met free Chapter 219 Farm Tools
Chapter 219 Farm Tools
"Erwa's grandma! There's a letter from Jianguo!"
The captain hurried into the yard holding a letter, completely losing his usual calm demeanor.
Upon hearing the noise, the captain's wife hurried out of the house, her face filled with surprise and anticipation. "What did you say? Li Zhongxue, are you serious? Did Jianguo really write to me? Show me what he said!"
The captain handed the letter to his wife breathlessly, his face filled with unconcealable joy.
The captain's wife took the letter with trembling hands, as if this thin piece of paper carried her endless thoughts and expectations.
"Slow down, don't tear it up," Li Zhongxue reminded, his eyes filled with tenderness and expectation. Clearly, this letter meant a lot to this small family.
The captain's wife carefully opened the envelope, revealing a yellowed piece of letter paper with dense handwriting on it.
Her eyes were instantly moist, but there was a happy smile on her lips.
"Jianguo said that everything is fine in the army, that he's eating well and sleeping well, and asked us not to worry about him."
The captain's wife wiped the tears from her eyes with her sleeve as she read the letter. "He also said that he missed home and the old ox in the brigade. He also said that when he has the chance, he will bring his girlfriend back to see us."
The captain was listening on the side. His face was originally full of smiles, but when he heard "bring his girlfriend back to see us", he was stunned for a moment, and then the smile on the corner of his mouth immediately fell.
"Li Jianguo has a girlfriend in the army?" There was a subtle hint of dissatisfaction in the captain's tone.
The captain's wife looked up at the captain, a complex light flashed in her eyes, and then she lowered her head and continued to read the letter:
"Yes, he said he met a very good girl who treated him very well and they got along very well. He said that he would bring her home to show us when he has some time off."
The captain turned around and left without waiting for his wife to finish her words, with his hands behind his back.
The captain's wife looked up and rolled her eyes at his back, muttering to herself, as if everyone knew his little thoughts, so she was too lazy to pay attention to him.
The captain's wife thought about it and, regardless of whether the captain was leaving or not, she happily returned to the house with the letter, ready to read it carefully several times and think about what to send back to Jianguo.
The captain walked along the country road with mixed emotions.
On the one hand, he was happy that Jianguo had found someone he liked in the army. After all, his child had grown up and was far away from home, so it was good to have someone who cared about him.
However, on the other hand, he couldn't help feeling a little disappointed. He had been waiting for Jianguo to come back so he could introduce him to Shen Nian. He felt that Jianguo and Shen Nian would definitely get along.
The team leader walked aimlessly in the brigade, thinking about his own things, and unknowingly walked to the door of Wu the carpenter's house in the team.
At this time, he saw a familiar figure talking to Carpenter Wu. Wasn't that Shen Nian?
Seeing Shen Nian, the captain's mood improved a little, but only slightly. He walked forward and greeted:
"Carpenter Wu, what are you busy with, Mr. Shen?"
Shen Nian turned around and saw that it was the captain. He smiled and replied, "Captain, I came to ask Uncle Wu for help in making something."
Carpenter Wu continued, "Captain, Mr. Shen came to me and asked me to make some rice-supporting tools and a scythe for harvesting wheat. I don't know how to make these, and I'm currently discussing them with Mr. Shen."
The captain's interest was piqued upon hearing this. He hurried over to the yard and asked curiously, "Rice support? Sledgehammer? Shen Zhiqing, what are these things?"
Seeing the captain's interest, Shen Nian explained in detail: "Captain, the rice support is used to help support the rice when harvesting rice. As for the sickle, it is used when harvesting wheat. It is more labor-saving and more efficient than the sickle.
I had seen these farm tools in a book and thought they would be of great help to our team's farm work, so I drew them and planned to consult Uncle Wu to see if he could make them.
The autumn harvest is just around the corner, so I wanted to give it a try. If it works, we can make more."
Shen Nian calmly explained what she had read on her phone space, saying it was from a book. She had seen it anyway, so it didn't matter where she saw it, as there was no way to verify it.
What's more, the sickle is an agricultural tool that has been around in Henan since the 1950s. She was very excited when she saw the various rice harvesters on her mobile phone.
