Go back to the past to plant trees

"Brother Feng, Jinshui is just being unreasonable, don't take it to heart."

That evening, Feng Cheng and Zhao Jinquan bought two jin of liquor and drank two cups with their bowls. Zhao Jinquan then casually brought up the matter of his younger brother's death to Feng Cheng.

The main problem is that Zhao Jinshui is too outgoing. He asks others for things as soon as he opens his mouth. He wants to take home any interesting things he finds in the camp, and he doesn't stand on ceremony. He directly asks Feng Cheng for them.

After eating some pumpkin candy, he said he wanted to bring some home, so he asked Feng Cheng to get him some. After eating some tofu, he said he also wanted to make some at home and wanted to take the stone mill back to grind it himself. Seeing that Zheng Erqiang had learned carpentry, he told him to take the tools back home and help him make a table or something.

Zhao Jinquan had never thought that his cousin was so shameless and opportunistic. Perhaps it was because they grew up together and had gotten used to each other over time. Plus, there was nothing in the family that he coveted, so he never thought there was anything wrong with his cousin's personality.

But this time, Zhao Jinquan couldn't stand the sight of this guy. Perhaps it was because they had been separated for half a year and were now reunited, and he was starting to see things he hadn't noticed before.

Zhao Jinquan had already made up his mind. If he didn't come to the camp, it would be fine, but if he did come again, Zhao Jinquan would definitely not let him have an easy time. He wouldn't be able to leave the camp until he was completely exhausted.

However, Zhao Jinquan felt that this guy probably wouldn't come here much in the future, because he was lazy and didn't like to work.

Feng Cheng said generously, "It's okay, I don't mind. Besides, he didn't do anything outrageous, and he even helped with the work for so many days."

“That guy,” Zhao Jinquan shook his head, unsure of what to say.

"Let's not talk about him anymore, let's drink..."

Feng Cheng raised his glass and clinked it against Zhao Jinquan's.

"I've been working hard for the past six months, it's time to take a break. I guess it'll be for the next two years. After that, I probably won't have as much free time."

Two years later, the Mechanical Forestry Farm will be established. Even in winter, Feng Cheng won't be as leisurely as he used to be. It will snow outside, but not inside. There will always be work to do in the nursery and the laboratory. Although it won't be as busy as in the summer, it won't be leisurely either.

"Two years from now, you won't be idle? Brother Feng, are you going to go down to the dam in two years?" Zhao Jinquan asked.

"More or less!" Feng Cheng laughed. "Next autumn, the first batch of seedlings in the nursery can be transplanted. Once the trees survive, my task on the dam will be complete, and I should be able to come down from the dam then."

"If the trees actually survive, you'll have made a contribution, and you should have no problem becoming a full-fledged worker at the Forestry Bureau."

Feng Cheng gave Zhao Jinquan a little bit of information, which was somewhat different from the actual situation, but the result was the same.

"Thank you, Brother Feng. Without you, I'd still be working in the fields right now."

This was the first time Feng Cheng had personally spoken to Zhao Jinquan about his permanent employment, giving him a guarantee. This made Zhao Jinquan very excited. Although there was still more than a year to go, so what? He wasn't working for free; he was getting paid. He could even get paid while he was hibernating here. He never dared to dream of this before.

"It's not possible this year. We'll have to wait until next year. Next year during the Spring Festival, our team will slaughter a pig. I'll invite you, Brother Feng, to eat the pig-slaughtering feast. The taste is amazing, and I'm sure you'll love it."

"I've heard of 'pig-killing feast,' but I've never tried it. I'd like to try it if I have the chance."

This is a very famous dish from Northeast China. In fact, it's not just in Northeast China; many places in northern China have this kind of "pig-killing feast." The specific cooking methods may vary slightly, but the main ingredients are always pork and offal.

Feng Cheng had heard the name of this dish many times in his previous life, but he had never eaten it. Some restaurants in the south had also offered this dish, but it never became popular.

Feng Cheng felt that what people were really enjoying about this dish wasn't the taste, but rather the atmosphere and the feeling it evoked. Just like many childhood snacks, the taste and feeling were completely different depending on the environment and the time.

In this day and age, meat is scarce. A few pigs are slaughtered only during the Lunar New Year, and the whole team shares the spoils. So everyone looks forward to the team slaughtering the New Year pig. Back then, adults and children alike were excited. With such high expectations, food naturally tasted better and more delicious. In later generations, resources are plentiful, and pork has become a daily food. We eat it every day, at every meal, and that sense of anticipation naturally disappears. Without anticipation, even the most delicious food just tastes the same.

To be honest, Feng Cheng also wanted to try the pork stew from that era. Firstly, he had never eaten it before, and secondly, there wasn't much meat to eat. Going there for a free meal and being able to eat some meat would be nice.

However, this year is different. Due to the shortage of supplies, even if the pigs in the team grow up, they still have to be handed over. They can't be kept. Maybe next year when things will be better, we can keep one or two to slaughter.

"Don't worry, our team will definitely slaughter a pig next year. I'll have my dad bring back the offal, pig's head, and other meats, and we'll have a good meal then," Zhao Jinquan said to Feng Cheng, patting his chest.

This year, the father wanted to invite Feng Cheng over for dinner, but Feng Cheng refused. In addition, the family was indeed a bit strapped for cash, and they wouldn't have anything good to offer him, so Zhao Jinquan didn't press the matter.

But next year will be different. I'll have a salary now, and I heard that the higher-ups have relaxed the rules a bit, so the team can keep more supplies. Life will definitely be better next year than it is now, and my family will be able to prepare better to entertain Feng Cheng.

"Let's talk about next year's business next year. Let's talk about drinking now."

"Come on, drink this cup, then let's roll the dice."

"Row."

Zhao Jinquan also enjoys playing this game, mainly because he wants to win. He lost too many games last time, and he wants to win a few more this time.

"Using a bowl is a bit inconvenient. I'll have to make a wooden tube when I have time, that way it will be easier to bewitch."

"Leave this to me. I've done it before, I know how to do it."

Zhao Jinquan and Zheng Erqiang have been working on the wooden tubes for the flashlights for the past few days, and Feng Cheng has also assembled the flashlights. Although they don't look very nice, they can light up and shine far, which is enough.

"Okay, I'll teach you."

"Come on, you go first."

"3 1."

"hack…"

...

At the dinner table, the atmosphere immediately became lively as the game started. Zhao Jinquan's momentum grew stronger after winning a few rounds. However, he didn't play this game much, and he lost several rounds in a row. After a few bowls of wine, he became less cautious in his calls and was eventually defeated by Feng Cheng.

After settling Zhao Jinquan down to sleep, Feng Cheng tidied up his things, added firewood to the kang (a heated brick bed), and then went to sleep on the kang himself.

Xiao Liu's eyes were still wide open. The drinking party had been so loud that Xiao Liu couldn't sleep. If Feng Cheng hadn't stopped him, Zhao Jinquan, who was drunk, would have almost forced Xiao Liu to drink more.