To be honest, ho burglaries are quite rare, and they’ve beco a hot topic of discussion in the neighborhood.
However, despite all the chatter, it hasn’t stopped everyone from preparing for the New Year. This year, the Spring Festival falls on February 2nd, so people are busy stocking up for the festivities.
Surprisingly, even though there are only about ten days left until the New Year, Zhao Guihua and her group’s business has been booming.
Originally, due to the burglary incident and it being the end of the year, they had planned to close up shop and resu business after the holiday. But reality had other plans. Custors actually ca looking for them at their compound.
Well, as they say, turning down money is just plain foolish.
Several groups of custors ca by to buy their goods, leaving the residents of the compound no choice but to “reluctantly” continue making money. Unexpectedly, their stock sold out in just a few days.
This was truly…
Many of these custors ca specifically to buy from them, drawn by their reputation. So genuinely wanted to make purchases, while others were just there to see what the fuss was about.
Zhao Guihua: “We’re completely out of stock, really, there’s nothing left.”
“But you can always restock, right? You could place another order.”
“Exactly, just place another order. As long as we can get it before the New Year, that’s fine.”
“That’s right.”
Even though they were out of stock, so custors insisted on buying, urging Zhao Guihua to restock and make more money. They seed even more enthusiastic than Zhao Guihua herself.
Zhao Guihua: “…”
Fortunately, she stood her ground. After much discussion with her team, they managed to convince the custors to leave. It wasn’t easy. The issue wasn’t just that Zhao Guihua was out of stock—everyone in the compound had sold out.
Normally, they would expect to have so leftover stock by the end of the year, but this ti, they sold out more than ten days early. Everyone had wrapped up their tasks ahead of schedule. Aunt Zhou rubbed her hands together, muttering, “Shouldn’t we restock?”
She noticed how much people seed to like their products. Their main items were sweaters and jeans.
While older folks might not appreciate these unconventional pants, young people were crazy about them. A recent TV drama featured characters wearing these jeans, and they had made quite an impression.
Their sales had been excellent.
Seeing Aunt Zhou’s eagerness, Zhao Guihua said, “After the New Year, business tends to slow down, especially for clothing. People have already bought what they need for the holiday. Besides, if you order sweaters now, they’ll probably arrive three or four days before the New Year at the earliest. How much could you sell in that ti? Whatever doesn’t sell will just sit there, and once the weather warms up, you’ll be stuck with inventory. When the capital isn’t particularly large, it’s better to be cautious.”
Aunt Zhou: “That’s true.”
She was quickly convinced by Zhao Guihua.
After all, she wasn’t short on money, so she decided to take a break. She said, “Your family’s doing well this year. You even bought a washing machine.”
Zhao Guihua had recently purchased a washing machine and was thrilled with it. She said, “It’s fantastic—it’s completely freed up my hands. It’s such a ti-saver.”
Aunt Zhou had already seen Zhao Guihua using the washing machine and was quite impressed. She said, “I’m thinking of buying one too. It’s really a great appliance.”
She regretted not buying one earlier when Zhao Guihua did.
Zhao Guihua: “The sooner you buy it, the sooner you can enjoy it.”
“I like the sound of that. It’s true—having a washing machine in winter makes a huge difference compared to not having one.” Aunt Zhou grew more and more tempted and said, “I’ll ask Wang Zizhen to co with .”
Action speaks louder than words, so off she went.
Zhao Guihua waved her off.
Recently, their compound had acquired quite a few new items. Bai Fendou and He Lan, a married couple, bought a TV. Zhao Guihua’s family bought a washing machine, and Old Man Lan Sihai, seeing how good the washing machine was, bought one for himself that very afternoon.
Then there was Wang Zizhen from the neighboring compound, who also bought a TV.
In the past, people didn’t have much money, so they had to be frugal. But now that life has improved and everyone has more disposable inco, it’s only natural to indulge in so shopping.
The joy of shopping is sothing that captivates everyone, young and old, n and won alike. When it cos to daily life, adding so “big-ticket items” that are actually useful is always a good idea.
No hesitation there!
Every household was busy preparing for the New Year.
Since this year they were celebrating together, the excitent was even greater. Every day, each family was bustling with activity, getting ready for New Year’s Eve. The idea of a group reunion dinner was Zhao Guihua’s suggestion. She didn’t have any grand plans—she just thought it would be more lively if everyone got together.
