Educated Youth in the Countryside: She is the Village's Embroidery Queen!-Chapter 260: Perfect Ten

After dragging everything into the house and putting it away, Yi Chichi returned to the kitchen.

Wen’s mother was busy and bustling around. Upon hearing footsteps, she asked without looking up, "Did Wen Shi send a letter?"

"Not just a letter, there’s also a package."

Wen’s mother responded with an "Oh," and continued her work, as indifferent as if Wen Shi hadn’t sent anything at all.

Every time Wen Shi sent something, she reacted the same way. Yi Chichi was used to it and took the initiative to report the number of packages and letters received.

"Two letters and four packages?"

"Yes."

Wen’s mother was a little surprised, "All from Wen Shi?"

Is that kid out of his mind?

Why send so many things at once?

Yi Chichi shook her head and softly said, "Wen Shi only sent one letter and one package. The remaining three packages and the letters are from the old man and his group."

Wen’s mother was momentarily startled, then became happy.

Happy that the old man and his family finally got in touch.

"Whose packages and letters?"

She asked curiously.

"The letter is from Mr. and Mrs. Song. I’m not sure about the packages, but the old man and his group can open and distribute them themselves tonight when they come for the New Year’s Eve dinner."

In any case, she wouldn’t open them.

She had no interest in opening others’ mail and packages privately; a relay station should fulfill its duty as a relay station.

Wen’s mother nodded, turned around, and used chopsticks to feed some seasoned rice noodles to Yi Chichi, "Taste it for saltiness."

"This is perfect."

After tasting it, Yi Chichi gave a thumbs up, but Wen’s mother wasn’t too pleased. Instead, she worriedly said, "Let me tell you upfront, I’ve never made steamed pork with rice flour or steamed ribs before, so if it’s not good, you can’t blame me."

"Don’t worry, mom, it will certainly be delicious."

Yi Chichi didn’t feel the same way. She had full confidence in Wen’s mother’s cooking skills.

Feeling pressured by high expectations, Wen’s mother still turned around, following Yi Chichi’s instructions, and placed the pork belly and ribs with alternating layers of fat and lean on a plate in the steamer.

Then, she picked up the spatula and said, "Chichi, turn up the fire."

Yi Chichi immediately turned into the fire girl, sitting at the stove and being directed by Wen’s mother.

The New Year’s Eve dinner is an event every family values highly. Those with good means prepare more dishes, those with less prepare fewer, but the atmosphere and liveliness have to be present.

The timing for the New Year’s Eve dinner isn’t fixed; some families eat early, some late.

Regardless of timing, after the New Year’s Eve dinner, families either go to the team leader’s office to listen to the radio or gather to chat and play floral cards.

Wang Nan and her group had eaten early and came to find Yi Chichi to play, only to find that they couldn’t because Yi Chichi and her mother-in-law hadn’t started eating yet.

They were puzzled, "Why are you eating so late?"

"We’ve been too busy during the day."

Yi Chichi couldn’t tell them the truth, so she made up an excuse, chatted with them briefly, and sent them away. She then closed the courtyard gate and, as it got dark, opened the back door to head down the path to the cattle barn to fetch the old man and his group for the reunion dinner.

"Aunt, I thought you forgot about us."

On seeing Yi Chichi, the already prepared Qin Jiu quickly approached with Little Tangerine in his arms.

"That wouldn’t happen."

She patted his head and checked the clothes on the old man and his group. Their coats were all kinds of patched up old clothes, but their inner cotton jackets were very thick.

"Are you cold?"

She asked with concern. The older one’s metabolism had slowed down and they couldn’t retain heat like the young ones.

Despite the layers, only they knew how cold it really was.

"Cold? You already changed our clothes for us; we won’t be cold." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

As he spoke, the old man urged, "Let’s go, we’ve been waiting for this event."

"Let’s move!"

Yi Chichi waved her hand and led them home along the path.

Wen’s mother was waiting at the door. As they arrived, she quickly waved them in, and after some greetings, began serving the food.

Little Tangerine also had a share.

When the dishes were set on the table, the old man and his group were amazed.

"So many dishes?"

"It’s not that many; there are a lot of us."

Just ten dishes; how can that be too many?

Yi Chichi laughed as she set down the wine, "Ten for perfection, to get a good omen."

The old man and his group... this omen was certainly a good one, especially since the dishes were superb.

Since the winds changed, their lives had turned around dramatically.

Of course, even before the change, they’d never had so many dishes in one meal.

Having both meat and vegetables for New Year’s Eve dinner was sufficient; adding some alcohol and cigarettes made it grand. It wasn’t like this daughter-in-law and mother-in-law duo, where only one of ten dishes contained vegetables, with the rest all being meat.

"Is there any meat left in the house?"

The old man hesitated to eat, feeling it was too extravagant.

Wen’s mother smiled, "There’s still plenty of meat left."

She then invited everyone to start eating. After a busy day, she was genuinely hungry.

She believed the old man and his group felt the same.

Then, with chopsticks in hand, everyone dove into the feast.

Little Tangerine had her share too, but Da Li wasn’t there. According to Qin Jiu, Da Li had gone to Uncle Yaozi’s house for the New Year.

A pretty particular choice.

"The steamed pork with rice flour is delicious."

Mrs. Song had a special fondness for the steamed pork with rice flour. Steamed to perfect tenderness and flavor, it melted in the mouth, with a delightful savory taste that didn’t get stuck in the teeth.

"There are sweet potato chunks beneath, and potato chunks in the ribs."

Wen’s mother explained with a smile. Mr. Ma, without a word, ladled himself a scoop of potatoes into his bowl and took a bite. His eyes lit up, "They taste better than meat."

The potatoes, soaked in the meat’s oils, were soft and delicious and, more importantly, easy to digest.

For those with stomach issues, it was a blessing.

Yi Chichi said, "??? Your stomach problem isn’t almost cured?"

"Got to take good care; I want to live a few more years."

Mr. Ma kept scooping up the potatoes, spoon after spoon, while Ye Yuntang and Qin Jiu shared a passion for braised bones, chewing on the ribs with great delight.

Every cell in their bodies exuded joy.

Yi Chichi noticed the untouched wine and laughed, "Aren’t you drinking?"

"First the food, and once we’re full, we’ll have the wine."

The old man declared. With such delicious food, filling the stomach took precedence.

Drinking wine and filling up on it without enjoying the food was simply too regrettable.

Everyone ate and chatted, and when they were full and had drunk their fill, the old man and his group quickly tidied up the pots, pans, bowls, and the kitchen, leaving everything spick and span.

The three women—Yi Chichi, Wen’s mother, and Mrs. Song—offered to help but were turned down.

They were told such tasks didn’t need their involvement.

Then, everyone moved to the inner room. Yi Chichi pointed at the three packages placed by the wall and said, "Let’s see whose they are."

As she spoke, she handed a letter to Mrs. Song, "Here’s your and Grandpa Song’s letter."

Nobody moved; they all stood there, staring blankly at the packages, and the room fell silent.

Yi Chichi looked at the mix of joy and sorrow on their faces. Silently, she put down the letter and left the room with Wen’s mother, taking Qin Jiu and Little Tangerine along.

Noticing the unusual atmosphere, Qin Jiu hesitated for a while, then looked up with hopeful eyes and softly asked, "Aunt, is it a package from my mom and dad?"

Yi Chichi,... this was a difficult question to answer.