Chapter 36 Grand Gathering

It takes an hour to walk from Xiaoheyan to the camp.

It had snowed again, and the ground was slippery.

Nan Zhiyi followed behind her two sisters-in-law, who were walking briskly, and walked forward with uneven steps.

It was called a market, but there were only slightly more stalls than when she last came.

The weather was freezing cold, and breath turned to frost, but that couldn't stop the bustling noise of people.

Chinese cabbage, potatoes, and radishes hung on the ground, frozen solid. Dried mushrooms, dried green beans, vermicelli, and kelp were displayed on the dried goods stalls. There were also vendors selling needles and thread, homespun headscarves, and handmade cloth shoes with multiple layers of soles. The air was filled with the smells of mud, livestock, fried cakes, and cheap tobacco.

"Look at this radish, so fresh!" Sister Wang squatted in front of a stall, picked up a white radish covered in mud and weighed it in her hand. Her voice was loud and clear as she bargained with the stall owner, spittle flying everywhere.

Sister Liu carefully selected dried mushrooms: "These hazel mushrooms are good; they'll make a delicious stew with chicken."

Suddenly, Sister Wang tugged at Nan Zhiyi's sleeve, lowered her voice, and gestured towards a spot not far away, "See that? That new guy, Xiao Li, from the cultural troupe, tsk tsk, the way he twists his waist, it's like a water snake. I heard he's getting really close to Sun, the logistics officer..."

Her eyes gleamed with a gossipy light.

Nan Zhiyi didn't care much about these things, and just quietly made her selections. She bought some potatoes, cabbage, vermicelli, frozen tofu, dried green beans... Her basket and cloth bag quickly became heavy.

On the way back, the three women, carrying large bags and bundles, were panting heavily. Their fingers ached from the baskets and cloth bags, but their conversation flowed like a river that had been released, shifting from their observations at the market to the camp.

"Hey, have you heard?" Sister Wang asked, panting, but her face was filled with excitement. "They're setting up a clothing factory in the camp this spring, which will provide jobs for the families..."

"Really?" Sister Liu's eyes lit up. "That's great! I'm just sitting at home doing nothing anyway, so earning a little something is better than nothing! I just don't know if this kind of work is in demand..."

"There are too many monks and not enough porridge. I heard that there are only so many places available, so those with heavy family burdens and many children should apply first..." Sister Wang pursed her lips, but the meaning was clear.

Job opportunities in family compound have always been highly sought after, but they have also always been hotbeds of gossip and trouble.

Both Wang's wife and Liu's wife have heavy family burdens, but they are honest people who don't compete or fight for anything. It's good that they were selected, but if they weren't, they wouldn't fight for it.

In the family compound, there were many who were even more competitive than them.

"Absolutely!" Sister Liu chimed in with gossip. "Back when the daycare was recruiting childcare workers the year before last, Old Zhang's wife and Old Li's wife almost got into a fight at the door over a spot! They were both incredibly quick-witted, their spittle flying everywhere...tsk tsk, in the end, it all went to the political commissar, and nobody got away with it!"

She described it vividly, as if she had witnessed it herself.

Some military spouses also succeed through their own abilities or...

"Little Chen in the broadcasting room," Sister Wang said in a low voice, "has a leisurely and respectable life! He just reads a script into the loudspeaker, sheltered from the wind and rain. It's a pity that he graduated from a proper high school; we can't compare."

“And the nurses from the medical team,” Aunt Liu chimed in. “Old Sun’s daughter, a graduate of the nursing school, looks so impressive in her white coat now! The teachers at the school are the same; those who are educated are in demand.”

Nan Zhiyi listened silently to the broadcasters, childcare workers, teachers, nurses, clerks...

She doesn't lack the money, but having something to do seems like a good thing.

But her composition...

She dared not step forward, dared not compete, for fear that the slightest disturbance would bring unnecessary trouble to Gu Xiao and the Gu family.