As you get older, you start to appreciate a lively atmosphere.
Zhao Guihua and Old Man Zhuang were making plans at ho: “We’ve agreed that each family will contribute so ingredients, and Li the Cook will handle the cooking. No one else is up to the task. That old guy’s skills have really improved over the years. So, we’ll buy a few more bottles of liquor and a few crates of Beibingyang soda. The won and children can drink the soda.”
Old Man Zhuang: “Whatever you say.”
Zhao Guihua: “Let’s think about what else we need…”
Old Man Zhuang smiled: “What’s there to worry about? We’ve got plenty of people. If sothing’s missing, we’ll figure it out together. It’s no big deal.”
Zhao Guihua realized he was right.
She said, “You’ve got a point.”
Even so, Zhao Guihua quickly got back to work, saying, “Try on the outfit I bought for you. Let’s see how it looks.”
Old Man Zhuang didn’t hesitate and cheerfully agreed. He was always easygoing, the kind of person who usually stayed in the background. But Zhao Guihua appreciated his good nature.
When two people live together, it’s no good if they’re always butting heads.
The old couple quickly tried on their new clothes. This New Year, they were decked out from head to toe in brand-new outfits. In the past, their financial situation had been decent, but in recent years, it had improved dramatically.
Zhao Guihua was particularly festive in a bright red sweater. She asked, “How do I look in this? Pretty stylish, right?”
She had Old Man Zhuang try on his clothes while she did the sa. He gave her a thumbs-up and said, “You look absolutely stunning.”
Zhao Guihua bead with pride. She had seen a lot in her lifeti. She said, “Well, of course! I was quite the beauty in my youth. Even now that I’m older, I can’t let myself go.”
Old Man Zhuang’s face crinkled with laughter, thinking his wife was quite the exaggerator.
But he didn’t say anything. Zhao Guihua continued, “Do you rember when we were young?”
Old Man Zhuang nodded. He said, “I rember it vividly.”
To be honest, the two of them had a love marriage, which was quite unusual for their generation. They had spent ti together, developed feelings, and then decided to build a life together. Thinking back on those days, Old Man Zhuang felt as if it had all happened just yesterday.
He said, “Back then, I even gave you a bun.”
Zhao Guihua rolled her eyes: “And I repaid you by saving your life. I didn’t hesitate to crack that bully’s skull open for you.”
When Zhao Guihua was a teenager, her family had passed away, and her relatives were struggling to survive themselves, so they couldn’t help her. She wasn’t from far away—just a rural area nearby—but back then, poverty was rampant. Her family was so poor they didn’t even have a single bun to their na.
At that ti, everyone was struggling, and no one could afford to help others. She packed her bags and went to the city to find work, but for several days, she couldn’t find any. She was so hungry her vision started to blur. Kids today wouldn’t understand the hardships they endured back then. Even scavenging for food was nearly impossible.
Old Man Zhuang was working as a kitchen hand in a restaurant at the ti. When a wealthy custor left behind a bun, he quickly pocketed it. During a lull, he went to the back alley to eat it and found Zhao Guihua crouched in a corner, nearly fainting from hunger and drooling. He hesitated for a long ti, but in the end, his kindness won out. With a sigh, he gave her the bun, and that’s how their story began.
Old Man Zhuang: “You could say I traded a bun for a wife.”
Zhao Guihua scoffed: “Oh, stop it.”
She snorted and then said, “You’re lucky to have .”
Old Man Zhuang thought about it and realized it was true. He smiled and nodded sincerely, "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be here anymore."
Zhao Guihua replied with a hint of pride, "Of course."
Not to ntion decades ago, even now, if she hadn't been so determined to eat well, drink well, and take good care of the whole family, would he still be this healthy? Not a chance.
Zhao Guihua said earnestly, "You must take good care of yourself, and I’ll do the sa. Let’s both live to be a hundred years old."
Old Man Zhuang replied, "Alright! I’ll try my best."
"Don’t just say you’ll try, you must do it."
"Okay, I’ll listen to you. I’ll definitely do it."
Zhao Guihua laughed and said, "Alright, take off the new clothes and save them for the New Year. Don’t get them dirty. Oh, I just rembered, I haven’t bought any roasted peanuts yet. I’ll go get so."
Old Man Zhuang said, "I’ll go with you."
"Great."
