The person who was in charge of slaughtering pigs in the brigade was the one who was in charge of distributing the mutton. Although it was his first time slaughtering sheep, he was not hesitant at all. There was less mutton than pork, so naturally each family got less.
Many people gathered around the mutton, picking and choosing, all looking for the lean meat.
"Take it home and make mutton soup. Cook a big pot and eat it all the way until the New Year."
Of course, mutton is not eaten. A pot of milky white mutton soup is boiled and eaten with cakes or noodles.
So it was rare for someone like Wang Ying to ask for ribs right away. But people no longer laughed at Wang Ying like before. It was obvious that she had a cook at home. The food would not be bad. They just drank mutton soup.
Wang Ying got more than a pound of ribs and a small piece of lamb belly, which was the amount for both Old Lady Xu and Wang Ying together.
Wang Ying looked at the remaining sheep spines and front and back legs eagerly, waiting for someone to get one and not want it, so she could exchange them with them.
She can trade it for pork!
Tian Dazhu, who just had a son, was also in the queue. When it was his turn, he scratched his head and said with a simple and honest tone, "I want to make mutton soup. My wife wants to feed our son. Can you give me the piece of meat that is suitable for making mutton soup?"
The person who was distributing the mutton cut him a piece of belly without saying a word.
Tian Dazhu took it away like a treasure.
Wang Ying leaned her head out to look, and finally it was someone's turn who was given the spine at the back. Xu Shuang went up to them and asked if they were willing to exchange mutton for pork.
Most people are unwilling to do so, but there are a few people who cannot get used to the smell of mutton and are willing to change.
Xu Shuang exchanged more than a pound of sheep spine and a pound of sheep neck.
Wang Ying was very excited: "Lamb neck! Make hand-pulled lamb!"
She didn't think of it just now, but when she saw it later, she was shocked to realize that she had forgotten the sheep's neck!
Although lamb belly and lamb chops are the most common, and lamb ribs are mostly made from lamb spine, Wang Ying always thinks that lamb neck tastes the best.
The meat here is soft and tender, with a uniform gelatinous texture, some sheep tendons, and you can even eat the bone marrow in the middle. Whether it is braised in red or clear stew, the taste is very good!
However, Wang Ying’s favorite is the hand-pulled lamb made from lamb neck. The part of the lamb neck close to the lamb body has more meat. It is stewed first and then cut. The stewed lamb soup is paired with the tender hand-pulled lamb, and a serving of rice. Wang Ying has eaten it once in Xinjiang in her previous life and she can never forget it.
"We don't have yellow radishes or raisins here. If we had them, it would be perfect for making pilaf."
When it comes to food, Wang Ying is always greedy. If she has one, she always wants two, and if she has two, she always wants three. There are so many delicious foods in the world that she would not be satisfied until she finishes them all.
Xu Shuang: "Ask my brother next time."
Xu Ming is in the northwest. He said in the letter that there is yellow sheep meat and raisins for sale there. He asked him to send some raisins next year.
“A-choo!”
Xu Ming, who was thousands of miles away, sneezed twice in a row.
He muttered, "Who is talking about me behind my back?"
When winter came, the northwest was covered with snow and wind. All the construction work that was originally planned to start was stopped. The educated youth stayed in the dormitories, chatting with a few people or playing cards together.
Seeing Xu Ming say this, several people nearby laughed: "Who else could it be? It must be the flower of our farm."
Xu Ming twisted his nose: "It's hard to say, when I was in the provincial university, it was..."
"What is that?"
Xu Ming’s eyes widened. What a mistake!
The girl named Song Ya who came in had two braided pigtails and a pair of big watery eyes under her bangs.
"But what?"
Xu Ming: "But I never look at those people!"
"We are the new generation of the future, and we must contribute to our country! Petty love hinders progress, and boundless love is the right way!"
Xu Ming's heart was beating fast, and the slogans he shouted became more and more sonorous!
Song Ya sneered: "Little love hinders progress, right?"
Xu Ming: …
"I'm stopping you from loving without boundaries, right?"
Xu Ming: “…No!”
Song Ya shook her two long braids, turned around and left.
