Reborn into the 70: Turning Adversity into Her Dazzling Path

Gu Lingling found a few well-known and catchy children’s songs for Liu Yating and her sister, like ”Song and Smile,” ”Red Star Shining,” ”Let Us Paddle,” and finally a version with altered lyrics of ”Happy New Year” to conclude.

Liu Yating and Liu Yaxin could sing the first few songs, so Gu Lingling just arranged some interactive movements for them. Although they couldn’t sing ”Happy New Year,” the lyrics were simple and upbeat. After singing it three times, the two girls memorized it.

Liu Yating originally didn’t have much hope for this, but after singing this round, she suddenly felt that even she really liked it, excitedly hugging Gu Lingling, ”Lingling, I really like you so much.”

Gu Lingling was almost shaken dizzy by her.

”The next tasks rely on you guys,” Gu Lingling said with a smile, ”I might be busy these coming days. When I come to help Aunt steam buns in a few years, I’ll come to see your performance.”

Every year at the end of the year, every household steams buns and dumplings.

The Gu Family is no exception.

During this time in the village, they also slaughter a few pigs to distribute to the villagers. Every year, the pig slaughtering is the happiest time for the children in the village because they can eat braised meat cooked in big pots that day.

The meat in large pots along with cabbage and big bones are stewed together; the aroma needless to say is very delicious.

Early that day, Gu Lingling tidied up Old Sir Gu and, together with Gu Chunhai, used a pushcart to take him to the place in the village where the pigs were slaughtered.

The fire was already prepared; Old Sir Gu sat on the pushcart with a small quilt on his lap, wearing a cotton jacket that kept him quite warm.

Sitting like this, watching the villagers slaughter the pigs together, put them in boiling hot water to scald and remove the hair, and a few skilled people began to shave the hair off with sharp stones.

The children shouted happily alongside.

And there were children with hands so cold they waited until all the pig hair was removed, and when it was time to open up the pig, they put their hands into the warm pig belly.

It’s said this can treat chilblains on hands.

Gu Lingling smiled looking at all this, standing next to Old Sir Gu, holding the hot-water bag specially bought for her by Gu Chunhai, filled with hot water before going out.

The outside was wrapped with a warm bag, not burning at all, holding it was warm and very comfortable.

”Grandpa, later I’ll make stew for us.” However, she hadn’t eaten the pig slaughter dish from the village’s New Year celebration for years.

Remembering the past, the stew from the Gu Family would mostly end up in Gu Juan’s mouth.

While the most she’d have was a piece of bun dipped in the stew broth.

The old village chief’s braised meat is a delight, every year organized by him for the people slaughtering pigs and making stew.

When the pig bladder was blown big by the slaughterers, it was the most exciting time for the children, and the village-style football game began.

The children played joyfully with the pig bladder, and soon the pig slaughtering scene quieted down.

”So lively,” Gu Lingling said softly.

After the pig was slaughtered, the materials reserved for making the big stew were removed; the remaining meat was distributed to each household.

This year, Nanshui Village had good rainfall, resulting in a good harvest, so at year’s end, the distributed meat was more than in previous years.

For every household, the most important thing is this time, the more meat distributed, the wealthier the year.

”Why have you returned?” Gu Chunhai asked, looking sternly at the people standing in the yard.