The two of them went out together. Hutou ca out of the house and saw them about to leave. He asked, "Grandpa, Grandma, where are you going?"
Zhao Guihua replied, "We’re going to buy so roasted peanuts. What about you?"
Hutou said, "Li Weiwei asked to go out with him. We have sothing to do."
Zhao Guihua didn’t press further and just nodded, "Alright."
As soon as Hutou saw his grandma leave, he went over to Li Weiwei’s place. Li Weiwei stuck his head out of the window and said, "You scared ."
Hutou entered the room and said, "If you dare to do it, why are you afraid of people finding out? Besides, once you set up your stall, everyone will know about it anyway."
Li Weiwei replied, "But I still have to do it."
He was very determined this ti. "I’m definitely going to set up a stall, but my grandpa is so stubborn. When my dad wanted to do it, he disagreed. Now that I want to do it, he’ll definitely disagree even more. I’ve been secretly saving money for a year. Of course, I’m going to do it."
To avoid being discovered, he still had to give money to his mom as usual, living very frugally.
"Alright then. Just don’t rat out if they beat you up, okay?"
Hutou took out his private savings and handed it to Li Weiwei. Li Weiwei happily put his arm around Hutou’s shoulder and said, "I knew you were the most loyal."
Hutou said, "Cut it out. Count it. It’s five hundred yuan."
Li Weiwei exclaid, "This is great!"
He was excited. "You have more private savings than my brother."
Hutou said proudly, "Of course. I work odd jobs for my grandma every sumr to earn money."
If it weren’t for the five hundred yuan he had locked in a three-year fixed deposit last year, he could have had another five hundred.
Li Weiwei said, "It’s fine. With this five hundred, I’ll have enough."
He added, "Let’s go."
He had been saving for a year, but he still didn’t have as much as Hutou’s private savings. However, he had managed to gather a total of one thousand yuan. He planned to order so equipnt, quit his job in the last few days of the year, and start setting up his stall after the New Year.
He had already thought it through. In the morning, he could sell soy milk and fried dough sticks at the entrance of the alley. Then, in the late morning, he would pack up and sell fried pancakes near the train station. He had done his research and found that it was a great spot for business.
So, he dragged Hutou along to order pots, stoves, and so simple tables and chairs. They wouldn’t need these near the train station, but they would be useful for selling breakfast in the morning. Li Weiwei said, "I’ll definitely get beaten up, but it’s fine. If I get beaten, so be it. I’m a man, after all. Can’t be afraid of a little beating. I can take it."
He kept rambling on, and Hutou turned to look at him, saying, "You’re actually a little scared, aren’t you?"
Li Weiwei chuckled, "Hehehe."
Hutou said, "Just run if they beat you."
Li Weiwei said firmly, "I won’t run. If they beat , they beat . I’ll still do it!"
He had wanted to set up his own stall for a long ti. Now that he had a goal, what did a beating matter? He was rarely this courageous.
Hutou said, "I support you."
They had been friends since childhood. No matter what, he supported Li Weiwei’s decision. Besides, Hutou felt that Old Man Li was too stubborn. It was a new era now, and people could do anything. It wasn’t necessary to stick to being a factory worker.
In the past, they didn’t understand this and always thought that having a stable factory job was the way to go. But over the past two years, they had seen how much money could be made from setting up stalls. If it made good money, then why not?
Most importantly, Li Weiwei was passionate about it.
He had been dreaming about doing this for a long ti, so as a good friend, Hutou firmly supported him and even took practical action by lending him money.
He just hoped that Aunt Zhou and Li the Cook wouldn’t find out he had lent money, or he would definitely get scolded. Hutou shrugged, feeling a little cowardly. The two of them went out together and saw children setting off firecrackers at the entrance, the sound crackling in the air.
Hutou imdiately warned the kids, "Tuantuan, be careful. Don’t hurt anyone."
Tuantuan replied, "Got it!"
His voice was clear and bright. He blinked his big eyes and asked, "Big brother, where are you going?"
Hutou said, "We’re going to buy sothing. Don’t ask so many questions, kid."
Tuantuan replied, "..."
He "whispered" to his younger sister, "Big brother is definitely up to no good."
Hutou stumbled and imdiately said, "I’m a good person."
Everyone burst out laughing, their laughter full of aning, as if they didn’t quite believe him.
Hutou said, "...I’m really being wronged here."
He was a good person, after all.
