The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 201 Some old items, do you want them?
Qian Jin happily followed the children back to the brigade headquarters, where Zhou Tiezhen, who was squatting at the entrance, grinned from ear to ear.

"Director Qian, how was your time playing with these kids in the back mountain?"

Qian Jin exclaimed, "This is simply amazing! The mountains of Xiping are a treasure trove. Trust me, Captain Zhou, your team will become rich in the future!"

The team members treated him with genuine sincerity, and the best vegetables from the vegetable fields were picked out and continuously delivered to him.

The bamboo winnowing basket was piled high with emerald-green cucumbers, their freshness, still glistening with morning dew, still held the tips of their blossoms and thorns.

Someone took a needle and thread and went to the field to pick fresh small chili peppers.

The bright red pepper skewers swayed in the draft, looking like strings of small firecrackers.

Qian Jin was speechless when he saw such a large bunch of small chili peppers being delivered: "What does this mean? Are you giving me stir-fried chili peppers today?"

"Take these back with you. These are all the best chilies I carefully selected," the woman who brought the chilies said with a shy smile. "Try them, these chilies are delicious."

"Try this instead." Zhou Tiezhen handed him the cucumber and asked someone to get a small plate of sweet bean sauce from Shuangdai Store.

"Cucumber with dipping sauce was a dish I used to serve to guests with drinks."

This way of eating is very common.

Qian Jin dipped the cucumber in sweet bean sauce and bit into the cucumber head, making a crunching sound as juice filled his mouth.

Wang Xiaoying tidied up the newspapers and said, "Brigade leader, the leader is back. What kind of behavior is it for us to squat here eating cucumbers with soybean paste? Let's take the leader home quickly."

Zhou Tiezhen chuckled: "Let the leaders take a break first. I know those wild kids. They run around like rabbits in the mountains, causing a ruckus. They must have exhausted Director Qian."

Qian Jin laughed: "It's alright, I'm in pretty good shape."

This is not modesty.

His months-long trip to the countryside allowed him to recuperate and regain his energy.

The energy he had expended on Wei Qinghuan after getting married has been replenished, and he is now still a vigorous and energetic man.

Lunch was being prepared at Zhou Tiezhen's house. Qian Jin was about to go with him when an old man carrying a bamboo basket walked over, his steps unsteady.

Zhou Tiezhen immediately went up to him: "Fourth Uncle, how is it?"

"It's definitely going to work." The old man chuckled and stroked his beard.

Zhou Tiezhen took the bamboo basket off his shoulder, opened the lid, and showed it to Qian Jin.

The bamboo basket was full of bluish-gray shrimp, very fresh, jumping around inside, and the slender antennae of each shrimp were trembling.

Qian Jin asked, "Did the old man go catch shrimp for me? Hey, you guys are exaggerating, is it really necessary?"

The old man said earnestly, "As for it, as for it, you've set up a double-subsidy store for our brigade and delivered new varieties of vegetables. It would be only right for us to slaughter a cow to treat you, let alone just going to catch shrimp."

He added, "But these shrimp are also delicious, not much worse than beef. They are shrimp from the Erluojian Stream, and the meat is firm."

As he spoke, he picked up a bamboo strainer, scooped up some shrimp, and showed them to Qian Jin. They were lively and incredibly fresh.

Qian Jin explained, "I know, sir, I believe these shrimp are delicious, but you're so old, and you still think I should eat them before you go to work? How can I accept that?"

He then scolded Zhou Tiezhen: "Really, you could have just had the kids catch some fish for me, why are you making it difficult for an old comrade to catch shrimp for me? This is outrageous!"

“That makes sense, how is that not reasonable?” Zhou Tiezhen laughed heartily. “Catching shrimp and catching fish are not the same thing.”

"You went to the stream with Tie Dan and his hooligans, and you caught quite a few fish, right? What about shrimp? Did you catch any shrimp?"

