Chapter 20:

Although the other party’s attitude wasn’t great, they still mentioned that there were plenty of offal and bones from today’s pig slaughter and asked if they wanted any. This was considered an employee benefit—staff could get first dibs on purchasing offal, bones, and similar items without needing coupons.

Deputy Factory Director Wang spent money to buy two pig ears and a pig liver. Yu Xiang’an bought a pound of bones and a pig liver, and in return, the other party gave them a plate of pig blood for free. Normally, when they went to buy pork, there wouldn’t be any pig blood left, and as for offal, since it was relatively cheap, if they went late, there’d basically be no choice left.

Yu Xiang’an would have preferred a pig stomach, but there weren’t any left today, and she wasn’t sure when she’d get another chance. The bones could be stewed with kelp and soybeans to supplement iodine—she remembered seeing some leftover kelp at home. The pig blood could be made into blood tofu, and the pig liver could be stir-fried for a delicious dish.

When she returned with these items, Yan Yuzhen took a look and asked, “Was there nothing good left when you went today?”

“Yeah, just pig lungs, pig liver, bones, pig ears, and pig brains. The pig blood was a freebie.”

Yan Yuzhen wasn’t surprised. “They never run short of pig blood at the slaughterhouse. Xiao An, do you like pig blood?”

“I do.” Especially in spicy hot pot—it was her favorite.

Yan Yuzhen nodded. “My brother-in-law works there. If you like pig blood, I can’t promise much else, but I can help you get some every month.”

Yu Xiang’an’s face lit up. “Zhen-jie, really? I’ll pay for it—whatever the price is. I’d like to buy it regularly. It wouldn’t feel right taking it for free, and I wouldn’t want to trouble him too often or put you in an awkward position. Oh, Zhen-jie, I made some fermented soybean paste—it’s quite fragrant. I’ll bring some for you to try tomorrow and see what you think.”

Yan Yuzhen felt warmed by her words and readily agreed to taste the soybean paste. “I’ve never made it myself, but I can definitely tell you if it’s good or not.”

Meanwhile, Zhou Boyang approached a familiar uncle to ask about the unfamiliar faces he’d seen at the factory. “What were they here for? Did they come specifically to buy meat? That’d be breaking the rules.” He knew this uncle despised such behavior—if he reported it, the matter would surely be stopped.

“If that’s the case, I’ll go ask.” He went to investigate, determined to put a stop to it if true.

This kind of loophole couldn’t be allowed.

But soon, he returned and patted Zhou Boyang’s shoulder reassuringly. “It’s not what you thought. They were here on official business. There were only two outsiders here today—they were leaders from the food factory, here to discuss matters with their subordinates.”

“Leaders from the food factory?”

“Yes, I heard one of them was a factory director.”

Zhou Boyang fell silent. He’d only seen Yu Xiang’an alone, but how could she be accompanying the factory director? His grandmother had said she was working in the accounting department—how did she get involved with the director? His mind was in turmoil.

How did she have the connections to get close to him? How was she doing so well? She shouldn’t be.

Zhou Boyang’s mood soured.

What could he even do about it? He didn’t have that kind of influence. And if she was already accompanying the director on official business, she must have earned his favor. Would her life only keep getting better from here?

The more he thought about it, the more resentful he became—yet there was nothing he could do.

*

In the evening, when Yu Xiang’an returned home, she sensed something was off. Everyone seemed downcast, and even those who usually came home later were already there. Yu Xianghai was also present with Yu Mingjie. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Yu Xianghai shrugged. “The Ding family came today. Dad and I took the day off.”

Yu Xiang’an frowned. “And now? Did they come to make trouble?”

“They left. They came to argue, saying they should’ve been consulted before marrying off their daughter—really, they just wanted money. A crowd gathered to watch, and now there’ll be plenty of gossip.”

“How did they leave? What happened?”

Yu Xianghai: “The Zhou family also came. They settled things—the Zhou family gave them a bicycle coupon and eighty yuan as a belated bride price, and that was the end of it.”

Yu Xiang’an nodded in understanding. So, they paid to resolve the issue.

“Then they shouldn’t come back, right?”

Yu Xianghai shook his head. “Who knows? Either way, it’s got nothing to do with us.”

