Capítulo 27: Chapter 27: Sharing Meals
Editor: Henyee Translations
When a big bowl of white steamed buns and a big bowl of braised pork and cabbage vermicelli were served, even Zhang Yuan, who had never gone hungry, was taken aback.
Although he didn't starve every day, he was no different from others, eating porridge made with coarse grains daily. He hadn't tasted white flour since arriving here!
"Come on, come on, sit at the table and eat!" Bai Xue finally brought in a plate of pickles; there was nothing else left at home.
But this was even better than what they had for the New Year. Although Zhang Yuan was from the Capital City, during this era when food was generally scarce, people everywhere were not getting enough to eat.
The four little ones climbed onto the kang as soon as their eldest sister spoke up, found their spots, and sat down.
"Xiao Yuan! Hurry up and sit down to eat!" In the time it took to make this meal, Bai Daliang's way of addressing had changed from Comrade Xiao Zhang to Xiao Yuan, becoming very affectionate.
"Hey! Uncle, I'm coming!" Zhang Yuan said and went out, washing his hands before quickly coming back in.
The city boy was indeed particular. Seeing those few little fellows staring intently at the food on the table was telling enough.
In the end, Zhang Yuan sat with Bai Xue at a spot near the edge of the kang.
The meal was eaten as if they were at war; the little ones had never eaten vermicelli before, leaving their cheeks red from the slurping.
They also ate plenty of big white steamed buns.
Zhang Yuan did not hold back, turning from guest to host, even picking food for Bai Xue.
The couple, Bai Daliang and his wife, were curious and worried about where these precious delicacies, usually only smelt, had come from, but they couldn't resist the temptation and ate until they were full.
After everyone finished eating and cleared the table, Zhang Yuan did not leave immediately but sat down.
"Xiao Xue's cooking is truly excellent, better than the State-Owned Restaurant's! It's the first time I've had such delicious food."
"Our Xiao Xue's cooking is very good!" Bai Daliang praised his daughter alongside Zhang Yuan.
Bai Xue thought to herself, if it weren't for the generous amount of meat, if you all could say boiled vegetables were delicious, then I'd really be skilled!
"Unlike me, I can just cook porridge." Zhang Yuan added.
"Xiao Yuan, do you educated youths each cook for yourselves?" Bai Daliang asked.
"Boys and girls cook separately, but none of us four guys can cook..." Zhang Yuan scratched his head and said.
"You could collaborate with the girls! Let the girls cook, and you boys can collect firewood for them! It's a win-win!" Bai Xue said, sitting on the north kang.
"Troublesome. It's simpler to just have porridge! Besides, I don't like interacting with those girls." Zhang Yuan looked at Bai Xue, seemingly explaining something to her.
Anyway, if he got really greedy, he'd just have a meal at the State-Owned Restaurant.
"Why don't you come and eat at our place? Seven people's meals cook the same as eight! You just need to bring your rations!"
Bai Xue said this with a bit of selfishness, being able to see a handsome guy who looks like her idol every day would make even coarse grains taste like fine ones!
Nourishing the eyes daily, living till ninety-nine!
"Really?" Zhang Yuan was already about to explode with excitement and happiness inside, but he couldn't show it too obviously, suppressing his emotions as he asked.
"Well..." Bai Daliang glanced at his eldest daughter, then at his smiling wife with no objections, unsure what to say.
"Of course, you aren't eating for free, you're bringing your own rations, why not!" Bai Xue understood what her father hesitated about, she was, after all, 15, inviting a 19-year-old educated youth, they were afraid of gossip.
"Great, I can bring rations, and I'll give you five yuan monthly for food expenses! I'm not picky, I'll eat anything!" Zhang Yuan said, pulling five yuan out of his pocket, "I'll pay for this month's now!"
He didn't give it to Bai Daliang but handed it to Bai Xue instead.
Bai Xue didn't refuse and accepted it.
