Chapter 80 Cornmeal Cakes, Fragrant and Delicious! I Was Scared Out of My Wits!

After finishing the chestnuts, Ming Dai and Zhou Sinian returned to the space. Ming Dai pondered what vegetables she should plant, exactly where to place them, and how to maintain the right temperature and humidity. Zhou Sinian, meanwhile, was trailing behind her, lost in thought.

Once Ming Dai had finished making her plans, Zhou Sinian had also decided on what he wanted for lunch. “Let’s have cornbread, fragrant and delicious!”

Ming Dai thought, as expected, he never disappoints. When she heard the brigade leader mention it just now, she knew this would be his choice!

She clapped her hands and stood up. “Alright, let’s have that. I’d like to try it too.”

Ming Dai went to the warehouse and found a bag of golden cornmeal, poured it into a basin, added hot water to scald the flour, kneaded it into a dough, and let it rest.

She brought the rested dough out of the space and had Zhou Sinian heat up the big pot, spreading a layer of oil on the bottom. Ming Dai shaped palm-sized balls of dough and pressed them onto the hot pot, flipping them occasionally. Before long, she had cooked a batch of golden cornbread, each piece with a crisp, fragrant crust that smelled irresistible.

Zhou Sinian couldn’t help but grab one, biting into it despite the heat—it was fragrant and sweet, with a hint of smoky flavor. Ming Dai also couldn’t resist, taking a piece herself. It was soft and delicious, truly a treat.

The two of them ate as they cooked, and in the end, filled a large basket with cornbread.

Suddenly, there was a loud knock at the back door of their yard.

Ming Dai and Zhou Sinian exchanged a glance and got up to open it. When they opened the door, no one was in sight. Ming Dai poked her head out and spotted someone standing at a distance—it was Old Master Liu.

He waved at her, and Ming Dai walked over.

“Little Ming, the package for him has arrived this month,” he said, the “him” clearly referring to Zhou Sinian.

Ming Dai calculated the time; it was indeed due. Last month, the package had been delivered right after they returned, courtesy of the brigade leader. She took the package and handed it to Zhou Sinian, who squeezed it in his hand.

Old Master Liu hadn’t wanted to come, but there was no one at the brigade office, and he didn’t dare take the madman’s package home, so he had to deliver it himself.

After handing it over, he turned to leave, but Ming Dai called out, “Master Liu, wait a moment. I just made some cornbread, let me give you two pieces.”

Hearing there was food, Old Master Liu immediately turned back. “Alright, I’ll wait.”

A seasoned bachelor, Old Master Liu was never shy; he didn’t know what it meant to be polite and cared only about his own happiness.

Ming Dai took Zhou Sinian back inside, wrapped two hot pieces of cornbread in oil paper, and brought them out to him. Old Master Liu took them and bit right in, leaving two gaps in the cornbread where his teeth were missing.

“Alright, I’m off. If you need the cart, come find me!” With that, he turned briskly, eating the two hot pieces as he walked, leaving just a bite for the horse at the mouth of the alley.

Hot cornbread was the best!

By the time Ming Dai returned, someone from the educated youth quarters was just arriving—it was Hou Wei. He was coming back from outside and greeted Ming Dai at the alley. Ming Dai nodded, while Zhou Sinian glared at him coldly several times, leaving Hou Wei frozen in place, too intimidated to move.

Ming Dai was a bit puzzled. Zhou Sinian usually ignored these people, rarely paying attention to anyone.

Once home, she asked him why.

Zhou Sinian pointed at the wall connecting their yard to the front yard. “He’s climbed up there several times, always when we’re cooking.”

He then demonstrated a comical sniffing gesture, flaring his nostrils exaggeratedly.

Ming Dai burst out laughing. “As long as he doesn’t come in, let him be. If he dares to step inside, just beat him up! Just make sure not to kill him.”

Zhou Sinian nodded happily. That, he was good at!

They opened the package—it was the same as always: a bag of rice and several cans. Zhou Sinian put them away in the cupboard.

Ming Dai planned to stir-fry a dish to go with the cornbread.

Winter called for something warm. Ming Dai sliced a pound of pork belly from the warehouse and had Zhou Sinian fetch a large cabbage from the cellar, washing it clean. She sliced the stems and tore the leaves into small pieces.

