Chapter 144: Mutton Hot Pot
After her two older brothers left, Ning Xiyue weighed the leg of lamb — it was six jin (about 3 kg), the hind leg of a big mountain goat, full of firm, tender meat. It was more than enough for the three siblings.
Before leaving, Ning Qingyuan had specifically told her to wait for him to come back so they could prepare the lamb together.
Obedient as ever, Ning Xiyue sat down in the kitchen and started peeling garlic, preparing seasoning for that evening’s lamb hot pot.
A hot pot without garlic loses half its flavor, so she decided she’d peel a lot.
“Xiyue, are you home?”
Chen Yechu, carrying a little white puppy, headed toward Ning Xiyue’s kitchen. When she saw the door was open, she decided to pop in and ask for some advice about raising dogs.
“I’m here, come in,” Ning Xiyue answered, continuing to peel garlic without stopping.
Hearing her voice, Chen Yechu put the puppy down and happily went back to her own kitchen first, washed her hands, and put together a plate of spicy potato slices. Then, with the little white dog trotting behind her, she walked over to Ning Xiyue’s place.
“Xiyue, try these spicy potato slices,” Chen called out as she stepped through the doorway. When she came in and saw half a bowl of peeled garlic in front of Ning Xiyue, she asked curiously, “Xiyue, why are you peeling so much garlic? Are you planning to roast it?”
“No,” Ning Xiyue said openly. “My brother brought me a leg of lamb. We’re having lamb hot pot tonight.”
She wasn’t hiding anything — she said it loud and clear.
She wasn’t worried about Chen Yechu knowing. The leg of lamb was obtained legitimately, and once the aroma of the hot pot drifted out later, everyone would smell it anyway and immediately know what they were eating. There was no reason to hide it.
In fact, hiding it would only make her look guilty.
The whole image she had built up — that she wasn’t short on money, wasn’t short on ration tickets, and certainly wasn’t short on meat — was there to be used. And the remaining people in the educated youth courtyard weren’t troublemakers anymore, so there was nothing to worry about.
“Wow, your brother’s amazing — and the timing couldn’t be better! The weather’s been getting colder, and some lamb hot pot is just what we need to stay warm.”
Hearing Ning Xiyue mention lamb hot pot made Chen Yechu’s mouth water too. Eating lamb hot pot before winter properly set in would keep her warm all season long.
Unfortunately, fresh lamb wasn’t available for sale online.
“Xiyue, do you have any extra lamb? Could you share a bit with me?”
Ning Xiyue’s eyes lit up. She realized she was missing the most important condiment for lamb hot pot. Looking up at Chen Yechu, she said, “My brother’s coming to eat too. I can give you one jin (about 500g) at most. But I wanted to ask if you have any seasonings for lamb. All I have is garlic and scallions.”
“Then give me a jin, and wait here — I’ve got something at home,” Chen Yechu replied eagerly. Then she hurried back to her kitchen, completely forgetting the original reason she came — to ask about raising her dog.
She quickly logged into the online store and bought two jars of fermented bean curd. After tearing off the packaging, she grabbed one jar and ran back to Ning Xiyue’s place.
“Xiyue, my grandma made this fermented bean curd. When you’re eating lamb hot pot, crumble a piece of it in your bowl and use it as dipping sauce — it tastes amazing.”
Chen held the jar out to her, staring intently with bright, expectant eyes, eager to trade the bean curd for some lamb.
Seeing the jar, Ning Xiyue was satisfied — she now had the most important condiment.
“Come on, I’ll show you the lamb.”
Ning Xiyue took the fermented bean curd and placed it on the cupboard. Smiling, she lifted the leg of lamb, which was wrapped in a sack inside a basket next to the cupboard, and laid it on the chopping board, picking up a kitchen knife.
“Which part do you want? I’ll cut it for you.”
“I’m not picky. Cut wherever you like.”