Xu Ming looked at Old Tang with grievance: "Why is she angry again?"
Old Tang said cheerfully: "A girl wants to marry you, but you are not willing to take the bait. You can't blame her for giving you the cold shoulder."
Xu Ming stopped talking. Old Tang patted him on the shoulder and said, "Don't always think that Song Ya is too good and you are marrying above your station. You are not bad either. Although Song Ya is the daughter of our farm director, didn't Director Song make things difficult for you? You are so lucky to have such a good father-in-law. If it were someone else, they would have rushed over to her long ago. Why are you shrinking back? You are embarrassing the girl."
Xu Ming smiled awkwardly and changed the subject: "My family sent me some dried vegetables. Can we cook a small pot in the dormitory later?"
Old Tang could almost hear the gurgling sound coming from his throat, and said jealously, "Where did you get such a good life, kid?"
My family would send things here from time to time, including food and daily necessities. There was also a beautiful girl who came here, and the beautiful girl had a good father.
As soon as they heard that they were going to cook a small iris pot, everyone around came over.
Compared with those educated youth assigned to other places, those who arrived in the Northwest had good relationships. Except for those like Xiaozhuang who liked to be jealous of others, they were generally enthusiastic and good young people.
But then again, Xiaozhuang has been transferred away. It was said that his family arranged a job for him and he went back to the city.
After Xiaozhuang left, the educated youth became more harmonious among themselves.
"Hey, I have some dried meat here, let's put it in and cook it together!"
"I also exchanged some yellow radishes from my fellow villagers."
"No yellow radish! Xu Ming's dried vegetables are delicious, put them in!"
"You are stupid. You should save the dried vegetables, otherwise you will just have to eat meat soup and naan all the time."
…
The hot pot of dried meat soup attracted all the educated youth in the dormitory next door. Each of them scooped a spoonful and put the cold naan in it to soak and eat. It was not very delicious, but it still made people squint their eyes while eating.
"Wow, it smells so good! Xu Ming, save your dried vegetables and eat them for our New Year's Eve dinner."
Xu Ming smiled and said, "Don't worry, my family sent some more. This time it's half a dried chicken and dried beans and mushrooms. We'll have chicken stewed with mushrooms, and then stewed lamb and beans stewed with lamb chops during the New Year."
“Okay!”
This year's New Year's Eve dinner finally didn't have waves of people coming to see Wang Ying.
Since the afternoon of the 29th, Wang Ying has hardly stopped talking.
Fried peanuts, fried fish nuggets, fried chicken nuggets, fried sashimi...
Frying pancakes, making dumplings, grinding tofu, peeling bean curd skins...
Steamed buns, steamed flower rolls, ground rice flour, dried soybean flour...
The millstones at home were always in use, and people kept coming to borrow them. Xu Shuang was also busy preparing the dishes.
After a while, Cheng Yu secretly brought a large bowl with meat dragon in it.
Cheng Yu said quietly: "My teacher made it and asked me to send some to you."
Wang Ying stuffed a bowl of fried chicken nuggets into Cheng Yu's mouth and fed two bites of meat dragon to Xu Shuang who was busy.
Cheng Shufen is a native Beijinger. She may not be good at other things, but Wang Ying has eaten her fried noodles before, and she can say that she is very good. The meat dragon this time is also good, with soft white flour wrapped in thin meat filling, soft texture, and layers of meat fragrance.
This afternoon, people kept coming and going. Last year, Wang Ying was a new bride, and Xu Shuang's family had just had an incident, so it was not obvious. This year's New Year's celebration allowed Wang Ying to experience the so-called New Year atmosphere.
This family sent some homemade side dishes, that family sent some fried food, and some people came to ask Xu Shuang how to cook a certain dish. On the other side of Old Lady Xu's side, a group of old ladies came with melon seeds and peanuts, gathered in a circle and listened to the radio.
Compared to Cheng Yu who came secretly, Qian ** was much more generous. She brought her youngest daughter and two older daughters to give gifts to Wang Ying.
"This is the sausage I made myself. It tastes pretty good to me. You can try it."
