Chapter 66 Chapter 66 It’s Chinese New Year~
Starting from the 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month, classes in the Shen family's small classroom were suspended.
The atmosphere of the Chinese New Year is already very strong. Although no one is rich these days, it is precisely because of this that the Chinese New Year is particularly important. People are usually very frugal, so during the Chinese New Year, even the poorest families have to find ways to get some food that they usually can't afford to eat.
Families with better conditions, in addition to preparing food, also had to buy things, and even make one or two new clothes. It was impossible for everyone to make new clothes, but it was still possible for everyone to take turns making one or two pieces every year.
The public grain had been handed in long ago, and the assigned pigs had also been handed in. The accountant of the brigade had calculated the money long ago. This year, their brigade had a good harvest, and the pigs were fat. One work point was worth 5.2 cents, which was a lot more than the 4.4 cents of the previous year.
The brigade did not hesitate and distributed the money on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, along with some grain. Grain had actually been distributed once after the autumn harvest, but it was definitely different during the Chinese New Year, so distributing a little more or less was also considered a happy occasion.
Shen Moer's family also received a share. After all, the original owner and his daughter had worked for more than half a year, Shen Shaoyuan had also worked for a while, and their family also had Fu Mingze who had worked for a full year. According to work points, they could have received more than 200 yuan. However, before that, when building the house and marrying Shen Moer, Shen Shaoyuan had fought against the famine with the team, so after deducting all the money, their family finally received 89 yuan.
After working hard for a whole year, I only have eighty-nine dollars left.
Even this is considered a lot in the entire Yangliu Brigade.
Even though some families with more strong laborers earn more work points, they usually have many children and spend more on food. When the harvest is bad, they can’t get money from the production team, and may even owe the production team money for food. This year is a good year, and they can get a few dozen yuan, which makes them very happy.
After the money was divided, people started to rush to the commune. Previously, it was said that the mahjong market would be banned, but later it seemed that it was still open due to the New Year, and it was open every day in the last few days of December, but it was said that it would be officially closed after the New Year.
Chen Moer and Fu Mingze went to join in the fun again, and each bought some things secretly. Then it was the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month, the day when the team slaughtered the New Year pig.
Shen Shaoyuan still had to go to work, and left after breakfast early in the morning. When Shen Moer was about to sweep the floor with a broom, Maomao led a group of naughty children to the gate of the courtyard and shouted, "Sister Moer, my grandma asked you to get an enamel pot to collect pig blood. Each household can get a bowl of pig blood. Pig blood tofu is delicious and tender!"
Shen Moer put down the broom and went into the kitchen to get an enamel pot.
In times like this, their small families got the upper hand. There was only so much pig blood, so it was impossible to distribute it per person, so they had to distribute it per household. Some families in the village had several generations living together, and a family with dozens of people could only get one bowl, which was enough for each person to get a mouthful. There were three people in their family, and they got one bowl of pig blood, which was like adding a bowl of solid vegetables.
Fu Mingze was washing clothes by the well in the brigade headquarters. Shen Moer stood at the intersection and called out, "Fu Zhiqing, do you want to go and slaughter the pigs?"
Fu Mingze was wearing a sweater with a hole in it, and was pouring water into an enamel basin. Amid the sound of the water, he looked up at Shen Moer, who was holding the enamel basin with great interest, and couldn't help laughing. He said, "You go first, I'll be done soon and come later."
Shen Moer immediately said: “Okay, then I’ll go with them first, you come quickly.”
He walked happily holding Maomao's hand.
A group of naughty kids shouted "Kill the pigs, kill the pigs" and ran forward happily. Shen Moer also smiled and quickened her pace.
Fu Mingze clicked his tongue. Seeing how happy she was, she didn't even turn around to look at him.
He reached into the cold water in the enamel basin and rubbed the clothes quickly. He soon washed the clothes and took them back to the yard to dry them on the bamboo poles.
Over there, Chen Moer followed a group of naughty kids to the threshing ground. The pigs had been tied to the pig-killing stools and were screaming. The stools were surrounded by people in three layers. Chen Moer watched the excitement, but was afraid of getting dirty if she got close, so she stood outside the crowd. Maomao volunteered to squeeze in with her enamel pot. Not long after, Chen Moer heard his loud voice that was no less loud than the pigs: "Grandma, grandma, this is Sister Moer's house!"
Zhou Zhaodi stood beside Shen Moer and muttered, "Maomao has a really loud voice."
Shen Moer laughed, touched her head, and asked, "Didn't Yang Danniu ask you to work these two days?"
Zhou Zhaodi raised her head and smiled. She was not unhappy because Shen Moer asked her this. She knew that Teacher Shen cared about her. She said proudly, "I have done all the work I should do. She was afraid that I would cheat, so she didn't ask me to do the work in the kitchen. I have nothing to do."
