1980: I have a spiritual spring

Chapter 71 Secret
noon.

The staff quarters of the Industry and Commerce Bureau.

After several rounds of drinks and several dishes.

Su Jianguo, who found Qiao Erhe more and more pleasing to the eye, said, "Erhe, my daughter has already told me about the steel bars and cement you need for building your house. Just let me know when you need them, and I'll have someone give you a note."

Qiao Erhe raised his glass and said, "Thank you, Uncle Su. You've done me a great favor. I'd like to toast you."

Su Jianguo raised his glass and clinked it with his, laughing, "These are all minor matters, not worth mentioning. Although there is a twenty-year age difference between us, we hit it off immediately. In the future, if there is anything I can help you with, just let me know. As long as it's not illegal or against the rules, I'll do it for you."

Upon hearing this, the mother and daughter of the Su family exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes.

Especially Su's mother, who herself worked in the system, naturally knew that a man in his position would not easily make promises to others, let alone to someone he had just met. Even if that person was his daughter's friend, normally a husband would not make such a promise.

Could it be because of the miraculous medicinal wine that her daughter mentioned?

Su Jinxiu glanced at her father, then at Qiao Erhe, and felt that there seemed to be some "unspeakable" secret between them.

Qiao Erhe downed his drink and laughed, "Uncle Su, I'll keep your words in mind."

Su Jianguo also downed his drink, put down his glass and said, "Uncle, I keep my word. I will never refuse to help if I can."

"With Uncle Su's words, I feel more at ease."

While pouring wine for Su Jianguo, Qiao Erhe said, "Although I have obtained a business license for individual business, and selling eggs is currently a legal business, after the New Year, as the 5000 laying hens start laying eggs one after another, the sales volume of 6000 eggs a day will inevitably attract unwanted attention."

As the saying goes, it's easier to mess with the King of Hell than with his underlings. If someone deliberately tries to mess with me, I'll really suffer.

After all, Grandpa Yue's story teaches us a lesson: "If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext!"

Su Jianguo patted his chest and said, "You don't need to worry about this. Just do your business well. In the Shashi area, if anyone deliberately tries to frame you or uses charges like 'speculation and profiteering' to target you, just mention my name. I don't believe anyone will dare to touch you."

"Thank you, Uncle Su."

Qiao Erhe was overjoyed upon hearing this. With the promise from Director Su Jianguo, he would have the confidence to resist injustice in the future. For a self-employed individual who started his business in the early 1980s, this was a welcome development.

Hearing this, Su Jinxiu couldn't help but ask, "Dad, Brother Qiao, what's going on? I feel like if it weren't for me, you two would be calling each other brothers."

Su Jianguo laughed and said, "I get along quite well with Erhe. We're good friends despite our age difference."

Qiao Erhe nodded and smiled, "That's right, we're good friends despite the age difference. If I had known that Uncle Su was so easy to talk to, I would have paid him a visit long ago."

Su Jinxiu: "..."

Su's mother had a vague idea of ​​what was going on.

After all, since her husband drank the sweet rice wine that Qiao Erhe gave him, not only was his back pain cured, but his sexual ability also improved significantly. Although it still couldn't compare to his younger days when he was always available, he could go to work three or four times a week. This change had already surprised and delighted the couple.

According to her daughter, Qiao Erhe can also brew an even more potent medicinal wine. If her husband drinks this medicinal wine, will he be able to regain his peak condition and be as responsive to requests as he was in his youth?

Su's mother was also very much looking forward to this.

……

The meal was a great success, with both hosts and guests thoroughly enjoying themselves.

After a satisfying meal, Qiao Erhe stayed for nearly half an hour to drink tea and chat with Su's father about all sorts of things. His extensive knowledge undoubtedly earned him even more points in the eyes of Su's parents.

This is also an advantage that the vast majority of reborn individuals possess.

Having lived through the information explosion of later generations, as long as one is not illiterate or the kind of person who is "oblivious to everything else and only focused on the gambling table," being bombarded by all kinds of information year after year, one's knowledge reserves would be absolutely impressive in the information-scarce 1980s.

