On the day Xu Ning pickled the sauerkraut, Wei Lanlan, Yang Xiaomei, Chen Xiangdong, and Sun Hao all came over to help chop cabbage.

She glanced at the knives in their hands—some were kitchen knives, while others were hatchets—and then looked at her less than two acres of cabbage, chuckling softly.

The others also found the small amount of cabbage a bit amusing.

In the end, Chen Xiangdong and Sun Hao were responsible for chopping the cabbage, while the three women focused on pickling the sauerkraut. This time, Xu Ning carefully explained the process to them again.

Wei Lanlan and Yang Xiaomei looked puzzled and said, “That’s right; we do it this way too, but it’s just not as delicious as yours.”

Xu Ning looked at them and said, “I’ve explained every detail to you. If you still can’t learn it, there’s nothing more I can do.”

The two looked at her with pleading expressions and asked, “Xu Ning, are you free tomorrow?”

Xu Ning rolled her eyes at them and replied, “Let’s chop the cabbage in the morning, and I’ll come help you with the pickling in the afternoon.”

The two cheered and ran over to tell Sun Hao and Chen Xiangdong.

Chen Xiangdong and Sun Hao smiled at Xu Ning and said, “Xu Zhiqing, we’ll be counting on you tomorrow.”

Xu Ning replied, “No problem. You helped me chop the cabbage today.”

After saying this, she found it a bit amusing, and everyone burst into laughter.

The next afternoon, after helping the others pickle the cabbage, Xu Ning began preparing firewood. Xu An came over after school to help, and the siblings chopped wood together for seven or eight days straight.

The woodpile was stacked high, and there was plenty in the home garden as well. There were still a lot of coal balls made by Lu Xiaotang last year, and this year they didn’t plan to make any more. They intended to use what they had sparingly, as it should be enough.

Xu Ning hadn’t been to the city for over a month. Now that she had taken care of everything that needed to be prepared and organized at home, she planned to go into the city to buy some daily necessities and deliver some vegetables and grains to Grandpa Wang.

Yesterday, Aunt Si from the village asked Xiao An to pass along a message, asking if she still needed cabbage. This year, it was just her and Xiao An eating, and they had enough from the home garden, so Xu Ning didn’t plan to buy any. The last time she went to the city, Su Hongying mentioned that vegetables were hard to come by, so she intended to ask her today if she needed any.

She rode her bicycle, with a large basket tied to the back filled with cabbage and radishes meant for Grandpa Wang.

Xu Ning first went to Grandpa Wang’s house to deliver the vegetables and grains, and then she headed to the supply and marketing cooperative to find Su Hongying.

When Xu Ning arrived, there weren’t many people at the cooperative. Seeing Su Hongying idly sitting there, she signaled to her with a glance, and they stepped aside to talk.

“Sister Hongying, this year there’s a family in our village that has grown a lot of cabbage and radishes. They can’t finish it all, so they asked me to help find out if anyone wants some. I don’t know many people here, and since you and your husband know a lot of folks, I thought you could help me ask your relatives and friends if they need any vegetables.”

Su Hongying took her to the back and said excitedly, “Sister, how much do they have?”

“I didn’t ask for the exact amount, but Sister Hongying, how much do you need? If their supply isn’t enough, I can check with others in the village.”

After thinking for a moment, Su Hongying replied, “For my family, my sister’s family, and my mom’s family, we’ll need about four hundred pounds of cabbage and two hundred pounds of radishes.”

Xu Ning nodded and asked, “Sister Hongying, how should I get them delivered to you?”

“Tomorrow afternoon, have them bring the vegetables to the archway in the city, and I’ll have your brother-in-law pick them up. Just say they’re our relatives. The cabbage and radishes will be two cents per pound,”

“Okay, I’ll go back and tell them to deliver it tomorrow afternoon.”

Xu Ning bought some daily necessities, and since a few of her fabric coupons were about to expire, she used them all today.

She first returned home to drop off her purchases, then rode her bicycle to Aunt Si’s house.

When Xu Ning arrived, she found Aunt Si and her husband placing cabbage into the cellar. Upon seeing her, Aunt Si welcomed her warmly, saying, “Xu Zhiqing, come in and have a seat.”

