60s: I have a store

Chapter 94: Maybe a Special Offer
Guo Li was cooking, but her child started making noises, so she had to go and see him first.

Zhou Yimin took over. Recently, when he returns to the village, he is basically the one who cooks, so he is very skilled.

Not long after, Director Li came back and saw Zhou Yimin cooking for a guest. She was furious. She could understand that her daughter-in-law was coaxing the child, but where was her son?
Didn’t you ask him to take a leave and cook at home?
"Where is Zhenguo? Where did he go? How can you let Yimin do this?" Director Li said angrily.

Zhou Yimin came to the rescue and said with a smile: "Aunt Li, you treat me as an outsider again? My cousin's wife has to coax the child, I can't do that. My cousin went out for something."

Facing her mother-in-law's anger, Guo Li smiled bitterly: "I have advised Yimin several times to just let him sit down."

As for why her husband went out, she didn't understand. She just saw him chatting happily with Zhou Yimin, and suddenly he hurried out without saying anything.

She is depressed too!

Director Li quickly put down his things, took over the work from Zhou Yimin, and told Zhou Yimin to sit down and wait for dinner.

"What can happen to him?"

She was just a workshop manager of a small noodle factory and had very little free time. That was why she asked her son to take a leave to come back and cook.

Who knew it was so unreliable.

Zhou Yimin didn't reveal the information so quickly and waited for Zhao Zhenguo to understand the situation clearly before making any further comments.

Two years ago, instant noodles were invented. They should be hot sellers these past two years. It shouldn't be hard to find out about this information, right? It's not a military secret.

"Mom, Yimin also brought two watermelons and two bags of milk powder." Guo Li told her mother-in-law.

"Yimin, it's good that you're here. Why bring any gifts?"

Watermelons are also very precious nowadays. Everything edible is scarce.

In this era, there was not enough food to eat, so no one even considered growing watermelons.

In later generations, we always laugh at South Koreans for eating watermelon rinds. In fact, it is similar in our time. On the one hand, watermelon is rarely planted and is a scarce commodity. On the other hand, people in this era are hungry and eat tree bark and grass roots, so watermelon rinds are not to be missed.

Of course, it is surprising that South Korea, as a developed country, actually eats watermelon rinds and corn cobs.

It’s funny to think that there are developed countries that cannot afford watermelon.

Furthermore, in later generations, we can eat watermelon without any pressure and enjoy the freedom to do so, thanks to one person - Wu Mingzhu.

She not only increased the watermelon yield, but also developed multiple watermelon varieties, improving the quality of the watermelons, making them red and sweet.

It is no exaggeration to say that the sweetest and cheapest watermelons in the world are in China.

However, Ms. Wu is only a few years older than Zhou Yimin now, and she is probably still cultivating improved watermelon varieties in the northwest! Her research did not receive much attention from the country until the 1990s, or even the 21st century.

"A friend gave them to me. I still have some at home! I brought two here specially for you, Aunt Li, to try." Zhou Yimin used the same excuse again. No matter whether others believed it or not, he just said it.

Guo Li added: "I have never seen such a big watermelon."

Director Li was curious, so she turned sideways and looked at the watermelon. She was also surprised. She had never seen such a big watermelon before, so it must be more than 20 kilograms.

"Maybe it's a new variety! I'm not sure, a friend gave it to me."

Watermelons of this size were common in later generations. The slightly larger ones weighed 30 to 40 kilograms, and some of the biggest ones even weighed more than 100 kilograms.

Seeing that there was no other fruit at home to treat Zhou Yimin, Director Li simply brought over a watermelon, and with a sharp knife, he cut one for Zhou Yimin to eat first.

After cutting the watermelon, Director Li was surprised again when he saw the red watermelon flesh.

Because the melons I ate before had thicker skins and the flesh was not that red.

You can tell it’s delicious without even tasting it.

She cut out three pieces and said, "Come on, try one piece first."

Zhou Yimin didn't refuse. He took a piece of watermelon and started eating it.

Director Li and her daughter-in-law took a bite and found the sweet taste irresistible, especially on such a hot day. Zhou Yimin felt a little regretful.

Ice watermelon is delicious!

"This melon is very sweet. It might be a specially selected special product. Your friend is very capable." Director Li guessed.

This is most likely a special product.

Otherwise, it’s really hard to explain.

Those who can get special supplies are all very powerful people, at least they have channels and connections.

Zhou Yimin shook his head: "I don't know, he also gave me the milk powder."

He simply pinned the source of the milk powder on his fictitious friend, so as to avoid having to invent another friend in the future. As the saying goes, don't bother two people with the same problem!
"That should be it."

Director Li thought about it and it immediately seemed very reasonable.

She wanted to cut another piece for Zhou Yimin.

Zhou Yimin waved his hand: "Aunt Li, don't cut it for me, I have more at home. And I don't like to eat it this way. The watermelon still needs to be put in the well to cool for a while before it tastes good."

It’s not that there were no refrigerators at that time, it’s just that ordinary people didn’t have them at home.

Guo Li was speechless.

Wow! You are so picky about such a delicious watermelon. However, I think cold watermelon must be delicious, especially on such a hot day.

Director Li was also at a loss whether to laugh or cry, and he scolded with a smile: "It's up to you to choose."

Since Zhou Yimin said so, she stopped cutting.

Just as he was about to turn around and continue making food, he saw two children outside the door poking their heads in. Director Li sighed and cut half of the watermelon into small pieces.

He shouted, "Xiaoxia, call all the children in the yard over here."

Director Li also paid attention to Zhou Yimin's reaction, after all, it was he who brought the watermelon.

However, Zhou Yimin had no objection to her doing this, so he felt relieved.

Soon, a group of children gathered around and called Grandma Li, staring at the watermelons and swallowing their saliva.

"One piece per person, no snatching allowed."

She lives in this courtyard, and the residents there are relatively harmonious. Those who are not harmonious have basically gone to the street office. Who wouldn't be afraid?

The children received the watermelons, said thank you, and immediately ran home. Many of the children were eating watermelons for the first time, and after taking a bite, they felt the sweetness penetrated their hearts.

At the end of the meal, even the white melon sac was eaten, leaving only a thin layer of melon rind.

Guo Li collected the watermelon rinds that Zhou Yimin had eaten, as well as the watermelon seeds that he had spit on the table.

These are all useful.

After a while, Zhao Zhenguo and his son came back.

As soon as he entered the door, Zhao Zhenguo was scolded by his mother, which made him confused.

Zhao Zhenguo's father already knew something about instant noodles. On the way back, his son talked to him about it. He also thought it was a good opportunity.

"Yimin has given your son a great opportunity, don't you know?" Zhao Zhenguo's father said.

Big opportunity?
Director Li was confused and had a face full of question marks.

(End of this chapter)