Unfortunately, she didn't dare use those in this era. In the end, she could only choose a relatively simple and contemporary saddle, and a homemade rice support.
The captain listened with great interest. These were things he had never heard of before. When he heard Shen Nian say that it could improve efficiency, he couldn't wait to urge Carpenter Wu to get it done quickly.
He nodded repeatedly and couldn't help but say, "Shen Zhiqing, your idea is really good! If our team could have these tools, it would definitely improve efficiency. Carpenter Wu, do you think you can make it?"
Carpenter Wu pondered for a moment and said, "Captain, the diagram drawn by Shen Zhiqing is quite detailed. I'll give it a try and it should work. But you have to give me some time, after all, I've never made this before."
The team leader slapped his thigh and said with a smile, "No problem, as long as you can do it as soon as possible. Shen Zhiqing, you are really the lucky star of our team. You always come up with some good ideas."
When talking about this, the captain thought of his son's search for a partner. He couldn't help but feel sad again. Such a good girl, his Li family just didn't have this blessing!
Shen Nian had no idea of the captain's inner turmoil. She was concentrating on looking at the blueprint she had drawn with Carpenter Wu.
After hearing the captain's words, Shen Nian raised his head and responded with a smile on his face: "Captain, I just want to do my part to make our team's life better."
When the captain heard Shen Nian's words, the depressed mood in his heart temporarily dissipated.
Although Shen Nian cannot be his daughter-in-law, she is still an indispensable part of their Shuangxi Brigade, which is a great thing for him!
"Uncle Wu, please take a close look at this drawing. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me." Shen Nian continued to lower his head and discussed with Carpenter Wu how to make the rice support device.
Carpenter Wu smiled innocently and replied, "Okay, Shen Zhiqing, don't worry, I will definitely make it. If this thing is really made, our team's autumn harvest will be much easier."
The captain said to Carpenter Wu at the right moment: "Carpenter Wu, try to make these tools as soon as possible. When you do, I'll give you a credit!"
Carpenter Wu smiled so hard that the wrinkles on his face were visible, and he promised repeatedly: "Don't worry, Captain, I will do it as soon as possible!"
The captain saw that he had nothing to do here and it would be unnecessary for him to stand here, so he prepared to turn around and leave.
Shen Nian caught a glimpse of the captain's footsteps as he was about to leave, and quickly looked up and called out to him, "Captain, wait a moment, I have something else to tell you."
The captain stopped when he heard the sound and looked at Shen Nian in confusion. Shen Nian briefly explained a few words to Carpenter Wu and then left Carpenter Wu's house with the captain.
Shen Nian and the team leader walked side by side on the country road. Looking at the rice that was gradually turning yellow, Shen Nian said to the team leader:
"Captain, the truth is, I have a little cousin at home, and I want to bring him to our team to go to school, so that Xiao An and Xiao Le can have a companion."
"What?" The captain looked surprised. He asked puzzledly, "Why doesn't your cousin go to school in the city? Isn't the education in the city much better than here in the countryside?"
Shen Nian sighed softly and explained, "Captain, you don't know. My cousin's family has been in trouble recently. Both his parents have passed away, and now only my great-grandparents and this little cousin are left. They can't eat or sleep all day, and there must be nothing they can do. That's why they wrote to me for help. You said that in this situation, I can't just ignore it, right?"
Upon hearing this, the captain's expression became serious, and sympathy appeared in his eyes.
"Oh, so that's how it is. Your cousin's family is really pitiful. Are your great-grandparents in good health? What are their plans?" He couldn't help but ask with concern.
Shen Nian shook his head, a hint of helplessness in his voice: "Grandpa and Grandma are old and their health is not as good as before. They feel that life in the city is too depressing for my cousin, and they also hope that someone can enlighten him."
Shen Nian swallowed his saliva, paused for a moment, looked at the captain's sympathetic expression, and continued to make up his story.
"My great-grandparents want me to help them see if they can bring my little cousin to our brigade. The air here is good and the people are friendly. With time, maybe my little cousin will be able to forget those unfortunate things and live a happier life."
