Chapter 10: Visiting the State-Run Restaurant

[System prompt: Does the host wish to participate in today’s lottery draw?]

Su Xiaoyun nodded eagerly, “Yes, yes, yes! Blind box lottery!”

Of course, these words were silently spoken in her mind.

She certainly didn’t want to be treated like a fool and locked up in a pigsty.

As Su Xiaoyun’s thoughts stirred slightly, the system’s mechanical voice sounded again.

[Host’s request detected. Arranging daily blind box lottery for the host.]

A streak of light seemed to flash before Su Xiaoyun’s eyes.

Three exquisitely crafted boxes, perfectly replicated, appeared in all their splendor, neatly lined up before her.

Please, heavens, let me get a gold one!

After bracing herself mentally, Su Xiaoyun chose the box in the middle.

[Congratulations, host has received five jin of meat coupons and ten eggs.]

[Items have been stored in the system space; the host may withdraw at any time.]

Hiss!

Su Xiaoyun swallowed hard.

Meat was a precious commodity.

Even in state-run restaurants, a meat coupon was indispensable.

And in her current frail condition, she was out of energy, panting after just a few steps.

Without some nourishing meat, she was bound to collapse.

Her thoughts moved as she subconsciously rubbed the silver bracelet on her wrist.

Just then, Feng Wanqing came out of the room.

She held a chipped porcelain bowl half-filled with cornmeal. “Help me get the fire going; we’ll start cooking now.”

In the bamboo basket on the windowsill lay a handful of dried wild vegetables. Soaking and chopping them into the water would make wild vegetable soup.

Su Xiaoyun’s mind shifted. “Wanqing, you can’t always do the cooking alone. I’ll take over.”

“Good, you need to rest a bit.”

She turned and fetched a small bag of corn grits from inside, along with two eggs.

They hadn’t been in the system storage long and were still fresh.

Feng Wanqing’s eyes widened in surprise. “Eggs?!”

Su Xiaoyun quickly gestured for silence. “Shh! Don’t say anything, just eat.”

Neither of them were new to rural life; they worked efficiently.

The fire in the small stove blazed high.

The two ladles of water already boiled, bubbling vigorously.

Splash!

Su Xiaoyun poured in the corn grits.

It wasn’t much, but enough for two bowls of slightly thicker porridge.

When the porridge thickened and the fire was strong, she pressed some cornmeal cakes against the pot’s edge.

The two ladles of water yielded exactly two bowls.

Su Xiaoyun neatly rolled up her sleeves. “Wanqing, go get the bowls. I’ll make some wild vegetable scrambled eggs, then we can eat!”

The enticing aroma made Feng Wanqing swallow hard. She quickly went to fetch the bowls.

Meanwhile, Su Xiaoyun seized the moment. With few people around the youth work station, she hurriedly cracked and beat the two eggs.

The golden egg mixture blended with chopped wild vegetables. She poured a thin layer of rapeseed oil into the pan, now smoking hot.

Sizzle! Before the oil splattered, the eggs were instantly cooked.

The savory aroma wafted up along the eaves.

In these times, scrambled eggs were a rare delicacy.

Whether in the countryside or the city, eggs were precious resources—hard currency, in fact.

Feng Wanqing brought the porridge back to their room, her palms burning. “One egg fetches at least forty or fifty cents on the black market. We’re really living in luxury.”

Su Xiaoyun deftly plated the eggs, cooked to perfection. “Let’s eat!”

Not a drop of oil was left in the pan.

The youth work station consisted of several adjoining earthen houses. Su Xiaoyun and Feng Wanqing lived in the eastern annex.

The room was small, with only an earthen bed, a rickety wooden table, and a tall wooden cabinet barely big enough for storage.

Yet it was kept spotless by the two of them.

Feng Wanqing held the bowl of cornmeal porridge, hesitant to start eating. “By the way, how come I didn’t know you could cook?”

“I thought you were the type who never got their hands dirty since we came here,” Feng Wanqing teased.

Su Xiaoyun offered her a large piece of scrambled egg. “I was foolish before. Now I’ve come to see things differently.”

She brushed off the topic, and Feng Wanqing didn’t press further.

After all, conditions in Shigang Village were harsh. Everything had to be self-reliant.

If you didn’t work the fields for a day, you wouldn’t earn any work points.

As the two quickly cleared their bowls inside, several other youths and nearby neighbors outside stretched their necks, drawn by the aroma.

“That smell is rich and savory. My stomach’s growling!”

“No wonder they’re youth workers—they have more resources. Even scrambled eggs!”

“I didn’t get to taste eggs even during the New Year.”

“I just saw Su Xiaoyun cooking through the door crack. Didn’t expect she’s quite skilled!”

Voices buzzed with all sorts of comments.

Coincidentally, Zhou Xuejun, returning from the fields, overheard this.

He dropped his hoe with a clatter.

His plain face was smeared with mud, his clam oil-coated hair greasy, with bits of corn silk stuck here and there.

Great!

He knew Su Xiaoyun still had food!

Enticed by the aroma, he sprinted into the youth station, heading straight for the eastern annex.

Bang, bang, bang!

“Su Xiaoyun, come out!”

“We’re all part of the same group. How can you eat alone? Such delicious scrambled eggs—at least share with everyone! Don’t be selfish!”

Zhou Xuejun pounded the door loudly, calling out with righteous indignation.

Inside, Su Xiaoyun had just finished eating.

Hearing the commotion outside, a cold smile curled at her lips. “Wanqing, it’s still early. How about we make a trip to the town supply and marketing cooperative?”

“I’m thinking of buying rubber shoes and gloves.”

The farm work was strenuous—cutting pigweed, weeding, digging.

To protect their hands from getting chafed, gloves were necessary.

Feng Wanqing cleared the dishes. “Let’s not walk. We can take a ride. Two hours round trip should be enough. We need to be back for afternoon work.”

They agreed and headed out.

Su Xiaoyun stepped lightly, a cunning gleam flashing in her eyes.

Snap!

As she opened the door, she swung the broom out sharply.

The broom struck Zhou Xuejun’s face.

Red streaks quickly blossomed on his skin, swelling visibly.

“Ahhh! Su Xiaoyun!”

Zhou Xuejun howled in pain, a scream loud enough for the whole youth station to hear.

Feigning surprise, Su Xiaoyun said, “Why are you lurking outside a female youth worker’s room? I was just sweeping the door frame and accidentally hit you. Sorry about that.”

“But you should watch your image, or you might get arrested for being a hooligan.”

With that, she grabbed Feng Wanqing’s arm and left.

They had to hurry or risk being late.

“What are you two doing?!” Zhou Xuejun’s long face drooped, his eyes dark with resentment, as if someone owed him money.

Su Xiaoyun rolled her eyes dramatically. “Mind your own business. Are you the team leader or village party secretary? Do we need to report where we’re going?”

“Wanqing, let’s go. Don’t waste time on this ill-tempered fool.”

Zhou Xuejun’s gaze darkened as he watched Su Xiaoyun’s retreating figure.

His fists clenched involuntarily.

Well then, Su Xiaoyun’s wings are really growing strong!