He explained: "This area belongs to the junction of Hexi District and Hedong District in the suburbs of Longcheng."

"Hexi District has coal resources and has developed relatively rapidly in recent years, just like our Heijin Town."

"Hedong District is vast and sparsely populated, and is mainly engaged in farming. Each person here can be allocated an average of three acres of land."

"So many? It's more populous than the population of Zhaojiayuan!" Yan Lixia was also shocked.

Si Chen didn't take it seriously: "Yes, every place is different. Going further south, the population density in the hilly areas is so high that one person can barely get an acre of land."

"Since we have so much land, why not farm it well? We have to do this shameful thing!" Yan Lixia didn't understand.

"Many villagers here work as farmers during the busy farming season, and then work as temporary workers in the Hexi coal mines during their free time."

Si Chen was filled with emotion:

"The human heart is like this. After seeing the people around you get rich overnight, how can you be willing to accept the three melons and two dates that you get from farming?"

While the couple was talking, they saw——

The driver of the big truck stretched out a hand from the high driver's seat and threw a coin to the old man on the roadside in a familiar manner, as if he didn't even need to look at it.

The hemp rope was naturally lowered to allow the truck to pass.

Yan Lixia couldn't help but feel a little sad:

Really? Who would bother farming when you can get money by taking shortcuts?

Facing the loess and back to the sky is not just an adjective, but heavy physical work day after day, year after year.

After observing for a while, Si Chen shifted gears, drove the car forward slowly, and said:

"Daughter-in-law, find some of the dime coins and let's go there too."

"Ah? Why don't we take a detour?" Yan Lixia said the words, but quickly reacted:

"Forget it, it's only 60 cents. There's no need to go all the way. It will waste more time and consume more gas."

"Well, begging on the road like this is not an accidental phenomenon." Si Chen also patiently explained:

"In many villages around here, the old people are idle and just go out to pull hemp ropes every day."

“A dollar is never too much, and a dime is never too little.”

"Anyway, there are many coal trucks passing by every day. If you don't go through this village, you have to go through the next village."

"The local drivers who often pull coal have compromised, which proves that they are the same wherever they go."

The geese pluck their feathers when they pass by, and the people leave behind a sound when they pass by.

In this way, Sichen and his wife were "robbed on the road" and paid 60 cents before being let go.

Yan Lixia looked back at the layers of hemp rope levels set up by the old man and lady, and she couldn't laugh or cry.

…

During lunch, the two of them finally entered Dragon City.

Go ahead and refuel, we are almost done!

Gasoline these days is divided into 66 and 70 octane.

66-octane gasoline costs 0.84 yuan, and 70-octane gasoline costs 0.86 yuan.

This price is completely different from the nine yuan or ten yuan in later generations!

Before joining the WTO, my country's gasoline was calculated in kilograms/liter.

After joining the WTO, we integrated with international standards and unified the units.

Si Chen used the province-wide gasoline stamp he received from China Coal, so it was half the price.

After filling up the gas, he drove directly to the Invalids Courtyard.

However, no one was there to guide him. The policeman, who was armed with live ammunition, stood like a pine tree, and had piercing eyes, stopped him outside the community.

Si Chen was not in a hurry and was waiting at the door for his aunt to come back from school.

And silently thinking in my heart, it would be great if I had a mobile phone. How convenient would it be to make a phone call?

Only three or two minutes later, my aunt Xuemei was riding her bicycle and leaving school at noon.

I saw Si Chen from a distance and greeted him warmly:

"Si Chen? It's you! You kid, when did you come here? You didn't even call me in advance!"

Si Xuemei got off the bicycle and ran two steps quickly to reach Si Chen due to the force of inertia.
Chapter completed!