Chapter 176
Xiao Min and Zhang Huihui also came and were very happy to see Zhou Jiani.
Zhang Huihui was the youngest, and Zhou Jiani walked hand in hand with her. The little girl was jumping around happily.
On the way, Sun Ping asked Zhou Jiani what date she would return to the provincial capital, so that she and Xiao Min could adjust their time and buy tickets for the same day and go together.
Xiao Min was also happy. She was able to apply for home leave this year. She whispered to Zhou Jiani, "Training at the end of the year is tough. I'm asking my mom to help me arrange some sleeper tickets."
Zhou Jiani covered her face and wailed, she wouldn't go back this year...
"The construction site only has one day off on Lunar New Year's Day. Everyone is working hard. I'm a leader after all, so I can't just walk away and celebrate the New Year. So this year I decided to stay in Bin County."
Sun Ping and the others exclaimed, "Aren't you going home for the New Year?"
Yu Wanxia said with both heartache and admiration, "A good cadre of the people. By the way, my brother asked me to convey his regards to you. Director Bai is also working very hard these days, striving to be a good cadre. He hasn't rested for many days and is always at the factory."
Zhou Jiani acted like a leader and praised him pretentiously, "Well, not bad. Let Xiaobai do a good job."
Everyone laughed. The only male comrade, Wang Qianjin, pushed the cart with difficulty, trying to join in the conversation. "Leader, please give me some praise too. This year, our village... our Qianjin Brigade has done exceptionally well with pigs. After completing the harvest, we still have several pigs left. They're all fat and strong. The team leader also asked us to bring you two pieces of meat, one for oil and one for pork belly..."
"You're not bad either. Keep up the hard work in the new year, Comrade Wang." Zhou Jiani didn't expect the captain to send her meat. She felt warm in her heart and was happy for the village and Wang Qianjin.
Speaking of things, Sister Zhao Mei made her a new pair of cotton boots.
Zhang Huihui said, "Sister Jiani, my mom asked me to take your old cotton boots back home. She will wash them and make new ones for you to wear."
Cotton boots are not waterproof. After walking in the snow a few times, they become soaked and become hard when dried, which greatly reduces the warmth-keeping effect.
Zhou Jiani knew that Zhao Mei's sister-in-law was also busy, so she didn't want to bother her all the time. So she raised her hand and rubbed Zhang Huihui's head through her hat, saying softly, "Go back and tell your mother that you don't need to take those boots apart and wash them yet. You can ask her for help when you need it."
Zhang Huihui nodded.
When they arrived at the dormitory door, Zhou Jiani greeted the security guard and took them in.
When we reached the bungalow area, Mrs. Dai was sitting in front of the house basking in the sun. She saw Zhou Jiani approaching with several people, one of whom had a small cart piled high with things. Her eyes widened for a moment, and she said with a smile, "Officer Zhou, are there relatives visiting your house? What are they pushing?"
Zhou Jiani smiled and said, "Yes!" but didn't reply to her question.
The old woman had a bad temper, and Zhou Jiani was too lazy to deal with her. She opened the door, and Wang Qianjin and the others hurriedly moved the things in.
Dai's mother-in-law curled her lips and muttered, "What rare thing is hidden?... She's always so nice to our silly wife..."
Zhou Jiani lifted the curtain and peeked out, smiling, "That's also due to my friendship with Sister Dai."
This old lady hadn't been here long, but she had offended quite a few people on behalf of Director Song.
Sister Dai was not at home today. She took Secretary Song and the two children back to her parents' home. In the morning, the four of them went out. Secretary Song carried a basket with a bundle covering it, and Sister Dai held the two children's hands. Not long after the four of them went out, the old woman who had gone out to the toilet came out and saw them leaving. She tiptoed to catch up with them and without saying a word, she reached out and lifted the bundle covering the basket to see what her son had brought to his father-in-law's house.
He grumbled unhappily, "I wasn't paying attention for a while and I put two extra buns in..."
Zhou Jiani didn't mean to snoop. She just happened to see and hear through the window. Secretary Song looked embarrassed, and Sister Dai looked very unhappy. If they were not in a hurry to catch the car, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law would have quarreled again.
After letting the curtain go back, Yu Wanxia asked in a low voice: "Who is that person?"
"The girl next door came to the city to spend the winter with her son, but she's causing trouble at home every day." Zhou Jiani said, "Don't pay attention to her. I'll make you some tea."
She had already prepared an enamel pot, put black tea in it, and cut two slices of ginger into it. When she poured boiling water over it, the aroma of black tea immediately filled the room.
Only Zhang Huihui is plain water.
Xiao Min consciously helped pass the teacup and looked around: "Sister Jiani, your room is really warm."
Zhou Jiani didn't close the stove before going out, and she was willing to burn charcoal. The chimney was whirring and the fire was very bright. Not only was it not cold, but everyone wanted to take off their cotton jackets after a while.
It is really hot when it is hot, but it is still cold in the middle of the night after the stove is turned off.