"Let me tell you, the shrimp in the mountain stream are not the same as the fish. If you don't know any better, you won't even be able to find them, let alone catch them!"

“Don’t think that just because we’ve lived in Xiping Mountain all our lives, we can’t catch any shrimp. My great-uncle is an expert, so we have to get you to do it.”

Wang Xiaoying, watching the freshwater shrimp from the side, exclaimed, "They're really big!"

For Qian Jin, who has seen many sea shrimp, the size of freshwater shrimp is not impressive.

The largest of these river shrimp was about the size of his little finger, and most of them were only about half the length of his middle finger.

But considering that these are river shrimp, they are indeed quite large.

The old man chuckled and said, "I picked out the smaller ones; I'll give the bigger ones to Director Qian!"

Qian Jin called out to the old man, "Grandpa, come on, let's have a couple of drinks together at noon today."

The old man waved his hand and said, "I can't go, my wife at home has already cooked dinner..."

“Grandpa, can’t we have lunch for dinner? Listen to me, you have to come and have a couple of drinks with me today.” Qian Jin tugged at his sleeve.

The old comrade went to great lengths to provide him with a meal, so he certainly couldn't just eat it without offering it; he had to take it to a banquet and offer a toast to express his gratitude.

Qian Jin winked at Zhou Tiezhen, who laughed and said, "Yes, Fourth Uncle, let's go eat together. Gui Fang must have cooked a lot of dishes today. Let's go together. It's been a while since we men have sat down together."

Seeing that he couldn't leave, the old man smiled sheepishly: "What would I, an unrelated person, do at your leader's banquet?"

Qian Jin firmly stated, "How about you come and have a drink with me, your leader? How about a leader sits down with the people?"

Upon hearing this, the old man laughed and said, "Alright, alright, Director Qian, how can I leave after you say that?"

August in the coastal city is almost the hottest time of the year. The midday sun is scorching, and the dirt roads turn white from the intense heat.

Being in the mountains with plenty of shade and mountain breezes isn't so bad, but walking on the road in the sun is definitely a nightmare.

It's about a kilometer from the brigade office to Zhou Tiezhen's house. Qian Jin was sweating profusely the whole way. By the time he arrived at Zhou's house, his polyester shirt was soaked through and clung to his sturdy back.

When Zhou Tiezhen's big yellow dog heard the stranger's footsteps and ran out, it barked at Qian Jin.

Upon seeing this, Zhou Tiezhen kicked the dog, and the dog immediately became obedient, its ears folding up like airplane ears, and it affectionately licked Zhou Tiezhen's hand.

Zhou Tiezhen waved his hand irritably: "Get lost, get lost, get out of here in this hot weather with my hand covered in your saliva."

"Tiezhen, when is Comrade Qian arriving?" came Liu Guifang's voice from inside the house, accompanied by the crisp sound of iron spatulas clattering together.

"They're here!" Zhou Tiezhen shouted. "Those that need to be cooked, cook them; those that need to be served, serve them!"

He turned and walked into the courtyard, casually picked up a gourd ladle from the well, scooped up half a ladle of cold water, and gulped it down.

Water droplets trickled down his beard, glistening in the sunlight.

He threw the gourd ladle back, and Qian Jin picked it up and took another bite.

Zhou Tiezhen wiped his mouth with his sleeve, feeling a warm glow inside.

Director Qian never looked down on people from the countryside!

Such a good cadre is returning to the city, and as the brigade leader, he has to give him a proper send-off.

"Guifang, are all the dishes ready?" Zhou Tiezhen strode into the kitchen, and the aroma of fried food hit him, making him sneeze.

Liu Guifang was standing in front of the earthen stove, turning the golden cicada nymphs in the pot with a large iron shovel.

She was in her early forties, her round face flushed red from the stove fire, and the sleeves of her floral blouse were rolled up high, revealing her strong forearms.

"All done, all the vegetables have been delivered, just put them in the basket." She answered without looking up, flicking her wrist, turning the cicada nymphs in the pot over and frying them even crispier.

