For dinner, Yan Run Zhi made delicious braised pork.

The pork was from farm-raised pigs fed with coarse grains, using the best three-layered belly pork.

It was slow-cooked over a small fire with dry wood until it was shiny and tender.

Jiang Lin put a piece of braised pork in her mouth.

The skin was chewy, the lean meat was tender and not dry, and the fat melted in her mouth.

The flavor was rich and layered, and the taste was sweet and savory.

It was so delicious it surpassed her previous favorite, a bowl of red fermented bean curd pork from her college entrance exam days.

“It’s so good!” Jiang Lin’s eyes sparkled with joy as she ate, clearly very happy.

Watching her enjoy the meal so much made everyone feel that happiness can be that simple.

Yan Runzhi had also prepared cold spinach and mung bean sprouts, and stir-fried chives to go with the braised pork, which helped cut through the richness.

Seeing how happy Jiang Lin was, Cheng Rushan felt that just watching her eat was enough for him.

Every piece of braised pork he picked up seemed perfect, and he kept serving it to Jiang Lin.

Jiang Lin ate two bowls of rice and half a bowl of pork, thoroughly enjoying herself and feeling extremely happy.

Cheng Rushan served her some cold dishes, “Have some to balance out the richness.”

Jiang Lin smiled, “I’m not tired of it, it’s so delicious.”

No need to balance out the richness; don’t interrupt my enjoyment of this wonderful braised pork.

Wen Sheng commented, “Mom’s using meat to fight meat. This afternoon, seeing a big bowl of meat, I didn’t get tired of it at all.”

Jiang Lin laughed, “I also find it strange. I used to get tired of it just thinking about it, but now it just smells so good!”

Da Bao said, “Because…”

Xiao Bao added, “I know, because Bao Sheng was angry and they said children are worse than pigs, haha. They said having fewer children and raising more pigs is better. I don’t get it. Bao Sheng must be angry and wants to eat the pork!”

The adults all laughed at the children’s comments.

Wen Sheng still wanted to serve more pork to Jiang Lin, but Cheng Rushan put the meat in his own bowl, saying, “Your mom has had enough; eating more might make her uncomfortable. I’m keeping an eye on her, and I don’t want her to feel sick from eating too much.”

Jiang Lin was mindful not to overeat, making sure she enjoyed herself without eating so much that it would make her sick.

After the meal, they went for a walk and visited the embroidery workshop.

The women were working overtime before the New Year to make up for the losses from not being able to sew during the holiday.

Jiang Lin planned to discuss with the workshop manager about trying out new products.

She combined Yan Runzhi’s crochet techniques with her own past knowledge to design some simple lace-like patterns.

They started with a batch of simple handmade covers to place on TVs, bookshelves, etc.

These were both decorative and practical, and people who valued aesthetics would be interested in buying them.

Handmade lace was very popular during the Republic of China era, but it faded due to the wars and the post-revolution focus on simplicity.

With the current reforms and opening up, both clothing and home decor will start to be influenced by global trends.

Jiang Lin wanted to start with this, testing it domestically and creating high-quality products to register a brand. Eventually, they could be exported to earn foreign exchange.

Jiang Lin had little interest in being part of a capitalist world that exploited cheap labor.

The exploitation of labor was secondary to her concerns about pollution. While earning foreign exchange, these factories caused significant environmental damage in the country.

In a few years, when such factories inevitably become widespread, she didn’t want to be involved.

Instead, she aimed to focus on high-quality handmade products, developing a better brand, and gaining a place in the international market.

Cheng Rushan naturally supported her and offered some constructive advice.

Jiang Lin was pleasantly surprised to find that Cheng Rushan’s ideas aligned with hers, or rather, with the future development trends—keeping pace with the reforms and opening up, and actively developing foreign trade.

This made her appreciate him even more.

She and Cheng Yulian, along with other women, discussed the details.

An experienced woman quickly grasped the key points and began demonstrating for Jiang Lin.

They used cotton thread and ribbon to create shapes, fixed them with pins, and then connected them with needle and thread to form patterns, or directly crocheted the patterns, all of which met Jiang Lin’s design requirements.

However, there was still an issue with efficiency.

Jiang Lin smiled and said, “No need to rush. After the second day of February, you can try it out. Once you have a finished product, send it to the provincial capital, and I will improve it based on the sales results. If it works out, we can start mass production.”

By 8:30 in the evening, Jiang Lin and Cheng Rushan returned home. Wen Sheng was singing opera for the family, while Da Bao and Xiao Bao provided the accompaniment.

Since the village still didn’t have electricity, they had returned to using oil lamps, which everyone found a bit inconvenient.

Yan Runzhi couldn’t do any needlework at the moment, and Da Bao and Xiao Bao didn’t like reading because it was straining on their eyes.

Only Wen Sheng continued singing, and everyone listened with great interest.

Jiang Lin and Cheng Rushan listened for a while before heading to bed.

Once they were on the kang (a type of heated bed), she leaned against Cheng Rushan, resting her head on his arm. “Shan Ge, could you try to help our commune get electricity sooner?”

Cheng Rushan hugged her and replied, “Sure.” He always supported his wife’s requests unconditionally.

Even though electricity wasn’t widespread in the countryside yet, it was still possible to get it if there was the capability.

The process wasn’t complicated: apply first, then wait for approval and pay part of the costs, followed by sending technicians to lay out the wires, set up the poles, and build substations, etc.

