Return to 1983 Hunting Xing'an Mountains

Chapter 485: Give me a way out and I'll give you a gift
The stars are shining brightly, with dense groups of stars hanging in the sky. A crescent moon is emitting bright light. The mountains are extremely quiet, and occasionally a gust of wind blows by, making the branches and leaves tremble.

In the second east room, Xu Laonian looked up and admired the bear gall hanging on the pillar. This bear gall was bigger than the one he, Liu Daming, Wang Erli and others got last year. Under the yellow light bulb, he could clearly see the green light coming out of the gall.

Liu Lizhen looked at him with gritted teeth and wanted to pinch his thighs hard twice, but Xu Ning and Wang Hu were in the room, so she just urged Xu Laonian to wash his feet, and then chatted with Xu Ning about family matters.

"After we finish calculating the date tomorrow, let's go home in the afternoon."

Although Liu Lizhen had finally managed to get out, she was still worried about her family.

Xu Ning asked with a smile: "What's wrong, are you missing home?"

"Why would I care about my family if you're all here? I'm worried that your second aunt and eldest sister-in-law are the only ones left at home, and I'm worried that they won't be able to handle the work."

Xu Ning glanced at his mother and smiled. He did not tell Liu Lizhen what she was thinking because he understood the feeling but could not find words to describe it.

"Okay, then let's leave in the afternoon, and then go directly to Wangxing with Shitou and Lianfang, stay in Wangxing for one night before going home, how about that?"

Liu Lizhen thought for a moment and said, "It's okay to go to Wangxing. Your father was talking about your Uncle Chai a few days ago, saying that the wine for your wedding has been provided. He has to go and show his face. Don't wait until you get married to meet him. That would be very rude."

Xu Laonian came into the house carrying a basin of water. "Not so good. Can we go to Wangxing tomorrow afternoon? We need to get something. Don't go empty-handed."

"I definitely can't go empty-handed. I'll buy some tomorrow when I pass by Sandaohe Town."

Wang Hu said, "Can Jun'er go with you?"

"I have to go and take a look..."

The four of them chatted for half an hour and made a preliminary plan for tomorrow's itinerary. When the lights in the house went out, Xu Laonian began to snore. He really fell asleep as soon as he touched the pillow.

Xu Ning lay beside him, sighing repeatedly, and he and Wang Hu were holding back laughter.

Liu Lizhen probably heard the two people's laughter, so she slapped Xu Laonian with her arm and scolded him, "Keep your voice down!"

Xu Laonian was slapped awake. He let out a nasal "hmm" out of anger, turned over and fell into a deep sleep again.

The next day, half past five.

There was a table on the floor in the outer room, on which was a pot of donkey meat and onion dumpling stuffing and a wooden board. Han Fang and Third Aunt were rolling out the dumpling wrappers, while Liu Lizhen and others picked up the wrappers and wrapped them up. They then placed the wrapped dumplings on the lid, waiting to be cooked in the pot later.

Small dumplings the length of an index finger are boiled, and palm-sized dumplings are steamed. The dumplings stuffed with donkey meat and onions taste best when steamed, but Sun Jiwei, Sun Lianxu and Wu Hailong prefer to eat boiled small dumplings.

It was past six o'clock when the water in the two large pots began to boil. Third Aunt and Liu Lizhen were putting small dumplings into the pot in the east room, while Second Mother was adding firewood to the stove in the west room. The large dumplings in the pot would have to be steamed for at least 20 minutes after boiling.

At this moment, people from several rooms got up one after another, and Sun Jiye, He Xu, Guan Lei, Wu Hailong and Jun came in.

Er Niang looked at the child in Wu Hailong's arms and asked, "Jin Bao didn't make any noise this morning?"

"No, he woke up a long time ago and played with his eyes for a while. I got up and made him some soy milk powder."

Aunt San smiled and said, "This child is really easy to deal with."

"Yeah, he was quite noisy last year, but since the beginning of spring, he has stopped crying or making a fuss, unless he peed or was hungry."

They were chatting about family matters. When Xu Ning entered the outer room, he saw Jun, Xu, Lianfang and Guanhua taking bowls and chopsticks. Originally, Sun Jiwei didn't want them to bring leftovers to the table. The in-laws had come with great difficulty, so how could he give them leftovers?

But Wu Zhouquan and Xu Laonian were not picky about this. It was good to have something to eat these days, and the leftovers from Old Sun's house were good things that ordinary people couldn't eat.

"Lianfang, cut the remaining two sausages. I think Huzi is quite happy to eat them."

Sun Lianfang responded and went to work. Third Aunt cut some cucumber shreds and mixed it with pig ears and jellyfish skin. When the dumplings were served, everyone sat around the table and started eating.

This morning Sun Jiwei didn't order soy milk and fried dough sticks, but dumplings stuffed with donkey meat. Who can eat dry fried dough sticks?

He suggested twice that they drink less, but Xu Laonian and Wu Zhouquan waved their hands and said no. Although they didn't drink much yesterday, they sat for too long and their buttocks still hurt a little.

