Chang Le planted a seed in her heart: she must go to the biggest city and the best university in the future, so that she can bring her whole family to enjoy a better life.
This year, things are a little better. The collective's pigs are handed over to the task pigs first, and one production team only keeps one pig to slaughter and divide the meat.
The rest of the pigs were sold to pay off debts, including the money owed to the commune for buying grain in previous years.
Each person could only get half a pound of meat from a pig, so the Bai family only got two pounds of pork, which was enough to make a meal of dumplings.
Bai Xiaoyue planned to go to Wang Weiguo to buy more meat. Now that it's snowing, she could freeze it and eat it slowly.
She thought there were many things to take, so she invited Yan Ci to go to the supply and marketing cooperative with her.
The two of them packed some sun-dried mushrooms for Li Mingyue and her husband before setting off.
Li Mingyue was awestruck by Yan Ci's beauty, praising him repeatedly. She then pulled Bai Xiaoyue aside and whispered, "..."
"Xiaoyue, where did you find that guy? He's really handsome. Didn't you say it was just a casual relationship? How come you're already married?"
Bai Xiaoyue sighed, shook her head, and then said:
"There's no other way. Our parents are pressuring us, and Yan Ci hasn't found someone he likes yet, so we'll just make do for now."
Li Mingyue sighed:
"Xiaoyue, what good luck you have! Ye Jianhua is handsome, but Yan Ci is even more beautiful."
"Mingyue, don't praise other men, or your Weiguo will get jealous."
“He wouldn’t be jealous for no reason. Besides, my Weiguo is very handsome.”
"Mingyue, let Yanci and I treat you two to lunch at a state-run restaurant. I'll pay, you pay for the tickets." Bai Xiaoyue laughed heartily after saying this.
In this era, there were no food stamps, so even if you had money, you couldn't eat.
Li Mingyue disagreed: "Why go to a state-run restaurant? It's a waste of money. Let's eat at my house."
Bai Xiaoyue grabbed Li Mingyue's hand and said:
"I want to eat at a state-run restaurant today, but I'll eat at your place next time."
Li Mingyue said helplessly, "Alright then!"
Bai Xiaoyue has been here for more than three years, and this is the first time she has eaten at a state-run restaurant.
Upon entering, you'll see several tables, and a small blackboard on the wall displays today's menu. You need to order your food at the window and have it served yourself.
Bai Xiaoyue ordered braised pork. In time-travel novels, there's always a saying that a dish is so delicious you'll swallow your tongue, and she had to try it today.
He wanted to order another pork stew with cabbage, but Li Mingyue stopped him, saying, "Xiaoyue, that's enough, that's enough."
When the dishes arrived, Bai Xiaoyue finally felt the sincerity of this era. A large plate of braised pork, without a trace of adulteration.
It uses pork belly with a good balance of fat and lean meat, and the taste is indeed very good.
The four of them were also very strong, and they finished the meal clean while chatting and laughing.
Wang Weiguo was also very helpful, buying Bai Xiaoyue five catties of meat, two pig's feet, and a set of pig offal.
Bai Xiaoyue was very happy and even bought some melon seeds and candies to take home for the New Year.
She cut the meat into small pieces and put them in a ceramic jar to freeze, while Yan Ci cleaned the pig offal. The two of them were busy.
Bai Wen'an rushed in like a whirlwind, and as soon as he entered, he said to Yan Ci:
"Brother-in-law, the village is organizing a hunting trip in the mountains tomorrow, shall we go together?"
Before Yan Ci could speak, Bai Xiaoyue quickly scolded him:
"Wen'an, it's so cold, why are you hunting? You're not allowed to go."
Bai Wen'an pleaded pitifully:
"A lot of people from the village are going together. Sister, let your husband come with me, but Mom and Dad won't let me go alone."
Bai Xiaoyue glared at Bai Wen'an:
"You know your parents won't let you go, so just stay home."
Bai Wen'an panicked:
“Oh, sister, you always said I was too young and wouldn’t let me go. Now I’m almost 20, and I know the mountains very well, so I’ll go and take a look.”
