Chapter 11: Making Meatball Soup

When Tang Xiaoxiao returned to the educated youth center, Wang Erxi was washing clothes, and there was a young man standing next to her, not from the educated youth center.

She just nodded to Wang Erxi and went back to her room.

“Is this your new educated youth? She looks really good.” Liu Dabao’s eyes followed Tang Xiaoxiao.

“What? You’re interested in her?” Wang Erxi raised an eyebrow at him.

“How could I be? I’m still waiting for your parents to agree to you marrying me.”

Liu Xiaobao’s family was the one Wang Erxi was sharing meals with. Wang Erxi not only shared meals with Liu Xiaobao’s family, but Liu Xiaobao also helped her with work.

Liu Xiaobao had always wanted to date Wang Erxi, and Wang Erxi had always kept him hanging on by saying that she liked him too, but her parents didn’t agree.

Wang Erxi even told Liu Xiaobao that her parents were both workers in the city, and as long as he was good to her, her parents would agree later and could arrange a job for him in the city.

Liu Xiaobao’s mother, although she thought Wang Erxi’s clothes and appearance didn’t look like a girl from a well-off family, she had given birth to five daughters before finally having a son. Naturally, she treated him like a precious treasure and listened to everything he said.

“Then you have to be good to me. You’re not even willing to wash a piece of clothing for me.”

“My mother said that men don’t need to do housework at home.”

“Are you listening to me or your mother?” Wang Erxi’s voice was laced with a hint of teasing.

“I’m listening to you, I’m listening to you. I’d give you my life, I’ll wash it for you.”

Tang Xiaoxiao, who hadn’t had time to close the door, felt goosebumps rise on her skin. She quickly locked the door.

It was the hottest time of year in Hunan Province. Sitting on the bed, she suddenly remembered that she hadn’t bought a mat, and she didn’t want to take one out of her space now.

In the future, mats from Hunan Province were the best. She wondered if they had them now. She planned to ask Song Jingzhi about it in the afternoon.

She took a palm leaf fan from her space and lay on the bed, fanning herself. She fell asleep.

When she woke up, she looked at the time and realized she didn’t have a watch on her wrist. She remembered that her watch had broken during the incident with Xu Shan.

She took out a simple watch from her space and put it on. It was almost four o’clock.

After getting up, she took out some pork belly from her space, planning to make meatball soup for Song Jingzhi to eat tonight.

The other educated youths had gone to work. Tang Xiaoxiao was chopping meat in the kitchen when a candied haw was handed to her.

“Eat quickly, it’s about to melt.” It was He Xiaoqian who had returned.

“You really bought it.” Tang Xiaoxiao quickly took it.

“I promised to buy you candied haws.” Her face was filled with a sweet smile. “By the way, I saw a bicycle and firewood at your door.”

“Did you buy the firewood?” He Xiaoqian asked.

“Yeah, I bought it from Auntie Cui at the village entrance.” She took a bite of the candied haw. Although it was a little melted, it didn’t affect the taste.

“Then I’ll buy some too later.”

“I have some chili peppers and vegetables left. I’ll leave some meatball soup for you later. Just cook some rice yourself and have it for dinner.”

“What about you?”

“I’m going to share meals with the Song family.” She said with a smile.

“What does Song Jingzhi look like? Is he handsome?” He Xiaoqian asked curiously.

“Well…” Tang Xiaoxiao recalled Song Jingzhi’s appearance. “He’s quite handsome.” She laughed.

“Oh, oh, oh, little girl.” The two girls laughed together.

Tang Xiaoxiao continued to chop meat. He Xiaoqian went to buy firewood and came back to help her build the fire.

Seeing that she had made a lot of meatball soup, He Xiaoqian couldn’t help but be curious. “Why did you make so much?”

“I’m going to share meals with his family. I’ll eat their food and vegetables. I can’t just bring him food.” Besides, to gain Song Jingzhi’s trust, she also needed to build a good relationship with his family.

“That’s true. What are his parents like?” He Xiaoqian was afraid that she would be taken advantage of.

“They’re pretty good. They look like very simple people.” Tang Xiaoxiao was a businesswoman in her previous life, and she was quite good at judging people.

“Go wash some rice first. I’m almost done here. Just use this fire to cook the rice. They’ll be off work soon. Bring your lunch box over.”

“Okay.”

When Tang Xiaoxiao was scooping meatballs for He Xiaoqian, she only wanted two. “Just give me some soup. I’ll eat it with rice.”

He Xiaoqian helped Tang Xiaoxiao carry the rice to the bicycle and tied it with a rope. She then put the lunch box filled with meatball soup in the basket and hung it on the handlebars.

“You really don’t need me to help you deliver it?”

“No, go eat quickly.”

“Okay, I’ll help you boil water tonight.”

“Okay.”

He Xiaoqian watched Tang Xiaoxiao ride away before taking her lunch box back to her room.

Meatballs were a delicacy at this time. She was afraid that other educated youths would see them and cause trouble for Tang Xiaoxiao.

“Xiaoxiao is here.” When Tang Xiaoxiao arrived, Song’s mother was already cooking at home.

The women in the village would go home early to cook. Song’s mother was no exception, but she always came back to cook Song Jingzhi’s meal first.

Auntie, I brought some grain.

Song’s mother hurried to help her carry it. Seeing that it was all white rice, she exclaimed, “Oh, this is all white rice. There’s no need to use all white rice for sharing meals. You’re even making meat for Jingzhi. Take the grain back. Just eat at our house.”

Auntie, I also need to eat your vegetables. I only have white rice.

This… Song’s mother was a little hesitant.

That’s settled then, Auntie. I told the village head that I’m cutting pigweed. I don’t earn many work points. I’ll just pay this time, and I won’t pay anymore in the future.

Okay, okay. Don’t pay anymore in the future. Song’s mother finally agreed to accept the grain.

Jingzhi and your meal is ready. You two eat first. I’ll wait for your uncle to come back before I eat. Song’s mother was afraid that Tang Xiaoxiao would feel uncomfortable eating with them, and she also wanted them to have more contact.

Okay, Auntie. This box is for you and Uncle. She took out a lunch box of meatball soup.

We won’t eat it. You two eat it. Song’s mother refused.

I made too much. It would be a waste if we don’t eat it. We can’t leave it out in this weather.

Well, then, Auntie will accept it this time. Don’t make it next time. You two eat it.

Okay.

Tang Xiaoxiao went into Song Jingzhi’s room, set up the small table, and helped Song’s mother arrange the food.

Song Jingzhi observed Tang Xiaoxiao discreetly, seeing if she was truly no longer angry.

Song’s mother had made fermented black beans steamed with bacon, and she had also made scrambled eggs, a loofah dish, and the staple food, although not white rice, was sweet potato rice, with more rice than sweet potato.

After Song’s mother left, she sat opposite Song Jingzhi and said softly, “Did your mother deliberately make meat because I’m sharing meals here? There’s no need for that. I can eat anything.”

I have an allowance.

I know, but I don’t need to eat so well. I can eat whatever they eat. It’s bacon and white rice again, and it’s dry.

They usually eat this. Song Jingzhi didn’t lie. The Song family’s food was indeed considered the best in the village.

Song’s father was healthy and earned full work points. Song’s mother could also earn full work points for women every day. Song Jingzhi had previously given all his allowance to his family, and they had savings. Now, Song Jingzhi also gave his parents money for their old age every month.