The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 260 Rules are set at home, and the Qian family gathers together.

A warm atmosphere filled the room, while upstairs, children ran around making a loud thumping sound.

Qian Xi wanted to yell at them.

Qian Jin waved his hand: "Let them make a fuss. Just be careful not to cause trouble on this floor in the future, or they'll cause trouble for the people downstairs."

He finally looked at his third brother and sister-in-law, who had remained silent.

Qian Lie kept his head slightly lowered, while Zhao Xiaohong's gaze darted rapidly between Qian Jin and her husband.

The couple were always a little cautious in their interactions with others.

Qian Jin said, "Third Brother, you and my sister-in-law have had a tough time these past years, and returning to the city wasn't easy either. We brothers all know that."

“I understand how you two feel after returning to the city. I won’t say anything nice, but you’ve seen how your older brother, second sister, and brother-in-law are doing. You two will definitely be able to find stable jobs in the future.”

Qian Lie laughed and said, "It's alright. Heaven won't let a blind sparrow starve. At worst, I'll go to the port to do odd jobs or carry heavy loads. With people like you helping me, making a living won't be a problem."

Qian Jin walked over and sat down next to him, saying, "You're strong, and if the job is suitable, I have no objection to you carrying heavy loads. But your hands are very skillful, and it's not appropriate to waste them on carrying heavy loads."

“You and Third Sister-in-law both know my situation on Taishan Road. I do have quite a few people under me now, but they are not suitable for you and Third Sister-in-law. I can't force you to join them right now.”

"So you two should wait patiently. After you get your household registration sorted out, there will definitely still be job opportunities. I will definitely help you find suitable ones."

Qian Lie put his arm around his waist and patted him: "Fourth brother, you don't need to worry so much. Your third sister-in-law and I have a way to survive."

"Besides, haven't I been reading those veterinary books you gave me these past few days? I feel like I've made great progress, and those books you gave me are excellent."

"I was thinking that if I had the chance later, I could check out the veterinary stations in the communes around the seaside. Maybe they still need veterinarians?"

Zhao Xiaohong whispered, "That's fine too. This is your specialty. You see, the big animals have a special skill. We can't let that skill go to waste."

Then she glanced at Qian Jin and said, "As for the other four brothers, you don't need to worry about us. To be honest, your brother and I are already extremely grateful that you divided Dad's house among the three families."

"You don't know, the educated youth in our area are going crazy trying to get back to the city, they're making a ruckus in groups."

"Once, the leaders of the autonomous region got impatient and slammed their fists on the table, asking them, 'You want to go back to the city, but will your homes in the city let you go back? Do you even have a home in the city anymore?'"

"Just those one sentence brought tears to the eyes of half the people present, and they were speechless..."

Qian Jin said heavily, "It's not just like this in your area now; it's the same all over the country."

Qian Cheng and Qian Xi both nodded.

Qian Jin said, "There are eight people in our Qian family now. Besides my wife, who I've already mentioned, there are five, and then there's my sister-in-law."

"The following matter concerns my sister-in-law; it relates to the rules governing the lives of all dozen or so members of our Qian family from now on!"

At this point, his voice was steady and powerful, carrying the solemnity of a formal announcement:
“With a secure government job, my elder brother has heavy responsibilities. He needs to focus his energy on his career and serve the people.”

“My second sister has just found a job and is not yet settled. She has to worry about both work and family. My brother-in-law is busy learning a trade and taking certification exams, so he definitely won’t have much time to take care of the family later.”

"Third brother and sister-in-law, once you have jobs, you'll need to take care of your own little family too!"

"Our Qian family has more than a dozen people, young and old. It's a blessing to have such a large and prosperous family, but we must all work together to make our lives better!"

He looked intently at Ma Hongxia, his tone earnest:

“Our sister-in-law and sister-in-law Hongxia came back from thousands of miles away with our brother. Now they have endless worries and chores to do in this family.”

"Inside and out, firewood, rice, oil, salt, sewing, washing, and laundry, there are nearly twenty people in the family. The cold, warmth, hunger, and fullness are all on the eldest sister-in-law's heart and shoulders."

