Chapter 12 Each Family
Wait until the whole family has finished eating.

Yu Zhiyuan then poured wine for his brothers and also poured a small glass for Yang Xuemei.

Looking at Yang Zhijun, he said, "I've asked Master, and I've also written to my brother in the northwest. After the Spring Festival, they'll recruit soldiers in March. As long as you pass the physical and political review, they'll transfer your file. Although it's a bit harder over there, it's much better than staying in the village."

"I know, brother-in-law."

"When you get there, don't forget to read some books. Knowledge is always useful. Work hard to practice your military skills. Your parents will feel more at ease once your affairs are arranged."

"Listen to your brother-in-law. For your matter, I don't know how many favors my master's eldest brother has sacrificed in the northwest." Yang Xuemei also said to her younger brother.

Yu Zhiyuan nodded after hearing this, raised his glass and clinked it with the two brothers.

"Your work is mostly done."

Yu Zhiyuan turned back and said to Yang Zhiqiang, "Don't worry, I will definitely find a way to arrange a formal job for you. Just stay at home for a while. You are still young, so there is no need to rush."

"It's okay, brother-in-law. I'm not in a hurry. It's good to collect things in the village."

"Do you have enough money?"

"There is still a lot of money left, but many families in the village want cloth coupons."

"Okay, I see."

After Yu Zhiyuan finished speaking, he had a drink with his two brothers, then got up and walked towards the bedroom.

He collected all the small-sized cloth coupons in the money box and space at home, took out two five-foot cloth coupons, and then left the house.

Yu Zhiyuan handed the ticket to Yang Zhijun: "Give two five-foot bills to mom to make clothes for you two brothers. You have to go to the army, and Zhiqiang will have to go out more often in the future. You can exchange small amounts for eggs, meat, peanuts, dried mushrooms, and soybeans."

At the end of the year, people want everything.

Both brothers nodded to show that they understood.

Yu Zhiyuan then instructed Yang Zhiqiang: "Look for a small hand grinder for me recently. If you can find one, I will grind soy milk for Qiaoqiao. Unfortunately, I don't know how to make tofu."

Yang Zhiqiang heard this and said, "I heard that the old couple at the northernmost end of the village can make tofu. They came to the village after the founding of the People's Republic of China. They are just an old couple. They have a mill at home and I heard that they can make tofu."

Yu Zhiyuan listened and said: "Even if others can do it, they may not teach you."

"I'm just going to get some information, it's not worth anything."

"Okay, just figure it out yourself."

A few people chatted while eating.

Yu Zhiyuan looked at the time and it was almost one o'clock.

Yu Zhiyuan stood up and said to Yang Xuemei, "You guys eat while I go to work. You can see them off later."

After saying this, he told the two brothers to continue eating, and then he went out on his bike to work.

Wait until the afternoon to finish the task.

Yu Zhiyuan strolled away, trying to find a suitable scrap to cut himself an axe, as he had to chop the wood before it could be used.

After cutting and grinding, the steel pipe is taken to the welding workshop to be welded with a welding machine.

I went to the director to get the certificate, and then went to the finance department to pay the money. It was almost time to get off work.

I went back to the workshop and boasted to my co-workers, then as soon as the bell rang, I packed up and headed for the factory gate.

As soon as Yu Zhiyuan pushed the cart out of the door, he saw the workers in the yard waiting there.

He pushed the cart up to Yi Zhonghai and called him "Uncle" and "Uncle".

Liu Haizhong glanced at the bicycle, tilted his head back and hummed softly.

"Zhiyuan, what happened to your third uncle this morning?" Yi Zhonghai asked while waving everyone to leave.

"He said he stepped into an ice hole while fishing and got a fever when he got home."

"I see. I'll go back and find some representatives to go to the hospital later."

A group of people strolled back to their own compound.

I heard that Yan Bugui had returned in the afternoon.

When everyone heard this, they went back home to look for their mothers.

After dinner, Yu Zhiyuan was playing with an abacus with his daughter when he heard Xu Damao knocking on the door and shouting.

"Brother Damao, he's in the room, come in by yourself."