The words sounded cold.

Zhao Qiaoniang’s hands trembled, and she felt weak. Just like today, the Yu family had provided nothing but a place and a presence, staying completely uninvolved. It was impossible to criticize them for it—because she couldn’t.

Yu Xiang’an nodded. “It really has nothing to do with us, so don’t look so glum. We should be happy. And don’t worry about the gossip—we’ll live our own lives. They’re just irrelevant people.” She truly believed this. Life was too short to waste time and energy worrying about others.

She raised her voice cheerfully: “Dad, don’t let this upset you. Look at me—I’m doing great now, and it’ll only get better. Tonight, I’ll cook something delicious!” She pulled out the pig bones, blood, and liver she’d gotten today. “Tonight, I’ll make something so tasty you’ll want to swallow your tongues!”

Yu Xiangju and Yu Mingjie, being young, didn’t fully understand the situation but had been subdued by the adults’ moods. At her words, they perked up immediately, chattering excitedly around her.

“Fifth Sister, what delicious food are you making today?”

“Auntie, what’s for dinner?”

“Tonight, we have pig liver, pig blood, and pig bones. The bones will be stewed—we’ll have some tonight and more tomorrow. The pig blood and liver will be cooked tonight too.”

“Wow, Auntie/Fifth Sister is amazing!”

Pig liver and blood were still parts of the pig—still meat!

Yu Xiang’an carried the ingredients into the kitchen, with Zhao Qiaoniang following to help.

“Qiaoniang, you tend the fire. Tonight, I’ll show off my skills.”

Yu Xiangju and Yu Mingjie eagerly offered, “Fifth Sister, I can help with the fire too!”

“Auntie, I can help too!”

“You two stand there nicely. If you want to help, see that ginger? Go pull a couple of scallions, wash them, and bring them back.”

By the time Ye Qijia returned home, an overpoweringly fragrant aroma filled the air—spicy and mouthwatering.

“What’s cooking? It smells amazing!”

Yu Xianghai, distracted, glanced toward the kitchen. “Little Sister is making pig liver.”

“Pig liver?” Thinking of its usual texture, Ye Qijia frowned in disbelief. “Pig liver can smell this good?!”

But when she tasted it, her perception of pig liver was completely overturned.

It was delicious! How had she been wasting it all this time?!

The plate of pig liver was devoured in minutes. The two younger ones, unused to the slight spiciness, puffed air through their lips even as they kept shoveling more into their mouths—pain and pleasure intertwined.

If the pig liver was bold and fragrant, the blood tofu was all about smoothness—melting in the mouth with every bite.

They couldn’t stop eating.

Finally, a bowl of bone broth to round off the meal left everyone completely satisfied.

After putting down her chopsticks, Ye Qijia couldn’t help grabbing Yu Xiang’an’s hand, scrutinizing her. “Little Sister, your cooking keeps getting better. How did you make this? Teach me—I’ll try it myself later.”

Yu Xianghai nodded vigorously beside her.

Even Zhao Qiaoniang pricked up her ears. Though it felt odd learning from a young girl, Yu Xiang’an clearly had a natural talent for cooking—probably inherited from her grandfather. She’d improved suddenly, as if she’d had an epiphany.

Earlier, Zhao Qiaoniang had been too preoccupied to pay attention, but by the time she snapped out of it, the dishes were nearly done.

Yu Xiang’an didn’t hold back. “No problem. I’ll write down the steps later. Oh, and I have good news to share.”

She took out a letter she’d received. “I didn’t mention it before, but I secretly submitted an article to a newspaper. Today, I got a reply saying they accepted it. Here’s the payment—not much, just two yuan. And this is the newspaper—my article’s right here.”

At this, everyone except the illiterate Zhao Qiaoniang and the two little ones crowded around. Yu Qingshan was so moved he wiped his eyes, leaning closer to the lamp to confirm his daughter’s name in print.

“Xiao An, you’ve done us proud!”

Yu Xianghai was equally proud—this was his little sister, his own flesh and blood, shining so brightly. “Little Sister, you got published! Does that make you a literary genius?”

