Bai Fumei in the ’70s Chapter 13
Translated by Serena Love
Proofread by Soupysuspicions
Edited by Ladyhotcomb
Chapter 13
After selling all her cooking, Zhao Lanxiang quickly pedaled away from Qinghe County town. She sped to a secluded mountain road, where she stopped to catch her breath and count her earnings.
She had a substantial stack of banknotes, a few coins, and several meat tickets. Excluding the duck meat samples she gave away, she had earned a total of fourteen yuan and four cents in notes, and seven and a half cents in coins. After accounting for the six yuan she spent on duck meat and the cost of spices, she had made a profit of over six yuan and also earned meat tickets equivalent to nine pounds and sixty liangs.
Zhao Lanxiang felt exhilarated, as if she had just sipped a cold, refreshing Sprite.
However, she wasn’t overly ecstatic. The memory of the young man from the neighboring stall lingered in her mind. Even though he seemed decent, his cautious attire made her wary. If she planned to continue her business in the black market, she needed to be more vigilant.
Habitually, Zhao Lanxiang took a detour around the remote mountain road and then headed to the local town. She avoided lingering in the county town after her sales. Only when she reached the local town did she feel safe enough to buy a pound of pork belly, a pound of sugar, and five pounds of high-gluten flour. After shopping, she noticed the midday sun and decided to head back to the village.
Upon returning to Hezi village, Zhao Lanxiang’s first task was to return the bicycle. She also wanted to invite Tang Qing, who she found playing the violin, to have noodles at the He family’s home. On her way, she unexpectedly ran into Jiang Li at the captain’s house.
When Jiang Li saw Zhao Lanxiang, she let out a deep hum from the depths of her nose and gave her a disdainful look. “What are you doing here?”
In Jiang Li’s eyes, Zhao Lanxiang’s image of stalking her brother had been deeply ingrained, and she was also used to Zhao Lanxiang’s kindness to her. When Zhao Lanxiang became a little colder, Jiang Li was more sensitive than anyone else and immediately felt dissatisfied, especially when she was living so miserably. Meanwhile, Zhao Lanxiang continued to live a life of great comfort.
In the past three days, she also asked for a leave, just like Zhao Lanxiang, only to be scolded by Li Dali. But when it was Zhao Lanxiang’s turn, it became a natural thing. Li Dali never picked at her faults and treated her pleasantly. How could Jiang Li not feel resentful?
Jiang Li, with a hint of anger in her voice, said, “My brother wrote to me. Would you like to see it?”
She had just returned from the village post office with the letter. Pulling out a white envelope from her bag, she displayed it to Zhao Lanxiang. Jiang Li was aware that her brother had also written to Zhao Lanxiang. After reading her brother’s letter, won’t Zhao Lanxiang treat her well in the future?
The last time Jiang Li didn’t get to eat Zhao Lanxiang’s meat buns, she was furious. She had written to her brother, informing him that she was assigned to Hezi village alongside Zhao Lanxiang. In her letter, she had included numerous complaints and bad things about Zhao.
Upon receiving the letter, Jiang Jianjun, her elder brother, was initially taken aback but soon understood the situation.
Zhao Lanxiang might be taking the roundabout route this time. She was finally being smarter and knew how to use his sister to attract his attention.
Jiang Li was a baby princess that the whole family adored. Jiang Jianjun’s uncles and aunts all gave birth to six boys at the same time. Finally, four years later, his mother gave birth to this one baby girl. The entire Jiang family was deeply smitten with this little seedling.
Jiang Jianjun was well aware of his sister’s nature. When had she ever been easy to please?
Zhao Lanxiang glanced at the envelope, responding with a disinterested “Oh.”
Without even reading it, she could guess its contents: Jiang Jianjun likely urging her to look after Jiang Li, mentioning how Jiang Li had been pampered all her life, and cautioning that her impulsive nature made her easily misled, and so on.
However... she wasn’t Jiang Jianjun’s wife in this life yet, so she expected his requests to be more subtle and polite.
Having no interest in reading such a letter that would ruin her appetite, Zhao Lanxiang replied with a smile, “Oh, really? It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to read your private letters. I have other matters to attend to…so I won’t bother you.”
She then proceeded to Tang Qing’s room, knocking on his door, and called out a few times.
The sound of the violin inside ceased abruptly. When Tang Qing opened the door and saw Zhao Lanxiang, his face lit up with a relaxed smile. “Have you returned the bicycle?”
Zhao Lanxiang nodded, replying warmly, “I bought some noodles in town. Today seems like a good day, so I thought I’d invite you over for a meal.”
She needed to visit the county town at least three times a month to engage in the “questionable activities” that brought in money. Traveling by car wasn’t safe, and walking the mountainous terrain would be too tiring. Borrowing Tang Qing’s bicycle seemed like the best option. So, maintaining a good relationship with Tang Qing was essential to avoid any embarrassment when borrowing his bicycle all the time.
