didn't discriminate against girls, when the older Zhang family talked, they didn't include Zhang Yumei in their conversations. They always talked about the boys from her uncles' families, saying things like, "Oh, Guoqing isn't very good... Erxiao isn't very good either... Guopeng's studies are so-so..."

But nobody says Yu Mei is also good.

Everyone's saying Yu Mei has gotten even thinner...

Zhang Yumei felt that everyone only cared about whether she was pretty or thin, and no one cared whether she would get into high school. It was as if girls who did get into high school still had to get married.

Although the book doesn't describe what the outside world is like, Zhang Yumei wants to go to university and see the world. Staying cooped up in the village is like being a frog in an old well, only seeing tiny mayflies. It's not that the villagers are bad, but everyone wants a dream, to go out and see the world.

So when Zhao Da'e said that, Zhang Yumei was in a good mood and started peeling peanuts for him: "You're so sweet."

"Big goose, you should study hard from now on."

Zhao Da'e shook his head: "Not interested."

Zhang Yumei frowned.

Zhao Da'e laughed and said, "Da'e, Da'e is top-notch! With a smart brain, you don't need to study to get into university. In the future, I will not only go to university, but I will also go to graduate school."

"Graduate students?" Zhang Yumei was speechless. "Graduate students must have it really tough!"

"Being a doctoral supervisor... is no problem either." Zhao Da'e figured that bragging wouldn't cost anything, so he'd keep bragging for now.

Zhang Yumei laughed and said, "Okay, then keep up the good work."

"Yumei, go to the market and see why your grandpa and dad haven't come back yet, and buy some groceries while you're at it," Zhao Chunni said.

Zhang Ruifeng isn't home, but she can't leave. Although Zhang Yumei isn't young anymore, she's worried that if her son has problems, the child is unreliable.

Zhang Yumei agreed and asked, "Big Goose, shall your cousin take you to the market?"

"You have no money..."

“…” Zhang Yumei was speechless: “Oh, my mom asked me to buy groceries, so of course it’s for me.”

Zhang Yumei ran to the kitchen in the back room and came out a moment later with fifty yuan in her hand: "Come on, Da'e. Your cousin will take you to spend some money."

Zhao Da'e then went out the door.

It has to be said that Zhao Da'e thinks Zhang Yumei, her cousin, is a really good person. Zhang Yumei is pure of heart and truly treats herself like family.

Although Zhao Da'e sometimes stayed at his aunt's house, he always felt that Zhang Yumei was more refined and genuinely kind than Zhou Chunwen.

Or rather, Zhao Da'e saw a light in Zhang Yumei's eyes that was different from that of others.

When they arrived at the market, Zhang Yumei led Zhao Da'e to the place where small toys were sold.

Things like rattles, small spinning tops, toy guns, dolls, toy cars, balloons, balls, and jump ropes—anything with some athletic properties.

Zhang Yumei handed a rattle drum to Zhao Da'e: "Da'e, do you want to play with this?"

Zhao Da'e gasped, "Cousin, let's do something less childish. You think I can play with a rattle drum? How old am I... pfft..."

Zhang Yumei: "..."

"How much is one?" Zhao Da'e asked.

"Five yuan," the shopkeeper replied.

"Two dollars, take it or leave it!"

"Two yuan it is," the shopkeeper readily agreed.

Zhao Da'e took the rattle drum and left.

Zhang Yumei was stunned for a moment: No... Did I hear something wrong with my ears just now? Zhao Da'e clearly said that playing with rattles was childish, so why did he buy it?

Zhang Yumei was about to chase after him when the shop owner called out to her, "Girl, you haven't paid yet..."

Zhang Yumei quickly took out the money.

Zhang Yumei then hurried a few steps to catch up with Zhao Dage: "Dage, you won't tell me..."

"Shh. Cousin, don't believe what women say." Zhao Da'e played with the rattle drum back and forth, finding it quite amusing.

Zhang Yumei nodded helplessly.

Afterwards, Zhang Yumei bought some vegetables: pig's head meat, aspic, sausage, fried meatballs, a roast duck, a frozen fish, a bunch of garlic sprouts, two pounds of dried tofu, and some fennel beans.

“Big Goose, where are my grandpa and the others?” Zhang Yumei asked.

"I don't know." Zhao Da'e chuckled. "Never mind them. I reckon your grandpa and the jar seller are at odds."

"Why?" Zhang Yumei was a little confused. Why was she fighting with the person selling the jars?

Zhao Da'e explained, "Cousin, you don't know. My grandfather doesn't go to the market often and has no idea about prices. But my uncle lives here, so he's very familiar with prices. We just went to buy a water vat. That vat only cost 120 or 130 yuan, and the other two were only 20 or 30 yuan each, totaling 150 or 160 yuan. But your grandfather spent over 200 yuan on it..."

Zhang Yumei gasped: "Hiss... something feels off." Zhao Da'e's words proved she knew the price, so the one who didn't know the price must be Zhao Tingxu. But why didn't Zhao Da'e say anything? Was she trying to get Zhao Tingxu into a fight?

