Reborn with a Space: Building a Fortune Amidst Famine

"Xiao Li, how are you feeling?"

"Quite excited, Yuanyuan even introduced me to someone over there. He's Tan Shaoting's comrade, but I wasn't interested. I didn't expect to get married in just a few days after coming back. It's really quite incredible."

"What's so incredible about that? Just live your life well from now on, and we're all hoping you can be happy."

"Big sister, don't worry, I definitely will. It seems Zhou Yongbing listens well. That's all I need.

If he treats me well, I'll certainly treat him well in return."

"Yes, that's the right way to think, and also, you must be filial."

"You don't need to tell me that, I know it already. Although I have a bad temper, it was because I was so disappointed with Mom and Dad back then, but I've grown up now. I regret it now."

"As long as you understand. Brother actually wants to bring Mom and Dad over. He already wrote a letter to me."

"That's good too. We're all here, and if they come over, they'll have support."

"My little sister has grown up."

"Yeah, I've actually regretted it for a long time. I was too impulsive back then. I've even told Yuanyuan that I wouldn't visit her this year, thinking about going back to see them."

Zhao Yanping smiled with relief, truly grown up. This is good. In these years, Mom and Dad should have realized it too.

Jianhua woke up. He still isn't very good with turning over yet, but this kid is lively enough; just can't turn over and can't stay still.

When he tried to turn over, Zhao Yanli nudged him a bit.

The kid looked at Zhao Yanli with grievance.

"Big sister, look at Jianhua. He's sulking with me."

"Alright. Stop teasing him. You both are leaving tomorrow. Come back early still."

"Okay, I know, when we go back Yuanyuan's house is still Mr. Li's; I think Director Feng won't give me a hard time.

Once the formalities are done, we'll come back, and we'll bring back the grain we left."

"Okay. Just focus on studying when you get back. It's great to have a regular job. You're someone who can't stay idle; with a job, you won't get bored."

"Yes, I also want to study well, I even still have a junior-high diploma. Big sister, why don't you study too? We can take the exam together, maybe we can get a diploma and find a job in the future."

Zhao Yanping was tempted. Yes, she had nothing to do at home now. She's finished reading Xinhua's books, and there's this opportunity. She should give it a try.

"Fine, I'll study with you."

"Haha, you and your son will take exams together then."

"Xinhua is in seventh grade."

"If there's anything you don't know, you can ask Xinhua and Brother-in-law."

At this time, hearing the commotion, the two men woke up.

The four of them played with the child, chatting about Zhao Yanping studying for exams together.

Zhou Yongbing actually wanted to take his wife back home, but seeing that she wasn't interested at all.

It was past four o'clock already, time wasn't early. "Xiao Li, let's go home."

"Alright, let's go back. It's time to start the fire and cook at home."

When the Zhou couple got home, everything was tidied up, and dinner was almost ready.

Zhao Yanli had asked about Zhou Yongbing's parents' taste, so tonight it was sorghum rice porridge.

Actually, sorghum rice is more popular here. Cooking sorghum rice porridge takes a lot of firewood, so you can't even save it, mainly because it's too cold.

Another pot was boiling water, for the family to wash up. The thermos was filled first. Then, water was added, and it was left to boil like that.

Mrs. Zhou was pleased. Now they can come back and have a meal ready, she's even more satisfied with her daughter-in-law.

Every evening, Mr. Zhou would bring back dry food from the canteen, today it was three-mixed flour buns, and Zhao Yanli finished it with stir-fried cabbage and a bowl of red pickles.

The family sat together for dinner. "Xiao Li, don't mind that your dad and I went to work today."

"Mom, what are you talking about? I really don't mind. I understand."

"That's good then, we're thinking of taking a few more days off for the wedding banquet next month."

"I really understand, by the way, Mom, there are a lot of pickled vegetables, salted vegetables, cabbage, and potatoes at the farm.

I brought them back. What else do we need? Can we make tofu here? I didn't plant soybeans, but my neighbor did, and if we can make tofu, I'll trade for a bag of soybeans."

Mr. Zhou laughed, "Xiao Li, I can make tofu, our family has the tools to make tofu. I can even make tofu sheets."

"That's great, I'll trade for two bags; Mr. Li's family harvested more than ten bags of soybeans and didn't sell them. Mr. Li also wants to make tofu, says eating tofu is good for health."

Mr. Zhou smiled and nodded, "Yes, if possible, trade for two bags. We can have soy milk in the morning."

Zhao Yanli nodded, "We can for sure." Having been neighbors for over two years, Mr. Li was a very generous person.

"By the way, Mom, I'll still buy the pork from over there. I estimate some haven't slaughtered their pigs yet."

Mrs. Zhou was pleasantly surprised, worried about meat for the banquet, because it was her only son's wedding. Many colleagues from her work had already given gifts.

But there really was no meat. She didn't want her son's wedding banquet to be too shabby.

"That would be great, Xiao Li, Mom will give you money."

Zhao Yanli didn't decline, thinking about Second Brother's in-laws' pig being small and not slaughtered, she might just buy it all.

"Xiao Li, how much can you buy?"

"Mom, Second Brother's in-law's pig is small this year, not slaughtered; they're thinking of waiting until spring planting to slaughter it.

I'm thinking of buying a whole pig, which is about a hundred plus jin, costing roughly a hundred yuan."

"Xiao Li, Mom will give you two hundred, let's buy one whole pig, and we can use offals for cold dishes. There'll be lard to eat too."

"Sure, I understand, Mom, don't worry about not having lard; I kept fifty jin of cottonseed oil and twenty jin of lard."

"So much?"

"Not bad, I was lazy last year and raised only two pigs, so not a lot left."

"Xiao Li, is farm life so good?"

"Actually, as long as you're diligent, life can be good. I also have salted duck eggs I pickled at home. I raise ducks every year."

"Xiao Li, you're making me want to live on the farm too."

Zhao Yanli laughed, "Mom, you wouldn't adapt to life there. From spring planting, during the busiest times, you won't sleep much at night. It's almost all in the fields."

"Yes, farm life really requires work.

But you can tell familiar ones to leave one pig for us by the end of the year, one each for your three sisters' families and our few here, then we can split a pig."

We go to deliver fertilizer every year, and we can buy grain and meat on the way back."