Zhang Yuan had never gone hungry before. Even then, when a large basin of white steamed buns and a large basin of vermicelli stewed with pork, and cabbage were served on the table, he was stunned.
Although he did not have to go hungry every day, he was no different from others. He ate coarse-grain porridge every day. He had not eaten white flour since he came here!
"Come on over and start eating!" Bai Xue finally brought in a plate of pickled vegetables. There was nothing else in the house.
This spread could compare to a Chinese New Year dinner. Although Zhang Yuan was from the capital, there was a general shortage of food in this era, so people all had to go with less food.
Upon hearing their eldest sister's words, the four little ones climbed onto the brick platform bed and found their seats.
"Yuan, hurry up and sit down. Let's eat!" Bai Daliang had changed the way he addressed Yuan during the meal. It had evolved from "Comrade Zhang" to "Yuan" as he spoke genially.
"Uncle, sure thing!" Zhang Yuan walked out as he spoke and quickly washed his hands before coming in.
Children from the city were indeed particular enough to wash their hands. One could tell just by looking at the kids at the table. They only cared about the food and nothing else.
In the end, Zhang Yuan and Bai Xue sat near the brick bed.
The meal was like a war. The little ones had never eaten vermicelli before, and they sucked the vermicelli into their mouths until their faces were slightly red.
They also ate a lot of white steamed buns.
Zhang Yuan did not hold back either. He turned the tables and even put some food in Bai Xue's bowl as though he were the host.
The food was hard to come by. Although Bai Daliang and his wife were curious about the source of the food, they could not resist the temptation and ate them.
After everyone had their fill and cleared the table, Zhang Yuan did not leave immediately and sat down.
"Xue's culinary skills are really good. This food is even better than the food in the state-run restaurant! This is the first time I've eaten such delicious food."
"It's true that her cooking is excellent!" Bai Daliang praised his daughter along with Zhang Yuan.
Bai Xue thought to herself: "It was good since there was a lot of meat. If I cooked with only water and grain, let's see if you feel the same way!"
"Unlike me, I only know how to cook porridge," added Zhang Yuan.
"Yuan, does everyone in the Educated Youth Section cook on their own?" Bai Daliang asked.
"The boys and girls cook separately, but none of us boys know how to cook…" Zhang Yuan scratched his head and said.
"You can work with the girls! Let the girls cook, and you guys can pick firewood for them! That will kill two birds with one stone!" Bai Xue sat on the northern side of the brick platform bed and said.
"It's troublesome. I would rather eat porridge! Besides, I don't like to interact with those girls." Zhang Yuan looked at Bai Xue as if he was trying to explain something to her.
Anyway, if he was really hungry, he would go to the state-run restaurant for a meal.
"Then why don't you come to our house to eat with us! Anyway, we already have to cook for seven. One more person doesn't make a difference! You just have to bring the rations over!"
Bai Xue said this for her own selfish reasons. If she could get to see a handsome young man resembling her idol during meal times, it would help improve her appetite. She was sure coarse grain would taste no different from fine grain then!
Looking at handsome men was good for her health!
"Do you mean it?" Zhang Yuan was so excited that he was about to explode, but he could not show it on his face. He suppressed his emotions and asked.
"Erm…" Bai Daliang looked at his eldest daughter and then at his wife, who was smiling without any objections. He did not know what to say.
"Of course, you can. As long as you don't eat for free and use your rations, I don't see why not, right?" Bai Xue knew what her father was hesitating about. She was already 15 years old. He was afraid that outsiders would spread rumors if she invited a 19-year-old educated youth to eat with her.
"That's great. I can give you rations along with $5 every month for the meals! I'm not picky and eat everything!" Zhang Yuan said as he took out $5 from his pocket. "I'll give you this month's money now!"
He did not give the money to Bai Dailiang. Instead, he handed it to Bai Xue.
Bai Xue did not decline and took it.
She could tell that Zhang Yuan did not lack money judging from the way he was dressed.
"Alright, it's already dark. You should go back! I'm sure you don't want people to gossip. Remember to come over for breakfast at eight tomorrow morning!" Bai Xue waved her hand.
"Okay! Then I'll go back first! Uncle and Auntie, I'm leaving!" Zhang Yuan got up obediently and said goodbye to Bai Daliang and his wife before walking out.
"Yuan, take care! Shan, go walk him out!" Bai Daliang said.
"Okay, Dad!" Bai Rushan sent him out.
"Xue?" Wang Cuihua called her daughter quizzically after he left.
"Mom, he's my savior. Can you bear to see him eat porridge every day? He's living on his own, so it's hard on him since he can't cook!" Bai Xue said with an extremely sympathetic expression.
"That's true, but where did you get so many things today? There was milk powder, meat, and white flour steamed buns! Where did you get them?" Wang Cuihua asked on behalf of Bai Daliang.
"Wait a minute!" Bai Xue put on her shoes and walked out.
Soon, Bai Xue came in with the mahogany box. She had already made up an excuse and was waiting for them to ask.
"Dad, look at this!" Bai Xue said mysteriously as she placed the mahogany box in front of Bai Daliang.
"What's wrong with the box?" Bai Daliang picked up the box and looked at it carefully.
"Do you notice anything unusual?" Bai Xue asked.
"No… but this mahogany wood looks very good!" Bai Daliang did not notice anything wrong. Instead, he remarked on the quality of the wood.
"Dad, open it! There's a hidden compartment in this mahogany box!" Bai Xue went straight to the point.
Upon hearing this, the little ones also came over to watch.
Bai Ruyun even ran out to check if the doors and windows were closed.
She was the most meticulous girl.
"You're right…" Bai Daliang opened it and was surprised.
"I went to see the old lady today. I wanted to go to the waste collection center to find a few old textbooks for the four of them. When I found the textbooks and came out, I saw this box. I liked it at first glance, so I bought it. I carried it out, slipped, and dropped everything. I accidentally found this secret compartment and opened it…"
"What did you find inside?" Bai Ruchuan stared intently at her elder sister and could not wait to ask.
"There's a little yellow croaker inside!" Bai Xue said.
"Sister, why didn't I see it? Did you eat it?" Bai Ruxia asked.
"Big Sis, what dried fish? Why didn't I see it? Did you eat it?" Bai Ruxia asked.
"Lower your voice! Don't tell anyone about the little yellow croaker in the box, okay?" Wang Cuihua looked at Bai Ruxia and said.
"I know, I know. I'm not that big-mouthed!"
The others looked like they were trying to suppress their excitement. It seemed like the other three little ones all knew what a little yellow croaker was. Only Bai Ruxia, this little fool, did not know.
With this interruption, the atmosphere was no longer as intense.
"I went back to look for the old lady. Coincidentally, her son came back, so she asked her son to sell it for me! I sold it for $200, and I still have some stamps, but I don't have many food stamps. I managed to get five catties of food stamps, $40 worth of industrial stamps, one catty of sugar stamps, cloth stamps for 10 feet of fabric, and two cans of milk powder stamps! I used some and bought cloth, needles, and threads, as well as meat and vegetables for dinner. The remaining $150 is here!" Bai Xue took out $150 from her pocket. She still had $97.5 left.
"Wow, Big Sis, is dried fish that valuable? That's a lot of money!" Bai Ruxia exclaimed.
"Third Older Sister, keep your voice down! If anyone overhears you, we might attract trouble!" Bai Rushan turned around and covered Bai Ruxia's mouth.
"That's right, Third Older Sister. The little yellow croaker isn't dried fish, it's gold! If you keep talking about it loudly, you might get us in trouble!" Bai Ruchuan glared at Bai Ruxia.