Chapter 243: Swallows Preparing To Fly South
Recalling the interactions over this period.
Brigade Leader Lin would occasionally bring fresh fruits and vegetables and eggs.
Even though all the supplies had been returned, this couldn’t be calculated that way.
Some food items couldn’t be exchanged for.
So Lu Qiaoge said softly: “The Food Factory is recruiting, and I’ve saved a spot for Liangzi.”
Brigade Leader Lin widened his eyes in disbelief, his voice trembling as he asked Lu Qiaoge: “Really… really?”
Lu Qiaoge nodded, telling Brigade Leader Lin to relax, guaranteeing no problem.
Brigade Leader Lin didn’t know what words of gratitude to say; great kindness goes without thanks—he, Old Lin, remembered it.
Lu Qiaoge: “Those two are new, mainly responsible for this mushroom acquisition. Given the current situation, they’ll be coming every day for the next few days. First, write down the specific details about your Liangzi at home. I’ll register him when I get back. This recruitment also requires an exam, plus various reviews. Health must be guaranteed, no infectious diseases. But we also have a Handicraft Factory. If Liangzi can’t go to the Food Factory, that’s fine too—he can do odd jobs at the Handicraft Factory.”
Brigade Leader Lin nodded repeatedly and said: “Then I’ll have to trouble you, Qiao Ge. But Liangzi’s hands aren’t clumsy; he knows how to weave baskets and straw hats.”
This was an unexpected pleasant surprise.
Either factory was actually fine.
Someone daring to go to the city for the recruitment examination, without any big backing, must have some strength.
Not to mention Lin Liang actually having weaving craftsmanship.
Lu Qiaoge introduced the three, and Sun Da Tian immediately shook hands warmly with Liangzi.
They two knew Guzi Village—it was the village where Director Lu had first traded supplies.
After some pleasantries, the three quickly became much more familiar.
Lu Qiaoge didn’t linger here. She told Brigade Leader Lin that if there were wood ear mushrooms, hazelnuts, or other mountain products, they could also be acquired, with prices to be discussed then.
In previous years, mountain products like mushrooms and wood ear mushrooms were only exchanged for daily necessities at market day; this year was the first time they could openly be exchanged for money.
Brigade Leader Lin didn’t want to miss this opportunity, and besides, once the leaves fell, it would basically be hard to gather them.
As long as Lu Qiaoge was acquiring, he could definitely have them gathered here.
Lu Qiaoge then rode her bicycle back to the city.
It wasn’t far, and on the road there was the calico cat for company, plus swallows and pigeons flying in the sky.
What Lu Qiaoge cared about most was Tao Tao and Nini.
The two of them would soon set off for the south.
Together with the swallows here.
On the eighth day of the seventh month, swallows hold meetings; by the fifteenth of the eighth month, they’re gone.
Lu Qiaoge listened with great interest to what Tao Tao told her about the southward migration.
They were different from geese—they didn’t have fixed leaders. Last year, it and Nini had both served as lead flyers.
Tao Tao said while flying: 【I gained intelligence the year before last. At first, the feeling was very confused; actually, I wasn’t very happy. I always felt strange, different from humans, different from swallows too. Fortunately, I met Nini. But the once familiar companions are rarely seen now. Sigh, if it weren’t for the babies, Nini and I wouldn’t plan to leave.】
At this point, Tao Tao’s emotions became somewhat melancholic: 【I didn’t care before, but this year we have the little fairy, and so many little friends we can chat and talk with. Hua Hua is arrogant but the most protective. Xiao Hui is carefree but has a big perspective, always making us feel that tomorrow will be better than today.
Old Turtle has so many stories in his belly. Big Pike doesn’t talk much, but it protects the weak and likes our three little brats. It knows they can’t understand, but still tells them stories. Big Carp loves to dance, Grass Carp loves to sing. Even those three who always want to dominate our sparrows are warm-hearted, often helping us and Nini watch the babies.
And Xiao Cangcang, Rat Big, Rat Two—they three are the most well-behaved, never causing trouble or arguing with us. But actually, they’re very capable. Right now, they’re scouting all over the city, looking for where treasures are.
Little Yellow Dog is always happy to somersault when it sees me. Old Black Cat likes young ones, whether human or animal. It even caught bugs for our little brats. Oh right, there’s also Diandian and Black Snake from Yuanbao Mountain. Diandian is busy storing food for winter. We once all went out together to help it find food—that feeling was wonderful and joyful. Actually, in the past, Hua Hua and Black Snake—we were all enemies. But now we’re good friends. I’m only worried that once we go, we might never come back.】
Lu Qiaoge had been listening with a smile at first.
But hearing the latter part, she was startled—this was a bit heavy and sad.
Although she knew Tao Tao wasn’t making it up, she still said: 【What nonsense are you saying? Everyone is waiting for you and Nini to come back and talk about things abroad. You all have it so good—casually going abroad, no approval needed, no passport, no need to exchange money for foreign exchange. Just flap your wings and fly away. Even I envy it.】
Xiao Hui and Hua Hua both said they could also casually go abroad, no documents needed, very convenient.
Xiao Hui said: 【If I could make my wings bigger and my strength stronger, I could carry little master you flying to any place.】
Hua Hua spent the most time with Qin Hengzhi.
Sometimes, when Qin Hengzhi saw Hua Hua at the window in the office, he would open the window to let it in.
Hua Hua was very well-behaved, just lying in front of his desk. Occasionally, Qin Hengzhi wouldn’t care if Hua Hua could understand and would tell it some very interesting things.
So when Hua Hua heard Xiao Hui’s words, it loudly retorted: 【You think pretty, don’t you? Let me tell you, don’t think the sky is safe. The sky is monitored too, no matter which country—like radar or even satellites in the sky. Even if your wings got bigger, you couldn’t carry our little fairy. If discovered, you’d be shot down by weapons.】
Lu Qiaoge looked at Hua Hua in shock: “Impressive, Hua Hua—you even know about radar and satellites.”
She hadn’t told Hua Hua about these.
Hua Hua proudly raised its cat head: 【This is all what Qin Hengzhi told me. He also exhorted me, as a cat, where I can go and where I can’t.】
Tao Tao suddenly said: 【Then I remember too. The day before yesterday, Qin Hengzhi was reading by the window, talking about birds and radar, especially during autumn migration—very easy to be detected by radar.】
Lu Qiaoge blinked her eyes.
A very wonderful warm feeling welled up in her heart.
Qin Hengzhi hadn’t mentioned this to her. It seemed he had deliberately told them.
But she hadn’t told him the detailed situations of the little animals either.
He had figured everything out on his own through guessing—it was hard on him.
But since he had time on his hands anyway, let’s see how far he could guess.
Lu Qiaoge thought with a mischievous streak.
The somewhat sad atmosphere from Tao Tao earlier was dispelled by Hua Hua’s interruption, gone in an instant.
After all, they were little animals, without humans’ twists and turns.
Even with intelligence, they were very pure—sadness and joy were just emotions; when one came, the other would leave.
Tao Tao seemed to have forgotten the dangers on the migration route it had just mentioned, and the sadness that it and Nini might never return.
It happily chased Xiao Hui, asking how it could make its wings bigger.