Zhou Jiani took out a woven fruit plate with partitions, which contained red dates, fried peanuts and melon seeds. In another woven fruit basket were a few washed apples, which she had collected from the group and gave to Yu Wanxia and the others. She asked Wang Qianjin to help move the vegetables to the kitchen and organize the vegetables and meat.
The kitchen has no heating and there is a door, but because the living room and bedroom separated by the door are warm, it is not like an ice cellar and is perfect for keeping food fresh.
Zhou Jiani came out of the kitchen and said, "Comrades, I was planning to take you to the state-owned restaurant for lunch, but I just saw that piece of pork belly and thought we'd marinate it in advance so we can grill it when we get back. I also prepared a chicken and stewed it in advance. It will probably be tender by the time we get back from our walk. We can also grill some vegetables along with the meat and simmer a pot of white rice..."
Yu Wanxia agreed immediately, jumped up with her hands raised, and said with bright eyes: "I agree, I agree, it sounds interesting, I want this..."
Sun Ping and Xiao Min said in succession: "I agree too!"
That scene is beautiful just thinking about it.
Wang Qianjin, needless to say, threw a peanut into his mouth and said, "I have no objection."
Zhang Huihui follows her older brothers and sisters.
Several people worked together. Zhou Jiani asked them to cut the meat into thin slices, Wang Qianjin was responsible for chopping the chicken into pieces and cleaning it, and Zhou Jiani went to mix the marinated seasonings and took an onion, cut it into shreds and mixed it in.
While Wang Qianjin prepared the chicken, Zhou Jiani began to blanch it and skim off the foam.
Although she doesn't cook, she has everything ready, including a casserole for stewing vegetables, which is perfect for stewing chicken.
After everything was cleaned up, I added some charcoal mud into the stove, leaving a hole in the middle to ensure a slow simmer, and then brought the casserole over.
Considering that she would be grilling meat at noon, Zhou Jiani also took out the iron grate used for roasting sweet potatoes, soaked it in water, and washed it after coming back from shopping.
A few people came out and locked the door. Zhou Jiani returned the cart and borrowed a few stools. They agreed to pick them up at noon, so she took them to the supply and marketing cooperative.
The supply and marketing cooperative was packed with people, and people had to snatch things to buy. Even so, everyone's enthusiasm for shopping did not diminish in the slightest, especially Yu Wanxia, Sun Ping and the others. They had money in their hands and a particularly strong desire to buy things, so they tried their best to squeeze in.
Wang Qianjin followed and acted as the flower protector.
Zhou Jiani was afraid of crowding Zhang Huihui, so she held her hand and waited behind the door, asking her, "Is there anything you want to buy?"
How could Zhao Mei's wife let a little girl come to buy things seriously? She only gave her a little pocket money, and she just came to play.
Although Zhang Huihui didn't squeeze in, she was jumping for joy just standing there watching the excitement. When she heard Zhou Jiani's question, she smiled and looked up and said, "I'm not buying anything. Mom has bought everything."
Then she remembered something and stood on tiptoe, squinting her eyes and said to Zhou Jiani, "Sister Jiani, my mother is pregnant."
Zhou Jiani was surprised and said, "Really? You're going to be a big sister."
Zhang Huihui was clearly genuinely happy, nodding with her eyes shining. "Yes, I hope to have a little sister to play with me. I can braid her hair and give her the dolls Mom made for me to play with... Mom said I'll continue my education, not just junior high school, but also high school in the county. If I had a little brother or sister, Mom and Dad wouldn't be so bored when I'm not home."
Zhou Jiani was happy for Zhao Mei's sister-in-law. Zhang Kaishan's surgery was a success, and with his improved life and no particular burdens, he felt a different mood. Several checkup results had been positive, which was probably why they decided to have another child. Of course, it could also be an accident, but that was hard to ask Huihui.
But there was a faint worry. Zhang Kaishan's physical condition was a ticking time bomb. However, judging by his current condition, as long as he wasn't overly stimulated and overworked, he wouldn't have any problems in the next ten or eight years.
Zhou Jiani had some melon seeds in her pocket and gave a handful to Huihui. The two of them ate the melon seeds while shopping with Wanxia and the others.
The four people squeezed in there for an hour and a half before coming out, sweating profusely while carrying their things.
Everyone's face flushed with excitement, and they were all extremely happy.
Yu Wanxia said, "I managed to snatch a jacket, but the color wasn't ideal. I almost got it. I also snatched two pieces of cloth and bought a pair of rubber-soled cotton boots. It wasn't easy..."
Sun Ping said, "I bought a pair of trousers, and they bought two pieces of cloth for Qianjin and me. I also snatched a woolen coat, but the sweater I liked was gone before I could squeeze through it."
Xiao Min: "That's not bad, Sister Sun Ping. At least you managed to grab a woolen coat. I only grabbed two bags of snacks and a few balls of wool."
Wang Qianjin didn't buy anything, but his girlfriend did. He grinned happily, "I told you not to buy a woolen coat. I asked someone to buy it for you from the capital. It's on the way."
