Chapter 55. Old Man Yu read it over and over again...
Old Man Yu stared at the sleeper ticket to Beijing, turning it over and over. He used to be a worker himself, so he knew the significance of this ticket. Last year, his eldest son, Yu Hongzhi, failed to secure a business trip for training and was so upset he couldn't eat for days. Now, this taciturn Yu Hongding actually had the chance to go to Beijing on a business trip?
He inhaled.
Grandma Yu also inhaled.
How come the second son's family lives such a good life?
Yu Songqing looked at Yu Hongding with envy; he also wanted to go and learn from him!
Yu Hongding patted Yu Songqing on the shoulder: "You are a college student and young. Work hard, and you will have plenty of opportunities in the future."
Yu Songqing nodded emphatically.
Yu Jiajia: "Let's make two jars of mushroom meat sauce for Dad. It can last for two or three days, so he can take it with him on the road."
Cheng Xiuying: "Eldest brother, second brother, third brother, lend a hand."
Mushroom meat sauce is easy to make. I had some mushrooms at home that weren't completely dried yet. I soaked them in hot water and then diced them. I washed and diced the good quality fatty pork belly, washed and chopped the chili peppers, and washed and chopped the scallions, ginger, and garlic. I also prepared spices such as Sichuan peppercorns and star anise.
Pour lard into a pot and heat it to medium-high heat. Add diced pork and stir-fry over medium heat until the pork is separated and changes color. When the moisture has evaporated and a caramelized aroma is released, pile the diced pork to the side of the pot. In the center of the pot, add scallions, ginger, garlic, Sichuan peppercorns, and star anise and fry until fragrant. Then, add diced mushrooms and chopped chili peppers and stir-fry. Finally, season with salt, soy sauce, and a large spoonful of white wine. Stir-fry evenly, then add hot water and simmer over low heat until the soy sauce thickens and the oil cools. Then, turn off the heat.
You don't even need to taste it; just by looking at the color and smelling the aroma, you can tell how delicious it is.
Yu Jiajia scooped a spoonful and let Cheng Xiuying taste it to see if it was salty enough.
Cheng Xiuying savored the flavor carefully, her eyes lighting up, and gave a thumbs up: "Delicious."
Grandma Yu and Grandpa Yu watched anxiously from the side. Grandma Yu said, "Quickly, let me taste it to see if it's salty enough."
Yu Jiajia scooped a spoonful and put it on a plate so everyone could have a taste.
Grandma Yu took a bite and exclaimed, "Wow! It's got diced meat, diced mushrooms, and lots of scallions, ginger, garlic, and chili peppers. It's so fresh, fragrant, and spicy—it's absolutely addictive!"
Old Man Yu: "How delicious it would be to mix this sauce with a bowl of noodles with minced meat sauce."
Cheng Xiuying: "We don't have enough noodles at home, and we don't have enough high-gluten flour either."
Thinking about the food for the past two days, Old Man Yu gritted his teeth and took out two yuan from his pocket: "Is this enough?"
Grandma Yu wanted to stop him, but it was too late. This old man, at his age, still has such a greedy mouth. Two yuan could buy so many good things.
Cheng Xiuying wouldn't refuse. She didn't want the old folks' money; she'd give it to the eldest son's family. She took the two yuan and then looked at the others.
Everyone: ...
Even after becoming a section chief, Cheng Xiuying remained the same stingy Cheng Xiuying.
Yu Songqing, Yu Songyan, Yu Jiamin, and Yu Jiajia will each receive an extra dollar.
Cheng Xiuying said with a smile, "That's enough, we'll have noodles with soybean paste for dinner."
Seeing that everyone had contributed money, Grandma Yu felt inexplicably at peace and looked forward to the noodles with soybean paste.
Yu Songqing kneaded the dough and rolled out the noodles, while Yu Songyan helped by slicing scallions and cucumbers and blanching some bok choy. They were just waiting for the noodles to be ready.
Cheng Xiuying washed two fruit canning jars, scalded them with hot water, and dried them with a cotton cloth. Once the mushroom and pork sauce had cooled, it was ready to be bottled.
Everyone sat in the main room, waiting for the noodles with minced meat sauce.
Grandma Yu peered out the window and saw Grandpa Hu sneaking around, Grandpa Wang sneaking around, Fang Dayong sneaking around, and then two more people sneaking around.
