Today, Aunt Tian stewed half a smoked pork leg with potatoes and white radishes. The milky white soup was bubbling in the pot, and the aroma lured An'an, the little glutton, over.
"Don't get too close, you might get burned."
In the hot summer, it was stewing in an iron pot in the yard. An'an sniffed and couldn't help but swallow.
Aunt Tian found her expression somewhat amusing and picked up a piece of meat for her with her chopsticks.
"Be careful, don't let the goose steal it."
An'an's eyes lit up immediately. She squatted down under the tree with the small plate that Aunt Tie had given her, blowing on it as she ate.
Aunt Tian's geese hatched several this year. She gave some to the neighbors and kept three at home. They are just as domineering as the old geese. Knowing that An'an has food, they even try to snatch it.
Liu Jiandong grabbed the geese by the neck and sent them back to their cage.
Where's your brother?
Since he caught a wild boar in the mountains last time, Uncle Liu has rediscovered his hunting skills and started setting up traps in the mountains again.
Having finally returned, I immediately took them up the mountain again.
An'an originally wanted to go with them, but Aunt Tian kept her there with delicious food.
"They're still looking, I'm coming down first."
Liu Jiandong found a rabbit in his own trap. Aunt Tian took it, and that meant another spicy stir-fried rabbit dish for dinner.
Lu Yang also brought a lot of things, but she thought she had eaten enough today, so she put them away first.
As darkness fell, they returned carrying their baskets.
I didn't have much of a harvest today, but I did bring down four rabbits and a pheasant.
"Why are there so many rabbits?"
These rabbits can be made into cured meat, which can then be used to visit relatives during the Chinese New Year.
"I thought I could catch something else, but it's all just these little rabbits." It really is all luck that we managed to hunt a wild boar.
Today is a happy day, and Aunt Tian even opened a bottle of wine.
“Once you pass the worker's exam, you won't have to work in the fields anymore. It doesn't feel right for us city kids to come here and farm.”
Various blessings poured over Lu Ronghui. Her eyes welled up with tears in the smoky, hot air. She was not related to Aunt Tian's family by blood, but they were genuinely happy for her future.
She used to be secretly saddened, wondering why her parents, who were related to her by blood, didn't love her as much, but treated someone else who wasn't related by blood as their own daughter.
But at this moment she didn't care, there were still other people happy for her achievements.
Lu Yang was also very happy and drank a large glass of wine, which was rare for him. He didn't say anything to his sister, but he kept a smile on his face all night.
Even An'an kept hugging her neck, laughing so hard her eyes were almost invisible.
People used to say that the past is like smoke, and what's past is past. Lu Ronghui always told herself that too.
She had no expectations of Lu Weiguo and his wife anymore, and even Bai Rongjun and the others had received their just deserts. Now she was truly starting a new life.
"Come, come, have a drink. You can stay here tonight."
The whole courtyard was filled with a festive atmosphere, and even the geese in the cage tilted their heads and looked out curiously.
"It seems like eight people from our village passed the exam. I wonder how many were at the educated youth settlement?"
After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, their gossipy nature returned, and Aunt Tian looked at everyone mysteriously.
"Many failed the exam, and I think those who did are too afraid to be happy. They're all staying home with their doors closed."
That's right, even they don't dare to ask outsiders, for fear that people will think they are showing off.
"Eight? That many?"
"This is nothing. Let's not even talk about those in the city. I heard that in the neighboring village, the village chief organized a study session, and almost 20 people passed the exam!"
She was naturally not spared from all sorts of gossip. She heard that those in the village who didn't pass the exam were starting to complain about the village chief, saying that he didn't organize everyone to study.
This village of twenty suddenly became famous, and matchmakers will probably be knocking down their door for a while.
"Xiao Hui, do you know what the situation is like at the educated youth settlement?"
Lu Ronghui shook her head; she hadn't returned to the educated youth settlement yet today.
The number of spots for educated youth was limited, making the competition even fiercer. She passed the exam herself, but she was too embarrassed to go back and ask others.
"Then we'll go see it ourselves tomorrow."
The red notice outside the textile factory will probably be posted for a few days. Today, it was so crowded that people couldn't get in. It's not too late to go over in a couple of days when no one is looking at it anymore.
After dinner, Lu Ronghui stayed at Aunt Tian's house. She had to go to work the next day, so it would be more convenient for her to stay there.
Normally, An'an would definitely stay here, but today, as soon as she finished eating, she urged her father to leave.
"You've been drinking, be careful on the road."
"Or we can stay here and go back to work early tomorrow morning."
An'an had eaten until her belly was round, and when she heard Aunt Tian's words, she quickly shook her head.
Lu Yang didn't drink much. He rode his bicycle and took An'an home to the family compound.
"Dad, hurry up!"
An'an gripped the handlebars and urged her father on.
Province D is very far away, and it would take almost half a month for a letter to be sent and received. Song Qing felt that since she was only going for a month, there was no need to send letters.
Lu Yang and An An were naturally unhappy, so Song Qing had no choice but to promise to call back as soon as she arrived and also send two letters home.
Spending just over a dollar on a phone call can make the whole family happy.
When she called the office yesterday, she wanted to ask about Lu Ronghui's situation, but Lu Yang told her that the results wouldn't be available until today.
Song Qing decided to call back the next day.
"Hello?"
Song Qingjie's phone number is at the gatehouse of the textile factory. When Lu Yang called her, someone had to go to the dormitory to find her.
"Mother!"
An'an sat in Lu Yang's lap, holding the phone and chattering away to tell her mother about what happened today.
"My aunt passed the exam, and my third aunt stewed a big pork leg today. It smells especially good."
My uncle caught a lot of rabbits on the mountain today, and oh yeah, Dad drank some alcohol too.
Drinking leads to trouble. Last time Lu Yang drank, he promised his house to someone else. Song Qing then forbade him from drinking outside.
Lu Yang was both amused and exasperated; this girl really did seize every opportunity to complain to him.
"I see."
Song Qing's voice was filled with laughter, knowing that Lu Yang must be especially happy today.
"Alright, alright, we agreed to each tell half, now it's Dad's turn."
Long-distance calls are expensive, costing one yuan per minute. Song Qing had agreed beforehand that he could only make a maximum of two calls, and that he would prepare a draft before each call, ensuring that it would not exceed two minutes.
He snatched the phone from An'an's hand. The couple held the receiver for a few seconds, not knowing what to say, and just laughed at each other.
"My family is doing well."
"I'm doing well here too."
Lu Yang held the phone, wanting to say he missed her and also wanting to hear Song Qing say she missed him, but neither of them were outgoing, and with other people around, they couldn't even openly express their longing.
The only sound on the phone was their breathing. An'an clung to her father's arm, puzzled as to why he wasn't speaking.
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