The village chief’s wife listened to Chen Lan and said with great emotion, "It's been almost thirty years since we last met, and the mistress of the house still remembers the villagers and cares about them! Mistress of the house is too kind! It's just a small favor for us villagers to look after the old master and the family, and it's not worth mentioning. Moreover, our master is a martyr! Don't you agree? It's really not worth your family thanking us like this!"
Chen Lan smiled and said no more, but then continued, "Auntie, since many villagers are here now, let's go out and distribute the things to them. We'll check the old house for a while before heading back."
The village chief’s wife hurried to persuade, "You've finally come back for a visit. Look how enthusiastically Er Hu and Shuan are chatting with everyone outside! Why are you three mother and daughters in such a hurry to leave? It's not too late to play in the village for a couple of days and have a good chat with everyone before you go."
Chen Lan explained with a smile, "Auntie, it's not that I don't want to stay, but tomorrow is the day for Jiahui's school enrollment. So! Auntie, we really can't stay. Next time! When we come back next time, I will definitely stay for a few more days."
Upon hearing Chen Lan’s words, the village chief’s wife no longer insisted. Instead, she said, "In that case, Auntie won't ask you to stay! But it's not easy for you to come back. You must have a meal before you leave, no matter what. It's settled then!"
Chen Lan smiled and nodded, then walked out with Xiao Shuan on her left and right, supporting the village chief’s wife.
As soon as they reached the courtyard, the village chief’s wife went to the old village chief and whispered to him about Chen Lan bringing gifts for the villagers.
Xiao Shuan also quietly told his brother Er Hu about sending gifts to the villagers.
Then Er Hu immediately stood up, looked at the old village chief, and waited for his instructions.
The old village chief said with great emotion, "You are truly bringing charcoal in the snow! I never expected that after thirty years, the mistress of the house still remembers the villagers! Mistress of the house knows that this is a difficult time for the farming families, between the green and the ripe, when life is hard!"
As the old village chief spoke, he wiped his face with his big hand and continued to instruct, "Qiang Zi, turn on the village broadcast to notify everyone to finish work early today and come to the village office to queue up to receive supplies. Also, inform all commune members that there will be a half-day holiday this afternoon. Remember to call the village accountant and bring the roster."
Qiang Zi, the old village chief's son and the new village chief, was naturally delighted to hear such good news, showing a row of big white teeth as he grinned. He happily agreed, "Yes! Dad, I got it! I'll go right away."
With that, he turned and was about to walk out. He then saw his eldest son Dashan and his youngest son Xiaoshan standing next to Er Hu, watching the excitement.
So he immediately opened his mouth and instructed, "Dashan, did you hear what your grandfather just said? You go to the village broadcast station first to notify everyone. Xiaoshan, you go to the fields and quickly find your mother and sister-in-law to come back and help with the cooking. Tell them there are honored guests at home, and Grandma can't handle it alone. Ask her to find a few more aunties who are good cooks to help at home, understand? Hurry up, don't dawdle!"
Dashan and Xiaoshan brothers happily agreed, then took off running.
Not long after, Chen Lan heard the village broadcast announcement!
So Chen Lan stopped delaying. After greeting the old village chief and the village chief’s wife, she pulled Jiahui and Jiayu and called Xiao Shuan and Er Hu, and walked towards the outside of the courtyard.
Er Hu and Xiao Shuan went to the driver's cabin to drive to the village office. Chen Lan and the Jiahui sisters climbed into the back of the truck to prepare the goods.
Chen Lan did not prepare any particularly good things this time. She only prepared some daily necessities for each family: two bolts of cloth, a thermos, a set of enamelware, two satin quilt covers, a fifty-jin bag of white flour, a bag of rice, and three hundred yuan and fifty jin of national grain coupons for each household.
Chen Lan asked the Jiahui and Jiayu sisters to help count the money and grain coupons. Jiahui asked with great confusion, "Mom, why are we giving the villagers such a generous gift? This time, we're not only giving food and daily necessities, but also money and grain coupons?"
Chen Lan thought for a moment and said, "Jiahui, Jiayu, the villagers have been sweeping the graves of your grandfather and our ancestors for thirty years. Thirty years of friendship! It's not one or two years. What's most commendable is that after so many years, their lives have been so difficult, yet they have persisted in doing this."
Chen Lan sighed and continued, "The key is that none of their families are well-off. You two sisters have also seen the houses where the villagers live, yet they have persisted for so many years. Although buying paper money doesn't cost much, it can't stand the test of time. Moreover, they also bear great risks, don't they? This little bit of money and things is nothing to our family! But to them, it might save a life at a critical moment!"
Hearing this, Jiahui asked, "Mom, you are giving money and coupons to the villagers because you are worried that if they have urgent needs at home, this amount of money can help them in a pinch, right?"
Chen Lan nodded and continued to explain, "Yes! The villagers work in the fields all year round. Although the production team will distribute grain and firewood to everyone, oil, salt, sauce, and vinegar all need to be bought with cash at the supply and marketing cooperative. And if the villagers don't have anyone in the family earning a salary, it's hard for them to have cash! In times of difficulty, it can truly be said that a single coin can stump a hero."
Jiahui and Jiayu sisters nodded repeatedly after listening to Chen Lan's explanation, agreeing that it was indeed the case.
Chen Lan continued, "In addition, money and coupons can be kept for a while. It's also more convenient for children in the family to buy something they need for school or marriage. Of course, Mom is also helping in emergencies, not poverty! It's just providing them with some appropriate assistance."
Chen Lan saw that the villagers had already lined up, so she stopped talking. Instead, she asked the sisters to take the distributed money and grain coupons to the village accountant and assist the village accountant in uniformly distributing them to each household according to the village roster.
Chen Lan was responsible for preparing the goods in the truck, while Er Hu and Xiao Shuan brothers distributed the supplies to the villagers according to the roster. This way, it was not easy to make mistakes or miss anyone.
The entire village was suddenly more lively than during the New Year. In the long queue, a young intellectual, not understanding the situation, quietly asked the villager standing in front of her, "Xiao Fang, what day is it today? The village chief is even giving everyone an afternoon off. I really didn't expect such a good thing. It's just the beginning of the year, and it's the time between green and ripe, and the village is still distributing things to each family."
Xiao Fang replied, "Zhao Zhiqing, why do you care so much? Just take the things that are given to you for free! If you don't want them, give them to me. I'll tell you, I just inquired, and they are all scarce good things! Each family will also receive money and grain coupons. Look, the village accountant is here!"