Chapter 27.1

Zhou Junhui said her boyfriend is coming to visit, and the atmosphere at home was very pleasant. Luo Lan had no objections to using up a month’s worth of meat tickets for this occasion. After all, they were all family, and this was the right thing to do. Braised pork ribs, and the leftover pork could be used to make dumplings.

“Mom, there’s too little pork. How about we borrow some meat tickets from someone and pay them back next month?” she suggested, thinking that with so many people in the family, it wouldn’t be good to have too little.

“If we do that, we won’t be able to have any meat for two months.”

“It’s fine. Back in the countryside, we only had meat twice a year, during the Mid-Autumn Festival and Chinese New Year, and even then, it was just a little.”

“Alright then, I’ll borrow some meat tickets from someone?”

“Sure, go ahead and borrow them. If you can’t get any, let me know, and I’ll figure something out.”

Having decided, her mother-in-law managed to borrow some meat tickets from a neighbor that very day. Zhou Junhui took the cash and tickets and got up in the middle of the night to line up. By the time she arrived, there were already many people there.

“Wow, these people are really enthusiastic.”

There was no other choice. This was how the market was—resources were scarce. There was only a limited amount of pork each day, and if you arrived even a bit late, the good stuff would be gone. Especially for something as sought after as ribs, and trying to get some fatty meat for dumplings as well.

It was already the lunar ninth month, and the temperature at night was still quite low. She had worn a padded jacket and stood behind an old man. The shop wouldn’t open until eight o’clock, so she had to stand there for five hours.

Standing in line for five hours to buy something was unimaginable in later generations, but it was common at this time. When something was announced to be on sale, people lined up early to buy these scarce resources.

“Young comrade, what are you planning to buy?”

“Ribs.”

“Me too. Oh dear, there are so many people ahead. If they all want ribs, do you think we’ll be able to get any?”

Zhou Junhui looked ahead worriedly. “I don’t know.”

“Young comrade, I need to use the restroom. Can you hold my place? I promise I’m not cutting in line.”

“Alright, I’ll remember you. But hurry up. If you take too long, others might not recognize you.”

“Okay, okay, I’ll be quick.”

The old man left and returned about ten minutes later, resuming his place in line. His concern was justified, someone saw him and started accusing him of cutting in line.

“It’s tough for everyone in the middle of the night, but you shouldn’t cut in line just because you’re old.”

The old man quickly clarified, “I wasn’t cutting in line. I was here earlier. Ask this young lady.”

Zhou Junhui explained, “The old man went to the restroom. He was ahead of me.”

Alright, the explanation was accepted. Some people thought they had arrived early, but they were already late. Seeing the long line, they knew ribs were out of the question and decided to buy regular meat instead.

The sun rose, and finally, the shop opened. There was only one pig that day, and everyone craned their necks to see. When it was Zhou Junhui’s turn, there were only two pounds of ribs left, which she bought all of. She also managed to get some belly pork, a great ingredient for dumplings with its mix of fat and lean meat.

By the time she got home, the family had already had breakfast. Luo Lan took the ingredients from her and told her to eat and then get some sleep. “I’ll handle lunch. I’ll call you when it’s ready.”

“Okay, thank you, Sister-in-law.”

“You’re welcome. Go eat now.”

On the weekend, Luo Lan took on the task of preparing the meal to entertain the new son-in-law. Her mother-in-law helped, while she glanced at Zhou Junfang, who was reading in the yard, with some worry in her eyes. This child, with her pretty face full of innocence and eyes as pure as a spring, what would her future hold?

“Mom, let’s have Junfang help,” she suggested. Since she couldn’t take the exam, studying wasn’t that important. Regardless of her future, she needed to know basic life skills.

“You’re right. I’ve been careless. This child should learn how to cook.” Her mother-in-law went to the door and called out loudly, “Junfang, come here.”

Zhou Junfang obediently got up with her book, walking to the kitchen door with a puzzled look in her eyes. “Mom, what do you need?”

“Come help with the cooking.”

“Me?”

“Who else?” Mother Zhou smiled teasingly, “You’re a big girl now, you need to learn these things for the future.”

“Oh, okay.”

The girl’s obedient manner softened Luo Lan’s heart like a lump of cotton. Her sister-in-law was as gentle as a little white rabbit, and Luo Lan couldn’t bear to make her cook. Well, washing vegetables shouldn’t be too hard. It wasn’t tiring.

“Junfang, you can pick and wash the vegetables for your sister-in-law.” She handed her a colander, “Wash them thoroughly and put them in this basket.”

“Okay.”

The girl obediently carried the basket to wash the vegetables. Luo Lan took a knife and chopped the ribs into small pieces, then started boiling water to blanch them. “Mom, could you get me some Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, and dried chili peppers?”

