In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

Yang Guangming first put the basket in the yard and took out the two largest rabbits from it. The remaining two rabbits could be kept for the time being and eaten slowly.

Two rabbits were gutted, cleaned, and chopped into large pieces.

Yang Ming started a fire to cook. He cleaned the large iron pot, filled it with water, and put in chunks of rabbit meat.

Soon, the courtyard was filled with a rich aroma of meat.

The aroma is so enticing; it wafts far away on the wind.

Yang Qiuhong was the first to return. She ran into the yard, her eyes lighting up at the aroma: "Second Brother! What are you doing? It smells so good!"

"I've stewed a pot of rabbit meat." Yang Guangming added firewood to the stove with a smile on his face. "Go wash your hands, it'll be ready to eat in a bit."

Yang Qiuhong cheered, put down the basket in her hand, and ran to wash her hands.

Immediately afterward, Yang Xiuyuan, Yang Ximing, and Yang Yuming also returned. As soon as they entered the courtyard, they were all tempted by the aroma and swallowed hard.

"My goodness, they've really made stewed meat!" Yang Yuming rushed into the kitchen, his mouth watering as he looked at the rolling chunks of meat in the pot.

Feng Guifang and Cheng Shulan were the last to return; they could smell the fragrance even before they reached the courtyard gate.

Feng Guifang walked into the yard, both happy and distressed. "Why did you stew so much? One rabbit would have been enough."

"Mom, we had a great haul today, so let's all eat our fill," Yang Guangming said with a smile. "We were lucky today, we caught four big rabbits, stewed two of them, and we'll save the other two for later."

Feng Guifang then noticed two rabbits moving in the basket in the corner. She went over to take a look and was both surprised and delighted.

Yang Ximing was full of admiration for his second brother's hunting skills. "Things are so hard to catch in the mountains these days, and you've brought back so many in just one morning. Guangming, your hunting skills have really improved."

Yang Guangming modestly replied, "It's mainly because I was lucky today; I found something just by wandering around."

The family gathered around the stove, watching the meat bubbling in the pot, their faces beaming with smiles. This genuine aroma of meat, in an era of scarcity of oil and meat, is the most direct form of happiness.

The rabbit meat had been stewed for over an hour, and it was now tender and flavorful. Yang Guangming sprinkled some salt on it, tasted it, and found it to be savory and delicious.

"Dinner's ready!" Yang Guangming ordered.

The family immediately sprang into action, moving tables, arranging chairs, and getting bowls and chopsticks.

Yang Ximing took out a bottle of wine from the house. "We're happy today. It's rare for Guangming to come back. Let's have a drink."

Yang Xiuyuan did not object, and a smile appeared on his face.

The dish was served. A large bowl of braised rabbit meat, glistening with oil and smelling incredibly fragrant, looked absolutely tempting.

The staple food is cornbread, golden and shiny, with the sun shining around the edge of the pan, the bottom of which is crispy and golden brown.

The family sat together, staring at the large bowl of meat on the table, all somewhat dazed. Life had truly changed.

The glasses were filled with wine, and each person took a sip. The fiery liquid slid down their throats, spreading warmth throughout.

"Eat your vegetables, eat your vegetables!" Feng Guifang urged.

No one stood on ceremony and started eating.

The rabbit meat is stewed until tender and melts in your mouth, with a spicy and savory flavor. The cornbread, eaten with the broth, becomes more and more fragrant with each bite.

The family ate with sweat dripping from their brows and mouths full of oil, but no one spoke; they were all focused on the delicious food in their bowls.

This sense of satisfaction from delicious food is indescribable in any language.

As Yang Ming ate slowly, watching the satisfied smiles on his family's faces, he felt a great sense of accomplishment. All he could do was make his family's life a little better, and then a little better still.

Yang Yuming patted his bulging belly and sighed contentedly, "That was so satisfying! I wish I could eat like this every day."

"Dream on," Yang Ximing said with a laugh, but a smile remained on his face.

The lunch lasted a long time, not ending until 1:30 pm. Yang Guangming, his father, and his eldest brother were all a little tipsy, their faces flushed, and they were talking more.

After finishing their meal, Cheng Shulan and Yang Qiuhong cleared away the dishes.

Yang Guangming checked the time. He had to rush back to the county town that afternoon and go to work the next day. He stood up and prepared to say goodbye to his family.

At this moment, his elder brother Yang Ximing tugged at him, gave him a wink, and whispered, "Guangming, don't rush off. I have something I'd like to discuss with you privately."

Yang Guangming glanced at his older brother and saw that he looked serious, as if he had something to say. He nodded and said, "Okay, brother, shall we go inside and talk?"

"Ah."

The two brothers went into the inner room together. Yang Ximing's drunkenness seemed to have subsided a bit, and his brows furrowed slightly, showing a hint of hesitation and urgency.

After a long pause, Yang Ximing finally spoke, "Guangming, I'd like to ask about the details of your role as a middleman in exchanging job openings."

