Transmigrated as Cannon Fodder — I Rise to Female Lead Through Hard Work-Chapter 40: Must Be Treated Well

"Anmin, why didn’t you tell me about your sister-in-law’s situation? What exactly happened?" Li Hongying asked. Hao Zhijian had just spoken vaguely, without outlining any specifics, mainly praising and thanking Yi Roujing.

Ding Anmin then detailed what Yi Roujing had done, "Mom, I was shocked at the time; I didn’t expect she had this skill. But the situation was really dangerous, and if it weren’t for her intervention, the consequences..."

"So that’s how it was. It’s good that Bai Wei helped her, and now she’s thinking of helping others." A soft expression appeared on Li Hongying’s face as she kneaded the dough with more vigor.

Pork belly was peeled and minced, with some salt and soy sauce added, a sprinkle of chopped green onions, and a drizzle of sesame oil, mixed evenly. The dough was filled with a generous amount of pure meat filling and arranged plump and white in bamboo steamers.

The meat brought by Hao Zhijian and the others weighed nearly ten pounds. Li Hongying, not one to be stingy, chopped up two pounds for making baozi, prepared three pounds for braised pork, and rubbed salt on the remainder to marinate in a small jar.

Filleted slices of a large grass carp were ready. Seeing the fish head and bones on the chopping board, Li Hongying handed Ding Anmin a dime, "Go to Wang’s house and trade for two pounds of tofu."

"Okay." Ding Anmin grabbed a wooden basin and dashed outside.

"Anmin, where are you off to?" Yi Roujing asked as she walked into the kitchen. When she saw the thin fish slices on the chopping board, her eyes lit up, "What are we making today?"

"Sour fish soup," Li Hongying replied with a smile, "It’s a recipe I learned from someone before."

The mention of it made Yi Roujing’s mouth water involuntarily, "Do we have pickled vegetables at home?"

"Oh dear, my memory!" Li Hongying slapped her thigh, hurriedly ran to the cupboard, and grabbed an egg before rushing out, "I’ll find someone to exchange for some pickled vegetables."

Yi Roujing took two enamel cups, added some brown sugar, and poured in hot water. She carried them to the room, "Let it cool a bit and have a drink. You all sit for a while."

Now, only Xia Xingchen was left in the kitchen. Yi Roujing felt a bit uneasy and went over, ostensibly to help, but really just to chat with her.

"Sister-in-law, I didn’t expect you were so impressive." Ding Anmin had described it all in detail, having witnessed it firsthand held more weight. Xia Xingchen listened, feeling it was dangerous—if it had been her, she wouldn’t know what to do.

"It was just fortunate that I had seen that rescue method before." Yi Roujing humbly smiled. Seeing Ding Anmin return from the kitchen, Yi Roujing went back to the room to accompany the guests.

"Roujing, where do you intend to go to school later?" Hao Zhixin asked caringly, "Actually, the provincial nursing school isn’t bad."

"Roujing, if you want to go, I can ask my grandfather to get a slot for you in the worker-peasant-soldier student enrollment for the second half of the year." Hu Heping said earnestly, looking at Yi Roujing.

Yi Roujing shook her head, "Thanks, Heping, but I’ve already considered this."

Yi Roujing’s words were firm. Hu Heping smiled helplessly, "Got it, but if you need anything, you must come to me. Even if I can’t help, having another brain to think about it wouldn’t hurt. Don’t be polite with me on this."

Yi Roujing nodded with a smile. Hu Heping took out a note, "This is my family’s contact information. If you go to the provincial city, come visit me, and you can call me anytime. Right, give me a contact number for you too. Your family knows, but give me a phone number. I noticed a telephone sign when entering the team."

The Dingping Production Team had installed a telephone, which Team Leader Ding Xiaoding had fought for at the Tongxian Commune and Huaixi County Government. Otherwise, if any household had an urgent matter, they’d have to go to the commune post office to make a phone call or send a telegram, which was too time-consuming. Back then, Ding Xiaoding had made nearly a dozen trips to secure 2,500 yuan of funding, and raised 500 yuan from households in the village to install the phone.

Yi Roujing didn’t quite know the team’s phone number, so after asking in the kitchen, she wrote it down for Hu Heping on a note.

"Wow, it smells so good." As noon approached, the courtyard was filled with the aroma of food, Hao Zhixin said with anticipation.

"My mom’s skilled with her hands," Yi Roujing made a very objective comment, which Ding Anmin, who came to the door to call everyone, heard from outside. She smiled, secretly thinking that at least someone was honest.

"Sister-in-law, Heping, Zhixin, let’s eat," Ding Anmin shouted loudly.

Today, with many people present, Li Hongying had Ding Weihuo and Ding Anguo set up the big round table used at New Year to entertain guests, which could seat ten people. Today there were nine dining, just right, with plenty of room to sit comfortably.

"Weihe’s wife, this spread is quite substantial," Ding Xiaoding remarked, grinning as he saw the table full of food.

Pickled fish, braised pork, fish head tofu soup, spinach egg drop soup, stir-fried eggs with leeks, stewed potatoes and green beans, cold mixed shepherd’s purse, stir-fried spring bamboo shoots, stir-fried fava beans, and vinegar cabbage, ten dishes in all, each with ample portions. The braised pork alone was packed into a large bowl, enough for someone to eat three or four pieces, not to mention the vegetables, which were double the usual amount.

The main dishes were big meat buns and white rice. The meat buns were the size of an adult’s splayed hand, and taking a bite released rich, aromatic meat juice. The stuffing was very generous, receiving widespread praise.

Yi Roujing’s favorite was the pickled fish. The fish was tender and smooth, the pickled vegetables were refreshing and appetizing, with just a hint of spiciness. Even the soup could be drunk, unlike in later years when it was all oil. In this era, oil was too precious to use liberally, but the taste Li Hongying achieved was better than any pickled fish she’d had.

Hao Zhijian had driven there, so he couldn’t drink alcohol, and neither did Ding Xiaoding, as work resumed in the afternoon. The meal lasted over half an hour, with nearly everything on the table consumed.

After the meal, Hao Zhijian and the others took their leave. With little in the way of gifts, Li Hongying wrapped up the remaining six big meat buns for them to take home, "I saw Heping enjoying them earlier; just reheat them at home."

"Thank you, Aunt," Hu Heping didn’t decline.

Ding Xiaoding, Yi Roujing, and the others saw them off as the car drove out of the team.

"Ancheng’s wife, well done," Ding Xiaoding praised with a hearty laugh, "Mr. Hao is genuinely attentive. He’s already reported this, and when the time comes, our commune will definitely be the first to give you an award."

"Anyone in that situation would have helped out. Our team members, under the team leader’s guidance, are all eager to assist others. Bai Wei saved me before, too," Yi Roujing replied with a smile. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

The smile on Ding Xiaoding’s face deepened. He hadn’t expected Ding Ancheng’s wife to be so articulate and thought of the cigarettes Hao Zhijian had gifted, his heart filled with warmth.

"Ah, all of you also know what to do. Right, how’s your health?" Ding Xiaoding inquired caringly.

"Almost there," she replied.

"That’s good, that’s good." Ding Xiaoding nodded repeatedly, "But you still need to recover. Starting tomorrow, you don’t need to cut pig grass anymore—just herd the cattle. Or if you want, I can arrange something more relaxed for you temporarily."