Once the topic had come to an end, Qiao Erhe finished his tea, stood up, and said, "Uncle Su, Aunt Su, it's getting late. My brother is still waiting for me, so I'll take my leave now. I'll come back to wish you a Happy New Year after the New Year."

Upon hearing this, the Su family of three all stood up.

Su Jianguo said with a smile, "Alright, then I won't keep you any longer. I had a very enjoyable chat with you today. Let's have a good drink together again after the New Year."

Su's mother then took out several packs of cigarettes and several boxes of tea that she had prepared earlier and handed them to Qiao Erhe, saying, "Erhe, this is a small gift that your Uncle Su and I prepared for you. It's not as good as the sweet rice wine you gave us, so please don't mind."

Qiao Erhe did not refuse, and accepted the gifts with a smile, saying, "These are all good things that money can't buy. I like them very much. Thank you, Uncle Su and Aunt Su."

"As long as you like it."

Madam Su looked at her daughter and instructed, "Jinxiu, see Erhe off."

Su Jinxiu nodded: "Let's go!"

"Uncle Su and Aunt Su, I'll be going now. See you next year."

"Okay, take care, see you next year."

After the person left, Su's father sincerely praised, "This Qiao Erhe is really something. He has a very broad range of knowledge. I don't know where he, a person from the countryside, learned so much knowledge."

“There are many educated youth sent to the countryside in Cenhe Commune. As long as you are willing to learn, you can always learn something.”

At this point, Su's mother looked into her husband's eyes and asked with a half-smile, "But why are you so nice to Erhe? Is it really as you say, that you hit it off with him at first sight and treat him as a close friend despite the age gap?"

"That's part of the reason, but not entirely. The main reason is..."

Su Jianguo reached out and slapped his wife, saying with a smile, "You know what I mean!"

Su's mother's heart skipped a beat, and she asked, "You asked him?"

Su Jianguo nodded and said, "I asked him, and he said that drinking that medicinal wine can restore the virility of a man in his sixties or seventies, let alone someone my age."

Hearing this, Su's mother's eyes welled up with tears!
……

At the entrance of the residential compound for employees of the Industry and Commerce Bureau.

Su Jinxiu asked curiously, "Brother Qiao, how come you, a junior, can chat so congenially with an elder like my dad, almost to the point of becoming sworn brothers? How did you do that?"

Qiao Erhe laughed and said, "Because your dad is approachable!"

Su Jinxiu rolled her eyes upon hearing this: "What do you mean by approachable? My dad is very serious in front of other younger people. I've never seen him chat so amiably with a younger person in my entire life."

Qiao Erhe blinked: "So it's because I'm good-looking and pleasing to elders?"

Su Jinxiu spat out, "How annoying! Fine, don't tell me then."

Qiao Erhe laughed and said, "Alright, I'll tell you about that later. I'll be going now. See you next year."

Su Jinxiu asked, "Are you sure you don't need to ride a bicycle?"

Qiao Erhe waved his hand and said, "It's cold. If you ride a bicycle, you'll feel uncomfortable riding back by yourself. Anyway, it's not far. I can walk by myself."

Hearing this, Su Jinxiu felt a sweet warmth in her heart and nodded, saying, "Alright then, see you next year."

……

Before we knew it, it was already the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month.

In the Cenhe area, this day is called Little New Year. Celebrating Little New Year means that the big New Year is coming soon, and everyone should hurry up and prepare items for the New Year.

Meanwhile, government agencies, schools, and factories have all started their holidays.

On the day of the Little New Year, a legend is still circulating in the Cenhe area:
"On the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month, rats celebrate a happy occasion."

On this day, you must not make noise in the house, because it is said that if you make noise for one day, it will make noise for you for a whole year next year, making you restless.

On this day, one cannot grind grain or pound rice; scissors cannot be used, for if scissors are used, the rats will gnaw through the clothes.

Therefore, if people in the Cenhe area cannot choose a good date for their wedding, they choose this day to get married, which is called "riding the rat to celebrate a happy event," and it is the best date.

