Anqing County sits at the intersection of north and south, and its dietary habits are naturally influenced by both regions.

Rice was more common, but people ate wheat too – wheat cultivation area was only slightly less than rice paddies, and wheat was mandatory for annual grain contributions. Rural folks used their ground flour for steamed buns and dumplings – not as pretty as enriched or refined white flour products.

The texture wasn’t as fine as enriched flour, but the wheat’s natural fragrance was stronger.

Xiaolan’s aunt-in-law made excellent pickled vegetables.

The main ingredient was a large red-skinned white radish. The pickling liquid contained salt and brown sugar, and Li Fengmei added some red chilies, creating a sweet-sour-spicy radish that stimulated the appetite. Combined with meat, it was mouth-watering.

Making the dough was Liu Fen’s job, while Xiaolan handled the filling. She woke up an hour early, washing and chopping in the kitchen, making dumplings with two jin of filling. That was all the meat they had – Xiaolan filled two enamel jars with dumplings, ate just a few herself, and left the rest for Tao who was still sleeping.

She felt quite embarrassed:

“I’ll buy some more meat when I return today.”

The meat was expensive, but eating one in a day wasn’t unaffordable.

Xiaolan knew money was for saving, but they couldn’t save every penny earned. She could skip nice clothes and face cream, and keep personal items simple, but couldn’t let her family go hungry.

Li Fengmei hurried her along, “Your uncle’s ready and waiting at the door. Quick, get going. Don’t worry about buying meat – I had the butcher save half a pig’s liver. Come back early with your uncle.”

Liu Yong’s family was almost done harvesting rice. They’d need help again today, and Li Fengmei would cook several good dishes tonight.

Liu Yong had already loaded the eggs and waited with the bicycle.

“Sit facing backward on the rear seat, and be careful not to crush the eggs in the baskets. Your mother was distressed while cleaning up the broken eggs last night.”

Several dozen eggs were ruined – how could she not be upset?

These weren’t free wild duck eggs – they paid to collect them. Xiaolan worked hard going door to door. People say the 1980s were full of opportunities, but even good money required sweat and diligence.

Xiaolan held two enamel jars, settling onto the rear seat.

Liu Yong smiled, “Not full from those few morning dumplings? Hold on – uncle will treat you to something good in Anqing County!”

Xiaolan thought Liu Yong’s trip to town wasn’t just for information gathering – he’d want to properly thank Zhou Cheng and Kang Wei. Expressing gratitude inevitably meant treating people to meals. Liu Yong’s treat wouldn’t be just a simple bowl of noodle soup this time.

She hadn’t repaid her uncle’s capital yet and was making him spend more. Xiaolan felt uneasy.

“Uncle, you’re so good to me.”

Though short in stature, he was more of a “father” to Xiaolan than the tall Xia Dajun.

Liu Yong pedaled silently, thinking his niece was being silly again.

His love for Xiaolan equaled his love for his son Tao – they were both Liu’s family children, how could he not care?

If he’d realized a few years earlier, the family could live without worrying about food and clothing now. How could he let Xiaolan earn hard money reselling eggs?

Halfway there, Liu Yong spotted someone waiting by the road and grew alert. In the pre-dawn darkness, what idle youth would be out? Could it be yesterday’s thugs’ accomplice waiting to trouble his niece?!

“Xiaolan, do you recognize that person ahead?”

Xiaolan craned her neck to look. In the dawn light, that distinctive crew cut and unforgettable face – who else but Zhou Cheng?

“It’s Brother Zhou Cheng – he and another comrade saved me yesterday!”

Liu Yong quickly braked. Xiaolan jumped off the rear seat:

“Brother Zhou, why are you here?”

The morning dew had dampened Zhou Cheng’s shoulders – who knew how long he’d waited, but seven or eight cigarette butts littered the ground.

Seeing Xiaolan, Zhou Cheng stomped out his half-smoked cigarette:

“Didn’t I tell you to leave later?”

He looked at Liu Yong. Xiaolan quickly introduced them: “This is my uncle. He wanted to thank you both. Uncle, this is Brother Zhou Cheng.”

Zhou Cheng felt awkward.

Xiaolan was fair and tall, while Liu Yong was short and dark – hardly looked like her uncle. Meeting family so soon caught Zhou Cheng off guard, but being naturally casual, he followed Xiaolan’s lead:

“Uncle, I’m Zhou Cheng.”

The young man looked quite proper.

Must be about 185 centimeters tall. His previously casual demeanor straightened up, looking truly impressive.

Though talking to him made Liu Yong’s neck tired from looking up.

Liu Yong was enthusiastic, “Comrade Zhou, thank you so much. I said at home we must bring Xiaolan to thank you both. This girl doesn’t understand the gravity – can a bowl of noodles repay a life-saving debt? By the way, where’s Comrade Kang Wei?”

Not sleeping early morning, waiting for Xiaolan?

Liu Yong smiled outwardly, but a life-saving debt couldn’t be repaid with noodles – nor could he let them have his niece.

Though only her uncle, Liu Yong could stand up for Xiaolan – their relationship must be close. Zhou Cheng remained respectful:

“We stayed at the Anqing County guesthouse last night with our cargo truck. I had Kang Wei watch it. Hearing Xiaolan was coming to town today, I worried those thugs might have accomplices, so I came to wait for her.”

Liu Yong nodded.

“Come on, let’s head to town first.”

Zhou Cheng had specifically come for Xiaolan, not considering Liu Yong, but now he had to speak properly with “Uncle.” He took the egg-laden bicycle from Liu Yong, pushing it slowly, trying not to steal glances at Xiaolan.

By the time they reached town, Zhou Cheng understood Xiaolan’s situation well.

He learned she and her mother temporarily lived with her uncle’s family, recently started reselling eggs, and due to harvest season, no one else could help – Xiaolan worked alone, leading to yesterday’s incident. Zhou Cheng’s brows furrowed – she was so delicate and alluring, going door-to-door collecting eggs was like walking into danger.

At the guesthouse, Kang Wei had been anxiously waiting.

His eyes brightened seeing Xiaolan but dimmed noticing Zhou Cheng’s silence.

Xiaolan handed the pickled radish and pork dumplings to Kang Wei and introduced her uncle. Without thinking, Kang Wei also called him “Uncle.”

Zhou Cheng coughed lightly, “Don’t call him that – you should say Uncle Liu.”

Liu Yong remained silent.

He understood clearly – Zhou Cheng’s predatory intentions weren’t even hidden!