“Now, my sister-in-law takes care of the children and cleans the house during the day, and she also has to prepare meals at mealtimes. She’s the one who’s running the household in the Qian family, and we all need to be aware of that!”

Ma Hongxia was stunned by such a sudden and high praise, and for a moment she didn't know how to react. She only felt a warm current rush up from the bottom of her heart, which made her nose tingle.

Since settling in the coastal city, she has been like a maid, taking care of everyone, from the elderly to the young, cleaning two houses, and preparing meals for more than a dozen people.

very tired.

But she wasn't afraid of being tired; it was easier than tending to the saline-alkali land on the Loess Plateau where crops wouldn't grow.

But she was afraid of being looked down upon by her family.

In particular, Qian Jin lived in the cadre building. After she arrived, she learned that some families had hired nannies from their work units to serve the leaders.

She felt like she was a nanny.

So when Qian Jin talked about the situation of each family member but deliberately ignored her, she felt very uncomfortable, but she didn't dare to show it.

Instead of bypassing her, Qian Jin placed her last, which made her happy.

Qian Jin asked her, "Sister-in-law, there are all kinds of jobs in the city, good and bad, heavy and light. With the reform and opening up, things will definitely be different from before."

"I have inside information that individuals will soon be able to do business; this is called a sole proprietorship."

"So what are your thoughts? Are you planning to have me find you a job, or wait a year or two and see how things go, then figure out a business to start your own?"

Ma Hongxia hurriedly waved her hand: "Forget it, your older brother knows me. I dropped out of school after fourth grade. What kind of class could I attend?"

“I was thinking that I have a lot of children at home, the youngest is only four and a half years old, so I need an adult to look after them, right? My older brother is busy with national affairs, and I'll be busy with family matters. Anyway, whether I look after one or a group of children, it's all the same, so I'll look after all the children at home.”

Wei Qinghuan said sincerely, "Sister-in-law, you've worked hard. I've seen Tangyuan; taking care of the child is even more tiring than going to work."

Ma Hongxia didn't care at all: "They're all minor matters. The big things are judged by the small things. I think the big things are fine, it's nothing."

Qian Jin asked her, "So you've decided? To stay home and take care of the children and do the housework?"

Ma Hongxia, clutching her apron, said, "Yes, I take care of the children and tidy up the house. There are two houses, so someone has to keep them organized, right?"

Qian Jin nodded, then gestured around the room with his hand and raised his voice, saying:

“From today onwards, all the housework, all the eating, drinking, sleeping, and daily expenses of this big family will be decided by our eldest sister-in-law, Ma Hongxia!”

"From now on, she will be the head housekeeper of our Qian family. We, as brothers and sisters, as wives and sisters-in-law, must have a clear attitude towards her in life: full support and absolute obedience!"

“My eldest brother and second sister have just started working, and my second sister’s husband is an apprentice. So I’ll take care of the food and drink at home first. Once my third brother and sister-in-law find jobs, each of our families will contribute an appropriate amount of money each month according to our own abilities and actual circumstances, and hand it over to my eldest sister-in-law for her to manage and arrange!”

"How the money is spent, what to buy for the children, and whether the rice and flour sacks are full are all decided by my sister-in-law. None of us have the right to interfere!"

He looked at Wei Qinghuan: "Wife, is it alright?"

Wei Qinghuan sighed, "How could my sister-in-law possibly manage all this? Buying groceries, cooking, mopping the floor, doing laundry—you don't know how much work there is until you take care of the household!"

Qian Jin said, "Washing clothes is easy. I can get an imported washing machine right away. My sister-in-law won't have to do anything. Just throw the clothes in and it will wash and spin-dry them by itself."

"Sweeping and mopping is easy, but are all these kids just going to play? The older ones need to do chores, sweeping and mopping are their jobs!"

He then looked at Ma Hongxia and said, "Sister-in-law, you don't need to be so polite or feel embarrassed. Tell me, can you accept the method I just used?"

Ma Hongxia glanced at her husband and stammered, "How can such a large family all eat your food?"

