Chapter 39: Sorghum Noodles (Part 1)

There were vegetables like bok choy, eggplant, chilli, and radish, which were commonly seen vegetables.

Basically, the self-cultivated land of each household in the production team was not large. Most people would plant vegetables, and some would also plant potatoes, sweet potatoes, and other grains while growing vegetables. This way, in addition to the grain allocated by the production team, they could still produce some for themselves.

In this era of scarce resources, everyone had to endure like this.

When boiling the noodles, Zhao Xiulan asked Zhao Xiu Zhu to pick a handful of bok choy and cook it with the noodles.

There was no oil in the pot, just a little salt added. Even so, it made people salivate.

Because they were so poor and couldn’t eat enough on normal days, they used to eat porridge every night. Now that they encountered noodles, even if it was bitter sorghum noodles, it was still a rare delicacy.

Zhao Xiu Zhu watched the noodles that were about to be ready, swallowing saliva incessantly.

“Sis, I really want to eat!”

Zhao Xiulan smiled slightly, “They’re almost ready, just wait a little longer.”

“Yeah, okay!” Zhao Xiu Zhu responded, but her eyes were fixed on the pot of noodles, unwilling to look away.

After boiling for two minutes, Zhao Xiulan sprinkled some chopped green onions into the pot and began to ladle out the noodles.

She first served a large bowl to Zhao Weiguo. As a man, he did heavier work, so naturally he had a bigger appetite than them.

As for Ma Yumei, she didn’t need to say much. If she served too little, wouldn’t she cause a fuss again? She might even use her pregnancy to manipulate Zhao Weiguo and say something in front of him.

Li Lijuan had just been angered into the house, and Zhao Xiulan couldn’t be bothered to serve her. If she wanted to eat, she could eat. If not, then forget it. Who would pamper her like a princess?

Hehe, it would be even better if she didn’t eat. The remaining portions would be more for the others.

Zhao Xiulan then served herself and Zhao Xiu Zhu each a bowl, with less than Zhao Weiguo and Ma Yumei.

Zhao Xiu Zhu was still young, and she actually couldn’t eat much. One bowl of noodles was enough for her, not even two taels.

Zhao Xiulan didn’t like sorghum noodles very much; she thought they were too bitter. Besides, there was hardly any oil in these noodles. She planned to sneak back to her room later and cook something else. There were plenty of food in the pantry. Why eat this?

“Dad, Aunt Mei, it’s time to eat!”

Zhao Xiulan brought out the noodles and placed them on the table, then called Zhao Weiguo and Ma Yumei to come out for dinner, but didn’t call Li Lijuan.

Hearing that the noodles were ready, Zhao Weiguo immediately came to the table, and Ma Yumei also came out eagerly. They hadn’t eaten much for lunch, and now they were hungry.

Especially Zhao Weiguo, who was afraid that he had only eaten three-quarters of his fill at noon. After working hard all day, his stomach was growling now.

Seeing the noodles on the table, he sat down and eagerly started eating.

Zhao Xiulan hurriedly reminded him, “Dad, it’s too hot, don’t rush, eat slowly!”

The big man showed a silly smile on his face, and Zhao Weiguo felt a little embarrassed, “It’s been a long time since I’ve eaten noodles. I got a little excited for a moment.”

Although it was a joke, it revealed the bitterness in the hearts of the people of this era.

Ma Yumei wasn’t much better, blowing on the noodles and then stuffing them into her mouth after they cooled down a bit.

Compared to her, Zhao Xiulan was more refined, and Zhao Xiu Zhu also ate slowly. For the Zhao family, being able to eat a meal of sorghum noodles until they were full was already a very happy thing.

After hearing the commotion outside, Li Lijuan came out of the house and saw everyone sitting together eating noodles, but there was no portion for her, nor did she see an extra bowl of noodles on the table.

(End of Chapter 39)