Chapter 74 Reward
"Uh"

Why are so many people looking for me today?

When Wang Deming turned around, he saw Zhang Dayong, the chief of Jiaodaokou Police Station, with a ruddy face, riding a large bicycle, with two policemen also riding bicycles following on his left and right.

"Crack!" Director Zhang pulled up in front of Wang Deming with a dashing rear-end. He glanced at Qin Huairu casually before looking Wang Deming up and down. He nodded with satisfaction and said, "Well, this is what the working people and the poor people should wear!"

"Very good, Wang Deming. You have responded to the country's current call for thrift and diligence, while also not forgetting your own poor nature. Very good!"

"That's right. No matter what time, don't forget your class!"

Because he was going back to his hometown today, Wang Deming specially changed into a patched gray-black coarse cloth suit. Unexpectedly, Director Zhang had a very good impression of him and even said several good words about him.

"I came to see you today because the reward from last time has come down."

"I stopped by specially to bring it to you."

"Here, this is 10 yuan. Take it and sign the receipt for me."

Wang Deming took it with both hands with an excited look on his face, and said modestly: "I just did what an ordinary citizen should do. I thank the country and the government for their recognition and encouragement!"

".I will continue to work hard to improve myself and vigorously promote the revolutionary spirit of optimism and struggle!"

At the end of his speech, Wang Deming had a look of righteousness on his face.

"Haha, I knew you would say that! The last time I met your teacher Lu and principal Zhang from No. 5 Middle School, they spoke very highly of you!"

"The only thing I'm dissatisfied with is that you're so stubborn that you refuse to go to college!"

Director Zhang turned his gaze to Qin Huairu, who was somewhat evasive beside Wang Deming, raised his eyebrows and asked, "Who is this?"

"Haha, she is my childhood sweetheart."

"Haha, good boy, I'm almost 30 years old this year, and I still haven't made it. You're so quick to act."

"Very good, it also proves that you have not forgotten your roots!"

"By the way, this is for you too!" Director Zhang threw a small hardcover book to Wang Deming, "Militia gun license. From now on, you will be a soldier under my command."

"Remember to attend training and patrol on time!"

"Haha, I even asked for a militia platoon leader just for you!"

Wang Deming took the militia certificate in his hand and opened it. There were a few handwritten words in ink in the middle: Jiaodaokou Street Militia Platoon Leader!
I also registered my name, address, and the school I graduated from, and there was a blank box in the upper left corner.

"Remember to find a one-inch photo and paste it on."

"Okay, it looks like you guys are going out, I won't keep you any longer, let's go."

Director Zhang pushed the ground hard with his left leg, lifted his butt off the seat, and pedaled hard with his right leg. His face turned red, and the bicycle slowly accelerated and soon disappeared from the street.

Wang Deming looked at Director Zhang's back thoughtfully, feeling very strange. Did Director Zhang come here today just to give him a reward and a militia certificate?
He turned his head to glance at Qin Huairu, or was it inconvenient to ask directly because Xiaoru was there?
Forget it, never mind. I’ve been busy all day, so I’ll just go back home.

In this way, they hurried as fast as they could and arrived in Changping at noon. They took Qin Huairu to find a second meat shop (a small restaurant that was one level higher than the big wine jar) with two storefronts and the stove at the door.

Although the temperature has dropped a lot, the chef cooking at the door is still wearing a double-breasted jacket with his arms exposed. He keeps turning the big iron pot, with flames rising, and occasionally wiping the sweat with the towel around his neck.

As soon as we arrived at the door, the waiter came out to greet us, "Hey, sir, you're here. Would you please come in?"

After wiping the table and chairs with the rough white rag on his shoulder, he asked Wang Deming and Qin Huairu to sit down, and then he started to announce the dishes. "What would you like? Our chef is good at making "jar meat", and his skills in stir-frying, frying, and stir-frying are also great: stir-fried meatballs, fried meatballs; soft stir-fried meat slices, sweet and sour pork tenderloin; stir-fried liver tips, stir-fried kidneys, and stir-fried three kinds; vegetarian dishes include roasted eggplant, spicy cabbage, and spicy tofu."

"Okay, one serving of braised pork in a jar, one serving of roasted eggplant, a soup, and five steamed buns. Eat and leave."

"Okay!" The waiter immediately shouted, "Pot in a jar, braised eggplant, and a bowl of broth with egg yolk and two pea sprouts to make it fresh. Five-flower rolls, order in advance, and you can leave after you finish eating. It won't delay your business!"

After the waiter left, Qin Huairu leaned forward and whispered, "Deming, we only need one vegetable dish and one soup. Why did you order another pot of meat? How expensive is that?"

Wang Deming took out two pairs of chopsticks from the bamboo tube beside the table, wiped them with a handkerchief, handed one pair to Qin Huairu, and replied with a chuckle: "Xiaoru, don't worry about our family's money."

"I went to the clothing store this morning, and Uncle Yin Changrong gave me a raise again, 35 yuan a month."

He patted his pocket and said, "Also give me the money for buying autumn and winter vegetables when I went back to my hometown this time. You can eat as much as you want without worry."

"Yeah." Qin Huairu smiled sweetly, her eyes full of admiration and love.

The dishes were served very quickly. After finishing the meal, I wiped my mouth and paid the bill. The total cost was 8 cents. The most expensive dish was 5 cents, but the portion was large, with 6 large pieces. The roasted eggplant was 6 cents, the soup was 5 cents, and the palm-sized flower roll was 5 cents.

"Deming, Xiaoru, Mom thought you wouldn't be back this week. It's already past noon." Wang Shuqin, who was sitting on a small bench in the yard with several middle-aged and elderly women from the village, chatting and mending clothes while basking in the sun, immediately stood up in surprise when she saw the donkey cart parked at the gate of the yard.

An old lady nearby rubbed her hair with a needle twice, and said jokingly, "Haha, Aunt Yan, Deming is so filial, how could he not come back?"

"It's not like our family. After getting married, they forget about their mothers. Every day at home, they revolve around their wives."

"Deming, if you don't come back, your mother's neck will be stretched to a very long length."

"Haha." The women nearby laughed.

Wang Deming first greeted the women with a smile, "Auntie, Aunt Wu."

Turning around, he explained to his godmother, "I went to Uncle Yin Changrong's this morning, and then I was suddenly delayed by two things."

At this time, one of the younger middle-aged women noticed Qin Huairu beside Wang Deming and said, "Well, don't say that, this city is a place that feeds people. Look at Xiaoru, her skin is so white and tender, as if it could drip water."

"Oh my god, isn't it?"

"Tsk tsk, it has to be Deming!"

"Xiao Ru is enjoying a life of luxury right after getting married. She doesn't even have to serve her mother-in-law and can go straight to the capital."

"If we see this outside, we won't be able to recognize it."

Hearing the envy and jealousy in the voices of these middle-aged and elderly women, Wang Deming rolled his eyes and said to them with a smile: "Auntie, Fifth Auntie, I have to help buy autumn and winter vegetables in the city when I come back this time."

"Do you have any extra vegetables in your garden? Give me cash."

"Tomorrow morning, I will ask the villagers to send donkey carts to take them all away."

"Ah Deming, take the ones from my house first!"

“And my family’s.”

This group of middle-aged and elderly women instantly picked up the small stools under their buttocks with one hand, held their clothes and needles with the other hand, and scattered like birds and beasts, running back home.

(End of this chapter)