"You don't need to worry about these chores around the house, and don't buy any machines. Don't waste your money. I have plenty of strength..."

Qian Jin interrupted her and asked, "If we do as I just said, can you accept it here?"

Ma Hongxia paused for a moment, then finally said, "Yes, I can accept it."

Qian Jin nodded: "That's good!"

He adopted the demeanor of someone in a company meeting, his sharp gaze sweeping across the room, and his words carrying an undeniable authority:
“From now on, my sister-in-law will be in charge of our lives. We can discuss with her what we want to eat or drink. If she knows how to cook it, we will eat it. If she doesn’t know how, we will teach her.”

"And if anyone dares to have the slightest dissatisfaction or complaint about my sister-in-law's arrangements regarding daily life, or if there are any disputes or backstabbing regarding the money given as gifts, don't think I'm being ruthless!"

"Our family has many members and many things to deal with, so we must establish rules. This is the foundation for the Qian family's long-term stability and a better life! Do you understand?"

"I heard you!" Qian Cheng was the first to solemnly express his support. He went up to his wife, patted her on the shoulder, and nodded in agreement. "Butler Ma, from now on, we'll listen to you when it comes to family matters."

Qian Xi smiled and said, "That would be best."

Chen Shoujiang, Qian Lie, and Zhao Xiaohong all responded earnestly.

Seeing everyone looking at her so solemnly, this sudden and unexpected respect overwhelmed Ma Hongxia like a surging wave, instantly breaking down her emotional defenses.

The sense of bewilderment and the inferiority complex caused by unemployment since arriving in this unfamiliar city all turned into a scalding current at this moment, rushing straight to her eyes and bringing tears to her eyes.

She grabbed her scarf, wiped her eyes, and said apologetically:
"Fourth brother, after hearing what you said today, I, Ma Hongxia, have known that following Qian Cheng wasn't a mistake. There really is a proper and respectable family like our Qian family in Haibin City!"

"Don't worry, I may not have any other skills, but I can manage every household's every little thing, from needle and thread to every meal. I can make sure everyone can work outside with peace of mind, and I can make sure you come home to a hot meal and a good night's sleep."

"Also, there's that machine you just mentioned you shouldn't buy..."

"I'll take care of these arrangements," Qian Jin promised.

We definitely need to buy a washing machine.

If it weren't for the fact that the times were too different, he would have bought two fully automatic vacuum and mop combos and put them in his house.

However, Ma Hongxia didn't need to put in any effort to sweep or mop the floor; with so many children, they could roll around and get the floor clean.

Finally, Qian Jin clapped his hands and said, "Alright, the first Qian Family Meeting has come to a successful conclusion. Now let's begin the formal dinner!"

What's good to eat tonight?

"Come down and get the bowls and plates!" Qian Xi shouted, and a group of children scurried down the stairs like a pack of wolves.

Chen Jianguo wasn't the oldest, but he was the wildest; he ran ahead like a wolf.

Qian Xi yanked her son's ear and said, "Listen to me carefully, from now on, your aunt will be responsible for serving the food to the table after she cooks, and for taking it to the kitchen after we finish eating, understand?"

Chen Jianguo jumped up and down, hissing and gasping for breath: "I heard you, I heard you! I didn't say I wouldn't do it, why are you messing with my ears?"

"Also, Mom, can I eat a couple of bites of the leftovers?" Qian Jin rescued him: "Yes, you can."

Upon hearing this, Chen Aiguo hurriedly raised his hand: "Me too, I want to carry plates and bowls too."

He solemnly declared to everyone, "Actually, I have a dream..."

Qian Jin thought he was about to start talking about Martin Luther King Jr.

Fortunately, the child hadn't learned this skill before, and frankly said, "I dream that one day I can become a waiter in a restaurant, so that all the leftover food from the customers' meals will be mine."

Tangyuan had grown up a lot by this time, and was sensible and mischievous.

She immediately said, "Oh my god, second brother, I also have a dream. My dream is to become a customer of the restaurant. Then you can serve me, and all the leftovers I finish are yours!"