At this moment, the Qiao siblings were doing a thorough cleaning at home. Led by Qiao Sanduo, who was good at housework, Qiao Sihai, Qiao Wuhu, Qiao Liuduo, and Qiao Qitan responded, and they cleaned the three rooms and the kitchen of the house until they were spotless.

Spider webs and other debris were all removed, giving the old house a brand-new look.

After cleaning up, Qiao Sanduo came over and asked, "Big brother, second brother, when are we going to slaughter a pig?"

Qiao Erhe said, "Let's do it tomorrow!"

Qiao Sanduo said, "If we're slaughtering the pig tomorrow, then I won't feed it today."

Qiao Erhe nodded and said, "Yes, no need to feed him."

Qiao Dajiang asked, "Second brother, this year's big fat pig is much bigger than in previous years. Are you sure you don't want to sell any of the meat and keep it all for your own consumption?"

Qiao Erhe said, "We're definitely not selling it. We wouldn't make much money from it anyway, so we might as well keep it for our family!"

Qiao Dajiang thought about it and agreed. Although it was nearing the end of the year, the market price of pork was only one yuan per jin (this was the market price for private sales, which was the price set by the government for the pig farmers kept under the policy of buying one and keeping one, and the pig farmers kept could slaughter and sell to others themselves, not the state-set price that required meat coupons). Even if the whole big fat pig at home was sold, it would only be worth about one hundred and fifty yuan.

In the past, this money would have been a large sum for their family, but now they earn forty or fifty yuan a day selling eggs, so the egg income from this big fat pig for only three days is nothing.

Thinking of this, Qiao Dajiang nodded and said, "Alright, if we don't want to sell, we won't sell. Our family will have a prosperous year."

Qiao Erhe laughed and said, "I've already figured out how to cook this big fat pig. All the fat will be used to render oil, the pork belly will be fried into braised pork belly, the offal, the four pig feet, the pig's head and tail will be braised, the ribs will be stewed, and the pork bones will be used to make soup."

"What do you think of using the remaining lean meat? We can make fish cakes with some, fry some, and send some to Second Uncle's and Third Uncle's families." Qiao Sihai, who had just joined in, drooled as he listened: "Second Brother, when it comes to food, you're the best in our family!"

Qiao Sanduo pondered and said, "Second Brother, I understand most of the methods you mentioned, but I still can't braise this dish well."

Qiao Erhe said, "It's okay. Once the pig is butchered, I'll take it to someone to braise it for me."

Qiao Sanduo asked, "Second Brother, who are you planning to give it to to help with braising? Can I come and learn a few tricks?"

Qiao Erhe laughed and said, "I plan to take you to the commune to find a master of braised dishes to help you braise them. This is their specialty, and they probably won't be willing to teach you."

Qiao Sanduo was somewhat disappointed upon hearing this, but couldn't help asking curiously, "Second Brother, what's your relationship with them like? What if they refuse to help with the braising?"

Qiao Erhe smiled and said, "It's not right to ask someone for help for no reason, but as long as I'm willing to pay some labor fees, he will naturally be willing to help."

Upon hearing this, the other siblings suddenly realized that their second brother was paying someone to help with the processing!
Qiao Dajiang said, "In that case, go and tell them so they can prepare in advance."

Qiao Erhe nodded and said, "Anyway, we'll be slaughtering pigs tomorrow and reporting it to the food station, so we can go talk to them about processing braised dishes."

In this day and age, you can't just slaughter pigs whenever you want. Even if you sell a pig to the state and get a slaughter permit, you still have to report it to the food station and wait for their verification and approval before you can slaughter it. Otherwise, you'll be in for a world of trouble!

Qiao Sihai said, "Then I'll go and tell my second and third uncles to come and help slaughter the pig tomorrow."

Huang Hongmei had just returned from visiting neighbors when she heard the news that her family was going to slaughter a pig the next day. She quickly asked, "When you slaughter the pig tomorrow, how many do you plan to sell and how many to keep?"

Qiao Sanduo replied, "Second Brother said that the whole pig would be kept for our own consumption."