She could tell Zhang Yuan wasn't short of money, just from the way he dressed.
"Alright, it's getting dark, you better head back! Lest people start gossiping, remember to come for breakfast at eight tomorrow morning!" Bai Xue waved her hand.
"Okay! Then I'll head back first! Uncle, Auntie, I'm leaving now!" Zhang Yuan obediently got up and headed out after greeting the Bai Daliang couple.
"Hey! Xiao Yuan! Walk slowly! Xiao Shan, see Brother Zhang out!" said Bai Daliang.
"Okay, Dad!" Bai Rushan escorted him out.
"Xiao Xue?" Wang Cuihua called out in curiosity after everyone left.
"Mom, he's my lifesaver, can you bear to see him eat porridge every day? It's hard enough not knowing how to cook when you're away from home!" Bai Xue said with a look of immense sympathy.
"That's true, but where did you get so much stuff today? Milk powder, meat, and white steamed buns! Where did they all come from?" Wang Cuihua asked on behalf of Bai Daliang.
"Wait a moment!" Bai Xue quickly put on her shoes and went out.
Soon, Bai Xue brought in a redwood box, she had already prepared what to say, just waiting for them to ask.
"Dad, take a look at this!" Putting the redwood box in front of Bai Daliang, Bai Xue said mysteriously.
"This box?" Bai Daliang picked it up and looked closely.
"Can you see what's special about it?" Bai Xue asked.
"No... but this redwood should be quite good!" Bai Daliang didn't see anything, but he liked the wood of the box.
"Dad, open it! There's a secret compartment inside this redwood box!" Bai Xue went straight to the point, not fussing around.
Upon hearing this, the little ones also crowded over to watch.
Bai Ruyun even went out to check if the doors and windows were securely closed.
The most meticulous girl.
"It really is..." Bai Daliang opened it and was astonished.
"I went to see the old lady today, originally planning to find a few old textbooks for Xiao Yun, Xiao Xia, and the others at the recycling station, but after finding the textbooks, I saw this box and instantly liked it, so I bought it. Holding it out, I slipped and fell, and the things fell out, accidentally discovering this secret compartment and opening it to find..."
"Find what?" Bai Ruchuan stared blankly at his eldest sister, impatiently asking.
"There was actually a small yellow fish inside!" Bai Xue said.
"Dried fish, big sister? Why didn't I see it? Did you eat it?" Bai Ruxia.
"Hahaha..." Bai Xue couldn't hold back, such a serious matter made her burst into laughter.
"Quiet down! Nobody can know about the dried fish in the box, understood?" Wang Cuihua said to Bai Ruxia.
"I know, I know, I'm not that big-mouthed!"
The others were in a restless state; it seemed all three other little ones knew what a small yellow fish was, only Bai Ruxia, the little fool, didn't know.
This diversion eased the tense atmosphere.
"I went back to the old lady, and luckily her son had returned, so I had her son sell it for me! Sold for two hundred yuan, and a few coupons, but not many ration coupons, five pounds of ration coupons, forty yuan worth of coupons for industrial goods, a pound of sugar coupons, ten feet of cloth coupons, and two cans of milk powder coupons! I used some to buy cloth and sewing supplies, and some meat and vegetables for dinner; the remaining one hundred fifty yuan is all here!" Bai Xue took out one hundred fifty yuan from her cotton jacket pocket, leaving herself with ninety-seven and a half yuan.
"Wow, big sister, is dried fish really that valuable? So much money and tickets!" Bai Ruxia exclaimed.
"Third sister, could you keep your voice down! Be careful if people hear and cause trouble for us!" Bai Rushan turned back and covered Bai Ruxia's mouth.
"Exactly, third sister, small yellow fish isn't dried fish, it's gold! If you shout about it, our family will be in trouble!" Bai Ruchuan glared at Bai Ruxia with displeasure.
-- Regalo
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