On the weekend, Su Ye had nothing to do, so he gradually made five pounds of crispy pork. This time, the crispy pork was made of pork belly.
The fat of the meat is extracted from the perilla leaves and the fragrant lard is made. The fat and lean parts are cut into strips, marinated with onion, ginger, garlic, spices, soy sauce and cooking wine, coated with a layer of flour, and fried in a pan.
The first frying removes moisture, and the second frying makes it crispy and tender. When you pick it up, it exudes the aroma of oil. When you eat it with tomato sauce, the surface is crispy, but the meat inside is tender and soft, and it is rich in fat. It is a rare low-calorie food.
Su Ye finally understood what it meant that a good cook cannot cook without rice. She didn't know how capable she was until she had meat.
After she made the crispy meat, she wrapped a piece in oil paper and gave it to Grandma Zhou downstairs.
The family was able to eat some vegetables every now and then, all thanks to Zhou Honghan. She cultivated a vegetable plot herself, and would send some to Gu Xiangqian when she saw him.
For a while, Su Ye also wanted to cultivate a vegetable plot to solve the food problem, but the army had explicit regulations prohibiting the cultivation of vegetable gardens. It was only because Zhou Honghan was a widow that the army took special care of her and allowed her to cultivate a vegetable plot.
Zhou Honghan took off her reading glasses when she saw Su Ye. She asked, "I heard Xiang Qian left some time ago?"
Gu Xiangqian lost his father when he was in his teens. His father died gloriously on the battlefield of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. Zhou Honghan's son and daughter-in-law also died in the same year. Zhou Honghan usually took care of him a little.
Su Ye nodded, "I made some meat, Grandma Zhou, please try it."
Zhou Honghan folded his reading glasses and said, "No need. You have old bones and you don't need any meat. Save some for Xiang Qian! His salary is not enough for him to spend. You two just got married not long ago, you should—"
Su Ye was always impatient to hear such talk. What did Gu Xiangqian mean by "that little salary"? He couldn't even spend all his money if he saved it!
However, all the money went into Su Ye's pocket. In order to make it easier to settle accounts with Gu Xiangqian later, she saved every penny and did not spend a penny. In the past few months, she had saved up a small treasury.
Su Ye unwrapped the oil paper, picked up a piece with chopsticks, and said with a smile: "He has a share too, don't worry about him!"
She picked up the crispy meat and gave it to Zhou Honghan.
The aroma of crispy meat wafted out, mixed with the aroma of spices and lard invading people's sense of smell. This kind of fried food is an irresistible temptation for those who haven't seen greasy food in a long time.
Zhou Honghan stopped talking. The crispy pork belly was sprinkled with a thin layer of spices, which had a strong aroma. Her tongue could easily distinguish the composition of the spices: pepper, fennel, star anise, cinnamon, hay, tangerine peel...
Before liberation, there were eight chefs in Zhou Jiaguang's kitchen. The chefs tried their best to compete for the position of chef. Good food flowed into Zhou Honghan's mouth like water. When he was young, he loved beauty and dieted, so he ate one bowl after another. Who would have thought that there would be such a scene today
There is no pork available on the market at all, and it is difficult to even eat a bite of meat.
Su Ye lowered his head and pretended to pick up the oil paper bag, but unexpectedly the oil wrapped in the oil paper seeped out and contaminated the snow-white draft paper on the table.
"Oh, grandma's drawings are dirty!" She quickly took out her handkerchief and wiped it.
Zhou Honghan couldn't help but twitch the corners of her mouth, and the smile on her face gradually disappeared. This was a drawing that she had spent a week rushing to make. If it were in the past, she would have been so bad-tempered that even ten donkeys couldn't stop her, and her face would definitely be as stern as a coffin.
Zhou Honghan was not really kind or approachable, but she treated Gu Xiangqian as a relative, so she was more tolerant and caring towards Su Ye.
The drawing on the table was about 50x30cm long. Su Ye looked closely and saw a group of delicate components drawn on it. She herself was an engineer and knew the importance of the integrity of the drawing to an engineer. A wrong line, a drop of ink, or a drop of oil stain was enough to ruin the entire drawing.
Su Ye looked carefully and saw something. This was a design draft of a local component of an integrated circuit. No wonder Gu Xiangqian asked her to communicate more with Zhou Honghan. He was not afraid that a junior high school teacher would embarrass herself in front of Zhou Honghan.
"Don't wipe it, it's okay." Zhou Honghan said stiffly.
Su Ye looked at it for a while, rolled up the blueprint, put it in her bag and said, "Give this blueprint to you first, and then give Grandma Zhou a similar one."
Zhou Honghan didn't expect Su Ye to be able to return her a similar one, and thought she was just being ignorant.
