Chapter 35 Yu Jiamin washed the ribs and selected…
Yu Jiamin washed the pork ribs, picked the scallions, peeled the garlic, sliced the ginger, and peeled two potatoes before starting to make braised pork ribs.
She's a good cook and she's generous with the amount of lard she uses; the aroma comes out the moment the ribs hit the pan.
Yu Jiajia lay on Yu Hongding's recliner, drinking orange juice and looking at the tattered book of Chinese herbal medicine. Before long, she felt sleepy; the book was really hypnotic.
The neighboring Xu family, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, got into a fight. It was more of a one-sided argument by Xu's mother, who insulted Wang Cuifen, calling her a jinx who would bring misfortune to her husband and children, and wondering how she could have married such a daughter-in-law to Changjin back then.
If it weren't for the fact that Wang Cuifen had given birth to two sons, she would have kicked Wang Cuifen out by now.
Wang Cuifen neither fought back nor spoke back when hit or cursed; she only dared to use her hands to block the blows, and cried miserably.
Granny Xu kicked Wang Cuifen in the chest: "You still have the nerve to cry? You've ruined the Xu family!"
Wang Cuifen clutched her chest, cried out in pain, and collapsed to the ground.
Yu Jiajia quickly put down her book and went to the window to look outside. She dared not go out; what if she got a beating from Granny Xu?
Seeing Wang Cuifen being beaten, she wished she could grab Wang Cuifen and fight her with Granny Xu.
Grandpa Wang couldn't stand it anymore. "Old Mrs. Xu, that's enough. How can you be such a wicked mother-in-law? How can this be blamed on Cuifen? It's all because you spoil the children and have spoiled your son and grandson so much that they dare to do anything!"
Granny Xu stopped hitting Wang Cuifen and rushed up to beat up Grandpa Wang: "You're speaking up for her like this, are you having an affair with her?"
Grandpa Wang felt a scratch on his face, and he quickly retaliated, blocking Granny Xu's hand: "Are you crazy?! How can you cheat on your son like this?"
Grandpa Wang was no match for Granny Xu and quickly fell into a disadvantageous position. He hurriedly ran away, cursing as he ran: "You crazy woman, you spoiled your son and grandson! Spoiling a child is like killing a child. Your death has ruined your children and grandchildren."
My legs, which used to require crutches, are now exceptionally nimble!
Yu Jiajia clicked her tongue in amazement, realizing that Grandpa Wang's cane was just an ornament.
Granny Xu continued to beat Wang Cuifen, who was like a clay figure, refusing to fight back. Her son, Xu Jinbao, watched from the side while munching on a steamed bun, without saying a word to stop her.
The bystanders couldn't bear to watch any longer; there wasn't a single good person in the Xu family. Finally, Grandma Zhou and a few others pulled Granny Xu away and told Wang Cuifen to quickly go inside and close the door so she wouldn't get beaten up there.
Granny Xu pushed everyone aside, sat on the ground, and wailed, "Damn you, God! How could you do this to me! I'm old and I'm already suffering like this. You damn bastards, the bastards who are ridden by a thousand men and slept with by ten thousand, you all deserve to die a horrible death. God, open your eyes and see how you could do this to me! God, strike that heartless slut down!"
Yu Jiajia felt that Granny Xu was making veiled criticisms.
The Hu family also felt that Granny Xu was making veiled criticisms.
Aunt Hu was cursing at them from the front yard.
Yu Jiajia leaned close to Yu Jiamin and said, "Sister, Granny Xu is so annoying!"
Yu Jiamin whispered, "I'll help you get revenge tonight."
Yu Jiajia: "How do we vent our anger?"
Yu Jiamin laughed: "You'll find out tonight."
Yu Jiajia began to look forward to it, and stopped going outside. She stayed next to Yu Jiamin, fanning her with a palm-leaf fan.
Yu Jiamin pushed her out: "It's too hot in the kitchen, go to the main room and continue reading."