He hadn’t been a good student and had only finished junior high before taking over his father’s job. He hadn’t even wanted to go to junior high—he hated studying—but his father had insisted. Now, he saw the value in education.

In a time when jobs were scarce, higher qualifications gave you an edge.

Ye Qijia held Yu Mingjie and Yu Xiangju’s hands. “You two will start school soon. Study hard, and when you grow up, be like your aunt/sister—write articles, earn royalties, and make something of yourselves!”

Two yuan—just for writing a few words.

Besides the money, there was the prestige of being published.

Ye Qijia also thought—if she could do the same, she’d surely be in line for the next pay raise.

Yu Qingshan asked Yu Xiang’an, “Do you have enough paper and pens? If not, take some from me.”

“I’ve got plenty!”

After lights-out, Yu Qingshan tossed and turned in bed. Beside him, Yu Xiangju was fast asleep. He sighed. “Who knew Xiao An had this talent? Bringing honor to the family. I’ll tell her grandparents—they’ll be thrilled.”

Zhao Qiaoniang felt a flicker of happiness too. “Yes, it’s wonderful news.”

Tomorrow, she’d spread the word. Then maybe people would stop talking about Minshu.

“Where did I put that newspaper?”

“In the cabinet.”

“I’ll take another look.” Yu Qingshan got up to check before lying back down.

Their next day off would be spent attending the wedding of Yu Manchang, their eldest nephew. The original date had been postponed due to issues on the bride’s side, and though the new date wasn’t as auspicious, it had still been carefully chosen.

Neither family wanted to wait any longer.

When he shared the news back home, it would be a double celebration.

Two yuan wasn’t much, but the significance was immense.

*

Back in their own small home after visiting Yu Qingshan, Yu Xianghai sat down, rubbing his full stomach.

Yu Mingjie mirrored his father’s posture uncannily, making Ye Qijia laugh.

Like father, like son—one a large version, the other a small.

Yu Mingjie even burped. “Dad, when will Auntie make delicious food again?”

Yu Xianghai ruffled his hair. “I don’t know, but if she does, she’ll call you.”

Yu Mingjie looked hopeful. “I hope she calls me tomorrow.”

Ye Qijia shot her husband a look—that wasn’t the right thing to say. But turning to Yu Mingjie, she softened. “Money doesn’t come easy. Eating well once in a while is enough—doing it often would be too expensive. Be a good boy, okay?”

She’d taken over her mother’s job as a salesclerk at the supply and marketing cooperative—a coveted position where she just stood behind the counter. Plus, she had the advantage of early access to goods and a wide network.

Her husband was a permanent employee at the hardware factory, and they only had one child. The house had been allocated to her father-in-law by the factory, so they didn’t even pay rent. By all accounts, they should’ve been comfortable.

But Yu Xianghai sent a few yuan monthly to support his younger siblings in the countryside. As for her, when she’d married into the Yu family, there’d been a condition—her mother’s health was poor, and her two younger brothers were still small, so she’d taken over the job with the agreement that she’d send ten yuan back home every month until her brothers came of age.

Her brothers were young—the elder was twelve, the younger eight. It’d be years before they reached adulthood.

With only her father earning at home and her mother’s medical expenses, nearly half her income went back to her family.

The Yu family had never complained, and her husband silently supported her. For that, she was deeply grateful.

Given their financial situation and various expenses, Ye Qijia had always been frugal with food.

After all, even if they could save a little, they couldn’t splurge on meals. Right now, they only had one child, but that wouldn’t always be the case. People believed in having many children for blessings, and she hoped to give her son a couple of siblings.

However, in recent years, for some unknown reason, she hasn’t been able to conceive again.

In the first two years after giving birth, she had intentionally used contraception, not wanting to rush into having another child. But later, even after stopping, she still didn’t get pregnant, which was quite frustrating.

“I understand, Mom,” Yu Mingjie said, savoring the delicious taste from earlier and sighing regretfully. His childlike yet oddly mature expression of worry made people laugh involuntarily. Yu Xianghai ruffled his hair and said, “You’re living a life I never had as a child.”

It was a sobering thought.

Especially during the famine years, when they had to tighten their belts and constantly fill their stomachs with water to stave off hunger. Now, though they couldn’t eat freely, at least they weren’t starving to that extent.

