Chapter 39: Swallow Repaying A Kindness?
At this time, Lu Qiaoling and Lu Xiaosi were both by her side.
Lu Qiaoling said in shock: “Isn’t this our family’s swallow?”
Lu Qiaoge made a shushing gesture to her and Xiaosi.
The two quickly shut their mouths.
The naughty swallow told Lu Qiaoge: 【They’re salvaging steel ingots at the center of the lake. The old turtle and the big carp went to the reed marsh. The old turtle said this is white water bamboo—eat it once a week, no taboos, just eat it directly. Xiaosi is young, so he should stop after eight or nine stalks. The old turtle also said if it’s inconvenient, I can take the white water bamboo away. Also, this water grass smells so fragrant, so fragrant—if it grew on the shore, it might have been eaten up long ago…】
Lu Qiaoge gently pinched the white water bamboo, and sure enough, a trace of comfort reached her palm.
Ever since she could understand these little things speaking, her feeling had been especially mystical.
The naughty swallow flew up into the air, chirping happily over the heads of the three siblings for a while, then deliberately landed on Xiaosi’s shoulder as Lu Qiaoge instructed.
Xiaosi was so happy he didn’t dare move. Only after the swallow flew away did he let out a long breath.
Lu Qiaoling squatted on the beach and beckoned the other two to squat down as well.
Lu Qiaoge deliberately lowered her voice: “Have you two heard the little story about the swallow repaying kindness?”
Lu Qiaoling and Lu Xiaosi both shook their heads.
Lu Qiaoge: “Once upon a time, there was a very, very poor scholar who saved an injured swallow and cared for it diligently. After the swallow could fly again, it brought him a seed. He planted the seed in the courtyard, and unexpectedly, it soon grew into a flowering big tree. By day, the fragrance of flowers filled the air; at night, the petals that fell turned into gold petals. From then on, the scholar lived a happy life.”
Lu Xiaosi said softly in surprise: “Second Sister, let’s plant this little seedling too. I’ll take care of it and make sure it grows into a flowering tree that drops gold every day.”
Lu Qiaoling looked suspiciously at the water grass and suddenly said: “It feels like the knotweed that grows by the river in our hometown, just a different color.”
Lu Qiaoge: “Xiaosi, the swallow landing on your shoulder just now probably meant for you to eat it, but we’re not in a hurry. We’ll ask Grandmother and Dad when we get home.”
Unexpectedly, Lu Xiaosi took the white water bamboo from Lu Qiaoge’s palm and directly stuffed it into his mouth to chew.
Lu Qiaoge and Lu Qiaoling were both stunned.
Lu Xiaosi said while eating: “Second Sister, Third Sister, I’ve been taking medicine since I can remember. I’ve even eaten bird droppings. Am I afraid of water grass brought by a swallow?”
Lu Qiaoge and Lu Qiaoling exchanged a glance—they really didn’t know about this.
Lu Xiaosi quickly finished eating and said happily: “So sweet and fragrant! Way better than bird droppings or Chinese medicine soup.”
Lu Qiaoge’s memory had no such thing as eating bird droppings.
She hurriedly asked: “Are you sure you didn’t remember wrong? How could Dad and Mom give you bird droppings?”
Even folk remedies had to be somewhat similar.
Lu Xiaosi: “Bird droppings are also called white lilac—it’s sparrow feces…”
Lu Qiaoling hurriedly stopped him: “Don’t say it.
Lu Qiaoge rubbed Xiaosi’s head—poor child.
Actually, this was normal. Medical care wasn’t advanced these days, and ordinary people trusted folk remedies to cure serious illnesses.
Just then, Lu Qiaoge heard several grass carp talking.
【Why are they squatting? Didn’t they come to catch fish?】
【Don’t know. If they don’t come soon, the wheat ear won’t hold them in.】
【There are lots of humans at the center of the lake today. Everyone scattered. Even without our help, that human who can understand us won’t go home empty-handed.】
【Wow, she’s so awesome!】
Lu Qiaoge stood up. The white water bamboo was eaten—it was edible anyway.