When Qian** distributed the pork, he took some small intestines, stuffed the minced pork into the casings and hung them under the beams to air dry. They were ready to eat soon. They were delicious when steamed in a pot.
Wang Ying did not refuse. Everyone had seen the changes in Qian** over the past year, and everyone knew that Qian**'s life was getting better and better.
After two days of excitement, the New Year’s Eve dinner is finally served.
Cumin lamb chops, braised lamb, crispy pork in sour soup, cabbage stewed with tofu, sausage fried rice, and a big bowl of ham and three-fresh soup in the middle.
Compared with last year's New Year's Eve dinner, this year's New Year's Eve dinner is obviously more sumptuous.
Cumin lamb chops are fragrant and crispy, boneless, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Crispy pork in sour soup is sour and spicy and appetizing. The crispy pork is wrapped in a layer of sour and spicy soup, which is chewy and fragrant. Boil the lamb in clear sauce until the soup is milky white, sprinkle a few wolfberries on it, it is nourishing and warming...
But Wang Ying's favorite is the ham soup. The ham slices sent by Master Xu Shuang are stewed in soup. Even if nothing is added, just a little cabbage is delicious. The ham has a mellow flavor, salty and delicious.
After finishing the New Year’s Eve dinner, Wang Ying was so full that she couldn’t even eat dumplings.
In the end, I just ate two of them because of the occasion.
Looking at the table full of leftovers, Wang Ying couldn't help but sigh: "I wish every day was Chinese New Year."
The days of feasting on delicious food are so intoxicating.
Wang Ying was not the only one who thought so. All the children in the brigade thought so too. Although the harvest was a little less this year, they got a lot more pork, mutton, and vermicelli. Even though there were not many things, wasn't that how life was
A little here and a little there, it adds up to a lot.
So this year's New Year was really enjoyable.
By the time Wang Ying had eaten the peanut rice dumplings on the 15th day of the first lunar month, the team was already starting to get excited.
After the Lantern Festival, the new year begins. Every household starts to plan for the year. The biggest change is that the brigade will open a primary school.
Although the tuition fee of one dollar per child was not expensive, one still needed paper and pens to study, and a pencil cost two cents. Every family calculated the cost in detail.
Wang Ying was no exception. She calculated the family's savings and plans, and thought that she would have to start planting honeysuckle in the spring. Otherwise, it would be difficult for the family to save money.
Logically speaking, she and Xu Shuang earned a lot each month, so they shouldn't be so nervous, but Wang Ying knew that they spent a lot as they earned more. Last year, they spent a lot of money on buying new items and renovating the house. This year, they didn't have to spend money on this, but she didn't want to lower her quality of life in order to save money.
If cutting costs doesn’t work, then the only option is to increase revenue.
Last year, the biggest source of income was wild ginseng, but Wang Ying also knew that such luck was hard to come by. Not to mention how hard it was to find wild ginseng, there were very few people in the city who could spend hundreds of dollars to buy medicinal herbs.
Last time, Yao Shunjuan’s ginseng was sold out by someone else, so it won’t be easy to find a buyer this time.
So what Wang Ying can do now is to grow honeysuckle.
There are large areas of honeysuckle on the mountain, so the probability of success is high, and planting honeysuckle does not occupy arable land. I think Tian Youfu should agree to give it a try.
Wang Ying was still biting the tip of her pencil while writing her plan when she heard Wu Guihua's voice coming from outside.
"Wang Ying! Let's go!"
When Wang Ying looked at her pocket watch, she panicked: "It's coming!"
She was so absorbed in her own affairs that she forgot the time. Today was the day for selecting teachers for the village primary school in the brigade.
As soon as Wang Ying walked out the door, Wu Guihua took her arm and walked away: "Hurry up, if we go too late we won't be able to get a good spot."
Wang Ying: "It's just a lecture, people listen wherever they stand."
Wu Guihua: "You don't have a child yet, so of course you can't feel it. Haven't you seen so many people from our team go to watch it? Even if they don't understand, they still have to choose the teacher carefully. Otherwise, it would be a pity if your child meets a teacher who doesn't teach well."
