Chapter 18: Social Etiquette and Worldly Wisdom

Under the dim glow of the oil lamp, a bowl of cornmeal porridge and a small dish of pickles sat on the dining table.

This was all Grandma Li had for dinner.

"It's not even a holiday, why are you making dumplings! Your father's leg is injured, and money is tight at home, yet every time you make something good, you're always thinking about an old woman like me!" Grandma Li said, grumbling affectionately as she looked at Yue Feng.

"This is the flour and meat I bought with the money from selling wild game in town. They just came out of the pot, please have a taste!"

"Good! Very good!" The old lady took the dumplings, placed them on the bamboo steaming mat, and handed the empty bowl back to Yue Feng.

"Please, eat! Don't come out to see me off! I'm leaving now!"

...

After much persuasion, Grandma Li still insisted on seeing Yue Feng to the door. She closed the courtyard gate before finally turning back into her house.

It was only a few steps to his home, but Yue Feng's mind was racing.

In his previous life, after Yue Feng got married, he used to work odd jobs at the logging camp during the winter. When he returned for the New Year, his wife told him that Grandma Li's second son had taken her to the city to live in comfort. Based on the current timeline, that shouldn't happen for at least another four or five years.

The Li family had sacrificed too much for the country. Before news of her son arrived, he should help them as much as he could, Yue Feng thought to himself.

By the time Yue Feng finished delivering the dumplings to Grandma Li and returned home, his family of three hadn't even picked up their chopsticks. The youngest was drooling, but she was holding back.

"You guys can start eating without me! No need to wait!" Yue Feng scratched his head, feeling a bit touched.

Meng Yulan smiled and said, "That won't do. These dumplings were earned by my dear son today, so we must wait for you to return before we can eat!"

"Alright, alright, I'm back. Eat up! Look at Jingjing, she's so eager, wipe your mouth!" Yue Feng picked up a towel and affectionately wiped his sister's mouth.

Once given permission, the little girl quickly snatched up a dumpling and took a large bite.

The dumplings had been out of the pot for a few minutes and were no longer scalding. As the little girl bit into it, her eyes crinkled into crescents of pure satisfaction.

Yue Feng also picked up a dumpling with his chopsticks. The refreshing taste of cabbage mixed with the savory aroma of pork fat exploded in his mouth; it was indeed much better than cornmeal buns and pickles.

Yue Feng had only managed to stave off hunger with a cold cornmeal bun on the mountain at noon, so he was starving. He didn't stand on ceremony, and the family of four devoured the entire large mat of dumplings like a whirlwind.

Especially the youngest, Jingjing, who was the hungriest; her tiny stomach managed to hold fourteen dumplings, leaving her with a round, full belly once they were finished.

After finishing the dumplings, Yue Feng headed to his neighbor's house, Big Brother Old Li, carrying a flying dragon pheasant and two sand-half chickens. Li Wentong's family of five had just opened their pots to eat.

"Oh, Xiao Feng is here! Come in, come in. Have you eaten dinner yet? Join us!" Auntie Li asked as she opened the door.

Yue Feng smiled and said, "Don't trouble yourself, Auntie, I've already eaten at home! I went up the mountain today with my hawk to hunt small game and caught a few chickens. I brought them over for you and Uncle to try! Auntie, find a bag; the pheasant and the sand-half chickens are still alive!"

"You caught them alive? That's quite rare! Usually, you can only catch those for a treat after the snow falls every year!" Li Wentong said with a smile as he stood up to look at the wild game Yue Feng was carrying.

"The pair of hawks I set the nets for a few days ago are quite capable. We won't be short on these little mountain chickens from now on!" Yue Feng said boastfully.

Li Wentong replied, "That's wonderful! I was just telling your brother yesterday that we should go up the mountain to catch some sand-half chickens once it snows. Today, my wish has come true!"

Hearing Uncle Li mention going up the mountain, Yue Feng's heart stirred. He continued the conversation: "Uncle, my dad definitely won't be able to go up the mountain with you this year. Otherwise, I'll go with you later! The two of us can go hunt big wild boars!"

Li Wentong shook his head. "Wild boars aren't easy to catch. Our two families don't have dogs or guns. Relying only on traps and knives is too dangerous! You should listen to your father and stick to hunting small game with the hawk; it's safer. If you really want to go, wait until next autumn when your father's leg is healed. I'll take you then!"

"I can go up the mountain to hunt wild boars with you guys then!" At that moment, Li Wentong's eldest son, Li Mingtao, chimed in.

"Go up the mountain for what? I see you struggle just to get onto a heated kang bed. Go stand in the corner and stay out of sight!" Li Wentong glared at his eldest son. The boy shrank back, silenced.

As for Li Mingtao, he was seventeen this year, standing 180cm tall with thick eyebrows and large eyes. To use modern terms, he was definitely a handsome youth famous in the surrounding villages.

However, the fellow was reckless. He didn't like to use his brain when doing things; in Northeast dialect, he was a bit "tigerish." Every time he caused trouble, he ended up getting a beating from his father.

Seeing Mingtao get shut down, Yue Feng smirked. "Xiao Tao will be eighteen and an adult next year. If he wants to go, he can join us. He might not be able to do much else, but if we catch a pig, he can help with the heavy lifting!"

"This kid isn't like you, Yue Feng—you're meticulous and steady. He's been reckless since he was a child; if you take your eyes off him for a second, he'll tear the sky down! We'll see about that later, depending on his performance!" Li Wentong agreed with Yue Feng, not completely closing the door on the idea.

"Hehe, Brother Feng always knows the right things to say!" Hearing Yue Feng speak up for him, Xiao Tao grinned and gave him a grateful look.

"Anyway, you guys hurry up and eat before it gets cold. I'll head back!" Having finished his business, Yue Feng said his goodbyes and turned to leave.

"Xiao Tao, see your second brother out!"

"Oh! Okay!" Li Mingtao responded and walked Yue Feng all the way to the courtyard gate.

When they reached the gate, Yue Feng lowered his voice and said, "If there's a chance to do a big hunt later, I'll definitely bring you! Perform well during this period. If everything goes smoothly, we might have a chance to go up the mountain once the snow falls this winter!"

Li Mingtao nodded. "Deal! Just call me when the time comes. I'll follow orders and obey command!"

Yue Feng waved. "I'm off!"

Returning from Uncle Li's, Yue Feng rushed home, grabbed a flying dragon pheasant and a sand-half chicken, tied their wings and legs with wire, and headed straight for the house of Wang Jianguo, the Brigade Secretary, under the cover of night.

Yue Feng's parents were honest, hardworking farmers who had very little social interaction with the Secretary's family in his previous life. But things were different now. Having lived two lives, how could Yue Feng not know that if he wanted to make a name for himself in the village, he had to build a good relationship with the Secretary!

Borrowing the bicycle this time was less about going to town to sell wild game and more about using it as an excuse to establish a connection.

When making friends, you help others with small favors within their means, and then provide timely returns. Through this give-and-take, relationships gradually deepen.

You build rapport slowly, first by becoming a familiar face, and then, when the critical moment comes to get something done, you offer some benefits, and things eventually fall into place.