Yu Mingjie didn’t understand the hardships his parents had endured. “Grandpa said we’re going to visit Great-Grandpa. I want to go to the creek with my cousins and catch fish. I’ll catch lots of fish and make something delicious.”

Hearing this, Yu Xianghai couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re just greedy, aren’t you? Dad can catch fish too. Once, I caught a fish that weighed over five pounds—this big!” He gestured with his hands, and Yu Mingjie gasped in amazement. “Wow, Dad, you’re amazing!”

The straightforward praise made Yu Xianghai beam with pride.

“Next time we go back, I’ll come with you to catch fish.”

As soon as he said this, Ye Qijia shot him a glare. “What are you talking about?”

While children catching fish was one thing, a grown man from another village doing it would raise eyebrows.

Everything now belonged to the collective—wasn’t this blatantly taking advantage of socialism?

Realizing his mistake, Yu Xianghai quickly laughed it off. “But Dad’s too old to go with you now. Still, I know all the tricks to catching fish. I’ll teach you later…”

Meanwhile, Ye Qijia went into the room to check the congratulatory gifts they had prepared.

Since they had already split from the main household, they naturally had to prepare a separate gift. The Yu family had no objections to her supporting her own parents, so she was equally attentive to the Yu family’s affairs.

When the day arrived, Yu Qingshan’s family adjusted their work schedules and set off early in the morning with gifts in hand.

Yu Qingshan and Yu Xianghai chatted about the day’s events along the way, while Zhao Qiangni listened absentmindedly, her face calm but her heart uneasy.

Today was a joyous occasion—surely her mother-in-law wouldn’t scold her in front of everyone, right?

She probably still didn’t know about the Ding family’s earlier commotion. If she found out… well, that would be another story.

But on such an occasion, her mother-in-law wouldn’t make a scene. With that thought, her gaze fell on little Ju, sleeping peacefully in her arms. He was her only hope for the rest of her life.

Though not her biological child, she had raised him as her own.

The other Yu children had already grown up by the time she arrived, and they all called her “Aunt Qiao.” Only little Ju called her “Mom.”

Even if he knew she was his stepmother, the bond of upbringing outweighed blood ties.

Having grown up together, they had a deep emotional connection. When he was older, she’d find him a filial and obedient wife…

Lost in thought, Zhao Qiangni didn’t realize they had already arrived until she saw Zhang Chahua bustling about energetically. Instinctively, she shrank back—the only time she had ever been scolded to her face was by her.

But Zhang Chahua had no time to pick on her today. With a wedding to celebrate, she was overjoyed. Spotting her other son’s family, she immediately rushed over. “Ah, you’re here!”

The Yu family was gathered in full force today. Even the married sisters, Yu Mansui and Yu Manrong, had brought their families to help.

According to local customs, the noon feast would be held at the bride’s home, while the evening banquet would take place at the groom’s.

The betrothal gifts had already been delivered—timing was crucial.

However, ceremonies were minimal these days, as simplicity was encouraged. Lavish banquets were out of the question.

For families with limited means, a small gathering with a good meal and the bride’s dowry chest sufficed. Those better off would invite close relatives for a meal to formally introduce the bride, while others simply offered small tokens of goodwill.

Monetary gifts were rare. Some brought dried vegetables, others a handful of rice, and a few even brought two eggs—the latter being considered quite generous.

Though the hosts didn’t provide a feast, they didn’t send guests away empty-handed either.

Zhang Chahua had prepared small red paper packets of roasted peanuts and soybeans—dyed red for good luck.

As the groom’s only uncle, Yu Qingshan, and his eldest son, Yu Xianghai, soon set off for the bride’s home, dressed in their finest worker’s attire. Their mere presence would bring honor to the Yu family.

On the bride’s side, their arrival was met with warm welcome.

The bride’s family was very satisfied with their son-in-law—handsome, tall, hardworking in the fields, with a middle school education, and two influential relatives to rely on.

One was his uncle’s family in the county town, where four members held stable jobs.

The other was his cousin, the village brigade leader—ensuring they wouldn’t be taken advantage of.

