"Sure, let’s move it back," Jiang Changhai said quite generously.
This decision had been previously discussed with his wife and daughter.
After lunch, the Jiang family members didn’t sit for too long before Zhang Guihua started to make preparations to leave.
"Mom, it’s not often you visit. Stay a bit longer, have dinner with us, then you can head back," Jiang Changhai pleaded.
"No need to stay longer, there’s still work to be done at home. Second brother, Laosan, go and carry the TV so we can head back earlier," Zhang Guihua instructed, pointing at the television.
In reality, the work at home was an excuse. Zhang Guihua was eager to show off their village’s very first television.
Her son had brought home such a treasured item just for her; she couldn’t wait to go back and flaunt it to the villagers, to make them envy her.
Jiang Changhe obediently walked over to lift the TV, but Jiang Changtao quickly ran over, smiling and saying, "Second brother, let me carry the TV."
Usually, Jiang Changtao wasn’t this enthusiastic about chores, but he was eager to show off while carrying the television.
After all, a TV was a rare and precious item, and he’d look so impressive and boastful carrying it back home.
Seeing this, Jiang Changhe didn’t say much; he was always one to avoid conflict and competition.
"Alright, you take it then."
"Laosan, come here, use this woven bamboo basket to carry it on your back. It’s so cold this winter, your hands will freeze if you carry it all the way," Su Wanyu suggested, bringing out a small basket from the kitchen, just the right size to fit the television.
However, the basket wasn’t tall enough; when the TV was placed inside, half of the body stuck out, clearly revealing what it contained.
"Thanks, sis-in-law."
When the Jiang family members headed back to the village carrying the TV, it was around two or three o’clock, and the villagers who had finished lunch and were out working were shocked to see them.
They all gathered around, asking, "Uncle Dashan, did your family buy a television?"
"No, it’s Changhai who bought it. They got a color one and gave us this black and white one to watch," Jiang Dashan stated, unconsciously straightening his back.
"Changhai gave it to you? Changhai is really something nowadays, to buy two televisions just like that. I heard from the people at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative that a TV costs over three hundred yuan? He must be really wealthy."
"Yeah, and sometimes, even if you have the money, you can’t buy one. There’s like a quota of just ten or twenty units per year, right?"
"It’s so hard to get, how did Changhai manage to buy one?"
Hearing people’s words in the village, Zhang Guihua held her head high, saying very proudly, "Is my son just anyone? As for the TV, he could buy as many as he likes. There’s even a color one back at his house."
"Wow, that Changhai is now even more incredible than city folk. I’ve got a relative in the city who’s been wanting to buy a TV for years and still hasn’t managed to get one."
"Changhai has really become the most successful kid in our village."
The villagers praised Jiang Changhai while following the Jiang family members home.
"Aunt Guihua, could you turn on the television later and show us? We’ve heard so much about it but have never seen one," a young man from the village pleaded with a hopeful face.
"Yeah, Aunt Guihua, let us watch the TV for a bit."
Although Zhang Guihua enjoyed the villagers’ compliments and felt uplifted, she wasn’t so flattered as to lose her senses.