Rebirth of Rural Literary Life

Chapter 152

He Ping was talking nonsense, some members reminded him: "He Ping, is there someone knocking on the door?"

He Ping listened carefully, it was true, he got up and went to open the door.

"Uncle? Chunhua? Why are you here?" I was surprised to see He Ping's Mao Xueshan and Mao Chunhua at night. Mao Chunhua had a mournful face, while Mao Xueshan had a serious expression.

"Go in and talk."

Several people entered the house, Mao Xueshan was surprised to see so many people in He Ping's family.

"People from the team came to watch TV." He Ping explained.

Mao Xueshan came to Hantun last time when he announced the joint production contract. Mao Chunhua also met many members of the commune. Everyone saw that He Ping's future father-in-law and his partner came to the door, and immediately got up with interest.

When people were almost gone, Mao Xueshan said, "He Ping, why did you buy such expensive things for your family?"

He Ping looked at Mao Chunhua suspiciously. Didn't this silly girl tell Mao Xueshan and his wife what he told her?

"Uncle, this was bought with Chunhua's manuscript fee." He Ping explained.

"Don't fool me. What is the manuscript fee? She just helped you draw a few pictures. Where did you get so much manuscript fee?" Mao Xueshan said in a deep voice.

"Uncle, you don't know something. Isn't this affected by the "China Youth" incident in the first half of the year? The sales of "The Wandering Cricket" have been very good. The publishing house has reprinted it several times. My manuscript fee is collected." I have read it several times. Chunhua’s illustrations for this book are indispensable, and I should get some manuscript fees, but Chunhua always disagrees, so I bought something for you on my own initiative.”

"Is that a little bit of you? Good guy, you are a big writer, He Da. You can spend more than 1000 yuan in one shot. Let's say Chunhua hasn't married you yet, even if we do, we can't let you Buy such an expensive thing." Mao Xueshan said sharply.

"Uncle, it won't happen. This is all money earned from Chunhua's labor. I really didn't lie to you. If you don't believe me, I can show you the sample book of "The Wandering Cricket". I have another one here." Ben. You will understand at a glance, Chunhua is absolutely indispensable." He Ping saw that Mao Xueshan was showing signs of real anger, and hurriedly produced real evidence.

Mao Xueshan hesitated, "Take it over and have a look."

He Ping brought over the books on the bookcase, "Uncle, take a look."

Mao Xueshan opened the book. He has been in politics for many years, and he was angry. How could he read the fairy tale book? He just quickly flipped through the illustrations drawn by his daughter, which are indeed remarkable.

"Just a few paintings can be worth so much money, you kid is fooling me, right?" Mao Xueshan said after closing the book.

"Uncle, I have to tell you about this. You may not know about publishing. For children's books, illustrations are very important, and even determine the sales of a book to a large extent. Our country When you recall those literary works with children as the protagonists, do you think of the pictures in the book first instead of the words?"

Mao Xueshan thought about it carefully, and it seems that this is really the case.

Only then did he slow down his tone, "Even if the money is earned by you young couple, you can't spend it like this. Chunhua also said that you buy double parts, how much will it cost? Everything today comes from It’s not easy, as the saying goes, it’s easy to go from frugal to extravagant, but difficult to go from extravagant to frugal.”

He Ping said: "Uncle, what you said is that I didn't think carefully about this matter. I just wanted to spend more money so that Auntie and Chunhua can save some effort. It's okay to say this summer, but in winter you said that Auntie and Chunhua Chunhua and their hands are so cold when they wash clothes."

After listening to He Ping's words, Mao Xueshan couldn't help but feel guilty towards his wife and daughter. He, the husband and father, and He Ping, the future son-in-law, thought carefully about their mother and daughter.

"This matter is my negligence. How about it? Keep the washing machine. I will give you all the money when I go back. You can take the refrigerator back tomorrow and return it." Mao Xueshan put forward his own ideas.

"Don't uncle, the refrigerator is also useful. Besides, I bought it back, how could the department store in my area return it to me?" He Ping exaggeratedly shouted, all the things were bought, and he couldn't return anything. .

Mao Xueshan said firmly: "You must retire. Your aunt and I are ordinary working-class people. How can we need such expensive things?"

He Ping thought to himself that you are still an ordinary working class, and he realized that if you are not a leader, whoever should be a leader.

He gritted his teeth and said, "Uncle, it's really not possible, just treat this refrigerator as a gift from me."

Mao Chunhua, who had been silent since entering the door, blushed at He Ping's words.

Mao Xueshan looked at He Ping seriously, "A bride price?"

"Yes, Uncle, you see, Chunhua and I have been together for more than a year, and our relationship is quite stable now. Although we are still young and not in a hurry, we can't let your two elders and us both worry about it. You should take this refrigerator as a bride price for my marriage proposal to Chunhua."

As soon as He Ping uttered his last sentence, he felt a little regretful. He hadn't enjoyed enough of the wonderful taste of love, but since the words had already been uttered, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and make them up.

Mao Xueshan stopped talking after hearing He Ping's words. He thought for a while, "That's too precious, we're not selling our daughter..."

He Ping interrupted: "Uncle, just listen to me. Isn't there Chunhua's credit for this? Chunhua, do you think so?"

Mao Chunhua has been like a rabbit with red ears since He Ping talked about the betrothal gift, keeping her head down all the time, whatever she can say, or what He Ping says, just nodding desperately.

Mao Xueshan looked at his daughter, then at He Ping, "Forget it, I don't understand what's going on with you young people. So how about it, I'll send you the money for the washing machine in two days, and you have to keep it."

He Ping saw Mao Xueshan's expression of not letting go, "Well, you can give the money to Chunhua when the time comes, and let Chunhua give it to me."

"Okay, that's it." After the matter was settled, Mao Xueshan's mood eased a lot, "I can't do this again next time, your aunt and I don't need you to buy anything, as long as you are doing well."

"Understood." He Ping nodded in agreement.

How dare he say no to what the future father-in-law said.

"Okay, it's getting late, Chunhua and I will go back."

He Ping stayed and said: "Uncle, why don't you stay here with Chunhua today, we have room at home."

"No, your aunt is still waiting at home. When we came back from get off work this afternoon, we saw that there were two such expensive things in the house, and we didn't eat any food. We couldn't tell you what to ask this damn girl. No, I won't come to you either."

Regardless of He Ping's persuasion, Mao Xueshan and Mao Chunhua each rode a car and left under the moonlight.

(End of this chapter)