Rebirth in the 60s: A Path to Counterattack-Chapter 107. Disagreement, Argument

Lian Hai knew his sister and brother-in-law were sincerely inviting him, and he also knew his own sister’s penchant for saving face. Hearing her indeed mention the name of the state-run restaurant, Lian Hai chuckled while driving and made a wish: "Alright then, today I’ll take the opportunity to join my sister and brother-in-law for a meal, thanks to my big brother and Saozi. Another day, I’ll grind some wheat, buy a few pounds of meat, and have the wives wrap a bunch of meat dumplings for everyone. Hehe, apart from scallions, we won’t add anything else!

I’ll splurge a few bucks to enjoy a mouthful of savory goodness."

"You little brat, talking nonsense, acting like you’re entitled. Drive the cart properly, or we’ll eat meat while you sip broth. Don’t want to piggyback, huh? Then have two buns dipped in meat soup, now that’s a real treat!" Unable to tolerate his funny voice, Lian Yue responded with a crisp laugh from inside the tent. freёnovelkiss-com

"Don’t! If you act like that, when the kid wraps dumplings, how about having the wife cook noodles for you in the dumpling pot?" Ning Jianshe laughed, his advice more like adding fuel to the fire.

Truly, he’s got a knack for stirring things up!

To see his brother-in-law made fun of, he spared no effort.

And in reality, Lian Yue didn’t disappoint his expectations in the slightest.

As soon as he finished speaking, Lian Yue glared, as if Lian Hai really dared to do so: "If that brat dares to treat his sister like this, I’ll make sure to broadcast all his nasty stories with Saozi and the sister-in-law about how he feared stopping milk at a certain age, and made excuses for wetting the bed by pouring water on it.

And then there’s..."

"Sister, dear sister, please stop. I’ll even give you my share of dumplings for you and the nephew, alright? Please save me some face!" Lian Hai, reddened, pleaded from outside the tent, fearing his sister would spill all his embarrassing childhood stories while amused.

The thoroughly embarrassed voice evoked uproarious laughter from the heartless siblings.

After enjoying a delightful meal in the midst of laughter, they strolled around the supply and marketing cooperative.

Thinking it was rare to visit the city, why not buy some candies for the kids at home, so their anticipation isn’t for naught?

Fortunately, they learned from Shuzhen to raise worms to feed chickens and cultivate mushrooms. They often sold mushrooms, eggs, and the like to the purchasing station; though the prices were low, they weren’t really short on certificates and such.

Otherwise, if they had money but no tickets, they wouldn’t have a way to bring something back for the kids, even if they wanted to.

When they left after the meal, it was already past one in the afternoon, and they didn’t dare linger too long at the market. They feared the train might arrive before they got back. Being late by a few minutes would mean listening to Sun Manager’s sarcastic nagging.

So they rushed to the non-staple food counter. After hurriedly buying all the desired items, they realized, surprisingly, that snow had begun to fall thickly?

Looking at the overcast, pot-bottom black sky and the fluttering flakes in the biting wind, their hearts sank: it seemed unlikely that the weather would clear up anytime soon. If they left right now, it might be manageable. After all, they were well-prepared, with quilts and tents. But if the train was delayed until three-thirty, when snow thickened, winds picked up, and roads became slippery, would they still be able to go?

The three exchanged looks, pondering the possibility of staying a night at the guest house.

However, recalling Sun Manager’s stingy habit of examining the thickness of even a three-cent bun, they unanimously believed this was unlikely.

And indeed, things turned out worse than they thought. Not only did Sun Manager oppose staying overnight at the guest house to wait for clear skies but he also learned to use pompous rhetoric.

Hearing his spiel about how good citizens must endure hardships and fight against harsh environments, he mentioned stories of revolutionary martyrs climbing snow-capped mountains and crossing grasslands, asserting that a little snow and wind was nothing. To complete the tasks assigned by D and the country, one must have the spirit of fearing neither hardship nor fatigue, even sacrificing life, let alone bad weather?

The fervor in his speech almost made Ning Jianshe want to punch him.

Frankly put, after hearing this, he couldn’t take his wife and the two pregnant sisters-in-law to open a room in the guest house and return when the weather improved.

After all, bearing the label of capitalist enjoyment wouldn’t do him any favors, and to avoid those lunatics desperate for promotion ratting him out, he had to endure.

Thankfully, the brother-in-law was considerate and capable, somehow procuring a tent from somewhere.

Finally, at three-thirty in the afternoon, the long-delayed train slowly pulled into the station.

Sun Manager, holding the proof and introduction letter, and Lian Hai, lifting the prepared welcome sign, went to the platform to greet people. Meanwhile, Shuzhen and others were left to watch over the cart’s belongings.

After waiting a long while, they saw Sun Manager storming off angrily, with Lian Hai trailing far behind, supporting a shivering, scantily clad, labor reform worker, while still defending his reasoning.

It turned out that after enduring criticism sessions, severed relations, and labor reform assignments, the exhausted reform workers couldn’t handle the fatigue and massive climate change.

Of the eleven, half were injured or ill, with the three most seriously affected already delirious from a fever.

With such poor health, if they didn’t quickly seek medical attention, and instead braved the wind and snow on the way back, those most unwell might not make it back to the village.

Three lives at stake, Lian Hai dared not act negligently.

He immediately suggested to Sun Manager: perhaps they shouldn’t hurry back in the snow and wind but instead, first take those visibly ill to the hospital. Have the doctor prescribe some medicine, administer injections. Stay a night, and return when the weather improves tomorrow. Although it might cost a bit more, human lives are at stake, and money, after all, is secondary.

Upon hearing what these eleven were, Sun Manager simmered with anger.

None of the eleven possessed grain quotas, all needing to be allocated to their production team. They’d work for labor points, supposedly for labor reform. But with the elderly and the weak, three so sick they stumbled, there were hardly any capable workers among them.

Contemplating how big a loss his production team was bearing, the foolish Lian Hai came forward, suggesting they take the feverish ones to the hospital and arrange accommodations at the guest house. It was as if pressing Sun Manager’s temper’s trigger, able to restrain himself from kicking him was already saving him immense face. Yet hoping he’d agree?

A bunch of labor reform convicts, how could they have such audacity?!

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