Chapter 16: One Day There Will Be Enough Meat

Back at the banyan tree, Su Taotao and her family tacitly waited until everyone else got off the tractor before getting off last.

Uncle Niu helped unload the goods. Su Taotao gave him a handful of candies to thank him. Uncle Niu was flattered. Didn't she even snatch candies from children? She actually gave him candies? And a handful instead of just one!

A few minutes later, the news that Su Taotao gave Uncle Niu a handful of candy spread throughout the team.

When we got home, everyone was exhausted, especially Chen Chen, who didn't take a nap today. He was yawning even when he took a shower.

Su Taotao took out the things she bought from the supply and marketing cooperative one by one, which made Zhou Linglan's eyelids twitch.

"Taotao, are you going to empty out the entire supply and marketing cooperative?"

"Anyway, they are all food that can be eaten, so it won't be a waste no matter how much you buy." Su Taotao handed her the noodles and the last piece of front leg meat that Chen Sihai gave her. "I'm too tired today, so let's just make some pork noodle soup tonight. Add some ginger, scallions, and salt to the pork and simmer it. Fry the fat and save it for cooking. Slice the lean meat and share it. When cooking the noodles, remember to simmer some vegetables so you don't have to cook a separate dish. Leave another bowl for Teacher Cao."

Su Taotao's eating habits emphasize balanced nutrition and a combination of meat and vegetables. Such a dinner is a simple meal for her, but it is not simple for people of this era.

Everyone at home always has to adapt to her pace of life. There were no refrigerators in those days. The weather now is not too hot, but it is not cool either. It is not a good weather for making bacon, so the fresh meat has to be eaten quickly. She has to brine the pig's tail and ears after eating. The brine can be kept for two more days, but it can't be stored for long.

Zhou Linglan's eyebrows twitched again. This is called simple? Even during the holidays, I wouldn't be willing to eat like this.

But she didn't say anything. She took the things, sighed secretly, and did as Su Taotao said.

After the two children came out of the bath, Su Taotao took them to help tidy up their things. Su Taotao was not just talking about fairness and democracy. They were all part of this family, and Su Taotao did not intend to hide anything.

She told her what the family had bought and how much money they had spent, how many pounds of White Rabbit milk candies they had bought, how many cakes and biscuits they had bought, and also a can of malted milk, which was Chenchen's food. In fact, she wanted to buy milk powder, but unfortunately she didn't have the tickets. She also told her children which ones were for Teacher Cao and she would send them to him later, etc. In short, every time Su Taotao took out something, she would mutter to her child.

The two children were fascinated and amazed. Not to mention Chen Chen, even Captain Fu Yuanhang had never seen so many good things in his life.

Su Taotao gave everyone in the family a White Rabbit candy to sweeten their mouths. She peeled one herself and put it in her mouth. She also peeled the paper for Chenchen and stuffed it into his little mouth. She also stuffed another one into his little hand and asked him, "Chenchen, we have grandma, mom, uncle and Chenchen in our family. Now mommy gave everyone a candy. How many have you given out in total?"

Chenchen tilted his head and thought for a while, then began to count on his fingers. At the end he wanted to raise four fingers, but his little finger was short and he couldn't control his thumb, so he held down his thumb with the hand holding the candy, blinked his big eyes, and raised it to show Su Taotao with anticipation.

The milk candy made the little boy's fat bulge out, which was particularly adorable. Su Taotao kissed him and said, "Chenchen is amazing. There are four in total, right? Then the three of us have eaten one, and grandma hasn't eaten hers yet. Chenchen is responsible for giving this one to grandma to eat, okay? You have to watch grandma eat it."

Chenchen nodded vigorously, climbed down from the stool, and ran to the kitchen with his short legs, "dong dong dong".

In fact, Fu Yuanhang was reluctant to eat his candies and wanted to secretly put them in his pocket to hide them. Su Taotao took her eyes off Chenchen, handed a whole bag of White Rabbit candies to Fu Yuanhang and said, "Candies contain protein and calcium, which can help you grow. You and Chenchen can eat one or two candies a day from now on. The upper limit is two candies, and you can't exceed this amount. You don't have to save them. I'll buy more after you finish them. Eat less fruit candies or just one candies occasionally. You can also share them with classmates you have a good relationship with."

Fu Yuanhang stared blankly at the White Rabbit candy in his hand, then at Su Taotao. Such precious candy, and his sister-in-law just casually gave him such a big bag?

Fu Yuanhang returned the candy, shook his head and said, "Sister-in-law, I, I don't want it..."

Su Taotao touched Fu Yuanhang's head and coaxed him, "Silly boy, it's just a matter of taking care of a few candies. What's your ambition? If you don't have one yet, you should start thinking about it. If you become a teacher, you will have to take care of at least dozens of people. If you join the army and become an officer, you will have to manage hundreds of soldiers. Even if you work in a factory and become a small leader in the future, you will have to manage many people.

Managing a few candies is the first task that my sister-in-law has given you. This will reduce my workload. Do it boldly and do it with all your heart. I will give you other tasks in the future. If you can't complete this small task, my sister-in-law may be a little disappointed. "

Fu Yuanhang was confused. He was still a primary school student. Could he be a teacher? Or a military officer? Or a leader? Those were things he had never even dreamed of.