Yes, now the brigade makes decisions collectively, especially for things like setting up a primary school, which requires everyone to vote by raising their hands. So of course all the members went to watch.
When Wang Ying and others arrived outside the Youth League Institute, many Youth League members had already gathered inside, all with nervous looks on their faces.
The mountain was closed due to heavy snow. Tian Youfu had already found a teacher in the commune before the mountain was closed and asked for several test papers, one for Chinese and one for mathematics. During the test, he asked someone to copy the questions on the blackboard, and the educated youth below wrote the answers directly on paper.
A written test is not enough. After you finish writing, you have to randomly point out a question and explain it. You will be considered qualified only if you pass all the questions.
Many educated youths agreed with this fair approach, which was much better than the team leader randomly appointing someone, which would cause everyone to be dissatisfied and then cause trouble at the educated youth site.
Bai Ling sat at the table, with Zhang Hong sitting diagonally in front of her.
Seeing Zhang Hong, Bai Ling couldn't help but feel itchy. Since she asked Jiang Lei to make up lessons, she and Zhang Hong have almost become sworn enemies. At first, Bai Ling wanted to control Jiang Lei, and she still used the same three tricks as before. It was really because Jiang Lei's image was too deeply rooted in people's hearts. To this day, the little drama of Jiang Lei's affectionate confession to Bai Ling that day is still circulating in the brigade.
Bai Ling thought she could easily win Jiang Lei back, but Zhang Hong interrupted her. Bai Ling complained a little, and Zhang Hong showed her understanding and concern for Jiang Lei. Bai Ling said she didn't understand something and wanted Jiang Lei to talk more, but Zhang Hong jumped out and accused Bai Ling of not caring enough about Jiang Zhiqing. Didn't she see Jiang Zhiqing for most of the day? She still needed to make up lessons, but what kind of lessons
Bai Ling was in pain but couldn't cry out.
And she also realized that with Zhang Hong around, Jiang Lei seemed to be somewhat dissatisfied with her.
Bai Ling was so angry that she was fuming. She was completely focused on Jiang Lei and hadn't even bothered to try to win over Yu Pengcheng recently.
This went on for several days, until a few days ago, Bai Ling finally couldn't wait any longer.
The exam is coming soon, and she doesn’t study as well as Zhang Hong. How can she not be anxious
Jiang Lei seemed to be softened by her crying and finally marked the key points of dozens of pages for Bai Ling.
Jiang Lei hesitated and said, "These are basically all the questions for this exam. I'm not taking the exam. You and Zhang Hong are probably the strongest competitors... but..."
Bai Ling was afraid that Jiang Lei would turn around and point out key points to Zhang Hong. How could she let Zhang Hong surpass her
Bai Ling quickly tried to fool Jiang Lei: "Jiang Lei, we have known each other for such a long time. Before, I just... I just felt that life in the countryside was too hard. You spent all your savings on me, and I was afraid that I would cause you trouble again."
She was in tears, and she almost used her lifelong acting skills: "There is nothing between me and Yu Pengcheng. I have always... How could I fall in love with a young man like him who only knows how to talk big?"
Jiang Lei's eyes flickered with indescribable emotions: "Really?"
Bai Ling: "Really! I can assure you, Chairman, that everything I said is true!"
Bai Ling's eyes were full of tenderness, and her gentle voice was like a breeze: "I don't like men who only have a big mouth. You are the only one in my heart. You have done so much for me, and I have seen it all. Although I have been confused in the past, I love you sincerely. So everything will return to the starting point... When I pass the exam to become a teacher, our lives will be much better in the future, what do you think?"
Jiang Lei's eyes flashed with a hint of mockery, but it disappeared in an instant, replaced by a face full of confusion and pain: "Bai Ling, are you telling the truth? Can I trust you again?"
Bai Ling held Jiang Lei's hand emotionally: "Okay! Jiang Lei, it's because of my hesitation that I hurt you. I will spend my whole life to make it up to you."
After saying that, Bai Ling leaned into Jiang Lei's arms and said shyly, "Don't you believe it?"
Jiang Lei did not move. To be precise, he looked over Bai Ling's head and his eyes met the young man standing at the door not far away.
