Back to the 60s: The Struggle Career of a Charmed Wife
Chapter 1020: Xibao’s Birthday 9

Chapter 1020: Chapter 1020: Xibao’s Birthday 9

Leave it all to him? Impossible.

The next morning, Feng Qingxue started to get busy, kneading dough, washing vegetables, boiling cured meat, and slicing what needed to be sliced.

Meanwhile, Lu Jiang had set off at around four or five o’clock and by noon returned with a chunk of pork belly, half a pig’s head, and some bones. He had traded the rice and flour Feng Qingxue gave him for urban meat tickets and, after much effort, managed to buy two jin of pork belly.

The main reason was to put on a show for the family; otherwise, he wouldn’t have made the trip.

"That’s enough, we will add a little more, and make it all into braised pork," he said.

The staple food was rice and steamed buns, with a varied menu since there were twenty-one elders alone to feed.

In addition to the original twelve elders including Elder Xu and his wife from Shanghai, there were six more, including He Qingyin and Ouyang Mo, who was forcibly renamed, and three old ladies from Huaibei City.

These three ladies were companions to the relocated elders from Huaibei City, either coming from wealth or being learned and literary women.

Thus, Lu Jiang and Feng Qingxue planned to set three tables, which would just be enough for all their family members, wouldn’t it?

The house had enough tables, one made by the Lu family, one Feng Qingxue brought back from her parental home, and one made from the good quality wood that was sent back, together with several chairs.

But there weren’t enough benches and chairs, so Feng Qingxue said to her sister, "Xiaoyun, go and tell uncle to come over for dinner tonight and borrow some chairs and benches from the neighbors on the way, not the small ones; we need enough for twelve people to sit."

"Got it, I’ll go now!" Feng Qingyun, with her apron still on, hurried out.

Wang Zhenguo wasn’t home because of work. She ran back and forth a few times and managed to borrow eight chairs and two long benches from the folks around, just enough for twelve people. By lunchtime, she went to find Wang Zhenguo and came back saying, "Uncle assured me he would be here on time this evening."

Feng Qingxue nodded, "Understood, wash your hands, let’s have lunch. We still have to work in the afternoon!"

After lunch, Lu Jiang’s father and Guan Cheng went to work, and Feng Qingxue also asked Lu Jiang to join them to avoid being laughed at at home. She stayed with Qingyun to take care of the children and to continue cooking and steaming bread.

In Wanglou Brigade, the rule was to work from sunrise to sunset. As soon as it began to get dark, everyone gradually returned home.

Since there was a prior agreement, the relocated elders quickly spruced themselves up and, carrying their prepared gifts, sneaked into the Lu household, sticking to the corners of the walls to avoid being seen.

By that time, nobody was wandering outside anyway.

Plus, their living quarters were quite distant from the other families, adjacent only to the orphans like Jiang He.

Lu Jiang, Feng Qingxue, and both Xibao and Guan Cheng welcomed them at the door. Except for the newly arrived He Qingyin, everyone was familiar with each other. Also, Wen Ruyu was Feng Qingxue’s former teacher, and Jin Ruochu was Guan Cheng’s, so they were received naturally.

When they heard Feng Qingxue calling out to them, one of the older ladies suddenly exclaimed, looking at Feng Qingxue with surprise and delight.

"It’s you, my girl!" she said.

Everyone was taken aback as her husband, Bai Yuesheng, asked, "Do you know her?"

"I will never forget my girl’s voice. And looking at her appearance and behavior, I can’t be mistaken. Do you think we would have survived those days when we went two or three days without food? I took your Clear Mud Inkstone that you’d never part with to the black market, but couldn’t sell it or trade it for food. We thought we were going to starve, but thank goodness for this kind-hearted girl, who took the Clear Mud Inkstone and gave me coarse flour."