CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER 38: SPECIAL TALENT

"Yes."

In an instant, Bai Chen and the others remembered the painful experience of their faces cracking from dryness last winter, and their eyes suddenly lit up.

"Is it useful for chilblains?"

Yi Chichi, "...do you all have chilblains?"

"Yes."

Anticipating the chilblains, Bai Chen and the others were almost in tears.

Winters in the Northeast are bone-chillingly cold, water turns to ice, and everything freezes.

Their ears were frostbitten the first winter they came, and they got chilblains on their hands and feet too.

The feeling was indescribably uncomfortable.

"The ointment won’t work; although it’s effective, it doesn’t help with chilblains. I can make a separate chilblain ointment for you."

"We’ll discuss it."

The pork fat was bought together by them, so no one could decide alone.

After a round of complicated and hesitant discussions, Bai Chen and the others decided to eat less pork fat in order to treat their chilblains.

"We’ll give you half; is that enough?"

"Enough!"

This time it really was enough; half was about three to four pounds.

Quite a bit of pork fat could be rendered from it.

Bai Chen and the others didn’t buy the pork fat from An Hao and them, but found another supplier.

That place sold large quantities, and they managed to snag a big chunk of pork fat, weighing about seven to eight pounds.

Since it didn’t require tickets, the price was higher than that of the state-owned food store.

2.5 per kilogram.

They shared about three and a half pounds with Yi Chichi, and Yi Chichi paid four dollars and forty cents.

They helped render the pork fat because she had never done it before, nor had the original host.

Zhang Lanxiang was afraid the original host would secretly eat it, so whenever she bought meat or pork fat, she did it herself and locked all the pork scraps in a cabinet.

Thus, lacking experience and fearing she might ruin the rendering, Yi Chichi chose to seek external help.

Bai Chen and the others didn’t refuse and even invited her to join them for dinner.

Yi Chichi agreed, went back to her room to get her rations, and brought out several big bones that had barely any meat to share with Wang Nan and the others.

Qi Yang and the others had bought meat and didn’t need to share hers.

Zhou Qiuyu also stocked up with two pounds of meat for herself.

Wang Nan and her friends didn’t have enough money, so each got two pounds of meat and a smoked chicken, keeping the rest for herself.

Unsure how to handle it, she sought external help again.

In the end, Bai Chen and the others told her that Wu Yongfei was an expert at handling meat and could help.

Yi Chichi looked over at him, and there he was, grinning with a big toothy smile like a landlord’s foolish son, looking smug.

"I can help, but I don’t work for free."

"Of course."

Yi Chichi wasn’t expecting him to work for free, "What do you require?"

"I want a dime for processing fees."

It was the equivalent of two sesame cakes and a glass of soy milk, but there was no choice, especially since the weather wasn’t cold enough to freeze the meat yet.

She couldn’t do it herself.

So, she spent where necessary and saved where she could.

"Deal!"

She handed over the dime and asked, "How are you planning to handle it?"

"Smoked meat, cured meat, sauced meat, etc. Which one do you want?"

"I’m fine with any."

Then, Wu Yongfei decided to prepare smoked meat for her.

But upon seeing the meat, he changed his mind, "It’s too lean; smoked meat wouldn’t taste good. I’ll make you meat sauce instead."

"...Alright."

He was a fickle boy, after all.

"You prepare the ingredients yourself."

"What ingredients do I need?"

"Green onions, ginger, garlic, oil, salt, etc. If you find plain meat sauce too boring, you can add some mushrooms or such."

Yi Chichi, "...I don’t have mushrooms."

"I do."

Wu Yongfei grinned so much that his eyes turned into slits, "If you want some, I can share."

"I do want some."

She then bought thirty cents worth of mushrooms.

"I’ll make it for you after dinner."

"Alright."

While the two were discussing, the aroma of meat wafted through the air.

It was too tempting, and the two, unable to resist their craving, ran into the kitchen to join Wang Nan and the others around the stove, watching Bai Chen render pork fat.

Chunks of pork fat shrank drastically and turned golden brown, rolling in the oil.

Ten minutes later, the crispy pork scraps were taken out, and Bai Chen scooped out the oil from the pot and poured it into a yellow enamel jug.

"You only need to taste a bit of the pork scraps; I’m going to make dinner first."

After handing over the pork scraps and the main oil jug, Bai Chen busied himself with cooking.

The bones provided by Yi Chichi were chopped with an axe, then rinsed, and put in a pot to boil with water.

A pot of cornbread was steamed, and two-rice porridge was cooked.

The vegetables weren’t stir-fried; after the big bones were mostly cooked, radish, string beans, sauerkraut, and pork scraps were added.

The string beans were sun-dried by Wang Nan and the others during the summer, and the sauerkraut was made after consulting Aunt Ma and them. It had been fermenting for quite some time, and the sourness was piercing.

It was sharp, but the finished product was appetizing and tasty. For Yi Chichi, who usually ate bland food to protect her stomach, this heavy-flavored dish was so appetizing she almost overate and stuffed herself.

"That’s satisfying!"

A belly-filled Zhang Yunhao burped contentedly, "It’s been almost a year since I’ve had such a full meal."

Bai Chen and the others just sighed; who wasn’t like that?

"The main thing is that today’s meal was rich in oil and flavor."

If there had been less oil and flavor, it wouldn’t have been as satisfying.

"If I could eat meals like this every day, my life would be worth it."

Qi Yang mused, and Yi Chichi smiled, "That day will come."

Once the basket project is officially launched, the tables of Huaxia people will naturally become more abundant.

After they were full and satisfied, everyone sat together to chat, and during their conversation, Bai Chen shared a tidbit of news.

"I heard the corps are recruiting special talents again."

Yi Chichi, "The corps are recruiting from outside?"

"Yes, but only special talents."

Yi Chichi showed little interest and gave no comment.

The scope of special talents can be wide, and it’s difficult to evaluate. Some people might be able to maneuver themselves in, especially since the corps pays salaries.

It didn’t concern them if no one took them in.

Qi Yang thought differently; he looked at Yi Chichi and said, "I think you should give it a try."

"What???"

That truly surprised Yi Chichi; before she could ask, Wang Nan and the others quickly nodded, saying she should definitely give it a try.

Yi Chichi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, "Where did you get the idea that I’m a special talent?"

If it came to embroidery, she could do that.

But she didn’t think the corps were short on embroiderers.

"You know how to make and handle pharmaceutical herbs."

Direct and to the point.

Yi Chichi saw the reasoning, but—

"Does the corps require work?"

"Yes."

Not only work, but also clearing land.

"Have there ever been any successful applicants from among the educated youth?"

Bai Chen and the others exchanged glances, thought seriously, and realized there hadn’t been any.

So they shook their heads.

Yi Chichi spread her hands, "You see, even if I apply, I might not get selected."

Bai Chen sighed, "The corps, like the forest and farm stations, are not only a draw for educated youth but also for the locals who want to get in..."

Shaking his head, he said helplessly, "Forget it; just like Yi Chichi said, even if we applied, it wouldn’t be our turn. It’s better to stay in Kao Shan Village."

"When spring comes, there will be quota recommendations for workers, farmers, and soldiers universities. I wonder if Kao Shan Village will get a spot this year."

As soon as Wang Nan said this, Bai Chen and the others’ eyes lit up, but then quickly dimmed again.