"Okay, then you must remember what you said today."
After Jiang Lei finished speaking, he saw Yu Pengcheng, who had been standing at the door with a sullen face just now, disappeared in an instant.
Bai Ling pulled her thoughts away from her memories and focused on the white paper in front of her.
The key points Jiang Lei highlighted for her were very detailed, and he even predicted all the possible types of questions for her. Bai Ling didn't have enough time and her academic performance was average to begin with, so she could only try her best to remember the few types of questions that Jiang Lei specifically emphasized.
Jiang Lei has already assured her that he will be able to hit at least half of them.
Although Bai Ling complained in her heart that Jiang Lei was not good enough, how could he guess more than half of it? It was obvious that this person was really a waste!
But no matter how useless he was, at least she could still use him. This time she had learned her lesson and would wait until the teacher was stable before breaking up with Jiang Lei.
Oh, anyway, there is no more money to be made from Jiang Lei now, so she is too impatient to continue acting with him.
Bai Ling had beautiful thoughts. She glanced at Zhang Hong who was frowning in front of her and sneered in her heart.
What's the point of learning more? It's better than taking shortcuts like her!
Bai Ling's great self-esteem came to an abrupt end when the exercises appeared on the blackboard.
The first question was not one that Jiang Lei had predicted, but Bai Ling was still able to remain calm. After all, Jiang Lei had said that he could guarantee most of the answers. Although the first question was not one that was predicted, it was not difficult and she could figure it out by herself.
The second question was still not what Jiang Lei had mentioned, and Bai Ling was already a little panicked. You have to know that there are not many questions this time, only about 20 or 30 questions at most. Because it is a test for teachers, the difficulty ranges from fifth grade to high school. Most of the questions are also question-and-answer type, not only do you have to answer, but you also have to write down which knowledge points you used. Two consecutive questions that she had never seen before, Bai Ling felt empty in her heart, and she glanced at Zhang Hong again, and she saw that she was already writing furiously!
For the third question, Bai Ling's hand was shaking as she held the pen.
For the fourth question, Bai Ling could no longer deceive herself...
After an exam, Bai Ling sat there in the cold, wrote a few words on a piece of white paper, and could only answer a handful of questions.
In contrast, Zhang Hong went to read right after taking the exam, and it was obvious that she was very confident about the interview later.
Bai Ling felt that the air she exhaled was cold, and with it came uncontrollable anger.
She looked for Jiang Lei everywhere, and finally found him in the dormitory of the male educated youth, holding a book and looking relaxed. He seemed to have been prepared for her anger. When he saw Bai Ling rushing in, he didn't even change his posture.
Bai Ling didn't bother to put on the mask anymore: "Jiang Lei! Give me an explanation! Why didn't any of the key points you highlighted appear?!"
If there were a few, Bai Ling could still comfort herself that Jiang Lei was not capable enough and did not mark the key points. But out of 20 questions, not one was correct!
It was obvious that Jiang Lei was setting a trap for her!
Bai Ling was furious: "You did it on purpose, didn't you? You can't stand my good fortune and you're deliberately taking revenge on me? Jiang Lei, why didn't I expect you to be such a childish villain!"
Jiang Lei put the book away, his face full of sarcasm: "Compared to you, I am not a villain, am I? Why, you are allowed to play tricks on others, but others are not allowed to play tricks on you, right?"
Bai Ling was irritated by Jiang Lei's attitude. In her eyes, Jiang Lei was just her dog. Now this dog was baring its teeth at her? She couldn't stand it.
"Who do you think you are? If I didn't see that you have some money and can do some math, I wouldn't even bother with you! I wouldn't even look at you if you were walking on the street! No woman would be interested in someone like you! You're a man with nothing, you're not even as good as Yu Pengcheng's little finger. Fine, fine, you think you can trip me up like this, right? I'm telling you, forget it!"
Faced with her insults that disregarded his image, Jiang Lei was furious at first, but gradually calmed down.
"Did you discover something?"
Bai Ling was still soaked in anger and replied angrily: "What's the matter?"
