"I bought a piece of pork today and some rice noodles. How about we make dumplings."
"You...Cheng Qiao, you are really the lucky star of our educated youth. How can you still buy pork and fine grains?"
"Sister Chunmei has said that I am a little lucky star. Of course you can buy a little lucky star. From now on, when you go to the fields to harvest in the autumn, I will go to the county town for a stroll and buy whatever pork I see."
"Okay, wherever the pork is, I'll do it. You go back to the house and lie down and don't move."
"Okay, the pork and fine grains are all in the house. Come on, let's go get them."
When Han Chunmei saw the fat and thin pork and at least ten kilograms of flour, she was so greedy that she almost drooled. But she suddenly thought that she had no money or tickets in her pocket, and her face became embarrassed.
"This Cheng Qiao, I..."
"Sister Chunmei, have you run out of money and tickets? Don't worry, you know I'm going to marry a second-rate man, so just help me make a wedding dress. You see, I've brought back all the materials."
Cheng Qiao took out a piece of bright red khaki cloth. This can be used as a coat. Make it a little larger and put it on the outside of a thin coat. It will be more festive when you get married.
Han Chunmei touched the material and looked at Cheng Qiao with regret in her eyes. It was a pity that such a good little girl had to marry a second-rate man.
"Cheng Qiao, you..."
"Sister Chunmei, I am willing. My mother died early. If I don't get married before the age of twenty, I'm still worried about what kind of man my stepmother will find for me."
"Cheng Qiao, you..."
This was the first time Han Chunmei heard Cheng Qiao talk about her family. She didn't expect that she lost her mother at such a young age. It was really pitiful.
"Go and cook quickly. Time is tight. I'll help you."
Cheng Qiao carried a piece of pork with a smile and pulled Han Chunmei to the kitchen. Han Chunmei blinked her eyes, covered up the wetness, and followed Cheng Qiao to the kitchen.
"Cheng Qiao, where did you buy this flour? Why is it so white?"
"Shh..."
Han Chunmei's face changed. She finally knew why Cheng Qiao was able to buy fine grains and pork. This little girl dared to go to the black market because she didn't want her life.
"I'll add some cornmeal to it, otherwise it will be too white and too wasteful."
Han Chunmei couldn't help but add a small amount of cornmeal, mixed it with water, and began to knead the dough. Cheng Qiao also washed the pork, cut it into pieces, cut it into cubes, and began to mince the meat.
Han Chunmei kneaded the dough, went to the private plot, chopped a Chinese cabbage, and picked up a handful of green onions, preparing to make cabbage, pork, and green onion stuffing.
The two of them moved very quickly, and soon the white and fat dumplings appeared on the curtain. Han Chunmei counted a total of 168 dumplings.
"There are three male educated youths here, and we have six people here. There are nine people in total. Each person can eat eighteen, and the remaining six are yours."
"Sister Chunmei, give the remaining six to the male educated youths. They men have big appetites, and eighteen of them probably won't be enough to fill their stomachs."
"It's up to you, you add some water to the pot and I'll light the fire."
Xu Laidi opened the door and came in. When he saw Cheng Qiao sitting at the dining table, he couldn't help but sneered: "Oh, our eldest lady is back. Your life is really good. You can wait for dinner as soon as you come back."
"Xu Laidi, tell me clearly who the eldest lady is. If you don't know clearly, don't blame me for entertaining you with big-eared melon seeds."
"you dare."
Xu Laidi took a step back, but held on and shouted at Cheng Qiao not to be outdone.
Cheng Qiao stood up, and Xu Laidi took another step back. Zhang Yuefang happened to walk in. Seeing that Xu Laidi was making trouble again, he directly bumped into him with his body. Xu Laidi was not prepared for being hit and almost fell to the ground.
Han Chunmei came out with a spatula and was about to help. When she saw Zhang Yuefang's actions, she couldn't help laughing and turned around to walk to the kitchen. She was busy.
"Sister Chunmei, I'm starving. Is the meal ready?"
"It's done. Come over and help. There's something good to eat today."
"Really, what are you going to eat?"
Zhang Yuefang's eyes lit up and she quickly followed Chunmei into the kitchen. When she saw the dumplings floating on the water in the big pot, she shouted happily: "Wow, I'm eating dumplings today."
When Xu Laidi heard that they were eating dumplings today, he couldn't help but glance at Cheng Qiao. Needless to say, these things must have been brought back by Cheng Qiao, and he felt a little regretful for offending Cheng Qiao just now.
"Cheng Qiao, I heard from Chen Chunhua that her family compensated you 300 yuan. You are really lucky, but for such a minor injury, you are charged 300 yuan."
"How about I push you to the feet of the old cow and smash a hole in your head with a rock, and I'll give you three hundred yuan."
Cheng Qiao snorted coldly.
"Also, let her marry a second-rate man."
Zhang Yuefang heard Xu Laidi's words and quickly came out to help.
Xu Laidi was silent. Unexpectedly, after all the detours, Cheng Qiao was still going to marry a second-rate man. It was really satisfying. However, this fool had an extra three hundred yuan in his hand. I wonder if he could cheat her out of it.
"Xu Laidi, if you don't want to eat, just hide away and don't delay everyone's eating."
Xiaoqin ran over and knocked Xu Laidi aside. Xu Laidi dared not speak out in anger. The two sisters were wearing the same pair of pants. If one offended one, the other would definitely help.
"Today's flour and pork were bought by Cheng Qiao, so if you want to eat dumplings, you have to pay. A bowl of eighteen dumplings costs thirty cents a bowl. You don't need food stamps or meat stamps. If you want to eat, you have to pay."
"I want two bowls and I'll give you sixty cents."
Qian Longkun did not hesitate to take out six cents and handed it to Han Xuemei. You must know that a bowl of twenty dumplings in a state-owned restaurant costs twenty cents, plus food stamps and meat stamps.
Jiang Guangrong was a little embarrassed. He had no money. Zhao Xiaobao pushed Qian Longkun and looked at Jiang Guangrong. Qian Longkun nodded and took out another thirty cents and handed it over.
"Here are three bowls of dumplings for male educated youths. Yue Fang, go get the dumplings and put eighteen in each bowl."
Zhang Yuefang nodded repeatedly and went to fish for dumplings with squinted eyes. Xiaoping, Xiaoqin and Xiaofang also ran to their dormitories to get money.
"Han Chunmei, you have no money, how can you have the nerve to eat dumplings?"
Xu Laidi looked at Han Chunmei and said, Cheng Qiao spat on her, "Sister Chunmei, help me make clothes, eat my bowl of dumplings, I want you to control it."
"Cheng Qiao, don't forget, we two are the best friends."
"Come on, I don't dare to ask for your kindness. I have broken off our relationship with you."
In the blink of an eye, the educated youths sat at the dinner table and started eating dumplings. The remaining six dumplings were given to three male educated youths respectively. Cheng Qiao looked at Xu Laidi who kept swallowing his saliva and said, "Humph, I'm so greedy for you."
Chai Jianmin moved a little slower today. When he came back, the educated youths had already finished eating the dumplings, washed the pots and bowls, and were lying on the shop to sleep.
