Rebirth in Famine: She Thrives by Lucky Space

Chapter 943: Chapter 943: Communal Feast

Wish everyone a Happy New Year. Thank you all for your continued support! Until the 17th, there will be daily updates of ten thousand words!

At that time, fifteen steam trays will be stacked on one stove, while the other four pots will be used to prepare stew.

Li Yunqiang’s wife, Liu Cuilan, was also cooking. ”Cuilan, have you taken a liking to Xiang Dong’s wife yet?” asked Li Dazhong’s wife.

”Not yet, actually Xiang Dong is still young, no rush, just taking it slow and looking around.”

”Xiang Dong is such a good lad, take your time and you’ll find someone great.”

”This kid doesn’t care, and I can’t do anything about it. He’s met two so far, didn’t say anything, don’t know what he’s thinking,” Liu Cuilan said, worried.

”Xiang Dong is still young, probably hasn’t thought about it yet.”

”He’s like a closed bottle, I ask him, and he doesn’t say anything, it’s really infuriating.”

”Cuilan, you’re just not satisfied. Xiang Dong is already very good; there are few in the village like him.

Don’t worry, maybe Xiang Dong’s destined match hasn’t arrived yet.”

Liu Cuilan nodded, that was all she could do, you worry, but others don’t.

Meanwhile, the wild boar had been brought in, and the women were exclaiming at the sight of the big, dark wild boar.

”This wild boar is too large, how did they get it down from the mountain?”

”Probably several hundred pounds, now each family can get a few more pounds of meat.”

A distant sound of pigs squealing could be heard; the fattened pigs were also brought in.

Qu Xiaoli immediately instructed three people to start boiling water, as hot water would be needed for the slaughter.

Li Yungui also came over. At this time, the two butchers from the village arrived with their tools.

In past years, children would gather around to watch the fun, waiting to eat meat.

But this year, they were all in school, making this year’s pig slaughter quieter. Just the blood alone filled four basins.

Once the water boiled, it was used to make blood pudding, which was set aside.

Later, when the stew was nearly done, they would just chop it up and put it in the pot.

Soon, the idle villagers all arrived. Slaughtering a pig is not easy work, and the most important thing is the meat distribution.

In no time, lots of offal was brought into the canteen. Although today was for communal dining, the meat wasn’t being eaten.

Everyone hoped to get a bit more, so they could have more to eat during the New Year.

Especially the wild boar offal, which filled two large basins. Several deft women were cleaning it.

The offal needed to be thoroughly cleaned, as otherwise, it would have a strong odor. So only clean people were trusted to wash it.

Basins of it were brought in, and boiled in clear water with lots of seasonings.

After an hour, all the bones were brought in for stewing. However, the pig’s trotters, head, and tail were kept aside.

The pig’s head and tail are offerings for the first month, while the trotters are kept to stew with the head later.

The canteen was filled with a rich aroma of meat. But without the children gathered around, it didn’t seem as fragrant.

Over ten basins of pickled vegetables were cut and set aside, ready to use.

By now, they were ready to distribute the meat. Li Yungui weighed everything and found that the net meat from the four pigs was seven hundred sixty pounds, while the wild boar meat was four hundred pounds of pure meat.

Li Yungui calculated that there were two hundred thirty-five people in the village, including newborns, and seventy were children. Each child would get two pounds, while the rest of the meat would be evenly distributed among the adults and able-bodied.

It worked out that each person would receive three and three-quarters pounds. That was already quite a lot.

Naturally, this method wasn’t wholly fair, so those known for diligence received first-class meat, and no one objected to that.

Meanwhile, a tractor stopped nearby, and several people jumped off.

Seeing his eldest son, Li Yungui felt a lump in his throat. After years away, his son was finally back.

Li Manjiang ran over to him. ”Dad, I’m back.”

Li Yungui nodded, barely holding back tears. ”Good, it’s good you’re back. Your mom’s working inside, she’s been thinking about you for a long time.”

Li Manjiang also teared up. After years away, it had been over two years since he’d last come home.

”Dad, I want to see Mom.”

”Manjiang, you’re back?”

”Uncle, I’m back. You still look so strong.”

”Of course, I’m an able worker.”

Everyone burst into laughter. The village head’s eldest son was back, a capable man indeed.

Qu Xiaoli was in the canteen, cutting the offal. It had been skimmed and was now being used to stew the pickled vegetables.

”Xiao Li, hurry up, Manjiang is back.”

Qu Xiaoli paused for a second, then hurriedly dropped the knife and ran out.

Li Manjiang came in, bumping into his mom.

Mother and son looked at each other, joy evident in their eyes.

”Mom, I’m back, I’m here to see you.”

”Good, good, finally you’re back. But you’re several days later than you said in your letter.”

Qu Xiaoli wanted to hold her son’s hand but held back, seeing her hands still greasy.

”Manjiang, go home and rest for a bit, then come over for dinner. You’re lucky, just in time for the meat.”

”Okay, Mom. I’ll go drop off my luggage and come back to help you with the fire,” Li Manjiang said, understanding his mom’s intentions. He grabbed her hand.

”It’s all greasy, don’t get it on you.” Qu Xiaoli said, smiling broadly despite her words.

Xiang Dong came over, carrying his brother’s luggage. ”Big brother, I’ll take your luggage.”

”Alright, you go ahead. I’ll stay here.” Missing his family every night, now that he finally saw his parents, why would Li Manjiang want to leave?

Outside, people had queued up to start the meat distribution. Families with more members received twenty-four or twenty-five pounds of meat, something unprecedented for years.

Li Yungui explained that the wild boar was hunted by Old Yang and his five companions, new to the village, and distributed to everyone.

The five hunters were warmly thanked, with everyone singing their praises.

Shuanzi’s group of eleven, Lu Tiezhu, and the eight others in the re-settlement also received their meat. It was the same for everyone.

Wen Zhenzong felt lucky to be part of this village, where he could get meat even if it was lean meat.

He took away thirty pounds of meat for his group of eight, filling a large bucket.

Now, they could all have a sumptuous New Year.

Lu Tiezhu and others didn’t have time to come for distribution, so the butcher cut the meat into pieces to be sent to them. It was all lean meat, identical in type.

The two from Lu Tiezhu’s family received seven and a half pounds of meat, a sizable portion.

The lively meat distribution was over. Of course, there were some grumbles about the first and second-class meat, but with Li Yungui overseeing, the complaints were just mutterings and didn’t escalate.