Jiang Lei said calmly: "Did you notice that Yu Pengcheng is not here today?"
Bai Ling paused: "So what?!"
Jiang Lei: "Then do you know who our brigade's quota for the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University was given to?"
Without waiting for Bai Ling to answer, Jiang Lei said, "I gave it to Yu Pengcheng."
Bai Ling was surprised at first. Why had she never heard Yu Pengcheng mention it
Yes, she has been busy with Jiang Lei's math lessons recently and has neglected Yu Pengcheng for quite a while.
but…
Bai Ling's hope was rekindled. Since she failed to get the qualification of a teacher from Jiang Lei, she might as well ask Yu Pengcheng to give her the place in the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University!
Jiang Lei could tell what she was thinking, and said in a frivolous and playful tone: "Don't worry, Yu Pengcheng has already returned to the city. He got a quota, reported for sick leave to the team leader, and his family has arranged for him to go back."
Bai Ling was stunned on the spot.
Going back
Who went back
Where did you go back to
Jiang Lei did not pursue the victory, but shook his head and walked out.
In fact, Yu Pengcheng's affairs were not hidden from Jiang Lei.
Before Yu Pengcheng left, the two of them talked for a while. Although Yu Pengcheng liked to talk about big principles, he came from a cadre family and was not a stupid boy like Jiang Lei.
Yu Pengcheng's words were clear. He originally wanted to take Bai Ling back to the city. This time, his family had been trying to find him a job, and it took almost a year to finally get him a job. Recently, they sent him letters asking him to get a letter of introduction as soon as possible.
He was still hesitant, thinking that if he left, his relationship with Bai Ling, which was originally going well, would be frustrated. But it was not realistic to ask his family to find another job for Bai Ling.
Just when he was struggling, Tian Youfu came over and gave him good news.
The brigade decided to give him the quota for the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University after being recommended by the brigade cadres and the educated youth team leader Yang Hong.
Now, the problem that had been bothering Yu Pengcheng could finally be solved.
He decided to go to university and give the job to Bai Ling. This way, when he graduated from university and returned, he could arrange a job for himself. They both had stable jobs.
Who would have known that when he came to see Bai Ling that day, his original intention was to establish a relationship, but he ended up hearing Bai Ling's complaints about him.
What is full of truths, what is just a mouth. These words almost instantly knocked off the sweet illusion between the two people in the past few months.
Yu Pengcheng apologized to Jiang Lei before leaving. In order to protect Bai Ling, he had embarrassed Jiang Lei. Now that he saw Bai Ling's true face, he naturally had to apologize.
Jiang Lei didn't say anything, he just asked about the time Yu Pengcheng left.
Yu Pengcheng said the sooner the better, so after the snow stopped, he waded through the snow to the town to take a bus and leave.
Bai Ling felt as if she were in another world. She never imagined that after all her scheming, she would end up with nothing.
Jiang Lei fell out with Yu Pengcheng, and he left quietly.
An enthusiastic voice was heard from the teacher.
"Congratulations to our teachers Yang Hong and Zhang Hong, both of whom are named Hong, for becoming our Chinese and mathematics teachers. I hope you have a red heart and can shine in your teaching positions!"
This winter, probably because of the radio, the days are passing by very quickly.
In the blink of an eye, it feels like spring has already arrived.
Wang Ying was still reluctant to leave. This winter was so comfortable that she even gained three kilograms.
Xu Shuang also sorted out the food in her home, taking out some that would not be eaten until spring. She was ready to go to work after finishing the sorting.
As a result, before Xu Shuang went to work, someone came to find her.
The person who came looked familiar. He was a vegetable washer in the restaurant.
The man came wading through the mud and looked very anxious.
When he saw Xu Shuang, he asked him to follow him quickly.
"Wan Guodong and Xie Yuejin have been arrested, and several leaders from above have also come. They are waiting for you to come over now."
The vegetable washer looked terrified: "Not only them, but also several waiters in our store were looked at."
Xu Shuang had a serious look on her face, and she knew without a doubt that Xie Yuejin was doomed.
Wang Ying quickly changed her shoes: "I'll go with you."