Li Weiwei, feeling guilty, tugged at Hutou and said, "Let’s go, let’s go."
It was like trying to cover up sothing obvious.
The kids, including Tuantuan and Yuanyuan, thought to themselves, "These two brothers are so transparent. Everything’s written on their faces."
Hutou and Li Weiwei quickly made their escape, walking briskly. Yuanyuan leaned over to her brother and said, "Should we follow them?"
Tuantuan replied, "...I don’t think that’s necessary."
He added, "Let’s just leave them alone."
Yuanyuan blinked her big eyes and said, "I’m just curious!"
But she didn’t ask any more questions and instead went back to setting off firecrackers—or rather, watching others set them off.
Although Yuanyuan was quite bold and could climb trees without hesitation, she was still a little afraid of lighting firecrackers herself. On the other hand, Li Zhenzhen was fearless and lit them quickly. She craned her neck to watch the direction her brother had run off in and said thoughtfully, "My second brother has been acting weird lately. I wonder what he’s up to."
"Kids their age always have little secrets," Yuanyuan said in a grown-up tone, mimicking her grandma’s voice.
Li Zhenzhen agreed, "That’s true. My parents always say that kids grow up and stop listening to their parents. Once they’re grown, you can’t control them anymore."
Yuanyuan didn’t believe it. She said, "Adults always lie. They say they can’t control us, but if we ss up, they’ll still beat us."
"I believe it," Li Zhenzhen said decisively.
Everyone laughed.
They had seen through the adults. They always talked like this, but in reality, they would still punish them when necessary.
The kids continued setting off firecrackers when Su Jinlai ca out with his hands in his pockets. Su Jinlai said, "Oh, setting off firecrackers, huh? Let tell you, this is boring."
Yuanyuan imdiately asked, "Then what’s fun?"
She was eager to learn.
Su Jinlai said, "When we were kids, we didn’t just set off firecrackers like this. We used to throw them at wild dogs’ tails and even into outhouses. Boom! The manure would fly everywhere!"
The kids all thought, "..."
That description was just disgusting.
Tuantuan said sincerely, "Brother Jinlai, you must not have been very popular as a kid."
Su Jinlai’s face darkened. "What are you talking about, kid? I was loved by everyone when I was young."
The kids all felt nauseated. They really couldn’t believe it.
Su Jinlai continued, "When I was a kid..."
"When you were a kid, you blew up a wild dog’s tail and almost got bitten. You also fell into a manure pit," Xiao Yanzi, who was carrying a small backpack, interrupted him.
Su Jinlai jumped in anger. "Xiao Yanzi, what’s wrong with you? Don’t air people’s dirty laundry. Why are you saying all this?"
Xiao Yanzi said loudly and confidently, "Who told you to teach my little brother and sister to throw firecrackers into manure pits? What’s wrong with exposing you?"
Su Jinlai thought, "..."
He really couldn’t win against her.
"You fell into a manure pit too?" Guan Hong, who had just co out, overheard this and imdiately perked up, full of curiosity. "How did you fall in? What position were you in? What happened?"
Su Jinlai thought, "..."
He took a deep breath and said, "That was an accident. Why bring it up?"
He continued, "It's almost New Year's. Why aren't you going ho?"
Guan Hong retorted, "None of your business."
She snorted and said, "I'm staying here for New Year's too. You all are having such a lively ti, why should I go ho?"
This year, their wages were paid early, and the holiday started early too. Today was the first day of the New Year holiday, and her mood was genuinely good. Recently, she had sold out all her goods, and her wallet was practically bulging. This was her most prosperous year yet. Although she had started doing business with Zheng Huimin last year, they had only worked together for less than half a year. This year, however, they had worked the entire year. It was... hehehe.
She swung her long braid and said, "I'm going to buy New Year goods. I asked Aunt Zhao and Aunt Wang, and they both said I could stay."
Su Jinlai: "..."
This fierce woman was still here. Unbelievable.
Although the two of them had once shared an extraordinary relationship, they still tended to bicker like roosters.
Of course, their past grievances were water under the bridge now, as they had settled their scores.
Still, whenever they t, they couldn't help but argue. He said, "You're such an unfilial daughter, not even going ho for New Year's."
Guan Hong smiled smugly and snorted, "My parents agreed to let stay. What's it to you?"