"No need, just give it back!"
After Su Ye finished speaking, he rolled up the drawing and disappeared.
He was a person who knew he had made a mistake and ran away quickly. Zhou Honghan wanted to be angry with Su Ye, but he had to be grateful for what he had done. There was a package of meat on the table that was still emitting fragrance, which was faintly arousing his greed.
Fortunately, there were still a few scraps, and Zhou Honghan was not in a hurry to get back the drawings that Su Ye had taken away.
…
Southwest border.
A week later, the army's special vehicle carrying supplies for the soldiers arrived at the border, along with the supplies came letters from their families.
Others had a few pages of family letters, but Gu Xiangqian had a package weighing ten kilograms, which was quite heavy in his hand. The soldiers around him saw it and said enviously, "It's so bulging, it can't be clothes, right?"
"It can't be a package of letters from home!" The comrades started talking about it.
Gu Xiangqian opened the box, which contained two packages of meat. He searched through the box but could not find a single letter from home. However, the comrades who slept in front of him, behind him, and on both sides of him had several pages of letters from home.
Gu Xiangqian's expectant look suddenly dimmed, especially when the person next door was reading a handwritten letter of missing him and had hand-knitted socks and insoles from his partner. This contrast made Gu Xiangqian feel quite desolate.
"Ah, my sister-in-law is so good to you! How did you get so horny?"
These days, there was no meat to eat at the front lines. Even if there was meat, it was only given to the wounded soldiers to provide nutrition. The soldiers ate compressed dry rations at the front lines and canned vegetables when they retreated to the rear. Even the toughest men could not stand this kind of suffering.
How long will it take to eat the heavy box of meat? When did life in the rear become so abundant
Gu Xiangqian's box of dried meat was dazzling, and it brought a car full of hatred. However, those who can be leaders are all subtle and perceptive. The comrades noticed a detail.
Gu Xiangqian rummaged through the box, felt around once and found no letter, so he searched again in disbelief.
The officer who had letters from home read aloud the messages written by his girlfriend; the officer who had socks to wear put on his socks and repeatedly praised his wife: "How can my wife be so considerate and treat me so well? I know that all I need is a pair of socks!"
The border is hot and rainy all year round. Soldiers without shoes and socks are prone to foot rot and skin ringworm. The border is cold and bitter, and soldiers often have to rely on their families to relieve their longing.
"I heard you say your sister-in-law has only primary school education. I'm afraid she can't even read. Next time, teach her to read. After she learns, let her write to you. It's not good if she can't read. How can we communicate in the future?"
These were all Gu Xiangqian's comrades stationed at the southwest border. He was transferred back to the rear after his marriage, but his comrades never returned home, so they naturally didn't know about Su Ye. They didn't know that although Su Ye graduated from elementary school, she became a teacher in No. 1 Middle School. Not only was she literate, but she was also very eloquent and smart.
Gu Xiangqian put away the dried meat. Su Ye did not write a letter, which meant he did not want to write one.
She could recite more sour poems than Gu Xiangqian, and she was also very good at coaxing people, but sometimes she just didn't want to move her mouth. She used her deceptive mouth for all kinds of improper things.
One month later.
As friction between China and India re-emerged, Gu Xiangqian commanded his troops to march northward into Tibet. In the hail of bullets, Gu Xiangqian bravely crawled forward under the fire and knocked down the enemy's bandit leader with his body, thus gaining an opportunity for victory in the war.
However, despite being extremely cautious, he was still knocked down by a stray bullet dropped from the air.
Gu Xiangqian was lying on the ground, and his parents, leaders and comrades-in-arms unexpectedly appeared before his eyes.
And Suye...
Both of them are homeless. Gu Xiangqian longs for a complete family so much, but unfortunately this time he will become a man who breaks his promise just like his father.
…
Field military hospital.
Yao Chunyu skillfully used tweezers to remove the bullet and threaded the wound. After completing the operation, she took off her mask and went to Gu Xiangqian's bed to take a look.
"Why is it that every time I see you, you are covered in scars?"
Yao Chunyu recalled the memory of his previous life. Gu Xiangqian and Su Ye had a big quarrel due to disagreements, and he went to the battlefield in despair. After this battle, although Gu Xiangqian was seriously injured, he won the first-class merit and was promoted to the head of the regiment.
After returning to the military region, the couple continued to quarrel, and they did not get divorced until middle age. This time, Yao Chunyu was not in a hurry to return to the rear, which gave the couple room to quarrel. Even if there was no one around, these two people could still quarrel like water and fire, and they didn't need anyone to intervene.
How could Su Ye bear to waste such a good man like that? Since Su Ye didn't cherish him, she would not be polite.
