Her mention of the Public Security Bureau caused the widowed Liu to flinch involuntarily.
"Don't assume everyone else is as sordid as you just because you do unspeakable things. If you want me to enumerate everyone who's climbed over your fence for your 'meat-selling' business, I can do that!"
The widowed Liu was shocked that she would disregard any semblance of face and expose her affairs, exclaiming in terror, "You, you're talking nonsense!"
Everyone present perked up their ears, waiting for her to continue. Chen Lishu, however, fell silent.
Seeing the widowed Liu become subdued, Chen Lishu turned to leave with the meat, speaking again before departing, "My man, Gu Xingdong, is a soldier. He receives an allowance every month. Don't even mention me buying two catties of meat. As long as I'm happy, I can buy a whole pig to eat if I want!"
These words were directed not only at the widowed Liu but also at everyone present.
The crowd then remembered that their Gu Laosan was not just a soldier but also an officer. His monthly allowance would surely not be small. Chen Lishu wasn't bragging. Forget meat; she could definitely afford to buy a pig.
Chen Lishu paid them no further mind and took the meat home.
After dinner, she began preparing the mushroom and meat sauce.
First, she washed the carrots, mushrooms, and meat. She diced the mushrooms and carrots. The meat was minced. Then, she prepared all the seasonings.
She heated a wok with cold oil. Once the oil was hot, she stir-fried green onions and garlic, then added the mushrooms and carrots, and finally the minced meat and seasonings, including soybean paste. She served it into a basin to cool.
The family had preserved fruit jars saved by Li Xiulan. Chen Lishu washed them clean and filled three jars in total. A small basin of sauce was left over.
The remaining portion was kept for eating with noodles the next day. Of the three filled jars, Chen Lishu took out two. Along with a letter she had written to Gu Xingdong, she placed them in a bag and gave it to Gu Xingping, asking her to mail it to Gu Xingdong the next day when she went to school.
The remaining jar Chen Lishu intended to give to Xu Ning at the educated youth point. She also planned to return the essay collection she had finished reading.
The educated youth point was located in the compound of the rice milling station. In the past, the village cadres had made arrangements to clear out two rooms from the rice milling station for the educated youths to live in. One room for the male dormitory and one for the female dormitory.
On the walls of a row of adobe houses, white lime displayed conspicuous slogans: "Vast world, settling in the countryside, tempering the red heart. Waging revolution."
Xu Ning was washing clothes in the yard. She looked up as Chen Lishu approached and quickly got up to greet her, "Lishu, why have you come?"
Seeing that Xu Ning's complexion was still a little pale, Chen Lishu handed her the jar, "I heard you fainted from anemia while working. This is the mushroom and meat sauce I made. Put some on when you eat; it tastes good."
The educated youths, like other members of the village, received their grain based on their labor. Other city dwellers, more or less, received parcels from their families as subsidies. Xu Ning's family had many children, few earners, and she herself had to tighten her belt to save food to mail home. Her nutrition was lacking, and her health had not been good.
"Thank you," Xu Ning pursed her lips and took the jar.
Chen Lishu smiled, "Why are you being so polite with me? Besides, you help me study. Do I need to thank you every day?"
Upon hearing her words, Xu Ning immediately shook her head, "We are good friends, and this is what I should do."
Chen Lishu looked at her and smiled. Xu Ning smiled back.
"By the way, I heard that this year there's a quota for a worker-peasant-soldier university student in our village. The Party Branch Secretary said that anyone with an education above junior high school can apply. What do you think, should I apply?" Xu Ning consulted Chen Lishu.
Although her family's conditions were not good, they had always supported her to complete her high school education.
She asked Chen Lishu because, after so much interaction, she felt Chen Lishu was a very opinionated and stable person, so she wanted to seek her advice.
Worker-peasant-soldier university student?
Chen Lishu only knew in her past life that Xu Ning had been admitted to university and returned to the provincial capital. She hadn't expected this intervening period.
"Xu Ning, do you believe it? After this difficult period, the country urgently needs talent. The restoration of the college entrance examination is an inevitable trend. The so-called worker-peasant-soldier university students and regularly graduated university students cannot be compared in terms of value. As long as you persevere a little longer, I believe the college entrance examination will be restored before long."
Worker-peasant-soldier university students sounded impressive now, but she knew that after the college entrance examination was restored, the diplomas of worker-peasant-soldier university students were worthless. Especially after the 1980s, people didn't recognize them at all.
Upon hearing that the college entrance examination would be restored, a brief look of confusion appeared on Xu Ning's face, "Can it really be restored?"
Chen Lishu nodded at her firmly, "Trust me. There will be milk, and there will be bread." This was a famous line by Vasily from the Soviet film "Lenin in October," which was widely known and deeply rooted in the hearts of the Chinese people, later acquiring many extended meanings.
Xu Ning understood. Chen Lishu was so certain that she must know something but it was inconvenient to say.
After thinking for a moment, she nodded, "I'll listen to you. We'll study together and progress together. If the college entrance examination is restored, we'll go to university together."
As the sun set, its afterglow fell upon the smiling faces of the two young, beautiful women, casting a golden halo.
...
The next day, Chen Lishu went to work as usual. Gu Xingping, on her way to school, helped her mail the items and the letter to Gu Xingdong, who was far away in the provincial capital.
Gu Xingdong received the items and the letter three days later. He had just finished a practical combat training. Before he could return to the dormitory to change, he was called over by instructor Wei Gang.
"Old Gu, you're back just in time. There's a letter from your home. They also mailed some things. I put them on your desk..."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Wei Gang watched Gu Xingdong, who had already zipped past him like a gust of wind, ascend the stairs in a few strides and disappear around the corner. He slowly completed the last word.
"Mailed things too? What things?"
Wu Zheng and Zhou Liang, who followed behind, looked at Wei Gang. The latter nodded, "Two big jars of mushroom and meat sauce."
Wu Zheng and Zhou Liang exchanged glances. They rushed upstairs, "Old Gu, don't hog any good food!"
Wei Gang stood in place for a moment watching the disappearing figures, then turned and followed them.
Gu Xingdong returned to his office and indeed saw a patched cloth bag placed on his desk. From its style, he knew it was hand-sewn by Chen Lishu.
Gu Xingdong strode to the desk and, after opening the bag, first looked at the letter on top.
Upon opening it, he saw that the content didn't even fill half a page, and his sword-like eyebrows furrowed slightly.
When he saw the words "miss you very much," a smile bloomed in his eyes. He contentedly put the letter away and then turned his gaze to the two jars.
The moment he unscrewed the lid, the aroma of mushrooms and meat wafted into his nostrils.
"So fragrant." Wu Zheng and Zhou Liang, who had followed, crowded closer, peering into the jars, "There's meat!"
Their eyes lit up instantly.