Donkey meat dumplings are really delicious. Add some bear oil and soybean oil to the filling, and your mouth will be filled with oil when you take a bite! Dip them in garlic sauce and aged vinegar, and the taste is simply amazing!
Xu Ning had a great meal. He ate more than a dozen small dumplings, made five large steamed dumplings, and also found time to pick up a lot of cucumber dishes. With so many people eating together, it was mainly a lively occasion. If he were eating alone, he might be full after eating four steamed dumplings, but with a bunch of people around him, he became more and more enthusiastic in eating...

At around seven o'clock, everyone cleared the table.

The old women were washing dishes and cleaning the stove in the outer room, while Sun Jiwei, Xu Laonian and Wu Zhouquan were sitting in the east room drinking tea.

Sun Jiye asked Jun and Xu to put the donkey meat on the big round table in the west room, and then he took up the knife to cut the meat in preparation for the hot pot at noon. The meat for the hot pot cannot be cut too thick or too thin, which is quite a test of knife skills. However, perhaps because Sun Jiye cuts meat frequently, every time he cuts the meat, the thickness is even, and it looks very beautiful when placed on the plate.

In the east room, Xu Laonian took a sip of tea and said, "Second brother, we will go back after lunch."

Sun Jiwei was stunned and said, "Why are you in such a hurry? No! We have finally come here, you must stay for two more days!"

Wu Zhouquan sat on the kang and said, "Brother, it's not that we don't want to stay longer. This life is so good, but there are really a lot of things waiting for us at home. We really have no idea what to do."

"That won't do! The three of us brothers must have a good time together. We didn't drink enough yesterday, so I won't let you go no matter what. If we drink enough today, maybe I can let you go tomorrow morning..."

Xu Laonian grinned and said, "Second brother, we are still young, we can get together again if there is a chance. Aren't Lianfang and Leizi going to Wangxing? I thought we could go over together to take a look. Old Chai is really sincere to my little bastard. As his father, I have never even seen him. It would be a bit inappropriate if I don't go over and show my face."

Sun Jiwei drooped his eyelids, was silent for a moment and said: "Then you can leave tomorrow morning! Why only one day? Besides, you must drink something when you eat hot pot at noon. Can I let you leave after you finish eating?"

At this time, Er Niang lifted the door curtain and said with a smile: "My sister-in-law and I have just discussed it. You should leave after dinner tomorrow morning. We will find a day later. Shouldn't we celebrate? Drink more today. If you don't drink, lie down and don't leave."

Xu Laonian and Wu Zhouquan looked at each other and laughed: "Hahaha, OK! Then we can leave tomorrow morning. You have to accompany my second brother no matter what you say today!"

"That sounds like something to say!"

Xu Ning carried Wu Jinbao into the east room and said, "Then I'll go to the village office and call Wang Xing later. Don't make it too abrupt."

"Well, Jun'er has to go over and take a look too. By then, you will have two cars." Er Niang said.

"Okay, Mom, then I'll go to the greenhouse to pick vegetables now?"

"Why rush? Wait until after ten o'clock to pick them. If you pick them now, they will wilt."

"Wilted" is an exaggeration, but nowadays vegetables have to be eaten fresh. It is best if the interval between being picked from the ground and entering the stomach is only ten minutes, then it is considered fresh.

After a while, Han Fang, Er Niang, Liu Lizhen, Third Aunt, and Guan Mei put on a thin coat and walked out of the house. They had to find a date for Sun Lianfang and Guan Lei...

This day is not easy to find, because Er Niang means to get up later than Xu Ning and earlier than Wang Hu, and find a good day between the two.

They came back at about one o'clock. The five of them looked very relaxed. As soon as they entered the room, Sun Lianfang jumped up and asked, "Mom! When are we getting married?"

"August 9th, September 20th in the Gregorian calendar, this is a big day!" Sun Lianfang was stunned and said, "Ah, then didn't my brother also get married in September?"

Liu Lizhen said: "He came a few days in advance. I just asked him everything. There's nothing wrong."

"That's fine, but I'm afraid it will delay my brother's marriage..."

Xu Ning smiled and said, "I can get married whenever I want. If you make me angry, I'll get married the next day!"

Xu Laonian, who was sitting on the kang, heard the little idiot being so arrogant and scolded him, "Why are you so arrogant? Do you think your mother and I are worth anything?"

"I am looking at you, you are in my eyes."

"Hahaha……"

"It's absolutely true!"

"Haha, I can't continue with this."

Liu Lizhen smiled and patted her son on the shoulder twice, saying, "You're such a jerk! Look how embarrassed you've been because of your dad. Give him some way out."

Xu Laonian curled his lips: "Why would I need him to give me a way out? I can get down by myself!"

After saying that, he moved to the edge of the kang.

Sun Jiwei was startled, thinking that he was going to hide outside, so he asked, "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to the toilet!"

Sun Jiye stood at the door and couldn't help laughing: "Hahaha, brother, I see you are very imposing, I thought you wanted to go back to Qing'an by yourself."

"Why go back to Qing'an? Don't you have to drink with Second Brother today? I'm a person who spits..."

