I Became the Favorite of Big Bosses

Chapter 396 The darkness before dawn. Wouldn’t it be a pity to give up now?

“I just said I was greedy and ate it.” Wei Lan raised her lips in a slight arc and smoothed Youlan’s rolled-up collar and tightened it, “Go quickly, remember to be quiet.”

You Lan nodded vigorously, ran to the kitchen door, and turned around, "Sister Lan, when I come back to help you work, don't worry, I will definitely make up for these two eggs!"

Although she can't make eggs, she can always make up for it by helping out at home instead of going out to play.

“I know.” Wei Lan smiled and waved her hands, then walked to the table and continued washing her face.

 After Youlan left, Wei Lan thought about this matter carefully in his mind.

Ji Huaiyuan has been imprisoned in the farm for several years. Now that he is sent here, it shows that he is still capable.

It’s a pity that I am getting older and have the root cause of the disease...

 In fact, it’s quite pitiful.

How many people in this generation have suffered, but most of them have not been able to get the opportunity to redress their crimes or make meritorious deeds like Ji Huaiyuan and his grandsons.

Wei Lan feels that for such seniors who have the potential to contribute to the country, they can lend a hand if they can.

Just now I heard You Lan say that Ji Huaiyuan was seriously ill and Ji Fengyao was crying at home. He asked if he could bring two eggs to Ji Huaiyuan to replenish his body. Wei Lan agreed without thinking.

Ji Fengyao didn’t understand anything at the age of seven or eight. If Ji Huaiyuan was really in any situation, Ji Fengyao would definitely not be able to handle it.

"Why…"

Wei Lan sighed softly, still feeling uneasy, and planned to wait until Gu Chao came back later, and then go to the Ji family to see what was going on.

After the Liangpi was ready and put in a basin, Wei Lan went back to the room and took the hematoxylin dye from the door to the well, mixed it with water and alum, and then fished out a ball of cloth wrapped with many cashmere threads from the dye.

Gu Chao brought back pure white coarse cloth, and Wei Lan pulled it out a few feet. It had been dyed once before, and the finished product was still cherry pink. It was now hanging on the clothesline to dry.

The pot of hematoxylin dye used in the pot was used to dye cashmere thread once and cloth again. There was still two inches of dye left in the pot.

 It was poured out and wasted. Wei Lan remembered that she had seen tie-dye videos on the Internet before, and immediately had an idea.

  Tie-dying is when dyeing cloth, using tools such as threads to assist, and tightening the cloth at different positions. The tied areas cannot be colored, thus forming irregular patterns.

Many folk masters have figured out the rules, tied the cloth tightly, and can dye it into various colors.

Wei Lan had little experience, so she just dotted the dyeing solution. It would be impossible to dye the three-foot cloth evenly. If an irregular gradient effect is produced through tie-dyeing, even slight uneven dyeing would not be too obvious.

The cloth was **** yesterday and soaked overnight, and the results will be seen immediately.

As soon as he said it, Wei Lan rolled up his sleeves, put the dark cloth into the alum water and rubbed it continuously. When the dye attached to the surface was almost gone, he untied the tie-dye rope.

 “Did it fail?”

Wei Lan Xiumei frowned slightly, holding up the dripping cloth and looking through it.

Most of the fabric is cherry pink, and in the areas where it is tied up, the patterns are not obvious, they are patches, but the color is slightly lighter than other areas.

 Originally, she was worried that the dye liquid would not be enough to soak in all the fabric, and that uneven dyeing would occur. But now it seems that there is no problem at all. Instead, there is something wrong with the place where she tied the halo dye.

Wei Lan was speechless and refused to give up. After rubbing it in the alum water several times, he filled up a basin of water to clean the cloth. Then he hung it on the clothesline in the backyard, next to the few feet of cloth dyed yesterday. .

 Let's wait until it's dry and then take a look. If it doesn't work, you'll have to go back and dye it again.

 After cleaning the battlefield, Wei Lan washed his hands several times with soap, but there was still some red dye left on his hands.

 When the cashmere threads and cloth were dyed before, Grandma Gu and Gu Chao washed them without letting Wei Lan do anything.

 At that time, Wei Lan thought they were afraid that she would not understand, and that something would go wrong and the fabric would be wasted.

 Now it seems that Gu Apo and Gu Chao are all thinking about her.

Wei Lan shook her frozen hands and warmed herself by the small stove for a while. After she recovered, she went back to her room and took some cashmere thread and knitting needles and sat by the stove, knitting every stitch.

 When Gu Chao came back in the evening, Wei Lan mixed him a large bowl of cold skin.

 After being hungry all afternoon, Gu Chao sat at the table and ate heartily. Finally, he looked up at Wei Lan who was knitting a sweater by the stove, "Have you eaten?"

"What can I do less than my own share?" Wei Lan glanced at him, lowered his head and picked up the cashmere thread with a knitting needle in his hand, "You Lan went to Ji's house and came back and said that Technician Ji was not in good condition. OK, I'm a little worried..."

