Chapter 27: Postage Stamps

“You’re here!” Zhang Xiaoyu was happier to see Mi Xia than to see her own mother.

“By the way, I got four ‘A Red Whole Country’ stamps this time. A few families didn’t have money for New Year’s goods, and when they heard I was buying at a high price, they sold them to me.”

Mi Xia calmly accepted the stamps. “Thank you, you’ve worked hard.”

“No trouble, no trouble at all. So many people want to do things for you; this is something you can’t even beg for.” Zhang Xiaoyu said with a grin.

Mi Xia felt Zhang Xiaoyu was reliable, loyal, and capable. It would be even better if she could recruit him.

So she asked, “Zhang Xiaoyu, if I go to Kyoto to develop in the future, would you follow me?”

“Yes, as long as you want me to, I’ll definitely follow you.” Zhang Xiaoyu replied firmly.

Mi Xia nodded in satisfaction. If she could take him with her, it would be much more convenient.

“Same as usual, see you in the grove in half an hour.”

Zhang Xiaoyu laughed, his bright white teeth reflecting his current mood.

Mi Xia made a killing during this New Year. After this, she planned to come once a month and seriously focus on her studies.

It’s 1976, and the college entrance examination is at the end of next year. She still has so many courses to self-study, she can’t slack off.

Mi Xia arrived at the grove and took out the chickens, ducks, geese, pigs, fruits, wheat, and rice produced in her space these days.

She also took out a lot of seafood. Only three percent of the fish in Mi Xia’s stream remained; the rest were all taken out.

Brown sugar and white sugar were always in high demand, and she also took a lot of vegetables because it was winter, and every household lacked fresh vegetables.

After organizing everything, time was almost up. Mi Xia sat on an extra bag and ate a Zhou Hei Ya (spicy duck neck).

It was slightly spicy and delicious, a perfect match with cola. She put another one aside for Zhang Xiaoyu.

By the time Zhang Xiaoyu arrived, Mi Xia had almost finished eating.

Seeing how deliciously Mi Xia was eating, Zhang Xiaoyu couldn’t help but lick his lips. “Xiao Mi, what are you eating? It smells so good.”

“Here.” Mi Xia handed him the remaining one.

Zhang Xiaoyu eagerly took one and stuffed it into his mouth. “Is this a duck wing? It’s so delicious! The meat is exquisite, tender, and juicy. It not only smells good, but I want to eat more after eating one.”

Zhang Xiaoyu’s subordinates, hearing him say this, all turned to look at him. One of them even drooled.

Zhang Xiaoyu was too busy eating to pay attention to them. Such delicious food couldn’t be stopped for trivial matters.

Mi Xia couldn’t help but chuckle. “Eat slowly, nobody’s going to snatch it from you.”

Zhang Xiaoyu smiled sheepishly. “Xiao Mi, did you make this yourself?”

Mi Xia thought for a moment. Although she didn’t make it, she could make something that tasted the same.

So she replied, “I made it. If you want to eat more, I’ll bring you more next time.”

Zhang Xiaoyu was ecstatic.

Mi Xia took the money Zhang Xiaoyu gave her and left, preparing to go to Grandma Song’s place.

She took a fish, a pound of oil, twenty kilograms of rice, twenty kilograms of flour, a chicken cake, and two peach cans from her space.

“Knock knock knock.” Is Binbin home?

“Sister, I’m coming!” Song Binbin heard the sound and knew it was his sister. He said while running to open the door.

Mi Xia saw Song Binbin running breathlessly and gently touched his head. “Don’t rush next time, sister can wait a little longer.”

“Sister, I miss you, Grandma misses you too, come in quickly.” Song Binbin, like a little adult, invited Mi Xia in.

As soon as she entered, she heard Grandma Song’s hearty voice, “Binbin, is Xia here?”

Mi Xia: “It’s me, Grandma Song, I came to see you and Binbin.”

“Oh, good child, only you remember us old folks. Stay for dinner later.”

Seeing Grandma Song’s expectant look, Mi Xia nodded without hesitation.

Sure enough, Grandma Song smiled like a child when she saw Mi Xia nod. No wonder there’s an old saying, “an old child.”

Mi Xia cooked this meal. She didn’t take the things out of her backpack; she just carried it into the kitchen, anyway, they wouldn’t know what was in it.

In the kitchen cabinet, there was only a broken bowl with a little leftover meat, and no other cooked food.

These two hadn’t had a proper New Year’s meal, so Mi Xia planned to make this one sumptuous to make up for their New Year’s regrets.

She took out a pound of pork ribs from her space, planning to braise them, a piece of pork belly to make braised pork, a fish to steam, a salted duck, sliced and plated.

Half a chicken to make chicken stewed with mushrooms, a pound of shrimp to steam, and a serving of sauerkraut fish, Mi Xia’s favorite dish.

She steamed the rice. She couldn’t take out any more ingredients, otherwise, she would be exposed. The backpack was already quite full. Mi Xia had already transferred the things from the backpack to her space.

She saw some rice and flour in the cupboard. They wouldn’t be able to finish all these dishes, and they could eat for a few days. She would bring them more later.

During the meal, Grandma Song kept serving Mi Xia food. Mi Xia didn’t refuse until her bowl was full, then Grandma Song stopped.

“Xiao Xia, we mother and son owe our lives to you. Otherwise, we would have starved to death. When we have a chance…” Grandma Song didn’t continue, because she didn’t know how long she could live, in case she made a promise she couldn’t keep.

Looking at her grandson and then at the table full of food, Grandma Song couldn’t help but cry. People around them avoided them, only Xiao Xia was there.

“Grandma Song, don’t cry.” Mi Xia said anxiously, wiping Grandma Song’s tears.

Song Binbin also hurried over to comfort her. “Grandma, don’t cry, Binbin is here, and now sister is here too. If you have anything unhappy, just say it.”

Grandma Song felt warm in her heart. Although their family had fallen on hard times, she had her grandson and Xiao Xia, which was more fortunate than many others.

“I’m fine, let’s eat quickly. Xia worked hard to make this, it won’t taste good if it gets cold.”

Mi Xia felt relieved when Grandma Song stopped crying. Maybe she missed her son; Grandma Song had mentioned that he was sent down to a farm in Northwest China.

If it weren’t for this movement, their family would have been very happy.

Mi Xia finished all the food in her bowl, so full she burped. The bowls were too big now. Following the principle of not wasting food, Mi Xia ate everything.

Grandma Song looked at Mi Xia with a satisfied smile. Grandma Song and Song Binbin ate a lot, partly because Mi Xia cooked well, and partly because they usually lacked oil and water.

When Mi Xia got home, it was already dark. Her older brother’s family had already returned.

“Sister-in-law, open the door!” Mi Xia shouted loudly.

There was no WeChat in those days, otherwise, she could just send a message. Mi Xia muttered softly.

As soon as she muttered, she remembered that there weren’t even cell phones yet, and she smiled helplessly.

Zhang Hongxia opened the door and saw Mi Xia in a daze.

“Little sister, come in quickly.”