The bride’s family was also large and close-knit. As the eldest daughter, she had an older brother who was capable both at home and in the fields. Though she had only finished elementary school, in the countryside, this already reflected her family’s rare care for daughters.

Her family was of modest means, making their support even more commendable. Yang Huili wasn’t after wealth—as long as the family had good values, the bride was hardworking and kind, and not the troublemaking type, she was a treasure hard to find.

Meanwhile, Yu Xiang’an and Yu Xiangju giggled at home, whispering about how they’d get a good look at the bride later.

Yu Xiang’an, however, had no time to idle. She, Zhao Qiangni, and Ye Qijia were busy helping in the kitchen.

For the evening banquet, the bride’s closest relatives would attend, requiring three tables to seat everyone.

In preparation, Yang Huili had arranged with her brothers to provide twenty pounds of meat and six fish—a substantial offering.

Yang Huili was also bustling in the kitchen, where the women naturally chatted. Ye Qijia kept praising Yu Xiang’an’s cooking skills, prompting Yang Huili to assign her the braised pork.

After tasting the first batch, Zhang Chahua declared Yu Xiang’an the head chef for the day.

Surprised but pleased, Yu Xiang’an accepted the responsibility. She loved cooking as much as eating.

Inspecting the limited seasonings, she made do with what was available, determined to make the dishes as tasty as possible.

While Yu Xiang’an worked in the kitchen, Yu Xiangju and Yu Mingjie played outside with other children, who were eager for the roasted peanuts and soybeans. Zhang Chahua was happy to see the lively crowd—more people meant more prosperity in the future.

When Yu Manchang arrived on his bicycle with his bride, the children swarmed around them, showering them with compliments in exchange for treats.

The groom wore a military uniform, while the bride, partially veiled under a red headscarf, wore borrowed red attire. Though her face wasn’t visible, her figure was slender and graceful.

By the time Yu Xiang’an finished cooking, she was drenched in sweat. Zhang Chahua insisted she step out—she had done enough, and it was time to mingle. Perhaps she’d even spot a suitable young man for a future match.

By then, the groom’s side had all arrived.

Apart from Yu Qingshan’s family, Yu Changyou’s generation had six siblings. In those desperate times, the eldest sister was married off early, the youngest sent away as a child bride, and the four brothers left to seek survival. Only Yu Changyou and his second brother returned—the third brother disappeared, and the youngest died young, leaving behind only one descendant.

Now, for this wedding, the second brother Yu Changcun, his eldest son (the brigade leader Yu Shunwen), and the youngest brother’s sole heir, Yu Niangen, had all come.

Yu Manchang’s two uncles were also present.

After wiping her sweat, Yu Xiang’an finally got a look at the bride.

She had the round face elders adored, stood tall, and her hands bore the calluses of hard labor.

“Hello, sister-in-law!” Yu Xiang’an greeted loudly.

Xu Xiaojuan blushed but responded just as cheerfully, “Hello, An-mei!”

Yu Manchang grinned foolishly beside her, his adoration for his bride plain to see.

Yang Huili found her son’s expression embarrassingly dopey and focused instead on her daughter-in-law. “Xiaojuan, let me introduce you. These are your eldest and second uncles. The others couldn’t make it today, but we’ll introduce them later.”

“This is your uncle’s fifth daughter. She’s been busy in the kitchen all day. That delicious smell? All thanks to her…”

As dusk fell, those who had been working in the fields returned home, free to offer their blessings.

Yang Huili stood at the door with the newlyweds, introducing each guest to her daughter-in-law while Yu Xiang’an observed.

“This is Auntie You from the third house down. We often work together in the fields—she’s incredibly efficient.”

“This is Uncle Chen, a very honest man.”

“This is your grand-aunt—her pickled radishes are the crispiest!”

Meanwhile, Yu Manwu sat at a small table the entire time, meticulously recording each gift in an old notebook.

For example:

Auntie You: two eggs.

Uncle Chen: a bag of dried vegetables.

Grand-aunt: a small bundle of kindling.

The description of “a small bundle of kindling” was particularly amusing.

Seeing the armful of twigs that looked like they’d been casually gathered from the roadside, Yu Xiang’an marveled—she’d never seen anything like it!