Yan Ci was very efficient and cleaned the intestines thoroughly, which pleased Bai Xiaoyue greatly.
Add ginger slices and scallion segments, and blanch the pork intestines.
Stir-fry the pork intestines in a hot wok, then add ginger, garlic, Sichuan peppercorns, chili peppers, and soybean paste and braise.
Once the pork intestines are cooked, add potatoes, season with salt, and finally sprinkle with scallions—a whole big bowlful.
The broth is reddish-brown, fresh, fragrant, spicy, and numbing, making it very appetizing.
The few dumplings the cafeteria provided weren't enough, so Bai Xiaoyue steamed another pot of white rice.
For a southerner like me, good food must be paired with rice!
Mother Bai ate a few bites of the fatty intestines and said:
"This pork was rarely bought when it was sold at low-quality pork, but I didn't expect it to be so delicious."
Mr. Bai grunted a few times and vigorously picked up food and shoveled rice into his mouth.
Looking at Yan Ci, he was eating with great relish, his mouth and hands never idle; he was quite the foodie.
Xiao Changle eats steamed egg custard and mashed potatoes, and occasionally picks up a piece of pork intestine to chew slowly.
The group ate happily and contentedly, leaving not even a drop of soup behind.
The difficult year of 1960 was finally overcome peacefully thanks to the painstaking planning of the village cadres.
Bai Xiaoyue hopes for a smooth and successful year ahead.
She was filled with anticipation, thinking that she would no longer have to eat from the communal pot in a few months.
Time, please hurry up, hurry up even more.
Spring arrived at its own unhurried pace.
The most important thing is definitely spring planting. In the village, people eat their fill during the busy farming season and eat less during the off-season.
During the busy farming season, everyone had enough to eat every day, and they worked very hard, completing the spring planting on time.
I've heard that some villages don't know how to be flexible and still use fixed rations for every meal. People don't get enough to eat, so they have no energy to work and just go through the motions in the fields.
Bai Xiaoyue thought the village cadres of the Hongxing Production Team were very wise.
Yan Ci also participated in the spring planting with everyone else; there was no other way, otherwise there would be no food.
He's really good at working. He can work all day without showing any signs of fatigue and can even help his father tidy up the vegetable garden.
Bai Xiaoyue admired him greatly.
Just as spring planting was finished, a clap of thunder announced the disbandment of the canteen, and that each household would have to cook their own meals at home from now on.
In order to increase farmers' enthusiasm and strengthen agricultural production.
The days began with daily work and work points being recorded. After the autumn harvest and the delivery of public grain, distribution was based on labor.
That truly is a case of some rejoicing while others grieve.
The happy ones are those with many strong, hardworking members in the family. The worried ones are those with many elderly, weak, or lazy members.
Bai Xiaoyue was really worried because she couldn't just dawdle and let the days slip by!
Whether the future holds good or bad things, it hasn't arrived yet.
Now everyone is happily taking their food home to cook, and the lively scene is comparable to the Chinese New Year.
Each person can receive an average of over 70 jin of grain. It's just spring planting, and there are still several months until the autumn harvest.
If we don't plan our food intake carefully, this amount of food will hardly last until the autumn harvest and distribution of grain.
Bai Xiaoyue had grain in her hands and didn't care how much grain she got; she let her father carry it home with her.
After distributing the grain and putting down their bags, the brows of all the village cadres relaxed. Bai Xiaoyue thought to herself, "You're celebrating too soon."
After the canteen closed down, everyone started cooking at home. No one had an iron pot anymore; they just used earthenware pots to cook. Everyone was all smiles.
Bai Xiaoyue took out a small iron pot and immediately stir-fried some shredded potatoes and scrambled eggs with scallions.
Bai's mother was shocked: "Daughter, where did this iron pot come from? It's not available for sale anywhere now."
Bai Xiaoyue said smugly, "I hid it before."