Yu Jiajia lay on the recliner, put the book on her face, closed her eyes and listened to the shouting outside. Tsk, how filthy!
After a while, Aunt Hu left, and her son called her home for dinner. Grandma Xu thought of her son in the police station and clutched her chest, weeping.
Xue Xiuxiu knocked on the door from the outside, holding a stack of clothes in her hands: "Jiajia, the clothes are finished."
Yu Jiajia removed the book from her face and ran over in a few steps: "Wow, it's done so quickly!" She pulled Xue Xiuxiu into the house.
Xue Xiuxiu handed the clothes to Yu Jiajia: "Try them on to see if they fit. If they don't, I'll alter them for you. I used the scraps of fabric to make car seat covers, which will be perfect for your new car."
On top of the table were car seat covers, sewn from scraps of fabric. They were especially cute and clearly made with great care. Xue Xiuxiu would usually keep these leftover scraps for herself, but she didn't keep Yu Jiajia's fabric.
Yu Jiajia was overjoyed with the car seat cover: "Sister-in-law, you're amazing! This is so cute! I'll put it on the car seat right now." It fit perfectly, and there was even a drawstring inside that tightened easily.
Xue Xiuxiu smiled and said, "I'm glad you like it."
Yu Jiajia: "I love it so much!!!" She started looking at clothes again, a dress with a Peter Pan collar and ruffles, and a blouse with a round neck and ruffles. She unfolded the dress and held it up against herself. Xue Xiuxiu helped her measure her shoulders, "It fits perfectly! You're beautiful, and this color really suits your skin."
Yu Jiajia fiddled with the clothes, eager to try them on. She exclaimed, "Sister-in-law, your handiwork is amazing! This dress is so beautiful! The collar is so pretty, it makes my neck look so long! And there's a bow at the back!!! Thank you so much, sister-in-law!"
Xue Xiuxiu was so embarrassed by the praise that she said, "It's because your drawings are so good, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to make it."
Yu Jiamin also came out to see, and said with a smile, "Jiajia's design is good, and sister-in-law's clothes are well made."
Yu Jiajia compared her shirt again, looking particularly fresh and cute. When she saw Xue Xiuxiu off, she gave Xue Xiuxiu two White Rabbit milk candies: "Thank you, sister-in-law, this is for Maodan to sweeten his mouth."
The two outfits were finished in two or three days. They were made in a rush, and both outfits turned out very well. I also made extra car seat covers!
Xue Xiuxiu refused to accept it. She had already given them eggs and brown sugar, so why would she want White Rabbit milk candy? This was no ordinary fruit hard candy; it was a high-end product that even the supply and marketing cooperative couldn't easily buy. They only sold a batch of White Rabbit milk candy occasionally.
Yu Jiajia was weak, and Xue Xiuxiu held her hand, making it impossible for her to pass the money through. She pretended to be angry: "Oh dear, sister-in-law, hurry up and take it, or I'll just give it to Maodan. Next time, I want to ask Sister Xiuxiu to make clothes for me again!"
Xue Xiuxiu also wanted Maodan to try it, so she accepted it, saying, "Next time I make clothes, you don't need to give me anything."
Yu Jiajia: "We'll talk about it next time."
After Xue Xiuxiu left, Yu Jiajia happily looked at the clothes, "Third Sister, have you bought the fabric? If you don't have enough money, I have some!"
“I have enough money.” Yu Jiamin: “I’ll go to the city to buy it on Sunday, when I’m off.”
Yu Jiajia: "Wow! I want to go too, but I've already made plans with Songchuan to go to my grandma's house on Sunday to find medicinal herbs."
Yu Jiamin: "Let's go to the city together next week when we have some free time."
Yu Jiajia exclaimed expectantly, "Okay!"
Cheng Xiuying and Yu Hongding returned, their car handlebars laden with supplies. The left net bag contained three enamel basins, the right net bag contained three enamel mugs, three towels, and three jars of face cream, and Yu Hongding, sitting in the back seat, was carrying three metal thermos flasks.