If Gu Xiangqian was her lover, she would definitely make him live a happy, fulfilling and satisfying life every day.
In her first life, Yao Chunyu gave up Gu Xiangqian for her dream of going to the Soviet Union. Because he was just a small company commander at that time, and at the same time there was another deputy battalion commander pursuing her in the compound, Yao Chunyu did not take Gu Xiangqian seriously.
But he was too handsome, which left a deep impression on her mind. Ten years later, Yao Chunyu had to live in a cowshed and do farm work in the countryside because of his class background.
Gu Xiangqian, however, had moved into a two-story duplex house, with guards at every entrance and exit, and he still ate meat every meal during the hard times. The rural woman was dressed in decent clothes and spoke rudely.
Apart from being lucky enough to marry the right person, no one else is worthy of standing by his side.
The door of the ward was suddenly opened, and Yao Chunyu's memories were forced to be interrupted.
The dean came in hastily, holding a signed transfer order, and ordered: "This leader and a soldier need to be transferred to the rear. The conditions here are too poor, and his treatment has been delayed."
Yao Chunyu saluted and said, "Leader, I am willing to accompany you to take care of the patient and complete this transfer!"
A day later, Yao Chunyu followed Gu Xiangqian to the provincial hospital of Province C as he wished.
…
One middle school.
Su Ye squatted down and stared at the circuit in front of him with wide eyes. Qian Xiaohe pressed the button easily, and a "sizzling" sound of electricity and a vague radio sound came out of the old speaker.
She patted Qian Xiaohe's shoulder cheerfully, gave him a thumbs up and said, "Not bad, you are the one today!"
Qian Xiaohe straightened her back proudly, "As a student of Teacher Su, I have to be humble!"
Qian Xiaohe paid a huge price for this "good" job. Her eyes were bruised and her eye bags were dark. She studied hard every night. Not only did she have to face the upcoming high school entrance examination, but she also had to practice her skills.
Teachers like Su Ye are rare, and meeting one is a stroke of luck. Qian Xiaohe must do her utmost to catch her and learn all her skills. She has no reliable backing, only a bunch of black-hearted parents who hold her back and wish to sell her for money.
Su Ye touched Qian Xiaohe's head and said, "You are even more energetic than Yang Xue. I will let you lead the radio group next week!"
Su Ye is no stranger to this type of students who sharpen their brains to absorb knowledge. This type of students has ruthlessness and perseverance.
Considering her background, Su Ye felt distressed. The examination atmosphere in the 1960s was not as intense as in later times. The children here were very calm and examinations were dispensable to them.
After all, she could replace her parents' jobs and become a factory worker. She could win without doing anything. Who would want to run desperately? Su Ye admired this kind of desperate girl very much.
She patted Qian Xiaohe and handed a book to her.
Qian Xiaohe couldn't catch her breath. When she saw the thick book in the box, an expression of unbearable heaviness appeared on her face.
After school, Su Ye returned to the military compound.
The boss called her to the office and handed her a letter with a serious expression. Su Ye thought it was Gu Xiangqian's allowance for this month, so she happily took the letter and went downstairs, opening it as she walked.
"Dear Su Ye: I am glad to receive your letter. If you have the chance to read this letter, it means that I have died gloriously. Every soldier will write a suicide note before going to the battlefield. I hope you will never see it, but my beautiful hope has been shattered. I am sorry..."
Seeing this, Su Ye's heart skipped a beat and she suddenly pinched her temples.
An ordinary person's brain would be out of control and tears would flow down his cheeks.
But Su Ye carefully confirmed the plot twice and deduced that Gu Xiangqian would definitely not die. He was just half injured, and the plot would use the time he was recuperating to develop a warm and sweet relationship between him and the heroine.
Su Ye carefully read Gu Xiangqian's "suicide note", which was written in a very literary style, making it impossible for people to feel any resentment towards him.
Sure enough, two days later, the leader came to clarify that Gu Xiangqian was not honored, but was recovering in a provincial hospital in the northwest. Su Ye thanked him repeatedly, "It's okay, I believe Xiangqian, he is a cautious person, and he will try his best to protect himself and come back safely."
When the leader left the building, he began to murmur in his heart, "Gu Xiangqian's wife is not ordinary. She has the strength and calmness of a soldier."
During the time that Gu Xiangqian was away, Su Ye had already gotten over the urge to seduce herself and had come to her senses. These days, both her work and her "career" made her feel fulfilled.
If Su Ye was having a good time with Gu Xiangqian, she would definitely have to take a day off to visit him. But now that she has come to her senses, then... the children are more important. The high school entrance exam is only a few months away, and the children's future is more important.
It wouldn't be too late for Gu Xiangqian to delay for a while.