"My kids are going to start fussing." Although they haven’t had iron pot stewed fish before, they know from the word ’stew’ that it’s all about slow cooking.
Whether it’s fish or pork, once it’s stewed, the aroma is absolutely mouthwatering. Adults might be able to resist, but how can children?
Don’t look at how everyone is busy buying New Year goods now; it’s all preparation for the Spring Festival. There’s no way they’re using them now.
"Zhang Wei’s family fishing, at least they don’t overdo it like this." Everyone agreed that Zhang Wei and Zhang Jie were better, envious of their modest catches, and every ti the girl fished, most of it would be used the sa day.
"What a spendthrift, doesn’t she know how to save so for tomorrow?"
"But she’s going fishing again tomorrow," muttered a neighbor.
That comnt shut up those who were just criticizing Zhang Yu as wasteful; if she’s a spendthrift, then probably there’s hardly anyone who isn’t.
Everyone felt helpless. What else could they say? Tell Zhang Yu not to co ho for the New Year? That would just be asking for trouble.
Soon, they switched to another topic, moving away from Zhang family matters; otherwise, it would really piss them off.
Zhang Yu carried the water bucket ho, put it down, ready to snack a bit and then rest, when suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
What’s the matter? She had clearly told them downstairs that she’d be stewing both fish tonight; why was soone knocking?
Opening the door, she found Aunt Liu, "Auntie." Zhang Yu rembered Yao Ying ntioning once that Aunt Liu’s daughter-in-law finally had a baby, but wasn’t producing enough milk.
Zhang Yu instantly understood why she ca, "Trade fish."
Aunt Liu nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed, "Well, your Brother Liu is out on a business trip, and I need to stay ho to take care of the baby and my daughter-in-law."
"Aunt Liu, what are you saying? You took care of and Xiao Jie a lot when my parents were busy working," Zhang Yu went straight to the kitchen and handed over a fish weighing more than two pounds to Aunt Liu.
Aunt Liu nodded, "Thank you."
After eating a piece of cake and drinking so hot water, Zhang Yu felt alive.
After resting, she started preparing the fish. When Zhang Wei and the others were downstairs after work, they could sll the braised fish aroma.
Zhang Jie was the first to react, "My sister did well today."
Zhang Wei nodded, "Yeah."
A few neighbors saw the father and son and mocked, "So you guys finally ca back."
"Yeah, your Little Yu did well today, caught two fish..." the neighbor paused, "One weighing more than two pounds, the other over three pounds."
Hearing that Zhang Yu caught only two fish today, Zhang Jie looked incredulous, surprised at how it didn’t fit Zhang Yu’s fishing skills.
Upon knowing the weights, "That’s more like my sister’s level."
Zhang Wei nodded, "Right."
The neighbors were not interested in continuing the conversation with them, pouting and giving them space.
As soon as he entered the house, Zhang Jie exclaid, "Sis, you did well today, caught two fish over five pounds."
"Yeah, we’re having iron pot stewed fish today with corn pancakes."
"We’ll be eating the fish that weighs over three pounds today."
What? Zhang Jie couldn’t believe they were eating a fish over three pounds today, knowing his sister’s stance of not keeping today’s catch for tomorrow.
"Sis, did you pickle a fish?" But he thought again—no, it’s not; they’ve already said there’s plenty of salted fish at ho, so why pickle another?
"No, Aunt Liu found ."
The father and son understood, "Xiao Liu is driving to Northeast this ti, probably fishing before he leaves, it’s almost done."
Zhang Yu knew the Liu family took good care of her and her brother, surprised to learn Brother Liu was a truck driver, such an incredible job among the eight major roles.
"Brother Liu shouldn’t be lacking milk powder coupons, right?" It’s common for drivers to bring goods for extra cash.
"That’s true, but the milk powder coupons are scarce, and with the child growing, the appetite increases."
"Indeed." Zhang Yu thought, but there’s no choice; supplies are tight now, it’s not sothing money alone can solve.
After a while, Yao Ying returned ho, and upon entering the room, "Little Yu, did you give Aunt Liu a fish today?"
Zhang Yu nodded, "Made a good catch today, brought back two fish."
"And I traded so cloth coupons and stuff." These are local coupons, "They mostly expire next month."
If they were national coupons, she could take them away, but local ones had to stay, "By the way, Dad, they didn’t have a catch, so why trade with ?"
Zhang Yu had found it odd but accepted the coupons anyway, not questioning why they’d trade.
Upon hearing, Zhang Wei and the others asked about the traders’ appearances, "They trade with neighbors around, sotis even with leaders."
Zhang Yu instantly understood that trades with neighbors might bring better items, but trading with leaders opens many doors.
"By the way, Dad, why haven’t you thought about trading with your leader?" After all, no matter the ti, soone wants to connect with leaders.
"Trade what?" Zhang Wei outright rejected Zhang Yu’s suggestion, "I’m already under enough scrutiny, if the leader favors more, I’m worried about how they’d backbite."
Alright, so it is. The original reason for pursuing intellectual youth was due to envy of the Zhang family.
"By the way, Mom, what did Aunt Liu give you?" Zhang Yu was curious about the trade.
"Tomorrow noon, go with Aunt Liu to the departnt store for defectives." Yao Ying initially wanted to go herself, but she’s tied up tomorrow afternoon.
Defective goods? Zhang Yu knew what that ant; while labeled defective, quality varies. These items, being ticket-free, already make them desirable, practically irresistible.
Limited quantities an they hardly circulate outside; internally, demand outstrips supply, unable to reach outside circulation.
"Aunt Liu’s daughter-in-law works at the departnt store, and her sister-in-law works in finance there," Yao Ying whispered.
Oh, Zhang Yu understood, so it’s internal connection, makes sense, "Alright, I’ll go with Aunt Liu tomorrow."
She could get in, but not everything is purchasable; rules had to be followed, so doing as Aunt Liu did was best.
Yao Ying planned to give Zhang Yu so advice but she already knew her way around, "Good."
"Aunt Liu ntioned there’s defective bedding."
Got it, Zhang Yu understood imdiately, "I’ll pick a bedding set tomorrow."
"Pick what you like, then take it to the farm."
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