After the first batch of fruit was dried, Xie Yuyao poured it into a large pot on the stove, added water, a little sugar, and salt, so that the water could penetrate into all parts of the pear pieces.
After simmering over low heat until the sugar syrup in the pot turns into sugar stains, it is scooped out and dried again.
Two days later, after the second drying was completed, the results were finally in: only a little over four pounds of fruit were obtained from about ten pounds of fruit.
Xie Yuyao invited everyone to try it and see if it was delicious.
Wu Lihong picked it up and took a bite. Her eyes lit up: "It's really not sour anymore. It even tastes a little sweet. It's quite delicious."
The others also picked it up and tasted it, nodding repeatedly.
"It won't be any worse than the candied fruit sold by the supply and marketing cooperative, and there might actually be people who want it."
"There's definitely someone who wants it! Should we go to the black market...?"
"No way!" Ren Fei immediately objected. "Black market transactions are illegal. We cannot be corrupted by the sugar-coated bullets of capitalism."
They then realized they had gotten too excited; all state-supplied goods were subject to centralized purchase and distribution, and free buying and selling was not permitted.
If you get caught going to the black market, you'll face anything from jail to being forced to eat peanuts.
Seeing that no one was speaking, Ren Fei seemed to have thought of something and said, "Yu Yao, give me half a jin. I'll give it back to you when the next batch is finished."
Seeing that there was still enough dried fruit, Xie Yuyao shared it with her.
Ren Fei took out a plastic bag, put it in, picked up the bag, and left without saying a word.
Bei Xiao scoffed, "Going so eagerly, aren't you afraid of ending up with nothing?"
Xie Yuyao then realized that Ren Fei had given the dried fruit to Zhao Honghui, and her good mood instantly vanished.
This subtle change in her emotions was noticed by her best friend Yang Shumei, who invited her to go for a walk.
Once they reached a secluded spot, Yang Shumei stopped. "Yuyao, have you fallen for Zhao Honghui?"
"No, I just..."
Xie Yuyao didn't know what to say; the slight goodwill she felt had been completely dampened by the wild boar incident.
Putting aside the fact that their relationship is currently more like enemies than friends, even if they were to actually get together, given Zhao Honghui's keen senses, her secret would be exposed sooner or later, and who knows what awaits her then.
She gave a wry smile. Was this a case of every gain having its price?
Looking at Yang Shumei's worried face, she gazed at the horizon and said, "Feelings are something that can't be explained. But I know what to do, and I won't forget our promise."
Yang Shumei, who was in the same situation, felt a pang of sympathy and looked up into the distance, saying, "We will all be alright."
"Absolutely!" Xie Yuyao smiled proudly.
She was a carefree wanderer of heaven and earth, watching the flowers bloom and fade in the courtyard, and gazing at the clouds drifting in the sky.
*
Ren Fei walked quickly towards the village, feeling both sweet and excited at the thought of the people she was about to meet.
"Isn't this Ren Zhiqing? Where are you going?" Under the big banyan tree in the village, groups of three or five elderly people were sitting. Among them, Liu, an old woman with a shrewd look, called out to her.
Ren Fei didn't know who she was, but that didn't stop her from asking for directions. "Auntie, I need to talk to Comrade Zhao Honghui about something. Could you tell me how to get to his house?"
What do you want with him?
What could a newly arrived female educated youth possibly need that would come to Honghui's door? Could it be...?
Remembering the recent rumors circulating in the village, Old Lady Liu smiled, her face crinkling with laughter. "Go to the left fork in the road, and the fifth house there is it."
"Thank you, Grandma!" Ren Fei's ears turned slightly red as she thanked her generously and continued walking forward.
Happiness is something you have to create yourself. She believes she's on the right path and isn't afraid of being seen by anyone.
At Zhao Honghui's doorstep, three children, aged five or six, were playing a game of throwing beanbags. One little girl threw a beanbag, looked up and saw Ren Fei, and asked, "Who are you looking for?"
"I'm looking for Zhao Honghui. Is he home?"
"Yes, wait a moment." The little girl stood up and ran into the house, shouting, "Uncle! Someone's looking for you!"
"Who is it?" Zhao Honghui's voice came, and soon he strode out with his long legs.
Upon seeing Ren Fei, he paused slightly. "Hello!"
"Comrade Zhao, our educated youth institute has made some good things, let me show them to you." Ren Fei was afraid that he would refuse if she gave them to him directly, so she changed her approach.
Zhao Honghui glanced at the bag in her hand and, seeing that she didn't seem inclined to hand it over, probably because it wasn't convenient for her, invited her inside to talk.
Upon arriving at the tea room for receiving guests, Zhao Honghui picked up the thermos, brewed a cup of tea, and handed it to Ren Fei, waiting for her to explain her purpose.
Ren Fei opened the bag, revealing the yellowish-brown flesh. "This is candied fruit made from sour pears from the mountains. Try it."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Honghui recalled what his aunt had said a few days ago. She said that Xie Yuyao led the entire educated youth team to pick fruit, so they made the sour pears into candied fruit.
Seeing that he was deep in thought, Ren Fei continued, "After we ate it, we all felt that the taste was no worse than that of the supply and marketing cooperative. If we could get the supply and marketing cooperative to help sell it, we could increase our income."
Zhao Honghui suddenly looked up: "Was it Xie Zhiqing's idea?"
"How did you know!" Ren Fei's eyes widened, and she suddenly felt a little flustered: When did Xie Yuyao talk to Zhao Honghui about the sour pears? Are the two of them very familiar?
Seeing her reaction, Zhao Honghui mistakenly thought that Xie Yuyao wanted to use his connections to sell the dried fruit on consignment at the supply and marketing cooperative for profit.
He wondered: Why was she hiding behind him when it was something so important?
"Let her talk to me herself."
Ren Fei, who was completely on a different wavelength from him, was also puzzled: "Does it make any difference who says it?"
“Go back and tell her that these dried fruits must not be sold on the black market. If something really happens, it’s not something you educated youth can handle.” Zhao Honghui said seriously, picking up his teacup. “I won’t see them off. Take the dried fruits with me.”
Ren Fei's mind was in complete chaos; she had no idea how things had turned out this way.
She stood up, looked at Zhao Honghui who was serving tea and seeing the guest off, her face slowly turning red, and she mustered up her courage to say, "I came to give you some dried fruit, it has nothing to do with anything else."
As soon as she finished speaking, she ran away, afraid that Zhao Honghui would stuff the candied fruit back into her hand.
Seeing Ren Fei fleeing in panic, his brain went completely blank.
Isn't this dried fruit from the educated youth team? How did it become Ren's personal property? Why did she give him dried fruit to eat?
Thinking of one possibility, he slumped back in his chair, staring blankly at the ceiling.
So, it was Ren, the educated youth, who wanted to send dried fruit but was afraid of being rejected, that brought up the educated youth team. What about Xie Yuyao? Did she actually intend to use her own connections?
However, she was right about one thing: selling them at the supply and marketing cooperative would indeed increase income. As for whose income...
Zhao Honghui smiled knowingly, quickly straightened up, grabbed the bag of dried fruit, and walked out of the house, heading straight for the brigade leader's house next door.
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