Zhou Tiezhen squatted down and lifted the damp cloth covering the willow basket.

The cucumbers were so green they looked like they could be squeezed for water, the tomatoes were a bright red as if they were coated with glaze, and the eggplants, green peppers, tender green beans, and bunches of kidney beans were all glossy purple and plump.

Qian Jin came over and said politely, "There's no need for such trouble, we're all on the same side..."

“Just because we’re family, we deserve to eat well. Director Qian, look, I had someone pick the freshest and most tender vegetables,” Zhou Tiezhen said, pointing to the vegetables.

Qian Jin described the white jade cucumbers to their brigade as being like fruit—both beautiful and delicious.

Zhou Tiezhen picked a cucumber out of the basket and handed it to the old man who had followed him: "Fourth Uncle, have one."

The old man didn't stand on ceremony; he wiped it on his trouser leg and took a big bite.

The crunching sound accompanied by the sweet juice bursting in his mouth made him squint his eyes in satisfaction: "This cucumber is really different, it's like a melon."

While busy at work, Liu Guifang glanced back and saw Qian Jin placing the two net bags he had brought in the corner.

She quickly shoveled the shovel to Zhou Tiezhen, then picked up the net to return it to Qian Jin: "Director Qian, what are you doing? It would be an honor for my whole family if you could come to our house for a meal. Why are you bringing gifts? Isn't this looking down on my family?"

Qian Jin said seriously, "Yes, that's what I told my wife too."

"But she's stubborn. When she found out I was coming over for dinner today, she insisted that I bring these things with me."

"She also said that this has nothing to do with me. It's just a token of her appreciation for your family. So it's okay if your family doesn't accept it. When she comes back later, you can ask her to take it back!"

Upon hearing this, the old man gave Liu Guifang a thumbs up: "Otherwise, how could she become a cadre? She's got a really sharp tongue."

Liu Guifang laughed and said, "Director Qian is indeed capable, but you must be talking nonsense. I know your sister-in-law's situation well; she lives in the city..."

"Then take her to the city." Qian Jin started to walk out.

Liu Guifang said, "No, I meant it's just an excuse you made up. How could your sister-in-law pack your things in the city?"

Qian Jin spread his hands: "She came to see me yesterday and helped me take some odds and ends back to the city ahead of time."

"It's a pity she has to go to work today, otherwise I would definitely bring her to Xiping Mountain for a visit."

Zhou Tiezhen turned around and shouted, "Alright, wife, don't be so polite with the leaders. They don't treat us like outsiders, so we should treat them like family."

"Director Qian, what are you doing here? Are you just going to stay and smell the firewood and cooking fumes? Get out, get out! It's hot and choking!"

Qian Jin put his hands in his pockets and said, "You guys are busy, I'm fine. I just love watching people cook because I also like cooking, and I'm always looking to learn from them."

"Captain Zhou, what are you trying to do?"

Zhou Tiezhen stirred the flour and said with his head down, "There's soybean oil in the pot from frying cicada nymphs, I'll make some fried dough sticks."

"Director Qian, you love learning to cook, right? Then I'll teach you a trick today."

"This oil used to fry cicada nymphs is perfect for making pancakes; it'll be incredibly fragrant," Zhou Tiezhen said, first crushing and stirring the eggs before pouring it in.

The egg mixture sizzled in the hot oil, and in the blink of an eye, it expanded into a cloud.

He deftly scooped up the egg pancake and added, "I'll make some egg and cucumber salad later, it'll be delicious."

Once the egg pancakes were done, he started making the crepes, stacking the golden-brown pancakes into a pagoda shape. "They taste best with pickled vegetables, which cut through the grease."

A large plate of fried dough sticks came out of the pan, and he picked out the best one and gave it to Qian Jin: "Director Qian, are you hungry? Have something to eat first."

Qian Jin accepted the fried dough without hesitation and took a bite.

The crispy crust crumbles between your teeth, releasing a burst of oily aroma from fried cicada nymphs onto your tongue.