Grandma Yu clicked her tongue: "Fang Dayong is a smart man. He didn't loiter around our door, but kept a close eye on the Su family. Those two idiots, Old Wang and Old Hu, were wandering around, wanting to eavesdrop but not daring to. Tch."
She hadn't poured out the water from washing her feet last night; she was just waiting to use it.
Yu Songchuan made a grand entrance at home before the noodles with soybean paste were even cooked.
A military green jeep came to a smooth stop in front of the courtyard house. Before the dust it kicked up had even settled, Yu Songchuan had already nimbly pushed open the car door and jumped out. He quickly walked around to the back of the car, opened the other door, and said, "Uncle Gu, please."
A middle-aged man in a crisp military uniform with prominent epaulets stepped down from the car, exuding a calm and dignified air; he was none other than the former high-ranking officer.
Almost simultaneously, the driver's side door opened, and He Yuanzheng stepped out of the car with a swift movement. On the other side, Lu Chenzhou, who was in the passenger seat, also got out and stood tall beside Chief Gu.
The boys who were playing with cardboard boxes at the door all gathered around. San Shi stared in disbelief. Yu Songchuan had returned by car, this time in a magnificent jeep—the kind of car only a high-ranking official could ride in!
Yu Songchuan shouted, "Sanshi! Go inside and call my parents out. Tell them we have important guests and they should come to greet the Chief!"
Standing to the side, He Yuanzheng looked at Yu Songchuan's arrangement and shook his head with a smile. This kid is quick-witted, resourceful, and with his extraordinary strength, agility, and excellent counter-surveillance awareness, he's practically a natural-born soldier.
San Shi ran straight to the Yu family's house.
When Yu Songchuan led the high-ranking official to the first courtyard, the Yu family members hurriedly came out. As soon as they saw the high-ranking official, Cheng Xiuying greeted him with a smile, "Commander, why have you come in person? Please, please come inside."
Old Man Yu and Old Woman Yu also hurriedly came out to see what was happening.
What jeep? What high-ranking official?
How did the second son's family get so many connections?
Commander Gu's personal visit was on behalf of the military region to express sincere gratitude to Yu Jiajia. Her discovery in the cave was extremely valuable, and the central government has dispatched a special investigation team to handle the follow-up matters.
In addition, they sent two Jinhua hams to the Yu family to repay the kindness of the roasted pig leg from that day.
Everyone else in the courtyard came out when they heard the news, watching all this with bated breath.
What incredible luck has the Yu family had? This time, even the military region officials have come to their door in person! That high-ranking officer has an extraordinary presence that makes people afraid to look him in the eye, and he even has a gun on his waist!
The two young men beside him were equally outstanding, especially the one in the white shirt, who was incredibly handsome, with a cold and stern look and an upright posture; he was clearly no ordinary person.
Not to mention the two large hams Yu Songchuan was carrying on his shoulders, their skin a bright yellow, shaped like a pipa (a Chinese lute), they were top-grade Jinhua hams. Such a precious gift, and quite impressive!
Did they save the commander?
Upon entering the house, Cheng Xiuying quickly grabbed a clean towel and carefully wiped the tables and chairs before inviting Chief Gu to sit down.
Yu Hongding took out his treasured Pu'er tea, scalded the cup, brewed the tea, and served it to Chief Gu.
Cheng Xiuying said happily, "It is already a great honor for us that you, Commander, have come in person. How could you prepare such a precious gift! We really cannot accept this." Before she finished speaking, she quickly turned around and told the children to serve the rice and dishes, and repeatedly invited the Commander to stay for a simple meal.
Chief Gu politely declined the invitation to stay for dinner. He gazed at Yu Jiajia with a look that was both kind and gentle, typical of an elder, and also contained a deep and solemn emotion.
The next moment, he suddenly stood up and gave Yu Jiajia a perfectly standard and solemn military salute.
"Comrade Jiajia, thank you!" His voice was steady and powerful, each word clear and firm, as if carrying a thousand pounds of weight. "This gratitude is not only from my personal perspective, but also represents the military's highest and most sincere respect to you!"
Everything inside the cave is so precious; its discovery is of immeasurable value to the nation.
This child is so innocent and kind. She is trapped in the cave and sheds tears because of the heavy past in the unlocked box, but she doesn't touch the gold and silver mountains next to her.