The captain nodded repeatedly, expressing his understanding. Everyone has their share of challenges; the most important thing is to overcome them together.
"Shen Zhiqing, you're right. Although our brigade can't compare to the prosperity of the city, it does have its advantages. The people are friendly and the air is good.
When your little cousin comes, everyone will love him like their own child. Go back and tell your great-grandparents, and let them rest assured that your cousin is coming to us, and it will definitely be a good thing.
After hearing what the captain said, Shen Nian rubbed the non-existent moisture in his eyes and said, "Captain, let me thank you on behalf of my great-grandfather and great-grandmother. I'll go back and write a letter to tell them the good news!"
"Okay, write back to them quickly so they can be reassured."
The captain waved his hand and watched Shen Nian's back gradually walking away. The heavy stone in his heart suddenly fell to the ground, and his steps to go home became lighter.
"Wow, you're back so soon? I thought you wouldn't be back until evening at the latest." The captain's wife couldn't help but joked when she saw the captain coming back slowly.
"Hey, now that you've figured it out and feel relieved, you can come back early." The captain responded with a smile, a look of joy between his brows.
Seeing this, the captain's wife couldn't help but come forward curiously and ask, "What happened to you that makes you so happy? Tell me quickly, so I can enjoy it too."
The captain glanced at her and said, "Why are you having fun with me? The fact that your son has a girlfriend is enough to make you happy for a while." After saying this, the captain went into the house.
"Hey, you old man, really."
The captain's wife laughed and spat, then followed him into the house, asking as she went, "Come on, tell me, what makes you so happy? Is there something good happening in the team again?"
The team leader sat on the edge of the kang, picked up his pipe, slowly filled it with tobacco, lit it, took a deep breath, and then slowly exhaled a puff of smoke.
"It's about Shen Zhiqing." After half a second, the captain slowly spoke.
The captain's wife was puzzled. "Shen Zhiqing? What's going on with her? You're really driving me crazy!"
After a long time without a response from the captain, his wife couldn't help but speculate: "Could it be that Shen Zhiqing has also found a partner?"
Upon hearing this, the team leader's brows immediately furrowed. "What are you guessing? Do you think everyone is like your son? Only thinking about finding a partner! All Shen Zhiqing cares about is contributing to our team. How could he have the heart to find a partner?"
The captain's wife saw his anxious look and thought, well, what's there to understand? Isn't it just that he's still upset about Jianguo being in a relationship?
If she doesn't want to talk about it, then don't talk about it. She is too lazy to pay attention to him! If she can't figure it out, just think about it slowly. It will come naturally.
The captain's wife laughed inwardly, and without asking any more questions, she took her basket and prepared to continue mending Erwa's pants.
This Erwa is really something. He is like a naughty monkey. His pants are full of holes from climbing trees.
Seeing his wife ignoring him, the captain knew he was in the wrong, so he couldn't help but open his mouth to make amends: "Grandma, you really don't want to know? If you don't want to, then I'll tell you!"
As he spoke, he glanced at the captain's wife and saw that she was mending a hole in her pants with her head down, so he continued to talk to himself:
"Shen Zhiqing drew two blueprints for Carpenter Wu. She said that if Carpenter Wu could make what was on the blueprints, it would improve our brigade's efficiency in harvesting wheat and rice!"
Without even looking up, the captain's wife casually asked, "What do you mean by improving efficiency?"
The team leader no longer dared to keep the secret and patiently explained, "It means that harvesting wheat used to take two days. Now, with this tool, it can be done in one day!"
When the captain's wife heard this, she unconsciously stopped sewing and looked up at the captain in surprise: "Really? Shen Zhiqing has the ability to draw such an amazing thing?"
The captain smiled smugly and took another puff of his cigarette. "Of course, Shen Zhiqing is a girl from the city. The books she reads are different from those in the countryside. Her head is full of new things! And they are all things I have never heard of, let alone seen!"
Upon hearing this, the captain's wife couldn't help but roll her eyes at him: "Aren't all the people living in the Youth League compound girls from the city? And not only girls, there are a bunch of boys too!"