Chapter 75: Do You Know How To Ride A Bicycle?
Lu Qiaoge smiled at Mu Dan. The team leader of the hardware group had come to find her personally, and she must have scolded the salesperson behind the scenes.
She didn’t need to complain anymore. Lu Qiaoge took out the bicycle ticket again as if nothing had happened.
This time it went smoothly. Mu Dan personally took her to the warehouse.
At this time, bicycles were assembled on site.
Qin Hengzhi took a look and said to the master, “You rest for a bit. I’ll assemble it for her.”
The master was naturally happy but didn’t go anywhere else. He just squatted nearby to watch.
It had to be said that these hands were impressive.
Lu Qiaoge watched Qin Hengzhi curiously. This person had strong hands-on skills, and once familiar, he was actually very easy to get along with.
The premise was familiarity. If not familiar, he was just a passerby.
Lu Qiaoge watched for a while and got the hang of it, deftly handing tools to Qin Hengzhi.
Half an hour later, Lu Qiaoge pushed out the brand-new bicycle.
Sunlight shone on the chrome handlebars, reflecting dazzling light.
Lu Qiaoge patted the handlebars. From now on, she was also part of the bicycle owners.
Before she could thank him, she heard the warm voice of Qin Hengzhi beside her: “Do you know how to ride a bicycle? Do you want to find a place to test it?”
Lu Qiaoge looked up at this tall and handsome officer.
Should she say she could or couldn’t?
Lu Qiaoge gripped the handlebars, a hint of cunning swirling in her alluring peach blossom eyes.
Qin Hengzhi’s heart tightened, and a unfamiliar emotion arose spontaneously.
In his deep gaze, Lu Qiaoge deftly swung onto the seat, pedaled the pedals, and rode away lightly and skillfully.
Though expected, it was still surprising.
When Lu Qiaoge rode back lightly and skillfully, Qin Hengzhi looked at her with bright eyes and flushed cheeks, picked up the calico cat squatting beside him and placed it on the seat, chuckled, and said, “Let’s go.”
Lu Qiaoge felt that this bicycle was great in every way, except getting on and off required a wide stride.
Wearing a skirt definitely wouldn’t work for this 28 big bar bicycle.
But she really liked this era. Riding a bicycle leisurely felt so good.
In a good mood, Lu Qiaoge said to Qin Hengzhi, “Where are you going?”
He had the secretary drive away, and it was unknown if he had set a return time.
Qin Hengzhi: “I’m going back to the military representative office.”
Lu Qiaoge said, “I’m going to the night school to hold a meeting for the volunteers. How about I give you a ride?”
Qin Hengzhi was stunned, lowered his eyes to look at the back seat occupied by Hua Hua, and laughed in surprise: “You sure have courage.”
Lu Qiaoge then suddenly remembered that the most beautiful scene in this era was a boy riding a bicycle with his beloved young woman.
She chuckled: “That’s true.”
She and Qin Hengzhi had no relationship. No matter who rode whose bike, it wasn’t really appropriate.
Lu Qiaoge rode the bicycle carrying the calico cat and soon disappeared from sight.
Qin Hengzhi didn’t turn around until Lu Qiaoge was out of view, giving himself a command: “Attention, right face, double time!”
His upright figure was shaded by the roadside trees, the dancing sunlight seeming to beat like drumbeats. His usually indifferent heart felt like it had been injected with molten lava, hot and scorching!
Qin Hengzhi finally seriously considered whether to stay or leave.
Lu Qiaoge knew Qin Hengzhi was leaving, so she was sure he would leave and didn’t pay special attention to when he would go.
Busy every day with all sorts of new things, Lu Qiaoge soon put Qin Hengzhi out of her mind.
She held a mobilization meeting for the volunteers, rousing these twelve people with such enthusiasm that they were eager to sacrifice themselves.
Hu Ze thought to himself that someone like Lu Qiaoge would be best suited for pre-battle mobilization on the battlefield.
Lu Qiaoge said, “I know all your specialties, so I won’t ask one by one. Here’s what I’m thinking: in a bit, send several people with me to the lakeside of Hongxing Lake to cut willow branches. I know a place with red willow, and red willow can be woven into baskets. Our service station will set up a special supplies exchange point. Whether you weave baskets, straw hats, embroider flowers, or make pastries, as long as you can make them, you can exchange them for supplies…”
These people were resting in the shade at the time, each holding a popsicle.
Sweet and refreshing, it was what Lu Qiaoge had bought for them from the popsicle seller she met on the road earlier.
Hearing Lu Qiaoge’s description, they all got excited again.
They all wanted to go to the lakeside to cut willow branches.
Lu Qiaoge said, “I’ll take Meng Qingshan, Hu Ze, Wang Dafei, and Lu Yunliang to cut willow branches. Zhou Li, you can go home to prepare what you’re good at. If you don’t have any specialties, don’t worry. After our market day starts, though it’s only three days, to ensure nothing goes wrong, there’s a lot of work to do. Maintaining order is especially important because it affects whether we can hold a second market day.”
Lu Qiaoling blinked her eyes. She couldn’t weave baskets or straw hats, but sister-in-law could make flaky pastries.
The flaky pastries made in the big iron pot were crispy outside, sweet inside, layered, and one bite fragrant to the heart.
She decided to cooperate with sister-in-law to make flaky pastries. They couldn’t be sold for money, but exchanging for some eggs would be fine.
Anyway, there was flour and oil at home.
So Lu Qiaoge rode the bicycle back home with the excited Lu Qiaoling.
Then they took two iron buckets, a machete, and a net bag to the lakeside.
This time they brought Xiao Si along. The little guy had gained some chub on his cheeks these past few days, soft and pinchable.
Lu Qiaoge stood at the lakeside, and the calico cat meowed loudly.
Soon, the old turtle and the big carp came over.
The old turtle slowly climbed onto the large rock. Lu Qiaoge tapped its turtle shell with her hand and said, “When there’s a chance later, I’ll take you to see the sea.”
The old turtle chuckled: 【I’m just joking with Naughty Swallow, but I do think you should figure out how to handle those iron boxes in the reed marsh. What if someone dives there and discovers them.】
Lu Qiaoge nodded: “I’ll think of a method.”
She didn’t know exactly what was in the iron boxes.
It would be good if there was diving equipment.
At this moment, Lu Qiaoge thought of Qin Hengzhi.
She knew that person had a set.
Suddenly, Lu Qiaoge noticed the grass carp starting to herd fish again.
She quickly said, “Don’t rush yet. I still need to take people to the red willow woods in a bit.”
As she said this, she heard Meng Qingshan’s loud voice from the dam: “Xiao Lu, we’re here.”
Lu Qiaoge said to her younger brother, “Watch the old turtle. Don’t let anyone discover it. I’ll be back soon.”
Xiao Si this child was obedient. Whatever you told him to do, he wouldn’t refute and would basically agree obediently.
Xiao Si didn’t go fishing either, squatting on the rock playing with the family calico cat and the old turtle.
Naughty Swallow flew over the nearby lake surface, circling Xiao Si a few times, chirping as it flew.
Lu Qiaoge looked back once, feeling very reassured.
Besides, there was the first guard tower not far away, very safe.
After arriving at the red willow woods, Meng Qingshan said to Lu Qiaoge, “You don’t need to stay here. We’ll go back once we’ve cut enough.”
He really didn’t know there was red willow in this low-lying area.
But he hadn’t been here for many years either. It might have grown in the recent few years.