“Sure.”

Luo Lan blanched the ribs, washed off the blood foam, then heated some oil in the pot and caramelized sugar in it. Once the ribs were colored, she added the spices and stir-fried them until fragrant. She added boiling water to cover the ribs, covered the pot, and let them stew.

Soon, the whole courtyard was filled with the aroma of ribs, making those who rarely had meat drool. Luo Lan had already started peeling potatoes to prepare the side dish, but Zhou Junfang had not yet come in from the yard.

Luo Lan quickly peeled the potatoes, cleaned the dried green beans, and wiped her hands on her apron before stepping out of the kitchen. She found Zhou Junfang still at the water tap in the yard.

The morning sunlight filtered through the tall locust tree, casting dappled light on her. She was wearing a pink blouse, with her sleeves rolled up to her elbows, revealing smooth, jade-like arms. The sunlight made her look as beautiful as a piece of fine jade. Strands of hair fell around her face, gently caressed by the breeze against her porcelain-like cheeks.

Luo Lan had intended to call out to her from a distance, which was normal. She had a loud voice, honed from working in the fields. She was the soprano in the village choir and could shout across a ditch so people on the other side could hear her clearly.

But today, when she opened her mouth, the words caught in her throat, unable to come out. The scene was so beautiful, so gentle, that she didn’t want to disturb it.

“Junfang,” she called softly, like a spring breeze. Zhou Junfang turned her head at the sound. Seeing the girl’s innocent, beautiful face, Luo Lan’s voice remained gentle.

“Are the vegetables washed?”

“Almost done.”

The girl was still washing vegetables while Luo Lan had already prepared one big dish. Looking at her sister-in-law’s meticulous and slow pace, Luo Lan couldn’t help but talk to her husband while chopping meat for the dumplings.

“Hey, does Junfang do her homework quickly?”

Zhou Qingshan took the knife from her and started chopping the meat, while she leaned against the wall. “Answer me, I’m asking you.”

Zhou Qingshan glanced at her, “You were so gentle with Junfang, but you’re yelling at me?”

“Oh, you silly man.” Luo Lan laughed, “Junfang is like a little pink ball of dough, how can you compare?”

“Double standards.”

“Don’t change the subject. Tell me, is Junfang also this… meticulous with other things?”

“I don’t know.”

“What kind of big brother are you? What do you know?”

“When I left to join the army, she was just a little girl, always hiding behind our mother. I only came back this year, and there’s a lot I don’t know about.”

“Sigh, I’m worried she’s too… I’m afraid she’ll suffer in the future.”

“She’s a greenhouse flower, raised too delicately by my mom.”

“She’s so beautiful,” Luo Lan said, conflicted, admiring yet worried. “The environment should be inclusive, suitable for all kinds of people to live in.”

“Maybe we should start changing her now?”

“No rush, take it slow.”

If such a child had to go to the countryside, they’d need to plan well. Zhou Qingshan was already looking for connections to get his sister assigned to a nearby brigade. Their brigade was the first choice, but if that wasn’t possible, any nearby one would do. The principle was to keep her close.

“Sister-in-law,” Zhou Junfang poked her head into the kitchen. Her fair skin made her eyes appear particularly bright and lively.

“What’s the matter, do you need something?” This girl was so timid. That’s your brother, not a bandit. She had barely started talking when she saw him and immediately shrank back.

“No, I just… wanted to see if you needed any help.”

“Help pound the garlic. Your pounded garlic tastes good, not too spicy.”

“Okay.”

The girl meticulously peeled the garlic, like she was embroidering, while Luo Lan quickly started preparing the cold dishes. Zhou Qingshan mixed the dough, and the two of them started making dumplings. Before long, her mother-in-law joined them, and the three of them quickly made two trays of dumplings.

“It’s past eleven, why aren’t they here yet?” Mother Zhou asked, still making dumplings, her face full of concern.

“Mom, don’t worry. The new son-in-law might not want to come too early to avoid awkwardness,” Zhou Qingshan comforted her.

Luo Lan looked at her husband, and once her mother-in-law left, she asked him quietly, “Do you feel awkward visiting your wife’s family?”

“No, I was just comforting Mom.”

This man, Luo Lan was stunned. He was so different from her impression of a rigid soldier. He didn’t talk much, just did his work quietly. When his younger brother died, he had already investigated thoroughly, but the family didn’t know. He was very discreet.

Everything was ready. Mother Zhou called her eldest daughter, who had gone back to sleep, to wake up. “Go outside and welcome them.”

Zhou Junhui got up, washed, changed clothes, and by the time she was done, it was half past eleven. She had just stepped outside when her boyfriend arrived, carrying gifts. They entered together, and Mother Zhou invited the guest into the house.