Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Exchange for some cloth tickets
At that moment, Jiang Changhai was standing at the door chatting with Old Man Zheng, “Phew, it’s really hot today.”
Old Man Zheng fanned himself and asked in surprise, “You’re here to pick up your girl?”
It was rare enough for a girl to get into school, let alone having a father who cared so much that he personally came to pick her up.
Jiang Changhai responded while enjoying the cool breeze from the fan, “That’s right, my Mianmian is so clever, you have no idea. She’s obedient and quick-witted; the teachers and the principal all love her. In the fourth grade exam, she scored full marks.”
Old Man Zheng’s eyes widened in amazement, “Your girl is that smart?!”
“My girl is a genius!”
Just then, the bell signaling the end of class rang.
Jiang Mianmian, with her sharp eyes, immediately spotted her father and ran towards him with joy, waving her hand, “Dad!”
Jiang Changhai quickened his steps, ruffled Jiang Mianmian’s head: “Look, Dad bought you a new school bag and some soda.”
As he spoke, he pulled out a bottle of soda from the army green bag and handed it to her, “It’s still cold.”
Jiang Mianmian licked her lips, twisted off the cap of the soda, and offered it to Jiang Changhai first, “You drink first, Dad.”
Jiang Changhai’s eyes crinkled with joy, waving his hand, “Dad’s not thirsty.”
“No way, Dad must drink.” Jiang Mianmian stubbornly passed the bottle to him, her eyes sparkling brightly, looking incredibly adorable.
“Alright, Dad will drink first.” Jiang Changhai smiled and took a small sip, thinking how considerate and filial his daughter was.
After that, Jiang Mianmian no longer held back and took a big gulp from the bottle.
Jiang Zhiwen and Jiang Zhiwu eyed the bottle longingly, licking their lips; they wanted a drink too.
Jiang Changhai stood up, gave the two a glance, and said with unadulterated candor, “You two rascals better forget it, there’s none left.”
Jiang Zhiwen stuck out his tongue, fumbled in his pockets, exchanged a look with Jiang Zhiwu, and both said in unison.
“Uncle, you and San Ya head back first, we’re going to play with some classmates!”
And with that, they ran off, disappearing from sight.
Jiang Changhai knew that the old lady often gave them some pocket money, so they were surely heading to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative to buy snacks.
He didn’t stop them, just walked slowly up the road home, holding his daughter’s hand.
“Dad, the soda is really sweet. Have some more, and the rest can be saved for Mom to drink.”
Jiang Mianmian stopped after taking a few sips, her heart still considering Su Wanyu, which deeply moved Jiang Changhai.
His daughter was indeed a dutiful and thoughtful sweetheart!
He put the bottle back in Jiang Mianmian’s hand, “Don’t worry, my girl. Drink up, I’ve saved another bottle for your mom, and a pork bun too. Eat something quick, don’t go hungry!”
Besides the school bag and stationery, he had bought three delicious pork buns and two bottles of soda. He ate one and saved the remaining buns and soda for his wife and daughter.
Just then, they overheard a girl up ahead boasting to another girl, “Look, this is the new dress my mom just made for me. Isn’t it pretty?”
Jiang Changhai looked at the girl in the new red dress and then at his own daughter, clad in her dull attire. He stroked his chin, thinking his Mianmian would look even prettier in red!
So that evening back at home, he discussed with his wife, “I want to make a new dress for our Mianmian, but mom certainly doesn’t have any cloth tickets. I plan to head up to the mountain to catch some game and trade it for cloth tickets in town.”
“Okay.” Su Wanyu had no objections.
Even though the mountain was home to some poisonous insects and ferocious animals, Jiang Changhai was very skilled at hunting for game and had never once had a mishap.
Because he could run incredibly fast!
And besides, private trading hadn’t been as strictly controlled this past year as it used to be.