In previous years, her family would spend New Year's at her grandmother's house in the countryside. Not only did she not want to go, but her mother wasn't keen on it either. However, they had no choice but to go. But in the past two years, Guan Hong had fallen out with her family and moved out. Although they had since reconciled, she still didn't want to move back ho. Living on her own was so much easier—no one to nag her. So, she had stayed away. Besides, she was now living with Zheng Huimin, which made doing business much more convenient.
She was quite the go-getter, so her parents had grown accustod to her ways.
Guan Hong was now free and unrestrained. She said proudly, "I'd much rather stay here for New Year's than go ho and face my grandparents' blatant favoritism toward boys over girls."
Su Jinlai warned, "You shouldn't say that in public."
If others heard her, they would surely think Guan Hong was unfilial and gossip about her. But Guan Hong was carefree and unbothered. She said, "So what? It's the truth. My grandparents don't like my mom or , so why should I go ho and ruin my New Year's? I'm perfectly fine here. Zheng Huimin and I will spend the holiday together, and we can even plan next year's business. By the way, where are you headed?"
Su Jinlai replied, "My mom asked to buy so firecrackers."
They didn't need to buy chicken, duck, or pork, as they had already bought plenty from the village earlier. The quality was excellent, and the prices were much better than in the market. Su Jinlai was now reaping the benefits of being part of the community. If he had gone to the market himself, he wouldn't have gotten such a good deal.
Rembering this, he quickly reminded her, "You're going to buy New Year goods, right? Don't buy pork. We're slaughtering a pig tomorrow."
Guan Hong already knew this and nodded, "I know."
She said, "I'm just going to buy so snacks and fish to send to my parents."
"Shall we go together?"
"Sure, let's go."
Just monts ago, they had been at odds, but now they walked side by side, chatting about the pig slaughtering. Neither of them had ever seen a pig being slaughtered, so they were both quite excited. Well, their camaraderie was entirely thanks to the upcoming pig slaughter.
"Have you ever seen a pig being slaughtered?"
"No, where would I have seen that? We hardly ever eat pork. But I've heard it's quite interesting."
" too. Early tomorrow morning, we'll slaughter the pig. Bai Fendou said he knows how to do it."
"Are you calling him Uncle Fendou now?"
"None of your business."
...
As they chatted and walked, a group of children exchanged glances and sighed, "Adults are so complicated."
"Definitely. Their relationships are so ssy. They can be friendly one day and at each other's throats the next. It's so hard to understand."
"If we could understand, we'd be grown-ups. But we're still kids."
"True."
However, the children soon got excited about the pig slaughtering the next day. It was Little New Year, after all.
Xing'er widened her eyes in curiosity and asked, "You're slaughtering the pig tomorrow. Can Erlin and I co watch?"
"Of course you can."
Li Zhenzhen said, "We're having a pig feast tomorrow at noon. You two should co too."
Xing'er quickly shook her head. Even though they were kids, they knew this was a big deal. But the other children chid in, with Yuanyuan saying, "You can co. My parents said kids don't eat much, so you shouldn't worry about it."
"My parents said the sa."
"My grandma even told to invite you in advance," Li Zhenzhen said cheerfully. "You two should co. It's a big fat pig that our courtyard bought from the village. It's really good."
Erlin looked around and asked, "Where is it being kept?"
"It's outside. We'll slaughter it tomorrow."
They had planned to slaughter it a few days ago, but everyone was busy with work and didn't have ti. Now that the factory was on holiday, everyone had more free ti, so they decided to have the feast tomorrow.
"We have two big fat pigs. Everyone pitched in to buy them."
"Wow..."
"Did you buy New Year clothes?"
"Yes."
"My family did too."
For the children, life revolved around food and clothes—nothing more.
Xing'er said, "I bought new clothes too. They're really nice. Erlin also bought so."
Although their family had moved to the capital last year, they hadn't bought new clothes then. Last year, Erlin had been sick, and the family didn't have much money left. Still, last year's New Year was the best they had ever had.
This year was even happier. Xing'er didn't know if her parents had made more money, but she felt they had.
Her parents seed happier every day, and the family could afford to eat at every now and then.
Xing'er thought that the amount of at they had eaten this year was more than what they had eaten in many, many years combined. She said, "Life is really good now."
"Yeah."
"Xing'er, Xing'er."
Old Lady Yu called from the alley. Xing'er imdiately responded in a clear voice, "Grandma, we're here."
