CHAPTER 157: CHAPTER 157: SPATHOLOBUS (CHICKEN BLOOD VINE)

"You, you..."

She blushed, stuttering, "He hasn’t proposed yet."

"I’ll go tomorrow."

Saying this, the man asked her, "What do you think?"

Yi Chichi’s hands itched to clap, this direct approach was brilliantly executed.

Qin Jiu was full of questions at heart, why was this uncle asking Aunt Liu Lan about proposing?

Could his match be Aunt Liu Lan?

Just as he wanted to ask Yi Chichi, he saw Liu Lan snort, "You haven’t prepared anything, yet you’re talking about tomorrow, wait a few days."

The man thought it made sense and humbly asked for guidance, "Then which day do you think is good?"

Liu Lan thought about it seriously, "Five days later, let me first inform my dad to notify my brothers."

Liu Lan had many brothers, some farmed in the village, others worked in factories.

As the only daughter of the Liu Family, and a very cherished one at that, there was no way her family would agree to the proposal unless they were all present.

Hence, the man nodded and agreed.

Meanwhile, Yi Chichi patted her pocket, with Liu Xiaocao’s wedding earlier, and now Liu Lan’s wedding, who would be the next girl to marry in Kao Shan Village?

With this question in mind, the movie started.

The film "Tunnel Warfare" was an old movie; Yi Chichi had seen it in her original world, but her memory of it was a bit hazy. Revisiting it in this unique era was a completely different experience.

The ’60s and ’70s were quite magical times, with many gentlemen but also many scoundrels.

Liu Lan’s match was a typical gentleman; since the movie started, he became mute, not making any improper moves throughout.

Not a word said, though he did get up and leave midway.

Yi Chichi thought he went to the toilet, who would have thought he went to buy soda and sunflower seeds for Liu Lan?

In the latter half of the movie, all Yi Chichi could hear was the crunching and sipping sounds.

And Liu Lan’s attention was entirely on the young man, not the movie.

After the movie, when the lights came on, Yi Chichi did not hurry to leave but planned to go out after Liu Lan and her companion left.

It wasn’t appropriate to be a third wheel when the young couple was dating.

Also, out of concern for Liu Lan’s embarrassment.

Despite her plan, Liu Lan saw her when getting up, her eyes widened in shock.

"Chichi?"

Oh dear, she’d been discovered.

She sheepishly waved at Liu Lan, "Lanlan."

"...When did you and Xiao Jiu get here?"

"Before it started."

Liu Lan suddenly felt hopeless, meaning their conversation had been overheard clearly.

"No introduction?"

The young man noticed her embarrassment and proactively changed the topic and her train of thought.

Liu Lan breathed a sigh of relief, her Jun was indeed perceptive.

After giving her groom-to-be an appreciative glance, she introduced both parties.

Learning that Yi Chichi was a sent-down youth and a close friend of Liu Lan’s, Zhang Jun’s stern face cracked a smile, "Mr. Yi, thank you for taking care of my Xiao Lan!"

That’s ’my family’ already?

Yi Chichi mentally clicked her tongue, a typical case of loving the house and its crow.

Not bad.

Better than those overly possessive and scary men.

"No need to thank, she helped me a lot too."

Worried about interrupting them, she looked at her wristwatch, "Xiao Jiu and I will see if the communal grain submissions are done, do you want to come with us?"

Liu Lan looked troubled, "Mr. Zhang hasn’t eaten yet, we wanted to get a meal first."

"Then you guys go ahead, we’ll leave first."

Waving to them, Yi Chichi led Qin Jiu away.

Watching the adult and kid walk off into the distance, Zhang Jun softly said, "How about eating at a friend’s place?"

Liu Lan looked at him, "Someone I know?"

"Yes, Da Long."

"Alright."

There’s nothing to fear with acquaintances.

So, the two left the cinema headed straight to Da Long’s house.

Meanwhile, Yi Chichi and the others reached the meat stand.

By this time, there was no meat left, but there were bone sticks and half a pork liver.

The bones had been stripped clean, but Yi Chichi didn’t mind, she used two ounces of meat tickets, two ounces of national grain tickets, and thirty cents, to buy the bone sticks along with the pork liver.

"There’s no meat on the bones."

Qin Jiu couldn’t understand why she bought bone sticks, lightly reminded her after leaving the meat stand.

Yi Chichi acknowledged, "There is marrow."

In this period, buying meat was difficult; bone sticks could be used to stew with sour cabbage, at least adding some grease.

Sucking the marrow out, at least it provided a little sustenance.

"And there’s pork liver."

Qin Jiu stopped questioning.

Arriving at the grain station, the team leader and others were still queuing, with two production teams ahead waiting to submit their grain.

"Wonder when it’ll be our turn."

She commented.

The team leader, puffing on his smoking pouch, laughed, "Probably evening, no need for you and Xiao Jiu to wait, take Grandpa’s cart with Dong Mei and the others back first."

"Alright."

After greeting Uncle Yaozi, Yi Chichi took Qin Jiu to find the cart.

Grandpa Liu’s ox cart was waiting at the road, Liu Dongmei and the others had arrived, but Aunt Niu and those who first went to the procurement station to sell eggs and then to the supply and marketing cooperative hadn’t returned.

So, they had to wait.

"Chichi, what did you buy?"

Seeing her basket full, Big Mouth craned her neck to peek inside.

Yi Chichi smiled and shifted the basket, "Bought a few big bone sticks, the rest is for Uncle Yaozi."

Big Mouth’s curiosity was successfully diverted, "Why doesn’t he have his wife bring it?"

"Are you silly? Yaozi’s wife works in the hospital, only comes home every few days, do you think it’s convenient for her to bring things?"

Worried she might say something inappropriate, Grandpa Liu gravely intercepted.

Big Mouth just giggled, "I was just saying."

Knowing her nature, Grandpa Liu couldn’t be bothered and turned to talk to Yi Chichi about medicinal herbs.

"There seems to be some chicken blood vine halfway up the northern mountain."

"??? Are you sure it’s chicken blood vine?"

Chicken blood vine is valuable, primarily for promoting blood circulation, nourishing blood, regulating menstruation, relieving pain, and relaxing tendons.

But its main production areas are in Guangxi, Guangdong, Yunnan, and such places.

Never heard of it in Northeast regions.

Grandpa Liu hesitated, "Should, should be, I remember it looking like that."

Hearing his uncertain words, Yi Chichi just smiled, "Got it, I’ll tell Uncle Yaozi tomorrow."

Rationally, she knew chances were high he’d mistaken.

Uncle Yaozi often climbed the mountains for herbs; he knew all the good spots.

If there really were chicken blood vines, they couldn’t be missed.

Back home, Yi Chichi took out her things and then the things bought for Uncle Yaozi before handing the basket to Qin Jiu, "Can you go back on your own?"

"I can!"

The child puffed out his little chest with some added muscle, boldly replied, "Aunt, I’m a big kid now."

Until they matured, they were all kids to Yi Chichi.

But she didn’t want to undermine the child’s confidence, so she agreed solemnly, "Alright, big kid, be careful on your way back."