Meat? Li Long was a little surprised. He glanced at Li Juan and asked, “Didn’t the family slaughter a pig this year?”

He remembered that his brother and sister-in-law kept a pig. Although land distribution hadn’t started yet, each household was allowed to raise a pig or two.

His brother and sister-in-law were hardworking, and in a few years, when land distribution took place, his brother, Li Jianguo, even became the team’s designated pig farmer, with a specific plot assigned to grow pig feed. In the winter, every household slaughtered their pig, storing the meat in the snow, which kept it fresh until spring.

Although his brother’s family wasn’t well-off, he thought they’d still have some pork from time to time.

Li Juan stayed silent, looking at the melting rice paper in her hand without a word. Li Qiang spoke up instead:

“Uncle, our pig… it was a ‘bad-luck’ pig. We couldn’t eat it, so we had to bury it.”

Bad-luck pig? Li Long suddenly remembered. That’s right. In his previous life, the family’s pig that winter was slaughtered, only to reveal it was infested with small rice-grain-sized worms.

Naturally, they couldn’t eat it, so they had no choice but to bury it. That winter, the family barely had any meat.

When Li Long looked up, he saw a hint of guilt on Li Juan’s face. He quickly understood—Li Juan, after school, would go to the fields to gather grass for the pig, chop it up, mix in some bran and chaff, and cook it for the pig.

She likely blamed herself, thinking the pig became “bad-luck” because of her carelessness.

“Juan, don’t overthink it. Bad-luck pigs can happen for many reasons. Sure, water and food play a part, but it could also just be a random bird dropping in the pen, and the pig getting infected from rooting around.”

“Really, Uncle?” For the first time, Li Juan looked directly at Li Long, her eyes glistening. Li Long could tell how much burden she was carrying.

“Of course. I worked in a food factory, remember? The experts there talked about things like this.”

“So…” Li Juan’s face relaxed visibly. “It’s not all about what it ate?”

“Exactly. Even flies can carry eggs and bacteria. There’s no telling where they come from,” Li Long explained, easing her worries. “And even if we’re out of meat, we’ve still got fish, right? Tomorrow, I’ll break the ice and catch some fish. I guarantee we’ll have plenty of fish for New Year’s!”

“I want it today…” Li Qiang mumbled softly.

Li Juan, her view of Li Long improving, scolded her brother, “What are you thinking about? You won’t die if you don’t eat meat! It’s getting dark, go back and get ready for bed!”

The room had indeed started to dim. The village still hadn’t installed electric lines, so they relied on kerosene lamps for light. The family had one fancier lamp with a glass shade, while Li Long had been given a simpler lantern when he moved into the east room.

Li Long glanced outside, then smiled at his niece and nephew. “How about I catch a few sparrows to roast for you?”

“Really?” Li Qiang’s eyes lit up, and he quickly wiped his nose with his sleeve. “Uncle, you can really catch some?”

“Of course.” Li Long noted Li Qiang’s worn, shiny-sleeved jacket, and sighed. “Qiang, go blow your nose properly. Look at your sleeve…”

“It’s fine, Uncle! When are we catching sparrows?”

“Right now. You wait here.”

“I’m coming with you!” Qiang said eagerly.

“No, it’s too cold out.”

“I don’t mind! I was out playing ‘bull-riding’ all day.”

“Bull-riding” was just the village kids’ name for spinning homemade tops. They crafted them from scrap: big ones from car wheel nuts with marbles inside, smaller ones from spark plugs with a small metal ball inserted. They whipped the tops to keep them spinning, sometimes with twine or braided scraps.

The options for winter fun were limited to skating, playing “chicken fights,” and this.

“Alright, but put on a hat,” Li Long relented.

Rural kids were tough, used to the cold.

“Uncle, I want to come too,” Li Juan said quietly.

“Alright, but bundle up first.”

Li Long took his only household gadget from his bag—a flashlight. He pulled on his leather military hat, a prized purchase that had cost him half a month’s wages, and stepped outside.

When Li Juan and Li Qiang joined him, bundled up, they spotted him and beamed. Even his felted winter boots were better than the fabric-and-cotton shoes they wore. Most of his wages had gone into these essentials.

“Juan, where’s the family’s fishing net?”

“It’s in the shed,” she pointed to a storage shed on the east side of the house, where they kept tools that didn’t need to be indoors.

Li Long shone the flashlight inside and found the net—it was dark enough now for sparrow hunting. In these parts, people called sparrows “old sparrows.” He didn’t know why, but he was grateful that this was still a time when there were no wildlife protection laws.

In winter, old sparrows only ate grains and grass seeds, which were considered edible by rural people. By summer, when sparrows would feed on insects, people didn’t hunt them.

“Uncle, how do you catch them? It’s too dark to see,” Li Qiang asked, his hat drooping over his eyes. He adjusted it and wiped his nose on his sleeve again.

Li Juan, her attitude toward her uncle now softened, watched him with curiosity.

“Follow me,” Li Long pointed to the straw stack on top of the shed. “In winter, sparrows don’t nest—they hide in the hay stacks. Shine the light on them, and I’ll net them. You two can help carry them.”

He raised the flashlight, searching through the neatly stacked straw, which was used for kindling and livestock feed.

“Uncle, did you find any?” Li Qiang, impatient, asked.

“Shush!” Li Juan scolded him. “Can’t you see he’s looking?”

Li Long hadn’t hunted sparrows in years, but he was grateful for his sharp vision in this new life. Soon enough, he spotted a pair of glinting eyes.

“There! Juan, keep the light steady where I have it now.” He nodded at her, reaching for the net.

“Right here, Uncle?” Juan double-checked, focusing the light as directed.

“Yes. Keep it still and stay quiet.” Li Long stepped forward, raising the net carefully. As he closed in, he suddenly pounced.

Flutter!

A sparrow, startled, flew right into his net.

“Got it!” Li Qiang clapped his hands in excitement.