Chapter 4 Going to the County Town
But it is normal to think about it. In that era, there was indeed a shortage of oil and water. At that time, one pound of meat would be eaten for several meals, with only a few thin slices of meat in each meal.
Soon they arrived at the place where Mi Xia buried the wild boar. Only after seeing the wild boar did Mi Qiu and his wife believe what Mi Xia said. How could ordinary people be so lucky to pick up such a big wild boar? Mi Qiu was really a lucky star.
But now was not the time to talk. The three of them worked together to dig the wild boar out, put it in the car, and headed home. They didn't meet anyone along the way.
After arriving home, Mi Qiu and his wife still looked like they were dreaming. They saw Mi Xia's eyes shining, which frightened her.
"Brother κΊ¶, sister-in-law, quickly get the wild boar down and clean it up." The couple only reacted after hearing this.
After getting the wild boar down, Zhang Hongxia glanced at Mi Xia and said, "Miss, you've been tired after climbing the mountain for an entire afternoon. Go eat first and visit Xia Xia. She's been looking for you."
"Okay, by the way, sister-in-law, we can't finish this wild boar for a while, you can take some back to your parents' home, your family is having a hard time right now."
Mi Xia left with these words and went to see the child. After Mi Xia left, Zhang Hongxia still looked incredulous.
"Since sister Xiao said so, you should take some back to your parents' home. You have suffered a lot over the years." Mi Qiu said with a smile.
After a while, the couple came in with smiles on their faces, "Brother and sister-in-law, please sit down and eat. My children have finished eating."
"Okay, then I'll talk to your sister-in-law after she finishes eating." As soon as he finished speaking, he sat down and started to stutter. It was not easy to prepare so many pigs, and they must be very hungry by now.
Mi Xia responded and took the children out to digest the food, then walked around the yard a few times.
Mi Xia: "Aiguo, take your brothers and sisters back to your room to sleep. Your parents won't go to bed until later."
"Okay, Auntie Xiao, let's go back to the room first."
Mi Xia watched them go back to their room before taking Xiao Yatou to wash up. While taking off her clothes, she asked, "How about telling Xia Xia an Andersen fairy tale today?"
The little girl nodded obediently.
When telling the third story, the little girl fell asleep. Mi Xia got up quietly and went to the yard. Her brother and sister-in-law were already waiting for her.
Mi Qiu saw Xiaomei coming out and called her, "Xiaomei, come and sit down. Tell me and your sister-in-law how you picked up this wild boar."
Mi Xia had thought of an explanation, so she said, "Brother, sister-in-law, I went up the mountain this afternoon. I wanted to find some wild mushrooms or pheasant eggs. As I was walking, I saw a wild boar lying there. I was so scared that my legs were shaking at first."
"After a while I found that the wild boar didn't move, so I walked closer and saw blood on its head. I found a stick and knocked it, and found that the wild boar was dead. I wanted to take it home.
"But it was still early, and I was afraid that if I went back, the villagers would see me and take the wild boar away. Then my family wouldn't get much. I was also afraid that if I went home and shouted about the wild boar, others would find it, so I found some grass to cover the wild boar and sat not far from it until dark."
"I waited all afternoon but no one came, so as soon as it got dark I dragged the wild boar down the mountain and buried it, and then I hurried home to call you."
In this era, everything in the mountains belonged to the village. Of course, if someone went to the mountains to hunt pheasants or rabbits, no one would care, because everyone in the village knew this tacitly.
But a wild boar like this would definitely be divided up if the villagers saw it. In that era, having enough food was a luxury, let alone meat. But the family that killed the wild boar could get more, after all, killing a wild boar was not that easy. The rest would be divided per person, and the most a family could take back was 30 kilograms. It was impossible to take it all home and enjoy it.
"It's so dangerous for a girl like you to go to the mountains. You are not allowed to go there again. This time you met a dead pig. What if you meet a live wild boar next time!" Mi Qiu said angrily to Mi Xia, with Zhang Hongxia also nearby.
When Mi Xia heard that she was not allowed to go up the mountain, she was in a state of dismay. If she didn't go up the mountain, how could she improve her brother's family's food, how could she make money, and besides, her own daughter also had to eat something good.
"Brother, sister-in-law, don't worry. When we first got married, Xia Xia's father taught me some martial arts. I can still run away when I encounter danger."
"Then remember to tell your family when you go up the mountain next time. And about that wild boar, I'll ask your sister-in-law to bring a pig leg back to her parents' home tomorrow."
"Okay, didn't I tell you to let my sister-in-law take some home..." Mi Xia pursed her lips and smiled.
