After returning home, Li Xu was really tired and hungry. After handing the fish to Hu Guilan, he ran into the house and drank two glasses of water to fill his stomach.
After resting for a while, Li Xu took the bag and went outside for a walk. When he came back, he filled the bag with the remaining two kilograms of white flour. He handed it to Hu Guilan and said that they would have white flour buns and fish soup in the evening.
Hu Guilan looked at the noodles in the bag and showed joy. Without asking where they came from, she went into the kitchen and started preparing them. While the noodles were fermenting, she continued to process the fish.
Hu Guilan used a knife to scrape off the fish scales, chop off the fins, remove the gills and internal organs, then washed it with water and soaked it in salt water.
During this period, salt could be purchased without a ticket, but the price was not low, 1.4 cents per pound. This price was acceptable for people with stable jobs who could use more to remove the fishy smell; but for rural people, they dared not waste it at all.
Nowadays, rural people only get work points if they work every day. A strong laborer can only earn 10 work points a day at most. Excluding the time when they are sick, unable to work due to rain, or need to take leave for personal reasons, they can only earn about 3,000 work points a year. However, all the food and other supplies allocated to the family from the production team have to be deducted according to the national price, so there is not much money left at the end of the year.
Families with few able-bodied workers still owed money every year, so how could they dare to use salt to remove the fishy smell? Of course, this was also related to the fact that fish alone was not enough to fill the stomach. Eating one or two fish was useless and wasted salt.
By the time the fish were soaked in salt water, everyone went home one after another.
As soon as he entered the door, Li Xu told everyone that dinner would be later in the evening and explained where the fish came from.
Everyone was delighted when they heard this, and said that it didn't matter if they had such a good thing a little later.
Li Xu also mentioned that Li Qiang was going to get married in a few days, so that Li Jiakang and the others could be mentally prepared.
After listening to this, Li Jiakang pondered for a moment, then said to Li Xu embarrassedly, "Xiao Xu, Dad knows you have a way to get some food. Can you help Dad get some, coarse grains or fine grains will do." The more Li Jiakang spoke, the smaller his voice became, and in the end it was almost inaudible.
Hearing this, before Li Xu could say anything, Sun Xiu was the first to express her displeasure. "Exchange for food? What are you going to exchange for? Food is so precious these days, can you buy it with money? Where can you ask Xiaoxu to exchange it for you? Are you planning to use your own family's food subsidy?"
Li Jiakang faced Sun Xiu's unfriendly eyes and said stubbornly, "I also want Xiaoxu to try it. Besides, it doesn't have to be exchanged with money, notes can also be exchanged.
Xiaoqiang's wedding cost so much food, their family must be having a hard time this month, so as an uncle, shouldn't I help out a little? "
"Help? How else can you help? If you're talking about giving me some money and bills, I'll have no objection, but this is food. We're already so frugal with our own food that we have to spend every day. If we give it away, how are we going to get by this month?"
Seeing that the couple was about to quarrel, Li Xu hurriedly persuaded them, "Mom, don't be angry. It's not worth getting yourself hurt by this. Besides, you know that Dad and Second Uncle have a good relationship, so they will definitely help out at home.
Don't worry about the food. I'll go out and see if I can get some more for the next couple of days. We can eat the rest at home."
Hearing this, Sun Xiu's expression didn't look so bad anymore. He also knew that brothers Li Jiafu and Li Jiakang had a good relationship. When something happened at home, Li Jiafu would come to help even if he didn't have to work. Besides, when they didn't buy a house in the county a few years ago, it was Li Jiafu and his family who helped take care of the children in the countryside.
Thinking of this, Sun Xiu was no longer so angry. He sighed and said, "I know I have to help. I still have no objection to the money and tickets, but now if you can't get food, your father wants to use the food at home to subsidize you. How can we, the people in our family, survive?"
When the others heard this, they fell silent. After all, Li Jiafu and the others had made this choice, so they had to bear the corresponding consequences.
Li Xu spoke again, "Don't worry, Mom. I'm sure I can get some in exchange, but I'm not sure about the quantity. Didn't you see I took home two kilograms of white flour today?"
"Are you sure?"
"I'm so sure."
"Okay then. I'll get you some money and tickets after dinner. You can exchange as much as you can. My son is really capable, unlike someone else." As he said that, Sun Xiu glared at Li Jiakang.
In fact, even if this incident had not happened, Li Xu was still looking for a reason to take out more food, otherwise he would be so hungry that he would drool even when he slept. Now he just had the opportunity.
Li Xu had been eating porridge with his family these days, but today he couldn't stand it anymore and took out two kilograms of flour. After all, he had no money or tickets. Who would believe that he took so much food and said it was for exchange?
Li Jiakang lowered his eyebrows and agreed, "Yes, your son is the most capable."
Hearing this, Sun Xiu burst out laughing, and everyone regained their relaxed expressions and started chatting again.
After the fish was soaked for a while, Sun Xiu and Hu Guilan went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Li Mei pulled Li Xu over and asked quietly, "Xiao Xu, are you really sure you can exchange for food? If not, everyone should tighten their belts and eat less this month. Please don't do anything wrong."
Li Xu felt warm at heart when he heard this, but he jokingly said, "Sister, do you think I'm someone who would do something wrong?"
Li Mei rolled her eyes at him and said, "I think they look alike." Then she turned and walked away.
We didn’t have to wait until after 8 o’clock before we had a delicious dinner.
A large pot of fish soup with only a little bit of salt and green onion. It smells very fragrant and tastes even more delicious when you drink it. There is no fishy smell at all.
Served with a few steamed buns made of white flour and some home-pickled vegetables, everyone was so hungry that their tongues almost fell off.
Seeing everyone finish their meal and touch their stomachs with satisfied looks, Li Xu felt very happy.
After a few days in this era, Li Xu discovered that his original body's feelings for his family had been deeply affecting him. After a few days of contact, he felt the warmth of his family and finally accepted this feeling from the bottom of his heart.
After the meal, Li Xu got five big black tens from Sun Xiu, which was 50 yuan and some common bills such as soap tickets and match tickets. Finally, he gritted his teeth and took out some cabbage tickets and radish tickets.
Li Xu was also surprised when he saw it. This was really a big investment. In addition to 50 yuan, there were also cabbage tickets and radish tickets that he had just received.
In this era of famine, the supply of non-staple food in the market is tight. Cabbage, radish, and even onions and garlic are distributed according to the urban population and are supplied in limited quantities with coupons.
In other words, these two things will not be seen in Li Xu's home for some time.
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