Xu Damao walked into the house carrying a small cloth bag. "Didn't you say you were going to see the Third Uncle? Hurry up."

When Yu Zhiyuan heard this, he reluctantly got up, went to the kitchen, scooped five eggs with a ladle, and went out of the backyard with Xu Damao.

When they arrived at Yi Zhonghai's house, Yi Zhonghai looked around and saw that both of them were present.

"Zhiyuan, go call Dongxu and Zhuzi. Wait for them to come together and we'll go there."

After hearing this, Yu Zhiyuan put the egg ladle on the table, went to Sha Zhu's house, and knocked on the door: "Brother Zhu, are you home?"

"Zhiyuan, what's the matter? Come inside and talk."

Yu Zhiyuan pushed the door open and went in: "Didn't you say you were going to see the Third Uncle this afternoon? The First Uncle asked me to come and call you?"

"This old man Yan is fishing by himself, and we have to take things to him. He has to do everything. You go first, I'll go to the old man in a while."

Then he went to Jia Dongxu's house, knocked on the door, and called out, "Brother Dongxu, Uncle One wants to go see Uncle Three together. We'll be waiting for you at Uncle One's house."

After the five of them gathered, they carried their things to the front yard and walked into Yan Bugui's house.

Yan Bugui was lying on the bed in a daze when he saw several people come in.

The third aunt called out "old man" and stood up.

Yan Bugui opened his eyes and smiled a little: "His uncle is here, come and sit down. The child's mother, please pack up your things, don't just stand there, ask Jie Cheng to get some water."

Yu Zhiyuan saw Sha Zhu beside him pouting.

Yu Zhiyuan laughed secretly in his heart.

"Old Yi, you can tell me how unlucky I am. I went fishing to supplement the family income. I don't know which naughty kid dug a hole in the ice and I stepped into it. I haven't even caught any fish and I came back with only wet cotton pants." Yan Bugui said as he wiped the saliva from the corner of his mouth.

"If it weren't for Zhiyuan this morning, I would have lost my life! Thank you, Zhiyuan." Yan Bugui said as he looked up at Yu Zhiyuan.

"Uncle, you are not old. Aren't you still as young as a flower? Even if I don't come, the Jie Cheng brothers can still take you to the hospital."

"That's right, these two brothers are still filial."

Yu Zhiyuan was so shocked when he heard this that he almost laughed out loud.

Yi Zhonghai asked, "Why did you come out so soon? Why don't you stay in the hospital to recuperate?"

"How can I afford to keep it? It costs only 30 cents a day to live there. Why don't I just go and rob it? I didn't catch any fish, but I still paid a lot."

"I haven't heard that anyone is drilling a hole in the ice in Shichahai!" Yi Zhonghai asked.

Yan Bugui touched his nose and said, "I didn't fish in Shichahai. I went fishing outside the city."

Hearing this, Yu Zhiyuan quickly lowered his head.

After all this time, it was me who started it.

"I have to take leave for this fever. How are we going to make ends meet?" Yan Bugui said, glancing at Yi Zhonghai secretly.

"You'd better take care of yourself first, and don't rush to work. You really can't collapse. Come to me if you need food later."

"How can I do that? It's too much trouble for you."

Yu Zhiyuan saw that Yan Bugui obviously breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing Jie Cheng taking back all the items that were packed, Yu Zhiyuan took his own ladle.

Then I heard Yi Zhonghai say: "Third uncle, you should take good care of him, we will go back first."

Yan Bugui was even more anxious: "Why are you in such a hurry to leave? Have a drink of water first."

Yi Zhonghai waved his hand: "No, everyone has something to do."

As they spoke, they all left Yan Bugui's house.

Yu Zhiyuan returned home and saw Yang Xuemei was at home.

Thinking about what happened just now, he just sat there and laughed.

Yang Xuemei looked puzzled and asked, "What's going on? Why are you laughing?"

Yu Zhiyuan told Yang Xuemei what he had said to Yan Bugui two days ago. Yang Xuemei shook her head and smiled bitterly after hearing it.

"Where's my daughter? Where did she go?"

"The old lady next door, I went there after dinner."

(End of this chapter)