As Xu Ning followed her inside, she replied, “Aunt Si, Xiao An passed along your message yesterday. I asked my relatives in the city today, and they’re interested in buying some cabbage and radishes at two cents a pound. Just make sure to reserve enough for your family—how much will you be selling?”

Aunt Si replied happily, “Xu Zhiqing, thank you! You even took the time to go all the way to the city to ask! My family can sell about two hundred pounds of cabbage and one hundred pounds of radishes.”

Xu Ning smiled and said, “Aunt, why are you being so polite? Ever since I arrived here, you’ve helped me a lot.”

“Then you I’ll be leaving now Aunt. I’ll also go ask Uncle Dashuan if he has any extra,”

Aunt Si escorted her out, smiling as she said to her husband, “Xu Zhiqing is really a great person.”

Aunt Si’s family and Aunt Dashuan’s family were neighbors, so after leaving Aunt Si’s house, Xu Ning headed directly to Uncle Dashuan’s home.

When Aunt Dashuan saw her, she smiled and said, “Oh, Xu Zhiqing, what brings you here? Come in and sit down.”

Xu Ning explained her purpose, “…Aunt, tomorrow afternoon at three o’clock, have Uncle Dashuan and Uncle Si bring the vegetables to the archway in the city. My relatives will be waiting there.”

Aunt Dashuan responded happily, “Xu Zhiqing, you couldn’t have come at a better time! I grew a lot of cabbage this year, and there’s no room in the cellar. I was just worried about what to do with it. I don’t even know how to thank you!”

Xu Ning chuckled and said, “Aunt, let’s skip the formalities! You get busy now; I’ll head back first.”

Aunt Dashuan saw her off at the door before Xu Ning turned to head back to Aunt Si’s house.

As Xu Ning rode her bicycle to the village entrance, she spotted Wei Lanlan and Chen Xiangdong descending from an ox cart, carrying baskets and holding bowls. They had likely just returned from buying wedding supplies.

She got off her bike and pushed it alongside them. Wei Lanlan reached into her cloth bag and pulled out a few candies to give to Xu Ning.

Xu Ning accepted the candies and teased, “Wedding candy?”

Wei Lanlan stole a glance at Chen Xiangdong, her face flushed as she replied, “Just hush and eat it, please.”

Seeing her like this, Xu Ning couldn’t help but burst into laughter. When Wei Lanlan reached out to tease her, Xu Ning quickly hopped back on her bicycle and rode away in fright.

Just as she approached the entrance of the educated youth courtyard, someone ran out from inside and nearly collided with her bicycle. Thankfully, Xu Ning reacted quickly, swerving to the side and jumping off her bike.

As she was about to scold the person, Lin Miao had already dashed off in the direction of Daqing Mountain, with Gu Wenping hurriedly following her.

“Damn it, do they want to die? What terrible luck to run into those two misfortunes.”

Xu Ning angrily glared at the two figures running off, propping her bicycle back up and muttering curses under her breath.

Gu Wenjing and Yang Wenli also came out, just in time to hear Xu Ning’s tirade.

Gu Wenjing widened her eyes and asked, “Who are you cursing?”

Xu Ning shot back with a glare, “Who do you think I’m cursing? Don’t you have eyes? Those two round things on your face aren’t for eating! Damn it, I’m in a bad mood today, so you better get lost.”

Thinking back to the day when Lin Qiuhua had scolded her father and Xiao Mo while this obnoxious woman stood by laughing, Xu Ning felt an overwhelming urge to shove her to the ground and give her a good beating.

Gu Wenjing’s face turned red from Xu Ning’s scolding, but she didn’t dare retaliate. Knowing she couldn’t take on this fiery girl, she turned to Yang Wenli with teary eyes for support.

Yang Wenli watched the two women spar verbally. As he noticed Gu Wenjing looked like she might cry, he finally spoke up, “Xu Zhiqing, as a young woman, why do you resort to cursing so easily?”

Seeing him siding with Gu Wenjing, Xu Ning retorted sarcastically, “Oh, how I speak is none of your business. Who do you think you are? A big man with nothing better to do than follow women around like a tail? How impressive.”

After rolling her eyes at the two of them, she disregarded Yang Wenli’s pale face and rode away on her bicycle.