Yu Jiajia looked at the leader and asked, "Can everything in the cave reveal the truth? Can the bad guys be punished? Can the tragic deaths of our compatriots be prevented from being in vain?"
Commander Gu reached out his hand, his warm but rough palm gently stroking her head: "Yes! Those treasures are torches that break through the fog, ironclad evidence that can clear the name of the wronged and leave the perpetrators nowhere to hide. What you have found is a history that cannot be erased, and also the foundation that will allow us to move forward better and more steadily in the future."
Yu Jiajia smiled, raised her hand to wipe away her tears, and said, "Mmm."
Commander Gu: "Don't be sad, you should be happy."
As the other members of the Yu family listened to these words, they vaguely guessed what had happened. The heavy history seemed to weigh on their hearts like a boulder.
Chief Gu did not have dinner at the Yu family's house in the end. He chatted for a while longer, inquiring about the health of Old Man Yu and Old Lady Yu, and also asking about the work of Yu Hongding and Cheng Xiuying. He also inquired about the Yu family's children.
Finally, he got up to say goodbye and said to Yu Jiajia again, "Child, if you encounter any difficulties at home, just ask Brother Yuanzheng and Brother Shenzhou. If they can't solve it, I'll help you." He then patted Yu Songchuan on the shoulder and said, "Study hard, and when you graduate, come to the military region to report for duty."
Yu Songchuan straightened his chest, raised his head, and gave a military salute: "Yes, sir!"
The Yu family saw Chief Gu off. Once the jeep had completely disappeared from sight, Cheng Xiuying gently embraced Yu Jiajia and said softly, "Good child, don't be sad anymore."
Yu Jiajia buried her face in her mother's shoulder, her voice unusually firm: "Mom, I'm not sad, I'm happy."
She believes that the long-buried and cruel history will eventually be fully revealed, and all the evil will be exposed to the light of day and receive the judgment they deserve.
She also sincerely hopes that the precious data obtained at a huge cost can become the cornerstone for the leap forward of the country's medical science and technology.
The truth of all this is cruel, but as the darkest hour is always before dawn. Only by facing the past, learning from its lessons, and making our country stronger can we safeguard a peaceful future and prevent such tragedies from ever happening again.
Grandma Yu's heart was in turmoil. She vaguely understood something. No wonder her shrewish, sexist, and profit-driven second daughter-in-law favored Siya and kept calling her "my darling Siya"... This granddaughter she had always ignored seemed to be quite remarkable.
That high-ranking official came in person because of Jiajia.
She looked at Yu Jiajia, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
Old Man Yu's hands trembled with excitement, unable to calm down. The high-ranking official cared about him and even shook his hand; he didn't even want to wash his hands! And all of this was because of Yu Jiajia.
Humans are naturally biased; even ten fingers can be of different lengths! It's only human nature.
But when a little finger is adorned with gold and silver rings, and even the nail is inlaid with gold and jade, that little finger must be a precious treasure.
At that moment, his gaze toward Yu Jiajia was filled with affection.
The other people in the courtyard surrounded the Yu family, bombarding them with questions: Why did the leader come to your house? Why was Yu Songchuan sent back? Why is Jiajia crying? Did the high-ranking leader send that Jinhua ham to your family? Who are those two young men?
Cheng Xiuying naturally wouldn't tell them the reason, only mentioning what she could, but it was as if she hadn't said anything at all.
Why was the leader allowed to visit the Yu family? When did the Yu family acquire such a relative?
Everyone was extremely anxious, but there was nothing they could do. The Yu family was very cunning and simply wouldn't say anything.
Cheng Xiuying told everyone to disperse and hurry home, then took her precious baby home for dinner.
Because Yu Songchuan came back unexpectedly, there weren't enough noodles, so two large handfuls of dried noodles were added.
Each person gets a large bowl with noodles at the bottom, a spoonful of mushroom and meat sauce, shredded green onions, cucumber, and vegetables. If you like vinegar, add some. Mix the noodles and vegetables together, and take a bite—it's so delicious!
Yu Jiajia also developed a big appetite and ate a bowl.
After the meal, Cheng Xiuying asked, "Songchuan, pick out what you can tell everyone."
