Dumplings on the first day of the Lunar New Year, noodles on the second day of the Lunar New Year, and rice dumplings on the third day of the Lunar New Year go home. This is an old Chinese tradition.
Dumplings mean attracting wealth, and noodles mean smoothness.
Today is the second day of the lunar new year, so the Ding family’s lunch is naturally inseparable from noodles.
In the past few years, as old man Ding joined the steel rolling mill and became the workshop director, the living standards of the Ding family have also improved day by day.
Although Old Man Ding did not receive wages from the steel rolling mill to avoid suspicion, Director Yang paid him a large special allowance every month in order to reward him for his contribution to the new workshop.
When the New Year was approaching, the steel rolling mill exchanged steel with the Red Star Commune for several large fat pigs. Old Man Ding received ten kilograms of pork alone.
Braised pork, sweet and sour pork ribs, fish-flavored shredded pork, twice-cooked pork, steamed pork...a table full of meat and vegetables.
This made Ding Qiunan's cousin's family wide-eyed.
Li Donglai met these people when he got married.
They are the few relatives of the Ding family in the capital.
Chen’s mother is the principal of Beijing’s No. 1 Primary School.
Both Chen Fang and Chen Zhi have graduated and are currently working in a chemical factory in the suburbs of Beijing.
Chen Li has just been admitted to university.
Li Donglai had met them several times before.
This was the first time I met Chen Zuonan, Chen’s father.
I just heard from Ding Qiunan that Chen Zuonan is a chemist at Jingcheng University and currently works as the chief technologist at Jingcheng Pharmaceutical Factory.
I participated in the construction of the Third Line in the past two years and just returned to the capital this year.
Since the main research direction of the steel rolling mill laboratory is medicine, it is inevitable that Li Donglai will pay more attention to the chief technician.
Chen Zuonan is about fifty years old, with a thin face, deep eyes, and neatly combed hair. He is wearing a dark coat with exquisite stitching on the cuffs and collar, making him look more elegant.
In this age where labor is the glory, people with such temperament are rare.
Li Donglai couldn't help but become curious.
Chen Zuonan was also sizing up Li Donglai secretly. He had long heard that the Ding family had recruited a good son-in-law, but when he saw him today, he was a little disappointed.
Li Donglai was wearing a gray woolen Mao suit, which was considered respectable. However, the collar of the Mao suit was stained with children's saliva, which Chen Zuonan found a little hard to accept.
How can a person who cannot even maintain his own image achieve great things?
Chen Zuonan was very talkative in the Chen family. He sat there without saying a word. Chen's mother and Chen Fang both shrank their heads and did not dare to say a word.
Perhaps realizing that the atmosphere was not at odds, Mother Ding stood up and took the initiative to introduce the two of them: "Her uncle, this is my uncle Li Donglai."
"Lai Dong, this is Qiu Nan's uncle, the great scientist Comrade Chen Zuonan. He has just been transferred back to the capital to study medicine."
"Hello, uncle, I am Li Donglai. I also study medicine. Please give me your advice in the future."
"Hmm..." Chen Zuonan seemed a little surprised: "You also study medicine?"
"....Is there any problem?" Li Donglai was confused.
"There is no problem, but if a person can't take care of himself, how can patients dare to use the medicine he has developed?" Chen Zuonan said with a serious face.
"..."
Li Donglai looked down at his collar and said with a smile: "So that's it. Weidong fell asleep just now. It was cold and I was afraid that he would catch a cold, so I hugged him and fell asleep."
As he spoke, he took the towel handed over by Ding Qiunan and wiped off the saliva on his collar: "Who knew that this kid would actually drool."
"Children, don't spoil them. I just saw that you are too spoiled to your two sons." Chen Zuonan said slowly with the tone of an experienced person: "When the children fall asleep, they should be put away."
Throw it on the bed and let them sleep alone. If he dares to salivate, give him a hard slap on the butt to make him remember it."
"My two sons are both biological..." Li Donglai's eyes widened with disbelief on his face.
"..." Chen Zuonan looked blank.
"..."
"..."
"..."
The three children of the Chen family were crying and sad.
Li Donglai now understood clearly that Qiang, a pharmaceutical craftsman, was in the same line as Liu Haizhong, who believed that a filial son would emerge from under a stick.
No wonder the steel rolling mill laboratory wanted to recruit researchers, and Chen Fang happened to be a graduate of the Chemical Engineering Department of Beijing University.
Li Donglai once wanted to invite him to work in the laboratory, but Chen Fang refused without hesitation.
The reason is simple. Chen Zuonan has already arranged work for him.
Li Donglai didn't know the salary at the chemical plant in the suburbs of Beijing, but it was certainly no higher than that at the steel rolling mill laboratory.
