That evening, Wang Xiumin made vegetable dumplings using a mixture of two types of dough.
The radish and pork filling is very fragrant.
The family of three ate with gusto, their mouths greasy and the food delicious.
Xu Guangtian lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) and patted his belly, exclaiming, "Now this is what celebrating the New Year is all about!"
In the past, during Chinese New Year, we would only get a few dumplings, and there was very little meat in them.
Every year, several kilograms of meat are distributed, but they all end up in other people's stomachs.
This time I'm in charge; I can eat as much as I want.
Wang Xiumin was also extremely satisfied; it had been so long since she had eaten meat like this. She hadn't eaten like this since she got married.
She kicked Xu Guangtian and said, "It's all because our Gou Dan is so capable. Otherwise, he'd only have less than half a pound of meat, not even enough to fill a tooth gap. We've been married for so many years, and I'm only enjoying my happiness because of Gou Dan. Can't you be a little more capable?"
That's what she said, but she didn't mean to complain. She used to be suppressed by the old couple, and now she's developed a lazy nature.
Change cannot be achieved overnight.
Xu Guangtian chuckled, "Yes, yes, it's all thanks to Gou Dan. I'll work hard in the future, and we'll try to build a big house."
Xu Xiangyang sat down on the kang (a heated brick bed) after eating and drinking his fill. It wasn't that he didn't want to help clean up the dishes.
At this point, men are careful not to do these things. The original owner of this body didn't do them either. If he suddenly changes too much, it might arouse suspicion.
It's good as it is now. I earn money to support the family, and they take care of the home.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye, and on this day of the Lunar New Year, every household was filled with the warmth of the New Year.
It's either for cooking or for tending the fire; you can't let the stove get cold.
During the Lunar New Year, a house must be warm and cozy, so that from the outside, it shows that the family is doing well.
It's not that I'm obsessed with saving face; who doesn't want good luck during the New Year?
Wang Xiumin had prepared the food for dinner early in the morning, and there was nothing else that needed to be prepared.
One dish: cabbage and potato slices; and another is making dumplings.
At this time of year, it's already quite good to be able to eat dumplings and vegetables at the same time. Isn't that what Chinese New Year is all about? Every household does the same thing.
Some families couldn't even afford dumplings. Even after the meat was distributed, they didn't have white bread to make dumplings; they could only steam cornmeal dumplings.
Xu Xiangyang went out for a stroll with Zhang Tiequan early in the morning. They were both free now, waiting to have dinner that evening.
He was bored staying at home, and Zhang Tiequan happened to come to visit him, so they went out for a stroll together.
"Brother Xiangyang, when are you going back to work in the city?" Zhang Tiequan squatted on the snow-capped mountain, looking down at the small village below.
Xu Xiangyang stood beside him, looking down at the village below.
After hearing Zhang Tiequan's words, he replied, "I don't know yet, he might leave in a couple of days."
He doesn't have any ideas yet. He'll have to find another job now that he's lost his job, but jobs aren't easy to find these days.
But he can't stay at home forever, otherwise his wife will guess that he's lost his job.
Zhang Tiequan looked at him enviously and said, "Brother Xiangyang, you're really capable. Who wouldn't want to work in the city? In our brigade, only you and the brigade leader's family work in the city."
Everyone in the brigade envied them, but unfortunately, others rarely had the opportunity to do such a job.
Xu Xiangyang didn't reply. He'd already lost his job; what was the point of being envious?
If other people knew, they would probably laugh at me.
He doesn't seem to care, but his wife and son will probably be quite sensitive about it for a while.
In those days, it was a remarkable thing for a rural person to be able to "leap over the dragon gate" and work in the city.
If people find out he lost his job, they'll be overjoyed.
The two stayed on the snow-capped mountain for a short while before they discovered that a large group of people were coming up.
Most of them were teenagers, and there were also a few children.
"Brother Xiangyang, Liu Quanshan is here." Zhang Tiequan turned his head and glanced at him.
Xu Xiangyang searched his memory and then realized who this Liu Quanshan was.
He was the brigade leader's son, and he worked in a textile factory in the city.
Xu Xiangyang thought he was only about 1.6 meters tall, but he was quite strong.
"Hey, isn't this Xiangyang? You're here to play too?" Liu Quanshan took the initiative to come over and greet him.
Xu Xiangyang smiled and nodded, "Brother Shan, you brought your younger siblings over to play?"
Liu Quanshan was surrounded by his relatives, so he knew almost all of them.
"Yes, I heard you work in the city? Where do you work?" he said, offering Xu Xiangyang a cigarette.
Cigarettes weren't cheap at that time, and although Xu Xiangyang smoked, he still refused.
“Working as a temporary worker at the grain depot is just about making a living; it's nothing compared to being a permanent employee like Brother Shan,” Xu Xiangyang always said, trying to be helpful.
Liu Quanshan was very pleased with these words. He had originally wanted to come over and make a joke, but now he was too embarrassed to say it.
"Really? If you need anything, come find me at the textile factory." Liu Quanshan lit a cigarette and stood there, puffing away.
The young people around him looked at him with envy.
How can you not be envious? Most people can't even afford to smoke dry tobacco, let alone cigarettes in this kind of packaging?
Xu Xiangyang couldn't help but find it amusing to see that he seemed to enjoy the envy others felt towards him.
But at that time, having a formal job was already considered very good in rural areas.
He said hello and then went down the mountain with Zhang Tiequan.
Zhang Tiequan said, "Brother Xiangyang, why didn't you smoke his cigarette just now?"
The two of them used to save up money to buy cigarettes, and they would savor the memory of each cigarette for a whole day.
Now that Xu Xiangyang is gone, he can't save any money himself and hasn't smoked for several days.
"You want to smoke?" Xu Xiangyang turned around and glanced at him.
Seeing his somewhat embarrassed expression, I knew it.
"Here you go." Xu Xiangyang took out a cigarette from his pocket and handed it to him, then lit one for himself as well.
He bought these at the supply and marketing cooperative when he came back; a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes cost 35 cents, which was considered high-end. The cigarette coupon was obtained on the black market; he only had one.
"Hey, Daqianmen!" Zhang Tiequan exclaimed in surprise, then held the cigarette to his nose and took a deep sniff.
"Good cigarettes smell so good!" He lit one with a match and enjoyed it.
After he finished his cigarette, he smacked his lips and said, "No wonder you didn't smoke Liu Quanshan's cigarettes earlier. It turns out you're smoking Daqianmen now."
It wasn't that Zhang Tiequan was jealous, but he felt happy that Xu Xiangyang was doing better and better.
Xu Xiangyang smiled and didn't refute it; if you smoke someone else's cigarette, you have to return it.
Although he didn't know what kind of person that was, he never wanted to take what belonged to others.
Before they parted, Xu Xiangyang gave him two cigarettes to take home and smoke.
He has plenty of these things; he usually smokes from his spatial storage. This pack is just for handing out cigarettes to people.
Zhang Tiequan was overjoyed and, without any hesitation, took the cigarettes and went home with a smile.
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