Sure enough, just as Yang Baiyi expected, after Li Xiu Lian and other women came back with their grandchildren, carrying tables, chairs and benches, they took the initiative to go into the kitchen and start working without Yang Baiyi asking.
The children who helped move the benches and carry the cornmeal did not run far. After politely greeting Yang Baiyi, they started playing near the educated youth compound.
Grandma just said that as long as you behave today, you can eat meat.
"Stinky Egg, Xiaobao, both of you come here, uncle will give you some candy."
Following them were young children who were not old enough to go to school.
"Thank you, Doctor Yang."
The children did not rush forward, but lined up on their own initiative. Those who received candy would also politely express their gratitude.
“Cook the big bones first, and then let the children eat them first.”
Yang Baiyi came to the kitchen door and spoke inside.
"That won't do, Doctor Yang. Don't worry about them. Let's eat together when dinner is ready."
"Yes, Doctor Yang. They don't earn any work points now. Just having something to eat and being able to raise them is enough."
"You can spoil them with food and drink, but you can't spoil them with no rules."
The women busy in the kitchen refused repeatedly.
"It's okay. The meat and bones are not on the table. They are just for the children. Now they are full. When the meal starts, you don't have to worry about them. You can eat in peace."
Yang Baiyi didn't care about this little piece of meat at all, and decided to give it to the children as a snack.
In the big pot, large pieces of meat and bones were rolling up and down in the boiling broth. The rich aroma attracted young children playing nearby.
The children stared at the kitchen and breathed in the fragrance in the air.
"Children, wait a moment. Once the big bones are cooked, you can eat them first."
Yang Baiyi looked at the child who was greedy for meat and thought of his sister.
Although her family was well-off and she had never let her sister suffer any injustice when it came to meals, the little girl, a seasoned foodie, would rush to the kitchen the first thing she did after school every day.
"Uncle, can we really eat first?"
Stinky asked excitedly, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Really, uncle never lies to children."
When Yang Baiyi saw the stinky egg, he couldn't help but want to laugh.
Choudan’s brother Goudan followed Yang Xiaoxiao and called him brother, so when Choudan was with Goudan, he also called him brother.
But their father, Chen Feng, always treated him as an equal and called him brother, so when Choudan followed his father, he called him uncle.
This was a real problem for the five-year-old Stinky Boy. Being so young, it was inevitable that he would have trouble understanding the situation.
When I was with Goudan, I would be scolded by him if I called Yang Baiyi uncle.
When you are with Chen Feng, if you call Yang Baiyi brother, you will be beaten by Chen Feng.
Yang Baiyi sometimes feels sorry for Choudan.
"Luckily, there are two kitchens in the educated youth compound, otherwise it would be really difficult to handle. Not to mention whether they can handle it, there wouldn't be enough space for so many people to stand."
Lin Wanru came to Yang Baiyi and expressed her approval of the designer who built the educated youth compound at that time.
After being notified by Li Xiu Lian and Liu Gui Hua, the women who had delivered their gifts moved the table over and stayed to help in the kitchen. The three female educated youth who had been busy were all replaced.
The women each had their own duties, some stewing meat, some chopping stuffing and frying meatballs, some washing and cutting vegetables, and some kneading dough and making pancakes. All the work was carried out in an orderly manner.
"The bones are ready. Take one each and go home. Wait for your parents to get off work and your brothers and sisters to get out of school, then come over together.
It's because Doctor Yang is kindhearted. You don't get this kind of treatment at home."
Li Xiu Lian was distributing meat bones to the children while muttering to herself.
When at home, the strong laborers are given the chance to eat first after the meal is ready, and the elderly and children are seated at the back.
It’s not that the members don’t know how to respect the elderly and love the young, it’s mainly because they are influenced by the times.
It was the early 1970s, and the people had just experienced years of famine and had only just had enough food to eat for a few years.
During the most difficult years, especially when there was a shortage of food, even grass roots and tree bark were not enough to eat.
Therefore, in most families, they can only feed the strong laborers first. If the strong laborers fall ill, the family will be in dire straits.
So during those years, most of those who starved to death were the elderly and children.
The children took the meat bones and ate them in big mouthfuls without caring about the heat.
They chewed the meat repeatedly in their mouths, savoring it carefully, and only swallowed it when the meat had no taste at all.
The longer the aroma of meat lasts, the longer their happiness will last.
"Alright! Go home quickly and wait for your brothers and sisters to come over after school."
Li Xiu Lian urged again.
"Auntie, let the children eat here. I'll ask Han Fei to go to the school and tell the children to come here for dinner after school."
Li Xue took the child from Han Fei's arms and said.
"No, it's not appropriate to go to school to inform the students. After all, the parents who came today are only a small number, and the majority of parents did not come.
If I go and inform them, what will those students and parents who didn't give gifts think? It will be like I'm asking them for money."
Han Fei's considerations are more comprehensive than Li Xue's, which is why he was able to become the captain of the educated youth team and the principal.
"There's still time, Aunt Xiulian. Give each child another piece. It won't be too late to let them go home after they've finished eating."
Yang Baiyi looked at his watch and said.
The children also knew that they had to go home and wait for their parents and older brothers and sisters, so they quickened the pace of gnawing on the bones.
After eating one piece, they took another piece from Li Xiu Lian, and then they each walked home with the meat bones in their arms.
"Brother, it's like sister, I'm done with school."
Yang Xiaoxiao, carrying her small schoolbag, skipped into the educated youth compound.
Because the other children had gone home first, Yang Xiaoxiao came directly to the educated youth compound after school, so she arrived earlier than others.
"Xiaoxiao, there are freshly stewed bones in the kitchen, and the meatballs are fried. What would you like to eat?"
Li Xiu Lian spoke in a soft voice and had a kind attitude, which was very different from how she treated other children just now. If you didn't know, you would think Yang Xiaoxiao was his granddaughter.
"Brother, can I have a meatball?"
Between meatballs and bones, the little girl decisively chose meatballs.
Bones are often eaten at home, but meatballs are rarely eaten, perhaps because Yang Baiyi thinks they are too troublesome to make.
"Of course, Xiaoxiao can eat whatever you want."
Since Yang Baiyi takes such good care of other children, there is no reason for him to let his younger sister suffer.
"Come on, eat slowly, be careful of the heat."
Li Xiu Lian brought out a bowl with four meatballs in it. Some soup was poured on the meatballs and some chopped green onions were sprinkled on them.
"Thank you, grandma. The meatballs are delicious."
The little girl picked up a meatball with chopsticks, blew on it, and then took a bite. Her big eyes immediately narrowed into crescents.
It's a mess! It's all a mess!
I call Li Xiu Lian "Auntie", and my sister follows Goudan and calls her "Grandma".
Forget it, my sister is quite a bit older than me anyway, so let’s just talk about our own things!
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