Chapter Seven Leaving

  Arrived in the countryside, on both sides of the road, there were low farmhouses with various slogans from the 1970s. Fang Mernan looked at these slogans and smiled, that was a major feature of the time, and later generations also had slogans on national highways.

  Those who have undergone family planning: "One person gets sterilized, the whole family is glorious"! Suddenly, a scene seems to emerge: setting off firecrackers, riding a big horse, wearing red flowers, and proudly announcing to everyone they meet: "I've gotten sterilized! Come to my house for a drink!"

  "Promote one child, control two children, eliminate three children." "If you should tie it up but don't, the house will collapse; if you should flow with the current but don't, you'll be pulled down by a cow." At that time, family planning was being strictly enforced, and sometimes rural cadres and village officials would even stage a martial arts performance to deal with those who had extra births.

  There are also some special periods, some are blurred, but can still be seen clearly 'Raise vigilance and strictly prevent the destruction of class enemies' 'Chairman's teachings shine brightly, revolutionary warriors show off their bravery.' 'Revolutionary warriors are bricks, where they are needed, they will be moved.'

  A long queue has already formed outside the rural grain station, all waiting to hand over their public grain. The rural grain station is very simple, just a few dilapidated tile-roofed houses, and there is no warehouse. Grain sent here will be taken directly to the granary on the same day. Public grain sent here is only for collection purposes.

  The long queue soon shortened, Fang Mo Nan and others finished paying their taxes, Shi Tou insisted on going to the supply and marketing society to take a look, but didn't buy anything, just to open his eyes. Da Cheng's uncle was worn out and had no choice but to go along.

  The Supply and Marketing Cooperative has a large facade, with double doors, the interior is tidy and clean, and the goods are neatly arranged.

  The salesperson saw Fang Mo Nan and the others come in, looked at them with disdain, lowered her head and continued to knit on the chair. But seeing the salesperson's chin raised high, with a nose-upturned face, Fang Mo Nan lost all interest.

  The salesgirl was wearing a white short-sleeved shirt made of cotton, and a red-and-black plaid skirt on the bottom. Unfortunately, she wore a pair of black cloth shoes, which made her whole outfit look incongruous.

  People often say: "No shoes on your feet, half poor." It's probably this meaning.

  At that time, rural areas were short of goods and it was good to be a salesperson. It's like now high-end white-collar workers in the city have good things, and supply and marketing cooperatives will also sell them. Ordinary people had to go to supply and marketing cooperatives to buy things like foreign oil, matches, and Snowflake cream.

  The most important supply and marketing cooperatives also had scarce fertilizers sold in the early 1980s. Fertilizer was a high-end product at that time, very scarce, and not easy to buy if you didn't have good relations with the sales staff. So when the sales staff went home after work, they would often push their bicycles through the village without riding them because many women wanted to chat with them and build relationships. Even rural matchmakers would come out to introduce potential wives. They were really in high demand, so it's understandable that they thought highly of themselves. Unfortunately, as history changed, the sales staff of supply and marketing cooperatives will no longer be admired by people.

  The two children, Shi Tou and Er Nier, were shining with excitement, but they didn't dare to touch anything, fearing they might break it. It wasn't until Da Chengzi's uncle urged them that they reluctantly left, looking back three times as they were pulled out. They understood the situation at home very well, but they just couldn't bear to take anything.

  When they went home, the three kids all sat on the donkey cart. Although Shi Tou had nothing in his hands, he was very happy and it was enough for him to brag in front of the village kids.

  In summer, the sky changes as quickly as a child's face. Just now it was clear and sunny, with the sun shining fiercely, but in an instant it has turned into dark clouds and heavy rain is pouring down.

  After a sudden rain, the air is filled with the scent of mud, and gentle breezes blow in, sweeping away the sweltering heat of the afternoon.

  Fang Mo Nan sat on the threshold, gazing at the brilliant rainbow that appeared in the sky after the rain. The sky was a deep blue and the rainbow stretched across it like a colorful bridge spanning the village. From the background of the sky, it seemed so far away, so high up. But from the perspective of the village, it was surprisingly close, almost within reach, as if one could touch it with an outstretched hand. What comfort!

  Don't look at Fang Mo's leisurely sitting, but his brain is never idle, learning the interesting knowledge left by Master and Mistress.

  Xiao Shi Tou didn't have Fang Mo Nan's carefree and relaxed good mood, these past few days were not going well, extremely not going well. Especially when it came to homework matters, he accidentally let something slip out of his mouth, Xiao Nan would be scolded by the multiplication table. As a result, his dad would come back every day and look at him with disdain, no matter how he looked at him, it was all displeasing. Constantly criticizing him, saying he wasn't even as good as a small bean, it was truly heartbreaking, why was his mouth so unreliable.