Old Lady Yu said, "I made so fried rice cakes. Co take so to eat."
She wasn't trying to butter anyone up. She just felt that her two grandchildren were always eating other people's food, which wasn't entirely proper. Relationships between adults were about give and take, and the sa went for children. Even if they couldn't give much, a little sothing was better than nothing. Otherwise, people might look down on her two grandchildren.
Xing'er and Erlin mustn't be looked down upon.
Old Lady Yu felt that her grandchildren were more affectionate than her own children. Naturally, she wanted to treat them well. The old woman was like that—always biased. She favored so of her children over others, and the sa went for her grandchildren. It was quite obvious.
She didn't see anything wrong with it. After all, even the five fingers on a hand are of different lengths. Why shouldn't she have her favorites?
Besides, her things were hers to give to whover she pleased.
She called, "Xing'er."
Xing'er replied, "Coming!"
She ran ho and soon returned with a small basket, saying, "We have rice cakes! My grandma added sugar to them."
"Wow, let try so."
" too."
The children didn't hold back and eagerly reached for the freshly fried rice cakes, which were still hot. But kids didn't mind the heat.
"Delicious."
"Mmm, so good."
Ming i ca out pushing her bicycle and asked curiously, "Where did you get these? Let try one."
She took a bite and said, "Not bad."
"My grandma made them," Xing'er said proudly.
Ming i smiled and said, "They're really good."
Ming i didn't have much interaction with Madam Yu. Although there was so tension between them, she wouldn't say anything in front of the children. She smiled and said, "Make sure you co tomorrow for the pig slaughtering."
Xing'er hesitated for a mont, but seeing Ming i's expression, she nodded earnestly, "Okay."
Ming i rubbed the little one’s head. If we’re being honest, the children in their neighborhood were all very well-behaved. Compared to how mischievous Jinlai and the others were when they were kids, the children nowadays, though still playful, didn’t cause any trouble. They were sensible and knew their limits, which made the adults feel at ease.
This wasn’t just about their courtyard; most of the kids in the area were quite well-mannered.
Of course, everyone largely had the Su brothers to thank for this. If it weren’t for their antics, which had genuinely scared the neighbors, people might not have been so diligent in disciplining their children. Thanks to the parents’ efforts, the kids were all well-behaved and sensible.
Ming i said, “You guys play. I’m heading out now.”
Yuanyuan quickly asked, “Mom, where are you going?”
Ming i replied, “I’m going to your grandparents’ place. Your uncle sent over so delicious treats, and I’m going to bring so back.”
“Oh, Mom, I want to go too!”
Yuanyuan loved visiting her grandma’s house. Every ti, her grandma would prepare lots of tasty snacks, and the little girl couldn’t help but salivate at the thought.
Ming i poked her chubby cheek and said, “Look at you, you’ve gained weight over the winter break. Why do you want to go? I know you too well. Stay ho and behave.”
Yuanyuan pouted.
Ming i added, “Don’t worry, I’ll bring back plenty of treats for you. Don’t cause any trouble. Play with your friends.”
Yuanyuan whined, “Okay then.”
She swayed gently and said, “But Mom, co back soon.”
Ming i replied, “I will.”
While the kids were all gathered at the entrance like little gatekeepers, the adults were busy preparing for the New Year. Ming i rode off on her bike, and others from the courtyard also started leaving one after another, each with their own errands to run.
The little gatekeepers, however, were more like inspectors, keeping tabs on who was going out and for what.
But the kids didn’t care much about that. What they were really looking forward to was the big event the next day—the pig slaughter!
The most important pig slaughter!
With the kids’ eager anticipation, the next morning arrived quickly. It was Little New Year’s Day, and early in the morning, they brought back the big fat pigs. Although they had bought three pigs in total, one of them belonged to Ming i’s parents, so it wasn’t mixed in with the others.
Before dawn, everyone was already up and about, wide awake despite the early hour.
Both adults and children were bundled up in thick coats, buzzing with excitent.
Zhuang Zhixi and the other n brought the pigs back, announcing happily, “Ti to slaughter the pigs!”
In an instant, people from every household ca out, all in high spirits. Zhuang Zhixi double-checked, “Brother Fendou, are you sure you can handle this?”
Bai Fendou confidently replied, “What’s there to not know? I’m totally—ah!”
