The task of dividing the pork is entrusted to Xiaoxiao and Chang Xiaohu! They should try to get the lean cuts, but they should also include the big bones. The more the better.
Lunar New Year's Eve is just two days away. There's been a constant emphasis on breaking with feudal superstitions. But some things remain unspoken in everyone's hearts. Families quietly visit ancestral graves during the New Year.
Song Yan had too many things to deal with before and hadn't even gone to visit the grave yet. This couldn't be delayed any longer; the offerings were already prepared. Since paper money was hard to come by, Song Yan secretly bought some from the black market.
Song Yan watched as her mother-in-law packed the necessary items into her basket one by one, then shouldered a shovel and set off with her mother-in-law…
Aunt Wei cleared a clearing in front of the first grave herself. When she was clearing the second grave, she was obviously tired, so Song Yan took the shovel from her.
The tombstones are made of wooden planks. The first grave is that of Wei Aiguo's father, and to the left is the joint grave of Wei Aijun and his wife.
After cleaning the grave, Song Yan was about to place offerings. Her mother-in-law stopped her, pointing to the right side of Wei Aiguo's father's grave, "Clean this up too."
The grave mounds were invisible under the heavy snow, so there must be a grave there. Otherwise, my mother-in-law wouldn't have allowed it to be cleared away.
While working, Song Yan asked, "Who's buried here?"
“I have a child I couldn’t raise!” The mother-in-law’s face was filled with sadness.
The mother-in-law has a child with a 10% discount?! Song Yan had never heard of that before!
The area in front of the three graves was cleaned, and the old woman arranged the offerings herself. She rambled on, "It's New Year's! I brought you good food and money! Aiguo got married this year. You benefited from her; we gave you plenty of meat and money. Wei Ping and Wei An are both good..."
Song Yan felt a pang of sadness. Now that he was here, his grandparents had no one to offer sacrifices to them…
When Song Yan and the others got home, they saw Chang Xiaohu chopping ribs. Jiang Xiaoxiao listened to Song Yan and took a lot of the large ribs and bones.
After Chang Xiaohu finished chopping the ribs, Song Yan taught him how to singe off the pig hair. The pig hair on the trotters needed to be cleaned thoroughly. Chang Xiaohu had no idea how to do this! If Lao Du hadn't shouted in time from the other side of the wall, the pig trotters would have been ruined.
Song Yan simply handed the pig's trotters to Lao Du and let him clean them up.
Aunt Wei was making shoes inside the house, watching them through the window. Actually, Aunt Wei felt it was inappropriate to buy anything with bones. But Song Yan said that you are what you eat, and drinking bone broth would help the bones grow tall and strong.
Aunt Wei didn't believe Song Yan at all! Eating too much meat would stunt her growth and make her weak?
Oh well! Let them buy whatever they want.
Chang Xiaohu was especially happy; this was the happiest and most relaxed time he had ever experienced since he could remember.
Just now, a lot of people were lining up to get their share of pork.
Chang Xiaohu recounted the events of that time to his second sister-in-law in a long, drawn-out manner.
When it was time to distribute the meat, the villagers said, "Let the educated youth have it first!"
The educated youth were a little embarrassed. But the people in the production brigade were very enthusiastic. Sister Jiang and her group were pushed to the front…
There's a fixed amount of meat each person gets. What if everyone buys a lot and the people behind them don't get any? Also, you lose work points for each share of meat. If you don't have any work points to lose, you can buy on credit, but only half a point at a time.
Those who don't have time to deduct from the payroll are usually slackers. If you let them owe too much, what will happen if they don't get work points and grain rations next year? It's the New Year, and it wouldn't be right not to extend credit to them. So the rule of extending credit for half a portion came about.
What happens if there's any pork left over after the distribution? If someone still wants some, everyone gets together and discusses how to divide it equally.
Those who cut the meat first are more likely to get a better selection. There's a saying: "One should know how to be sensible."
The educated youth lined up at the front, but there were no good places for them to ask for.
Nowadays, everyone prefers fatty cuts of meat, or even just some lard. The rendered fat can last for a year without spoiling. Adding a little to stews and stir-fries makes them extra fragrant.
Li Yuanzhao and the other older educated youth had plenty of work points, so they definitely had enough meat. They took half of the meat with fat, a little bit of lard, and the rest of the lean meat.
Jiang Xiaoxiao and Song Yan joined later; their work points were barely enough for their food rations. Fortunately, Jiang Xiaoxiao taught students, and the production brigade allowed her to buy meat with cash. Song Yan had double work points, so her points were sufficient. Adding to that, there was Aunt Wei and her two children, with the children receiving half a ration. Wei Aiguo also had half a ration. He had been at home for the first six months of the year.
Jiang Xiaoxiao and Song Yan's family are together, so they can get a lot of money.
Jiang Xiaoxiao ordered a quarter of the fatty meat as Song Yan had suggested, and picked out the lean meat for the rest. Then there were the spare ribs, the big bones.
Behind Jiang Xiaoxiao, Ren Quan's mother reminded her, "Jiang, why don't you ask for more fatty meat? Fatty meat is just right." Like the other educated youth, she asked for half-fatty meat, and no one complained.
Jiang Xiaoxiao: "Song Yan sometimes hunts rabbits or something, just for a treat. She said, 'Leave the fat meat for those who want it more!'"
"Wow! Look at how enlightened they are."
"They're not short of work points. They just know how to behave appropriately."
Are the people behind worried about not being able to buy fat ones? Of course they are! Hearing this, everyone felt particularly relieved.
The team leader deliberately brought extra large bones. He also brought two racks of spare ribs. Pig's trotters are usually bought by the family that has a baby. No one fights over these bone-heavy items. Jiang Xiaoxiao bought as much as she could. Song Yan said she liked to eat them.
Jiang Xiaoxiao divided up a huge pile, far exceeding the weight of the meat. But no one complained. She always took the parts that people didn't like.
The bones were quite heavy, so they were divided into two sacks. The pig had just been slaughtered, and blood was still seeping out. Chang Xiaohu carried one sack, and Jiang Xiaoxiao carried the other.
Just as Jiang Xiaoxiao was about to lift the meat off her back, she felt her hands suddenly go empty.
"Sister, let me carry it for you!" Cheng Youfu put the meat on his back and walked ahead.
No one found this scene strange. Cheng Youfu was Song Yan's adopted younger brother, and he helped with all the chores.
Cheng Youfu was the first to arrive at the Wei family's door. Blackie, inside the gate, barked.
Hei Zai was a puppy that Cheng You Suo gave him. It was completely black. Song Yan named it Hei Zai.
Cheng Youfu called out, "Stop barking." Hei Zai recognized the voice and stopped. Cheng Youfu couldn't help but wonder, if he didn't come often anymore, would Hei Zai still remember his voice?
While Cheng Youfu was still in a daze, Chang Xiaohu and Jiang Xiaoxiao arrived at the door.
Cheng Youfu put down the sack, "I'm leaving now!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