  This is still not that little light head making trouble, you say why she pretended to be so well-behaved, compared her and her sister down, really angry him to death.

  After Shi Tou Niang found out, she scolded him severely, saying he was not even as good as a little kid. He was so embarrassed that he didn't dare to show his face. The corn seedlings in the field had already been planted, and now his mother had plenty of time every day to supervise him doing his homework assigned by the teacher during the wheat harvest holiday.

  The stone thought of his current days, and his anger surged up. He must make her look good and show her true colors. Looking at the rain-washed mud, he saw the soft, crawling insects that had been washed out, and suddenly a bright idea flashed before his eyes. The girls in his class were all afraid of these things, and they would be frightened and scream. He thought with relish of Fang Mo Nan being startled, and smiled with schadenfreude. Heh heh...

  "Nan Nan, come... come, good brother will give you something good." Shi Tou said with a sly smile, looking at Fang Mo Nan.

  "Oh! This stone guy, he's been in a bad mood for days and hasn't smiled once. Now he's grinning from ear to ear with a sly look on his face, definitely up to no good." Fang Mo Nan thought to herself, looking at his clenched fists. "What could you possibly have that's any good? You've got a sly look on your face! Are you trying to intimidate me?" As soon as she said this, she saw the guilty look on his face and was even more convinced that he had brought something to scare her again.

  The stone pressed down on his heart, and he walked forward, "Open your hands, be good." Smiling slyly like a big grey wolf coaxing Little Red Riding Hood.

  Fang Mo Nan is in a good mood today, knowing that he will return to the county town tomorrow, so he accompanies you for a while and sees what new tricks you have. He obediently stretches out his hand, takes a look, and it's an earthworm - soft and muddy, quite disgusting.

  Unfortunately, Shi Tou didn't hear it, the expected scream, staring at Fang Mo Nan in surprise, could he have been scared silly? Half a day passed without any reaction.

  "It seems like this thing wants to scare people, looks like I need to give you some stimulation." Fang Mo Nan endured the disgusting earthworms, Fang Mo Nan raised his head and smiled at Shi Tou, "Is it edible? Looks pretty good." He covered his hand and put it into his mouth, finally, he smacked his lips: "The taste is not bad, a bit bland, adding some salt would be better." He even evaluated it as if it were a normal thing.

  "Ah...... you...... you......" The stone-like hand trembled and pointed at her, stuttering with fear.

  "Uh...... uh......" Fang Mo Nan suddenly covered his neck, his eyes wide as copper bells, his mouth open to make a low humming sound, his face contorted in pain, his hand stretching towards the direction of the stone.

  。

  "Ah...... mother...... mother...... save me!" Shi Tou took a step forward, embracing Fang Mo Nan's falling body, shouting loudly with all his might.

  Fang Mo Nan originally wanted to fall onto the small chair, but unexpectedly he rushed over and fell onto him instead. Looking at his anxious, fearful, and tear-filled eyes, Fang Mo Nan quickly stood up from his body, laughing and saying "You're scared now, huh!"

  "You... you're fine." He had just been scared to death, thinking she really swallowed it, thinking he really killed her. Seeing that she was fine and seeing her hand open with the earthworm safely in her palm, his tense nerves relaxed and he burst into tears of relief.

  Hearing the crying, Li Mei ran out of the warehouse, thinking it was Fang Mo Nan who was crying. After entering, she found that her own son was crying loudly enough to be heard from far away. "What's wrong, why is Shitou crying?"

  "Uh... uh... this... that..." Shi Tou stuttered for half a day, not knowing how to say what had just happened. He was also afraid of Fang Mo Nan telling on him, so he desperately made eyes at her, pleading with her.

  "Hehe...... nothing auntie, just being scared by this." Fang Mo Nan raised his hand to let her see what it was.

  Li Mei took a look and laughed, "You're still just a boy! You're not even as brave as your sister. What's the big deal about being a coward? Why are you crying so loudly?"

  "I thought it was a long worm (snake)" said the stone, sobbing. Originally already quite wronged, failed to scare people, but instead got scared himself, now being looked down upon by his mother, and having to rack his brains to make excuses. Poor little kid.

  Li Mei looked at her son and saw that he was fine, so she left. "You all continue playing, I'll go on to pack things up, tomorrow your great aunt is leaving."

  The stone looked at his mother and walked away, scratching his head, saying "Thanks a lot just now. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have escaped a beating."