As he spoke, several stitches of the sweater in his hand were knitted wrongly. Wei Lan's thin black eyebrows furrowed. He didn't know whether it was because he knitted the wrong sweater or it was something related to the Ji family.

 She stuffed the half-knitted sweater into a cashmere bag and looked at Gu Chao earnestly, "Shall we go and take a look?"

"Okay." Gu Chao nodded, thought for a moment, and then shook his head: "It's snowing outside. You just wait at home and I'll go."

Gu Chao quickly finished the remaining cold skin in the bowl, pushed the bowl away and walked out. Wei Lan stood up and followed a few steps, "Brother Chao!"

"Um?"

Gu Chao stood in the path between the main room and the kitchen, turned sideways and looked back at Wei Lan.

The light in the kitchen was on, and the little girl stood holding the kitchen door frame against the backlight. Her small face was hidden in the shadows, blurry, and her pair of peach blossom eyes were dark but surprisingly bright.

As if he was very determined, Wei Lan let go of his lower lip with his teeth, "Then I'll wait for you to come back at home! When you come back, I have one more thing to discuss with you...to discuss with you!"

Gu Chao frowned slightly, his expression slightly serious.

What is it?

　　makes her so nervous and cautious.

Seeing this situation, Wei Lan became even more nervous. Her dark eyebrows were drooped and she looked at Gu Chao nervously, "Is that okay?"

Although he was full of doubts, Gu Chao didn't think much about it, "Okay."

 He nodded, and pinched Wei Lan's cheek gently with his big hand. His deep eyes suddenly softened, and he was so tender that he could shed tears. "Whatever you want, do it. I will always support you."

 So, don’t have any scruples.

Wei Lan felt a warm feeling in her heart, and her slender black eyebrows were raised, as if they were injected with life.

"I know, I know!" She pushed Gu Chao out and muttered in a low voice, "You go ahead. When you come back, we will talk in detail!"

"Um."

   *

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 “Who is it? Here we come!”

A childish voice came out, and immediately after, the door opened a gap, and a dark little head poked out from the gap, "Brother Gu..."

"Um."

Ji Fengyao was stunned for a moment. He didn't expect it to be Gu Chao. He quickly stepped aside and opened the courtyard door to let Gu Chao in.

 “How about Technician Ji?”

"Grandpa is fine." Ji Fengyao locked the courtyard door and walked in front to lead Gu Chao into the house.

Gu Chao just asked casually. Ji Fengyao was young and didn't understand many things. He said it was okay but it didn't mean anything. The Ji family's house was renovated from the old canteen, and it is quite spacious for the two of them.

The grandfather and grandson came at the wrong time and missed the time when the team was pulling out the wires, so the house was still lit with kerosene lamps.

Ji Huaiyuan’s lower body was covered with a quilt and an old cotton-padded jacket was draped over his shoulders, leaning crookedly on the bed.

Seeing Gu Chao, Ji Huaiyuan coughed twice, his voice old and weak, "Comrade Gu Chao is here?"

"Technician Ji." Gu Chao nodded gently and looked around the room calmly.

 Daily necessities are neatly arranged and packed properly. Even though it is cold, it is not much worse than outside.

Looking around, when he saw the stove standing quietly by the door, Gu Chao's sharp eyebrows frowned slightly, and he understood what was going on.

 Gu Chao looked at Ji Fengyao, "Have you not eaten yet?"

 Children are simple, do not care about others and cannot lie.

Ji Fengyao nodded at first, and after a while, he shook his head like a rattle, "Eat, I ate an egg, but grandpa didn't eat it."

 The eggs were delivered by Youlan in the afternoon.

Eggs cost four cents each. They were very expensive rations. Ji Huaiyuan refused to accept them. However, You Lan ran so fast that he stuffed the things on the bed and turned around before disappearing.

Ji Huaiyuan was sick and couldn't get out of bed, so he wanted Ji Fengyao to give it back. Unexpectedly, Ji Fengyao, who had always been obedient, suddenly became stubborn.

Ji Fengyao insisted on eating the eggs, saying that his health would be better after eating them.

Ji Huaiyuan felt unhappy in every possible way, and just wanted to wait until he recovered from his illness to return the favor to the Gu family.

Ji Huaiyuan was reluctant to eat eggs, so he coaxed Ji Fengyao, who had never eaten meat, to eat one while leaving the other in a bowl on the table.

Ji Huaiyuan was ill and couldn't get out of bed, let alone light the stove. Ji Fengyao couldn't do these things. Even if Ji Fengyao could, Ji Huaiyuan wouldn't trust him to do it.

So much so that my grandfather and grandson didn’t even have a drink of hot soup at the end of the day.

Gu Chao was silent for a moment, then asked the Ji family where the rations were kept, and lit the stove to help cook a pot of gruel.

There was not much firewood left for the stove. Gu Chao brought a bundle of firewood from the yard, sat on the doorstep of the room, and slowly chopped it with an ax.

