“Mom, what is this? It smells stinky.” Lu Haici looked at the bowl of stir-fried pork intestines with onions and green peppers, asking.

More importantly, he noticed how happily his dad was eating it.

However, it smelled a bit off to him.

Lu Haici felt conflicted about whether to eat it or not.

Lin Qingqing thought the stir-fried pork intestines smelled delicious, while her little cub found it stinky.

It reminded her of how she used to find the smell of durian delightful, while her grandmother thought it was awful.

Lin Qingqing said, “This is something for adults to nourish their bodies; little kids can’t eat this. But if you really want to try it, you can have just a couple of bites.”

As a food blogger, Lin Qingqing often looked up culinary knowledge while live-streaming her cooking, and although the information on Baidu might not always be 100% correct, it was still somewhat useful.

She had previously live-streamed cooking pork intestines and shared knowledge about it.

While pork intestines are high in protein, they are also high in fat, which can be hard for young children to digest.

However, since Lin Qingqing cooked the pork intestines until they were very tender, a five-year-old like Lu Haici could have one or two bites occasionally.

Lin Qingqing herself wouldn’t eat too much because she was concerned about accumulating fat.

Before Lu Haici could even pick up his chopsticks, Lu Cheng said, “Since kids can’t eat it, don’t overindulge.”

He thought that for every bite the little guy didn’t take, he could have an extra.

Lu Cheng felt he was looking out for his son’s best interests.

“I don’t want that,” Lu Haici stubbornly replied, convinced his dad was just fooling him.

He picked up his chopsticks, carefully grabbed a piece of pork intestine, took a cautious bite, and then exclaimed, “Mom, this is so delicious! It tastes just like meat and is a bit sweet!”

Seeing her little cub taking a second bite, Lin Qingqing reminded him, “It’s tasty, but you can only have two bites. If you eat too much, your tummy will hurt, and you’ll have to get a shot.”

The thought of getting a shot was Lu Haici’s weak point.

As soon as he heard that, he hurriedly nodded, “I promise I’ll only eat two bites and won’t have more.”

Compared to the idea of getting a shot, even the tastiest food didn’t seem as appealing.

“Lu Haici… Lu Haici…” A voice from outside called out.

“I’m eating!” Lu Haici shouted back.

Ji Yang ran into the living room, his small face and bright, clear eyes slightly red.

He took a deep breath and said, “Lu Haici, we ran out of meat tickets at my house this month, so we can’t make meat buns. My mom said she’ll make egg pancakes. Can I give you egg pancakes?” Ji Yang was a bit nervous, fearing his little buddy might be disappointed.

Lu Haici blinked and then said, “That’s fine.”

When Ji Yang heard his friend agree, he let out a sigh of relief.

That’s good.

Lin Qingqing was curious about their conversation but didn’t ask.

She turned to Ji Yang and said, “Ji Yang, have you eaten yet?”

Ji Yang shook his head. “I’m going home to eat. My mom is making egg pancakes.”

Lin Qingqing stood up. “Wait a moment.”

She went to the kitchen and came back with a bowl, placing some roasted potatoes on a plate. “Here, take this home to eat.”

“Wow, roasted potatoes! Lu Haici gave me some this morning.” Ji Yang’s eyes lit up.

He didn’t care that Lu Haici had only given him half; in his mind, sharing with his friend meant they both enjoyed it together.

“Is that so? Do you like it?” Lin Qingqing asked.

“I like it,” Ji Yang replied.

Then, he took the bowl of roasted potatoes and headed home.

“Mom…” As soon as Ji Yang entered the house, he called for Xu Huijuan and rushed into the kitchen.

“Mom, Lu Haici’s mom gave me roasted potatoes! They’re so delicious!” Ji Yang exclaimed while munching on a roasted potato.

Seeing her son so happy, Xu Huijuan felt a mix of emotions.

Now, not only had he not returned the egg pancakes, but he also took someone else’s potatoes.

All she could say was, “Ji Yang, food is precious in this time. We can’t take food from others without giving something in return. Since Lu Haici’s mom gave you food, we should give something back, okay?”

“Okay.” Ji Yang replied readily, though he didn’t fully understand.

To him, it was just food given by a neighbor, like what friends would do.

Xu Huijuan thought for a moment about what they could give to the Lu family.

Should they send vegetables?

They had done that a few times before…

Since she was making egg pancakes today, it would be better to make a few extra to send over.

“I’m back.” Ji Changfeng entered the house and saw his son eating a potato.

After working hard all morning, he was a bit hungry and wanted something to eat.

Seeing Ji Yang, he directly took a roasted potato from his son’s bowl. “This potato tastes good.”

“It’s from next door,” Xu Huijuan said. “I’m making egg pancakes; I’ll send a bowl over when they’re ready.”

“Lu Haici’s mom made it; everything she makes is so delicious!” Ji Yang exclaimed in admiration.

Hearing this, Xu Huijuan felt a pang of jealousy.

She recalled the tofu pancakes Lin Qingqing made that day; they were indeed tasty, but not to the point of being incredibly delicious, right?

Then she thought about the delicious food Ji Yang had brought back yesterday.

Two pumpkin cakes made by Lin Qingqing were indeed well-made, and children loved such snacks.