Huang Hongmei was taken aback by what she heard. Her small eyes widened instantly. Although she didn't manage things at home, her family's big fat pig was the best raised in the village, and it looked to weigh over 200 jin (100 catties).

It's unbelievable that they would keep such a big, fat pig for their own consumption.

You know, let alone a big fat pig weighing over 200 jin, even if it's just a pig weighing around 100 jin, when the villagers slaughter it, they will sell most of it and keep only a small portion for their own consumption. In those days, very few families could afford to slaughter a pig for the New Year.

Coming to her senses, Huang Hongmei said, "This is a big, fat pig. How can we possibly finish it if we keep it for ourselves?"

"Second Brother has already planned how to eat this big fat pig."

As she spoke, Qiao Sanduo repeated what her second brother had just said, and then asked, "Fatty, is there anything else you want to add?"

Huang Hongmei asked, "Should we send some pork to your eldest and second uncles as well?"

Qiao Erhe said, "We have already sent New Year's gifts to our eldest and second uncles, and those gifts were much more than in previous years, so there is no need to send a few more pieces of pork."

Huang Hongmei thought about it and agreed, then nodded and said, "Alright then, you guys handle it yourselves, I won't interfere."

……

The next day.

Lujia Garden, Shakou Brigade.

After breakfast, Qiao Weixing, the son-in-law who had married into the family, prepared to take his wife, Lu Yueying, back to her parents' home to bid farewell to the New Year.

Before they set off, Lu's mother asked with concern, "Weixing, have you prepared the gifts for your brother?"

Qiao Weixing smiled and nodded, saying, "Everything is ready!"

Father Lu also added, "Weixing, Yueying, when you get to the commune, buy some snacks to take with you."

Mr. and Mrs. Qiao nodded and said, "Okay, we understand."

Lu's mother was still worried and reminded her again, "Yueying, when you meet Weixing's childhood friend in Qiaojiawan, you must be polite, okay?"

Lu Yueying said helplessly, "I understand. I'll leave Yazi (the child) to you."

Mother Lu said, "Don't worry, we've got Ya Zi covered. You all should go now!"

Qiao Weixing responded and then rode his bicycle with his wife away from Lu Family Garden, heading towards the commune.

As Qiao Weixing rode his bicycle, he was filled with mixed feelings. Last year, when he, as a son-in-law, brought his wife back to her parents' home to give New Year's gifts, the Lu family didn't pay much attention. But this year, when he brought his wife back to her parents' home to give New Year's gifts, the Lu family's attention was far greater than last year.

Qiao Weixing wasn't stupid; he naturally understood that all of this was thanks to his good brother Qiao Erhe.

When he returned to his parents' home, his good brother gave him a jar of sweet glutinous rice wine to bring back. It was this jar of sweet glutinous rice wine that completely changed the Lu family's view of him. They no longer regarded him as a lowly son-in-law, but as a real son-in-law.

The thought of sitting down with his good buddies again to drink and chat filled Qiao Weixing with excitement, and he even pedaled his bicycle faster.

Sitting on the back seat, Lu Yueying quickly said, "Honey, ride slower, I'm carrying a lot of things!"

Qiao Weixing then realized, "Sorry, I was thinking about something and lost control of my speed."

Lu Yueying said, "It's alright, I understand how you feel. It's really unfair to you to marry into our Lu family."

Qiao Weixing shook his head and said, "Wife, don't say that. It was my own choice to marry into the family. What's there to feel wronged about?"

Lu Yueying said, "I will accompany you back to your parents' home more often in the future."

Lujia Garden is located in the southwest of Cenhe, more than five kilometers away from the commune. Because the dirt road was uneven and Qiao Weixing was not riding fast, it took the couple 40 minutes to reach the supply and marketing cooperative.

After buying a lot of pastries at the supply and marketing cooperative, the couple continued their journey.

The commune was quite close to Qiaojiawan, and the couple arrived at the Bagua Center at the village entrance in less than ten minutes.

Although marrying into a family is a relatively common phenomenon in Cenhe area, only a minority of men are willing to do so. After all, the status of a son-in-law who marries into a family can never compare with that of a normal son-in-law. Given a choice, few men would be willing to do so.

