Da Wa drove the oxcart directly to the entrance of their educated youth settlement and helped unload five large vats and three small vats.
Before they could even finish bringing it back, after the large tank was unloaded, they made two more trips.
He Wan felt like she was going back to her old ways. After living here for a few months, she felt like she was back in touch with the real world.
Finally, Xie Meihui took one large vat and one small vat.
Su Ranran and He Wan took a set, and she and Zhang Cuicao cleaned the large vat and set it aside for later use.
Xue Zhenzhen bought two small jars from the village and several kilograms of beans from the brigade.
He carried it and walked over to Su Ranran.
Without saying a word, he sat down next to her.
Su Ranran glanced at her and said, "What are you doing?"
Xue Zhenzhen looked at her and sighed softly: "Su Zhiqing, I was a bit arrogant in the past, but I never thought I would be isolated like this." She then pointed with her chin at Xie Meihui and Ding Shaoling not far away: "They don't like me, and I don't even look down on them."
Zhang Cuicao glanced at Su Ranran, then at Xue Zhenzhen, and remained silent.
Su Ranran remained silent.
Xue Zhenzhen waited for a long time, but seeing that the two of them were pretending to be stupid, she pursed her lips. Her pride wouldn't allow her to lower herself and beg for help. After thinking for a moment, she picked up the beans in her hand and prepared to leave.
He Wan, who was not far away, smiled at their childish behavior, but she also spoke up: "Xue Zhiqing, since you are the only one left, then come and do it with us. It's not too late to put the beans inside now."
Xue Zhenzhen turned to look at He Wan, and after a long moment of disbelief, she said, "You're willing to help me?"
He Wan smiled: "We're all from the same educated youth settlement. We came here from all over the country and have lived here for many years. If you ask me, we're almost as close as biological sisters, don't you think?"
Su Ranran and Zhang Cuicao were touched by these words. Yes, since arriving here, they had encountered and experienced many things they had never encountered before. Without their parents' guidance, they had to rely on themselves for everything.
Su Ranran said, "It's not too late yet, quickly wash the beans and put them in."
Xue Zhenzhen gave a muffled "hmm," lowered her head, and handed the beans to Su Ranran. After a while, she joined them. He Wan looked at her eyes. Had she just been... made to cry? How strange.
After the beans are cooked in the evening, a white cloth is placed in the basket and kept warm.
Wang Xiaorong and Li Chunsheng also returned, their two bamboo baskets overflowing with all sorts of things: hazelnuts, walnuts, wild vegetables, and mountain mushrooms.
After sorting them out, the people laid them out to dry in the yard.
This kind of hard work and lively life is what He Wan longs for, rather than all sorts of scheming and conflicts all day long.
Wang Jianguo and his friends in the front yard did the math while they were eating.
Thirty-five catties of beans cost fourteen yuan and forty cents, a large vat cost four yuan and eighty cents, and salt cost one yuan and one cent. Each person contributed two yuan and ninety cents. Chen Zhiqing filled his own vat separately.
At this point, Wang Jianguo seemed to remember something and cautiously asked Xue Zhenzhen, who was standing beside him, "Xue, you don't seem to have taken any beans."
Everyone was taken aback, especially Zhang Deping, whose face showed a hint of embarrassment. Douzi had forgotten to bring Xue Zhenzhen.
Xue Zhenzhen didn't even turn her head or look at her, and said, "No need, I'll make it myself." Then she continued eating her meal.
Everyone awkwardly lowered their heads and started eating, and the once lively meal fell silent.
However, no one had any objections to making soybean paste this year. In the winter in Northeast China, there are not many vegetables, so people rely entirely on sauerkraut. Before, buying sauerkraut and soybean paste from villagers cost much more and was much less expensive.
Girls' dormitory in the front yard at night.
Ding Shaoling and Xue Zhenzhen were at opposite ends of the kang (heated brick bed), practically worlds apart. After Xue Zhenzhen lay down, Ding Shaoling asked, "Today is the first time for everyone to try making soybean paste. We were buying and exchanging things haphazardly, so we inevitably forgot some things. We've only cooked the beans here. Why don't you bring them over and put them together? That way, it'll be more convenient for meals later."
"No need, it's fine to do it separately."
In the darkness, Ding Shaoling suddenly asked again after a while, "How are things going with Zhang Aimin? When are you planning to have the wedding?"
...There was no echo in the air for a long time, and Ding Shaoling didn't ask any more questions. She turned her back to Xue Zhenzhen.
Today, Hewan made breakfast, which was unusual for her. She stir-fried some hot and sour shredded potatoes and made potstickers. We ate breakfast together.
In the backyard, He Wan saw the mushrooms that Wang Xiaorong and the others had prepared and suddenly laughed, "I can also make mushroom sauce, um... do you want to make some mushroom sauce?"
Wang Xiaorong and the others were squatting outside with breakfast in their hands. Hearing her words, they quickly said, "Let's do it. We've picked a lot of mushrooms these past few days. Can He Zhiqing help us? We don't know how."
"Okay, do you guys eat spicy food? You can get some chili peppers."
So, after dinner, Li Zheng went to the farm again and bought three small vats, one for Su Ranran and one for He Wan.
He Wan's small kitchen was suddenly packed with food.
These past few days, everyone has been busy with their own tasks. Zhang Cuicao and Su Ranran are making soybean paste at home, while the rest have gone up the mountain to stock up on mountain products. Stocking up is also very important at this time of year.
Unable to help in the courtyard, Chen Qing also went to the mountains.
However, she encountered Li Erniu in the mountains, who insisted on helping her with the autumn harvest.
He stopped Chen Qing in the mountains and asked her if she wanted to date him.
“Chen, my family has eight members, four strong men: my father, my eldest brother, my second brother, my third brother, my mother, and my eldest sister-in-law. They are all very capable. My second sister-in-law is a bit lazy, but she cooks well. If you come to my house, I definitely won't let you go hungry. I'll talk to my mother and we'll make sure you don't have to work anymore. You can stay home and help my second sister-in-law with cooking. Don't worry, even if you don't work, we'll still have surplus grain every year and get more than a hundred yuan in cash, which we can't spend.”
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
