Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 362 - 276: Neighbors on Both Sides (Part 2)

.....

Zhou Jiao watched their departing figures and decided not to go inside the room. After saying a word to Zhang Meili, who came out to watch the show, she headed towards the Wang Family, whose courtyard gate was wide open. She needed to say a few words there; politeness couldn’t be lacking.

A lot of firewood was piled in front of the Wang Family’s door, and Zhou Jiao was always afraid of mice and bugs jumping out whenever she came over.

The Wang Family’s courtyard was about the same size as Zhou Jiao’s home, but with a different layout: five rooms, kitchen in the middle. Now, besides the outer room and the west room being lit, the courtyard was pitch dark without any lighting.

Zhou Jiao remembered that the Wang Family had a dog, living better than the Wang Family themselves. It gnawed on bones every day, didn’t greet people, and often shot a glance at visitors before turning its head arrogantly. As part of a dual-income household at the meat processing plant, the Wang Family’s dog lived a life better than most, a happy dog, and certainly a proud one.

More pampered than the dog were the Wang Family’s flock of hens, spitting wherever they pleased, relieving themselves wherever they wished, without a worry that their territory would be taken over. They could wander the east room, saunter to the west room. Whether these Wang Family chicken sisters could still roam so freely come summer, Zhou Jiao wasn’t sure.

Zhou Jiao carefully stepped over the bomb-like objects on the ground and finally reached the outer house. As soon as she entered, a strong scent of meat hit her. A large pot on the earth stove was bubbling away.

"Auntie, it’s Jiao Jiao. I’m coming in."

Aunt Wang was squatting alone, washing pig intestines and some other pig offal. There were voices inside the room; it seemed like her kids were quite pampered.

Aunt Wang looked up and saw Zhou Jiao, smiling as she said, "Come on in, Auntie’s hands are occupied, can’t get up." She gestured with her finger towards a stool for Zhou to sit on.

Zhou Jiao’s glance caught a few greasy, stained stools, and her eyes twitched. She quickly moved close to Aunt Wang. She’d rather smell the drains than be willing to sit. This Aunt Wang, who knew if it’s because both husband and wife worked at the meat processing plant, the house was full of grease. She’d never seen a clean piece of clothing on the couple. The only daughter in the Wang Family had a white-powdered face, but her clothes were anything but clean.

Zhou Jiao sneaked to the side, feeling the smell was a bit better, and said, "Aunt, thank you. If you hadn’t mentioned it, we wouldn’t have had a chance to buy any. Food that goes into the mouth is scarce these days, let alone this stuff."

"No need to thank me. As soon as I saw your yard lit up, I knew you were back. This time, Uncle Wang didn’t know where his factory got a batch of pigs from. The higher-ups thought the number was enough and distributed some bones and organs for employees to buy at internal prices. Really cheap, and the bones had meat on them. The factory workers, upon hearing the internal supply, were all eager to keep the meat.

Take a look at the meat on the table; all trimmed by me. Quite a deal, right? You’re too skinny, have to eat a lot, boil the bone soup longer and drink it like water, it’ll definitely fatten you up.

When I was a girl, I was only seventy to eighty pounds, and now it’s almost doubled, all from drinking soup." Aunt Wang kept busy with her hands, and her mouth kept encouraging Zhou Jiao to drink soup, often glancing up to check on her.

Zhou Jiao smiled and nodded continuously, not forgetting to respond with "uh-huhs." Listening to Aunt Wang talk about what welfare benefits the meat processing plant had each year, who inside was the most calculating, and who bought the most.

After talking about the meat processing plant, she moved on to discussing which families in the front yard were difficult to deal with, who was easy to get along with, who just pretended to be rich, and who were genuinely so poor they’d pawn their pants.

Then she asked Zhou Jiao if her family had received this month’s grain supply, told her what was being supplied at the end of this month, what times were best to go for certain things, how to slip into the queue unnoticed, and how to buy good cabbages. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

From large cabbage, to pickled cabbage, and then to how braised pork with pickled cabbage is delicious, to the price of pork, and how to make fragrant cured meat.

Zhou Jiao’s legs were getting a bit tired from standing, and she discreetly shifted her position. All this gossiping from the other side, she truly was an enthusiastic person, just talked too much — could she leave now?

Aunt Wang kept talking, and suddenly exclaimed, "Oh dear, see how I’ve lost track of time with all this chatter. You should go back now! It’s not that Auntie isn’t keeping you, but at night, children can’t be away from you. During the day, come over anytime. Your mom specifically came to ask me to look after you more. Don’t be polite, call me if you need anything."

To Zhou Jiao, it sounded like music from heaven, realizing that Aunt Wang’s loud voice was also a kind of beautiful music. After exchanging a few pleasantries, carrying a bowl of meat Aunt Wang insistently gave her, she left the Wang Family’s courtyard, quickly striding away.

Back in her own courtyard, Zhou Jiao looked at the bowl piled high with fatty meat she was holding. Letting out a long breath, she gazed at the courtyard on the left, covering her mouth in a silly fit of giggles.

Returned to the kitchen, she washed her hands, standing there staring blankly at the bowl of meat.

After Zhang Guoqing and Wang Dasheng went their separate ways, Zhang Guoqing pushed the cart back home. As soon as the kids inside heard the sound of the main gate, they all ran out, cheering happily at the sight of him, shouting that there was meat to eat.

In the kitchen, Zhang Guoqing lifted the bag and poured it into the wooden tray, and when he saw Zhang Meili and the others tidying up, he said with a smile, "Tonight really was lucky. Old Chen next door wanted the pig innards that I don’t like. I bet there won’t be any sleep at his house tonight. Many people didn’t want pig trotters or tails because they were thought to have no meat. I asked for it all."

Zhou Jiao nodded, indeed luck was on their side. With so many bones, she might double her weight too.

Chen Xiaobin’s shouting came from outside.

Zhang Ziwen went to open the door and pulled him into the kitchen, chattering on about how Uncle had brought back lots of meaty bones.

Zhang Guoqing teased as he saw him, "Worried about my second sister, huh? Come on, sit down."

"Worried there might be something here. If not, we’ll head back first. When dad and mom visit in a few days, we’ll gather again."

Zhang Guoqing nodded with a smile. Seeing it was late, he didn’t urge them to stay. He picked out some items, packed them in a bamboo basket, and sent them off back home.