“Mom, eat…” After finishing one potato, Ji Yang licked his hands and picked up a baked potato to hand it to Xu Huijuan.

He then said, “Mom, I also want to eat the pumpkin cakes, egg fried rice, and this baked potato that Lu Haici’s mom made. Can you make them?”

Xu Huijuan replied, “Mom can’t make those.”

Everyone has their specialties, and she truly didn’t know how to make the things Lin Qingqing made.

Ji Yang innocently asked, “Then can you learn from Lu Haici’s mom?”

In the mind of a child, if you can’t do something, learning is the most normal solution.

Of course, Xu Huijuan was reluctant, but seeing her son like Lin Qingqing’s dishes, she couldn’t find the words to refuse.

She could only say, “These are Lu Haici’s mom’s specialties. Many people’s recipes can’t be shared, just like the family’s money, so I can’t guarantee it. But I can ask.”

The Lu family had just finished lunch when Ji Yang arrived again, holding the bowl that contained baked potatoes, but now it was filled with egg pancakes. “Lu Haici, Auntie, these are the egg pancakes my mom made. I brought them for you.”

Lin Qingqing didn’t refuse: “Thank your mom for me. Be sure to tell her thank you later.”

Ji Yang said, “Sure, I will!” The little guy bounced home.

Xu Huijuan’s cooking skills were indeed good.

Lin Qingqing took a piece of egg pancake, and it tasted just like scallion pancakes from later years, making her appetite grow.

After eating one piece, she couldn’t help but have another.

She thought to herself that she would make scallion pancakes for breakfast tomorrow.

In the afternoon, Lu Haici and Qi Yang went to kindergarten hand in hand.

Lu Cheng was renovating the small house and no longer needed Lin Qingqing’s help, so she boiled the pork intestines.

With the intestines simmering in the pot, she didn’t have to watch over them, allowing her to start researching the sewing machine.

She had already taken out the sewing machine and set it up.

Lin Qingqing looked at the instruction manual to operate it.

Operating the sewing machine was quite simple, especially compared to the high-tech products of later years, which had much more complicated operations.

After understanding the manual, she decided to experiment with her old clothes rather than waste new fabric.

She first took apart the old clothes to use the fabric and tried making a camisole.

After three modifications, she successfully made a camisole that she was satisfied with from the old fabric.

Having grasped the technique, she decided it was time to use the new fabric.

Lin Qingqing measured the dimensions on the new fabric with a wooden ruler, then used a pencil to outline the shape of the camisole.

Soon, she finished making a camisole identical to the old fabric version, with a single layer on the outside and a double-layered bust inside.

She even tried it on to check the size, which fit perfectly.

“Okay, there are still a few centimeters of extra space, so it fits well but isn’t too tight.”

Next, Lin Qingqing continued experimenting with making five-point shorts using fabric taken from old clothes.

It went even smoother than the camisole; after making two adjustments, she successfully completed it and then made a new pair with fresh fabric.

In one afternoon, Lin Qingqing made a set of shorts and a camisole from old fabric, and she also made a set of both from new fabric.

The ones made from old fabric were wearable and could be changed and washed.

She then washed the new camisole in soapy water and hung it out to dry.

In June sun was bright, but she estimated it wouldn’t be dry until tomorrow.

As for the ones made from old fabric, she didn’t wash them because they were already clean and ready to wear that evening.

Lu Cheng came out to drink some water and saw Lin Qingqing hanging the camisole and shorts.

Noticing that the shorts were a bit short, he said, “Lu Haici has plenty of clothes; you don’t need to make him any. Just make yourself a few new outfits.” He thought the clothes were for Lu Haici.

Lin Qingqing looked at him with a rather speechless expression and replied, “These are for me.”

Lu Cheng didn’t say anything more and returned to his room to continue working, although he walked a little faster than usual.

Lin Qingqing watched his retreating figure and couldn’t help but laugh.

It was nearly time for dinner.

The marinated pig intestines had finished cooking, and she could cut some to eat that evening.

However, she said, “Lu Cheng, I’m going to the cooking team of the Third Company.”

She took out two bowls, one filled with marinated pig intestines and the other with roasted potatoes, and placed them in a basket.

“Okay.” Although he didn’t know why Lin Qingqing was going, he figured she had her reasons and didn’t ask further.

At the Third Company’s Cooking Team

When Lin Qingqing arrived at the door of the Third Company’s cafeteria, she saw smoke rising from the chimney, realizing they had already started preparing dinner. “Is everyone here?”

“Comrade Lin is here! Aren’t you starting work the day after tomorrow?” Qi Shao came over when he heard her voice, wearing a white chef’s uniform.

Lin Qingqing said, “I made two dishes today and brought them for you to taste.”

As she spoke, she entered and took out the roasted potatoes and marinated pig intestines from the basket. “These are roasted potatoes, and this is marinated pig intestines. I mainly want to say that if you find pig intestines while shopping, please buy them; the marinated pig intestines taste great.”

More importantly, pig intestines are relatively inexpensive and rich in protein, plus they taste good.

Lin Qingqing had already learned that the cooking team was responsible for their own shopping, not the military unit as a whole.

With so many people in the unit, it would indeed be too busy to manage centralized purchasing.