Transmigration: On the Gossip Front-Chapter 1905 - 1906: Female Intellectual Youth Passerby 48
When Zhang Yu woke up again, it was already dark outside, and there was a meaty aroma floating in the air.
She didn’t even need to go out to know there was probably meat tonight.
This made Zhang Yu incredibly happy. Although there were some meat products stored, like meat buns, she didn’t dare eat too much. After all, the food had a smell, and if someone noticed it, that could be a big problem.
Since there was food, Zhang Yu quickly got up and rushed out, "Dad, little brother."
After Zhang Wei and his son returned home and found out Zhang Yu was still resting, they didn’t make any noise and each looked at their professional books.
After graduating high school, Zhang Jie entered the finance department. Although he did not have much foundation, under Yao Ying’s guidance he had learned a lot, but he still wanted to improve himself.
When the two heard Zhang Yu’s voice, they knew she woke up and put down their books.
Upon seeing Zhang Yu, Zhang Jie’s first reaction was, "Sis, you got darker."
Zhang Yu originally thought after such a long separation, Zhang Jie would say something meaningful, but unexpectedly, the first thing out of his mouth was about her skin. She was so annoyed she almost wanted to hit him.
She had never seen such a tactless brother, who said such words, "Where am I dark? I’m not dark at all."
Although it wasn’t fashionable to be pale, no one liked hearing they were dark.
Zhang Jie didn’t think this random comment about her darker complexion would cause so many thoughts, otherwise, he would plead innocence.
Seeing Zhang Yu with a darker complexion, he knew life on the farm wasn’t easy for her.
After all, they’re siblings; they were together since their mother’s womb, so they really understand each other.
For example, Zhang Yu’s skin darkened in the summer, and after a winter, it would slowly lighten a lot, in this constant cycle.
"Sis, you must have been really busy and tired at the farm," Zhang Jie said with sympathy.
"Of course the farm is tiring," meaning if it were the original owner, hearing this would probably sound like provocation.
"Brother, you know, when I first got to the farm, I thought, thank goodness you didn’t go. Mowing grass under the blazing sun, while not as tiring as the fall harvest, was exhausting."
"Good thing I brought long sleeves and a hat, otherwise," thinking of working under the scorching sun, Zhang Yu felt faint.
Such days were just beginning, and she would have to endure until ’78, Zhang Yu’s body was once again shaken.
She could now truly feel how long a day could be, "A lively person like me nearly couldn’t keep it up, what’s more you."
"But the days at the farm weren’t bad, weekends fishing at the village near the farm, grilling our catch and eating it, tasted pretty good." Except there’s no seasoning, so how tasty can it really be?
Though it’s still better than having no meat, "I’m quite famous in our brigade, many know I’m good at fishing."
"Caught more fish than in the city, but it’s a pity they can’t be exchanged for tickets," Zhang Yu said regretfully, "By the way, Xiao Jie, do you still go fishing?"
"I go fishing half a day every week, and every time I catch something," Zhang Jie proudly said, "The fish I catch turn into quite a few tickets."
Reflecting on half a year of his efforts made Zhang Jie very happy.
Seeing Zhang Jie, usually calm, so excited, Zhang Yu figured the income must not be bad; she hadn’t expected such large rewards.
Zhang Yu’s mouth rounded, "Little brother, not bad, keep it up."
"But the fish caught can’t all be exchanged, need to keep some for ourselves, since eating well means health, which ensures a future."
"You too, Sis," Zhang Jie said, relieved that Zhang Yu didn’t force herself.
"Of course I won’t be modest, eat and spend as needed, otherwise there’s Wang Yan watching, why save?"
"Besides, I’ve seen it, whether it’s our brigade or the neighboring one, those with good meals have great health and can endure much farm work."
"Wang Yan saves money, skimping on food and heating, even in this cold, not buying a stove, nor eating or drinking well."
"During the busy farming season, a little bit of meat, but once it ends, no more meat."
"I eat whatever good dishes the cafeteria provides." What’s money compared to eating and drinking for good health?
"I go fishing on weekends, improving my meals." When fish are caught, Zhang Yu does not hold back, obviously enjoying them thoroughly.
"Not keeping any?" Yao Ying knew that in late autumn, the four girls in Zhang Yu’s dorm all put money together to buy a stove and coal. Since there’s a stove, they could keep fish.
Considering Yao Ying’s idea of keeping fish, "Mom, you’re not wrong, but it doesn’t suit my place."
"I live in a dorm, though it’s a four-person dorm and we get along well, there are always a few troublemakers next door."
Though not as bad as Lu Yun, they do like taking advantage, "I eat it on the day, if they have opinions, they have to swallow them."
"If kept, they’d definitely gossip, about how many fish I caught and so on." If it weren’t for many who relied on fishing to improve their meals, their words would be more harsh.
Huh? Zhang Jie was speechless, "You’re fishing in the river, if they’re envious, they could fish themselves."
"They need to catch fish first." It’s not that Zhang Yu looks down on them, but they really just serve as a contrast.
"If they could catch fish, would they be gossiping?"
"Certainly not, they’d worry if they ever became fishing experts one day, and then I’d definitely mock their past words." Sometimes handling people truly requires being assertive, else they’d think she’s easy to bully.
"Wait a minute, it’s not like I haven’t suffered." Zhang Yu thought of that incident in anger.
Her daughter suffered, so Yao Ying stopped busying herself in the kitchen and hurried out, "What happened, how did you suffer?"
Could it be Wang Yan causing trouble again? That girl surely isn’t good, possibly trying to trap her daughter.
"Once, I caught a ten-pound fish in the river, I was overjoyed, planning to eat it for lunch and dinner with rice."
"I even planned how to cook, half braised with soy sauce, fetching some thick paste from the village, and the other half for fish soup, adding mushrooms picked from the mountain, the taste would be delicious just imagining it."
To this day, Zhang Yu still savors that fish; truly tasty.
