NOVEL NEXT Chapter 15
Chapter 15
After entering December, the atmosphere of the New Year enveloped everything. Almost every household was busy preparing delicious food, regardless of whether they were wealthy or not. Those who had money made more delicious dishes, while those who didn’t still tried their best to prepare various tasty treats.
In the villages of Dadong Commune, every household was filled with the aroma of frying. All the children played outside because staying indoors was too tempting with the smell of food, making it hard to resist sneaking a taste. All the fried foods prepared for the New Year had to be saved for the offerings on New Year’s Eve before they could be eaten.
Ningning and Su Fei, being just the two of them at home, still had to prepare everything necessary for the New Year. They had to prepare fried dishes like fried meatballs, fried vegetarian balls, and fried fish. They also needed snacks for offerings, as well as cleaning the house and making new clothes. Everything had to be done.
Su Fei felt like she was useless compared to Ningning. She couldn’t do any of these tasks except for starting a fire and adding firewood. She had only learned these skills after coming to Ningning’s house.
“Alright, no need to add more firewood. Go to Zhang Shu’s house and buy some vinegar, soy sauce, and his homemade rice wine. We’ll need them for cooking tonight.” Ningning said as he fried the meatballs and vegetarian balls, seeing that the fire didn’t need tending anymore.
“Okay.” Su Fei had grown to love the activity of burning firewood in winter. The firelight was particularly warm, making her feel cozy all over. Plus, she could occasionally snack on a fried meatball or two. Winter was the time to fatten up, and Ningning’s cooking skills were truly amazing, everything was delicious.
Su Fei was very concerned about her health, living a lifestyle similar to that of a seventy or eighty-year-old veteran cadre. She didn’t care much about her appearance, so she dressed relatively lightly.
Whenever she went out, she always wore scarves, hats, and other accessories to keep warm. Then she slowly made her way out, looking like a bear because she couldn’t move fast with all the layers.
“Ningning, I’m going out.” Su Fei shouted to Ningning in the kitchen before slowly walking out wrapped up like a bear. She couldn’t move quickly because she was dressed so heavily.
“Hmm… I thought you had already left? Didn’t expect you to leave just now. Hurry up, we’ll be eating soon.” Ningning turned to see Su Fei’s bear-like figure and chuckled as she walked away slowly.
Once Su Fei stepped outside, she was completely covered by the heavy snowfall in the village. Which way was north, south, east, or west? There used to be some special markers, but now even those were gone.
“Hello, Teacher Su!” The children in the village who attended the commune’s primary school all knew Su Fei. “Are you also going shopping?”
“Hello, everyone. Let’s go together.” Su Fei smiled, feeling relieved.
While chatting with the children, Su Fei followed them to Zhang Shu’s house to buy things. Finally, she saw the light at the end of the tunnel.
Zhang Shu’s small shop could earn a few bucks during this New Year’s season. Here, everyone, old and young, came to buy things. Some women even asked Zhang Shu to bring back some good stuff for them, so there were a lot of people gathered here.
Su Fei didn’t care about the gazes of these people. Let them look, she hadn’t lost anything. She said to Zhang Shu, “Get me some vinegar, soy sauce, and your homemade rice wine.”
Zhang Shu immediately complied and quickly fetched the items for Su Fei. Some playful people joked with Su Fei, “Teacher Su, in two years, your children with Ningning can come here to buy soy sauce on their own.”
Su Fei blushed at the mention of children with her crush. She quickly replied, “It’s too early for that.”
It turned out that Su Fei used to be one of the women who played around with these knowing women and troublemakers in the village. Unexpectedly, she changed her ways so quickly. Look at her clothes, she didn’t look like someone who fooled around anymore.
The knowing women nearby envied and resented her, saying, “She’s changed for the better, becoming a good homely woman.” They wanted to provoke Su Fei, but there wasn’t a single mature woman willing to be nosy.
“Yeah, don’t come looking for me if you have any trouble in the future. I won’t come out for you. It’s too cold today.” Su Fei said decisively.
Because Zhang Shu was alone, he could only make a little money by himself. Some little girls would come over and take a few pieces of candy while shopping, which made it hard to make money.
Su Fei immediately shot a stern look at the students she had trained for half a year, scaring them so much that they froze and dared not move. “Is it okay to take things from others in school? Return them immediately! If I hear about anyone doing this again, I’ll smack your palms!”
Zhang Shu was very grateful to Su Fei. Taking two pieces of candy wasn’t a big deal, after all, everyone in the village knew each other, but it really didn’t earn any money.
Su Fei directly gave the two pieces of candy she bought for two cents to the children and told them they were not allowed to take other people’s things at will. The children quickly thanked Su Fei and then ran off.
Su Fei went straight home. Ningning was still waiting at home, and on the way back, she met Ning Xiangxiang, who was dressed in fashionable clothes but didn’t wear enough warm clothing, looking pitiful in the freezing cold.