As their relationship grew stronger, they often went out for meals and drinks together like this.
Both of them frequently travel to town, and it's common for them to be delayed and return late. If they don't feel like cooking when they get back, they'll mooch a meal from each other.
Of course, Gu Xinyi is quite punctual and rarely comes home late. After all, she's not alone; there are two people at home who can't cook and are waiting for her.
Chen Shuning opened the door and waved his hand without turning his head, saying, "No, Xinyi, we're going to the team leader's house for dinner later. Aunt Guixiang is making cornbread today, and I've been craving it."
"Oh, by the way, I went to town today and bought some mutton and offal. Why don't you come over and get it prepared? How about we have mutton soup tomorrow?"
"Great! Just a couple of days ago, Brother Wang was saying he wanted to go to town to see if he could find someone slaughtering sheep so he could buy some offal to make mutton soup. And today, you just happened to buy it."
I'll pack it up after I finish eating and have Hongyuan take it to Jingli Town. I'll start brewing it tomorrow at noon, simmering it on low for half a day, so it'll be perfect to drink when I get back in the evening."
Gu Xinyi didn't stand on ceremony with Chen Shuning. She took the mutton and offal that Chen Shuning handed her and walked back.
Before leaving, she didn't forget to tell them: "Shuning, I won't go to the front yard. When you go to Aunt Guixiang's house for dinner, please tell Chunni and Laidi to come over for mutton soup tomorrow night."
After a year of getting to know each other, Chen Shuning, Gu Xinyi, Wang Chunni and Xu Laidi have become increasingly close.
The group would occasionally get together for a nice meal.
Chen Shuning and Gu Xinyi frequently went to town, and the two, who often frequented the black market, would often bring back some fresh ingredients.
Wang Chunni and Xu Laidi had limited financial resources, and were initially embarrassed, but with the encouragement of Chen Shuning and Gu Xinyi, they gradually opened up.
Although the two of them didn't have much money, they were both hardworking and would help Chen Shuning and Gu Xinyi tend to their private plot in the backyard whenever they had free time.
When there are plenty of wild vegetables on the mountain, we often go up the mountain to pick some. Gradually, we got used to having meals together with each other.
Chen Shuning tidied up the things she bought today, took a half-pound piece of pork belly, and went out.
As they passed by the small storage room where Wang Chunni and the others lived, they casually mentioned that they would be having mutton soup together the following night.
Since mutton soup is best served with steamed buns, Xu Laidi said she would get up early tomorrow morning to prepare the dough and come back early at noon to steam the buns.
After making arrangements with the two men, Chen Shuning prepared to go to the brigade leader's house, because the brigade leader was picking up new educated youths today and was destined to be late returning.
So Chen Shuning figured Wan Guixiang was probably cooking right now, and she could help out if she went over, so she didn't say much to Wang Chunni and the other woman.
As Chen Shuning came out of the small storage room, he ran into Shen Baogen, who had just shown the house to the new educated youth. He smiled and said, "Uncle, I'm going to find Aunt Guixiang first. I just bought a pretty good piece of pork belly today."
I'll take it over first and have Aunt Guixiang cook it. You can go back as soon as you're done here."
Chen Shuning didn't give Shen Baogen a chance to object. After speaking, he ran out of the educated youth settlement in a flash, leaving Shen Baogen standing there alone, fuming.
I've told her so many times not to bring things home, but she just won't listen. She always finds an excuse to bring things over, and nothing I say will work.
A simple farm meal isn't worth much, especially since his wife really likes this Ning girl and treats her like her own daughter. Yet, this girl never comes home empty-handed.
He felt embarrassed to invite the girl to his house for meals, as it would seem like they were taking advantage of her.
Watching the girl run off like she was on fire, Shen Baogen could only shake his head helplessly.
He turned around and saw the newly arrived educated youth standing behind him.
It turns out that the new educated youth had just discussed it and decided that they would not eat with the older educated youth.
They were exhausted from traveling by train for so many days, and they hadn't finished the food they brought, so they would just have something to eat tonight.
Fortunately, all four female educated youths who came with them knew how to cook, so they decided to cook for themselves.
It's worth mentioning that even Meng Xiaohui and Sui Yuanchao, who decided to rent single rooms, decided to eat with the newly arrived educated youth instead of cooking for themselves.
You should know that in the educated youth compounds these days, whoever lives alone does so so that they can eat better and cook for themselves?
Of course, it's also possible that the newcomers don't know how bad the communal meals are, which is why they made this decision.
After all, as the old saying goes, it's impossible to please everyone. Even family members sometimes don't agree on what to eat when so many people are eating from the same pot, let alone these young people from all over the country.
Therefore, although Shen Baogen didn't care about their decision, he didn't think it was a good one either.
He said to Meng Xiaohui and Sui Yuanchao, who wanted to rent a single room, "You two come with me to the backyard to see the house. The rest of you can pack your luggage first."
While it's still not too late, come with me to the brigade headquarters to collect your rations.
This year, your grain allowance is 20 jin of coarse grains and 5 jin of cornmeal per person.
I mentioned it to you briefly on the way here, and now I'll tell you the details.
You can rest tomorrow, but you'll have to go to work in the fields the day after tomorrow. How much grain you get at the end of the year depends on how many work points you earn.
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