In fact, Zhang Yumei's guess was not wrong...

Zhao Da'e really just wanted to watch the show.

Zhao Da'e knew perfectly well that Zhao Tingxu had bought the vat and was going to his aunt's house soon. Naturally, he would also have Zhang Ruifeng drive the tractor to move the vat.

In that case, Zhang Ruifeng would definitely know how much a large vat costs, and he would definitely ask: Dad, how much did you pay for this vat?

As soon as Zhao Tingxu mentioned the price, given Zhang Ruifeng's honest and straightforward nature, he would definitely tell him the actual price of the jar and how much it usually sells for.

Hey.

It would be strange if Zhao Tingxu didn't end up fighting with the jar seller then.

Judging from Zhao Tingxu's recent behavior, Zhao Da'e believes that Zhao Tingxu is out of money.

This old man is making a scene because he has no money...

Zhao Tiegang actually inherited Zhao Tingxu's personality, only his behavior was quite different. When Zhao Tiegang had no money, he would just lie down and wait to die, a kind of idle, irresponsible behavior that bothered old men and women.

Zhao Tingxu had no money, yet he still made a scene.

But he has a bad temper, and he doesn't care about anything else. He's already at his wit's end when someone is short a few tens of dollars when selling something, and that's unacceptable; they have to start a fight.

"Big Goose, shall we go?" Zhang Yumei asked tentatively.

Zhao Da'e understood the meaning behind those words.

Zhang Yumei didn't really want to go, but she didn't want to say it herself and just wanted to find an excuse.

"Oh dear, I think I might want to buy some food and drinks." Zhao Da'e really wanted to buy something. There was nothing left at home.

Zhang Yumei nodded and didn't mention going to see Zhao Tingxu and her father Zhang Ruifeng anymore.

Zhao Da'e bought quite a lot of things, mostly things he actually uses.

Toothpaste, toothbrush, a large thermos, socks, shoes, a bunch of cookies, two pounds of tea, and a lot of other odds and ends. I also bought a lot of snacks.

The markets in Northeast China are different from those in the South, especially in winter. Vegetables are scarce, but mountain products are plentiful.

Zhao Da'e remembers many novels about people who were reborn and became rich by collecting mountain products.

Zhao Da'e laughed.

Can't you use some common sense?

There are now at least thirty or forty vendors selling mountain products at the market...

Mountain products can indeed be sold for money, and so can hunting.

But in reality, if everyone does that... they don't make much money.

Zhao Da'e led Zhang Yumei to a stall selling mountain produce. Upon inquiring, they learned that the walnuts from the mountains were only three cents a pound...

Zhao Da'e pointed with his finger: "Are there many walnut kernels in these walnuts?"

The mountain produce merchant honestly replied, "Not many. They're hickory nuts..."

"Then why are you still selling it at such a high price?"

"I want more at a lower price."

"Give me five pounds? Is one yuan okay?"

The merchant, seemingly having made a great decision, said, "I'll give you six catties..."

Zhao Da'e chuckled: "Okay then."

Zhang Yumei asked, "Big Goose, why are you buying walnuts?"

"Is this for you to eat?"

"For me?" Zhang Yumei was stunned: "Why would I eat walnuts?"

“To improve your brainpower…” Zhao Da’e said.

Zhang Yumei was dumbfounded: "Big Goose, do I need to take some brain-boosting treatment?"

"What else can we do? You still have to study, and studying is hard on the brain. Eating walnuts is the best thing to do," Zhao Da'e explained.

The mountain goods merchant packed up six catties of walnuts and asked, "Do you want anything else?"

"How much is Astragalus?" Zhao Da'e asked, pointing at the Astragalus.

"Twenty yuan a stick."

Zhang Yumei quickly said, "Big goose, this is too expensive! Twenty yuan a goose?!"

Zhao Da'e didn't know if it was expensive or not. Looking at that astragalus root, which weighed about four or five pounds, it really wasn't cheap.

It's important to understand that purchasing power in this era is still quite strong.

"Can you make it cheaper?"

The mountain produce merchant refused: "This really can't be cheap. This is wild, and it takes a whole day to dig up just one. It's very difficult to dig. I really can't make it cheap; I'll only earn my labor fee."

"Okay." Zhao Da'e paid the money directly.

He then gave the walnuts and the astragalus root to Zhang Yumei, saying, "Cousin, walnuts are good for the brain. Astragalus is one of the few things that can boost immunity. You're so thin; you're weak and need to take some supplements."

"Hiss..." Zhang Yumei didn't really want it: "Isn't it said that medicine is three parts poison? Is it not good for me to take too much?"

"Trust me," Zhao Da'e said. "Cousin, you don't quite understand. Astragalus is amazing. Especially the wild kind. After you eat it, you'll immediately feel your body's resistance increase, making you less prone to colds and fevers. It can also boost your body's functions. If you're in your final year of junior high in the second half of the year, then staying up late and overworking will be the norm. It's good to supplement your diet, otherwise you won't be able to handle it, and you won't be able to pass the high school entrance exam."

After weighing the options, Zhang Yumei finally accepted it.