"Why…"

Ji Huaiyuan sighed, looked at the busy young people sitting on the threshold and said gratefully: "Thanks to you, otherwise I am an old man..."

Ji Huaiyuan did not continue.

He couldn't overcome the difficulties of those years on the farm. He still felt that his status was sensitive, and he didn't want to and didn't dare to trouble others, for fear that the harmony in front of him was an illusion.

Ji Huaiyuan dare not think about what the future will be like if this illusion is shattered.

 It's just that everyone is more kind and friendly than he imagined.

Ji Huaiyuan felt mixed emotions.

Gu Chao has never been a talkative person, and he is even less good at comforting others.

But thinking of Wei Lan, his tough face gradually softened, and he said softly: "Deputy Bureau Yan can do this for you. We are still neighbors, helping each other, it's not worth it."

Even if Ji Huaiyuan didn't say anything, Gu Chao could understand his mood.

 Because they have all experienced that kind of dire situation. Suddenly one day, a person or a group of people show kindness and kindness to you. The first thing that comes to mind is not to accept it, but to run away in fear.

Because it is too beautiful, I am afraid that the other person will leave when they know that I am unbearable. No one can bear the pain of the difference. In this case, you should keep an appropriate distance from the beginning.

 That was the case when Gu Chao met Wei Lan.

The same thing happened when Ji Huai met them.

Gu Chao put the chopped firewood into the broken basket by the door. The porridge on the stove was bubbling and just cooked.

After calling Ji Fengyao to bring bowls and chopsticks, Gu Chao moved the table to the bedside and filled two bowls of porridge. He handed one bowl to Ji Fengyao and the other to Ji Huaiyuan.

Ji Huaiyuan felt bad and his old eyes turned red as he took the bowl.

The atmosphere in the room was depressing. Gu Chao stood beside the bed, staring at the trembling old man with gray hair on the bed. After a long silence, he said in a deep voice: "We have come to this point, the darkness before dawn. If we can't persist, Ji Wouldn’t the technician feel it’s a pity?”

Ji Huaiyuan was startled for a moment, and suddenly raised his head to look at Gu Chao. However, Gu Chao had already turned his back, carried the stove to the center of the room, and pushed the window open a crack.

Gu Chao gently pinched the back of Ji Fengyao's neck and said, "The old man is not feeling well and needs your care. Be smart at night and remember to add firewood, okay?"

Ji Fengyuan curled his neck and nodded.

Gu Chao said no more, nodded to Ji Huaiyuan, opened the door and went home.

“Li…darkness before dawn?” Ji Huaiyuan choked, his muddy tears dripping into the bowl, and he quickly lowered his head to wipe them away.

I felt an inexplicable surge of hope in my heart.

Yes, the current situation is so much better than before, such a good life, such kind neighbors... What else does he have to be afraid of?

"Grandpa?" Ji Fengyao drank his porridge. When he saw Ji Huaiyuan burst into tears, he frowned and approached the bed with worry, "Is it uncomfortable there?"

"Haha, no. Grandpa is happy." Ji Huaiyuan patted Ji Fengyao's head and said seriously: "Your brother Gu and his family are all good people. When you grow up, you must repay... They helped us when we were in need." , this kindness cannot be forgotten.”

"Remember? Fengyao?" Ji Huaiyuan stared at Ji Fengyao with a serious look on his face. He was bound to hear his satisfactory answer.

Ji Fengyao did not hesitate and nodded seriously, "I remember, grandpa."

By the time Gu Chao returned home, there were already several educated youths sitting in the hall, some watching TV and some knitting sweaters.

When Wei Lan saw Gu Chao coming back, she said a few words to Lin Qing and the others, put the things in her hands on the bamboo bed, and walked ahead to the kitchen.

Supper has been eaten at home, and Gu Chao’s portion is still warm in the pot.

 The rice steamed in the evening still had half a palm's worth of meat left. Grandma Gu originally said she would just stir-fry shredded pork with pickled cabbage.

Having eaten shredded pork with sauerkraut several times before, Wei Lan wanted to change her taste, so she turned on the TV to fool Grandma Gu away, and took care of Youlan herself, making a sauce and making rice bowls.

 Cut potatoes and soaked mushrooms into cubes, mince lean meat into minced meat, chop green onions and set aside.

 Pour oil into the pot and stir-fry minced meat until cooked, then add diced potatoes and stir-fry together, add half a ladle of water, and season with salt and soy sauce.

 After the water in the pot boils, add the diced mushrooms, pour out the prepared water starch, wait until the soup becomes thicker after the pot boils, then remove the firewood and simmer over low heat for five minutes.

　　Sprinkle a handful of chopped green onion before serving, put a bowl of rice in the bowl, and pour a large spoonful of the fragrant and thick sauce. It is so delicious that you want to swallow it with your tongue.

Grandma Gu originally thought that the sauce cooked by Wei Lan was not soup-like or vegetable-like, so she took a bite of the rice and picked up the problem. When she ate the soft and glutinous potato pieces with a meaty taste, she immediately said Speechless.

 (End of this chapter)