Yu Songchuan has been riding high these past few days. He's been living and eating with the troops, transporting treasure and capturing enemy agents, truly experiencing what it's like to be a soldier. He enthusiastically recounted his experience: "The treasure was all safely transported out that very day! The next big thing is to close the net and capture those lurking enemy agents."
He lowered his voice and said excitedly, "We really have a lot of enemy agents lying in wait in our county, all after the treasure. This place is incredibly murky, and our Communist Party is amazing; they've already secretly infiltrated their ranks. Once the news of the treasure being found gets out, it'll be like bait being laid—the fish will all bite! With inside help, we'll wipe them all out in one fell swoop!"
He didn't mention the treasure; it was top secret information, and not a single word could be uttered.
We can talk about catching enemy agents; we've already done it all.
Fortunately, the fourth sister discovered the cave in advance. There was a batch of bombs stored in the box. Once lit, they would be enough to reduce everything to ashes and never be recreated.
If enemy agents discover it first, they will detonate the bomb directly.
He looked at his fourth sister and realized that many things were simply a matter of fate.
The mountain god chose the fourth sister and led her to the cave.
Old Mrs. Yu was listening intently to Yu Songchuan's speech, her eyes fixed on the outside. Suddenly, she picked up the foot-washing basin by the window and splashed it out. Old Mr. Hu, who was acting suspiciously, was soaked. Not wanting to make a sound, he quickly ran away, but he slipped and fell with a 'whoosh'.
He got up and kept running.
Grandma Yu clapped her hands and cursed, "You old bastard, if you dare to eavesdrop through the window again, next time it won't be just foot bath water."
Grandpa Wang, standing some distance away, patted his chest, relieved that he was a step too late.
Yu Jiajia sincerely praised, "Grandma, you're amazing."
A fiery and sassy person is unbeatable.
When the feisty stunt turns her fire on the enemy, she becomes adorable.
Grandma Yu looked at Yu Jiajia with an unprecedented gentleness in her eyes, "Don't worry, I'll take care of these two old hags."
The second son's family had really prospered. She felt inexplicably uneasy, afraid that Cheng Xiuying would kick her out. When she saw Yu Songqing clearing the dishes, she rushed to do it herself.
This was Yu Songqing's job, and he couldn't let Grandma Yu do it, fearing that she would cause trouble again. He said, "Grandma, you rest, I'll take care of it."
Cheng Xiuying leaned back in her chair, taking scissors to trim Yu Jiajia's nails. "Mom, you've worked hard for half your life at your elder brother and sister-in-law's house. Take a break. Are you not comfortable being idle? Don't you enjoy life? You can't live a life of constant toil."
These words completely baffled Old Mrs. Yu. Born with a life of toil? That's not a compliment, isn't it a life of hardship? How could she not be idle! How could she not love to enjoy life?
After Cheng Xiuying finished trimming Yu Jiajia's nails, she exclaimed how beautiful her darling's little hands were—fair, slender, and as delicate as scallions, so soft to the touch; hands that seemed to enjoy a life of luxury.
The family talked for a long time before parting ways. While washing up, Yu Jiajia grabbed Grandma Zhou and posted her good deeds, earning her 10 Great Unity Tokens, 1 Eight-Jin Cotton Quilt, and 1 Hot Pot Set Meal. She also collected enough fragments for the Intermediate Chinese Pastry Chef skill and directly synthesized them to obtain the Intermediate Chinese Pastry Chef skill.
She loves it so much! She can make any kind of Chinese pastry she can think of, and she can make whatever she wants to eat in the future.
Before going to bed, Yu Jiajia checked in for the day and received [Shanghai Medicated Soap *1].
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Grandpa Wang cursed the Yu family, wondering which deity they had worshipped to have such good fortune. Was it because the Yu family's ancestral graves were so auspicious that they were emitting green smoke? He was so jealous that his eyes turned green. He rode his bicycle to the Revolutionary Committee to find Director Xiao.
Xiao Lixin hasn't been able to get anything done these past few days. The director is pressuring him to find the treasures, but they seem to have vanished into thin air. There's been no trace of them whatsoever.
He knew the gold was in the hands of a few families in the courtyard, but those families were too cautious and never went back to the hiding place. The courtyard and houses had already been searched, but no treasure was found.
What angered him most was that he couldn't find anyone who could track down the Yu family.
