Chapter 549 Heading to the City
After leaving Cheng Erhua's house, Cheng Hai rushed to Liu Erzhu's house. At this time, Liu Erzhu was chopping wood in the yard. Seeing Cheng Hai coming, he quickly stopped his work and came to greet him.
When Cheng Hai explained the situation, Liu Erzhu smiled naively and patted his chest to assure:
"Brother Hai, don't worry. I have been looking forward to contributing to the village. I will prepare now and make sure I will be there on time on the eighth day of the Lunar New Year."
On the other hand, Wang Jianguo and Zhao Shuzhuo were not idle after returning home. They searched through boxes and cabinets, found the thick quilts and dry food bags that they were reluctant to use on weekdays, and carefully checked whether they were damaged.
Wang Jianguo even took out his long-accumulated savings, counted them again and again, and calculated how much agricultural supplies and daily necessities he could buy in the city.
Zhao Shuzhuo was busy wiping the dim lantern at home to ensure that there was enough light for traveling at night.
After everything was ready, they sat quietly in the house, waiting for the moment to set off. The image of Secretary Dong's home kept appearing in their minds, and they were thinking about how to report the travel plan to the secretary in order to gain his support and approval.
The chill of winter has not yet completely dissipated, and in the blink of an eye, time has hurriedly arrived at the eighth day of the first lunar month.
Wang Jianguo got up early in the morning. Although he did not sleep well last night because he was worried about today's schedule, he was full of energy at the moment, with excitement and anticipation in his eyes.
He first walked to the window and gently pushed it open. A gust of cold air blew in his face. He took a deep breath, looked at the snow outside the window that had not completely melted, and secretly cheered himself up.
Afterwards, he quickly washed up and began to pack his bag, carefully counting the necessary items he had prepared earlier:
The documents were safely placed in the inner pocket, the dry food and water bottle wrapped in a handkerchief were placed on the outside for easy access, and the small account book and pen prepared for possible transactions were also not left behind.
On this side, Zhao Shuzhuo was not idle either. He also got up very early and checked whether the doors and windows were closed and the charcoal fire was extinguished. After all, he would be away from home for a few days, so these trivial but important things had to be taken care of one by one.
After everything was arranged, he put on his thickest cotton jacket, put on a cotton hat, wrapped himself tightly, and went out to find Wang Jianguo.
When the two met, they smiled at each other, and they both saw from each other's eyes how much importance they attached to this trip.
They all knew that the train waits for no one. If they missed this one, they would be delayed for who knows how long. All the village's plans for the spring depended on this trip to the city.
So the two of them hurriedly walked towards Cheng Hai's house in the cold wind.
Cheng Hai had expected them to come and was standing at the door, looking forward to it. Seeing Wang Jianguo and Zhao Shuzhuo arrive, he hurried over to greet them and said with a smile:
"I knew you would come on time. Sit in the room for a while. Erhua and Erzhu will be ready soon."
Sure enough, after a while, Cheng Erhua and Liu Erzhu came out of the house one after another. They were both wearing thick cotton-padded clothes and carrying bulging bags, obviously they were fully prepared for this trip.
After the group of five got together, they headed towards the train station without much delay.
Along the way, the cold wind howled, making the dry grass on the roadside rustle, but the enthusiasm of the five people did not diminish in the slightest. They exchanged their expectations and plans for this trip to the city, and their laughter echoed in the cold wind.
Arriving at the train station, there were already crowds of people in front of us. Returnees, migrant workers, and travelers visiting relatives and friends gathered together, with faces filled with the joy of returning home or with aspirations for the future.
Wang Jianguo and his five companions finally found a relatively quiet corner in the crowd, put down their luggage, and waited quietly for the arrival of the train.
During this time, Cheng Erhua stood up from time to time and stood on tiptoe to look in the direction of the railway tracks; Liu Erzhu chatted with the travelers next to him, trying to find out the latest news in the city.
Wang Jianguo and Zhao Shuzhuo were discussing in a low voice the primary tasks after entering the city, with Cheng Hai adding a few words from time to time.
Finally, with a long whistle piercing the sky, the train slowly pulled into the platform. The crowd immediately became excited, and everyone picked up their luggage and rushed to the door.
Wang Jianguo and the other five did not dare to neglect the train. They looked after each other and boarded the train one by one. They breathed a sigh of relief only after they found their seats and sat down.
The train started slowly, and the scenery outside the window passed by quickly like a slide show. The fields, villages, and rivers were gradually replaced by high-rise buildings in the city.
After arriving in the city, the five people followed the crowd out of the train station. At this time, the city was bustling with traffic, neon lights flashing, and it was very lively, forming a sharp contrast with the quiet countryside.
Standing at the exit, Wang Jianguo looked around, feeling a complex mix of emotions in his heart, including wonder at the prosperity of the city and anxiety about the unknown road ahead.
He took a deep breath, turned around and said to his companions:
"Let's separate here and go our separate ways. Follow the plan and remember to keep in touch."
Others nodded in agreement.
Cheng Hai took Cheng Erhua towards the agricultural supplies market. They were responsible for purchasing high-quality agricultural supplies for the village. The land's desire for fertilizers and seeds during spring plowing kept emerging in their minds, and their steps were firm and powerful.
Liu Erzhu went to the commercial district alone. His shrewd eyes flashed with the gleam of exploring business opportunities. He was ready to use his eloquent tongue to dig out projects suitable for the village's development among the numerous shops.
Wang Jianguo and Zhao Shuzhuo had other arrangements. They headed towards the municipal government, intending to consult relevant departments for some information about rural policy support, hoping to find more support for the long-term development of the village.
Just like that, the five people parted ways at the train station, each carrying their dreams and responsibilities, blending into the hustle and bustle of the city, and starting their own dream-chasing journey. Every step they take carries the hope of the entire village for the future.
The winter wind was still biting, but it could not blow away the enthusiasm in Wang Jianguo and Zhao Shuzhuo's hearts. On the eighth day of the first lunar month, at dawn, they got up early, packed up a little, and walked quickly towards Secretary Dong's house in the biting cold wind.
This trip is of great significance and is related to many development plans of the village after the spring. It must be discussed carefully with Secretary Dong and no mistakes can be allowed.
At the same time, Cheng Hai was not idle either. He knew very well that time was pressing and the quantity of agricultural supplies in the supply and marketing cooperative was limited. If he went too late, he might not be able to get the high-quality and low-priced goods.
So, he took Cheng Erhua and Liu Erzhu and hurriedly set out for the supply and marketing cooperative.
Along the way, Cheng Erhua was silently counting the purchasing funds he brought. His fingers moved between the coins wrapped in the cloth bag, and he muttered to himself to ensure that the amount was accurate.