Chapter 29: New Year 1

"San Jie, brother-in-law, in a few days I'm taking Si Jie back to our hometown for the New Year. Could you help me put up some spring couplets and such here?"

"Sure, wait until I prepare some things for you to take back together."

"Good."

"Zhang Shu, going back to the hometown is so boring, don't go back. For the New Year, I'll take you to blow up a cesspit."

"……"

"You all go play yourselves, I'm going home for a few days and will be back soon."

"Brother, Ping'an, I usually practice calligraphy. If you don't mind, wait until I write a few pairs of couplets for you to put up."

In the show, Yan Bugui had excellent calligraphy skills and had formed the custom of writing couplets for his neighbors every year, which was of course paid, since knowledge is priceless after all.

"That sounds great."

"Old, cough, Teacher Yan, write two pairs for my house too."

"And me."

"Done."

The next day, Zhang Ping'an bought a lot of red paper and sent it to Yan Bugui's house; he couldn't let others provide both the labor and the money.

"Teacher Yan, here is the red paper for you. I'll trouble you then."

"Easy to say," Yan Bugui accepted the red paper with a smile.

After finishing lunch, Zhang Ping'an and his Si Jie cleaned the house inside and out, preparing to go home tomorrow morning.

In the afternoon, Zhang Ping'an went to the grocery store to buy a lot of firecrackers and candies, and took five jin of fresh meat, half a sheep, and two big fish out of his space.

In the evening, Zhang Ping'an left a key for Lao Jia and took the gifts he had prepared back; he could set off directly tomorrow morning.

Early the next morning, Zhang Ping'an still got up early to exercise, and didn't set off for home until he finished breakfast with his Si Jie at eight o'clock.

"Ping'an, the road is slippery now, ride the bicycle slowly."

"Alright."

It was indeed freezing cold, and Zhang Ping'an didn't dare to ride too fast. Fortunately, it was a tricycle; if it had been a Bicycle, it would have been easy to fall.

Swaying all the way, it was almost eleven o'clock when he returned home. It was just the right time to warm up in the house before having a meal.

"You two really know how to catch mealtime."

"Of course, I timed it to get back. Dad, Mom, there are things in the tricycle that San Jie and the others brought for you, and I bought some too."

"Your San Jie and the others are about to have a child, their expenses will be high soon, why did you still buy things? Ping'an, you didn't even try to persuade them."

"Mom, it's useless even if I say something. You know what San Jie and the others are like."

"Alright, since the children are being filial, we'll accept it. But Ping'an, you spendthrift, why buy so much meat? Did you forget that your second uncle's family is slaughtering a New Year pig this year?"

"Ah?" He had truly forgotten.

"It's fine, it's fine. We'll just make more meat balls and Braised Pork for the New Year. It won't go bad in the middle of winter anyway."

"That'll do then."

The next day, Zhang Ping'an did not participate in the slaughtering of the New Year pig, but instead took dry rations and carried his bow and arrows into the mountains early in the morning.

"This kid doesn't rest even after coming back."

After entering the mountains, Zhang Ping'an followed the traces of animal paths and tracked them all the way, finally discovering a small Wild Boar herd, two large and five small. He focused his mind and calmed his breath; "Swish, swish," two sounds of breaking through the air directly pierced the necks of the two large Wild Boars.

"Squeal, squeal," the miserable cries rang out. Zhang Ping'an rushed toward the five fleeing small Wild Boars at the first opportunity and collected them into his space; the large Wild Boars also stopped struggling after a moment and died.

Taking advantage of the fact that the Wild Boars hadn't cooled down yet, Zhang Ping'an hurriedly hung them upside down to drain the blood, removed the organs, and then retrieved his arrows.

Afterward, Zhang Ping'an cut down two small trees, made a simple frame with vines, put the Wild Boars on it and tied them up, and dragged them home all the way.

Now there was no shortage of meat at home, and with the New Year pig slaughtered, Zhang Ping'an prepared to send them to the Lou Steel Rolling Mill; it would be just right to give the Worker masters an extra meal.

Near lunchtime, there was almost no one on the village road, and Zhang Ping'an dragged the frame back home.