He paused, looking at Yang Guangming: "You said you got the job by helping some old hunters sell wild boars to a pharmaceutical factory. Can others learn this method?"

Yang Guangming's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected his older brother to ask this.

He carefully observed Yang Ximing's expression. His elder brother's face held expectation, trepidation, and a suppressed, restless desire to change his circumstances.

"Big brother, what do you want?" Yang Guangming asked tentatively.

"I also want to go to the city."

Yang Ximing said bluntly, "Guangming, life in our rural area is too hard. We work ourselves to the bone all year round, but the work points we earn can't be exchanged for much food. In years of disaster, we can't even fill our stomachs."

His tone was bitter as he continued, "Your sister-in-law has never had a good day with me. She can only make a living by farming, and she will never be able to turn her life around."

Yang Guangming listened quietly. He knew his older brother was telling the truth. In the rural areas of that era, unless there were special opportunities, most people were trapped on the land their whole lives, and barely making ends meet was their greatest hope.

"I've been thinking about your idea lately. It's basically about exchanging goods for jobs. You can exchange wild boar for them, but what about other things? Domestic pigs? Sheep? Cows?"

He looked at Yang Guangming with eager eyes: "I've inquired, and it turns out that not only pharmaceutical factories, but also other large factories in our county, such as machinery factories, textile factories, and timber factories, have similar incentive policies. As long as you can provide enough agricultural and sideline products, you may be able to get a job."

Yang Guangming nodded: "That's true. I heard from people in the factory that all units are short of meat and oil right now, and they're trying every possible way to get more non-staple foods."

"That's it!" Yang Ximing was a little excited, but he suppressed his voice. "Guangming, I haven't been idle these days. I asked friends, used connections, and inquired everywhere. I actually found out some information."

He leaned closer and lowered his voice: "Fifteen miles from our village, there's a village called Willow Gully. There's a family in that village named Wang who secretly raises two pigs in the mountains."

Yang Ximing raised an eyebrow. Raising pigs privately was against policy in those days, but it wasn't uncommon for people to do it secretly; it was just very risky. If discovered, the pigs would be confiscated, and the people would be punished. Yang Ximing noticed his brother's hesitation and explained, "The Wang family's place is remote, nestled in a mountain valley, where nobody usually goes. Their family is timid, so they didn't dare make a fuss about raising pigs. Now the pigs are big enough, each weighing about 150 jin (75 kg), and it's time to sell them."

"He wants to sell?" Yang Guangming asked.

“He wanted to sell it for a high price, but his family was timid.” Yang Ximing’s tone was a little excited. “Selling it on the black market would fetch a high price, but the risk was too great; his family was afraid of being caught. Selling it to the supply and marketing cooperative’s purchasing station would not only fetch a low price, but they would also have to explain where the pig came from, which would easily expose them. So they’ve been dragging it out.”

He paused, looking at Yang Guangming: "Through a friend's introduction, I met with the Wang family. I tentatively asked if they would be willing to help if I could find a safe way to sell the pigs."

"How did he say?"

“He was tempted,” Yang Ximing said. “I told him that I could buy them at one yuan per kilogram based on gross weight. Two pigs weigh about 300 kilograms, which would be 300 yuan. This price is double what the purchasing station charges, so of course he was willing to pay.”

“The problem is…” Yang Ximing sighed, “These two pigs alone are not enough. You mentioned the pharmaceutical factory’s policy that requires two wild boars weighing over 200 jin (100 kg) as a minimum. With only 300 jin (150 kg), I’m afraid we won’t be able to get a spot.”

The sunlight was clear. The elder brother's dilemma lay here—he saw an opportunity, but didn't have enough leverage.

"Do you want to find another one?" Yang Guangming asked.

"I want to, but it's difficult." Yang Ximing shook his head. "Where can we find another pig weighing over 100 jin in a short period of time? Even if we do, are people willing to sell it? Do they dare to sell it? These are all problems."

He looked at Yang Guangming with a complicated expression: "Guangming, to be honest, I've been working during the day and can't sleep at night. This is all I can think about. This opportunity to work in the city is so rare. If I miss this chance, my life might just be like this forever. I want to give it my all!"

Yang Ximing looked at his older brother. Yang Ximing was in his prime; he was tall and strong, and an expert at farm work. But because his family was poor, he only attended primary school.

Yet this is the kind of person who possesses a determination to defy the status quo and a sharp mind.

It's quite remarkable that he was able to find out about the Wang family's pig farming, think of using this method to change jobs, and take the initiative to contact and negotiate.

Yang Guangming suddenly realized that his older brother might have more potential than he had imagined.

“Brother,” Yang Guangming said slowly, “it’s already quite remarkable that you were able to find out this news and reach an agreement with the Wang family. There are so many people in the village, and quite a few know how I found a job, but only you thought of trying this method.”

Yang Ximing smiled wryly: "I do want to, but whether I can actually get it done is another matter. Right now, I'm stuck on these two pigs, and I'm really at my wit's end."