"Mom, I want to go hunting too!" Chang Le ran out from the inner room and shouted.
He even obediently put on his hat, looking ready to go out.
Upon hearing her daughter's words, Bai Xiaoyue stumbled and almost fell, but Yan Ci caught her in time.
Yan Ci helped Bai Xiaoyue stand up, then squatted down and said to Chang Le:
"Chang Le is still too young to go to the mountains. Eat well and grow taller, then Uncle Yan will take you, okay?"
Chang Le opened her eyes wide and asked curiously:
"Uncle Yan, how tall do I have to be to go?"
Yan Ci glanced at Bai Xiaoyue and pointed at her:
"Hmm, I think Chang Le is tall enough to go since she's as tall as her mother."
Chang Le looked at her mother, and seeing her nod, said, "Alright then!"
After calming Chang Le down, Yan Ci comforted Bai Xiaoyue:
"I'll go with Wen'an. Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him."
Seeing that she couldn't stop him, Bai Xiaoyue could only give him some advice:
"Wen'an, listen to your brother-in-law, don't get separated from him."
Yan Ci, you must also be careful and not be careless.
Before going to bed that night, Bai Xiaoyue whispered to Yan Ci:
"Don't stand out too much, keep a low profile."
Yan Ci nodded: "I know, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Seeing that he seemed to be listening, Bai Xiaoyue slowly continued:
"I've been living a careful and low-key life for the past three years since I came here."
My uncle wanted me to be a storekeeper, but I didn't go. I worked in the fields every day.
Because I don't want to attract too much attention; I just want to live a peaceful and quiet life.
Yan Ci's voice was gentle: "I understand, I definitely won't do anything reckless."
It would take a whole day to get back from the mountain, so Bai Xiaoyue got up early in the morning to make scallion and egg pancakes for Yan Ci and Bai Wen'an.
Wrap it in a cotton-padded jacket that Chang Le no longer wears, hoping that the biscuit won't be too hard when they eat it.
A dozen or so villagers, with a few hunting rifles, went into the mountains to hunt.
Bai Xiaoyue waited until midnight before Yan Ci returned, accompanied by a cold wind.
Seeing that Yan Ci was alright, Bai Xiaoyue heated up the millet porridge and steamed buns she had left for him that night, and also brought him hot water to soak his feet.
The room was warm with a heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed), and we soaked our feet in hot water before eating a hot meal.
Yan Ci felt that this was the home he wanted, a place where someone would be waiting for him when he came home late, and where there would be hot soup or water.
There's just one clueless person who doesn't get it right, otherwise it would be perfect.
After Yan Ci finished eating, Bai Xiaoyue asked him:
"Is Wen'an alright? Did you find anything?"
"Wen'an is fine. He killed two wild boars, a few rabbits, and a few pheasants."
"It's pretty good. As long as you all come back safe and sound, I'm not expecting any meat."
"It's too late, get some rest!" Yan Ci finished her meal in a few bites, took the bowl to the kitchen, and went to bed.
The next day, Bai Xiaoyue also went to join in the fun and watch everyone divide the wild boar meat.
When the uncles and elders who went hunting in the mountains saw her, they all praised Yan Ci to her:
"Xiaoyue, your Yanci is a really good marksman. Look, he's the one who shot this wild boar."
"The Yan family lad is also very skilled."
"Yes, yes, yes, Xiaoyue, you have a good eye. The young man is a good person."
Bai Xiaoyue was furious and went to find Bai Wen'an to ask:
"Wen'an, what's with you guys going hunting in the mountains? Why is everyone talking about Yan Ci?"
Bai Wen'an's eyes lit up: "Sis, you don't know, brother-in-law is amazing."
He didn't even notice his sister's expression, and kept talking:
Yesterday, a wild boar was shot but was still alive. It charged straight at me and was about to crash into me.
At the critical moment, my brother-in-law grabbed Uncle Li's gun and spun the wild boar in the head, saving me.
Bai Xiaoyue took a few deep breaths before speaking:
"I told you not to go, but you wouldn't listen. Now that you know it's dangerous, let's see if you dare to go again next time."
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