"There's a hole on the ground!" Xu Ning replied.

"Get lost, you're annoying!"

Xu Laonian put on his shoes, pushed Xu Ning aside, glared at him angrily, and made everyone in the room burst into laughter again.

Sun Jiwei, Sun Jiye and Wu Zhouquan envied the way Xu Laonian and Xu Ning got along. They were biological father and son, but also like friends, and could joke with each other. If Sun Jiwei and Sun Lianjun joked with each other, it would feel quite strange, like a cat pooping in the tree barn where a greyhound hibernates...

Guan Lei and Sun Lianfang's wedding date was set, so when did they get engaged? In fact, they were engaged yesterday, because the parents of both parties had met and the betrothal gift was given.

At around ten o'clock, Xu Ning and others went to the village office first to call Wangxing. The person who answered the phone was Chai Shao. When he heard that Xu Ning's parents, Sun Lianfang and Guan Lei were all going to Wangxing, Chai Shao was very happy. He said that the old man would definitely jump for joy when he heard the news. The enthusiasm of the Chai family was obvious to all. Others said that Chai Liangyu had a bad temper, but he was very friendly to Xu Ning, just like taking care of his own nephew.

Then they went to the greenhouse and picked two baskets of vegetables. At this time, there was no need to burn fire to heat the greenhouse. The temperature outside was enough. They even needed to lift up the plastic film during the day to ventilate the greenhouse and lower the temperature.

"Jun'er, try growing some prickly ash this winter. It will definitely be popular in winter."

Sun Lianjun wondered: "It's OK to plant old thorny shoots, but I'm afraid they won't survive."

"What can't be raised? No need to plant them in the fields. Just tie up the old thorny shoots and cultivate them with water..."

Sun Lianxu said: "Just like growing garlic sprouts? Use water to make them take root first..."

"Almost. I plan to clear out a room in the winter to try it out."

Sun Lianjun nodded and said, "Okay! It doesn't take up much space anyway."

After returning home, Sun Lianfang, Guan Hua and Guan Mei washed the vegetables. Ten plates of donkey meat, as well as various mushrooms and vermicelli, were already placed on the large round table. The remaining flying dragon was at the bottom of the pot, along with onions, ginger and garlic.

When Xu Ning was playing with Wu Jinbao, a man suddenly flashed outside the door of Old Sun's house. Liu Zhu stood at the gate and shouted, "Uncle! Third Uncle! My Uncle Xu is still here, right?"

Er Niang straightened up in the outer room, took a look, and waved her hand quickly: "Zhu Zi, come in quickly! Er Ning hasn't left yet."

"Hey!" Liu Zhu pushed a cart into the courtyard.

Sun Jiwei moved down to the ground and explained to Xu Laonian and Wu Zhouquan: "This is my sworn brother's son Liu Zhu, and his sworn brother is Wang Ye."

"Ah!" Xu Laonian and Wu Zhouquan also got down to the ground.

Xu Ning handed Wu Jinbao to Wu Hailong, and when he walked to the outer room, he saw Liu Zhu and said with a smile, "Zhu Zi!"

"Hey, Uncle Xu, I was thinking you couldn't leave. Master..."

Sun Jiwei nodded and introduced: "This is Erning's father..."

Liu Zhu rubbed his hands on his waistband, stretched out his hand and said, "Master Xu! My name is Liu Zhu."

Xu Laonian was stunned and shook hands with him, saying, "No, what's the relationship? I'm not even older than my second brother, why are you calling me grandpa?"

Sun Jiye said with a smile: "Didn't we go to Snail Shell before? I met Erning there. We were brothers at that time, so Zhuzi called me uncle and he hasn't changed his name until now."

Liu Lizhen glared at her old son and said, "Zhu Zi, just call him Uncle Xu, why call him Grandpa?"

Liu Zhu shook his head: "No, Uncle Xu is good to me, I respect him very much. He helped my father to get revenge once, and helped my brother to get revenge once. Both times were thanks to my Uncle Xu, otherwise I would have been suffocated to death."

Sun Jiwei said: "Let him shout whatever he wants, we can discuss our own issues, but you and Uncle Chai are still buddies, right?"

"Hahaha, that's fine, each one has his own opinion."

Sun Jiwei looked at Liu Zhu and said, "Take the food into the house and eat here at noon. Have you finished the business at Old Wang's house?"

"Yeah, it's almost done. I think I have to go to the grave tomorrow, and my uncle Xu might leave before I come back, so I brought the things here today."

Liu Zhu was carrying a jar of fruit wine weighing more than 30 kilograms, Jun and Xu were carrying bear meat weighing at least 70 or 80 kilograms, and Guan Lei and Wang Hu were carrying a fawn weighing more than 70 kilograms into the house.

Sun Jiye asked, "Where did you get the deer?"

Liu Zhu smiled but said nothing, but Xu Ning saw what he meant and said, "I'll take the bear meat and the fruit wine, you take the deer back."

"Hey, Uncle Xu, it's already been delivered, how can I take it home?"

(End of this chapter)