Chapter 122: Meat Every Meal

Shen Chuning had watered those vegetables with spiritual spring water; it would be strange if they didn’t grow better than ordinary ones.

But she couldn’t tell Lin Shulan that.

Shen Chuning smiled, “Maybe it’s because I bought a small packet of fertilizer from the agricultural technology station and sprinkled it on the land.”

Lin Shulan instantly understood.

No wonder the vegetables in this plot of land grew so well it was because of the fertilizer!

“This fertilizer is truly a good thing. If the country could produce more, and every plot of land could use it, how much more grain could we harvest! We wouldn’t have to worry about not having enough to eat,”

Lin Shulan sighed.

“Mother, rest assured, our country’s agricultural scientists are actively researching.  Soon, every plot of land will be able to use fertilizer. There will also be higher-yielding seeds. Then, everyone will not only have enough to eat, but we’ll eat rice, flour, fine grains, and have meat every meal!”

Shen Chuning said earnestly.

“Pfft!” Lin Shulan laughed, “You, girl, you really dare to dream rice, flour to your heart’s content, and meat every meal.

Just being able to live a stable life without hunger is already a good life we never dared to dream of before!”

Shen Chuning didn’t say anything more.

She knew that such a day would eventually come; she had seen it in her dream, but no one would believe her if she said so now.

Lin Shulan changed the subject, “Ningning, has Yubai been coming back every day?”

Zhou Yubai, even when he did return, came back late and left early.

So, except for Shen Chuning, no one knew if he had come back at all.

“No, not every day. Maybe once every two days,” Shen Chuning replied.

Lin Shulan leaned closer to Shen Chuning mysteriously, “Ningning, has Yubai told you that the experts they’re protecting here are digging for oil in the mountains?”

Shen Chuning: …

Zhou Yubai had mentioned the night before that their mission was to protect the petroleum exploration team’s experts.

After capturing the saboteurs hiding in the mountains, they seized a telegraph machine.

They intercepted a communication between the saboteurs and foreign forces, stating that they had discovered large oil reserves in the mountains.

But during interrogation, all the saboteurs denied discovering oil, claiming the telegram was a false message to obtain funds.

They hadn’t actually found any oil.

Oil is considered the lifeblood of industry.

Due to a certain government’s weakness and incompetence, China had suffered a century of humiliation, and industrial development was severely lagging.

To rapidly develop industry and catch up with advanced Western countries, oil was an indispensable raw material.

Shen Chuning didn’t answer Lin Shulan’s question but asked instead, “Mother, where did you hear this?”

“Everyone’s talking about it.” Lin Shulan said, then lowered her voice cautiously, “Ningning, is this a secret?

If this secret is leaked, doesn’t it mean there are still saboteurs at large?”

Lin Shulan thought her analysis was very reasonable and patted her thigh.

Shen Chuning smiled, “Mother, it was indeed a secret before. But not anymore.

Brother Yubai told me that the exploration team’s experts have searched the mountains for so long and haven’t found any oil. They and the expert team will probably withdraw in a few days.”

Speaking of which, Shen Chuning felt a little sad.

If they withdrew, Zhou Yubai and her third brother would return to the army.

The night before, Zhou Yubai had asked if she wanted to join the army with him; he had already applied for a spot and secured housing.

She didn’t want to be separated from him.

But the situation here, both her second brother and her work, were things she couldn’t leave behind.

She could only postpone joining the army, at least until her second brother woke up.

Shen Chuning and Lin Shulan chatted for a while longer.

They agreed that Lin Shulan and Zhou Jiakang would take the vegetables to the teacher’s new house with her father, while she would go to the city’s supply and marketing cooperative to buy meat for the banquet.

The next day, Shen Chuning woke up earlier than usual.

After getting up, she immediately went to the supply and marketing cooperative.

She thought she would be able to buy meat if she arrived early.

However, when she arrived, there was already a long queue in front of the meat counter.

The meat on the chopping board was almost gone.

Even if she queued, there probably wouldn’t be any meat left by the time she reached the counter.

Shen Chuning remembered she still had ten or so jin of meat in her space and decided to use that for now, planning to not buy any.

Then, she turned around and saw the supply and marketing cooperative sister who always sold her milk powder and malted milk.

As soon as the sister saw her, she enthusiastically greeted her, “Girl, you couldn’t buy meat because of the queue?”

The sister was perceptive; she immediately saw what had happened to Shen Chuning.

Shen Chuning nodded and smiled, “Yes, I thought I came early enough, but others came even earlier.”

“That’s right!” The sister clapped her hands, “Girl, let me tell you, now that it’s the slack season and it’s a rest day, people from both the countryside and the city want to have a family feast. There are many banquets recently, so meat is hard to buy at the supply and marketing cooperative.”

After speaking, the sister pulled Shen Chuning to a more secluded spot and lowered her voice, “Girl, we’re old acquaintances. Let me tell you, if you really want to buy meat today, I have a channel. No tickets needed, but the price is…”

The sister gave her a “you know” look.

Shen Chuning asked about the price. The best pork belly was two yuan per jin, while other parts ranged from 1.6 to 1.8 yuan.

This price was more than double the price at the supply and marketing cooperative and several cents more expensive than the black market.

But this year, the committee, perhaps to meet their targets, cracked down hard on speculation and profiteering; most free markets were either closed or their operators arrested.

The sister still dared to do business at this time, showing her boldness.

Given the risk she took, the extra few cents were justified.

Shen Chuning agreed, ordering ten jin of meat, even more if available.

Hearing this, the sister said with a delighted face, “Girl, is there a happy occasion at home?”

Shen Chuning smiled, “We built a house, and today is the beam-raising ceremony.”

While saying this, Shen Chuning followed the sister to where the meat was kept.

The place was a farmhouse on the edge of the city.

The location was cleverly chosen; the front door led to the city’s interconnected alleys, while the back door led to a wooded hill a hundred meters away.

It was convenient for escape if they were raided.

After the sister knocked, she exchanged a few coded words with someone inside.

Soon, the door opened. When the door opened, Shen Chuning saw someone familiar.