Among the younger generation in Qiaojiawan, only Qiao Weixing chose to marry into the family.

Therefore, Qiao Weixing was quite "famous" in Qiaojiawan. When he took his wife back to her parents' home, it naturally attracted the attention of a group of villagers in the center of gossip.

After exchanging greetings, the villagers began to gossip once Qiao Weixing and his wife had walked away.

"What a pity! Weixing is such a handsome young man, why did he choose to marry into another family?"

"It's because his family is too poor. He has many brothers. If he had to marry one by one, the younger brothers would probably be starving by the time it was their turn. That's why Weixing chose to marry into the family."

“Being a live-in son-in-law is not easy. I see that Weixing rarely goes back to his wife’s family after marrying into the family. I guess he’s not having a good time over there.”

"That's not necessarily true. Didn't you see? His wife was carrying lots of bags and packages, bringing quite a few gifts. If things weren't going well for Weixing over there, where would he get the guts and the means to buy so many things to bring back to his wife's family?"

"That makes sense. So, it seems like Satellite is quite highly regarded over there?"

"I don't know if he's valued or not, but at least the woman seems to treat him quite well."

"..."

at the same time.

With the arrival of Qiao Erdie and Qiao Sandie, Qiao Erhe and his sister officially began preparations for slaughtering the pig.

In rural areas, slaughtering pigs is a real skill. People without relevant experience often feel at a loss when they try to slaughter a pig. In fact, if they make a mistake during the slaughtering process and the pig breaks free, the person helping to hold the pig down may get injured.

In the past, the pigs slaughtered by Uncle Qiao Er and Uncle Qiao San were only around 120 or 130 jin (60-65 kg), and the heaviest would not exceed 150 jin (75 kg).

But now, the big fat pig in Qiao Erhe's family weighs more than 200 jin. This is the first time that Qiao Erhe's father and Qiao Sanhe's father have slaughtered such a heavy fat pig. They are excited but also very serious about it.

Even though Qiao Dajiang and Qiao Erhe had plenty of experience controlling pigs, Qiao Erdie, who was in charge of the operation, still gave them repeated instructions, fearing that if they were careless, the pig might break free, which would be dangerous.

As he listened, Qiao Erhe couldn't help but laugh and said, "Second Uncle, I'll be here later, so you can go ahead and do it without worry. I guarantee that this big fat pig will be just like a chicken in my hands, no matter how much it struggles, it will be useless."

Qiao Erdie said, "Erhe, you can't be careless. I know you can carry things weighing three or four hundred catties and you do have a lot of strength, but I don't know how much strength this big fat pig weighing over two hundred catties can unleash when it's facing a life-or-death situation."

Anyway, it's best to be careful in everything, lest we get hurt by this beast; that would be terrible.

Qiao Erhe smiled and said, "Don't worry, Second Uncle, I know what I'm doing. Just wait and see my performance."

Just then, Qiao Sanduo ran out and said, "Second Uncle, Third Uncle, the water is ready."

Upon hearing this, Second Uncle Qiao waved his hand and said, "Then let's begin!"

So the group took their tools and headed towards the pigsty in the backyard.

Upon arriving at the pigsty, the large, fat pig seemed to sense danger and began to roar at the group, its voice so loud that it could be heard throughout Qiaojiawan.

Upon hearing this sound, the villagers knew that someone in the village was slaughtering a pig, and all the idle people walked towards the direction of the pig's squeals, ready to watch the spectacle.

Just then, Qiao Weixing and his wife had finished greeting their family when they heard the pig's squeals. Qiao Weixing couldn't help but ask, "Who slaughtered a pig today?"

Mr. Qiao said, "It was the Erhe family who slaughtered a pig."

"What a coincidence!"

Upon hearing this, Qiao Weixing's face lit up with a smile, and he said, "Dad, Mom, I'm going to visit Erhe's family with Yueying."

Mr. and Mrs. Qiao smiled and said, "Go ahead!"

Qiao Weixing responded and, together with his wife, carried the gifts and headed towards his good friend Qiao Erhe's house.

(End of this chapter)