Liu Guifang took out a rough porcelain jar, lifted the red cloth lid, and a sour aroma wafted out—it was vinegar made from wild hawthorn and perilla leaves picked last winter, which could be used to dip flatbread.

Smoke rose from the iron pot on the earthen stove. Zhou Tiezhen picked up an iron spatula and tapped the edge of the pot. Liu Guifang quickly tore the eggplant into strips. It was time to start stir-frying the vegetables.

The red chilies first tumbled in the hot oil, gradually curling into the shape of small boats. The bursting, spicy aroma, combined with the pungent smell of oil, made one involuntarily sneeze, but the unique fragrance of the chili oil was truly irresistible. "There's been plenty of rain this year," Zhou Tiezhen said, pouring eggplants into the pot. The glistening purple eggplant pieces rolled around in the pile of chilies. "The variety you sent is excellent; these eggplants have thin skin and tender flesh, they're so delicious."

Zhou Tiezhen's youngest son, who was tending the fire, looked up and said, "My dad sometimes eats eggplant raw, or with dipping sauce."

Zhou Tiezhen laughed heartily, his shovel twirling like a bird in a mountain stream.

Soon the eggplant was coated in a glistening sauce, mixed with the spiciness of minced garlic. "Eat it when you get back; this goes even better with rice than meat."

Beside the stove, Liu Guifang had already fried three plates of wild game—golden cicada nymphs, plump bean worms, and a large plate of fried grasshoppers.

She brought the three plates of fried food into the house and quickly returned. Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she began to process the small fish.

It wasn't just Tie Dan who led Qian Jin to catch small fish; other people also went to catch fish.

They caught small silver fish in the stream, while the others caught other miscellaneous fish, some big and some small. The small ones were no longer than a finger, while the large crucian carp were as big as a palm, and there was a big blue carp that was as long as an arm.

Liu Guifang cleaned the internal organs of various miscellaneous fish and soaked them all in salt water.

Zhou Tiezhen stir-fried eggplant, then tomatoes and eggs, followed by green beans and green peppers. The red, green, and purple vegetables tumbled in the wok, creating a beautiful sight.

"Guifang, soy sauce!" Zhou Tiezhen reached out without turning his head.

Liu Guifang quickly handed over a rough porcelain bowl containing soy sauce that had just been bought from Shuangdai Store; it was dark and shiny.

Zhou Tiezhen scooped up soy sauce with a spoon, shook the spoon, and the soy sauce fell into the pot in a semi-circular arc, instantly darkening the color of the dish.

He sprinkled in some coarse salt, then drizzled in a few drops of sesame oil, and a pot of authentic farmhouse stir-fried mixed vegetables was ready.

Liu Guifang quickly prepared a cold dish – smashed cucumber mixed with chopped egg pancakes, seasoned with soy sauce, vinegar, and chili oil.

Tomatoes are the simplest; slice them and sprinkle with white sugar to create a dish resembling a snow-covered volcano.

"Tiezhen, it's time to put the braised fish in the pot," Liu Guifang reminded him. Zhou Tiezhen responded, reheated the pot with oil, and poured in the drained small fish to fry.

The fish quickly turned golden brown. He poured in some liquor, soy sauce, and vinegar, added some dried chili peppers and scallions, and finally ladled in a spoonful of well water. He then covered the pot and simmered it.

"Director Qian, let's go take a break first, cool off and whet our appetites, then we'll have a big meal later!"

Qian Jin followed him into the house, where Wang Xiaoying and other cadres also arrived.

Zhou Tiezhen said, "The only thing missing now is our former chief accountant."

Zhou Peng, the current brigade accountant, said, "My mentor is now a commune cadre, and he can't come back."

Qian Jin laughed and said, "He won't be staying in your brigade for long. I've told everyone in our supply and marketing cooperative that no matter what position we hold, we must respond to the leader's call and serve the people wholeheartedly."