On the first day, the two idiots who followed the Yu family almost drowned. It was the Yu family who rescued them and sent them to the clinic, allowing Cheng Xiuying to play the good guy and get some attention.
The next day, of the four idiots who followed him, two were extorted money, his good-for-nothing nephew was determined to marry the rural woman, and the last one was so scared that he ran back.
On the third day, the two idiots did nothing but get splattered by an overturned manure cart, dying before they even got started.
Today, no one is willing to follow the Yu family anymore.
The Yu family is too strange.
Whoever follows them will be unlucky, extremely unlucky.
The more Xiao Lixin investigated the Yu family, the more suspicious he felt about them, and the more convinced he was that the gold was definitely hidden in the Yu family's hands, or at least most of it.
Yu Jiajia is also very strange; her luck is excessively good.
Xiao Lixin is not superstitious, but he wouldn't dare joke about his own life.
He gave the photos of the Yu sisters to the director, who finally stopped pressuring him for gold. He had his eye on the twin sisters and was trying to find a way to get his hands on them.
He leaned against the window, smoking. The smoke obscured his entire view. He chuckled softly, wondering whether it was the Yu family who were unlucky, or the director.
There was a knock on the door. Wang Liren knocked cautiously. "Director Xiao, it's me, Xiao Wang. I have something to report. May I come in?"
Xiao Lixin: "Come in."
Wang Liren entered the office and told Director Xiao about what happened that evening.
Xiao Lixin's eyes darkened. The Yu family's network of connections did not include the military region. Oh, no, they knew He Yuanzheng, who was on leave, but how could such a connection allow a high-ranking official to visit the Yu family in a jeep, carrying two Jinhua hams?
The problem lies with the Hongcheng Brigade. How interesting.
What happened in just one day?
Unfortunately, Wang Liren was a fool and knew nothing.
Xiao Lixin praised Wang Liren and encouraged him to continue his investigation. He took out a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes from the drawer and stuffed it into Wang Liren's shirt pocket as a reward. He added, "Once Lu Xiaoqing has finished forging the letter, take her to see the director."
Wang Liren was extremely excited, "Yes."
Xiao Lixin is, after all, a deputy director. Although he's addressed as Director Xiao, he's still a deputy! Now he actually has the opportunity to speak directly to the director! Will he be able to advance further?
Yu Jiajia slept soundly through the night. The next day, she got up very early. After a short nap, she was quickly alert. Today, she was going to teach everyone the mental techniques and formulas of the Five Animal Frolics.
Old Man Yu and Old Woman Yu stood guard at the door.
The mental techniques actually require talent. Yu Jiamin and Yu Songchuan learned them the fastest, and Yu Songyan and Cheng Xiuying also had high comprehension. Yu Hongding had no talent and was very clumsy in learning them.
Yu Songqing didn't even know the external techniques of the Five Animal Frolics, so he couldn't understand the mental techniques at all. He didn't understand them, but seeing how seriously others were learning them, he realized how impressive they were.
He had to learn external martial arts first, and he became more and more convinced that Lu Xiaoqing was really his nemesis! Now that he was away from Lu Xiaoqing, his life was getting better and better.
Old Man Yu and Old Woman Yu were eavesdropping outside the door, but they were completely confused and didn't understand anything.
Grandma Yu felt that the whole family was just performing shamanistic rituals, and she had little interest in it.
At six o'clock, Cheng Xiuying began preparing breakfast, including some dry food for Yu Hongding to take on the road.
Everyone went to wash up. Yu Songqing practiced the Five Animal Frolics again before going to the sink to wash up. Su Man happened to be washing clothes not far away. She moved quickly and finished washing the clothes in the basin in no time. As she picked up the basin and turned around, she seemed to slip slightly, cried out in surprise, and unexpectedly fell next to Yu Songqing.
The enamel basin crashed to the ground with a bang, scattering wet clothes everywhere, and splashing water soaked Yu Songqing's sleeves and collar.
Su Man hurriedly apologized, her tone filled with remorse and helplessness: "Brother Songqing, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to..." She took out her handkerchief to wipe the water stains for him.
That tone, that movement... it inexplicably gave off a sense of déjà vu with Lu Xiaoqing! Yu Songqing suddenly shuddered, and the hairs on his body stood on end! Without saying a word, he turned and left, his steps quick and hurried, as if something was chasing him.
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