The two attracted the attention of the entire institute. Everyone stared at the supplies they were carrying, all of which belonged to the steel rolling mill. They had all heard some rumors, but the people at the steel rolling mill were ordinary workers who had not attended the awards ceremony and did not know the specifics.
Wow, so much stuff?
Everyone gathered around.
Aunt Hu: "Why are there so many prizes? Xiuying, what did you do?"
Pan Hongying's eyes were already red with envy: "So many good things!"
What incredible luck did the Yu family have?! They say fortune comes in cycles, when will it be their turn?!
Cheng Xiuying pointed to the medal on her chest: "I am grateful to the organization for this honor. I will continue to dedicate my life to the organization."
All eyes were drawn to the bronze medal on Cheng Xiuying's chest—a third-class merit!
Grandpa Wang gasped in astonishment. It was a third-class merit award! How could she be so capable?
Grandpa Hu asked incredulously, "You think finding a bicycle will earn you a third-class merit?"
He was filled with regret. He should have gone with Cheng Xiuying to look for the bicycle. Now the bicycle hadn't been brought back yet, and the Yu family had actually received a third-class merit award.
Cheng Xiuying then told everyone about saving Lu Gong'an, "I don't know the specifics of what major case was solved. Alright, everyone, let's all disperse now. From now on, let's all work hard and be brave, upright, and kind people."
She didn't tell anyone about getting so much meat, afraid that these people would be too jealous.
Pan Hongying: "No, please say it again."
Cheng Xiuying: "That's all, I've said everything I could." She pushed off with her foot, rode away on her bicycle, and even sang "The Red Star Guides Me to Battle."
"A small bamboo raft floats on the river,
Majestic green mountains line both banks.
The eagle spreads its wings and flies.
Even in the face of sudden wind and rain.
Shouldering the heavy burden of revolution
Keep the Party's teachings in mind.
Keep the Party's teachings in mind.
The Party's teachings are kept in mind.
She was happy and basked in the glory, but Granny Xu felt as bitter as if she had swallowed a bitter pill. The Xu family's miserable life began when the Yu family saved someone. The Yu family prospered while the Xu family suffered misery. It must be the Yu family who ruined their family.
She felt a tightness in her chest, as if she couldn't breathe. She pounded her chest, wishing she could take everything from the Yu family and send all the men in the Yu family to the police station.
Cheng Xiuying found Xu Pozi, that old hag, utterly annoying and didn't want to even glance at her. Having her as a neighbor was truly an eyesore. She wondered if Xu Pozi, now that she was a section chief, would be able to get a unit in the staff housing.
She was confident that she could become the head of the security department; after all, she had received a third-class merit award!
Who else but her can rival her!
She pushed the car directly into the house, where the air was filled with the rich aroma of meat—the smell of braised pork ribs—and her mood became increasingly cheerful.
Yu Jiajia quickly ran over and called out in a sweet, cloying voice, "Mom, drink some orange juice!"
Cheng Xiuying smiled broadly: "Thank you, Sibao." She took out all the supplies for today, one of each: "Sibao, put these in your room."
Yu Jiajia generously said, "Mom, is there anything you need? You can use it first."
Cheng Xiuying: "Mom has everything, you can keep it and use it however you want." Who knows, there might be countless prizes in the future! "Oh, the clothes are finished? And there's a car seat cover too? Xiuxiu's handiwork is really good! The stitches are so tight."
Yu Jiajia showed the clothes to Cheng Xiuying: "Mom, does it look good?"
Cheng Xiuying praised repeatedly: "It's so beautiful! When I saw this fabric, I knew it would be perfect for my Sibao! Tomorrow I'll use my meat coupon to exchange for a shoe coupon and buy Sibao a pair of little leather shoes. Such a beautiful outfit deserves to be paired with little leather shoes."
