People should have roots.
Even in later times, many who got rich in business didn’t abandon their few acres of land and old houses in the countryside.
Returning home in glory wasn’t just about showing off, but also embodied the Chinese people’s emotional connection to their ancestral land.
Having roots meant one could wander without feeling lost – no matter how badly things went, there was always the option of returning home. When Xia Xiaolan told Liu Fen this news at home, she was indeed delighted. If it hadn’t been so late, she would have gone to see their allocated fields even in the dark.
Liu Fen was so excited she couldn’t sleep half the night, asking Xia Xiaolan if they could build a house on their newly allocated homestead.
“Mom can spend her old age with your uncle then.”
Xia Xiaolan was speechless, “Mom, you’re not even 40 yet, why talk about old age!”
In her previous life, Xia Xiaolan had been about Liu Fen’s age. Sadly, she never had the chance to settle her own marriage, and although she’d earned some money, she didn’t dare relax, not feeling her savings were enough to live worry-free for the rest of her life. At the same age, while she was still struggling hard, Liu Fen was already talking about retirement – Xia Xiaolan found this quite remarkable.
In her view, Liu Fen was still young – wouldn’t she remarry if she met someone suitable?
Having cut ties with the Xia family, she surely wouldn’t ridiculously keep waiting for Xia Dajun!
Liu Fen was indeed very young, not yet 40 this year. Though her skin wasn’t fair, her cheeks had filled out, and the small cuts on her hands had disappeared with the persistent use of clam oil. No longer needing to work the fields with a hoe, her hands were quite presentable now.
Liu Fen didn’t begrudge spending money on clam oil – what were a few cents? She needed to help handle merchandise, and rough hands would snag the clothing fabric. Xia Xiaolan had said winter clothes were more durable, but summer would bring silk dresses – one pulled thread would make a dress unsellable.
Privately, Liu Fen clicked her tongue, wondering how anyone could do any work wearing such dresses. Every movement would risk dirtying or damaging the dress.
Li Fengmei had laughed heartily, saying women who could afford silk dresses didn’t need to do any work.
Xia Xiaolan always half-coaxed, half-deceived Liu Fen, because her mother couldn’t imagine how good their future life would be, always thinking the present was as good as it could get. Based on “Blue Phoenix’s” situation, even if business after New Year wasn’t as bustling as before, they’d still make several thousand yuan per month between the two stores. That meant tens of thousands a year – enough to build their own house in the countryside, possibly even one of the newly fashionable two-story houses… This was probably what Liu Fen was thinking.
If better living conditions were presented to Liu Fen, she would naturally change her mind.
Xia Xiaolan had initially planned to casually brush off her mother’s suggestion, but suddenly thought – what’s wrong with building a house in the countryside?
It wouldn’t cost much, and it would make her mother happy!
Not every penny needed to be invested correctly, right? Life’s meaning wasn’t just about snowballing assets bigger and bigger – wasn’t money earned to make life better for oneself and loved ones?
“Alright, alright, we’ll build a small building on the homestead, but let’s wait until after my college entrance exam. We can plan it together, and see if Uncle’s family wants to build a new house too.”
Mother and daughter discussed what kind of house to build until late into the night. Though Liu Fen woke up on time the next morning, Xia Xiaolan slept in.
Liu Zitao pinched his nose outside the window saying “Sister Lanlan is a big lazybones,” and when Xia Xiaolan got dressed and opened the door, she grabbed his ear.
“I’m a big lazybones, and you’re a little lazybones!”
Liu Yong had already bought vegetables early in the morning and was now plucking a chicken’s feathers under the eaves. After slitting the chicken’s throat to drain the blood, tucking its neck under its wing, pouring hot water over it, and quickly turning it over, he could easily remove the feathers while it was still steaming.
Poultry processed this way might not be as clean as those treated with tar, but there would be no tar residue in the pores, making it safer to eat. Small down feathers and broken quills weren’t a problem – they could be singed off over the fire later.
“Uncle, let me help you.”
Xia Xiaolan came over, but Liu Yong shooed her away, “Go warm yourself by the stove. Your aunt has toasted a mantou for you – have it to tide you over until we eat well at lunch.”
Liu Yong was busy – after plucking the feathers, he still had to clean the chicken’s internal organs.
This chicken was for offering to the gods, so it wouldn’t be chopped up for cooking – it had to be cooked whole. Instead of cutting the chicken open, they’d make a small hole in its belly to remove all internal organs, leaving three tail feathers unplucked. The choice of chicken was also particular – they needed a rooster with bright, beautiful tail feathers and a large red comb.
When Xia Xiaolan entered the kitchen, Taotao, who had just called her a lazybones, had already brought her the toasted mantou.
“Did uncle buy vegetables in the county town?”
“Of course, he went to the farmers’ market before dawn. We brought dry goods from Shangdu yesterday, but we need fresh meat, vegetables, and eggs these few days. If we don’t buy enough today, where would we buy during New Year? Even then, he couldn’t find chicken at the market and had to buy one in the village.”
Li Fengmei kept talking while her hands stayed busy.
She was frying fish, an essential dish symbolizing abundance year after year.
Liu Fen was rolling noodles – what could be more substantial than a bowl of lamb noodle soup?
They couldn’t afford it before, but this year the Liu family had earned money and wouldn’t stint on lamb. Two iron works sat on the stove – one steaming large mantou while yam porridge simmered beneath, and a large clay pot on the honeycomb coal stove slowly stewed pork knuckles… The lunch spread promised to be sumptuous.
Before Xia Xiaolan finished her mantou, visitors arrived.
It was the women from families invited to eat at the Liu house today, coming early to help prepare the meal.
With their help, Xia Xiaolan was even less needed.
Among them was Chen Qing’s mother. Sister-in-law Chen barely recognized Xia Xiaolan.
Xia Xiaolan was casually wearing a down jacket, jeans, and black leather boots – to Sister-in-law Chen, she looked completely like a city person. Even ordinary city girls might not be as stylish as Xia Xiaolan. Where was the destitute girl who had first come to Qijing Village?
“Xiaolan’s back? Chen Qing’s at home studying. Since you’re classmates, you should spend more time discussing studies together.”
Ranking second in the grade’s final exams, Sister-in-law Chen naturally thought Xia Xiaolan qualified to study with Chen Qing. Helping each other would lead to mutual improvement. Sister-in-law Chen hadn’t given up on making Xia Xiaolan her daughter-in-law, though she occasionally criticized her character. If only she weren’t so pretty and capable – then she’d be perfect.
Xia Xiaolan felt at ease – since she couldn’t help at home, visiting Chen Qing would be fine.
“Don’t worry, Aunt Chen. Chen Qing will get into university… I’ll go to your house now to see him.”
The aunts and sisters-in-law exchanged meaningful glances – Sister-in-law Chen was too obvious, trying to match Liu Yong’s niece with Chen Qing. Before Chen Qing passed the college entrance exam, the Chen family had forbidden anyone from introducing potential matches, saying dating would distract him. Now Sister-in-law Chen’s attitude had changed so quickly, obviously because she saw Xia Xiaolan’s excellence and capability, and how her uncle Liu Yong was becoming successful.
Just as Xia Xiaolan reached the doorway, she collided with a woman.
“Ouch! Who’s walking around without watching where they’re going?”