Sun Ping glared at him and said, "I can give it to someone else if I don't want to wear it. It's not easy to seize such an opportunity."
Zhou Jiani smiled and said, "Indeed, it's not often that I come across a tweed coat."
"See, Jiani is the one who understands."
Zhou Jiani asked Xiao Min: "You didn't buy any clothes?"
Xiao Min showed her innocent little girl's demeanor and said with a sweet smile, "My mom bought everything for me, I just wanted to spend some money." She took out the wool she had bought and showed it to Zhou Jiani, "This wool is sky blue, I think it's a nice color. I'll take it back and ask my mom to knit a sweater for my brother."
Carrying their things, they strolled around the park. Wang Qianjin was eager to visit the construction site. Zhou Jiani checked the time and said, "Let's go back and cook and eat first. I was thinking of treating you to a movie this afternoon. If you want to go to the construction site, you can wait until next time to see the movie..."
They were curious about the construction site and wanted to see the movie, but after thinking it over, they felt that it was rare to come across such a large project in the county, so they still wanted to watch the factory being built.
"Then I'll take you to the construction site after dinner."
When we were almost at the dormitory, we ran into Director Wang. He got out of the car and greeted us with a smile, "Team Leader Zhou, what did you cook at home that smells so good? It smells so good that Aunt Song kept leaning on your door to peek in."
This was a subtle reminder that the old lady from the Song family had gone to climb through the window of her house.
Zhou Jiani was speechless for a moment, then thanked him and said, "Secretary Wang, are you leaving?"
Secretary Wang's face suddenly turned red and he said, "Well, something happened."
He rode away in a hurry.
Zhou Jiani was still wondering why he ran like a rabbit. After a while, she remembered that there was a social gathering organized by the Women's Federation a few days ago. She happened to be out of town and did not go to see the excitement.
To put it bluntly, social gatherings these days are just blind date events.
Then I thought about how Secretary Wang was dressed very neatly just now. He didn't even wear his usual patched cotton hat, but a blue single-cap. He looked like he cared more about style than warmth. If I was right, he might have found a girl he liked at the social gathering and was going on a date with her.
She went to pick up the borrowed stool and returned to the dormitory door. From a distance, she saw the cotton curtain at the door bulging outwards. Zhou Jiani coughed loudly, and the curtain swayed, and the old lady of the Song family came out. Seeing her, she panicked for a moment before she said angrily, "Commissar Zhou, what are you stewing on that stove? You don't even keep anyone home, and you're not afraid of the pot running dry."
Zhou Jiani smiled and said, "I added too much water, so the pot won't dry out."
Seeing that she didn't say anything, Mrs. Song curled her lips and said, "Is it stewed chicken or meat?"
Zhou Jiani walked over with a smile: "I'm stewing a chicken to entertain my friends, Aunt Song. I won't treat you. Please make way."
Old Mrs. Song's face darkened and she turned around and went back to her home.
Zhou Jiani opened the door and led them into the house, which was filled with fragrance.
I took a look over there and saw bubbles bubbling inside.
Zhou Jiani scooped up the soup and tasted it to see how salty it was. She added some salt, then moved the pot to the side with a cloth, glanced at the charcoal in the stove, added some, and continued to stew it.
Directing Wang Qian to go in and brush the iron grate, she skillfully washed some leeks, cut some potato slices and sweet potato slices, and finally cut an onion. This time she didn't cut it into strips, but split it into four cloves and roasted it later.
Sun Ping and her friends brought the coal stove to the kitchen. Instead of asking the neighbors to exchange the coal, they lit it themselves, washed some rice, and cooked it.
Zhou Jiani took out a piece of chicken and tasted it. It was already stewed very soft. She took the pot off the stove, covered it with an iron lid, and then put an iron grate on it. This way, the fire would not burn directly on the grate. The temperature would be transmitted through the iron lid, controlling the temperature so that she would not have to cook too much.
When Wang Qianjin heard that Zhou Jiani was preparing to grill the potato and onion slices, he became quite excited, even more interested than the meat. He hurried to the kitchen to bring them out and asked, "Can we start?"
Yu Wanxia and the others had never done this before and were quite excited about it.
Zhou Jiani waved her hand and said, "Please take your seats. Take a bowl and scoop out the chicken to eat. I'll help you grill the meat."
"Jiani, I'd rather bake it myself..." Sun Ping came over, "Let them eat it, I'll bake it."
Yu Wanxia: "I want to roast it too. I've never tried eating it this way before."
Xiao Min was also interested, and Zhang Huihui stood next to Zhou Jiani and watched eagerly.
In the end, everyone brought their little stools and sat down around the stove. It was a bit crowded, but everyone was laughing and having a great time.
Zhou Jiani held the basin of marinated meat, picked up a piece of fat meat with chopsticks and put it on the plate. With the sound of sizzling oil, she picked up a corner with chopsticks, rubbed it on the grate, and then started to put the meat on the plate.
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