Stepmother Reborn: Dad, my mom hasn't hit me for three days

On the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang Xiuhua drove back from the county in a Feicai tricycle. This one is not electric, but fueled by diesel. This is a farm tricycle. Pickup trucks are too expensive, so Zhang Xiuhua bought a farm tricycle, which is more convenient for transporting beer.

Aunt Wang Er heard the horn from outside, came out to take a look, and looked around, "Hey, how much is this?"

Zhang Xiuhua quoted a price, "Six thousand five hundred yuan."

Aunt Wang smacked her lips. "You must have been ripped off. My cousin from Uncle Xinghua's second family bought a Feicai tricycle with a 12-horsepower diesel engine that's similar to yours. He spent yuan on it, but it was a second-hand car. It's a good deal at over a thousand yuan cheaper."

Zhang Xiuhua sighed, "Second-hand ones burn oil quickly."

Diesel is hard to buy now. Farmers need a certificate from the team to buy diesel, and after each family uses it on their farmland, there is nothing left. The diesel bought by the brewery is more expensive than the diesel used for farming, so of course they try to save as much as possible.

Aunt Wang was absolutely right. She walked around the tricycle and sighed, "Only you are willing to spend so much money. We can just buy a pedal one, which is more than half the price and is also good."

Zhang Xiuhua smiled and said, "It's different. The brewery needs a tricycle. The tractor is too slow."

Her favorite is the electric tricycle. It is cheap and durable. Unfortunately, the electric tricycles can't travel far now. It's not worth buying. She will buy it when the domestic electric technology is better.

At this moment, Aunt Wang pointed behind her and said, "Hey, look at those people. I have never seen them before. Whose relatives are they?"

Zhang Xiuhua turned around and saw the faces of Xiao Chen and the others. She was slightly surprised and hurriedly greeted them, "Why are you here?"

The team leader brought Xiao Chen and others with gifts, "We are on vacation. We heard that you were okay, so we came to see you. We were busy at work and when you appealed, so we didn't go to see you. So here we are."

Zhang Xiuhua hurriedly invited them into the house. She opened the main room and unloaded the things from the upper floor. She was a little embarrassed and said, "I just got home and I have too many things. Please forgive me."

The team leader smiled and said, "It doesn't matter. We came here uninvited."

She looked around and said, "You live so far away, we asked people along the way to find you."

Zhang Xiuhua brought the things into the house and poured them a few cups of tea. "Come on! Are you cold? Drink some hot water."

The team leader and others came here by car, but it was too cold and their feet were shivering with cold.

Zhang Xiuhua took them to the kang to warm up, and then put their shoes on the stove to dry. "It's a little cold in the north! I'm so embarrassed for you to come to see me."

Xiao Chen smiled and said, "If you hadn't saved us, we would have been wiping tears by now. There's nothing to be embarrassed about."

Xiao Li was also watching TV. "Your family is well off. You have a refrigerator, washing machine, freezer, and TV. I've never heard you mention that before."

Zhang Xiuhua smiled and said, "This was bought by my godson."

She went to the cellar to get some Gala apples. Not all of the Gala apples in her orchard were sold, so she saved some for her children to eat when they got home. Blueberries can’t be stored in the cellar because they go bad easily, so she froze them in the freezer and also got a plate of them.

"This one feels crunchy when you bite it, you guys try it."

Zhang Xiuhua said with a smile.

Several people were surprised that there were still blueberries in this season. "You sold them on the train before, and they tasted really good. They were all fresh at the time. This is the first time I've eaten frozen ones."

Zhang Xiuhua also smiled, "It tastes different."

Xiao Chen tasted one and found the taste completely different. "It's very fragrant and crunchy. It's slightly sour. If it's made into a candied haws, it will taste even better."

Zhang Xiuhua smiled, "Yes. Every year, my family makes some candied haws, and the children love them."

After chatting for a while, everyone explained their purpose. "Thank you for your help. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't be doing well now."

Zhang Xiuhua waved her hand, "I've said it before, just look forward and stop dwelling on this matter."

The team leader couldn't understand, "I heard from the conductor that you quit. Why?"

Zhang Xiuhua did not tell them that she had lost her space. She only made up an excuse, "I am old. I am always traveling back and forth between the two places and I can't take care of my family. It's time for me to retire."

The team leader was a little unconvinced, "How old are you? You're not even fifty yet, and you're already saying you're old."

Xiao Chen also felt it was a pity, "You speak Russian so well, it's a waste to quit your job and stay at home."

Zhang Xiuhua smiled and said, "It's not a waste. I heard that we are planning to open a trade with Russia. I can speak Russian, which is very convenient."

This is not Zhang Xiuhua's nonsense, it was reported in the newspaper a while ago. The policy has been issued, and now we are discussing the details of customs clearance, and it is estimated that it will be officially implemented next year.

Xiao Chen suddenly realized, "That's really good."

She pulled out an invitation from her bag. "I'm getting married next year. I'm being transferred to the Capital Industry and Commerce Bureau. So I won't be on the train anymore. When you go to the capital, remember to come visit me."

Zhang Xiuhua was surprised. The transfer from the Railway Bureau to the Industrial and Commercial Bureau was too big a span, wasn't it? But after thinking about it carefully, it was different at this time. The director of a state-owned enterprise factory could be promoted to deputy mayor.

