1979: Reopening Wenhao Road from the Village

At the end of last year, Er Maitai was sent to work as a cook at the Lin'an County Textile Factory by Yang Shuiwang through his connections. In his previous life, Yang Shuiwang also used this opportunity to later obtain a household registration in the county.

Although the textile factory went bankrupt not long after, Ermaitai managed to open a small restaurant in the county thanks to his skills.

When Chen Weidong saw the other party again later, he was already surrounded by children and grandchildren, and the former small restaurant had become the best restaurant in Lin'an County.

Before Ermaitai went to Lin'an County, the two of them were inseparable. Whenever they had free time, they would either play cards or wander around the streets with a few other young men from the village.

"We have to leave after the fifth day of the Lunar New Year. There are a lot of people there, and it's very busy."

"You must have skimmed off quite a bit of money again, right?"

Chen Weidong patted Ermaita's arm. He was actually quite happy to see him again.

In other people's eyes, Er Maitai and his friends are just hooligans who do nothing but mess around all day. But in Chen Weidong's mind, these people are actually very loyal and can at least help each other when needed.

On the contrary, some people who seem enthusiastic on ordinary days will avoid you as soon as something happens, without even having a chance to say a word.

"Hehe, it's alright, at least I'm quite full."

Ermaitai took off his hat, scratched his head, and grinned foolishly.

After all, a cook doesn't steal grains, and although cooks look very tired, always surrounded by smoke, they never go hungry because of their culinary skills.

Just like Ermaita, if it weren't for his skills, even with Yang Shuiwang's connections, it wouldn't have been easy for him to go to the county town. After all, so many educated educated youths were still eagerly waiting for factories in the county town to recruit workers, while Ermaita, on the contrary, got a job directly in the textile factory because of his skills.

You should know that at this stage, working in a textile factory is definitely a secure job, and it's highly sought after. Not only are the wages high and the benefits good, but if you do well, you can even get a house. It's even more desirable than working in the county government.

"By the way, I heard that your wife gave birth to another nephew for you, Brother Dong. I brought some eggs for him. You can take them in first, so they don't break later."

Ermaitai handed over the basket in his hand, which was covered with a layer of wheat straw. If the other party hadn't told him, Chen Weidong would never have known that it contained eggs.

"Take it back for your Uncle Yang and Aunt Yang to eat, I don't want it."

Chen Weidong quickly refused, after all, this basket of eggs would probably cost several tens of yuan, and you would need meat coupons to buy it.

"Just take it. It's not for you. I'm giving it to my nephew. Why are you being so dramatic? Don't you consider me your brother anymore?"

After hearing Ermaitai's words, Chen Weidong couldn't refuse any longer and had no choice but to accept it.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony with you."

"That's more like it. Don't be so polite with me, Dong-ge. Take the eggs in first, then we'll go out and play some cards."

Chen Weidong carried a basket of eggs back home and put it down.

"Honey, Ermaitai and I are going out for a walk."

"Hmm, come back soon. What's in the basket?"

"The second one is the eggs I gave to the children."

"Why are there so many! Quickly send them back to Ermaita."

Su Man lifted the lid and saw a basket full of things, and exclaimed in surprise.

"Keep it, it's a token of Ermaita's appreciation. He got it from the factory too."

Chen Weidong waved his hand, saying that between brothers, this little thing was nothing, and he could return it later when the opportunity arose.

Following Ermaitai, they soon arrived at a mud house on the west side. Inside, there were quite a few people.

"Damn it, Dong-ge."

"Wei Dong".

……

When Chen Weidong and Ermaitai walked in, everyone greeted them.

"Qingzi, Ergou, Fugui..."

Based on his past memories, Chen Weidong greeted them one by one. Most of these people had either left or gone when he returned to Yangjiatun, and he didn't see many familiar faces.

Most of them were from the livestock team, and they were his coworkers. However, after he was kicked by a horse, he was transferred to logistics, and they hadn't seen each other for some time.

"Brother Dong, why don't you come up and play for a while? I'm just coming down to rest."

Li Fugui held up the cards and gestured to Chen Weidong.

"Let me take a look first, you guys play first."

"If Dong-ge doesn't play, I will."

Ermaitai had been itching to play for a while, so he immediately took the card and sat in Li Fugui's seat.

They play with leaf cards, also known in some places as "dot cards" or "Wang Hui". A deck has about 30 cards, printed with characters from "Water Margin" or "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", and also with patterns of "wan, suo, bing" with dots. The gameplay is similar to "pai gow", with three or four people taking turns playing cards and comparing the dots.

Starting with a penny and ending with a dime, it's already a big game. It only lasts for a few days during the Lunar New Year. Normally, it's just a penny to compete for the highest prize.

"Dong-ge, have a smoke."

Li Fugui rolled a cigarette with paper and handed it to Chen Weidong.

"What's wrong? Is something the matter?"

Chen Weidong tucked the cigarette behind his ear. In his previous life, he was a heavy smoker, smoking at least a pack a day. However, since his rebirth, he hasn't smoked at all for fear of affecting Chen Xiaosui and Chen Xiaoan, and has gradually given up the habit.

"Hehe, I want to send a letter to my brother, and I'd like you to help me write it, Dong-ge."

"No problem, did you bring paper and a pen?"

He used to be an old hand at this kind of thing. These people, except for Ermaitai who dropped out of elementary school in the third grade, were all illiterate and couldn't read a single character.

"I'll go back and get it right away."

Li Fugui immediately went out of the house and returned shortly afterward.

What do you want to write?

"Fuda, it's your brother. How are you doing in the army? Are you eating well?"

Everything is fine at home, and your sister-in-law just gave birth to a nephew for you...

The simplest words, yet they conveyed the most sincere care and greetings.

"Dong-ge, can you write one for me too?"

"And me!"

……

"That's enough, Er Gou! What are you doing, messing around like this? Your relatives are all in the village."

Li Fugui quickly spoke up, saying that this paper was quite expensive and that it would be better to use it to roll cigarettes than to use it for these goods.

"Who says I didn't? I'm planning to write a letter to my sister."

"Nonsense, your sister married someone from the next village, why would she need to write letters? I think you just want this piece of paper."

Hahaha……

Everyone in the room burst into laughter, and Er Gouzi chuckled along, showing no embarrassment at having his thoughts exposed.

It's so good to be young!

As Chen Weidong wrote the letter, he sighed inwardly.

After writing the letter, Chen Weidong played a few rounds of the game, won five cents, and then stopped playing and went straight home.

"You're back so soon!? Didn't you get to play today?"

Su Man was quite surprised to see Chen Weidong return so early.

"I played two rounds, won five cents, but it wasn't very interesting, so I came back."

???

If Chen Weidong hadn't been standing in front of her, Su Man would have thought she was hallucinating. You see, Chen Weidong used to be a compulsive gambler, especially fond of playing cards, sometimes playing all day without even going home.

"What are you standing there for? What do you want to eat for lunch? I'll cook."

"Just heat up some of yesterday's leftovers."

……