MMB Chapter 7 Jia Dongxu Asks for Help
Chapter 7 Jia Dongxu Asks for Help
"What's wrong with that?"
Jia Dongxu looked at Jia Zhangshi with some annoyance, "Little Shen works at the grain station. I was thinking of asking him for help to buy some grain for our family. You mustn't offend him!"
"Mom, I'm talking to you, can you hear me?"
"I heard it! I heard it!"
Jia Zhangshi replied irritably.
As for what Jia Dongxu actually said to her, Jia Zhangshi didn't hear a word of it.
Looking at his biological mother who gave him life and raised him, Jia Dongxu felt utterly exhausted.
His father died early, and he was raised by his biological mother. He was taught from a young age to be filial, and he was also a grateful person who was very filial to Jia Zhangshi.
But Jia Dongxu discovered that ever since he got married, his mother had become a completely different person. She was never satisfied with anything she ate, was useless at everything she did, and was always causing him trouble.
He wouldn't listen to me, and even if I did, he wouldn't change. If I said a few harsh words, she would cry and wail, saying he was unfilial and that he despised me.
He was already exhausted from work, and in order to support his family, he didn't dare to eat too much. But his own mother was still causing him a lot of trouble.
Jia Dongxu felt that there was less and less hope in life.
"Grandma, Dongxu, dinner's ready!"
Qin Huairu came out of the kitchen and greeted her gently and softly.
"good!"
Jia Dongxu was quite happy with his beautiful and capable wife.
Now, the couple has a son and a daughter, and everyone in the neighborhood is envious of them.
Soon, the food was served.
The family sat around the table eating.
The stew was made with cabbage and potatoes, and the staple food was cornbread made from cornmeal.
However, no one complained.
Xiao Dang, on the other hand, had a small bowl of millet porridge in front of him.
Because of the family's poor conditions, Qin Huairu had long since stopped producing milk, so Xiao Dang had been eating millet porridge for a long time.
As for Banggeng, his conditions were slightly better back then, but now he's also eating cornbread.
Even though Jia Zhangshi doted on her eldest grandson, she would only occasionally cook him an egg.
At this time, the effects of the famine years had not yet subsided, and the Jia family was truly having a hard time.
Even with Yi Zhonghai's occasional financial assistance, the Jia family still struggled to make ends meet.
After finishing their meal, Qin Huairu looked at Jia Dongxu with some concern, as he hadn't eaten much. She remembered that her husband used to eat much more than he had now, so it was clear he wasn't full.
However, Qin Huairu herself wasn't full; she had only eaten a little something to fill her stomach.
On the contrary, Jia Zhangshi ate quickly and in large quantities.
"Dongxu, we're almost out of food!"
Although she felt sorry for her husband, Qin Huairu still told him about their impending food shortage.
The jar is almost empty; if we don't buy more grain soon, they'll go hungry.
Upon hearing this, Jia Dongxu gave a bitter smile and said, "I'll go borrow some grain from my master; payday is in a few days!"
In fact, the Jia family is not short of money now.
But with the money in Jia Zhangshi's hands, getting her to hand it over wouldn't be an easy task.
In the past two years, Jia Dongxu borrowed grain from his master Yi Zhonghai many times. At first, he could repay the loans, but later, he couldn't repay them at all.
Jia Zhangshi listened to her son and daughter-in-law's conversation without any change in expression.
In her view, since she could borrow food, why should she spend her savings for her funeral?
Jia Dongxu left his house and headed straight for Yi Zhonghai's house across the street. Halfway there, he stopped and looked towards the front yard. After a moment's hesitation, he decided not to go to Yi Zhonghai's house but instead walked towards the front yard.
When Shen Zhishou saw Jia Dongxu appear at the door, he was slightly taken aback. He then invited the other party in and was about to ask him to sit down when he realized that there wasn't even a chair in the room.
"Comrade Jia, I'm sorry, I just moved in and I don't have anything yet. How about we stand here and talk for a while?"
"It's okay, it's okay!"
Jia Dongxu gave an awkward laugh.
"Comrade Jia, is there something you need from me?"
Shen Zhishou didn't know much about Jia Dongxu. After all, in the original story, he was a character who only existed in other people's conversations, and no one knew what kind of person he was.
"Comrade Shen, didn't you tell me before that you work at the grain station?"
"I just want to ask, my ration is insufficient, and the negotiated grain is too expensive. Is there any way to get me some slightly cheaper grain?"
Jia Dongxu was not at all shy.
Shen Zhishou paused for a moment, then slowly said, "Comrade Jia, well, I just started working at the grain station, so I really don't know anything about this!"
Are negotiated grain prices expensive?
It's definitely more expensive than rationed grain!
However, compared to the price of grain on the black market, negotiated grain is still cheaper.
If Jia Dongxu thought even negotiated grain prices were too high, then the prices of grain on the black market must be even more exorbitant.
Therefore, Shen Zhishou really couldn't help with this.
"Comrade Shen, I'm sorry, but if the grain station has any grain available at a slightly lower price through negotiation, could you help me buy some?"
"Comrade Jia, if the kind of grain you're talking about really exists, I'll definitely keep an eye out for it for you!"
Shen Zhishou agreed quite readily.
After all, it's just a matter of saying a few words.
"Comrade Shen, thank you. I'll head back now!"
Having received Shen Zhishou's affirmative answer, Jia Dongxu felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from his heart and breathed a sigh of relief.
After leaving Shen Zhishou's place, Jia Dongxu went to Yi Zhonghai's house and successfully borrowed ten jin of cornmeal.
Of course, Jia Dongxu didn't forget to tell Yi Zhonghai that he had gone to see Shen Zhishou, and solemnly stated that if Shen Zhishou could help them buy slightly cheaper grain, their lives would be much better.
After Jia Dongxu left Yi Zhonghai's house, Yi Zhonghai's face showed a look of relief.
"That's great, Dongxu's life can finally be a little easier!"
"Yes, Dongxu has had a really tough time these past two years!"
Wang Shufen then spoke up.
However, at this moment, none of them realized one thing: was there really any cheap food to buy?
The answer is naturally no!
Nothing more was said that night!
The next morning, Shen Zhishou woke up early, planning to buy some breakfast first, and then go to the trust store or the scrap metal recycling station to buy some furniture, at least to make the house usable.
As for money?
He still has some.
However, they were all borrowed from the village.
After buying breakfast, Shen Zhishou ate as he strolled around the courtyard. He bought quite a lot, mainly to prepare a portion for Yu Li as well.
However, when Shen Zhishou entered the courtyard, he saw Yan Bugui brushing his teeth in the front yard.
Old Man Yan truly lived up to his name; his little eyes lit up the moment he saw the steaming buns in Shen Zhishou's hand.
"Good morning, Teacher Yan!"
Shen Zhishou greeted him and then strode straight toward the central courtyard with his long legs.