Reborn as a Superpower Girl in the 80s
Chapter 333 What Happened to You Guys?

Chapter 333: Chapter 333 What Happened to You Guys?

Gao Baozhu felt it wouldn’t be right to take anything and hastily waved his hands, saying, "No, no, you keep it for yourself. I just came from my home and I won’t be returning for a short while, so I won’t take it."

Luo Qiao stuffed the cloth bag into his hands and said, "Most of these items are dried goods and can be stored for a very long time. It’ll make for an extra dish to try during New Year’s, it’s just a small token of my appreciation."

After seeing off Gao Baozhu and just about to head back into the courtyard, Luo Qiao saw Stone carrying something back and standing there waiting for other people to come closer before it was clear he was carrying a porcelain basin.

Luo Qiao asked, "What’s that you’re carrying? With such heavy snow, why are you running outside?"

Stone grinned and said, "I went to Grandpa Zhang’s place up front. Didn’t you say the other day you wanted to eat tofu? At noon, my brother told me to go get some tofu from Grandpa Zhang’s place in the afternoon. Sister, brother is really good to you."

Luo Qiao gently patted Stone’s shoulder, "Come inside quickly, as if he’s not nice to you. None of this tofu for you, then."

Stone ran off laughing, and while running, he said, "That won’t do, I carried this tofu all the way back."

Luo Qiao called from behind, "Don’t run, watch out and don’t fall."

After Stone set down the porcelain basin, he looked out at the still falling snow, "This snow probably won’t melt even by the New Year. Sister, you’re leaving the day after tomorrow, when will you come back?"

Luo Qiao thought for a moment and replied, "I guess before the new term starts. Stone, why don’t you come with me to Capital City for the New Year?"

Stone bowed his head, somewhat torn. He really wanted to go to Capital City with his sister but was afraid of causing her trouble. He looked up and said, "My brother has to work during the New Year, so I’d better stay with him. Sister, you should come back early."

Luo Qiao stroked Stone’s head, "Hmm, what would you like to eat tonight?"

Stone looked up and smiled, "Sister, let’s have hand-rolled noodles with dried eggplant and tofu in the sauce."

Luo Qiao laughed, "Alright, go get some dried eggplants for me. Soak them in water first."

When the meal was almost ready, Luo Qiao asked, "Stone, does the Zhang family have any tofu left?"

Stone replied, "Yes, lots of neighbors swapped their soybeans for their tofu."

Checking the time, Luo Qiao said, "Stone, then accompany me to the Zhang family. Let’s swap some more tofu; I want to make some fried tofu balls for myself. We’ll save the tofu skins to make stewed dishes for the New Year."

Stone put on his hat and said, "Sure, let’s go."

Luo Qiao took quite a lot of soybeans from the jar under the shed—this year’s allocated ration for the village, miscellaneously large in number, last time brought over together in a truck by Lu Yichen.

After locking the front door, Luo Qiao and Stone headed down the alley toward the Zhang family’s place. When they arrived, there were still people trading for tofu in the yard.

Old Zhang, seeing Stone back again, said, "Didn’t you just take some tofu away? Why are you back?"

Stone grinned, "Grandpa Zhang, my sister wants to swap more, to make fried tofu balls."

Old Zhang laughed, "Ah, that’s nice." He also nodded at Luo Qiao.

A neighboring auntie chuckled, "Can tofu be made into balls?"

Luo Qiao smiled, "Yes, it’s like making vegetarian balls, very simple."

The auntie laughed, "Then I’ll also give it a try, could be a new flavor for the New Year."

Luo Qiao handed the soybeans she had brought to Old Zhang, "Grandpa Zhang, please weigh these."

Old Zhang quickly weighed them, took the tofu, and placed it in the porcelain basin Luo Qiao had brought.

Emerging from the Zhang family, Luo Qiao and Stone ran into Jiang Dongli and his wife, who both looked rather pale, as if they were arguing about something.

Luo Qiao inquired, "What happened to you two?"

Qu Meimei, usually cheerful and laughing, also wore a worried look and, with a sigh, said, "My father-in-law’s illness has worsened, we just came back from discussing it at the old house."

All Luo Qiao could say was, "Then you should hurry home and rest. Only when you’re well-rested will you have the energy to deal with other things."

At that moment, Jiang Bo, the elder son of the Jiang family, caught up and said to his parents, "Mom and Dad, I’ve asked around; it’s not easy to find. If it really comes down to it, I’ll make a trip to the countryside and see if I can get lucky."

Jiang Dongli looked deeply troubled as he responded, "Let’s get home first and discuss it further."