"Good fellow, you hunted two Wild Boars in just one morning? Ping'an, you make your master feel ashamed."

"Hehe, Second Uncle, I have good stamina, and my luck is not bad either. I just happened to run into them, so I solved it while I was at it."

Zhang Ping'an's words were not false; he had been energetic since he was a child, jumping around like a monkey, and now that he had grown up, he was even sturdier from exercising.

"Second Uncle, I'll chop off a pig leg for you to take back in a moment."

"No need, we can't even finish the meat at home, your second aunt has already smoked it."

Zhang Ping'an's second aunt was from Sichuan Province, and she was an expert at both smoking meat and making sausages, especially the spicy sausages which were delicious.

"Second Uncle, then you can have Second Aunt smoke a pig leg for me while she's at it, hehe."

"Ping'an, don't be so disrespectful."

"Big Brother, it's fine, I can just smoke it along with the others."

After hearing this, Zhang Ping'an quickly chopped off two hind pig legs, processed them simply, and handed them to his second uncle.

"Alright, Big Brother, I'm heading back first." Zhang Laiwen carried the two pig legs and left.

"Good."

"Ping'an, how do you plan to handle the rest?"

"I plan to send it to the Rolling Mill. The factory isn't on holiday yet, and it's before the New Year, so this meat will definitely be very expensive."

"Alright then, I'll go with you."

"No need, Dad, I can go and return quickly by myself. If I'm not back by six in the evening, I'll stay in the city."

"Alright then, be careful on the road."

"Mm, don't worry, Dad, three or five people can't get close to me."

Zhang Ping'an tidied up a bit and set off on his tricycle. At three o'clock in the afternoon, he arrived at the entrance of the Rolling Mill.

"Ping'an, you've got a big haul again."

"It's alright, I hunted a Wild Boar."

"Ahem, Ping'an, don't leave yet, leave some for us brothers," said Tan Jun.

"Whoa, this is two of them, Ping'an!"

"Yeah, I'm keeping the two hind legs for myself to eat."

"Ping'an, give this one to us. The New Year is coming, and meat isn't easy to buy."

"Alright."

"Good brother!" Tan Jun patted Zhang Ping'an on the shoulder and hurriedly signaled for the others to carry the pork down.

"Ping'an, it's one hundred and fifty-two catties in total. Pork is expensive at the end of the year, so let's not calculate it too precisely; I'll give you one point five million."

"Deal."

"I don't have that much cash on hand right now, I'll bring it to you after work tonight."

"Fine, if I'm not around, just give it to my brother-in-law, Jia Youcai."

"Deal."

Zhang Ping'an went to the Logistics Department again, cut off five catties of meat from the Wild Boar, and sold the rest.

"Qiang Ge, take this as a New Year's gift from your younger brother. I've relied on your care for the past half year."

"Ping'an, this won't do. You're making me commit a mistake."

"Hahaha, Qiang Ge, this is just normal social courtesy, who could say anything? Besides, I'll still need to trouble you in the future."

"You kid, alright, I'll accept it. Come to my place for a drink when you're free."

"You got it."

Zhang Ping'an took the slip, and his hands now held a five-catty piece of Black-skinned Pig meat and a small bag of mushrooms.

"Director Lou."

"Oh, Ping'an, didn't you go home for the New Year?"

"Hehe, I caught a Wild Boar back home and brought it to the factory. Also, since we slaughtered a New Year pig at home, I brought a piece for Director Lou. It's all home-raised and fragrant, plus some mushrooms I picked on the mountain."

"Hahaha, good kid. Hmm, authentic local pork, not bad, not bad. Ping'an, you're very thoughtful. Let me see the slip."

"Whoa, this Wild Boar isn't small." The slip clearly stated two hundred and ninety-seven catties.

"Ping'an, pork prices have risen at the end of the year, I'll give you three million."

"You got it, many thanks, Director Lou. By the way, Director Lou, I've registered this Wild Boar under Brother Xiaojun's name."

"Hmm, thank you, Ping'an." Lou Zhenyu looked at Zhang Ping'an with even greater satisfaction; at the very least, his son's performance record looked much better on the surface this year.