She poured a little bean oil into the pot. Once hot, she added the pork belly, frying it until the fat rendered. Then she added old ginger and garlic, letting the aroma bloom, followed by two spoons of sauce and two of vinegar. The rich fragrance instantly filled the kitchen and drifted outside.

The educated youths in the front yard swallowed hard at the smell, once again lamenting that the madman had meat to eat.

Hou Wei sneaked over, hugging the wall to get as close as possible, hoping to absorb more of the aroma than the others.

As Zhou Sinian went out to fetch firewood, he noticed something off at the wall, climbed up to look, and found Hou Wei. Taking advantage of Hou Wei’s lowered head, Zhou Sinian swept snow off the wall, dropping it right down Hou Wei’s collar.

“My goodness! I’m freezing!” Hou Wei shivered violently, then bolted, legs so weak his path wobbled all the way.

Zhou Sinian tossed a small wooden block, hitting Hou Wei right on the calf.

With the sudden pain, Hou Wei tripped and collapsed into the snow.

When the people in the front yard heard the commotion and came to help, his chin was bloodied, staining his collar, and he burst into tears. Fang Mingyang fetched water for him to rinse his mouth, discovering he’d bitten through his lower lip when he fell.

Because of that injury, Hou Wei couldn’t enjoy his food for a whole year, lost a lot of weight, and really turned into a monkey. He also no longer dared to sneak around the back yard.

After Zhou Sinian finished his tale, Ming Dai gave him a big thumbs up.

There were quite a few male educated youths in the front yard, but thanks to Zhou Sinian, most kept their distance from her, which she found agreeable. Only Hou Wei refused to behave.

He took advantage of the rare moments Zhou Sinian wasn’t by her side to talk to her, always implying that Zhou Sinian was unreliable and crazy, suggesting she move to the front yard and team up with him.

Ha! He was no good person—just wanted to lure her in for food.

He bullied honest Qin Fangfang and submissive Cai Mingcheng, relying on his status as a veteran educated youth. Just because she didn’t speak up didn’t mean she hadn’t noticed.

If he tried anything else, she’d have Zhou Sinian knock his teeth out!

The pot of pork belly, cabbage, and glass noodles at lunch completely conquered their appetites.

Each served themselves a bowl, eating it with cornbread. They ate until their heads couldn’t be lifted—another day of happiness!

Ming Dai didn’t plan to go up the mountain that afternoon. Winter days darkened early, and people here always hurried their work. Heading up the mountain now would seem odd.

She remembered she’d promised Aunt Huang to help her trade some items and decided this was the perfect time, plus she could borrow their cart.

She opened her kang cabinet and took out half a pack of peach crisps and bran cakes she rarely ate, as well as Zhou Sinian’s favorite pine nut candy and sugar-roasted chestnuts, placing them in a basket. After some thought, she added two new comic books.

She called Zhou Sinian to change into felt boots, and the two headed to the brigade leader’s home.

The wind had eased that afternoon, and more villagers were gathered at the entrance chatting. Seeing Ming Dai and Zhou Sinian approach, the bold ones stared, the timid ones turned away, and only the half-grown children ran after them, playing and forgetting to be afraid, following them for a while.

Upon arriving at Aunt Huang’s house, they found the door open. Ming Dai simply pushed the door and walked in.

No one was in the yard, just the horse in the stable leisurely munching beans.

Each time it returned from pulling the cart, it got beans to eat.

When it saw someone enter, it looked up for a moment.

That glance was enough to make it spin around on the spot, performing a perfect 180-degree turn.

Ming Dai stared in surprise at the stable, astonished at how such a large creature could be so agile.

The horse’s round backside now faced them, confirming that she hadn’t imagined it.

What was wrong with this horse?

She puzzled over it as she walked into the main house, while Zhou Sinian lingered, reluctant to leave the sight of the horse’s rear.

Only after the two left did the horse cautiously peek around, and once sure no one was there, turned back to eat, its ears twitching vigilantly, ready to spin at any moment. If not for the stable’s walls, it probably would have bolted.

Horse’s thoughts: Last time, I nearly ate myself to death—this time, I won’t let that happen!