This child was timid at first, but has become more and more outgoing in the past six months. I don’t know if it’s because winning the painting competition gave her confidence, or if it’s because she has been following Maomao around all day and has become naughty, or maybe both.
Yang Danniu's belly is very big, and she probably doesn't have the energy to take care of her before she gives birth. But when Yang Danniu gives birth in the spring of next year, Zhou Xiaoshuan and his son won't be able to count on her for housework. By then, Zhou Zhaodi may have to take care of the two little ones.
Shen Moer frowned. This child is very talented in painting. She must find a way to let her continue learning it when the new year comes.
Suddenly, a chaotic scream broke out in the crowd, mixed with the sharp squeals of pigs and the joyful cheers of people, and then with a bang, it was like something exploded.
After killing two pigs in a row, Maomao soon emerged from the crowd, holding an enamel pot carefully. "Sister Moer, Sister Moer, your pig's blood!"
The hot pig blood was brought to Shen Moer, Shen Moer: "..."
To be honest, Shen Moer had never eaten pig blood before. The original owner did have the experience of eating pig blood tofu in her memory, and in the original owner's memory, pig blood tofu was even a rare delicacy that she longed for, so Shen Moer was also very curious and wanted to try the taste of pig blood.
But this doesn't mean that she wants to face such a large jar of steaming pig blood.
"Give it to me."
A hand stretched out from behind, and the white and slender knuckles clasped the edge of the enamel pot. Shen Moer turned back to meet Fu Mingze's gaze. Fu Mingze saw that she looked like she couldn't bear to look at him, and couldn't help laughing: "Why don't you take the one with a lid?"
There were two enamel jars at home, one was the original one without a lid and with the paint scratched, and the other was a new one with a lid that Shen Moer bought later. Thinking about the bloody mess of pig blood, she took the old one, but she didn't consider that without the lid, she would have to face this bloody mess.
It was indeed a mistake.
After all, it's full of blood and dirt, so you can just wash it later.
Fu Mingze curled his lips and said, "Okay, I'll get it, don't look at it."
Fortunately, each household only has one bowl of pig blood, and when it is poured into the enamel jar, there is actually less than half a jar, so there is no need to worry about it spilling out.
After the pig blood was divided, the meat began to be divided.
The people working were all experienced pig-killers in the village. They were also very skilled in butchering pigs, and they divided the two pigs into parts clearly in no time. The offal was put into two large wooden basins, the pig's trotters, ribs and other items were chopped into a pile, and then the most essential parts with the least bones were taken, especially the thick layer of fat. The snow-white fat almost sparkled in the sun.
The pork was distributed according to the amount of work done by each household. At this time, the advantage of families with larger populations became obvious. For example, Zhou Gencai's family, with four generations living together, was ranked first in the distribution of meat because of their strong labor force and population far exceeding that of others. They happily took the fattest piece of meat.
Immediately, sighs of envy and jealousy were heard from the crowd: "Oh, his family got such a big piece of meat. Wow, this meat is so fat!"
Chen Moer's family had the lowest work points, so they were naturally ranked at the back, but she and Fu Mingze were not in a hurry. Chen Moer had never seen the New Year pig being slaughtered and the pork being distributed, and Fu Mingze was actually the same. When he came here to work in the countryside last year, he was not familiar with the villagers. When the village slaughtered the pig, many people from the educated youth point went to watch, but he did not go, so it was actually his first time to see the New Year pig being slaughtered and the pork being distributed.
Both of them found it fresh and interesting and watched it with great interest.
Among the brothers of the old Shen family, the eldest Shen had the largest population and was the first to get the share, and he also picked out a very fat piece of meat. The third Shen's family had the smallest population, with a son, a daughter-in-law, two grandsons, and the unmarried youngest daughter Shen Chunfen, so there was not much fat meat left when they got their share. Cao Mei could only pick out a piece that was half fat and half lean, and her expression was both happy and not very satisfied.
However, when Cao Mei saw Shen Moer and Fu Mingze in the queue, she became inexplicably happy again, and deliberately walked to the side of the queue, and said with a smile: "Oh, my piece of meat is too little fat, just this little, but think about it, it is still much better than the remaining bones. Even if I give a little more bones, it can't compare with meat."
There was no need for Shen Moer to say anything, as the people queuing in front and behind her had already started to criticize her.
"Cao Mei, get out of here! We are just a separate family. If we hadn't, wouldn't we still be ranked ahead of yours? Why are you so poor and showing off? You are so proud of yourself just because you got a share of the meat."
"It's none of your business what we get. You're really nosy. Bah, you're looking for trouble during the New Year. How despicable."
"You just want to say that Shen Moer's family can't get any good meat. Cao Mei, have you forgotten that there are two workers in their family, and they can get a fixed amount of meat coupons every month? Oh, I'm really impressed. When they are eating meat, you are still eating bran and vegetables."