"Thank you, sister." Zhang Hongxia was very happy. Not only did she have meat to eat at home this time, but she also got to take a pork leg back to her parents' home. She was also very proud because it meant that her husband's family valued her, otherwise they would not let her send it to her parents' home.
"Then go back to your room and sleep. I'm going to work tomorrow, and your sister-in-law will take the children back to her parents' home. You can cook something to eat tomorrow." Mi Qiu instructed.
Mi Xia smiled, "Okay brother, I plan to take Xia Xia to the county town tomorrow, don't worry, I will take Xia Xia to the county town.
"Little sister, this is for you. You must eat well when you eat in the county town tomorrow." Zhang Hongxia went into the house and took out 10 cents and gave it to her.
"Thank you, sister-in-law." Mi Xia smiled sweetly.
Nothing happened that night. Mi Xia woke up early the next morning. Seeing that Xiao Yatou was still sleeping, she got up and washed up first. Everyone in the family had already left.
After washing, I came back and saw the guy rubbing his eyes in a daze. This is too cute. Mi Xia's heart is melting because of its cuteness.
"Xia Xia, wake up. Get up. Mom will take you to wash your face."
For breakfast, she took out two cartons of milk and two meatballs from the space, handed one to Xiao Yatou, and the two of them ate with gusto.
After locking the courtyard door, she took Mo Zhixia out. As soon as she went out, a cold wind blew over. Fortunately, she took clothes from the space for her daughter to wear.
Mi Xia held her daughter in her arms and walked towards the oxcart parked at the entrance of the village. Her brother's family didn't have a bicycle because they were poor. In this village, the village chief's family probably had one. If they wanted to go to the county town, there would be an oxcart at the entrance of the village in the morning. They would set off when they were full, so Mi Xia planned to take the oxcart. If she walked there, she would be exhausted holding her daughter in her arms.
As soon as I got on the ox cart, an aunt named Mi Xia greeted me and said, "You didn't go home yesterday. Didn't your mother-in-law scold you?" Many people in the village knew that Yuan was at her husband's house.
Mi Xia didn't want them to say more, so she replied directly: "I plan to take the child to live in my brother's house for a while. The child misses his uncle." She didn't say anything else after that.
The two cents were delivered to the county town intersection, and the oxcart would go back at 15:00 in the afternoon. You had to come earlier to catch up.
After getting off the ox cart, Mi Xia saw the surrounding environment. The houses on the street looked like the houses of her grandmother when she was a child.
There weren't many brick and tile houses, and even fewer two-story buildings. Even the roads were bumpy, and the walls were covered with slogans that reflected the times.
Mi Xia was still very curious about the county town of that era. It was a good opportunity to experience a different county town of that era. There were no cars on the roads. The most common vehicles were ox carts and donkey carts. There were many people coming and going, and it was quite lively.
Mi Xia held her daughter in her arms and looked at the people coming and going. She looked better than in the countryside. Although she was still thin, her complexion was rosy and her clothes were much better than those in the village.
After seeing this era with my own eyes, I realized that what the elders at home said was absolutely true. Putting away the complicated feelings, Mi Xia carried her daughter to the supply and marketing cooperative.
It was a bustling scene inside, and the floor was paved with tiles and swept clean. There were vendors everywhere, and each counter was crowded with people. The county people were willing to spend money, and groups of people went out and came in, with people coming and going.
The counters here are all made of glass. The first counter that catches my eye sells skin care products, such as vanishing creams. I have spiritual spring water, so I don't need these. But now that I have money, I want to buy a bottle for my sister-in-law.
The next counter sold candies and pastries, kettles, and the like. Basically, all kinds of things were sold. These things still required receipts, and Mi Xia didn't have any on her.
After walking around for a while, Mi Xia went out with her child in her arms. At the corner, she saw a lot of people queuing up.
"Mother, why is there such a long queue here?"
The mother looked at Mi Xia and said, "This is where they sell non-staple food. If you want to eat, come and buy some."
"Thank you, mother." Mi Xia said and lined up.
Before it was her turn, someone informed her that the item was sold out, and those who didn't buy anything left disappointed.
Mi Xia wanted to check the prices and found that no one wanted the pork intestines and bones. She spent 10 cents to buy them all and also found out the prices of various supplies.
A 50-jin bag of flour costs 8 yuan, a jin of rice costs 0.3 yuan, a jin of rapeseed oil costs 0.6 yuan, the fattiest meat costs 0.8 yuan, and the leanest meat costs 0.4 yuan.
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