Reborn with a Space: Building a Fortune Amidst Famine

Chapter 83: 83 year 57 years

Hu Chunhua did not refuse. With more resources at home, she thought of ways to make up for the children. Having lived for so many years, she certainly knew that relationships are built by both parties.

No matter how good a relationship is, it needs to be maintained. It can’t last long if only one side keeps giving.

On the morning of the twenty-ninth, Su Yuanyuan packed five fish in a bag and pushed a cart to Yang Hongwen’s house.

”Aunt, these are the fish we caught. Keep them for the New Year and enjoy them.”

Xu Chunjiao untied the bag and took a look, ”Wow. How come these fish are so big?”

Su Yuanyuan just stood by and smiled. The more she explained, the more questions came, so she decided to let her figure it out herself.

Having received so many fish, Hu Chunhua felt a bit embarrassed and packed a lot of peanuts and melon seeds for Su Yuanyuan.

”Aunt, you better give me some raw melon seeds. I want to plant some next year.”

”Sure, I’ll give you a plate of melon seeds.”

Su Yuanyuan returned home, worried about the large winter melons in the space. There were over a hundred, and it would be great if they could be sold. She had nothing else to do, so she tidied up and went to the county town.

There were lots of people on the road, making it difficult to display her goods. She realized she had to find a quieter place.

In this load, Su Yuanyuan had forty winter melons. She was not shy, and as she entered the county, she called out her sales pitch while walking.

Each winter melon weighed nearly twenty pounds and could sell for a dollar at most.

Her voice was crisp, and the women working inside really heard her. After a long while, she sold out all the winter melons in the cart, leaving dozens more in the space for another opportunity.

On the twenty-ninth, Su Yuanyuan didn’t go anywhere but stayed home. The sausages were almost dried and stored in the space, as she wasn’t planning to give them away. Mainly because it was hard to explain how she got the recipe since it was a southern flavor. It wasn’t available locally.

Hearing a knock on the door, it turned out to be Chunsheng delivering roasted peanuts and melon seeds. ”These are from my grandmother’s house. My mom said to let you have some.

And these are firecrackers my dad bought. He told me you need to set them off on New Year’s Eve and the morning of New Year’s Day.”

After Chunsheng finished talking, he ran off. His buddies were waiting to go ice skating together.

Hu Chunhua was stewing meat, and another pot was stewing fish.

Yang Minggang suggested sending his mother a live fish. Hu Chunhua disagreed. However, she spoke very kindly.

”Your mom is of such an age now; it’s better if I stew it first and then you can deliver it to her.”

She knew her mother-in-law best. If given a live fish, she’d surely have one of the two daughters-in-law living in the same courtyard stew it.

She wouldn’t want her good stuff given to them. There’s also the possibility she might call her over to help stew the fish. Better to just deliver it cooked.

Once cooked, she certainly wouldn’t be willing to share it with others, leaving the two women enviously wishing.

Over the years, their relationship hadn’t been good. They appeared cordial on the surface, but deep inside they resented each other.

Hu Chunhua felt especially happy this year, living in a new house with blue bricks and tiles, and having repaid the famine debts.

The harvested grains weren’t sold this year either. She had over a hundred yuan in hand. Why did life feel so hopeful?

”Mom, it’s snowing outside. Though not much.”

”This year’s snow is much less than last year’s. Hopefully, it’s not a disaster year. We won’t sell a single grain from our harvest.”

”Mom, you speak with confidence now,” Yang Xue teased her mother, smiling.

”Of course! Having money in hand gives you confidence.”

On New Year’s Eve, Su Yuanyuan made dumplings for herself, with beef and green onion. They tasted extremely delicious.

She had fully adapted to life here and particularly enjoyed it.

She also set off a string of firecrackers outside, and it was indeed loud.

Last year’s Spring Festival had thick snow outside, but this year it was just dry and cold. It seemed the severe drought had been long anticipated, but people just hadn’t taken it seriously.

Returning indoors, she went into the space to read, then came out and comfortably slept in the warm bed.

On the morning of the first day, after getting up, she didn’t bother to brush her teeth or wash her face but set off the firecrackers, crackling and popping. The sheep huddled together, frightened.

After washing up, she fed the sheep, ate breakfast, and did some cleaning.

On this day, all households should have their doors open, so did Su Yuanyuan, thinking perhaps only Hu Chunhua’s family might come over.

The first person to visit Su Yuanyuan for New Year’s greetings was Zhao Yanli. ”Yuanyuan, Happy New Year, we’ve grown a year older, ten years old now.”

Su Yuanyuan nodded with a smile, ”Want to come inside? I’ll get you some candy.”

At the general store, she had indeed bought a few pounds of candy, along with the peanuts and melon seeds given by Hu Chunhua and Xu Chunjiao.

”Thank you, Yuanyuan.” Although she said that, Zhao Yanli didn’t go inside.

Su Yuanyuan smiled and didn’t feel hurt, going inside to grab two handfuls of candies and bring them out.

”Would you like some raw peanuts too?”

”No need, no need.” The little girl smiled and ran off.

In no time, Hu Chunhua and her daughter also came over. They just sat for a bit and then left.

Today involved visiting each household for the New Year. If there weren’t any deep-seated grudges, everyone would go inside. So, each house just hosted briefly, exchanging some auspicious words, and that was it.

Su Yuanyuan wouldn’t be going out; she didn’t care personally but worried others might not welcome her. To avoid any annoyance, she chose to stay home quietly.

Su Yuanyuan’s life remained the same. On this New Year’s Day, in keeping with the occasion, she had two extra dishes.

The second day was traditionally for visiting the wife’s family, but for Su Yuanyuan, it wasn’t related at all.

That evening, Yang Xue came over, bringing Su Yuanyuan sticky soybean buns and rice cakes.

The rice cakes they made were quite attractive, with yellow millet flour, lots of red dates, and various beans inside.

”Yuanyuan, my grandma made these. They’re delicious. Steam them before eating, or they’ll be tough.”

”Thank you, sister. I have some candy here; take some back.”

Yang Xue declined and left with a smile.

On the morning of the fifteenth of the first month, Hu Chunhua brought over a big scoop of yellow millet flour. ”Yuanyuan, keep this for making Lantern Festival dumplings. Do you have brown sugar at home?”

”Yes, Aunt, do you need some?”

Hu Chunhua shook her head, ”I have some at home. You can use roasted peanuts with brown sugar as a filling; it’s especially tasty.”

Su Yuanyuan stored away the yellow millet. She was going to have dumplings today, but she already had some in the space. Cooking a bag would be enough for herself. She wasn’t keen on making them from scratch.

After the fifteenth, for farmers, it marked the end of the New Year celebrations. Every household began working, although the ground hadn’t thawed yet, preparations needed to start.

Su Yuanyuan continued as she did last year, though she could plant two fewer acres this spring.

Old Yang gave her two more gaps, and the rest from last year could still be used, with nothing else much to prepare.