Moreover, the laboratory of the steel rolling mill has received several awards from ministries and commissions and higher authorities, and has become a first-class pharmaceutical research institute in the country.
Even those famous professors and scholars are proud to join the steel rolling mill laboratory.
An undergraduate student refused Li Donglai's invitation without hesitation.
This has always puzzled Li Donglai. After seeing Chen Zuonan's style, he finally understood.
....
Mother Ding did not expect that through her efforts, the atmosphere of the family dinner would become more solemn.
She kicked Old Ding's head under the table.
"Ah? Old lady, what's wrong?"
Old Dingtou was distracted just now. When he realized it, he immediately stood up and said with a smile: "We are all members of the family today, so don't be polite, hurry up and eat the food."
"Yes, yes, it's cold now. When the dishes are cold, the taste won't be right." Mother Chen also helped to smooth things over.
Of course, Li Donglai would not spoil Chen Zuonan. As an uncle, he was the absolute C at this banquet. He picked up the chopsticks, picked up a piece of braised pork, and put it into the bowl in front of Ding Qiunan.
"Qiu Nan, come and try my skills."
Ding Qiunan was just about to say thank you when he heard a strange sentence: "When you are a man, you should behave like a man. Go into the kitchen and help others pick up food. Is this what a man should do?"
After Chen Zuonan shook his head and talked, he turned to his two sons and said, "Chen Fang, Chen Hua, you may be like him in the future. If anyone dares, his legs will be broken."
"Don't dare."
"Don't dare."
The two brothers nodded in unison.
Ding Qiunan felt a surge of anger in his heart.
When did it become outsiders' turn to make irresponsible remarks about the matter between her and Li Donglai?
Besides, if you help your wife pick up the food, it will bring shame to a man?
She was about to stand up when Mother Ding held her back.
Mother Ding gave her a wink: That's your uncle. If you contradict him face to face, wouldn't it put your cousin in a dilemma?
Ding Qiunan looked at Chen's mother. Sure enough, Chen's mother was blushing at this moment. She picked up the chopsticks, put them down gently, and picked up the chopsticks again. She looked very uncomfortable.
Although Chen's mother was only Ding Qiunan's cousin, life was very difficult when the Ding family first moved to the capital.
Ding Boren was the only one in the family who had a job, and Ding's mother was seriously ill. Thanks to Chen's mother's helping hand, the Ding family managed to survive.
When she was young, Ding Qiunan often followed Chen's mother.
Thinking of this, Ding Qiunan sighed and suppressed the anger in his heart.
Ding Qiunan could bear it, but Li Donglai couldn't.
Today he came to his father-in-law's house as a guest. Where did the monsters come from and talked nonsense here.
Li Donglai put down his chopsticks and snorted coldly: "Comrade Chen Zuonan, there is something wrong with what you just said."
Chen Zuonan didn't expect that Li Donglai would dare to contradict him, so he snorted and asked coldly: "What's the problem?"
"Nowadays, the government advocates equality between men and women. Women hold up half the sky. Why do men lose face when they pick up food for women?" Li Donglai said calmly.
"You..." Chen Zuonan was stunned for a moment and retorted: "The so-called equality means equality at work, not equality in life."
"If life is unequal, can work be equal?" Li Donglai crossed his arms and said calmly: "I see, you still have the old idea of favoring boys over girls. If there is a chance, I will suggest to the Jingcheng Pharmaceutical Factory
Women’s Federation, please pay more attention to your family’s situation.”
"Snapped!"
Hearing this, Chen Zuonan slapped his hand on the table and said loudly: "I am the chief technician of the Jingcheng Pharmaceutical Factory. I have made special contributions in the construction of the third line of the university and have been commended by the ministries and commissions. Who dares to investigate me?"
!”
"Comrade Chen Zuonan, don't worry." Li Donglai said coldly: "The contributions a person has made are two different things from the mistakes he has made. We must have the courage to recognize our own shortcomings and dare to criticize ourselves."
As he spoke, he paused and said in a deep voice: "What you said just now made another mistake of privilege."
"The contributions you have made have realized your value and cannot serve as a shield for you to surpass the general public."
These words were so reasonable that Chen Zuonan didn't know how to refute him for a moment.
He regretted that he accidentally caused trouble for Li Dong today.
In fact, it can't be said to be unintentional.
After Chen Zuonan returned from the third line of college, he was shocked to find that the once dilapidated Ding family had soared into the sky and lived a good life.
Ding Boren is no longer a poor professor, but has become a workshop director in charge of thousands of people. Ding's mother no longer has to be a temporary worker and can only help her daughter with her children.
Chen Zuonan is willing to help the Ding family when they are in dire straits and enjoy the gratitude of the Ding family.
