Chapter 1319: Collecting New Year’s Goods

"Yes, okay. I need to go to the county in a few days anyway. Jin Erlin has prepared a lot of New Year’s goods. In this weather, we can’t let him deliver them here; I still have to go and get them myself.""Okay, I’ll write a letter to Li Manjiang. You can send it out too."

"Sure, no problem. You must take care of yourself. Don’t come out if you don’t need to."

"Okay, I think so too. Xiao Zhen, my mother-in-law wants you to come over for dinner. We’re having fried vegetable cakes today."

"Yes, we’ll definitely come." The siblings are also eager to maintain a good relationship with the Li Family, not for any other reason, but for their cousin. This relationship needs to be strong; they can’t make it difficult for her.

"Cousin, how many months pregnant are you?"

"More than two months."

"Haha, so by next autumn, we’ll get to see our little baby?"

"Yes, that’s right. We’ll be able to see them. I hope for a beautiful little girl. My mother-in-law doesn’t mind, and my father-in-law hasn’t said anything."

"The first child, boy or girl, is the same. Don’t overthink it."

"Yeah, boys and girls are the same. They’re all my treasures."

The two sisters started discussing the baby, while Tao Chun was smiling and listening from the side.

The cousin has really changed; she’s no longer the silent girl she used to be. It’s good this way. If Grandma knew, she would certainly feel relieved.

"Meng Lin, when you go back, write the letter, and I’ll head to the county tomorrow."

"Okay, I’ll write the letter when I get back."

"Have you thought about what you’re missing? I’ll bring it back for you. Also, Jin Erlin has prepared New Year’s goods for you."

Wang Menglin certainly wouldn’t be polite with her cousin, so she didn’t mention anything about money.

The next day, Tao Chun went to the county by himself, but he still rode his bicycle there. There was so much stuff; having a bicycle was more convenient.

Leaving the village, he happened to encounter several educated youths on the road.

They greeted each other. "Educated youth Tao, where are you off to?"

"I’m heading to the county. Relatives have prepared New Year’s goods for the family, so I’m going to pick them up."

Shen Youjun laughed and said, "Among us educated youths, you and Lu Family siblings both have relatives here, making you far luckier than us."

"Haha, right, having relatives makes things much easier. What about you all?"

"We’re also heading to the county, to the educated youth office to collect subsidies and to purchase New Year’s goods."

"Then let’s go together. I’ll park the bicycle in the township later."

Since they were all guys, they were able to keep up the pace.

"Educated youth Xu, you’re about to become a father. How do you feel? Share your thoughts?"

Xu Chunshan smiled, "Just looking forward to it."

"You’re lucky to have married. I want to too, but haven’t met the right person."

"You can’t force matters of fate; maybe you’ll encounter someone soon." Xu Chunshan replied, smiling.

"I also wish to find my own fate."

Tao Chun parked his bicycle at the township government. He was stopped by the old man guarding the door.

"Young man, you’re from Li Family Village, right?"

"Yes, sir, I’m an educated youth from Li Family Village. Is there anything you need?"

"Township Chief Xing said that if anyone from Li Family Village comes by, have them go see him."

"Thank you, sir."

Tao Chun entered the township chief’s office. "Chief, I’m an educated youth from Li Family Village."

"Chaoyang called and asked you to relay a message to Li Yungui."

"Of course."

"Chaoyang said he is currently at his sister’s house. He asked for Village Chief Li to start overseeing the construction of a five-room brick house."

"Got it, thank you, Township Chief Xing."

Tao Chun knew that Lv Guodong and Li Xue were already married; they were building a house to have a place to stay when they returned.

Arriving at the county, he went straight to the transportation team.

"Xiao Chun, I thought if you didn’t come in these days, I’d bring it over to you."

"Uncle Jin, I’m free now. I need to call my grandfather first."

"Go on, go on. Come back home for lunch later."

"No, I came with the educated youths."

Tao patriarch was happy to hear about his granddaughter’s pregnancy. That girl was thoughtful; her parents hurt her too much, so before leaving, she said she wanted to live her own life. He agreed.

Now the girl finally has her own life. He felt reassured, and after passing on, would have something to report to his wife.

"Xiao Chun, Yang Jiu Long came to see me. I also agreed to let Xiao Zhen be with Yang Zhongyi."

Tao Chun frowned, "Understood, I’ll inform Xiao Zhen."

"What do you think of Yang Zhongyi?"

"Grandfather, my opinion doesn’t matter; Xiao Zhen’s view is what counts.

As an outsider, Yang Zhongyi seems alright. He has a small drawback of being indecisive, but it’s not particularly pronounced. Otherwise, he’s fine."

"Okay, let Xiao Zhen know she has two years. If she finds her happiness, I’ll support her. If not, she should obediently be with Yang Zhongyi."

"Yes, I understand."

Tao Chun hung up the phone, his brow never relaxed. He knew his sister had feelings for Lv Guodong.

But the person is already married. In his view, Lv Guodong is neither suitable for Xiao Zhen nor the Tao Family.

Jin Erlin came in, "Xiao Chun, when are you going back?"

"I need to go to the educated youth office to collect tickets first. Then to the post office to send a letter. By the way, Meng Lin is pregnant. I’ll buy something for her. Afterward, we’ll all go for dinner, and then I’ll come back to pick up the goods."

"Okay, I’ll prepare some things for Meng Lin."

Tao Chun collected tickets for the three siblings. He went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy towels, soap, candles, matches, toilet paper, and writing supplies.

He also bought a lot of spices, planning not to go out again and just stay at home.

Seeing Xu Chunshan buy a lot of fabric, he thought his cousin could use it too, so he bought a lot.

"You all go to the restaurant first. I’ll drop these things at my relative’s place and be there soon."

The state-owned restaurant didn’t have much to offer, but at least it tasted better than home-cooked food.

Like everyone else, Tao Chun ate steamed buns made with mixed flour and ordered sour cabbage stewed with noodles, with a piece of frozen tofu inside.

"Educated youth Tao, both our households have ordered a slab of tofu from local sisters."

"My family did too."

"We can enjoy frozen tofu at home."

After lunch, they headed to the station, and Tao Chun saw the things Jin Erlin had prepared.

"Uncle Jin, isn’t this too much?"

"Not too much, same for the two siblings and Meng Lin; it’s a bag of rice, twenty pounds of pork, some candy, and ten pounds of soybean oil.

Come on, I’ll take you to the station."

"Uncle Jin, how much for this?"

Jin Erlin didn’t hold back, "Just give me one hundred and sixty."

Seeing all the goods Tao Chun gathered, Xu Chunshan and his friends truly envied him.