"This is good," Wang Xiaoying exclaimed.

Zhou Tiezhen greeted everyone in a boisterous manner: "Sit down, everyone sit down. Let's eat and drink what we want. Hmm, today we have good wine and good food, it's like the New Year."

"Accountant Zhou didn't come, hehe, that's because he's not lucky enough to eat. We're the lucky ones, let's dig in!"

He opened the bottle of liquor that Qian Jin had brought.

Niulanshan Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor).

Affordable price, good quality and delicious taste.

Everyone was drinking from large cups; there were eleven people in a circle, and it would take three bottles of baijiu to fill them.

Qian Jin wanted to ride his motorcycle, and as usual, he wanted to drink less alcohol.

But Zhou Tiezhen wouldn't allow it, insisting that Qian Jin be fully fed: "Director Qian, what are you afraid of on my turf? If you drink too much later, take a nap first. A nap won't delay your return home!"

This was a farewell toast, and Qian Jin couldn't refuse any longer, so he could only smile helplessly and pick up the glass.

After the fiery drinks went down my throat, it was time for dinner.

Zhou Tiezhen's shouts could be heard in the neighbor's house: "Eat, eat, eat! Don't put down your chopsticks! Nobody put down their chopsticks!"

"There's plenty of food ahead, let's eat our fill!"

Qian Jin picked up his chopsticks and ate the stir-fried eggplant with chili peppers in front of him.

The eggplant was stewed until it was very soft; when you put a chopstick in your mouth, its tender texture easily sank into your teeth.

The dark red eggplant flesh soaked up the broth, and the savory sauce mixed with garlic and spiciness was quite appetizing.

Liu Guifang arrived carrying a large bowl.

Stir-fried river shrimp with chives.

The river shrimp have been fried to an enticing orange-red color, sprinkled with salt, and their brains are filled with golden shrimp roe. They don't have the fishy taste that sea shrimp usually have, and instead, they fill your mouth with the fresh fragrance of mountain spring water.

"Try this." Wang Xiaoying pushed the crispy fried cicada nymphs in front of Qian Jin.

The cicada's molted shell was still completely wrapped around its back, like wearing shiny, oily armor.

Qian Jin picked one up, and the crispy outer shell cracked between his teeth, revealing the snow-white tender meat inside. This thing is very high in protein, and it's incredibly fragrant after being deep-fried.

In addition, these cicada nymphs had been soaked in the villagers' pickle jars, so the saltiness had already seeped into the meat, and there was no need to add extra salt; they already tasted salty.

A wood-fired stove produces a powerful flame and cooks food quickly.

Liu Guifang stewed a dish, poured it into a clay pot, and served it. When she lifted the lid, a fragrant aroma filled the air with white steam.

Zhou Tiezhen scooped up a spoonful of soup and blew on it: "Eat this, Director Qian, you should try this. It's crucian carp caught under the loofah vines, stewed with spring water."

The milky white fish soup is topped with bright green scallions and cilantro, and every sip is bursting with fresh flavor.

This is authentic wild game from the mountains.

Zhou Peng was a little embarrassed: "Director Qian finally got to have a meal here, but there was no pork as the main dish. Captain, we still haven't done a good job."

As he sipped his fish soup, Qian Jin waved his hand and said, "Forget it. You have to choose the temple you're in. In the city, we eat pork, but in our mountains, we have to eat the delicacies of the mountains!"

"Besides, isn't this dish firm enough? Tell me honestly, can you even afford a meal like this during Chinese New Year?"

"This dish is really good," the old man said with a hearty laugh. "I'm so lucky to have Director Qian's help. If it weren't for Director Qian, I would still be eating rotten pickled vegetables at home."

Qian Jin said, "Have the vegetables from our private plot come out yet? Why do we still have to eat pickled vegetables?"

Uncle Si said embarrassedly, "I planted the high-quality vegetables you gave me in my private plot. I still have some debts at home, so I was thinking of leaving the vegetables to exchange for some money when I go to the market."

