The feather duster I bought at the market came in handy, and it worked quite well. Zhuang Zhimeng used it with great ease, dusting the house inside and out, especially the corners and edges where spider webs could easily accumulate.

After dusting, I swept again, wiped down the furniture, and finally cleaned the floor. After cleaning the house, I tidied up the kitchen, and also cleaned the guest room and organized the storage room. I didn't have a moment to rest.

Looking at the clean house, Zhuang Zhimeng felt relieved. She sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) and brewed herself a pot of tea, enjoying a moment of peace.

Just then, An Qingbai came to find her and brought her a radio.

An Qingbai placed the radio on the kang table, and Zhuang Zhimeng asked curiously, "Brother Qingbai, where did you get the radio?"

“I went to my uncle’s house to help out yesterday, and on my way back I stopped by the scrap yard and found an old radio. I’ve been learning how to repair radios lately, so I brought it back to try it out, and it actually worked! I thought I’d bring it over to you so you can listen to some music and stay informed about current events.”

"Brother Qingbai, you're awesome!"

"So how are you going to thank me?"

"How do you want me to thank you? Shall I cook you something delicious?"

An Qingbai shook his head and pointed to his face, "This!"

Zhuang Zhimeng's face flushed red instantly, but she still leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.

Before she could retreat, An Qingbai wrapped his arms around her waist, cupped her face, and kissed her.

"Ugh...!"

Zhuang Zhimeng unconsciously hugged him tightly in response.

This kiss lasted a bit longer. When it ended, Zhuang Zhimeng was panting heavily and patted his chest, saying, "It's all your fault, I almost suffocated!"

An Qingbai held her tightly, afraid that her legs would give way and she would fall. He patted her back reassuringly, saying, "Zhizhi, I missed you so much!"

"You see me almost every day, and you still miss me?"

"Yeah, I really want to." With that, An Qingbai gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

Zhuang Zhimeng felt very sweet inside, and she hugged him tightly, nestled comfortably in his arms. An Qingbai also hugged her tightly.

Once they had calmed down, An Qingbai asked Zhuang Zhimeng to sit on the kang (a heated brick bed), and he adjusted the radio.

The radio has an antenna to receive signals. An Qingbai fiddled with the knob on top of the radio, and after a crackling sound, it actually made a sound.

The radio is currently playing a storytelling performance. Zhuang Zhimeng poured a cup of tea for An Qingbai, and the two of them sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) to listen to the storytelling.

Just as they were getting to an exciting part, the radio started making static again. An Qingbai stood up and slapped the radio twice, and it went back to normal.

Having a radio to listen to is a great thing for Zhuang Zhimeng.

Normally, Maoqiu and Maotuan only see familiar people every day and don't bark much unless a stranger comes over. Sometimes Zhuang Zhimeng feels that the house is too quiet. Now that they have a radio, at least they can hear some noise.

"Brother Qingbai, you're really great, you're so good to me!"

Of course I'll treat you well! You're the most important person to me!

"Yes, I know, and I'm very happy."

An Qingbai smiled at Zhuang Zhimeng and took her hand: "As long as you're happy, then what I did was worthwhile."

Zhuang Zhimeng also gripped his hand tightly, and they smiled at each other.

Listening to storytelling and sipping tea, the two were quite content, their eyes occasionally meeting, filled with deep affection for each other, their love overflowing.

Next, we'll make tofu.

One pound of soybeans could be exchanged for two pounds of tofu. The soybeans were provided by the villagers themselves, and each family could make a maximum of ten pounds of tofu. If they wanted to make more, they didn't have enough soybeans. The amount of soybeans distributed to the villagers each year was not much.

The villagers would arrive early with their basins and line up at the village tofu shop. Every household makes tofu for the New Year, and tofu is a rare and precious dish.

Zhuang Zhimeng and her two companions planned to make thirty catties of tofu. She had several tofu recipes in her mind, and buying too little wouldn't do. Zhuang Zhimeng, Jiang Yanxia, ​​and Su Mengmeng each contributed five catties of soybeans, for a total of fifteen catties of soybeans to exchange for thirty catties of tofu.

Jiang Yanxia and Su Mengmeng also lined up at the tofu shop. After the tofu was made, they helped Zhuang Zhimeng carry it back, one basin each.

The aroma of soybeans wafted from the tofu shop, making one's mouth water.

As they were carrying the tofu back, Jiang Yanxia suddenly said, "Zhimeng, the tofu shop smells so good here, I almost don't want to leave."

"Then you stay here and smell the aroma, we're going back."

Su Mengmeng teased her, "Xiazi, do you need me to help you carry the tofu back? You can stay here by yourself."

"Hmph, no need, I'll carry it myself. I'll still come with you; we'll need to start the fire later, how can we manage without me?"

"I can also start a fire; I can use a large stove now."

"No, I don't trust you to start the fire. I'll do it myself."

"Why are you worried? I'm very good at starting fires now, I've never failed once."

"You succeeded. Give the big fire to the small one. You burned too little. You're supposed to burn a small fire. Give the big fire to the big one."

"I'm just not skilled enough. I'll practice a few more times and I'll be able to do whatever fire I'm asked to do."

"Hehe, that would be best! We'll wait and see."