met free Chapter 338 Candied Haws Diplomacy
Chapter 338 Candied Haws Diplomacy
The next day.
Wang Hongtao slept until noon and went to the middle courtyard to wash up, feeling refreshed.
Not long after, Xu Damao also came back refreshed.
Walking into the yard, he greeted Wang Hongtao and said, "Thank you, brother. You have worked hard these past few days. Don't forget to come to my house for dinner tonight."
Wang Hongtao couldn't help but twitch his lips: "Haha, Brother Damao, you are too polite. You are telling me all this, is that too much?!"
"Well, we must have a good drink tonight. I turned down all the invitations from other masters just for you!"
Xu Damao patted his chest and said, "No problem! I'll start preparing when I get back, and I'll definitely accompany you today!"
"Ah."
Wang Hongtao looked at the ignorant Xu Damao with a malicious look in his heart: It’s okay, even if you can’t accompany him well, Ezi will back him up.
When you walk out of the door, you can hear the sound of firecrackers and children laughing and playing in the streets and alleys.
New Year’s Eve has always been the most important festival for the people of Dragon Country.
People start preparing early, exchanging the candy and pastry tickets they have accumulated for a year for snacks and keeping them at home. When children from relatives or neighbors come to visit, they share a few of them to win the children's laughter and auspicious words.
Even the most difficult years were no exception.
In the alleys of the old city, the courtyards are revitalized by a clean sweep. Some people have already pasted Spring Festival couplets on the door lintels and window frames, showing the extraordinary expectations in this difficult era.
The faces of passers-by were full of smiles, and children were running freely in the streets and alleys. The sounds of firecrackers, blessings and the innocent laughter of children were intertwined, weaving a beautiful picture.
Wang Hongtao couldn't help but sigh in his heart: This may be the meaning of the Chinese New Year. No matter how difficult life is, everyone can always find their own happiness.
The market is not far from the alley, and it is particularly lively today.
Because of the Chinese New Year, the government will issue more coupons for various supplies in the twelfth lunar month than usual. Even vermicelli, sugar, and fresh meat, which are rarely seen in normal times, can be seen, but their purchase will be limited in the hope that more people can buy them.
Occasionally, children from better-off families would spend some money to buy snacks and firecrackers. That would be a great honor, enough for them to brag about for days.
Unfortunately, with the changes of the times, while living conditions are constantly improving, the "New Year flavor" is fading away unknowingly.
……
"I'm sorry uncle."
While he was dazed, a child accidentally bumped into Wang Hongtao, waking him up from his distraction.
"fine."
After Wang Hongtao helped the child, he realized that he had walked to Zhengyangmen Street (now Qianmen Street, renamed in 65), where Chen Xueru and Xu Huizhen were.
Yes, it is most appropriate to call Chen Xueru and Xu Huizhen best friends. But they are the kind of "superficial best friends" who are afraid of their best friends' suffering and driving a Land Rover.
Turning the corner of the street, Wang Hongtao saw a group of little kids gathered not far away. It looked quite lively, so out of curiosity, he squeezed in to take a look.
It turned out that the person being surrounded was an old man selling candied haws. The old man was wearing a tattered cotton jacket and holding a straw handle for the candied haws in his hand.
The old man shouted while stringing the candied haws skillfully.
The children around watched and sucked their fingers, their eyes full of desire.
Among the crowd was Hou Kui from Chen Xueru’s family.
"What is the little monkey looking at?"
"Godfather?!" Hou Kui raised his head and shouted in surprise.
Then he proudly announced to his friends around him: "See, this is my godfather! Let's see who dares to say that I am a fatherless child."
The children around looked at Wang Hongtao, who was tall and strong and wore a Zhongshan suit that showed off his temperament, and they didn't dare to speak for a moment. They pushed and shoved each other.
Wang Hongtao was touched by this scene. He squatted down and asked the children around him with a smile: "What are your names, kids? Is your home nearby?"
The children looked at each other, and finally a brave one stood up:
"Hello uncle, my name is Tiedan, I live in the alley in front, and Hou Kui and I are good friends!"
Wang Hongtao patted his shoulder and said, "Tiedan, right? What a good name!"
Then he asked the old man selling candied haws: "Uncle, how much are these candied haws?"
"Five cents a bunch, buy five and get one free."
Wang Hongtao looked at the old man in surprise and thought that he was quite smart.
"Okay, then hurry up and make some. If these naughty boys are sensible, I'll buy them a few more."
After saying that, he took down two skewers, handed one to Hou Kui and the other to Tiedan: "Little monkey's friend, right? This is for you to eat, take it quickly!"
"Thank you uncle!"
……
Seeing this, the other friends couldn't stand it anymore and stepped forward:
"Uncle, my name is Hu Zi, I live in ** Lane, and I am also Hou Kui's good friend!"
"My name is Shitou, and I'm also Hou Kui's good friend. Last time when Zhang Bisi and the others scolded Hou Kui, I spoke up for him!"
"Is this true, little monkey?"
"Yeah! Shitou helped me!"
"Okay! Shitou, right? This string of candied haws is yours, and uncle will give you two White Rabbits as a reward for helping Hou Kui!"
"Remember, Shitou. Next time you see someone bullying Hou Kui, you still have to help him. Remember?"
Shitou took the big white rabbit and nodded excitedly: "Yeah, I'll remember it, uncle!"
In just a short while, all the children around became Hou Kui's good friends, and they rushed to introduce their "great achievements".
Wang Hongtao was not idle either. He gave rewards to whatever Hou Kui said was good.
A few snacks meant nothing to him, but they solved Hou Kui's big trouble.
In the end, even "Zhang Bishi" as Shitou called him came to Hou Kui with his head bowed and his eyes lowered to apologize, and vowed that Hou Kui would be his brother from now on, and if he heard anyone bullying Hou Kui again, he would not give Zhang Bishi any face.
Zhang Bisi was so young but so "righteous" that Wang Hongtao almost laughed. He also handed him a string of candied haws:
"Good boy, just by looking at your shamelessness, I can tell that you will definitely have a bright future."
"Okay, uncle will trust you this time!"
"This is yours. If you behave well in the future, you will get a reward!"
"Squeak..."
Zhang Bisi sucked his snot back and took the candied haws: "Thank you, uncle! Just wait and see, the men in our city are very determined and will do anything if they say something!"
"Okay, go play!" Wang Hongtao patted Hou Kui on the shoulder.
"Goodbye, godfather!"
"Oh, let's go play..."
...
In a blink of an eye, the little kids ran away laughing.
"How much is it, sir?"
"There are thirteen skewers in total, and if you buy five and get one free, the total is fifty-five cents. Just give me fifty cents."
Wang Hongtao waved his hand and reached out to take another string: "That's impossible. You are so old, how can I take advantage of you?"
"Here's your six cents, sir, keep it."
"Hey, thank you, sir. I don't have much to thank you for. I have one string left. You can take it too. Otherwise, I won't feel comfortable accepting the money."
"Need not…."
"Master, take it."
Just as the two were at a stalemate and pushing each other, the crisp voice of a little girl came from the side.
"Uncle, can you give me this string of candied haws? My name is Su Meng, and I live in Zhengyangmen. I want to be good friends with Hou Kui in the future."
.....