There was also the need to select electricians, train them, install meters, and collect electricity fees—there were many steps involved.

Since economic development was necessary, getting electricity was essential.

Jiang Lin was pleased that Cheng Rushan agreed so easily.

She happily poked his chest with her finger and kissed his chiseled chin. “Shan Ge, you’re so wonderful. You agree to everything I say.”

Cheng Rushan supported her and said, “Wife, thanks should be sincere.” A kiss on the chin is nothing; dare to go a little higher.

Who knew that she would move her lips down to his Adam’s apple, causing him to react immediately.

He grabbed her hand, his eyes glowing with a different, seductive light, his voice low and sensual, “You’re the worst, lighting the fire and not taking responsibility.”

Jiang Lin smiled innocently, “I’m responsible. Don’t worry, my love, I’ll take care of it.” She was addicted to teasing him, enjoying the way he looked both wanting and restrained.

Tonight, she decided to make him happy.

---

The busy preparations for the New Year continued.

The adults were preparing festive goods, while the children, as long as they didn’t cause trouble or break things, could join in and enjoy some food and drinks.

Although Xiao Bao and Da Bao complained about the lack of excitement in the provincial capital, once they returned, they were thrilled.

They led a group of kids to ice skate on the river, break the ice to fish, have snowball fights, and catch sparrows.

They went on adventures in the mountains—anything Jiang Lin could think of, they could make happen.

On the 29th day, Cheng Runzhi, back from the brigade, was exhausted from writing couplets, but he enjoyed it and didn’t want to rest.

Jiang Lin greeted him and then went out to find Da Bao and Xiao Bao. After searching around, she found them by the river on the east side.

“I want to blow up balloons too! I want to blow up balloons!” The children were running after each other.

Jiang Lin saw them blowing up large white balloons, tying them with string, and letting them fly like kites.

Jiang Lin was taken aback. Where did the children get these balloons?

She calmly went over to call the kids home for lunch.

A few of the children asked, “Bao’er’s mother, can you bring us some balloons too?”

Jiang Lin asked, “Where did your balloons come from?”

“They were taken out by Xiao Bao. He said they were given out at your school.”

A little child was feeling very wronged, “Why doesn’t our school give out free baloons? Is it because city schools get them but not rural ones?”

This wasn’t entirely wrong.

The city family planning office gave free condoms to married women at schools, but rural women didn’t have such benefits; they had to go to the commune hospital for contraceptive procedures.

Jiang Lin quickly reassured the children and then called Da Bao and Xiao Bao back.

The two boys were sweaty from playing. “Mom, what’s up?”

Jiang Lin asked, “It’s already lunchtime. Don’t you want to come home to eat? Aren’t you hungry?”

Da Bao replied, “We had steamed buns this morning, so we’re not hungry.”

Xiao Bao giggled and said, “Mom, do you want a balloon?”

Jiang Lin was quite embarrassed but tried not to show it, considering the children didn’t understand.

Xiao Bao took out the balloon, which most people in the countryside, not just children, wouldn’t recognize.

She shook her head, “Mom doesn’t have the strength for that. Where did you get it?”

Xiao Bao innocently smiled, “Lin Lin, don’t be mad. I took it from your drawer. I was actually looking for crayons and accidentally found the balloon.”

Jiang Lin: “……”

Xiao Bao continued, “Sorry, Lin Lin. I shouldn’t have taken your stuff. I won’t do it again.”

Xiao Bao was always quick to admit his mistakes and apologize without needing anyone to remind him.

Jiang Lin: “……”

She patted his head and said, “Go ask your dad to blow it up. Mom can’t do it.”

Xiao Bao nodded, “Okay.”

Jiang Lin let the children go and took them home for dinner.

She couldn’t explain to the two kids that the object wasn’t actually a balloon.

If she did, they’d ask why, and they were clever enough that she wouldn’t be able to handle their persistent questions.

They ran into Cheng Rushan at the entrance of their home, who had just returned from the team.

Jiang Lin gave him a quick glance and then looked at the two boys.

Cheng Rushan instantly understood that the boys had done something wrong, and Jiang Lin was too embarrassed to handle it herself.

Otherwise, she would have addressed it directly rather than signaling him.

Cheng Rushan smiled at her, noticing that her hands were a bit cold, so he asked her to go inside first while he dealt with the boys.

Da Bao acted as if nothing had happened, feeling innocent and self-assured since he wasn’t involved in taking the balloon.

Xiao Bao, on the other hand, was nervous and giggling awkwardly because he had taken the balloon without permission.

Cheng Rushan reached out his hand, and Xiao Bao handed over the balloon obediently.

Cheng Rushan raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Before the New Year, he had seen a team leader take free condoms home and give them to his kids as toys.

Cheng Rushan had thought it was quite embarrassing, but now his own son had followed suit.

He asked Xiao Bao, who admitted to taking five condoms from a drawer at their house in the provincial capital.

Cheng Rushan asked, “Why didn’t you ask Mom?”

Xiao Bao thought to himself that if he had asked Jiang Lin, she definitely wouldn’t have given them to him.

She kept toys and snacks for them in Grandma’s room, never in her own room. If something was hidden in her room, it meant it wasn’t for them, so he decided to take it secretly.

Cheng Rushan said, “Taking Mom’s things without asking is a serious issue.”

Xiao Bao’s face immediately tensed up, and he stopped his awkward giggling.

Cheng Rushan said, “These will be confiscated. You’re not allowed to blow them up, and you can’t use any others given to you by others.”