Yu Jiajia snuggled up to Cheng Xiuying and said, "Let's exchange two pairs, one for each of us! You're going to be a section chief soon, you should wear leather shoes too."
Cheng Xiuying smiled even more brightly. "Yes, of course the section chief should wear leather shoes," she said. "My darling, you always think of your mother. Okay, change into two pairs. I'll also benefit from Sibao's good fortune and wear leather shoes too."
Yu Jiajia giggled, "Let's wear them together."
Cheng Xiuying: "Quickly put your things inside. You and Lao Wu go to Xu Jingqiu's place. I'll get you some spare ribs."
Yu Jiajia: "I'll listen to Mom." She took the things and put them back in the house.
Cheng Xiuying went to check on the ribs. There were still almost four pounds left. She picked out half of them, put them in an oil paper bag, tied a knot with a red string, and put about ten eggs in a net bag. She tied them all to the handlebars. "Songchuan is at the gate. You ride your bike and let him walk. After he delivers the food, he should come back quickly to eat the ribs."
Yu Jiajia got on her bike and went out. Along the way, she was stopped by people who wanted to ask her what she had done to earn a third-class merit. Yu Jiajia just said she didn't know. Cheng Xiuying called out from behind, "Don't stop my Sibao. She's going to visit relatives."
Yu Jiajia escaped successfully and waited until she reached the door, where she saw Yu Songchuan showing off his medals under the locust tree, surrounded by a group of teenagers and girls.
Yu Jiajia: "Songchuan, let's go visit our relatives."
Yu Songchuan said goodbye to the boys and ran to Yu Jiajia's side. "Sis, are we going to see Sister Xu?" He then touched the oil paper package. "Holy crap, so many ribs and eggs? Mom is so generous!"
Yu Jiajia nodded: "That's right, our mom is the best!"
Yu Songchuan touched the bicycle: "Sis, let me give you a ride, I can ride a bike!"
Yu Jiajia was somewhat skeptical: "Let's just forget about it. If you break Xiao Lü, you won't get to eat braised pork ribs tonight. You'll have to eat bamboo shoots stir-fried with pork instead."
"Hahaha, is this the little green car? It's quite cute!" Yu Songchuan: "Don't worry, I'm not the kind of person who doesn't know my limits."
Yu Jiajia handed the car to Yu Songchuan and said, "Be careful! You can't let me fall."
"Don't worry, sis." Yu Songchuan can ride a 28-inch bicycle, so this women's bicycle will be a piece of cake.
Once Yu Jiajia was settled, he waved to his friends again and got on his brand-new bicycle.
It made a bunch of friends so envious they cried!
Yu Jiajia was a little nervous, but when she found that Yu Songchuan was riding his bike quite steadily, she was completely relieved.
Xu Jingqiu's family lives in the government compound. When they arrived at the gate, the old man at the gatehouse stopped the siblings. Yu Jiajia said, "We've come to visit Comrade Zhou Mingyuan and Comrade Xu Jingqiu in Building 6, Room 206."
Old man: "Was it Jiajia who saved Jingqiu?"
Yu Jiajia smiled and nodded: "My name is Yu Jiajia."
The old man said, "Go quickly. Mingyuan tells me every day that if you come, you can go straight in." He then gave them directions: "Go straight along this road, turn at the first intersection, and you'll come across a small garden. Building 6 is right next to it."
The trees in the government compound were neatly trimmed, the dense leaves of the plane trees filtering the sunlight into shimmering gold. The flowerbeds were filled with bright red roses, clearly well-maintained by someone.
Yu Songchuan looked up at the row of red brick villas with gray tiled roofs; they were truly beautiful!
He exclaimed, "This place is truly magnificent!"
Yu Jiajia: "Who says otherwise!"
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Author's Note: My darlings, I have to go on a long trip next week and need to stockpile chapters in advance. This week will be single updates, each chapter with 4,000+ words. I'm really sorry, so I'll be sending out red envelopes (cash gifts) to everyone.
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