My older sister, born in the 1970s, stole my marriage; I took my three treasures and blew up the fam

"Those lotus roots were all grown by the residents of the family compound. They just charge a little money to the growers as a reward for their hard work."

"But," Grandma Qin said with a puzzled look, "can you young children finish all this lotus root?"

Erbao said, "We went to the supply and marketing cooperative, and there's not much you can buy with 50 cents."

Da Bao continued, "That's right, you can only buy a maximum of ten catties (5 kg) of lotus root!"

Little Bao chicks pecking at rice echoed this sentiment.

Grandma Qin and Ruan Tinghe suddenly realized that the three little ones just wanted to buy the most things with five cents, and lotus root could be bought for ten pounds with five cents, which was the most they could buy.

Ruan Tinghe carefully instructed, "Although you can buy the most lotus roots, you can also buy milk candy, cloud cakes, little windmills, and lots of fun and delicious things."

"That's right," Grandma Qin added, "You guys shouldn't just buy lotus roots because they're heavy."

The three little ones looked at each other, and finally shook their heads together.

"We just want lotus root. It only costs five cents to buy 20 White Rabbit milk candies, which we can finish in no time," Da Bao said, counting on his fingers.

Erbao chimed in: "And you also need food coupons, but you don't need them to buy lotus roots."

Xiao Bao stretched out his hands, making a big circle, and his little mouth cooperated by opening into a circle.

Wow!

"My sister said we can buy so many lotus roots!"

While translating, Erbao also spread his arms and made a circle about the same size as Xiaobao.

Ruan Tinghe and Grandma Qin exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness and doting in each other's eyes.

At this moment, Ruan Tinghe was extremely grateful that the three little ones hadn't taken thirty yuan to buy lotus roots, otherwise they wouldn't have been able to finish them all this year!

"So, Da Bao, Er Bao, and Xiao Bao, how would you like to eat lotus root?"

Without hesitation, Da Bao replied, "Everything Mom makes tastes delicious!"

Xiao Bao waved his little hand excitedly, and Er Bao said, "We'll eat whatever our sister makes! Mommy, I like to eat everything!"

Ruan Tinghe was pleased and asked Grandma Qin, "Grandma Qin, what do you and Aze want to eat?"

Grandma Qin laughed and said, "Anything is fine! What do you want to do? I'll help you!"

Before entering the kitchen, the two reminded each other, "You lot are not allowed to run around anymore. You just took a bath, and if you get dirty again, you won't be allowed to sleep with Mom tonight!"

"Okay, Mom, we promise we won't go playing anymore!"

"Mom, let's practice writing big characters in the living room!"

"Eeya ya!"

"Uncle Aze! Let's go learn to read!"

The three children ushered Yin Ze into the living room, and only then did Ruan Tinghe feel relieved enough to cook with her grandmother.

Braised pork with lotus root, a side of green vegetables, and cold lotus root salad.

Grandma Qin is old and eats little, and doesn't like to eat meat much.

In the family, only Aze and Dabao have big appetites.

Ruan Tinghe and Erbao and Xiaobao ate very little.

So three dishes were just enough to eat. There was no need to prepare meals for Yin Quan, since he was rarely home, and the hospital cafeteria provided three meals a day.

During the meal, Officer Cui came to visit.

He delivered the recommendation letter for the three children to attend school as promised, which was stamped with a large red seal and signed by Secretary Cui.

This matter is now completely settled.

"There's one more thing. There are still rumors circulating about you and Yin Ze at the train station. Since you said you were saving someone at that time, can you prove it?"

This was the main purpose of Officer Cui's visit.

"After all, we've never heard of any way to save someone that requires doing such a thing."

Director Cui didn't want any more messy rumors, and it would be best if Ruan Tinghe could prove her innocence.

Before Ruan Tinghe could speak, Grandma Qin exploded, "What? You saved someone and now you have to prove your innocence?"

"Isn't my testimony enough? Hehe was saving Aze that day! If Hehe hadn't helped Aze get the candied hawthorn out of his throat, Aze would have been in serious trouble!"

Grandma Qin slammed her hand on the table in anger, glaring fiercely at Officer Cui. "If you have nothing better to do, put your things down and leave! This old woman gets annoyed just looking at you!"

The old lady showed no respect for Cui, clearly worn down by the series of terrible events.

Officer Cui wasn't annoyed. "Grandma, I'm doing this for everyone's sake. If her method can be demonstrated in public, everyone will know how to save people in the future! Every year, several children in our compound get choked, and last year one of them didn't make it."

Ruan Tinghe never imagined that someone had died. Considering that the Heimlich maneuver probably hasn't been introduced to China yet, if she could prove her innocence while saving more lives, it wouldn't be a bad idea.

"Okay, I promise you."

"Okay! I'll go announce it now. Tonight, go to the basketball court and demonstrate it to everyone in front of you. It would be best if you could explain the underlying principles."

After leaving with a single sentence, Officer Cui hurriedly departed, fearing that Ruan Tinghe might change her mind, and even more so that the old lady might interfere.

Grandma Qin couldn't sit still any longer. "Hehe, don't worry, I won't let anyone bully you. I'll call A-Quan right now and have him come back to testify for you!"

After saying that, Grandma Qin also rushed out the door.

Ruan Tinghe thought to herself, it would be good to have another doctor testify for her. Maybe Yin Quan had seen this method of saving lives abroad.

It would be even better if Yin Quan could publicize this first aid method.

(P.S.: I specifically checked this. The Heimlich maneuver was only formally published in medical journals abroad in 1974. In 1976, it was still in its early stages abroad and had not yet spread to China. Please point out any errors or omissions! Thank you!)

Before long, it was evening, and many people had already gathered at the basketball court without even having dinner.

Several lights were strung up on the basketball court with wires, and everyone brought their own benches, sat in rows, and chatted while eating sunflower seeds.

As soon as Ruan Tinghe appeared with the children, Liang Yali jogged up to her.

"Listen, He-mei, don't be nervous, just go for it! I believe in you!"

"Thank you, Sister Yali." Ruan Tinghe wasn't nervous at all, but she was still very grateful for Liang Yali's encouragement.

Even when so many people questioned her, Liang Yali still chose to believe her.

"What are you thanking me for? What's our relationship? You're like my little sister!"

As Liang Yali spoke, she pulled a piece of candy from her pocket. "Here you go, this is chocolate. I specially asked the factory leaders for it! They said it will give you plenty of energy and confidence!"

Ruan Tinghe glanced at the fingernail-sized piece of chocolate, which looked like a scrap piece broken off from a larger chocolate bar.

That alone would fetch a lot of money.

Liang Yali must have gone to great lengths to get it for her.

Ruan Tinghe did not refuse her kindness and popped the chocolate into her mouth.

It's quite sweet! But the taste definitely can't compare to chocolate from later generations.

"It's delicious," Ruan Tinghe praised.

"As long as it tastes good!" Liang Yali swallowed hard, then pulled Ruan Tinghe to sit down on a bench. "Come on, sit with me. If anyone dares to say anything bad about you, I'll scold them back for you!"

"If I hadn't been there that night, I would have given Ruan Jiaojiao and Zhang Xiaomei a good dressing down!"