"Brother, don't worry," Yang Guangming reassured him. "I think there's a chance. The incentive policies and requirements may vary from factory to factory. Dongfang Pharmaceutical Factory has high requirements because it's a large provincial-level factory with good benefits. Other smaller factories, like the BR County Machinery Factory, Textile Factory, and Timber Factory, might have lower requirements."

His thoughts gradually became clearer: "Two domestic pigs weighing a total of 300 jin (150 kg) are not small. After I return to the city, I will inquire about this matter for you. Maybe some factory has low requirements and will handle it directly."

If the weight is indeed insufficient, we can find other ways. Even according to the reward requirements of Dongfang Pharmaceutical Factory, it's only a hundred jin short, which isn't a significant difference.

"Really?" Hope rekindled in Yang Ximing's eyes.

"Yes." Yang Guangming nodded firmly. "Your most important task right now is to keep the Wang family in check and prevent them from selling the pigs to someone else."

“Yes, yes! That’s what I was thinking too!” Yang Ximing quickly replied. “To appease the Wang family, I asked them for a few days to raise the money, and they agreed. But I’m not sure what to do. I’m afraid they might change their minds, or someone else might offer a higher price.”

"You can pay a deposit first."

Yang Guangming suggested, "No need for much, fifty or a hundred yuan is enough to show sincerity and finalize the matter."

Even if we don't get the job quota in the end, we can still buy these two pigs and definitely find a way to dispose of them without losing money.

With the 500 yuan compensation I got back, we have enough money at home to pay a deposit, or even if we just spend 300 yuan to buy it directly.

Moving to the city for work is a big deal. Talk to Dad about it, and he'll definitely support you.

With his younger brother's words, Yang Ximing felt much more at ease.

He had hesitated before because he was worried that his money would go down the drain. Now that he thinks about it, his brother was right. Pork is a hard currency; even if he can't get a job, he can always convert it into cash and won't lose money.

“Okay! I’ll go to Liushugou again tomorrow… no, this afternoon, to give the Wang family a fifty-yuan deposit and finalize the deal!” Yang Ximing made up his mind.

The two brothers discussed some details, and then each took on a task. Yang Guangming went into the city to gather information, while Yang Ximing paid the deposit as soon as possible to appease the Wang family and prevent any unforeseen events.

Yang Guangming checked the time; it was almost two o'clock. Since he needed to find out information, he decided not to delay any longer and prepared to leave now.

"Brother, I'll be going now. Wait for my news, I'll come back and tell you as soon as I hear it."

"Okay, be careful on the road." Yang Ximing patted his younger brother's shoulder hard. "Whether it works out or not, thank you, brother."

Yang Guangming smiled, turned around, went out of the house, and grabbed a basket. He figured he'd need it next time he went home to bring things.

Seeing that he was about to leave, Feng Guifang gave him a few more words of advice: "Guangming, be careful when you go hunting in the mountains in the future. Everything is fine at home, so don't worry about home."

"Yes, Mother," Yang Guangming replied.

Yang Xiuyuan didn't speak, he just nodded.

Cheng Shulan carried Miaomiao to the door. Miaomiao stretched out her little hand and babbled. Yang Guangming touched her little face and said, "Miaomiao, be good. Your second uncle will come back to see you in a couple of days."

Yang Yuming insisted on taking him home, but Feng Guifang stopped him, saying, "You have to go to work this afternoon, don't go running around aimlessly."

Yang Ming carried a basket on his back and walked out of the courtyard. Yang Ximing followed him out, and the two brothers walked side by side toward the village entrance.

The village was quiet in the afternoon; most people were still resting at home, preparing for work. Occasionally, villagers would see them and nod as a greeting.

The two brothers stopped by the roadside. In the distance were open fields, and further still, the rolling western mountains. The early spring breeze carried the scent of earth and vegetation.

"Brother, let's go back. You still need to go to the Wang family to pay the deposit this afternoon," Yang Guangming said, stopping in his tracks.

“Okay.” Yang Ximing nodded, hesitated for a moment, and then said, “Guangming, if it’s too difficult, then forget it. I’m just giving it a try, and if it doesn’t work, I’ll give up.”

Yang Guangming looked at his elder brother and said earnestly, "Brother, we are family. I will do my best in this matter. Just wait for news."

Yang Ximing patted his younger brother's shoulder heavily, then said nothing more. Some things don't need to be said between brothers.

Yang Guangming slung his basket over his shoulder, waved to his older brother, and turned to walk onto the dirt road leading to the county town.

Yang Ximing stood at the village entrance, watching his younger brother's figure gradually disappear into the distance, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

This second brother, who once caused him so much worry, has now become the family's hope. Not only has he moved to the city and become a cadre, but he is also trying his best to help his older brother get out as well.

He secretly made up his mind: no matter how difficult it is, he must get this done. He couldn't let his younger brother down, and he couldn't let this opportunity slip by.

Only after Yang Ximing's figure disappeared at the end of the road did he turn back to the village. (End of Chapter)