The sizzling aroma from the pot was already wafting out.
A pot of braised pork, a pot of fish.
Zhang Qiang caught this fish by breaking through the ice in the river.
The captain smiled and said, "Third brother, the New Year is almost here, let's get ready to go winter fishing at Erlong Lake!"
Huo Junshan exclaimed in surprise, "Erlonghu? Our brigade was assigned to Erlonghu this year? Wasn't it one of the brigades next door last year?"
The captain nodded with a smile: "I went through a lot of trouble to get this winter fishing permit, but there are several other brigades fishing together, so this is fine!"
Last year, the neighboring brigades had a very prosperous year thanks to the fish from Erlong Lake!
Fishing is not allowed in Erlong Lake under normal circumstances; it is only opened to large groups of fish near the Chinese New Year.
"Uncle, have you chosen the people? How many do you need? I think twenty or so should be enough!"
The captain nodded: "I'll pass on the notification tomorrow!"
Lin Mengmeng called out with a smile, "Dinner's ready! Come and eat, everyone!"
Several men put two tables together and sat down in the courtyard.
The rooms for the two of them were too small to fit, so they had to sit in the yard. Fortunately, it was between the two kitchens, so it wasn't too cold.
The brigade leader smiled and said, "Come on, let's all have a drink to celebrate Zhang Zhiqing and Lin Zhiqing! Today is their engagement day, let's raise a glass together to celebrate!"
Several people raised their glasses and ate together.
Meanwhile, the other educated youth were cooking in the kitchen. They looked at the meat and vegetables on the table and felt very hungry, but Lin, the educated youth, had only invited a few people, and he hadn't invited them.
They could only watch helplessly.
Especially Meng Zhenzhen, she hadn't seen meat in a long time!
But it's just about smelling the fragrance in the yard.
The educated youth at the settlement were eating coarse grain pancakes and drinking corn porridge. The aroma of meat wafting from the courtyard made them even less able to eat.
The group quickly finished their meal and went back to their room.
The people outside were still eating and drinking.
There are six dishes in total.
The staple food is rice.
Everyone ate until their bellies were full, and it wasn't until after 3 p.m. that they went home.
Huo Junshan, holding his wife's hand, said, "I think the brigade will send me fishing this time. Do you want to go and see?"
He took her large hand and stroked her fingertips, his clear black and white eyes fixed on his wife.
Yun Ningyan nodded: "Sure, I want to go, but how do I get there? Is it far?"
Huo Junshan chuckled lightly: "It's not far, but you have to walk there."
The next day, the brigade's loudspeaker blared.
When everyone arrived at the brigade headquarters, the brigade leader directly selected a few people: Huo Junshan, Huo Jianguo, Yan Hua, and other strong laborers.
The captain then selected several women to help pack and collect the fish.
The captain waved his hand and shouted, "Let's go!"
Everyone took out tools and prepared other things.
Yun Ningyan also carried a basket containing food and water for Huo Junshan, since she didn't know how long she would be there.
After Huo Junshan and a few others prepared their tools, they handed the items over to the others, intending to go with the little girl.
But when he looked back, he saw his mother and wife following him!
His father was to his mother's right.
Yan Yan had her arm around Li Xiangyun's arm, and they looked like a close mother and daughter.
Huo Changlan and her two daughters followed behind.
Many of the brigade leaders went along.
It took the group more than an hour to reach their destination.
Yun Ningyan looked at the lake not far away and was shocked: This lake is really big!
The lake was covered with a thick layer of ice, and there was also snow on top.
But the captain still ordered someone to go down and break open a hole to check the thickness of the ice.
Once the breach was broken open, the captain glanced at it and excitedly waved his hand: "Get down here! Let's get to work!"
The men swarmed down to dig nests and set up nets. The men in the brigade were all very excited, shouting and yelling on the ice.
Yun Ningyan watched the lake for a while and then felt a little bored.
When Li Xiangyun arrived, she brought a stool. Seeing that Ningning was tired, she said, "Ningning, come and sit down! You must be tired from standing for so long!"
Yun Ningyan felt a little embarrassed to sit down. With so many people here, how could she possibly sit down?
Besides, this stool was brought by her mother-in-law.
Li Xiangyun pressed her down: "Ningning, sit here! I'm used to it. They've already set up the net, but we still have to wait before they can re-establish it!"
Yun Ningyan had no choice but to sit down.
The men were still setting up their nets, while the women waited on the side. Huo Junshan glanced at her twice, then continued working.
Yun Ningyan sat by the lake, her chin resting on her hands, watching the man cast his net.
Their internet download speed was very slow; it took them a long time to download the internet!
She didn't see a single fish hair all night long.
She had already gone back with Li Xiangyun and the others.
Huo Junshan and the other men hadn't returned yet. Li Xiangyun said, "Ningning, don't go back to cook. Mom will cook you something delicious! We don't know when Lao San will be back! He won't be back to catch fish online until tomorrow. We'll go again tomorrow!"
Yun Ningyan nodded: "Okay, Mom, I want to eat steamed egg custard!"
She grabbed Li Xiangyun's arm and shook it as if she were being affectionate.
She really hadn't had steamed egg custard in a long time!
Li Xiangyun smiled and said, "Okay! I'll make it for you!"
Huo Changlan pursed her lips behind the two of them and muttered under her breath, "They really spoil her rotten. You'd think she was their daughter!"
She was speaking very softly, but Yun Ningyan and Li Xiangyun both heard her.
Li Xiangyun said with a half-smile, "Of course! I didn't have a daughter, so Ningning is just like my daughter. You're envious? You already have two daughters, what's there to be envious of?"
Huo Changlan!
Now, my second sister-in-law is quite eloquent. She only needs to say one sentence, and my second sister-in-law will have ten sentences waiting for her.
It's true that she has daughters, but neither of them can compare to Yun Ningyan alone. She's beautiful, rich, and has a big house!
Besides, the third brother dotes on her like she's his own eyeball!
Who wouldn't be envious?
Li Xiangyun said, "Changlan, come help me start the fire, I'll cook!"
Huo Changlan pouted again and reluctantly entered the kitchen.
Li Xiangyun made a stew of cabbage, vermicelli, and pork. She put in very little pork, just enough to give it a little meaty flavor. She also specially made a bowl of steamed egg custard for Yun Ningyan, Zhang Hongying, and Wang Cuihong.
During the meal, Yao Qingqing rushed to the kitchen to help serve the dishes, but Li Xiangyun remembered what Ningning had told her: she couldn't let this girl touch the food.
She glanced at Yao Qingqing's hands, then reached out and slapped the back of her hand: "Go wash your hands, we don't need you here! Look how dirty your hands are!"
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