The pig, sensing its life was in danger, suddenly kicked out like a donkey, startling Bai Fendou and causing him to stumble backward. He wiped imaginary sweat from his brow and said, “I’ve never heard of a pig kicking like that before.”
He Lan worriedly said, “Be careful. Don’t let the pig kick you.”
“I know, I know.”
Truth be told, no one in their courtyard had much experience with pig slaughter. Despite Bai Fendou’s bravado, he was already shaken by the pig’s ferocity before even starting.
As for the pig’s strength, no one knew it better than the Su brothers.
Yinlai, his face pale with fear, said, “Maybe we should get soone else to do it. What if soone gets hurt? You can’t underestimate these animals. They’re really fierce.”
Yinlai had been trampled by a pig before, and his health still hadn’t fully recovered.
So people are afraid of mice, others of snakes, and so of cockroaches, but for Yinlai, his greatest fear was pigs. It was a genuine, deep-seated fear, no exaggeration.
While others stood in the courtyard watching the commotion, Yinlai stayed inside, peeking out through the window. Going outside?
No way. Who knew if the pig might go berserk?
He said, “Tuantuan, Yuanyuan, all you kids should co inside. It’s too scary out there.”
“Brother Yinlai, we’re not scared,” Tuantuan said boldly. Unlike his sister, who was more excitable, Tuantuan was braver.
Yinlai pleaded, “You don’t understand. I was trampled by a pig when I was a kid. They’re really terrifying.”
Jinlai, who had also been hurt by pigs multiple tis, nodded vigorously in agreent.
If the pig could talk, it would have sothing to say too. After all, if Jinlai hadn’t secretly cut off its tail back then, none of this would have happened.
Seeing the Su brothers’ obvious fear, the adults also started to think twice. They urged, “Maybe you kids should go inside.”
Though reluctant, the children were herded indoors. They all crowded into Yuanyuan’s house, pressing their faces against the window. This was the kids’ favorite hangout spot. Even though Xiao Qijin and Bai Qingqing lived in the front yard, their rooms only had beds, which weren’t as spacious as Yuanyuan’s kang bed.
In winter, the kang was especially warm, and in sumr, it was just as comfortable. The kang was large enough for everyone to sit together and even play cards.
This was their happiest base.
The kids pressed against the window, watching as the adults struggled to handle the pig.
“Yuanyuan, we’re here!”
Ye Siyuan’s family arrived, with Xing’er and Erlin in tow. They had t at the entrance. The siblings had been so excited the night before that they couldn’t sleep, eager to watch the pig slaughter.
While kids loved eating at, watching a pig being slaughtered was also a rare and thrilling “event.”
They had never seen it before.
The children all gathered, their eyes wide with anticipation.
Yuanyuan called out, “Co on over. It hasn’t started yet, but it looks like they’re having trouble.”
“I think so too…”
Everyone pressed against the window.
Finally, the adults managed to pin down the pig. Bai Fendou, holding a knife, was sweating profusely. He stamred, “I-I-I think I can’t do it…”
“Damn it, you chicken out at the last mont? What’s wrong with you?”
Bai Fendou grimaced, “I didn’t expect the pig to be this fierce.”
His bragging had co back to bite him.
anwhile, the pig continued to squeal and thrash, which was quite frightening.
“You guys better hold it tight. Don’t let it get away.”
“We know, we know.”
“Oink…” The pig kept screaming and twisting. Thankfully, there were enough n in the courtyard, or this would have been a disaster. Finally, Li the Cook stepped in and said, “I’ll do it!”
He glared at Bai Fendou and said, “You useless idiot. What are you even good for? You think bragging doesn’t cost anything, huh?”
Bai Fendou grimaced, “Uncle Li, I’m sorry, okay?”
The countless stories from the courtyard proved that experience mattered. This ti, it was Li the Cook who saved the day. If it had been left to Bai Fendou, it would have been a total failure. Thankfully, Li the Cook skillfully handled the knife.
As a cook, he wasn’t afraid of such things. Besides, Li the Cook had slaughtered pigs before, though not often. He at least had more experience than the others. He called out, “Quick, bring a basin to catch the blood!”
The won quickly stepped forward. The blood wasn’t flowing too fast, and Zhao Guihua was the first to act.
The children watched as the pig, now subdued, struggled weakly. They murmured, “This is so scary.”
“Yeah.”
“Are you scared of eating pork now?”