But when she heard Su Taotao say it was a mission, and a mission that could reduce her workload, she immediately felt that the bag of candy wasn't that hot, so she took a deep breath and took it back, "Don't worry, sister-in-law, I promise to complete the mission."

Su Taotao nodded, "That's right." But she sighed in her heart. It is said that girls should be "richly raised", but in fact, she thinks boys should be "richly raised" even more. This "rich" does not only refer to money and material things. It just so happens that cultivating a child with a generous character often requires a foundation of material abundance. Only when material abundance is there is spare energy to consider spiritual abundance. When food and shelter become a problem, what is the point of talking about being generous? If a girl is a little petty, it can be said that she is frugal and manages the family well. If a boy is petty, what is the matter?

In her eyes, Fu Yuanhang is like her eldest son. She wants to raise such a good child well, but the conditions are here. She has no experience in raising children in her two lifetimes combined. She can only do her best. In short, the road ahead is long and arduous.

Zhou Linglan, who was in the kitchen, was suddenly stuffed with a piece of candy by her grandson. She didn't know whether to spit it out or eat it. She tapped the little guy's nose and held him in her arms, saying, "Chenchen, eat it yourself from now on. Grandma doesn't like it."

Chenchen shook his head to show his disagreement: "Mom said, everyone..."

Zhou Linglan touched the child's head and said, "Our child Chenchen has a good mother. He will be blessed in the future."

…

The second task that Su Taotao assigned to Fu Yuanhang was to deliver meals to Cao Guohua.

Among the daily necessities that Su Taotao bought today, some of them were for Cao Guohua, including soap, firewood, diesel, salt, sauce, vinegar, sugar, etc. Su Taotao brought him a portion of almost all the items that could be bought at the supply and marketing cooperative and that could be used in daily life.

Su Taotao said, "Teacher Cao must accept it."

Fu Yuanhang completed this task very well. He put down the things and left after saying "I know nothing. If you have anything, talk to my sister-in-law". Cao Guohua was in a daze and didn't even have a chance to speak.

It’s not that Zhou Linglan is a bad cook, it’s just that a good housewife cannot cook without ingredients. If you give her enough ingredients, the food she makes will be especially delicious.

Just like the noodles for dinner, the milky white soup is topped with green vegetables, topped with a layer of lean meat, and sprinkled with a little chopped green onions to make it so fresh that it will make your eyebrows fall.

Su Taotao likes such simple and natural ingredients the most. She becomes more and more satisfied as she eats them. She praises, "Mom's cooking skills are also very good. The noodles are delicious."

Zhou Linglan said with emotion: "If you are willing to put meat in it, how can it not taste good?"

Fu Yuanhang ate so much that he almost buried his face in the bowl and nodded continuously.

There was enough meat in Chenchen's bowl. When Zhou Linglan was dividing the meat, she didn't dare to give herself less, otherwise Su Taotao would be unhappy. She wanted to secretly give some of the meat in her bowl to Fu Yuanhang while Su Taotao wasn't paying attention. As a result, Fu Yuanhang moved the bowl away and said, "Eat it yourself, Mom. I have enough meat. Just add some noodles and vegetables later."

Normally, it was a luxury to have such a small meal. Fu Yuanhang was already very satisfied just to have the noodles.

Su Taotao buried her head in eating noodles and said nothing. All mothers are like this, fearing that their children are not well fed or clothed. After she had Chenchen's child, she could understand this idea very well. One day, she would make sure that the whole family would have enough meat to eat.

After dinner, Zhou Linglan helped Su Taotao to prepare the pig's tail and ears, and couldn't help saying, "Taotao, why don't we also tie these two up?"

Su Taotao was preparing brine. She put a small packet of cinnamon, star anise, bay leaves and other spices she bought today into the water and boiled them. She shook her head and said, "It's not necessary. We still have a few pieces of bacon. This amount will be enough for two or three days."

In fact, if you eat this amount, you can finish it in one day, but in this day and age you can't be so extravagant, so you can eat it in two or three days.

Zhou Linglan said: "Mom is always uneasy. Eating like this is too extravagant."

Su Taotao said, "Mom, food is the most important thing for people. Life is just about three meals a day and a place to sleep. Don't think too much. Eat when you need to eat and sleep when you need to sleep. The most important thing is to live well in the present. Who knows what will happen in the future?"

People have to live in the present. When she woke up, she found that her money was in a bank in the 21st century, while she was in the production team in the 1970s. Who could she turn to for justice?

Zhou Linglan thought about it and realized that the worst outcome would be that the living standard would drop back to the previous level, which was no big deal.

"You are still open-minded. Mom is not as good as you."

Su Taotao said, "Mom, I told you, I got a new life after falling into the water, and I won't be as ignorant as before."

Zhou Linglan nodded: "Okay, Mom knows, I will listen to you about everything at home from now on."

…

After the brine is ready, put the pig's tail and ears directly into it. When it boils again, you can remove the firewood and leave the charcoal fire to simmer. When you get up in the morning and open the lid, you will have a rare delicacy.

Cao Guohua came just when the salty lid was opened, bringing an empty bowl and a bunch of other things.

He also imitated Fu Yuanhang, knocked on the door, put the things on the ground, said "Don't send things over here anymore" and turned and left.

Zhou Linglan looked at his back, sighed, and said nothing more.