Chapter 23

After breakfast, the jeep from the county arrived.

In the 1970s, the economy was underdeveloped, and resources were scarce. The county only had a single second-hand, worn-out jeep.

The driver helped the family load their luggage into the vehicle.

Jiang Jiang sat in the back seat with her mother, watching the ever-changing scenery outside the rolling mountains, cows and sheep grazing with their heads down, farmers working in the fields, and the billowing black smoke from the brick kiln chimneys.

Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.

The driver was a plump middle-aged man in his forties with a kind face. He expertly gripped the steering wheel as the road grew bumpy.

Lin Youqing and He Guijuan both felt a bit tired and seeing Jiang Jiang so engrossed in her first car ride, they decided to close their eyes and rest.

After what felt like a long time, more pedestrians appeared along the road. Red firecracker paper littered the streets, and the festive atmosphere of the New Year still lingered in the air.

The jeep drove through the gates of the county committee, where a large auditorium stood quietly in the center of the courtyard, exuding an air of solemnity.

Guijuan first carried her daughter through the door while Lin Youqing entered the courtyard with the chicken cage. The couple, along with the driver, unloaded all their belongings from the jeep.

Jiang Jiang curiously examined her surroundings.

It was a small, enclosed courtyard with four cave houses. Several clay pots were placed around the yard, but they held scallions, ginger, and garlic instead of flowers for seasoning.

To the east of the courtyard was a small room with piles of charcoal, which was clearly the kitchen.

He Guijuan had already set down the things they had brought. “Jiang Jiang, I’ll put your things in our room first. You’ll sleep with us for the next couple of days, and once the study is tidied up, you can move into that room.”

“It hasn’t been lived in for over half a month. We need to clean it up well tomorrow. It’s almost noon; Jiang Jiang, are you hungry? I’ll go make lunch now.”

“I’ll cook first. Since it’s your first time at your Mom and dad’s house, I’ll prepare a few dishes so we can have a nice meal together.”

He Guijuan organized the items they brought along: aside from a piece of cured meat and a few sausages, there were only cabbage and potatoes.

After an entire winter of eating mostly cabbage and potatoes, she was starting to feel a bit weary of them.

He Guijuan instructed her husband: “Why don’t you go to the market and see if there’s any meat left? Also, check if there are any fresh vegetables available.”

“Jiang Jiang, do you want to go with Dad to buy groceries?”

“Hmm, hmm.” Jiang Jiang nodded vigorously.

—o—o—o—

While buying vegetables, Lin Youqing took Jiang Jiang for a stroll around the courtyard. Before long, everyone knew that Secretary Lin and his wife had adopted a daughter.

On the afternoon’s bluestone street, there seemed to be few pedestrians. The shop doors were all open, but there were hardly any customers.

The sales clerks sat behind the counters, resting their heads on the counters as they dozed off. Occasionally, a passerby would approach with a question, prompting the clerks to yawn widely before serving them.

Some residential homes were busy preparing meals at noon on either side of the street. The smell of cooking wafted through the air, and the sky was a clear azure blue, radiating a bright, translucent green, as pure as a piece of glazed glass.

Not far from the county committee, there was a vegetable market where the produce was wholesale from the communes around Qingjian Province.

The vegetables and meat were all gone; it was clearly not a time for shopping. Only one fish remained at the fish stall.

Perhaps for the people of Qingjian Province, pork was undoubtedly more appealing than fish. Buying a fish occasionally was just to try something new.

This was understandable; at the time, the prices of fish and pork were about the same. Fish had little meat, and one might accidentally choke on it.

Pork, on the other hand, was substantial and satisfying; each bite was full of meat, and the taste was truly indulgent.

“Comrade, how much is the fish per catty?”

Lin Youqing glanced at the fish in the foam box and asked gently.

“Carp is fifty cents per catty.”

“In that case, I’ll take one.”

“Alright, do you need help with cleaning it?” The practice at the fish stall was to charge an extra two cents for cleaning.

“Yeah, please help to handle it; it’s not easy to clean fish at home.” He didn’t know how to clean fish, and neither did his wife.

The vendor skillfully caught a fish from the water tank, knocked its head unconscious with a stick, scraped off the scales, and cleaned out the belly. Then he sprinkled a bit of salt on the surface of the fish, tied it up with a piece of straw rope, and finally handed it to them.

“Thank you, comrade.”

Lin Youqing paid the money and walked back with his daughter.

—o—o—o—

When they returned home, He Guijuan had already prepared two dishes. Lin Youqing cleaned the fish, placed it on a plate, and handed it to his wife.

The fish weighed at least two catties. He Guijuan cut the fish in half; she fried the head and simmered it for soup while the tail section was braised. Before long, they had three dishes and a soup ready.

The staple food was steamed white buns, accompanied by sweet and sour cabbage, steamed sausages, braised fish, and fish head soup. The soup was garnished with bright green scallions, creating a table full of color, fragrance, and flavor.

They ate in a nearby cave house. The dining table was by the window, while a corner held some boxes and odds and ends. Next to it was a sofa that seemed meant for guests, creating a spacious and inviting atmosphere. Beige fabric curtains hung over the window, adding a warm touch.

“Jiang Jiang, eat more. Try this fish and see if it’s good. If you like it, we can buy it more often,” He Guijuan said as she picked up a piece of fish for Jiang Jiang.

“It’s delicious.”

The flavor of the braised fish was exquisite. This was Jiang Jiang’s first time tasting fresh fish.

During the New Year, the Lin family had made braised cured fish, but the taste and texture of the cured fish paled in comparison to that of fresh fish.

“If you like it, that’s great. Have some of this sausage, too. Your aunt brought some back from her family. She packed a few for us to take. The oil was sizzling out when I was slicing it, and it smelled especially fragrant. Try it quickly.”

He Guijuan wished she could pile all the dishes on the table into her daughter’s bowl.

Back in their hometown, she had to be considerate of Grandma Lin and others, so it was hard for her to openly favor her daughter during meals.

“You’ll scare the child,” Lin Youqing remarked. “Let her take whatever she wants.”

After her husband’s reminder, He Guijuan looked and realized she had indeed been a bit excessive. She smiled awkwardly. “Jiang Jiang, just take what you want. This is your home, just like your dad’s and mine. You don’t have to hold back, okay?”

“Mm-hmm, I know, Mom.” Jiang Jiang nodded, trying two pieces of sausage. Just as He Guijuan had said, it was indeed very fragrant. She then took a bite of the steamed bun, which was also delicious—sweet and aromatic.

Seeing this, He Guijuan felt her heart soften and couldn’t help but reach out to pat the child’s head.

“After we finish eating, let’s take a short break. In the afternoon, I’ll go to the city market to buy some supplies and set up a chicken coop in the yard.”

“Dad, I want to go with you!” Jiang Jiang quickly replied.

“Alright, then I’ll take you along,” he said.

After lunch, He Guijuan found an unused rice bowl and mixed the leftover rice with some bran to feed the chickens.

The chicken coop was a bit small, not allowing enough space for the feeding bowl, so she simply let the chickens out. They didn’t run around wildly but stayed within that section of the yard to roam.