Second update delivered!
After two busy days, we finally managed to circle the valley. We should head back tomorrow, but we plan to spend a day collecting pine nuts.
As dawn broke, I reluctantly left this place and collected pine cones in the pine forest.
They specifically targeted tall, sturdy pine trees, first using a pole to knock them down, then squatting on the ground to collect the pine cones. They only managed to knock down three trees in a day, but they still managed to collect ten bags of pine cones.
Looking at the vast pine forest, I decided to stay another day. Since no large animals had passed by today, I figured I'd call Da Shan and the others to come along, just in case.
This is very risky. It's okay if it's just you, there's danger in entering the space, but if someone else is there, it's impossible.
Anyway, we'll get through this year, so safety should be our top priority.
I was so tired of staying on the mountain that I decided to come down.
It was dark when I got home, and the village was quiet.
I don't plan to go up the mountain again; I'll just focus on doing all the chores around the house.
I'm not pickling sauerkraut anymore, but I have to pickle lots of salted vegetables. I'll take them with me when I go to school in the city. I'll dry all the sweet potatoes, but not too raw. I'll steam them and then dry them. They're delicious and satisfying.
The radishes and cabbages at home haven't been harvested yet; maybe it's not time for them to be picked yet. So, I'll chop them up.
Li Cuihua came over to feed the chickens in the morning and saw Zhang Hongmei had returned and was chopping dried meat, so she went home to get a kitchen knife and helped her chop.
"Third Aunt doesn't need you anymore, so I'll just cut off the parts damaged by the pickaxe and let the rest dry."
"That's fine, you can take it to the city to satisfy your cravings. By the way, I have a basket of mustard greens at home, I'll pickle them for you, you've had enough of radishes already."
"We can each eat half, since I don't eat that much myself."
"Okay, I'll pickle a basket of mustard greens for you too, so you can have a change of pace. In four or five days, we can pickle the cabbage and radishes. Aren't you going to pickle sauerkraut this year?"
"No, I don't like them either. Just pickle a few more for me."
"Okay, we don't need the seasonings?"
"No, I won't eat it. It's not very good either."
The next day, Zhang Hongmei went to see Wang Hongxi and said, "Uncle Village Chief, I'm quitting this shepherd job. I'm going to high school in the city next year, and I don't have much work to do now. I don't need to herd sheep anymore. I'll just stay home and tidy up."
"Don't worry about the food. We've discussed it, and we'll make sure you have enough food when you go to school in the city."
"No need, just keep track of the centimeters. I'll ask for them when our village recovers. Right now, I'm all alone, so it's easy to deal with. Besides, if all else fails, I can always go and collect my living allowance."
"Go tell your great-grandmother, I'm fine with anything."
The old lady wasn't surprised by Zhang Hongmei's words. "Okay, if all else fails, just go home and get some grain. Your uncle and aunt can help you plant your own plot of land, and you'll have sweet potatoes to eat in the fall harvest."
Zhang Hongmei thought this was a good idea, so she asked Li Cuihua to help plant potatoes in the yard.
For the next three or four days, I spent my time at home peeling pine cones. There were quite a lot, more than thirty bags, but I finished peeling them all in just three days, leaving a whole bag full of pine nuts.
After harvesting the cabbages and radishes and pickling the vegetables, we'll go to the mountains to throw away the pine cones and then collect them.
A busy month has passed, and it's already quite cold outside. Zhang Hongmei has long since put on a cotton-padded coat and even found the wolf pelt from two years ago, asking Li Cuihua to help make two men's cotton-padded jackets. Of course, Zhang Hongmei provided the cotton.
After finishing, I mailed it to Zhang Xingguo, along with ten jin of pine nuts.
From now on, I'll just stay home and shell pine nuts. They smell delicious, so I'll enjoy them slowly to satisfy my cravings.
The exams are coming up soon. First, there are the middle school exams, and then I have to go to the city high school for the exams.
On the day of the middle school exam, all four subjects were completed in one morning. In the afternoon, Zhang Hongmei said goodbye to Er Ya and took a car to the city.
The next day, I saw Liu Jingze at the high school gate. "Hongmei, are you going home for your exam today?"
"Go back, I brought you some pine nuts. Eat a handful now and then, they're good for your health."
"Eat it raw?"
Zhang Hongmei felt embarrassed; she had actually forgotten, "I'll cook it for you tonight."
Are you leaving tomorrow?
"Let's go. There's nothing much going on here. I'll come back to check the results in a week."
"Then I'll come stay at your place tonight. I want to eat home-cooked meals."
What a shameless person! "Fine, we'll eat the cured meat we were originally going to give to Third Master, we'll give it to him later."
"Okay, great! My mouth has lost its flavor. Shall we make dumplings?"
"Okay, I'll make whatever you want to eat."
Liu Jingze was finally satisfied: "Do your best on the exam!"
Zhang Hongmei was too lazy to pay attention to him, waved her hand, and was about to enter the school.
"Zhang Hongmei, Zhang Hongmei!"
Zhang Hongmei turned away helplessly, never expecting to be so popular in the city. (Shameless!)
"Song Zigan, you're here to take the exam too?"
"Really? Come on, let's go see which exam rooms they're in?"
The two people left, and Liu Jingze watched them from behind, not leaving for a long time.
"We're in the same exam room, two subjects this morning and two this afternoon. Where are you staying tonight?"
"I have a house in the city, don't worry!"
"That's good. So you won't be staying at the hotel anymore?"
"No, it's much more convenient at home."
"I'd like to stay at your place too, if you want to."
That brat. I can't be bothered with him.
The two exams in the morning were finished by 10:00 AM. Liu Jingze was waiting for her outside. "Hongmei, let's go, I'll take you to eat."
"Jingze, aren't you in class? Go study, I know where the restaurant is."
"It's okay, the class was over a long time ago, it's just a review session. Let's go, it won't bother me."
"Zhang Hongmei, can I come with you?" Song Zigan looked at Zhang Hongmei pitifully.
Aren't you coming home for dinner?
"I'm not going back. I'll eat at a restaurant with you guys. I brought my food coupons."
Zhang Hongmei glanced at Liu Jingze.
"Let's go, together."
The three of them strolled to the restaurant. It was lunchtime, and there were quite a few people eating.
"Hongmei, what would you like to eat?"
"These are all you need; you can eat anything."
"How about steamed buns made from two kinds of dough, stir-fried cabbage with vinegar, and shredded potatoes?"
"Sure."
"What would you like to eat, student?"
"I'll take two steamed buns and a stew of cabbage and tofu," Song Zigan said, handing the food coupons and money to the waiter.
The three of them returned to school after finishing their meal.
"Hongmei, go to my dorm and rest for a while, otherwise you won't have the energy for the exam this afternoon."
"Then what are you going to do? Besides, there are other people around; we don't want to cause any problems."
"It's alright, let them stay in the library. You can get some rest and I'll keep an eye on things for you. This student isn't in a good position, how about he goes to the library too?"
"Okay, Zhang Hongmei, you go and rest. See you at the exam hall." Liu Jingze went to the school library with practiced ease.
Zhang Hongmei also wanted to go to the library, but she couldn't refuse Liu Jingze's hospitality and decided to go to sleep.
The boys' dormitory was not as dirty and messy as I had imagined.
"Hongmei, you can lie down and rest on my bed."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com