  "Oh! Then how are you planning to thank me?" Fang Mo Nan said with a slightly raised eyebrow.

  The stone's eyes flickered, 'She really took it seriously, if the thing just now didn't scare him to death, he'd be lucky if she came looking for him.'

  "Hmm! Just by looking at you, I can tell that you're not sincere and are just perfunctorily going through the motions." Fang Mo Nan said sarcastically after staring at him for half a day without speaking.

  The stone saw through his little thoughts and blushed, "Then what counts as sincerity?" He had to ask sincerely.

  "Take a look at the earthworms thrown into the chicken coop. Almost every household in rural areas raises a few chickens, and those who are capable also raise a pig. "Alright! From now on, you have to go dig up earthworms to feed the chickens every day, no time limit, the more the better."

  "It's fine, it's simple." Anyway, she's leaving tomorrow, he can't dig the dragon or feed the chicken, she doesn't know, just agree first and talk about it later.

  "A real man should be trustworthy, don't make me look down on you. If I find out... Hehe... Do you want to taste the flavor of eating a live earthworm?" Fang Mo Nan first used the big hat of being a man to suppress him, and then revealed a row of small white teeth, accompanied by a charming smile, threatening.

  "Whatever you say, I will definitely do it."

  "This time he seriously promised that he would not dare to refuse. He didn't want to taste the dragon's flavor, he was really afraid and convinced."

  Fang Mo Nan saw him should take over, "earthworms dig back, rinse with clear water, and feed the chickens." This way won't let the chickens eat sick.

  "Ah...... still so troublesome." Shi Tou opened his mouth wide and said reluctantly.

  "How about it, aren't you willing? Can't even handle such a small matter, what else can you accomplish?" Fang Mo Nan said with a smile, provoking him.

  The stone was looked down upon by a small bean, which was simply too hurtful to one's self-esteem. "Alright! I will definitely do as you say."

  "Hum! Don't underestimate people!"

  "Hmm! This is more like it!" Fang Mo Nan said with an air of superiority.

  "But the stone curiously asked: 'I agreed to feed the chicken, but why should I be made to feed the earthworm? Is this just a punishment for me?'"

  "Ah!" Fang Mo Nan raised an eyebrow, and after some thought, "It's really a curious baby, to be honest! Using geoduck to feed the chicken can make it grow quickly and lay more eggs."

  "Really!" Shi Tou asked excitedly, clapping his hands.

  "Really, don't believe me? Try it then." Fang Mo Nan said solemnly.

  Shi Tou looked at her confident appearance and made up his mind to give it a try. If it didn't work out, he would settle the score with her later.

  The next morning, after breakfast, Fang Mernan and her grandmother set out on their journey. On the way here, she didn't know, but on the way back, Grandma brought them 40 kilograms of freshly milled wheat flour, a large bag of wheat, 10 kilograms of mixed flour made from wheat and green beans, and some corn flour. There were also two pairs of homemade thousand-layer-soled cloth shoes and cotton shoes, which Fang Mernan was asked to carry, saying they were for her to wear when it's cold, as well as some coarsely woven homemade fabric.

  So many things were all put on the back of a mule and pulled on a flatbed cart. Because Dashengzi had something to do in the county town, he happened to bring them along with him.

  Auntie urged them to leave early, Shi Tou and Er Nier knew they were going into the city today, and quarreled about wanting to go. As a result, they were too excited last night and slept too late. Taking advantage of their still being asleep, they quickly slipped away. No wonder they were clamoring to enter the city yesterday evening, and the adults didn't object - it turned out they were waiting here!

  When Shi Tou woke up, he knew that Fang Mo Nan and the others had already left. It was pointless to throw a tantrum now. He transformed his disappointment into strength and began searching for Dilong in the Full Moon Domain to verify whether what Xiao He Shang said was true or not.

  It's just right that the sky is still early and the sun is not poisonous, so it won't be too hot. They set off slowly towards the county town in a leisurely manner.

  Fang Mo Nan has taken all kinds of vehicles, but a donkey cart is his first time. He probably took one when he was little, but he's forgotten because he was too young at the time.

  Very fresh experience, the rural road is a bit bumpy, and the noise is not small, but it's much better than yesterday's high-altitude jump. The road width can accommodate two donkey carts side by side.

  On both sides of the road are endless fields, with flat and broad terrain. Located in the central plains, this area has been a granary for winter wheat since ancient times. After the summer harvest, most of the autumn planting is corn seedlings. The green and tender shoots stretch out, basking in the sunshine.

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