Chen Aiguo was mischievous but honest and simple-minded. He was very happy to hear this: "Okay, Tangyuan sister, I will serve you well from now on."

Tangyuan carefully instructed him, "Then eat less when you eat. I promised Huangchui that I would give it some leftovers in the future."

Chen Aiguo sneered: "Give it a bite of warm shit..."

"You son of a bitch!" Chen Shoujiang slapped him on the back of the head. "We're about to eat and you give me this dirty mess?"

There was laughter and joy everywhere.

Chen Jianguo got busy, and Qian Cheng gave his eldest son a wink, so Qian Tu obediently went to help.

Wei Qinghuan stopped Qian Tu: "Little boss, you don't need to carry plates and bowls."

Qian Cheng said, "Teacher Wei, why are you being so polite? Let this kid do the work. He's the eldest, so he has to set an example and do more work..."

“Brother, I’m not being polite,” Wei Qinghuan smiled, “He’ll be in charge of washing the pots and dishes later.”

She turned to Qian Tu and said, "Little Boss, you're the oldest of the kids, so you need to know how to wash pots and pans."

Qian Tu was very honest and nodded, saying, "Yes."

Qian Cheng laughed upon hearing this, then reached out and patted his son's head a few times before saying, "Okay, that'll relieve some pressure on your mother."

With so many people, there was a lot to eat. The staple food, barley flour pancakes, was served on a bamboo tray, a whole large tray.

Qian Jin broke off a piece and tasted it, exclaiming, "Delicious! Both sides are baked until crispy and fragrant, while the inside is thick, soft, and sweet."

Ma Hongxia laughed and said, "Right? Not bad, right? I mixed some dough that had formed during the day into the barley flour. It's delicious. My family used to only eat this during the first month of the lunar calendar."

This belongs to the category of whole grain staple foods.

Each golden-brown pancake has a rustic, grainy texture. They are baked on an iron pan, giving them a caramelized aroma mixed with the original, rich flavor of the grains, making them very appetizing.

But what really whets the appetite is the sour soup with small yellow croaker.

This can be considered a combination of the Loess Plateau and the seaside.

These plump, tender yellow croakers are not found on the Loess Plateau; these are genuine East China Sea yellow croakers.

Another reason why Ma Hongxia is willing to do housework is that she is indeed a good cook.

The small yellow croakers are lightly fried until golden brown and crispy, then boiled in a soup made with tomatoes, potato chunks, celery, aged vinegar, and salt.

This is how to eat sour soup in Northwest China.

The rich, orange-red broth has a tangy and fragrant aroma. The fish is tender, and the potatoes have absorbed the essence of the tangy broth, becoming soft and flavorful.

Then there's stir-fried beef with onions and hand-pulled mutton, which are authentic Northwest Chinese dishes.

Wei Xiongtu glanced at it and asked, "Do you still have cold rice noodles? Why are they brown?"

Zhao Xiaohong laughed and said, "This is fern root powder. Sister-in-law, you still have fern root powder in Haibin City? I thought it was something unique to my Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan region."

Ma Hongxia lowered her head to distribute the chopsticks and casually said, "Oh? You also have bracken root powder where you live? I asked a relative from my hometown to send this to me."

Qian Jin had never actually eaten fern root powder in this era.

The translucent fern root noodles are cooked, rinsed in cold water, and then mixed with chili oil, aged vinegar, salt, minced garlic, as well as finely shredded cucumber, carrot, and tofu skin. Finally, a handful of cilantro is sprinkled on top.

The dish features a striking combination of red, green, and white colors, and is both sour and spicy, making it very appetizing.

After sitting down, he picked up a piece with his chopsticks. The texture was smooth and chewy, just like the taste he had eaten in Sichuan restaurants in his previous life.

Ma Hongxia urged him to eat beef and mutton: "Try how your sister-in-law's meat is. In my hometown, we stir-fry yak meat with onions, but we only eat it once or twice a year."

"I didn't buy this beef; Teacher Wei brought it back."

Wei Qinghuan said, "Sister-in-law, you can buy whatever you want from now on. Hmm, this stir-fried romaine lettuce with tofu skin is pretty good."

