Chapter 13: Eating Meat Buns

The two walked over to the mule cart.

Wang An saw Mu Xueqing’s mother sneaking a peek at the two remaining pieces of roe deer meat. A sense of heartache welled up within him!

Earlier, when he heard Mu Xueqing’s mother scolding her, Wang An had realized that the living conditions of Mu Xueqing’s family were very poor.

Wang An tried hard to recall bits and pieces from his school days, but there wasn't much he could remember. He recalled one time when the school was taking a census of family members; Mu Xueqing’s father was named Mu Hua, her mother was Liu Ruxin, she had a younger brother named Mu Xueli, and a younger sister named Mu Xueting. He remembered asking Mu Xueting back then, "Who named you three sisters?" Mu Xueqing said it was her dad. Wang An had joked, "How much does your dad dislike snow? You three sisters are all obsessed with it!" Mu Xueqing hadn't spoken to him for many days after that, no matter how hard he tried to curry favor with her.

It was still the era of the collective system, where grain and goods were distributed annually based on work points.

Mu Hua’s health wasn't great, so he couldn't do much heavy labor and surely didn't have many work points. Mu Xueqing had been studying until she graduated from junior high, so she certainly didn't have any work points either. Wang An knew Mu Xueli was also still in school, and Mu Xueting was too young to count.

In this family, only Liu Ruxin could earn work points. If a male laborer earned 10 points, a female laborer typically only earned 8. What a life! Well, it was the life they had chosen.

After these thoughts, Wang An smiled and said to Liu Ruxin, "Auntie, have you been waiting long?"

Liu Ruxin also smiled. "It’s fine, son-in-law. Are you done with your business?"

"Yes, it’s done! Should we take the money directly to that Zheng fellow, or should we go find the matchmaker first, Auntie?"

"Find the matchmaker! We haven't even met the Zheng family yet. Xueqing kept refusing, so I came today thinking I’d find out what kind of person that Zheng Fei is. But son-in-law, you mustn't blame me. You see, my Xueqing has been waiting for you for a year and a half! Auntie really had no choice!" As she spoke, she looked like she was about to shed tears.

"Oh, Auntie, don't think like that. I, Wang An, am not that kind of person. Besides, this is all my fault. It’s settled! Put your heart at ease. With your son-in-law here, everything will be taken care of!" Wang An said, half-comforting and half-promising.

Hearing this, Liu Ruxin’s tears vanished instantly, and she beamed with a radiant smile!

Her eyes wandered again, intentionally or not, to the pile of things Wang An and Mu Xueqing had just bought. Wang An’s mouth twitched; a mother-in-law is no ordinary being!

Wang An was about to take out the money to give to Liu Ruxin, but he habitually looked left and right and noticed quite a few people. He suddenly remembered that Mu Xueqing’s home was in Sujiatun, not far from Kaoshantun—only about five or six li away—and going to her house would mean passing by his own.

He might as well take them back directly; it would be safer. Besides, it looked like Liu Ruxin and Mu Xueqing had walked to the county town, and that was quite a distance.

Thinking of this, Wang An said, "Auntie, since I’m going to your place to pay my respects anyway, why don't I just take you both back? What do you think?"

At this time, Wang An couldn't invite Liu Ruxin and the others to his own home yet. The procedure was for the man to go to the woman’s house first; if they agreed to let him stay for a meal, he stayed; if not, he didn't. This was called "dating." Then, if the woman’s family agreed, the whole family would go to the man’s house, which was called "checking the family status" (to see how the man’s household was doing). If both families agreed, they would get engaged on the spot, which was called "giving the betrothal gifts." The woman’s family would then return home, and the man would lead a group to fetch the bride. Wang An would bring Mu Xueqing home alone, which was called "the wedding." Only then was it all finished. If there was a matchmaker, they were simply included in every step, but the procedure remained the same.

Of course, this was the procedure known to most people in this region. However, in the Northeast at this time, there were many people from inside the Great Wall—pioneers who had come from all over the country, people who had "ventured into the Northeast," those who supported the construction of major forestry centers, educated youth, and the people mentioned in the doggerel rhymes. So, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the Northeast at this time was a melting pot of customs and traditions from everywhere, influencing, assimilating, and uniting with one another!

Of course, such elaborate preparations were not allowed now! Policy didn't permit it, and the living conditions of each family didn't allow it either. It was hard enough just to get enough to eat; no ordinary family could afford such expenses. Thus, weddings were extremely simple.

"That would be perfect. We can settle your affairs today! Xueqing is already 21; she’s about to become an old maid!" Liu Ruxin said happily.

Mu Xueqing didn't react at all to Liu Ruxin’s words. Wang An stole a glance at Mu Xueqing and said with a smile, "That works. Sit tight, we’re off."

The three returned, passing through the small market again. There were people selling steamed buns. Wang An saw that it was noon and they should have gone to a restaurant, but there were no private restaurants at this time. State-run restaurants weren't expensive, but he was short on cash and lacked grain coupons! However, anyone who could eat meat buns at this time was considered wealthy.

He pulled the reins to stop the mule and bought 50 large meat buns using a flour bag. Each meat bun weighed two taels. With a grain coupon, a meat bun cost 5 cents; without one, it was 8 cents.

Seeing Wang An buy so many buns, neither the people nearby nor the bun seller showed any surprise or shock; they were used to it. All they felt was envy! In this day and age, people were hungry!

They parked the cart in a sheltered spot and the three of them started eating the buns. There were no side dishes, no porridge, not even a drop of water! But the three of them ate with faces full of satisfaction. In this day and age, being able to eat your fill of buns like this was just too delicious!

Liu Ruxin ate five buns. Just as she was about to reach for another, she looked at the bun bag, swallowed her saliva, and pulled her hand back.

Wang An noticed, and so did Mu Xueqing!

Wang An said, pretending to be casual, "We have to finish all these buns. Otherwise, if word gets out that I, Wang An, am stingy and won't let my wife and mother-in-law eat their fill, how embarrassing would that be, right? Xueqing? Right, Auntie?"

He immediately added, "Xueqing, eat more! Auntie, hurry up and eat, they won't taste as good once they get cold!"

Hearing this, Liu Ruxin hesitated before reaching out with the hand she had just pulled back, a satisfied smile appearing on her face. Whether she was satisfied with the buns or with Wang An as a son-in-law, perhaps it was both!

Soon, everyone finished eating. Wang An had eaten 15 or 16 himself! In any case, there were 14 left in the bag. The three of them were surely full.

"These buns are quite good. Should we take some back for our younger siblings? Is that okay?" Mu Xueqing asked, consulting Wang An.

Hearing this, Wang An felt ashamed. He had thought too little and hadn't been very thoughtful. In this day and age, any food involving white flour or meat was a delicacy! Let alone meat buns!

"Why wouldn't it be? Wait a moment! I’ll go buy some right now."

Taking a patched cloth bag used for dry rations from Mu Xueqing, and holding the other bag he had intended for rice and flour, Wang An ran back toward the bun shop.

This time, Wang An bought all the buns the shop had—106 in total. After thinking for a moment, he put 56 into Mu Xueqing’s cloth bag. His own home wasn't short on meat for the time being, and besides, he was going into the mountains anyway. He just felt that Mu Xueqing’s family’s life seemed very, very poor. If he had the ability, he should help out more.

Carrying the two large bags of buns, he walked back to the mule cart and poured the remaining 14 buns into Mu Xueqing’s cloth bag. In this day and age, no one would mind or feel embarrassed by it!

If you like this, please give a recommendation and add it to your collection. Wishing you great wealth!

(End of chapter)