She lowered her eyes, staring at her muddy shoes, and continued walking.

"...I heard that the logistics warehouse also needs people to do things like inventorying supplies. It's just a bit of hard work." Sister Wang was still rambling on about the various rumors circulating in the camp.

Nan Zhiyi raised her head, her gaze sweeping over the bare woods beside the road.

On the branches of a few old willows facing the sun, a faint yellow tinge has already appeared.

It seems that spring is coming.

She didn't interrupt until the two sisters-in-law finished gossiping.

She then said softly, "Sister-in-law, when the weather gets warmer, I'd like to plant some vegetables in the yard. Where can I buy vegetable seeds then?"

"Oh! What are you buying!" Sister Wang's attention was immediately diverted, and her voice rose again, "I have plenty of cucumber seeds, green bean seeds, and bok choy seeds that I saved last year! I'll get them for you later! Sister Liu's eggplant and chili seeds are also very good!"

Sister Liu chimed in with a smile, "That's right! They're all our own offspring, strong and healthy! We can have as many tons as you want!"

"Thank you, sisters-in-law," Nan Zhiyi said sincerely.

Her two sisters-in-law began to teach her how to grow vegetables again. This time, she listened very attentively, wishing she could take out paper and notes to write it down.

Growing vegetables is at least something she can do with peace of mind.

Saying goodbye to my sisters-in-law.

When Nan Zhiyi returned to her courtyard, her whole body felt like it was falling apart.

She rubbed her sore arms and, instead of tidying up the things she had bought, sat down on a small stool in the yard.

My thoughts always drift to the unknown distance.

After Gu Xiao left, time passed slowly.

As the cold air was driven back day by day by the warm spring sun, a touch of new green finally appeared on the bare branches near the family compound.

Nan Zhiyi's life, too, gradually took root in this new greenery.

The congee in the pot no longer sticks to the bottom, and the poached egg can maintain its shape.

She could even follow Sister Wang's method of "hot pan, cold oil" to stir-fry the shredded potatoes until they were somewhat crisp, although she still occasionally couldn't avoid them sticking to the pan and burning.

She started learning how to pickle vegetables from Sister Wang.

"Now is the perfect time to pickle these mustard tubers!"

Sister Wang carried a large bundle of fresh mustard tubers and rushed into Nan Zhiyi's courtyard. "They're very juicy after winter, and they'll be crisp and tender when pickled!"

She directed Nan Zhiyi to boil water, let it cool, and then brought out a rough porcelain jar that Nan Zhiyi had specially bought. She layered mustard tubers and coarse salt inside, and finally weighed it down with clean pebbles.

"Pour in cooled boiled water until it covers the vegetables, cover it tightly, put it in a cool place, and it will be ready to eat in a month or so!"

Nan Zhiyi studied diligently, her hands covered in salt and the pungent smell of mustard greens.

She asked, "When can we pickle salted duck eggs?" She had long been eyeing the salted duck eggs wrapped in yellow mud and rice husks that hung under the eaves of her sister-in-law's house.

"Well, we have to wait until the ducks lay more eggs in the spring," Sister Wang laughed. "It's too early to pickle them now; there aren't many eggs, so they're precious. Once the weather gets warmer and the ducks are laying more eggs, I'll teach you how to make them juicy!"

Nan Zhiyi placed the mustard jar in a cool, shady place.

Sister Liu would occasionally come over for a visit, or the two of them would go to the market together.

Our relationship is more familiar than before.

Mrs. Liu is 29 years old this year. She got married early and now has three children: her eldest daughter is 10 years old, her second daughter is 6 years old, and her youngest son is just 3 years old.

Her husband's surname is Li. Company Commander Li served for 15 years before they were granted the right to accompany their family to the military base.

Li's mother was frail and often ill, and there were brothers back in their hometown who needed to be supported. The whole family relied solely on Li's meager allowance.

Therefore, Sister Liu is shrewd and always manages to find the most cost-effective vegetable stalls.