Zhang Hongcheng got up very early that day because he wanted to grab some pork.
The machinery factory store opens at six in the morning, but the pork seller doesn't arrive until six twenty.
Many people who have to wait to buy groceries and rush to work at 7 o'clock can only let their children queue up.
Pork is always in demand these days, especially the fat meat which is almost ignored in later generations. It is something that everyone must grab.
In 1972, even in enterprises with good welfare such as machinery factories, each household had few meat coupons and could only taste meat every once in a while.
So there weren't too many people queuing in front of the pork stall.
But only the first few customers can buy fat and lard.
Most of the fat and lard had already been divided up within the store, and only a very small portion was brought to the chopping board for sale.
Zhang Hongcheng was young and could stay up late. He would get up at four o'clock before dawn and rush to the store to queue up.
Pei Shujing worked the night shift last night and would not be home until six o'clock, but Zhang Yumin was sleeping soundly and had no idea that Zhang Hongcheng had left so early.
He was the second in line at the pork stall.
There was another ruthless guy ahead who got up earlier than him.
The ruthless man wanted to buy two taels of fat meat, so he took out two taels of meat tickets and 12 cents.
The pork seller chuckled.
"Two taels of meat tickets are correct, but you can only get one tael of fat at most. Lean meat is 60 cents per pound, and fat is 70 cents. You have to add a cent. Do you want it? If not, take the next one."
The ruthless man wanted to grumble in dissatisfaction, but the pork seller glared at him and he had to take out another penny.
Then it was Zhang Hongcheng's turn.
"How much?"
"Four pounds! Any amount of fat is fine."
The pork seller looked at Zhang Hongcheng in surprise, and the people in the queue behind him were also talking about it, and their discussions were full of anxiety.
This is because they were afraid that Zhang Hongcheng would buy too much and they would have nothing left.
Zhang Hongcheng took out four meat coupons with a face value of one jin and three yuan and twenty cents and handed them over.
The pork seller accepted it calmly and continued talking as if nothing had happened.
"There's really not much fat, so I'll give it to you as you like, right?"
With a few cuts, he cut two pounds of lean meat and one pound of pork belly for Zhang Hongcheng, and finally "casually" threw some lard to Zhang Hongcheng.
Zhang Hongcheng nodded, and without saying anything, he picked up the meat tied with a straw rope and left.
The butcher cut the lean meat from the tenderloin, and the pork belly also had marbling patterns, so he didn't feel at a loss.
Pei Shujing, who had just finished her night shift, happened to meet Zhang Hongcheng who was carrying pork home.
"Xiaocheng, where did you get the hostage?"
She knew that Zhang Hongcheng had a few dozen dollars in pocket money, and she was curious where her stepson's sex tickets came from.
"Hey, I went there yesterday."
He smiled and pointed in the direction of the black market.
Pei Shujing hurriedly pulled his hand down, grabbed his clothes and walked home.
"Don't go there next time! Getting caught is no small matter."
Zhang Hongcheng agreed without thinking.
My stepmother is from Hangzhou and her best dish is braised pork.
This is Zhang Yumin’s favorite.
At noon she ate two bowls of rice by herself.
Zhang Hongcheng ate three bowls of rice in one breath.
He loves spicy food, and the braised pork with the spicy sauce made by Pei Shujing is so delicious!
"Oh," Zhang Yumin sighed, holding her stomach. "I wonder when I'll be able to eat my mother's braised pork again."
Pei Shujing was a little sad, but didn't say anything.
Zhang Hongcheng smiled and said, "You're such a big eater, don't bankrupt the state-owned farms."
Zhang Yumin rolled her eyes at him.
How could this person be so heartless?
Pei Shujing was about to get up to clean up the dishes, but Zhang Hongcheng stopped her with a smile.
"Mom, take a rest. I'll do the washing today."
Pei Shujing and her daughter were both stunned.
Tears welled up in Pei Shujing's eyes. She had waited for ten years to hear the word "Mom"!
Zhang Yumin looked at Zhang Hongcheng in disbelief, and then her eyes turned slightly red.
Haha, he must want me to go to Northeast China with peace of mind, so...
The mother and daughter didn't say anything, just watched Zhang Hongcheng clean up by himself.
After washing the dishes, Zhang Hongcheng went back to his room to catch up on his sleep, and slept until dinner time.
Putting down his chopsticks, Zhang Hongcheng took one last look at Pei Shujing and Zhang Yumin, then said with a smile, "Mom, I'm going to sleep at Du Gang's house tonight. He has to go to work tomorrow, so he asked me to come over and play."
Pei Shujing didn't notice anything.
"Then go ahead. Remember to bring your coat and hat back tomorrow at noon. Your sister will be taking the train early the next morning. Talk to her more."
Zhang Yumin snorted.
"What can I talk to him about..."
Zhang Hongcheng's train was at two in the morning, and he was the only one traveling alone.
Du Gang rode the postman's bike he had just bought and took Zhang Hongcheng out of his home. He stopped when passing by Zhang's house.
Zhang Hongcheng looked at the house on the second floor in silence.
He had already helped to avenge the original body, and now he was ready to repay the favor owed to his stepmother by going to the Northeast himself.
Replacing his original self in this home and machinery factory, he was afraid that one day he would be exposed.
Only the Great Northern Wilderness, where he can start over, is the most suitable place for him.
Zhang Hongcheng's eyes were a little moist.
He has been without parents, siblings or friends since childhood, but in the past half month, he has truly felt the preciousness of maternal love and the warmth of family.
Zhang Hongcheng is really very grateful.
His knees softened, and Zhang Hongcheng knelt down quietly, kowtowed three times towards the second floor with all his heart.
——Mother Pei, I will bear all the debts your stepson owes you in my lifetime.
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