Zeng Wenjuan smiled and touched Goudan's head, patiently explaining, "Not yet! Goudan. The sausages and bacon need to be hung outside for several days to let the wind dry them out. This way they will be chewier and more fragrant. When they become hard and darker in color, they are ready."

"Oh, so that's how it is!" Goudan nodded as if he understood, but his eyes were still fixed on the cured meats that were drying in the sun, as if he could already smell their tempting aroma.

Zhao Jianguo watched the interaction between the mother and son, with a happy smile on his face. He said softly: "Wenjuan, you have worked hard. All these years, our family is grateful to you."

Zeng Wenjuan smiled and replied gently: "What are you talking about, Brother Jianguo. We are a family, and these are what I should do. As long as our family can be together, I will be satisfied."

"I have been away from home for these years, and I can only stay for a few days after I go home. I couldn't support you when you were bullied by your parents and siblings at home, and I let you suffer. I will always be with you in the future and will never let you suffer any grievances again." Zhao Jianguo said with heartache, holding Zeng Wenjuan's hand.

"It's okay, it's all over. I believe you will never let me suffer any grievances in the future." Zeng Wenjuan knew that Zhao Jianguo would do what he said.

.......

......

"Wenjuan, do you want to make cured fish and rice wine?" Wang Hui's voice came from outside the door.

Zeng Wenjuan was still making breakfast. When she heard Wang Hui's voice, she immediately opened the door and said, "Sister-in-law, what did you say just now? I was cooking a little noisy, so I didn't hear it clearly."

"Some villagers at the door have brought several carts of their own glutinous rice to exchange, as well as very fresh fish, which can be bought directly with money without tickets. We can also have rice wine and dried spicy fish, and people who come to visit during the New Year can drink them." Wang Hui explained again.

"Is this allowed in the army?" Zeng Wenjuan was still afraid that if she committed a crime, it would affect Zhao Jianguo.

"It's okay. Rules are dead, but people are alive. If everyone does this, how can we catch everyone? They need money. We military wives offer a high price, so as long as they are willing." Wang Hui said indifferently.

Zeng Wenjuan thought it made sense, so she smiled and said, "Okay, wait for me for a while! I'll take the money and go with you."

After entering the house, Zeng Wenjuan followed Zhao Jianguo and said, "Just now, sister-in-law Wang Hui said that there are people selling glutinous rice and fish outside the family compound. I'll take some money and go buy some. It shouldn't be a problem!"

"No, it has been like this all these years, and the higher-ups have turned a blind eye. Anyway, we are all good to each other, and we all have different needs. If you want rice wine, just buy 300 kilograms of glutinous rice. By then, I'm afraid that the young men under my command will come to our house." Zhao Jianguo also knew about this.

"Okay, then I'll bring more money and buy more when I see something. This year we should celebrate the New Year with my parents." Zeng Wenjuan said while counting money in the drawer.

"Okay, you handle it. If you can't lift it, just give them some more money and ask them to help lift it up. Don't try to force yourself!" Zhao Jianguo reminded again.

Soon, Zeng Wenjuan took Goudan downstairs with the money.

As soon as I arrived at the gate, I saw a group of children surrounding an old man.

"Goudan, why are you here just now? This grandpa is so amazing that he can make sugar figures of so many people." He greeted him loudly after seeing Goudan.

Goudan saw his good friend calling him, so he ran over happily. He saw an old man with a white beard making a candy figure, and the one he was making now was exactly the same as the one he had just made.

"Goudan, look, this candy man is mine. Do you want to eat it? I still have five cents of pocket money." He said while pulling Goudan.

Goudan shook his head and turned to find Zeng Wenjuan: "Mom, I want to eat candy man too."

Zeng Wenjuan glanced at Goudan, then took out a two-dollar bill from her pocket and gave it to Goudan: "You can do the math yourself, right?"

"Yes, my father taught me at home." Goudan took the money and nodded.

Zeng Wenjuan nodded and ignored Goudan, but kept looking in Goudan's direction.

Goudan took the money and said to Gang Gang proudly, "Brother Gang Gang, I have money now. I can treat you to anything you want to eat." The main reason was that Gang Gang was very nice to him and would share his delicious food with him every time.

"Thank you, Brother Goudan. There's some nougat over there. Let's go buy some together later." said the man who had just held Goudan's hand.

When the stall owner asked Goudan what he wanted, Goudan gestured to imitate Zeng Wenjuan, Zhao Jianguo and himself. The stall owner immediately grasped the essence of it, and the sugar figures he made looked exactly like the real people he had seen.

Zeng Wenjuan checked the appearance, dryness and price of the glutinous rice and chose a store that removes the skin. "Hello, I need 500 kilograms of glutinous rice. Can you help me carry it upstairs? I won't let you work in vain."

The uncle and the middle-aged man immediately said with a smile: "Of course there is no problem, there are free-range chickens here, you can take a look, they are old and fat, if it weren't for my eldest grandson who is about to get married, I wouldn't be able to take them out."

Zeng Wenjuan looked at the chicken and found it was indeed large in size and its feathers were shiny and glossy. She nodded and said, "Okay, you guys weigh it for me! I'll check on the fish and my mom will come upstairs with me later."

Zeng Wenjuan walked up to Wang Hui and asked, "Sister-in-law, how much fish do you want to buy?"

"I'll buy these five. I have many kids at home and they have big appetites. It's the end of the year and we can't go back home for the New Year. My two elders will come here to celebrate the New Year, so I have to prepare more. Your family has also prepared bacon and sausages, so you can probably buy about three of them." Wang Hui knew that Zeng Wenjuan couldn't make up her mind, so she helped her with advice.

"Okay, I'll buy three." Zeng Wenjuan squatted down and picked out three fish. After paying, Zeng Wenjuan carried the three fish back to where she had bought the glutinous rice.

"Please help me carry the glutinous rice upstairs. I'll just take the chicken." Zeng Wenjuan said to the uncle and the middle-aged man. She then looked at Goudan who was playing downstairs and said, "Goudan, we're going home. Why don't you bring your brother to play at home?"

After hearing what Zeng Wenjuan said, Goudan said to Gang Gang: "Brother, come to my house and play! My grandparents bought me a lot of picture books and toys. Let's play together."

Goudan was also a little kid, and he loved playing these things. He smiled and nodded: "Okay, let's go to your house to play together, but I have to talk to my grandma first." The grandma who had just run to the nearby aunties to talk, said something and then ran back to go upstairs hand in hand with Goudan.