Chapter 274: Give and Take, It’s More Enjoyable to Eat
Ning Xiyue looked at the bowl of duck meat in her hands and teased herself:
“Look at me, eating and taking at the same time. Half of your carefully braised duck has ended up in my hands. I’m shameless, just took it without hesitation.”
Chen Ye Chu scooped the remaining meat from the pot into a bowl and teased Ning Xiyue while looking at her:
“Don’t be polite at all. If you’re polite, I won’t feel comfortable asking you for anything in the future. I like that you’re shameless, then I can be shameless too. Haha.”
“Alright, not polite. We’ve shared a room for so long — no need to be polite.”
As Ning Xiyue spoke, she saw her second brother walking toward the kitchen. Her eyes lit up, eager to tell him the good news the captain had shared. She quickly left Chen Ye Chu a note:
“Yechu, I’ll go first. My brother is back.”
“Okay, go ahead.” Chen Ye Chu waved and continued washing the pot, preparing to cook duck egg soup.
Ning Xiyue held the bowl of meat carefully and hurried back. She opened the kitchen, put the meat down, and waited for her brother.
Just as she poured two cups of tea and sat down, Ning Qingyuan parked his bicycle outside and entered with a joyful smile.
After sitting, he took a sip of water and pulled out a stack of papers from his bag, placing them in front of Ning Xiyue:
“Little sister, look — both proofs have been issued. See the bright red stamps? Beautiful, right?”
“Second brother, I have good news for you too.” Ning Xiyue pulled her own certificate from her bag.
“Ta-da! Mine’s ready as well. Everything’s complete now.”
“Thanks, little sister.” Ning Qingyuan couldn’t help but pick up her certificate and look at it. After checking, he carefully stored all three certificates, stood up, and headed out.
“I’m going to give these to Aunt Shen. Soon you’ll be able to move in.”
“Wait.” Ning Xiyue grabbed her brother’s arm. She hadn’t shared the most important news yet.
“Not so fast, second brother. I have another piece of good news. Listen to this first, then you can go.”
Though anxious, Ning Qingyuan sat back down properly, curious:
“What other good news? Tell me! I can’t wait.”
Ning Xiyue stopped teasing and explained everything in detail:
“Today the captain told me to convey this to you — in a day or two you can pack up and move in. Once you’re in, you just need to register with the captain at the brigade. It’s all just a matter of time.”
Ning Qingyuan was stunned. The news was too sudden. He asked in disbelief:
“R-Really?”
“Absolutely. Brother, hand in this paperwork, then go pack your things. You can move in tonight.”
At this, Ning Xiyue slapped her forehead:
“See me, distracted by food again. I have something else to do. Go ahead and get busy, second brother. I’ll wait for you to eat. I need to go to the front yard for a bit.”
With that, Ning Xiyue hurried to the main kitchen and found Zhao Jianshe, who had massaged the duck meat.
“Xiyue, when did you get back?”
“Just a little while ago. We’ll chat later.” Ning Xiyue nodded at Wang Mengmeng and then turned to Zhao Jianshe, busy with his work:
“Comrade Jianshe, the captain is looking for you. He’s at the brigade office.”
“Okay, I’ll go now.”
Zhao Jianshe took off his apron and handed it to Wang Jiandong:
“Brother, take over from here. Massage it well, a bit more. Once it’s ready, cut it into small pieces. This part’s all yours now.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got this. I’ll massage the meat thoroughly so the marinade soaks in. I’m good with cutting too — I’ll make it small pieces.”
Wang Jiandong took Zhao Jianshe’s spot, moved the duck basin closer, and began massaging the meat just as Zhao Jianshe had done.
Satisfied with how he handled it, Zhao Jianshe washed his hands and went to find the captain. Ning Xiyue lingered, watching everyone busy with the duck.
All the youths in the academy were involved with preparing this duck. Even Xia Zhipeng was there. He knew everyone was uncomfortable with his earlier accident in the dung pit, so he took it upon himself to sit by the stove and tend the fire.
Wang Mengmeng and Wu Guifang were peeling garlic on the side.
Liu Yao and Yu Zhiyu, the cousins, were processing their half of the duck as well.
Seeing everyone so busy, Ning Xiyue turned to go back and start dinner, waiting for her brother to finish.
Seeing the bowl of duck meat Chen Ye Chu had given her, Ning Xiyue considered her other ingredients and glanced at two jars by the cabinet.
“Tonight, it’s all you guys’ turn.”
She washed her hands, grabbed a spoon, chopsticks, and two plates, and crouched by the jars.
From the right jar, she took sour fish wrapped in fried rice flour and made a large plate.
From the left jar, she pried out a large chunk of jar meat wrapped in white lard.
She soaked a bag of dried mushrooms.
Tonight’s menu would be fried sour fish, steamed sour fish, and jar meat stir-fried with dried mushrooms — all ingredients from nature, naturally grown.
Rice steamed, dishes prepared.
Ning Xiyue emptied Chen Ye Chu’s bowl, adding a small half-bowl of jar meat with stir-fried mushrooms, two crispy fried sour fish, and one steamed sour fish, then sent it to Chen Ye Chu next door.
“Give and take — that’s how eating feels good.”
With the meal ready and her brother not yet back, Ning Xiyue added hot water to the pot to warm the dishes and went to the front to check with Comrade Zhao Jianshe about what the captain had said.