She and the swallow’s feelings wouldn’t be wrong.
The old turtle about to become a spirit had no reason to deceive her.
The grass carp had gone to such lengths to help drive the fish her way—she had to cherish it.
So Lu Qiaoge returned home with her younger sister and brother, fully loaded.
Meng Xia was still very happy.
She had Lu Qiaoling send a basin to Uncle Lu, and put the rest into the large iron basin, which also had palm-sized fish inside.
Lu Qiaoge picked some out, originally planning to dry them into dried fish, but thinking of the storm the day after tomorrow, she dropped the idea.
She’d do it after the storm passed.
Unexpectedly, the next day at work, Xiangyang Neighborhood Committee also received the directive.
They had to complete all the work before and after the storm arrived.
Especially for some long-neglected bungalows and those in low-lying areas.
Lu Qiaoge knew Qin Hengzhi had believed her.
Because last night Dad had secretly told her that he’d passed on what she said, in his and Old Mrs. Lu’s names, to Qin Hengzhi.
So the steel ingot disappearance, the lake bottom mechanism, and the bad elements were all resolved.
Then Lu Qiaoge also knew Qin Hengzhi would soon leave.
Director Hu over there also said: “The steel ingot case is cracked. Representative Qin might leave soon. I heard the factory side is holding a farewell party. Our neighborhood committee should put on a program too.”
Shao Le raised his hand: “I can sing We Workers Are Powerful.”
Ren Xiaocui: “Our neighborhood committee can do a fast board. One praising the new era.”
Huang Juan said: “All pretty good, but we have to focus on this storm first. Don’t want too much disaster.”
Lu Qiaoge naturally couldn’t interject. She deftly wiped the table while smiling and listening to everyone talk.
She really liked the atmosphere of this era. Though supplies were scarce, the human touch was especially strong—even cadres rarely acted superior.
She wiped the table clean, lined the drawer with newspaper so it looked neat and tidy, then put usable items like the diary, fountain pen, pencil, lunchbox, handkerchief, towel, etc., into the drawer.
A white porcelain mug for drinking water sat on the table.
After tidying up, Lu Qiaoge remembered the book with the money and tickets inside.
She handed the book to Director Hu in front of everyone.
“Yesterday I bought a bunch of textbooks and a broken bookshelf at the scrap collection station. Unexpectedly, I found these things in this book. It must be some worker’s salary, but sold for some reason. Director, what do you think we should do?”
Without exaggeration, the neighborhood committee cadres all felt Lu Qiaoge did the right thing. This was returning lost property, a good deed, just like handing over a penny found on the road to the police uncle.
So this was very routine. Director Hu handed it to Cadre Liu at the public security office: “Go post a notice, then have all the residents’ committees publicize it.”
No need to exhort otherwise— even a fool knew not to claim the money amount or book title falsely.
As for praising Lu Qiaoge, no need—this was what a neighborhood committee cadre should do.
Lu Qiaoge finished tidying the table, and the work arrangements were already made over there.
Lu Qiaoge and Sister Qiao were responsible for the notices and screening in West District One.
Everyone was basically cooperative, and the work went smoothly.
But at noon, they ran into a tricky family—the Zheng family.
The Zheng family was all there, plus two young men, including Old Zheng.
Old Zheng said: “Our family has no time. You two are big cadres—help us fix the roof. Look, the ladder is there. But we have no tiles. Get us a few, huh.”
Sister Qiao was quite angry but hadn’t thought of what to say.
Lu Qiaoge immediately took out her diary and fountain pen, asking very seriously: “Our aid is for the elderly, weak, sick, disabled, and those who have lost working ability. I need to register—who is sick, who is disabled, who has lost working ability?”
Without waiting for Old Zheng to speak, Lu Qiaoge added: “After registering, I’ll report it to the factory office. Once verified, you can receive the subsidy.”
Naturally, the result was Old Zheng, red in the face, ‘politely’ sending them out.
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