When Xu Xinning and Mu Jingheng arrived at Xujia Village, they happened to witness the slaughtering of the New Year's pig.
That year, Xujia Village underwent tremendous changes. Not to mention anything else, the collective workshop alone generated a considerable income.
That year, having enough to eat and wear was no longer a problem.
This year, the brigade plans to slaughter four pigs for the Spring Festival, mainly because there are quite a few families in the brigade who are getting married after the holiday.
Now that conditions in Xujia Village have improved, the demand for young men and women from Xujia Village has also increased significantly, especially for young men, as quite a few women want to marry into Xujia Village.
The butcher was none other than Xu Xinning's maternal grandfather, Grandpa Yang.
As soon as Xu Xinning and Mu Jingheng entered the village, they heard the hysterical shouts of the "second senior brothers," but the usually bustling village entrance was deserted.
Mu Jingheng: "Where did everyone go?"
Xu Xinning was also puzzled: how come she couldn't run into anyone in such a big village?
Mu Jingheng was covered in bags, which made him look a bit comical.
The two took a car to the county town, but did not see the oxcart in the village. Not wanting to wait any longer, they took out bicycles from their spatial storage.
It wasn't until they were almost in the village that he put the bicycle back into his spatial storage and took out all the gifts for his family, which is why Mu Jingheng had such a magnificent display.
Actually, Xu Xinning was also carrying two bags.
With the Lunar New Year approaching, the two took out various kinds of meat from their spatial storage, using this trip back from outside as an excuse to prepare.
Smoke was rising from the rooftops of every house in the distance.
This reminded Xu Xinning of the rhyme: On the 23rd, sticky candy; on the 24th, write big characters; on the 25th, sweep the dust; on the 26th, cook the meat; on the 27th, kill the rooster; on the 28th, let the dough rise; on the 29th, steam the buns; stay up all night on the 30th; go out for a walk on the 1st.
Pigs are usually slaughtered after the Laba Festival.
The aroma filled the air as soon as I entered the village.
It's already December 21st, and I imagine everyone is busy with their own affairs.
Just as the two were wondering what was going on, they passed by a house where someone came out to pour water and saw Mu Jingheng and Xu Xinning.
"Dr. Xu, Mu Zhiqing, where did you come from? Did you go to the capital again?"
Xu Xinning didn't want to explain anything to others, so she dodged the question by saying, "Auntie, are you busy?"
"We're busy! Every month of the year is busy! This year the brigade is doing well, and every household can have a prosperous New Year."
Xu Xinning: "That's great!"
"Of course, you've come back just in time. The brigade is slaughtering a pig for the New Year today."
Xu Xinning laughed: "No wonder there's no one to be seen at the village entrance."
"Those who have free time have all gone to watch the slaughtering of pigs for the New Year, while those who are busy are all in the kitchen."
Xu Xinning: "Auntie, you're busy. We're going back now."
"Hey, you guys go back."
Xu Xinning and Mu Jingheng walked home.
I could hear the aunt talking to someone behind me.
"Are Ningning and Mu Zhiqing from the brigade leader's family back?"
"You bet! I wonder if they came back from Kyoto, they've got so many bags and packages!"
"The Lunar New Year is just around the corner, so they must have bought New Year's goods and come back."
"Hey, why isn't Mu, the educated youth, spending the New Year at home in Kyoto?"
“A wife who hasn’t been won over yet is the most precious. Plus, Ningning is so capable. Doesn’t Mu Zhiqing have to keep a close eye on her? He’d be devastated if someone else snatched her away.”
"Haha, that's the right gift. There are quite a few good young people in our brigade."
Mu Jingheng gave Xu Xinning a resentful look. It seemed that it wasn't that he was in a hurry, but the risk of not having a wife yet was really quite high.
Xu Xinning didn't even glance at Mu Jingheng, and quickly walked home with her bag.
She encountered quite a few people on the way, and if she didn't hurry home and greet them one by one, Xu Xinning felt it would be too tiring.
During the busy month of the twelfth lunar month, work in the production brigade has already stopped.
Although it doesn't last as long as hibernation in the north, there are still times when things are quiet.
Around the seventh or eighth day of the lunar month, the brigade would assign people to plant potatoes in batches. Some brigades would also assign a group of people to plant potatoes in December.
Potatoes are an important food in the south.
The climate in the south is better, so potatoes are planted more often.
Only Old Master Xu and Old Madam Xu were present at the Xu family home, along with Old Madam Chen and Yao Dahai.
Grandpa Xu and Grandma Xu were overjoyed to see the two return, and all four old men and women came over to help.
Grandma Xu took the large bag from Mu Jingheng's back and asked, "What's all this? Why is it so heavy?"
Mu Jingheng: "These are all New Year's goods bought from outside. They are hard to buy here, but they are easy to buy in some places. I bought more when I saw them."
Grandma Chen: "That makes sense. When your Uncle Chen goes out on his trip, he often brings back things that are scarce in our area."
Xu Xinning: "My uncle must be very busy lately, right?"
Grandma Chen smiled broadly: "Isn't that right? They're always up early and working late, you can hardly see them."
Although Grandma Chen said that, she was secretly overjoyed. Being busy was good, because it would bring in more extra income.
Seeing Yao Dahai and Grandpa Xu grinding soybeans, Xu Xinning asked, "Are we making tofu?"
Grandma Chen: "Isn't that right? Your family has so many things to do this year. Your grandma and grandpa are so busy they're practically flying."
Xu Xinning: "Isn't it the same as in previous years?"
Grandma Chen: "How can they be the same? Your uncle will be bringing his girlfriend home this year, which has made your grandparents so happy."
Xu Xinning exclaimed in surprise, "My uncle?"
Grandma Xu smiled and said, "Your uncle has found a girlfriend. He happened to have a holiday during the New Year, so he thought he would bring her back to meet us and get married at the same time."
Xu Xinning and Mu Jingheng were both so shocked that their mouths dropped open.
This iron tree, when it blooms, is truly astonishing!
Xu Xinning asked curiously, "Where are you from? What do you do?"
Grandma Xu: "It was a local girl from the place where he was serving in the army. They hit it off and got engaged."
Mu Jingheng thought about it carefully and realized that she hadn't noticed anything special about Xu Mingyang when she visited last time. She also couldn't see any sweetness of love on his face.
Could it have happened after he left?
That's really fast.
After hearing what Grandma Xu said, Xu Xinning became even more curious. She knew Xu Mingyang's personality, and the fact that he was in such a hurry to marry her meant that it was definitely true love.
Xu Xinning was quite happy for Xu Mingyang. He had suffered so much in the past thirty years, and she hoped that his future would be filled with sweetness.
Mu Jingheng was very curious and planned to call Kuang Guangzhi in the next day or two to ask him about it; perhaps he would know.
Grandma Chen: "I'm not going to talk about it anymore. Today we've made the tofu, and tomorrow we still have to pick beans and sprout them, pound rice cakes, pound glutinous rice balls, make steamed buns, make sweet rice wine... a whole bunch of work!"
Grandma Xu smiled and said, "No rush, no rush. There will be more people to help in a couple of days. With so many hands, we can manage."
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