Chapter 36 This time, He Daqing did not agree

Passing by Dong'an Market,

He Yuzhu asked He Daqing to pay for a bag of quicklime from a roadside shop, preparing to take it back for disinfection and insecticide.

As soon as I arrived at Maoer Hutong, I saw that the gold yuan coupon exchange point here had resumed operation as everyone expected.
But unlike what the neighbors thought,
Perhaps the officials above did not want to push the people in their jurisdiction to other districts to exchange for gold yuan coupons.
Therefore, there was no attempt to halve the exchange rate again.

Instead, the exchange will be based on the ratio of the previous few days.

However, this has nothing to do with people like He Daqing who have already redeemed their gold yuan coupons or even spent almost all of them.
No one paid much attention to it.

After exchanging a few words with Wang Mazi, he turned around and went home.

Entering the courtyard, He Yuzhu opened the door of the east wing in the front yard.

First, I sprinkled quicklime on some relatively dark corners, and then carefully looked at every corner of the house.

I found that the situation was not as damp as when I was cleaning the house yesterday. I couldn't help but laugh and felt that I could move in another day or two.

I closed the door and went to the yard to look for it again.
Seeing He Yushui and Xu Zhaodi playing tumbling rope in the backyard, he ignored them and prepared to go home and take a nap.

But as soon as I returned to the Middle Court, I heard He Daqing say,
"Zhuzi, you don't have anything to do now. The cornmeal at home is almost gone. Let's go to the back room and grind some flour.

I have to go to work in two days, so I’m afraid I won’t have time.”

After hearing what He Daqing said, He Yuzhu gave up the idea of ​​going back to the ear room to sleep.
I went to the back house with him, carrying a bag of corn.

Machines were not popular these days, and ordinary people still used traditional methods to process food.
The stone mill in the courtyard is quite heavy and cannot be used for a long time by human power.

After He Daqing put a pile of corn on the millstone, the father and son began to push the wooden pole on the millstone in circles.

Feeling the huge resistance in his hands, He Yuzhu couldn't help but speak,
"Dad, the millstone in our courtyard is so big, why don't we just buy an animal?
This is much easier than grinding the millstone yourself."

"You are right indeed.
When you were a child, your grandmother’s family used donkeys to pull the millstones. It was so easy back then.

But later her family fell into ruin.
The expense of raising donkeys must be borne by our families.
But after getting used to free stuff, no one wants to spend money, let alone suffer a loss.

Gradually, they stopped raising donkeys and the business became what it is now.

I also want to raise livestock, but my family is a cook and we can't afford to be taken advantage of.

You, just keep grinding the mill!"

After listening to He Daqing's words, He Yuzhu didn't know what to say. He could only sigh that many times there is not strength in numbers, and it is more likely that nothing can be accomplished.

But thinking of human nature, let alone the neighbors in the courtyard,
He didn't find it strange.

"It would have been better if I hadn't taken a bath yesterday.
I'm sweating all over after grinding flour today, and I have to go to work the day after tomorrow, and I have to wash it again tomorrow. Isn't this a waste of money?"

"What's the big deal? As chefs, we have to wash and change clothes frequently.

Otherwise, who would dare to eat the food you cook if it is so sloppy?
No matter if I can see anyone tomorrow or not, I have to go to the bathhouse to take another bath in the afternoon.
You have to go to work the day after tomorrow. If you stay idle any longer, I think your skills will go to waste."

It is said that if you don’t practice for one day, you will know it yourself; if you don’t practice for two days, your master will know it; if you don’t practice for three days, the whole world will know it.
Plus, since he traveled through time, his skills might have regressed a bit.

"How about I cook tonight?"

"Okay, anyway, it's just steamed bread, pickled vegetables, and corn porridge. You make it today.

With your limited skills, I dare not ask you to cook, otherwise the old lady will not like it and will definitely scold you."

Knowing that he was doing this for the deaf old lady's house, He Yuzhu didn't say much and began to concentrate on grinding. When they finished grinding the corn, the father and son were sweating all over.
However, the cornmeal flour is more delicate than the one processed by machines in later generations.
He Yuzhu thought it seemed pretty good.

Then He Daqing lifted up the millstone, and He Yuzhu quickly swept the cornmeal off the millstone with a large brush.

At this time, He Daqing was carefully observing the grinding teeth on the grinding wheel.

"The teeth are almost worn flat. I need to ask a blacksmith to fix them in a couple of days. Otherwise, the flour I grind won't be fine enough and won't taste good."

The grinder mentioned by He Daqing is a craftsman who maintains the grinding wheel. It is an old trade.
It is basically not seen in later generations.

After cleaning up the millstone, the father and son returned home with their bags, and then wiped themselves.
Seeing that it was getting late, I started cooking.

After the family finished dinner, around 7 or 8 o'clock, Yi Zhonghai and his friends came back from get off work.

I also brought back to He Daqing the news that he would meet someone at the steel mill gate tomorrow.
"Lao He, we are all busy. Let's meet at the factory gate at 9 a.m. tomorrow to discuss our respective conditions.

If it's suitable, you can go together, if it's not suitable, forget it.

what do you think! "

After listening to Yi Zhonghai's words, He Daqing smiled and nodded.

"I think this is a good idea so as not to delay your work. Let's do this. I will be at the gate of your steel mill on time at 9 o'clock tomorrow morning."

After saying that, He Daqing looked at He Yuzhu and asked,
"Zhu Zi, are you going tomorrow?"

Hearing this, He Yuzhu shook his head. Although he would not go out to buy supplies tomorrow, he had his own plans.
"I won't go.

I was going to wash my and Yu Shui's clothes, bed sheets, and quilt covers, and move the boxes to the front yard.

Tomorrow night, Yu Shui and I will sleep in the front yard."

Seeing that He Yuzhu had made arrangements, He Daqing didn't say anything more. Instead, He Yushui looked at him happily, dancing with joy.
"That's great, bro. We're finally moving to a big house!"

Looking at his happy sister, He Yuzhu smiled and touched her little head.

"Since you're so happy, let's move tomorrow."

"Ok!"

As usual, after some tossing and turning, the jeep in the space fell asleep.
the next morning,
After breakfast, He Daqing began to dress himself up carefully.

He Yuzhu asked Wu Dafu, the water delivery man, to bring him more water and then started washing clothes.

As he hung the clothes and moved the suitcases and other things to the front yard,

He Daqing also returned to the courtyard.

When He Yuzhu asked about the result casually, he shook his head.

"You are right, kid.
That white widow actually asked to marry into their family, saying that she was a generation younger than me and that she was willing to marry me, and that I could go to their family and be their son-in-law."

He Yuzhu was not surprised at all by this result.
And judging from He Daqing's tone and expression, it seems that they didn't reach an agreement.
But he still asked,
"Then you didn't agree!"

"How is that possible? I didn't get kicked in the head by a donkey. If I really agreed, what would you two do?"

(End of this chapter)