"If you had brains, you wouldn't be instigated to steal other people's food. Go, go, go, the meat has been divided, why don't you leave quickly?"
Ever since Chen Moer took Maomao and others to the provincial capital and won the award, the villagers felt that Chen Moer had brought honor to their Yangliu Brigade, and their favorability towards Shen Moer soared. In addition, with the subsequent incident at the embroidery factory, the brigade leader said that Chen Moer had secured the most places for their brigade, not to mention that she also taught everyone hand in hand, which was equivalent to securing more than a dozen opportunities to become workers for their brigade. The villagers now felt that Chen Moer was the lucky star of their brigade.
Isn’t it a lucky star?
With the award in the competition and the embroidery factory, their brigade is now well-known in the surrounding area. Before the New Year, the young men and women in the village were much more popular when looking for a date. Many people felt that by marrying into their brigade, they might have the opportunity to become workers in the future.
So don't say that Cao Mei offended a lot of people with just a few words. Even those who had already divided the meat couldn't help but say a few words for Shen Moer when they passed by and heard it.
Cao Mei was so angry: "What did I say? Did I mention someone by name? I just said my meat is not good enough. Can't I say anything?"
"If your meat isn't good enough, just throw it away, hahaha."
"Oh my god, Uncle Ding, Cao Mei complained that the meat you gave her was not good enough!"
"Damn it, do you think I'm sick? I divided the meat and threw it away. Why don't you throw away the meat from your own family?" Cao Mei said this and quickly turned around and left with the meat. If she continued talking, it would really annoy Lao Ding, who was dividing the meat, and he might give her a worse piece of meat next year.
Not far away, Tian Fang, holding the meat she was given, curled her lips as she watched Cao Mei fleeing.
I don't know if Cao Mei has a confused mind or not. Given Shen Moli's popularity in the village, this man actually dares to be sarcastic to Shen Moli in public. Isn't he just waiting to be scolded?
Even if these people don't like Chen Moli in their hearts, they have to flatter her on the surface. As workers in the provincial capital's embroidery factory, this is not much different from rising to the top overnight.
Tian Fang had a gloomy expression. She didn't know what good luck this father and daughter had. Why wasn't her Shen Lingling the winner of the competition? Why wasn't it her Shen Lingling who was chosen by the embroidery factory? If it was Lingling, wouldn't her son, daughter-in-law and grandson all be workers?
Tian Fang's eyes flickered, revealing a bit of calculation.
Shen Moer didn't notice Tian Fang. She waited in line for a long time and finally it was her turn. The one who distributed the pork was Ding Dewang, the brother of accountant Ding Shouchang. People of the same generation called him Old Ding, while people of Shen Moer's generation called him Uncle Old Ding.
Uncle Ding pointed to the remaining meat and said with a smile, "The rest are all with some bones. Pig's trotters are good, with more fat. Spare ribs are also okay, with less meat but still very fragrant when cooked."
Shen Moer thought about it and ordered some pig's trotters and spare ribs, and then also ordered a leg bone to make soup for the New Year. There were not many people in their family anyway, so she could just order a little of each and try them all.
Uncle Ding quickly cut the meat, tied it with a straw rope and threw it aside. Zhou Peijun weighed it, Ding Shouchang kept the account, and then Zhou Peijun handed the meat over.
Shen Moer thanked him, Fu Mingze reached out and picked up the straw rope, and the two went home happily.
After distributing the New Year pig, it felt like the countdown to the New Year had begun, and New Year’s Eve was almost here in the blink of an eye.
The family of three worked together to prepare a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner, with fish, meat, and plump, fragrant dumplings.
Shen Shaoyuan brought out a glass bottle from his room: "Let's all drink some wine on New Year's Eve."
Fu Mingze took a look. This bottle was made of liquor sold by a local winery in Jiangbei County. It was not a good wine, but rural people usually drank some loose liquor from their own bottles, so this bottled wine was considered very good. This was what he drank on the day he and Shen Moer got married, but Fu Mingze remembered that the wine he bought that time seemed to have been finished, and he didn't seem to see Shen Shaoyuan buy it again afterwards.
After Shen Shaoyuan poured the wine and handed it to him, Fu Mingze took a light sniff. The wine smelled refreshing and sweet, and was indeed different from the white wine sold locally. He took a sip and found it mellow and mellow with a long aftertaste. Fu Mingze was slightly startled.
At the previous engagement party, he tasted that the wine prepared by his father-in-law was good, but the wine that day was not comparable to the wine today. Today's wine felt as good as the best wine on the market.
"What kind of wine is this?" Fu Mingze couldn't help but ask.
Shen Shaoyuan's hand holding the wine cup paused for a moment, then he said calmly, "This is the wine I brewed myself."
Fu Mingze: “???”
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