Tang Qing didn’t decline her invitation. In fact, he seemed quite pleased. “Then, I am grateful to Comrade Zhao! Let me change into something more appropriate. Please wait for a moment.”
He was currently dressed in a casual white undershirt, revealing his arms. If he was going to accept a girl’s invitation for dinner, he felt he must wear some proper clothes.
As Zhao Lanxiang waited by the door, her gaze shifted from the wooden door to Jiang Li.
Jiang Li’s pretty face was now flushed with irritation. She eyed Zhao Lanxiang warily and snapped, “What the hell are you doing here?”
Zhao Lanxiang, taken aback by Jiang Li’s demeanor, had a sudden realization. Jiang Li’s visit to the captain’s house might not have been to see the captain at all. Perhaps she was here for Tang Qing.
When combined with the intense hostility radiating from Jiang Li’s eyes, Zhao Lanxiang is now 100% certain of her guess.
Tang Qing has a good temperament, and his parents are both highly intelligent professors at the Central Academy of Fine Arts. He also has a clean and neat appearance with a friendly and helpful personality.
Zhao Lanxiang’s brows furrowed in contemplation.
Jiang Li’s behavior served as a reminder that she should maintain a certain distance from Tang Qing. Inviting him over for a meal, just the two of them, might not be appropriate.
Turning to Jiang Li, she offered, “I bought some flour and invited Comrade Tang over for noodles as a gesture of gratitude. Would you like to join us?”
Jiang Li’s mood brightened instantly. Remembering the steamed buns she missed out on earlier, she quickly replied, “I’d like some steamed buns.”
Zhao Lanxiang gently refused, “It’s too late to make steamed buns. Let’s stick with noodles.”
After she finished speaking, Tang Qing emerged from his room, now dressed in a wide, neat dark blue shirt. Not wanting to keep the girls waiting, he had hastily washed his face, leaving water droplets in his hair.
Tang Qing chimed in, “Noodles sound great. Comrade Zhao’s noodles are delicious.”
Hearing Tang Qing’s endorsement, Jiang Li didn’t protest further. Feeling both shy and elated in her heart, she didn’t dare look directly at Tang Qing. Instead, she dropped her gaze and said, “Is that so? Well, let’s have noodles then.”
Zhao Lanxiang watched Jiang Li’s reaction, amused by this side of her she hadn’t seen before.
Suppressing a chuckle, Zhao Lanxiang discreetly covered her mouth with her hand.
Carrying her large school bag, she led the way to the He family’s home. Jiang Li seemed pleased that Zhao Lanxiang wasn’t interrupting their time together. Although she walked next to Tang Qing, her shyness kept her silent.
As for Tang Qing... all he was thinking about was that bowl of delicious, fragrant noodles.
After Zhao Lanxiang returned to He’s house, she discovered that Sister He was not at home.
Sister He was responsible for tending to the brigade’s cattle, a daily task. At this hour, she was likely at the cattle barn attending to the feed. Zhao Lanxiang’s gaze landed on He Songbai, who was busy chopping wood in the yard. She set down her school bag, gathered the flour, meat, and sugar she had purchased, and headed to the kitchen.
She quickly surveyed the kitchen. Noticing the charcoal on the stove was cold, she realized He Songbai hadn’t eaten lunch yet. She brought out the high-quality flour, cracked an egg into it, poured in some water, and started kneading the dough. Using eggs made the noodles stronger, adding a touch of resilience to their tender frames. Thirty minutes later, she began rolling out the dough with a pin, kneading and tossing, folding it in half again and again. The white dough was surprisingly compliant under her hands, turning soft yet remaining sturdy.
She then fried the spicy pork belly in lard, adding a touch of raw flour to give it a crispy texture. Once the noodles were cooked, she topped them with the pork and poured hot oil into the clear soup, creating a sizzling sound.
She prepared four bowls of noodles. Aware of He Songbai’s preference to not dine with strangers, she first served him a bowl in his room. Afterward, she called Tang Qing and Jiang Li to the kitchen to eat.
While the two enjoyed their noodles in the kitchen, Zhao Lanxiang approached He Songbai. He was hard at work under the sun, splitting thick logs into smaller pieces for the fire. The firewood seemed thinner than usual, catching her off guard.
Recently, Zhao Lanxiang has been struggling with the traditional wood stove while in the countryside.
Unlike her previous experience with a gas stove in her past life, where adjusting the flame was as simple as turning a switch, the wood stove demanded more attention. The firewood was messy, emitted smoke, and was tricky to handle. Thankfully, He Songbai, understanding her struggle, began cutting the firewood into smaller pieces. This made it easier for her to regulate the fire’s intensity, adding more wood for a bigger flame and less for a smaller one.
Gratefully, she said with a smile, “I’ve prepared a bowl of noodles for you. It’s in your room.”
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