Bai's mother's expression changed drastically: "Daughter, we can't let anyone know this, it will cause trouble."
Bai Xiaoyue suppressed her smile:
"Dad, Mom, how could I possibly tell anyone outside? Even if others find out, I'll just say I bought it at a high price. Don't worry, don't worry."
Bai Xiaoyue wiped the sweat from her brow, thinking to herself, "I was careless. My mouth is faster than my brain. I need to be more careful with my words in the future."
After the grain was distributed, the issue of where Yan Ci should stay was finally put on the agenda.
Several old courtyards were all given to the families who had fled famine.
Yan Ci was left all alone. Without the old courtyard, he had to find a plot of land to rebuild his house.
After a winter, Yan Ci had gained a little weight and looked much better, with a handsome appearance but a sharp and imposing aura.
He was usually quiet and reserved, and Bai Xiaoyue had hardly ever spoken a word to him.
Bai Xiaoyue thought that since she had received a few small yellow croakers from Aunt Yan, she should at least compensate Yan Ci, otherwise she would feel uneasy.
That evening at dinner, Bai Xiaoyue asked:
"Yan Ci, your great-aunt's house was originally meant for you, but I've taken it."
Although I paid for it, I can still offer you some compensation. Do you need money or food?
Yan Ci remained seated for a long time before finally speaking:
"You bought the house, so no compensation is needed. I've been bothering you here for months, so consider that compensation!"
Bai Xiaoyue said apologetically, "How about I give you some food? Otherwise, I'll always feel like I owe you something."
Yan Ci lowered his eyes and said in a low voice, "I'm not feeling well and I can't cook, so why don't I continue to eat at your house?"
Before Bai Xiaoyue could react, her mother's maternal love overflowed:
"Sure, Xiao Ci, you can come over to eat every day."
Bai Xiaoyue's almond-shaped eyes widened as she stared at Yan Ci, speechless. Damn it, he's playing the victim.
This isn't about not wanting compensation! This is about them trying to freeload off us! Having an outsider at every meal is so uncomfortable!
Why can't I shake them off?
Then I heard him say, "I'll wash the dishes, I'll chop the firewood, and I'll tend the vegetable garden."
Suddenly, Bai Xiaoyue felt that having one more person to eat with wasn't a bad thing, since Wen An wasn't home and she needed someone to do things for her anyway.
Then I'll reluctantly agree!
Bai Xiaoyue only realized it when she lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) that night.
Yan Ci may have studied military strategy. He noticed that Yan Ci didn't like washing pots and dishes, so he said he could do everything, and successfully got Yan Ci to stay with the Bai family as a cook.
Yan Ci chose a plot of land next to Bai Xiaoyue's house because it would be more convenient for her to eat there.
The current layout of the house is that the Bai family is on the right, Yan Ci is on the left, and Bai Xiaoyue's house is in the middle. It feels very safe.
Yan Ci took out a gold lock and gave it to Bai Xiaoyue, saying it was in exchange for eighty catties of grain, to treat the people building the house to a meal.
She took it back and examined the little gold lock carefully.
It is finely crafted with exquisite patterns, and a thumb-sized piece of Hetian jade is inlaid in the center, making it look very valuable.
This Yan Cizhen and Aunt Yan are relatives; they both have good things.
The Yan family must have been well-off in the past, but unfortunately, Yan Ci is now their only son.
Yan Ci also built an adobe and thatched house, only two rooms, which were completed quickly.
The new house had nothing; Bai's mother gave him a set of old bedding.
Bai Xiaoyue lent him 20 yuan to buy daily necessities, and he didn't refuse.
Yan Ci used the money to buy a kang mat, a kang cabinet, a table, a basin, and so on.
Meanwhile, the villagers, suddenly having so much grain in their hands, were able to eat their fill for several days.
The far-sighted family was overjoyed for two days and immediately began planning their meal.
There are also those who are short-sighted, living for today and not caring about tomorrow, indulging in gluttony at every meal.
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