The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 126: Little Snacks, Little Happiness_1

Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Little Snacks, Little Happiness_1

Third Grandma Qi’s cooking skills were superb, and in just a few minutes of stir-frying over low heat, she had dished up the aromatic, original-flavored pine nuts without adding any other seasonings.

He Tiantian grabbed a handful of pine nuts and, like a little squirrel, kept cracking them nonstop. Third Grandma Qi’s teeth weren’t good, so she could only purse her lips and chew continuously on the fragrant pine nuts.

Having such delicious food made He Tiantian think of her parents, as well as Huo Yingjie and his parents. She wished she could send some to them.

"Grandma Qi, I know there are more up on the mountain, If I pick some more, could you help me fry them? I’d like to mail some back home," He Tiantian whispered, "they haven’t had pine nuts before."

"Sure thing!" said Third Grandma Qi, "Once you finish this handful, we’ll peel the rest together, and I’ll fry them up. We’ll wrap them in several layers of oil paper, so they won’t go soft and can be kept for a long time, suitable for mailing," she explained, noting that these were free for the taking from the mountain. As long as He Tiantian could gather them, she would help fry them.

"That’s really wonderful," smiled He Tiantian, and after finishing a handful, she began to process the remaining unshelled pine nuts.

In times of scarcity, having any snack was a form of happiness. He Tiantian felt this happiness and wanted to share it with her dearest ones!

Since dinner was made late today, everyone was waiting to collect their share of meat, to make dumplings or stew when they returned home, taking the opportunity to enjoy a good meal while there was meat available. Having meat was like celebrating the New Year.

As dusk fell, Qi Ergou personally delivered twenty pounds of meat to He Tiantian’s home, cheerfully saying, "Secretary Qi said that you, Comrade Xiang, and Comrade Zuo made the greatest contributions, so you get twenty pounds, and Comrade Zuo and Comrade Xiang each get fifteen pounds. Third Grandma gets one pound and a few ounces of meat, and I’ve also brought her some big bones, so she can make a soup."

He Tiantian thought she would be lucky to get ten pounds, so receiving twenty was a pleasant surprise, and she was very happy.

"Isn’t my share a bit too much?" He Tiantian said, feeling embarrassed to accept it.

"It’s all right, everyone agrees with this. If it weren’t for you, no one would get any meat at all," Qi Ergou replied, "The distribution is fair, based on the number of people, with each adult receiving a full share and children under twelve receiving a half share. With each adult getting a pound and kids half a pound, every household gets some, so no one has any complaints."

After hearing Qi Ergou’s explanation, He Tiantian stopped refusing and said, "Then thank you, Second Brother, just put it in that basin over there."

Qi Ergou placed everything properly and said, "All right, I have to go deliver to Comrade Zuo and Comrade Xiang at the Animal Husbandry Team. I’m off then."

"Goodbye, Second Brother Qi," said He Tiantian politely.

"Grandma, Tiantian, I’m off then. If you need anything, just come to find me or my mom," said Second Brother Qi, and then he hurried off.

When he was gone, He Tiantian was thrilled and said, "Grandma Qi, we have so much meat!"

"Hehe, yes we do. I haven’t seen this much meat in many years," Third Grandma Qi chuckled, "It’s all thanks to Girl Tian’s good fortune."

He Tiantian carried the meat to the kitchen and cut off two pieces, estimating each to be about three pounds. She threaded them with two small strings and said, "Grandma Qi, out of the more than twenty pounds of meat, I’ve cut two pieces for Brother Dajun and his cousin Sister Lili. If it weren’t for them telling me in advance about Qi Jianguo reporting me, I would have been in serious trouble!"

"It’s the right thing to do," said Third Grandma Qi, "They’ve been kind to us, so when we have nice things, we ought to share some with them. By the way, the county town is far away, how will you send it there?"

"Brother Dajun came to send a letter and Xiao Yan dragged him home for a meal," replied Tiantian, "I’ll deliver it first thing tomorrow morning, and have Brother Dajun take it with him."

"We should send it tonight, when it’s dark and no one will see. In the morning, if someone happens to see us, they might think it’s for Secretary Qi," said Third Grandma Qi. "It’s getting late, let’s make stir-fried pork with green vegetables noodles tonight, and have braised pork and dumplings tomorrow."

"Alright!" He Tiantian agreed. "The baby bok choy in our garden is ready to be picked. Grandma Qi, you knead the dough, and I’ll go pick the vegetables. I’ll roll out the noodles when I get back."

Grandma Qi didn’t have enough strength anymore; she could only knead the dough and didn’t have the energy to roll out the noodles.

He Tiantian went to the nearby vegetable garden to pick two handfuls of baby bok choy, washed them, and then chopped up half a pound of meat into minced pork, making it easier for Third Grandma Qi to chew, resulting in a fragrant bowl of minced meat sauce.

Once the dough had rested, He Tiantian started to roll out the noodles, turning the rounded dough into a thin sheet under the pressure of the long rolling pin, folding it a few times, and then cutting it into noodles about half a finger in width.

Grandma Qi boiled water, and He Tiantian put the noodles into the pot. After a few vigorous boils, she threw in the green vegetables. Once the vegetables were cooked, the noodles were ready to be taken out of the pot.

He Tiantian found two large soup bowls at home, filled them with a generous portion of noodles, added some vegetables, then ladled on the minced meat sauce and gave it a stir. A bowl of delicious and fragrant stir-fried pork with green vegetables noodles was ready.

Seeing the generous amount of noodles in the bowl, Third Grandma Qi picked up a couple of chopsticks’ worth and said to He Tiantian, "I’m old and can’t eat that much anymore, I’ll feel uncomfortable if I overeat at night."

He Tiantian didn’t decline or show any aversion as she said, "Thank you, Grandma Qi."

"Hurry up and eat, stir it well, otherwise the noodles will stick together and won’t taste good," Grandma Qi reminded. Delicious, it had been so many years since she had tasted something so satisfying. It was not only because the food was good but also because there was someone else at the table to share the meal with her. In the past, she was the only one at the table, and even with good food, she couldn’t enjoy the taste!

"Mhm," He Tiantian nodded, eating her noodles earnestly. In no time, she finished the large bowl, with sweat beading on her forehead, feeling warm all over.

Her stomach was a bit stretched, and she was full.

Grandma Qi was also eating with a smile, taking a walk in the yard afterward to aid digestion.

He Tiantian wrapped two three-pound pieces of wild boar meat in oily paper to take to Secretary Qi’s house.

When He Tiantian arrived, Secretary Qi and Niu Dajun were drinking.

Liang Hongyu greeted He Tiantian warmly and asked, "Have you eaten, Tiantian? If not, come and join us."

Their daughter had become much more cheerful playing with Tiantian, and Liang Hongyu also liked He Tiantian very much.

"Aunt Liang, I’ve already eaten. I received some wild boar meat and wanted to give some to Brother Dajun and Sister Lili to thank them for their care," said He Tiantian. Secretary Qi’s family had also received some pork, so He Tiantian decided not to give any to Secretary Qi.

"Tiantian, I can’t accept this; you should keep it for yourself," Niu Dajun refused. He had already taken some pastries and a wild rabbit from He Tiantian last time, so how could he take more now!

Niu Dajun wasn’t greedy and believed in not taking reward without merit.

It hadn’t been easy for He Tiantian, and he couldn’t accept her kindness again.