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At that ti, fifteen steam trays will be stacked on one stove, while the other four pots will be used to prepare stew.
Li Yunqiang’s wife, Liu Cuilan, was also cooking. "Cuilan, have you taken a liking to Xiang Dong’s wife yet?" asked Li Dazhong’s wife.
"Not yet, actually Xiang Dong is still young, no rush, just taking it slow and looking around."
"Xiang Dong is such a good lad, take your ti and you’ll find soone great."
"This kid doesn’t care, and I can’t do anything about it. He’s t two so far, didn’t say anything, don’t know what he’s thinking," Liu Cuilan said, worried.
"Xiang Dong is still young, probably hasn’t thought about it yet."
"He’s like a closed bottle, I ask him, and he doesn’t say anything, it’s really infuriating."
"Cuilan, you’re just not satisfied. Xiang Dong is already very good; there are few in the village like him.
Don’t worry, maybe Xiang Dong’s destined match hasn’t arrived yet."
Liu Cuilan nodded, that was all she could do, you worry, but others don’t.
anwhile, the wild boar had been brought in, and the won were exclaiming at the sight of the big, dark wild boar.
"This wild boar is too large, how did they get it down from the mountain?"
"Probably several hundred pounds, now each family can get a few more pounds of at."
A distant sound of pigs squealing could be heard; the fattened pigs were also brought in.
Qu Xiaoli imdiately instructed three people to start boiling water, as hot water would be needed for the slaughter.
Li Yungui also ca over. At this ti, the two butchers from the village arrived with their tools.
In past years, children would gather around to watch the fun, waiting to eat at.
But this year, they were all in school, making this year’s pig slaughter quieter. Just the blood alone filled four basins.
Once the water boiled, it was used to make blood pudding, which was set aside.
Later, when the stew was nearly done, they would just chop it up and put it in the pot.
Soon, the idle villagers all arrived. Slaughtering a pig is not easy work, and the most important thing is the at distribution.
In no ti, lots of offal was brought into the canteen. Although today was for communal dining, the at wasn’t being eaten.
Everyone hoped to get a bit more, so they could have more to eat during the New Year.
Especially the wild boar offal, which filled two large basins. Several deft won were cleaning it.
The offal needed to be thoroughly cleaned, as otherwise, it would have a strong odor. So only clean people were trusted to wash it.
Basins of it were brought in, and boiled in clear water with lots of seasonings.
After an hour, all the bones were brought in for stewing. However, the pig’s trotters, head, and tail were kept aside.
The pig’s head and tail are offerings for the first month, while the trotters are kept to stew with the head later.
The canteen was filled with a rich aroma of at. But without the children gathered around, it didn’t seem as fragrant.
Over ten basins of pickled vegetables were cut and set aside, ready to use.
By now, they were ready to distribute the at. Li Yungui weighed everything and found that the net at from the four pigs was seven hundred sixty pounds, while the wild boar at was four hundred pounds of pure at.
Li Yungui calculated that there were two hundred thirty-five people in the village, including newborns, and seventy were children. Each child would get two pounds, while the rest of the at would be evenly distributed among the adults and able-bodied.
It worked out that each person would receive three and three-quarters pounds. That was already quite a lot.
Naturally, this thod wasn’t wholly fair, so those known for diligence received first-class at, and no one objected to that.
anwhile, a tractor stopped nearby, and several people jumped off.
Seeing his eldest son, Li Yungui felt a lump in his throat. After years away, his son was finally back.
Li Manjiang ran over to him. "Dad, I’m back."
Li Yungui nodded, barely holding back tears. "Good, it’s good you’re back. Your mom’s working inside, she’s been thinking about you for a long ti."
Li Manjiang also teared up. After years away, it had been over two years since he’d last co ho.
"Dad, I want to see Mom."
"Manjiang, you’re back?"
"Uncle, I’m back. You still look so strong."
"Of course, I’m an able worker."
Everyone burst into laughter. The village head’s eldest son was back, a capable man indeed.
Qu Xiaoli was in the canteen, cutting the offal. It had been skimd and was now being used to stew the pickled vegetables.
"Xiao Li, hurry up, Manjiang is back."
Qu Xiaoli paused for a second, then hurriedly dropped the knife and ran out.
Li Manjiang ca in, bumping into his mom.
Mother and son looked at each other, joy evident in their eyes.
"Mom, I’m back, I’m here to see you."
"Good, good, finally you’re back. But you’re several days later than you said in your letter."
Qu Xiaoli wanted to hold her son’s hand but held back, seeing her hands still greasy.
"Manjiang, go ho and rest for a bit, then co over for dinner. You’re lucky, just in ti for the at."
"Okay, Mom. I’ll go drop off my luggage and co back to help you with the fire," Li Manjiang said, understanding his mom’s intentions. He grabbed her hand.
"It’s all greasy, don’t get it on you." Qu Xiaoli said, smiling broadly despite her words.
Xiang Dong ca over, carrying his brother’s luggage. "Big brother, I’ll take your luggage."
"Alright, you go ahead. I’ll stay here." Missing his family every night, now that he finally saw his parents, why would Li Manjiang want to leave?
Outside, people had queued up to start the at distribution. Families with more mbers received twenty-four or twenty-five pounds of at, sothing unprecedented for years.
Li Yungui explained that the wild boar was hunted by Old Yang and his five companions, new to the village, and distributed to everyone.
The five hunters were warmly thanked, with everyone singing their praises.
Shuanzi’s group of eleven, Lu Tiezhu, and the eight others in the re-settlent also received their at. It was the sa for everyone.
Wen Zhenzong felt lucky to be part of this village, where he could get at even if it was lean at.
He took away thirty pounds of at for his group of eight, filling a large bucket.
Now, they could all have a sumptuous New Year.
Lu Tiezhu and others didn’t have ti to co for distribution, so the butcher cut the at into pieces to be sent to them. It was all lean at, identical in type.
The two from Lu Tiezhu’s family received seven and a half pounds of at, a sizable portion.
The lively at distribution was over. Of course, there were so grumbles about the first and second-class at, but with Li Yungui overseeing, the complaints were just mutterings and didn’t escalate.
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