Moreover, fertilizer.
Every year, several brigades would end up fighting over fertilizer.
It was a matter directly related to their grain production.
The brigade leader continued, “Even if the surrounding brigades learn our techniques, it’s fine. We can still sell our vegetables to other places. My son has already coordinated with the transport station. As long as we secure partnerships with units in those big cities, the transport station can specially assign a truck to help us transport the vegetables.”
With no worries about sales and transportation, nothing could be better. Everyone could finally relax completely.
“Educated Youth Liu, we’ll have to rely on you again this year to handle the sales negotiations.”
Liu Linlin nodded, “Don’t worry, Brigade Leader. I’ll definitely secure the orders!”
Gao Le also thumped his chest in assurance, “If it weren’t so far from my hometown, I alone could handle all the vegetable orders for our brigade.”
Gao Le and Zhao Su, these two young masters, were no good at farm work or teaching the children, but when it came to securing orders, they were second to none.
Their high-level family education allowed them to remain confident and even eloquent when facing leaders of large factories or even public security bureaus.
They took on this task purely because they were too bored in the countryside. It was a good opportunity to visit big cities and buy some things.
Moreover, the brigade would pay them for every order they secured.
With their self-earned money, they could even send telegrams or write letters home to show off.
They weren’t good-for-nothings—after all, they could earn money now, couldn’t they?
The brigade leader immediately held a meeting to calculate how many vegetables to plant this year, what types to grow, and approximately how many orders to secure.
With the experience from the previous two times, they could make rough estimates.
Song Wei didn’t participate in this matter.
She was tired and wanted to sleep. Anyway, in her current condition, she couldn’t help with planting vegetables or securing orders.
Lin Zhen said something to the brigade leader and first took Song Wei back to sleep.
After Song Wei fell asleep, Lin Zhen tucked her in before leaving.
After the meeting, everyone set to work enthusiastically and methodically.
Song Wei occasionally wandered over to take a look.
The weather grew colder, and Lin Zhen brought out the accumulated pelts from the year.
They were all tanned furs.
Among them were three snow-white rabbit pelts and two mink pelts.
The two minks were prey caught by the wolf pack. They didn’t keep the meat; Lin Zhen took the mink pelts and gave the meat to the wolves.
“Let’s use these furs to make a scarf, a hat, and gloves.”
He took out the mink pelts. “This one for the scarf, and the white rabbit pelts for gloves?”
Song Wei leaned against him and shook her head. “No, I want the white rabbit pelts for the scarf. It’ll look prettier.”
“Whatever you prefer.”
“The white rabbit pelts are enough for a scarf and gloves. Let’s keep the mink pelts for now. The remaining gray rabbit pelts can be made into hats. There are plenty here—not just for me, but for you and Ping’an too.”
As for the two unborn babies, Song Wei planned to use soft, fine wool to knit two identical little hats.
Song Wei’s belly had grown larger, and she no longer liked to go out much.
Staying home, listening to the radio, doing small handicrafts, and occasionally writing an article or two when inspiration struck, she didn’t find it too boring.
She took on the task of making the scarves and hats herself.
Although Lin Zhen was home, he was busy outside every day.
Before the first snowfall arrived, Song Wei had finished the rabbit fur hats and other items.
She tried to select pelts of the same color for each hat to avoid a mismatched look.
The dark gray one was for Lin Zhen—the largest hat.
The light gray one was her own, slightly smaller.
The smallest one, also light gray, was for Lin Ping’an.
The white rabbit fur scarf was exclusively hers.
As for gloves, she had made a pair for both Lin Zhen and Lin Ping’an last year, and they were still in good condition, so she didn’t bother making new ones.
Her gloves were made of deerskin and rabbit fur, both stylish and warm.
The moment they were finished, Lin Zhen helped her put them on.
The ensemble made Song Wei look utterly cozy and adorable, wrapped in soft fur.
Lin Zhen held her in his arms, feeling completely content.
“Is it about to snow?”
Song Wei glanced at the sky outside. “I wonder how Big Brother and Uncle are doing.”
After she became pregnant, she had written letters to both of them, and they had also sent letters back during that time.
“Don’t worry, policies are much more relaxed now,” Lin Zhen reassured her. “Old Squad Leader is also looking out for Uncle. He should have an easier time this year compared to before.”
Song Wei nodded and looked down at her belly.
“Two more months, and it’ll be nine months.”
Dr. Ji had mentioned that while pregnancy typically lasts ten months, twins might arrive earlier.
So, by the ninth month, they needed to be prepared.
She was fortunate not to face the nutritional deficiencies common among many rural women during pregnancy.
Lin Zhen almost daily devised new ways to prepare delicious meals for her.
After eating, he would take her outside for walks.
She was cared for with almost meticulous attention.
According to many women in the village, they had never seen a man who took such good care of his wife.
Inevitably, some women, feeling both wistful and resentful in comparison, would go home and nag their own husbands about how Lin Zhen did this and that.
Whenever Song Wei chatted with the elderly women in the village, she would often hear their teasing remarks.
Song Wei made it clear: if Lin Zhen weren’t so good to her, she would have kicked him to the curb long ago!
As for Lin Zhen, he often found himself the target of envious glares from a crowd of men.
But no matter what others thought or said, the two of them, along with Lin Ping’an, lived their little lives happily day by day.
That night, a soft, rustling sound came from outside.
Song Wei woke up in the middle of the night and guessed what it might be.
As she sat up, Lin Zhen also stirred awake.
“What’s wrong? Do you need to use the bathroom?”
Song Wei nodded and yawned. “Do you think it’s snowing outside?”
Lin Zhen got up and cracked open the window to take a look. “Yes, and it’s coming down quite heavily.”
He quickly closed the window and felt the kang bed.
After helping Song Wei to the bathroom and back, he put on his army coat and went outside to add more fuel to the fire—the kang couldn’t be allowed to cool down.
The dropping temperature outside didn’t affect Song Wei’s sleep quality. She nestled back into Lin Zhen’s arms and quickly fell asleep again.
The next morning, when she woke up, Lin Zhen had already prepared hot water for her to wash her face and brought her a jar of snowflake cream.
“The kang is too drying for your skin. Use this after washing your face.”
Song Wei nodded. “You should use some too. Your face is too dry—it doesn’t feel nice to touch.”
Lin Zhen’s ears turned slightly red. It seemed his wife was teasing him.
Song Wei looked at him with a playful smile.
“I’ll go make breakfast,” Lin Zhen said before striding out of the room.
Humming a tune, Song Wei washed her face and slowly applied the snowflake cream.
After moisturizing her face and hands, she scooped out a small dab and headed to the kitchen.
“Bend down a bit.”
Lin Zhen obediently lowered his head.
Song Wei smoothed the cream onto her hands and gently rubbed it onto his face.
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