But he didn't want to see the Ding family's salted fish turn over.
....
You must know that in the past two years, materials in the capital have become even more scarce. Even if Chen Zuonan is the chief designer of the pharmaceutical factory in the capital, he enjoys a fourth-level salary of one hundred and fifty yuan per month.
But the meat coupons are similar to those of the general public, only 1 catty per month, and are often in arrears.
During the Chinese New Year this year, Chen Zuonan still went to the pigeon market and spent a high price to get two kilograms of meat.
It is impossible to make these meats into meat dishes. You can only chop them together with vegetables and make dumplings.
I came to Ding's house as a guest today.
Good guy, the table is filled with meat and vegetables.
Chen Zuonan instantly felt lower than Ding Boren.
This feeling made him very uncomfortable,
Only then would he deliberately create trouble for Li Dong.
....
Li Donglai's words left Chen Zuonan speechless.
In the end, I could only blush and hold back a sentence: "Dong Lai, I also have good intentions. Men should focus their time and energy on their careers. Look at me, because of my whole-hearted devotion these years
At work, I became a technician in a pharmaceutical factory and received commendations from the ministry."
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a rapid knock on the door outside.
"Is it from Lao Ding's family?"
Mother Ding breathed a sigh of relief, stood up and walked out quickly.
Inside the room, Chen Zuonan continued to teach: "A person's energy is limited, and people like us who are engaged in research work. Spending limited energy on taking care of women and children is a crime against oneself and the entire world."
crime."
"You don't want to accomplish anything in the future, right? When you come to the east, just listen to my uncle's advice..."
At this time, Mother Ding came into the house carrying a basket of eggs and two big carps.
Ding Boren was surprised and said: "Old lady, who gave it to you?"
"It's not for me, it's not for our uncle." Mother Ding straightened her back, glanced at Chen Zuonan provocatively, and said loudly: "It's the daughter-in-law of the old Zhou family in the front courtyard. She heard that our uncle
I came back and specially sent a gift to express my gratitude."
Chen Zuonan's eyes widened when he saw a basket of eggs and two big carps. This gift was not too small, especially the eggs. Although they cost 2 cents a pound, they required egg stamps.
Moreover, it is winter now, and the hens in the north no longer lay eggs due to the relatively low temperature. The eggs are all shipped from the south.
If the supply and marketing cooperative doesn't have acquaintances, it won't be possible at all.
How much help did it take for the old Zhou family to be willing to give such an expensive gift.
Ding Boren looked at Mother Ding's triumphant look and was a little confused.
Mother Ding's temperament has always been steady, and she doesn't like to be arrogant.
Since Li Donglai appeared on TV, he quickly became a celebrity.
Neighboring residents often came to inquire about Li Donglai's situation, but Mother Ding sent them away.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! She felt that making such a public statement might cause trouble for Ding Qiunan and Li Donglai.
In addition to setting an example, Ding's mother also often told Ding Boren not to publicize Li Donglai's affairs outside.
what is it today?
When Ding Boren saw Chen Zuonan's surprised look again, he understood immediately.
This is to vent my anger on my uncle and daughter.
In fact, Ding Boren also had complaints about Chen Zuonan, but he was concerned about the face of his relatives, plus he was a good old man.
Then he remained silent.
Seeing that his wife launched an attack at this time, of course he had to actively cooperate, otherwise no one would cook for him at night.
Ding Boren stood up and said loudly: "What the hell, isn't it because we gave her the medicine developed by my uncle, and we didn't confiscate the money, so why should we be so grateful?"
"What do you know? That medicine saved Xiaohua's life. The Zhou family wanted to thank my uncle for a long time, but I blocked him." As she spoke, Mother Ding placed the gift on the table, feeling proud.
He said: "It's only because of the Chinese New Year and the sincere attitude of the young daughter-in-law of the Zhou family that I reluctantly accepted it."
....drug?
The son-in-law of the Ding family actually developed a medicine?
Chen Zuonan swallowed: "Well, her aunt, Donglai, has really developed a medicine."
"I don't understand this either, you'd better ask Donglai." A hint of pride appeared in the corner of Ding's mother's mouth.
"Comrade Donglai, that medicine is...?"
As a technologist in a pharmaceutical factory, Chen Zuonan knows very well how difficult it is to develop an original drug.
Li Donglai looks like he is in his twenties. I heard that he used to be a barefoot doctor. How could he develop drugs?
Don't blame Chen Zuonan for not understanding Li Donglai's situation.
Ding's mother and Ding Boren both had low-profile personalities and rarely mentioned these matters to the Chen family.
In addition, he has been busy working in the mountains for the past few years, where TV and radio signals cannot be received, so he naturally does not know the situation in the outside world.