Ma Hongxia laughed and said, "These two dishes didn't cost any money. The romaine lettuce was a gift from the four brothers' friends in Xiping, and the tofu skin was a gift from the Liu family of Hongxing."

Qian Jin took a taste.

This dish was cooked quite well; it seems only minced garlic and salt were added, which kept the vegetables crisp and tender, making it a perfect match for beef and lamb.

However, Wei Qinghuan's dish tastes better.

He gave his wife a wink.

Teach your sister-in-law a lesson!

Wei Qinghuan pretended not to see it.

Finally, I don't have to serve anyone anymore!
The most popular items on the table were naturally meat, beef, and lamb.

You can tell that Ma Hongxia is a practical woman; the beef is sliced ​​extremely thinly, and Qian Jin even suspects that she froze it almost completely before slicing it.

Or perhaps it's true that the working people of Northwest China all have a talent for slicing beef; these beef slices are similar to the thin slices of beef he ate in Lanzhou ramen shops in his previous life.

It was also delicious when stir-fried; the beef was tender and juicy, and the onions were sweet, crisp, and refreshing, making one's mouth water.

Hand-pulled mutton can only be divided per person.

This is extremely rare.

When Qian Jin saw the piece of mutton fat presented to him, he was trembling and shaking. He was convinced after just one look and quickly handed it to Chen Jianguo.

Chen Jianguo kept staring intently at this piece of fat meat.

Qian Xi noticed this and her face darkened: "You dare to eat it!"

Qian Jin said, "Hey, what are you doing? I don't like fatty food."

"Fourth Uncle, I love to eat it, I love it so much!" Chen Aiguo stood up and spoke enthusiastically. "From now on, let's team up, you eat the lean meat and I'll eat the fatty meat, okay?"

Qian Jin laughed: "Okay!"

The mutton is stewed until tender but not falling apart.

The lamb chops were chopped into large pieces and piled in an enamel basin printed with the words "People's Commune is Good". The glossy skin and pinkish-white meat were so fragrant that they could almost knock people over.

The chopsticks and spoons clattered in harmony, and exclamations of praise rose and fell.
"Sister-in-law, this fish stew is so delicious, the sour soup is really good. This is the first time I've ever eaten it like this." Chen Shoujiang said, blowing on the hot soup as he slurped up a piece of fish, soup and all.

Qian Tu used flatbread to make soup.

Qian Jin offered him some fish, and he smiled sensibly, saying, "I love eating pancakes."

"My mom makes these pancakes that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They smell amazing."

Taking a moment from his busy schedule, Chen Jianguo said, "Nothing smells as good as beef."

Qian Xi was furious.

She looked at Qian Tu's prospects and thought this nephew was wonderful no matter how she looked at him.

Then look at my second son, who is now diligently tearing at the mutton with his little teeth, his face shiny with oil, and he keeps breathing on it to fan himself because he has dipped it in chili, making oil splatter everywhere.

This filled her with immense sorrow.

Chen Shoujiang picked up a piece of fish for her: "Wife, eat up, what are you standing there for?"

Qian Xi said angrily, "What are you eating? Can't you see that your sister-in-law hasn't eaten much?"

Ma Hongxia herself didn't eat much.

She busied herself adding soup to this person's bowl and serving food to that person. Watching her husband eat with grease on his lips, watching her brother-in-law and sisters-in-law praise the food, and watching the children wolf down their food, she felt proud.

While cooking, she felt a little uncomfortable because she could feel like a nanny serving the entire Qian family.

She herself didn't really care. She had left that barren land where even birds wouldn't defecate all year round and moved to the city. Her husband had even gotten a stable job. She felt that it was only right for her to take care of her brother-in-law's family.

But she was worried about the child.

The three children are so sensible. Seeing their mother taking care of the whole family, they will learn to take care of others as well.

Now that everything is out in the open, she doesn't care anymore.

Because she knew how to introduce her new job to her three children.

She's a housekeeper.

This job has now been officially crowned amidst the clinking of glasses, the overflowing aromas, and the mingling of laughter.

Everything is really great!
(End of this chapter)