She opened the invitation and checked the time, "Okay! I'll be there then."

It just so happened that she was going to the capital to buy a house, so it was also good for her to attend the wedding while she was there.

Xiao Chen smiled and said, "Why don't I help you find someone to transfer you to the Industry and Commerce Bureau. This way you can still work."

Zhang Xiuhua was slightly stunned. A stable job in the capital sounded good indeed. But she still refused. "I just want to retire now. I don't want to do any work. It's not because of the case."

Xiao Chen believed it only when he heard that she was unwilling to go to the capital.

The team leader held Zhang Xiuhua's hand and asked, "I heard from Xiao Chen that Li Baozhu is your daughter?"

Zhang Xiuhua nodded. "It's not that I didn't tell you, it's just that she wasn't famous before, and I was afraid that if I told you, you would laugh at me."

Xiao Chen laughed, "How could we laugh at you? You don't know how much we envy you."

The team leader praised her, "The TV series 'Romantic Love' starring your daughter is quite popular. We were on the train and the passengers were talking about her. Buy her magazines."

Zhang Xiuhua smiled and said, "She entered the industry relatively early and used to play supporting roles. She only started playing the leading role recently."

The team leader nodded and pointed at Xiao Li, saying, "Her father is the editor-in-chief of the China Daily and has helped your daughter report many headlines."

Zhang Xiuhua suddenly realized that Zhuzhu's success was also due to Xiao Li's father. She really didn't know this. She hurriedly shook hands with him and said, "Thank you so much. If you hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known."

Xiao Li was a little embarrassed, "You saved me, so my dad wanted to thank you. But his ability is limited. This time, Li Baozhu's "Romantic Love" is indeed good. He added fuel to the fire. The most important thing is that your daughter acted well."

This is a nice statement. Zhang Xiuhua smiled and said, "That also needs to be promoted. She played many roles before, but she didn't even make a splash. This time, she finally got something."

Although repaying a favor is a virtue, it also has a derogatory meaning, "repaying a favor with a motive." She cannot expect others to repay her in kind. Now that the other party is willing to help Zhuzhu, she is very grateful.

Xiao Chen smiled and said, "Your daughter is really good at acting. She is lively and cute, and she is also good-looking."

Others followed suit. Zhang Xiuhua was not modest and also praised Zhuzhu for her good looks.

She asked everyone to warm up first and then go to the kitchen to cook for them. They must stay for dinner.

But a few people held her back, not letting her work any more. "We have to leave after a short rest. We can't miss the afternoon train."

Zhang Xiuhua refused to do anything. "I don't cook complicated dishes. I'll let you try the Northeastern iron pot stew. It's much easier."

Only then did they let go.

Zhang Xiuhua went to Aunt Wang's house and bought a big goose. She also soaked some black fungus and vermicelli and washed some potatoes.

When the goose stewed in an iron pot was served, several people were dumbfounded. Why did they even bring the pot?

Zhang Xiuhua explained to them, "It's too cold here. If I cook a second dish, the first one will be frozen solid. Stews are the main dish here, and the portion is big. Come and have a try."

She got some kimchi and cut up some braised beef, and there was a pot of ginseng chicken soup on the stove.

"It's a little shabby, please don't be disgusted!"

Xiao Chen shook his head, "I don't mind, this is the first time I eat like this."

"Come on! Let's drink some ginseng to warm our stomachs!"

The team leader took the bowl and found that there was indeed a ginseng in it. His eyes widened, "What is this?"

Zhang Xiuhua smiled and said, "Ginseng grown under my own forest. When you came to the restaurant to see me before, the signature dish there, ginseng chicken soup, is made from ginseng grown by us. It's been eight years. The medicinal effect is very good. You are often on the train, and you don't eat well or sleep well, and you are listless. Drinking this soup is the best for your health."

Several people were flattered, "This is too expensive."

"When a distinguished guest comes to visit, of course we have to use distinguished gifts." Zhang Xiuhua said with a smile, "My cooking skills are not as good as my man's. He is a professional chef, so please don't look down on me."

Xiao Chen took a sip and found the soup nourishing. "It smells so good! It warms my stomach."

Several people exclaimed, "It's really a good thing!"

Seeing their curiosity, Zhang Xiuhua also smiled and said, "If you come in autumn, I can take you to the mountains to dig ginseng. Now it's icy and snowy, and the ginseng is all covered. You can't see anything."

Several people did not come here for the ginseng, and they were filled with emotion, "Your place is very suitable for a farm stay. You grow fruits and ginseng yourself."

Zhang Xiuhua is not interested in this. "We grow crops for ourselves and sell the excess. It's too troublesome to build a farmhouse or a house."

"Too!"

Everyone ate iron pot stew and drank ginseng chicken soup.

After dinner, it was getting late, so the group went back.

Xiao Li said to Zhang Xiuhua, "I'll tell my dad later that I'll promote your daughter's new play when she has one."

Zhang Xiuhua smiled and said, "That's great, thank you very much."

"What are you thanking me for?" Xiao Li waved his hand.

After chatting for a while, Li Jianguo came back and Zhang Xiuhua asked him to drive the pickup truck to take them to the train station.

Li Jianguo smiled and nodded, "Okay!"

The team leader and others climbed into the back car, and in the cold wind, they waved goodbye to Zhang Xiuhua.