Chen Yechu, holding the money she’d prepared, was overjoyed when she saw the leg of lamb. It was so fresh — even fresher than the lamb she’d bought at the market in her previous life.
With one clean cut, Ning sliced off a piece. Her aim was spot-on — when she weighed it, it came to exactly one jin.
She also chopped off a section of bone for Chen to use for soup.
Ever since the two of them had started trading medicinal herbs privately, they often exchanged goods they each had.
They followed black-market prices — cash only, no ration tickets, clearly marked, fair trades. Neither side lost out or took advantage of the other.
After subtracting the cost of the fermented bean curd, Ning Xiyue still earned 1.1 yuan.
Money was truly valuable in these times — one jin of lamb like that would cost dozens of yuan in the future.
As Chen walked out, clutching the lamb she’d been dreaming of, she heard the little white puppy whining at Xiao Hui (Little Gray) and remembered why she’d come in the first place — to ask for advice about raising dogs.
“By the way, Xiyue, I brought back a milk puppy from the team and wanted to ask for your advice. Your Xiao Hui is so well-trained.”
Chen looked at the mighty Xiao Hui sitting proudly beside Ning Xiyue, then down at the tiny white puppy by her feet. She was determined to raise her dog to be just as strong and majestic.
“I don’t really have much experience. Xiao Hui never gave me any trouble. Mutts are easy to raise — feed them whatever and they’ll eat it. They’re not picky, so just raise it confidently,” Ning Xiyue said, continuing to peel garlic. Honestly, she didn’t have any advice to give — Xiao Hui was a wolf, and the little white one was a dog. They were completely different species.
Chen thought about it and decided that made sense. She didn’t plan to stay much longer — she wanted to go home and prepare her lamb hot pot. “Alright, I’ll go cook too. Thanks to you, I’ll be eating well tonight.”
“Go ahead,” Ning Xiyue said with a small wave.
Looking at the jar of fermented bean curd, she couldn’t help but feel a burst of happiness. Maybe she now had a human supply depot — someone she could conveniently get specialty goods from whenever she needed them.
Not long after, Ning Qingyuan returned, riding his bicycle.
He brought with him a copper pot specially used for lamb hot pot. Ning Xiyue was delighted to discover that charcoal could be placed underneath to keep the broth hot while they ate. Her second brother had even modified the pot himself.
Perfect — they wouldn’t have to worry about the hot pot going cold. And after eating the lamb, they could still cook vegetables in the broth.
The siblings then officially began preparing for the evening feast.
Ning Qingyuan made the soup and prepared the lamb, while Ning Xiyue handled the vegetables and condiments.
Waves of delicious aroma wafted from their house — and from Chen Yechu’s kitchen too — drifting toward the educated youth courtyard at the front.
It was torture for the others, who were eating plain pickled vegetables. They could only swallow their salty, unappetizing food with tears in their eyes as the rich smell of hot pot filled the air.
When night fell, Ning Qingzhi returned from finishing his work.
He saw his younger brother and sister waving him over from under the warm glow of candlelight, their faces lit up with bright, cheerful smiles amid the rising steam.
All his exhaustion from the day melted away, replaced by a deep, unfamiliar warmth.
“Brother, come over — it’s ready!” Ning Xiyue called to her dazed eldest brother.
“Alright, I’m coming.”
Ning Qingzhi blinked back the moisture in his eyes and quickly walked over to sit down.
Ning Xiyue was the first to raise her cup of chrysanthemum tea. “Come, the three of us siblings — let’s toast to being together today.”
“Alright.”
The two brothers raised their teacups too, and the three of them clinked them together with smiles.
“Cheers!”
After downing their tea, the siblings laughed and chatted as they ate the lamb hot pot.
When they had almost finished, Ning Qingzhi quietly said, “We’re going back to the army tomorrow. The next time the three of us meet might not be until the New Year… or even later. I came today to say goodbye.”
