Reborn In The ’80s

u Fan stopped crying and said, “Rub fragrance.”

“No.”

“Rub.”

“No.”

“I’ll rub myself.”

Xu Fan ran to the west wing by himself.
His small meaty hand grabbed the edge of the table.
He stood on his tip toes as he felt around for the children’s cream.
Once he felt it, he immediately giggled.
He learned from Xu Zhao and squeezed out some children’s cream onto his small meaty hands, then padded to the mirror on the three door wardrobe and looked in the mirror as he rubbed on the fragrance.

He happily said, “Ah, I’m so fragrant.”

Xu Zhao: “…”

He really was obsessed with himself.
Xu Zhao said a sentence, “I’m going to wrap dumplings with your grandma.” He then turned to enter the kitchen.
Mother Xu was already mixing pork and celery stuffing inside the kitchen.
Seeing that Xu Zhao had come to help, she felt happy and her chatterbox tendencies began.
She would speak of so-and-so’s family being tall and so-and-so’s family being short and then turned to the topic of installing electricity in the village.

Xu Zhao asked with doubt, “They’re installing electricity in the village?”

Mother Xu replied.
“They wanted to do it a long time ago.
Look at the people of South Sun Village.
Most of them have already installed a telephone.
It’s just that our village is too poor so we haven’t been able to yet.
The village chief just said that after the new year, the higher ups would bring a telephone pole over.
When the time comes, we can give money to have them install it.”

“How much would it cost?”

“Don’t know yet.
Oh, right.
Speaking of South Sun Village…” Mother Xu glanced at Xu Zhao and said, “Da Zhuang’s grandma just said something.”

“What did she say?” Xu Zhao asked.

Mother Xu happily said, “She said that that guy would start work on the 8th.
Therefore, she arranged to have you two meet on the 6th.
What do you think?”

Xu Zhao thought about it.
The garlic heads inside the big greenhouse probably couldn’t be harvested and sold until the 10th, so he wouldn’t be busy on the 6th.
Moreover, since the person didn’t detest him for having Xu Fan.
He should just try it out.
And so, he said, “Okay.”

Mother Xu was immediately happy and said, “Good, good, good.
I’ll tell Da Zhuang’s grandma later.
Da Zhuang’s grandma said that that person was very handsome.”

“Mn.
It’s fine as long as he treats Xu Fan.”

“You can’t just say that.
You must be attracted to them at least.”

“Me?” Xu Zhao thought about it.
In fact, he wasn’t someone who had specific requirements.
It could be due to the environment that he grew up in, but he had low expectations for everything.
He was fine with anything, and that included relationships.
As long as he was kind and treated Xu Fan well, he was fine with it.
Emotions could be cultivated with time.
However, since Mother Xu said this, he nodded his head and said, “Okay.”

“That’s good.
I already prepped the dough.
I’ll roll the skin and you can stuff the dumplings.”

“Okay.” Xu Zhao nodded.

The mother and son wrapped over a hundred dumplings.
They sprinkled flour on it, then placed it on the gauze and used the snow to freeze it until they would eat it on the 30th.
South Bay Village had a custom to eat dumplings on the night of the 30th.
They would also eat dumplings on the morning of the 1st.
This signified that the end and beginning of the year would have auspicious reunions.

However, Xu Fan was too hungry.
Therefore, they cooked some dumplings that night.
The entire family gathered around the cutting board to eat.
As they were eating, someone from the village came by to deliver stir fried corn kernels and stir fried peas for Xu Zhao and Xu Fan.
Xu Zhao and Mother Xu enthusiastically greeted them.
After speaking for a bit, they found that this person wanted to work for Xu Zhao.

He said that da Zhuang’s father had made money and also knew that the three men who helped Xu Zhao last time had also earned money.
Therefore, he came by to specially recommend himself.

After hearing this, Mother Xu’s expression turned dark.

Xu Zhao hesitated for a moment before agreeing.
The man left happily.

Mother Xu looked at Xu Zhao and asked, “How much would it cost to hire someone?”

Xu Zhao smiled and said, “Mom, it’s fine.
It’s fine.
I’ve allocated it.”

“Allocated what?”

“Allocated enough money to make a profit.”

“Hiring people is very expensive.”

“I know, I know.
Let’s not talk about this during the new year.
Let’s eat dumplings.
We can discuss this again after the new year.”

Mother Xu finally stopped mentioning this topic.

Xu Zhao returned to his seat and picked up his chopsticks.
As he continued eating dumplings, he saw Xu Fan’s small meaty hands holding a plump white dumpling.
He took a bite, then dipped it in the vinegar and shoved it into his mouth.
His small mouth was covered in oil as he happily ate.

However, why was he using his hands again?

“Xu Fan!” Xu Zhao called.

Xu Fan looked at Xu Zhao as he took another bite of the dumpling.
He munched twice before finally saying, “T-the chopsticks and spoons fell.
I-I was hungry so I-I used my hands.
Hmm, the dumplings are so delicious.”

“If the chopsticks and spoon fell, can’t you pick it back up?”

“Dirty.”

“Let Grandpa wash it for you.”

Xu Fan immediately replied, “Grandpa, don’t wash it.”

“I think you just don’t want to use the chopsticks.” Xu Zhao bent down to pick the chopsticks and spoon from the ground and washed them.
He heard Xu Fan behind him.
His small mouth muttering nonstop that using chopsticks and spoon was tiring and he wouldn’t be able to eat his fill.
He also said that the dumplings weren’t obedient and would always run away.
Only when he used his hands was he able to catch them.
Regardless of what Xu Fan said, Xu Zhao still made Xu Fan use the spoon.

After eating the meal, it started snowing again, and it snowed all the way until the next morning.
It was finally the 30th.
Before each meal came the sound of firecrackers, especially on the night of the 30th.
Although it was cold, the village was full of joy.
Da Zhuang’s entire family happily came to Xu Zhao’s house to listen to the Spring Festival Gala on the radio.
Xu Fan and Da Zhuang were ecstatic.

Xu Zhao suddenly thought of the Cui family.
He went to the west wing and dialed the Cui residence’s phone.

My heart is breaking for Cui Qingfeng ( ╥ω╥ )