At night, the temperature can get even colder, sometimes reaching -35 degrees Celsius.
So when the dumplings were taken out, the container was frozen very quickly.
Su Xia packed another lunchbox of chicken and chicken soup in the kitchen. It had been simmered in a clay pot over a coal stove that afternoon.
I prepared some wine and cured meat in advance; this stuff can be steamed and eaten directly.
Su Xia felt that the things the old leader had given her this time were a lot, including fine grains: 23 jin of rice, 2 jin of millet, and 5 jin of wheat flour.
After everything was installed, it was handed over to Chen Jianguo.
"Wife, is this a bit too much?" Chen Jianguo was a little surprised when he saw the fine grains.
"It's alright. These will last for two months or so. Besides, your boss is giving you money and tickets, and he's preparing things for you. I feel bad about it."
Upon hearing this, Chen Jianguo didn't say anything more. Actually, he asked mainly because he was worried that his family wouldn't have any food.
Su Xia.....
She could eat for another ten years in her online space.
Watching Chen Jianguo disappear into the night, Su Xia turned around and filled the grain sacks in the small warehouse again.
With a whoosh, the rice bag quickly became full again, and Su Xia tidied it up with satisfaction.
Then I started boiling water to prepare dumplings for dinner.
Chen Jianguo quickly arrived at the cowshed and, as usual, climbed over the wall.
Squeak.....
Chen Jianguo stood there dumbfounded, and Xie Chengbo opened the door right in front of him.
The two people looked at each other, because they were both covering their eyes.
After a long silence, Xie Chengbo broke the silence, "Um, you're here to see Uncle Yi, right?"
Chen Jianguo nodded without saying anything more.
Xie Chengbo felt awkward and a little scared, after all, the other person was from the village and was now being sent down to the countryside.
Chen Jianguo followed the people inside, and several times wanted to ask Zhang Ge why he suddenly went to open the door so late.
When they arrived at Old Man Yi's house, they still couldn't get any information from him, and they watched him leave.
Chen Jianguo turned to face the old chief's disappointed look.
"Why didn't you notice others?"
The old man was actually worried about being discovered, but it was just the inertia of his military background. It would be too embarrassing for a scout, especially a weak scholar, to be discovered!
Chen Jianguo awkwardly touched his nose, finding it difficult to say he was unlucky.
However, my luck was really not that great. The only good thing was that I married a good wife.
Su Xia...
Old Man Yi didn't scold him; instead, he watched as Chen Jianguo took out the items one by one.
"Are the dumplings raw?"
"Yes, I just finished making them. 20 lamb filling and 20 pork filling. Enjoy them. I'll bring you some more later."
Old Man Yi swallowed hard, his mouth watering. When he heard there was more, he grinned with delight.
"Why go through all that trouble? The old man is eating with us two, he'll be hungry!" he said, but the old man's first priority was to divide the dumplings properly.
Why would we eat dumplings for dinner? They're leftovers from lunch, so we just have a little something to eat before bed.
Even if you starve to death, being well-fed is definitely a luxury.
Chen Jianguo took out chicken soup again, found the old man's clay pot, poured it in, and placed it on the stove.
The cured meat was also registered, and the fine grains were given to the old man to keep.
Old Man Yi didn't stand on ceremony; he knew those few scoundrels would mistreat Chen Jianguo.
However, he still took out the old six yuan and handed it to Chen Jianguo.
"It's for three children, but there's no red!"
After saying that, he opened the bottle, took a sip, and exhaled a satisfied breath.
Old Man Yi is getting more and more anxious. In this Zhao Family Village, it's still very good. There aren't so many trivial matters, and people care about him. He even glances at Chen Jianguo.
Some people even ate together, dressed warmly, and had meat; just look at the dumplings and the hanging cured meat.
The important thing is the wine in your hand.
Chen Jianguo saw that everything inside the house was fine and there was nothing to help with, so he was about to leave to go home for dinner.
Then there was a knock on the door.
His sharp eyes were fixed on the wooden door.
Then he glanced at the old commander again, and the old man's mouth twitched.
This looks like a masked man coming to kill a monster.
After the others came in and heard the reason, Chen Jianguo was also embarrassed.
"Comrade Chen, thank you. My wife hasn't contacted home for so long, and we're really worried about her. We know we're causing you trouble, but we really have no other choice!" Xie Chengbo held the envelope in his hand, and his eyes, like those of a grown man, were surprisingly moist.
Chen Jianguo looked at his old leader, as if to say something.
Old Man Yi snorted, then said, "Little Xie, just give it to him directly!"
"Yes, Comrade Xie, just tell them!"
He glanced at the old commander again, and then glared at him.
Then he continued, "Xiao Xie, don't listen to her nonsense. Just give it to her, and stay close to her so Xiao Shen won't worry!"
Xie Chengbo nodded, hurriedly threw down the letter, and left directly.
After Chen Jianguo and the others left, he held the letter and sighed inwardly, wondering what kind of mess this was.
Just as I was about to leave, I saw the letter that the old commander threw at me.
With a helpless smile, he said, "Old Chief, what's this all about...?"
I know I'll cause you trouble!
"That's what I meant. I meant, how will you give it to me next time? I still have several days before my shift ends."
Upon hearing this, Old Man Yi scratched his head sheepishly, his wrinkled face turning a deep purplish-red.
After Chen Jianguo got home, he complained.
"Is this old man out of his mind? Why would he send a letter during the New Year?"
The two envelopes in my hand are a real hot potato.
Su Xia also chuckled.
It's late at night, so the dumplings are delicious. Mainly because Mr. and Mrs. Chen are old, so staying up late is good for them.
Another one is that several children have also endured hardship.
The dumplings and mutton were cooked separately because Su Xia really liked the mutton's gamey smell.
Stewed chicken until tender, and a plate of steamed cured pork.
It was quite a sumptuous New Year's feast.
Mr. and Mrs. Chen ate mutton dumplings, Su Xia and Niu Niu ate pork dumplings, and Da Bao and Er Bao could eat either, just like Chen Jianguo.
"These dumplings are delicious, but it would be easier to buy mutton!" Chen's mother exclaimed.
"Mom, let's make some more when we have time, freeze them all, and cook them whenever you and Dad want to eat them!" Su Xia replied.
Chen's mother laughed when she heard this, but she still felt a little sorry for him.
"Use it, give it to Da Bao and Er Bao!"
"Grandma, this is for you and Grandpa. We'll ask Mom to make it again when we want to eat it!" Erbao said loudly in his childish voice.
This made Mr. and Mrs. Chen laugh, and Su Xia patted Chen's head.
"You're really something, sacrificing your mother for your own gain!"
Erbao was also annoyed when he heard this, but he just laughed and continued eating.
Su Xia didn't say anything. There was still a little bit of meat in the space. Although it was kept fresh, she still felt it was better to eat it sooner rather than later.
Besides, she really is lacking in meat right now.
After finishing their dumplings on the 30th of the month, Mr. and Mrs. Chen went back to sleep, leaving the night watch to the younger generation.
It was hard for the three children to endure, especially the second child, who started nodding his little head after finishing his meal.
Throughout the entire process, Chen Jianguo carried her to wash up, wash her feet, take off her clothes, and tuck her into bed.
"Asleep!"
"She fell asleep while I was washing my face!" Chen Jianguo said helplessly.
Su Xia nodded. "Then let's go to sleep too!"
After saying that, he yawned twice; he would usually be asleep by now.
Chen Jianguo nodded, "Go to sleep, there aren't many people on night watch anyway!"
Su Xia nodded, and so the first day of the new year in 1969 passed uneventfully.
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