Framed at the beginning: Female educated youth forced to marry disabled military officer

After a while, Father Xiao came back and decided that the two of them would move to the old house.

The two of them could carry their own things there, and the food was divided among them.

But other things that are used at home cannot be moved because the family still needs them.

For example, they have to buy pots and pans, oil, salt, sauce and vinegar by themselves.

Xiao Xiangdong had already found someone to repair the roof, and Xiao Tiezhu and others also filled in the collapsed earth wall.

It will take two days for Uncle Li's furniture to be ready. Once it is ready, you can move.

On the appointed day to pick up the cotton, Meng Xiaoman took another half-day off and went to town.

When Xiao's mother saw that she had asked for leave again, she originally wanted to say something to her, but when she remembered that they had just had a quarrel and the two of them had gone out alone, she swallowed the words that came to her lips.

Thinking in her mind, she asked for leave every three days, and when she ran out of food, she would cry.

Meng Xiaoman took a mule cart to the commune. He first went to the post office to mail the letter to his family, and then went to the supply and marketing cooperative.

In the supply and marketing cooperative, there were still the same two saleswomen from before, looking like they were trying to ignore me.

Meng Xiaoman used two industrial coupons to add money and bought an iron pot. These two industrial coupons were given to me by the original owner’s mother when I went to the countryside. Otherwise, we won’t even be able to buy a pot.

After buying the pot, Meng Xiaoman used the meat stamps and ninety-four cents to buy a pound of pork suet.

Pork is divided into three grades according to its quality and fatness. The cheapest is 78 cents, the medium one is 87 cents, and the suet is the most expensive, costing 94 cents.

Meng Xiaoman planned to make some lard, so she bought the most expensive suet and had some pig skin cut off for cooking.

Salt cost 150 cents, and Meng Xiaoman bought two. Matches cost two cents a box, and Meng Xiaoman took five boxes. Although matches are cheap, you should not buy too many at once as they may not be used up and they may easily get damp.

Vinegar and soy sauce cost eight cents a pound, and Meng Xiaoman bought one pound each.

I bought the necessary dishes and spoons before going to the black market outside the town to get some cotton.

After Meng Xiaoman left, Xiao Xiangdong went to the old house with a rag and broom to clean it. Xiao Qingqing and others also went to help because they ate Meng Xiaoman's candies.

When I got home, I just put down my things when Xiao Xiangdong and a few children came back.

Meng Xiaoman thought that there was still a bunch of grapes picked yesterday, so she gave them to several children to wash and eat.

Xiao Zhengjin and Xiao Zhengyin are not bad in nature, but they are a bit naughty because their adults neglect discipline and dote on them.

The two girls, Xiao Qingqing and Xiao Lanlan, have always been relatively sensible, even a little so sensible that it makes people feel bad.

When Meng Xiaoman divided the candies, they divided them equally. The three boys always stuffed them into their mouths immediately after receiving them. Xiao Lanlan ate it for the first time. After looking at it for the second time, she was reluctant to eat it and put it in her pocket.

As for Xiao Qingqing, she put everything in her pocket and packed it up.

Since Xiao Xiangdong stopped washing clothes for other people in the Xiao family, Xiao Qingqing washed the clothes in the main house. Every time Meng Xiaoman saw her, he was either watching his brother, washing clothes, or cutting grass and collecting firewood.

Meng Xiaoman asked Xiao Xiangdong and found out that none of the Xiao family's children went to school.

"Qingqing's family thinks it's useless for girls to go to school. Xiao Zhengjin's is because the school is a bit far away. The family is afraid that he won't be able to endure the hardship, so they plan to send him to school when he is one year older."

"Why is it useless for girls to go to school? We still have this feudal mentality."

"I also told my parents, as well as my eldest brother and sister-in-law, that they were worried that Qingqing would go to school without anyone watching Zhengyu. They were worried, so they didn't let her go."

Meng Xiaoman wanted to deliver the groceries to the old house and cook a pot on the way, so the two went to the old house together.

Although the house in the old house is small, the yard is relatively large. There are also several fruit trees planted in the yard, and a persimmon tree is covered with yellow persimmons.

In addition to the persimmon tree, there is also a pomegranate tree, a peach tree, and a jujube tree.

"When we move here, I'll make some persimmon cakes." The method of making persimmon cakes has been told to the villagers through the branch secretary. But according to Meng Xiaoman's observation, very few people actually implement it.

The Xiao family didn’t do it.

"By the way, is there anyone who makes pottery urns nearby? I need that." In addition to pottery urns, Meng Xiaoman also wants to buy some pots for pickling vegetables, otherwise there will be no vegetables to eat in winter.

Xiao Xiangdong: "There are people in the Yangliu Brigade who can make it. Every month, every month, when the country market is held, they will go to the market to sell."

Meng Xiaoman: "Do you want to buy or sell things now?"

Xiao Xiangdong: "These small agricultural and sideline products and handicrafts are nothing. They are for the convenience of everyone to exchange what they have, and they are often bartered."

There are two side rooms, a kitchen room and a firewood room.

Meng Xiaoman washed the iron pot she just bought, put it on the stove, cut some fat with the skin on, and started to boil the pot.

There was still a little thatch left to replace the roof, so Xiao Xiangdong lit a handful of dry thatch and started to light the fire.

Using lard to boil a pan can form an oil film on the iron pan, which will prevent it from sticking to the pan and rusting during use.

After opening the pot, Meng Xiaoman took advantage of the situation and refined the pork suet she bought.

Put the lard and oil residue into a jar for use when cooking.

Back at Xiao's house, Meng Xiaoman took out the cloth and cotton he bought and prepared to make cotton clothes for Xiao Xiangdong.

Just as he was about to cut off the scissors, he suddenly remembered that he forgot to measure him.

Holding a soft ruler, he walked to the door of the room and said, "Get up and stand up straight."

"Okay, is this okay?"

Xiao Xiangdong leaned on crutches and tried to straighten his waist and abdomen, keeping his legs as vertical as possible.

"Okay, why don't you ask me what I want to do?"

"You must have your own reasons." Xiao Xiangdong replied.

"You are so boring, you have no curiosity at all." Meng Xiaoman muttered.

"Then what are you going to do?" Xiao Xiangdong quickly made amends. After speaking, he looked at Meng Xiaoman curiously.

"Of course I'm making clothes for someone." Meng Xiaoman said lightly.

In fact, he had already guessed that taking measurements would definitely mean making him new clothes.

However, he was used to being expressionless, but his heart was already filled with joy.

This was the first time in my memory that someone made him new clothes. It was so nice.

After measuring the dimensions, Meng Xiaoman took a piece of paper to write it down and started cutting the cloth.

"Can you also make clothes?"

Xiao Xiangdong looked at her skillful movements and asked.

"Of course, I worked in a clothing factory before."

Meng Xiaoman didn't even look up.

"Then why did you go to the countryside?" Xiao Xiangdong asked.

According to his understanding, urban youths who have jobs do not need to go to the countryside.

Meng Xiaoman told him about going to the countryside for his stepsister.

After Xiao Xiangdong heard this, a surge of anger swirled in his chest, "They went too far, they simply bullied people too much."

"It's not a big deal. Look how angry you are. Isn't it just a job? Just think of it as repaying the kindness they brought up."

Meng Xiaoman said nonchalantly.

Even in the city, she would find a way to leave that family. Now the mountain is high and the emperor is far away, which is exactly what she wants.

"However, I won't make it easy for them. Just wait and see. After a while, they will obediently give us money."

Xiao Xiangdong was curious, but Meng Xiaoman didn't tell him. He only said that he would know when the time comes.