“No way! We can’t give up pork. It’s the best.”
“I love pork cracklings. They’re so tasty.”
Yuanyuan excitedly told everyone, “My grandma said she’ll fry so for us later.”
“Wow, that’s amazing!”
“Yeah.”
Even though they hadn’t started eating yet, everyone was already salivating.
As Zhao Guihua finished collecting a basin of pig's blood, Aunt Zhou quickly stepped in to continue, one after another.
Xing'er said, "Back in our village, the brigade would slaughter pigs at the end of every year. The adults would always crowd to the front, so we kids couldn’t see much. But I know they’d fight over the pig's blood every year."
"Fight?"
Everyone was curious. Xing'er nodded and said, "Yes, the pig's blood was free and didn’t require any ration tickets. If anyone wanted so, they could go and collect it. But every year, people would argue over who got more or less, and fights would break out. That’s why my parents never let us go near—they were afraid we’d get caught up in the scuffle and get hurt."
"Really?"
"That’s so extre."
Xing'er nodded again. "That’s just how it was. Everyone was poor. The pork was distributed based on work points, but the blood was free for the taking. Of course, people would fight over it."
Xing'er felt proud that, even though she was from the countryside, she knew a lot more than her city friends.
"How much could each family get?"
Xing'er replied, "My family would get about half a pound each year. But my grandparents always tried to take so, so my parents would hide the at and refuse to give it to them. It was a battle of wits every year."
"Your grandparents are that bad?"
Xing'er thought for a mont and said firmly, "They’re terrible. They’re always trying to convince my dad to divorce my mom. My grandma says they’re wicked and will co to no good."
She added, "My grandma even said that if she ever saw my grandparents, she’d scratch that old hag to death."
The kids exclaid, "Wow!"
That sounded fierce.
But the kids weren’t too fazed—there wasn’t a single elderly woman in their neighborhood who wasn’t tough.
While the children chattered away, the second fat pig was dealt with by Li the Cook. He glanced back at the group of clueless middle-aged and young n, shaking his head slightly. "You all still have a long way to go. You’re just not up to par yet."
Zhuang Zhixi, ever the smooth talker, chid in, "Uncle Li, how could we ever compare to you? You’ve been a cook for decades—this kind of work is second nature to you. It’ll take us at least a few more decades to reach your level. We all know how amazing you are."
Li the Cook chuckled. "You’ve always got a way with words."
Zhuang Zhixi replied, "It’s not just words—it’s the truth! Co on, let’s get to work. Uncle Li, we still need your guidance here. We’re not up to the task, but we can assist you. Just tell us what to do."
Li the Cook nodded. "Alright."
He began giving instructions. "Zhou Qun, you and Bai Fendou keep holding the pig down until it’s completely still. Old Zhuang, go prepare the basins. I’ll start cutting the pig. Son-in-law, take Li Weiwei and go prepare the blood sausage. We’ll need a dish of pickled cabbage stewed with blood sausage for lunch—it’s not a proper slaughter feast without it."
"Got it."
"Uncle, what about ?"
Zhuang Zhixi asked.
Li the Cook said, "You’ll be in charge of dividing the at. Separate it according to what each family ordered. Make sure everyone gets their share. We’ll need it for New Year’s gifts later."
He added, "Old ladies, you all get to frying the pork cracklings. Give the kids so first—they haven’t had breakfast yet. Let them snack on sothing."
"On it!"
Everyone sprang into action, and the courtyard quickly beca a hive of activity. Though it wasn’t New Year’s yet, the atmosphere was just as lively. Li the Cook took charge, issuing more orders. "You young wives, take the girls and start making dumplings. It’s Little New Year’s today—we can’t do without dumplings."
"Fresh pork is perfect for dumplings," Ming i said cheerfully. "Should we add cabbage?"
"Of course! Cabbage ans wealth. We must have cabbage dumplings for the New Year."
Zhao Guihua looked up. "We’ve got leeks too."
"Then let’s make two kinds—so with cabbage and so with leeks…"
"Got it!"
The lively atmosphere grew even more festive…
Today was just a warm-up for the New Year celebrations.
Soon, the mouthwatering aroma of food filled the air, wafting through the courtyard and even tempting the neighbors to peek over.
The sll of at is always irresistible.
Zhao Guihua declared, "Next year, we’ll slaughter pigs together again!"
"Sounds good to ."
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