Qian Jin said, "It will be alright, Fourth Uncle, believe me, things will start to get better next year."

Reform and opening up are just around the corner!

Zhou Tiezhen raised his glass and said, "Fourth Uncle, come on, let's have a drink first."

"Let's not talk about the hard times of the past today. Let's eat and drink well today, and our future will be bright. Go out and see the vegetables covering the mountains and fields. Every year will be like that. How could our lives be bad?"

"We'll just follow Director Qian's instructions. There will be plenty of delicious dishes like this on the table from now on!"

The food today was truly exceptional.

Besides fried cicada nymphs, there were also fried cicadas, and even more fried cicadas, piled high on the plate.

The soybean worms that the women caught from the soybean field looked scary, but they actually grew up eating soybean leaves. They are very clean, nutritious, and have a protein content that far exceeds that of beef.

This can be roasted or fried. After frying, it's crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the more you chew it, the more fragrant it becomes.

There are also fried grasshoppers served in small bamboo baskets, with all kinds of grasshoppers cooked together in one pot, crunchy and delicious.

Liu Guifang then brought up a large bowl of braised small mixed fish.

Various small fish are soaked in a dark brown broth, their eyes bulging out, making them exceptionally delicious.

Needless to say, vegetables were served, with cold and hot dishes filling half the table.

The stir-fried vegetables were colorful, the cold dishes were refreshing and delicious, and there was also a stack of steaming hot fried dough sticks.

"Director Qian, don't put down your chopsticks, try this." Zhou Tiezhen picked up the biggest fish and put it in Qian Jin's bowl. "Don't underestimate this small fish, it's very fresh."

“In the mountains, this is the only way we eat fish. The bones are so soft that you don’t have to spit them out.”

Qian Jin carefully took a bite, and the fish was indeed incredibly fresh and tender.

Even the bones are cooked until tender, and the flavors, combined with the aroma of soy sauce and a hint of spiciness, make it impossible to stop eating.

He picked up some stir-fried mixed vegetables with his chopsticks.

The soft eggplant, the crisp green beans, the refreshing spiciness of the green peppers, and the sweet and sour tomatoes intertwine in the mouth, paired with the rich oily aroma of the fried dough and the meaty fragrance of the flour itself, creating a flavorful and rustic taste.

"Captain Zhou, this dish is really well cooked!" Qian Jin exclaimed sincerely.

Zhou Tiezhen laughed heartily and poured Qian Jin another glass of wine: "We don't have anything good in our countryside, but what grows in the fields and is caught in the river is fresh!"

"You can't find such fresh and delicious vegetables in the city, these are freshly caught river delicacies."

After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, the plates on the table were gradually emptied.

After finishing three bottles of baijiu, another three bottles were opened.

Qian Jin looked pale.

Thank goodness he brought a lot of alcohol, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to handle this meal alone!

Besides, he didn't want to drink that much because he still had to cycle back, so he pretended to be asleep...

Zhou Tiezhen laughed heartily upon seeing this: "Director Qian is good at everything, but his alcohol tolerance is terrible."

"Let him sleep, and we'll keep drinking, drink to our hearts' content!"

Qian Jin smiled secretly.

You guys go ahead and drink.

Once you've finished drinking, pretend you've woken up, then you can ride your bikes back.

Then, with a blink of an eye, the sun was setting.

He went outside in astonishment to take a look.

Smoke began to rise from some houses, and the lingering aroma of cooked food filled the nearby courtyards...

Liu Guifang was delighted to see him awake: "Director Qian, you woke up just in time! Come on, wash up and take a walk. Come back for dinner later!"

Qian Jin waved his hands frantically, trying to escape once he found a motorcycle.

Zhou Tiezhen grabbed the back seat of the car and stopped him from running away with one sentence: "I recently collected a lot of old things in the brigade. What do you think? You don't want them anymore?"

Qian Jin immediately got out of the car: Yes!

(End of this chapter)