Reborn in the 1980s: Nine Stunning Beauties Get Pregnant Before Marriage

Lin Xiulian plated the stir-fried wild boar meat and served it on the table. "You've been busy all night, come and taste it!"

Chen Yongqiang put down his work, went into the kitchen, and took the chopsticks.

He picked up a piece of meat that looked and smelled delicious and put it in his mouth: "It's cooked just right, you should eat it while it's hot too."

This stir-fried wild boar meat dish features chili peppers that perfectly bring out the natural flavor of the meat, while the addition of white wine removes any gamey smell.

Lin Xiulian also took a bite, and her eyes immediately lit up: "This meat is so delicious!"

She couldn't resist picking up several more pieces, her cheeks bulging. "I've never eaten such chewy meat before."

Seeing her greedy look, Chen Yongqiang smiled and picked up another piece of meat with his chopsticks: "Freshly killed wild game is naturally different."

Every bite was unforgettable. Lin Xiulian was so engrossed in eating that she couldn't even speak, feeling that this was the most unforgettable taste she had ever experienced in her life.

Chen Yongqiang ate a few more bites, then put down his chopsticks: "I'm going to take a nap. I have to rush to the early market to sell meat when it's light."

He walked to the corner of the yard and pointed to the sliced ​​meat strips in the wooden basin: "Keep these for ourselves. You can marinate them carefully with coarse salt."

Lin Xiulian was clearing away the dishes when she heard this and replied, "I know, you can rest now."

She took coarse salt from the kitchen and rubbed it evenly on each piece of meat. Refrigerators were a luxury in those days and were not yet common.

This is a method passed down from our elders; meat cured this way can be stored for a long time.

Chen Yongqiang had only been asleep for less than two hours when dawn broke.

Wild boar meat must be sold fresh at the early market; only when the money is in your pocket will you feel at ease.

He packed the cut pieces of meat into a bamboo basket, and wrapped the wild boar stomach separately in banana leaves and placed it on top.

As he approached the kitchen door, he saw Lin Xiulian still busy tidying up in front of the stove. He greeted her, "I'm going to the market. You should rest as soon as you're done."

Lin Xiulian turned her head upon hearing the voice, "Okay, are you coming back for lunch?"

"I'm not sure. If he's not back by noon, don't wait for me." Chen Yongqiang didn't go to town; instead, he set up his stall under the big banyan tree at the village entrance.

He took a wooden chopping board from the bamboo basket and hung the old-fashioned iron scale with stars on the hemp rope that had been stretched out beforehand.

Finally, he deliberately placed the wild boar's head at the very front of the cutting board.

Selling wild boar meat to the villagers would save them the trouble of going to town. Besides, the forest protection team has just been established, and we need to let the villagers see the results of hunting wild boars with their own eyes.

Before long, old men carrying hoes, preparing to go to the fields, and old women carrying vegetable baskets, preparing to go to their own vegetable gardens, passed by under the banyan tree in twos and threes.

"Yongqiang, is this... a wild boar?" The gray-haired old man, Fugen, was the first to stop and pointed at the pig's head with his pipe.

"Uncle Fugen, you have a good eye!" Chen Yongqiang replied with a smile.

"Just caught it last night, genuine wild game."

This shout immediately attracted more early-rising villagers to gather around.

"Wow, Yongqiang, that's incredible! Such a big guy!"

Some impatient people had already started picking through the selections, but soon someone noticed a problem.

Aunt Li pinched the dark red chunk of meat: "It's all lean meat, not a bit of fat. If it were a domestic pig, this hindquarters would be full of fat."

Chen Yongqiang explained with a smile, "Auntie, wild boars roam all over the mountains, eating only grass roots and mountain produce, so where would they get fat? But the meat is firm. Look at this plum blossom meat, I'll give it to you for five cents a pound."

Although the meat was a bit thin, it was a rare delicacy and the price was reasonable.

Soon, a customer who wasn't picky opened a shop: "Give me two pounds of ribs, so I can take them home and let my kids try something new."

"Alright!" Chen Yongqiang cut off a piece of meat, lifted the scale high, wrapped the meat in a lotus leaf, and handed it to the villager.

Just then, Old Wang came over carrying a half-basket of eggs: "Yongqiang, how about we trade these for half a pound of meat?"

Upon seeing the eggs, Chen Yongqiang remembered his promise to Lin Xiulian to catch chicks, which he needed to hatch. He readily agreed, "How about I cut off a pound and a half of good meat for these eggs?"

"That's great!" Old Wang agreed.

Just as the two were exchanging goods, a loud voice interrupted: "So lively?"

The newcomer was none other than village chief Yang Dahai. He pushed through the crowd to the chopping board, examining the wild boar's head: "Yongqiang, well done! These pests that are ruining the crops should have been dealt with long ago! Your forest ranger team has made a good start and done a great service to the village!"

Chen Yongqiang achieved his goal: "Village chief, you flatter me. This is all I should do."

Seeing that Yang Dahai was in a good mood, he changed the subject, pointing to the wild boar's head and saying, "Village chief, this boar's head weighs at least ten pounds. If you like it, give me five yuan and you can take it!"

Yang Dahai glanced at the enormous pig's head; it was indeed something to make a show of things.

He thought for a moment, then took out five yuan from his pocket and stuffed it into Chen Yongqiang's hand: "Okay, I'll take this pig's head. Consider it the first bit of income the village has given to support your forest ranger team. Keep up the good work!"

"Thank you for your support, village chief!" Chen Yongqiang accepted the money, which was his biggest income of the day.

With the village chief taking the lead, the villagers became even more enthusiastic, exchanging meat and buying it with their own money, making the scene even more lively.

Just as Chen Yongqiang was busy weighing meat and calculating money for the villagers, the sound of a bicycle bell came from afar.

He Jun, a cook at a restaurant in town, stopped his bicycle outside the crowd.

He parked his bike, squeezed in, and felt a pang of jealousy when he saw the wild boar meat on the cutting board.

He Jun congratulated him, "Yongqiang, you're amazing! You pulled off a big one without making a sound!"

"This meat looks good; I'll take the rest!"

He was very shrewd and knew that wild boar meat was a rare commodity in the town's restaurants, and its price could double after a single resale. In particular, the wild boar's stomach was so rare that it was practically priceless to the discerning diner.

Chen Yongqiang replied casually, "Why are you buying so much meat?"

He still remembered arguing with He Jun over land boundaries in the past, and was reluctant to give up this benefit to his rival.

Seeing his attitude, He Jun was somewhat displeased, but he still forced a smile: "Look at what you're saying. I know some people in town who are giving these away as gifts. As for the rest, I'll buy them all at the price you sold them for, so you won't lose out!"

He specifically emphasized, "Including that pig's belly."

"I can give you some of the meat, but I won't sell the pig's stomach; it's for another purpose," Chen Yongqiang replied indifferently.

He Jun immediately became anxious upon hearing this, because wild boar stomach was the main source of profit.

"Yongqiang, don't be so stubborn. The price is negotiable. Director Li in town really likes this kind of thing. If you sell it to me, I'll owe you a favor!"

"I said I'm not selling. Do you want this leg? If not, I'll give it to Aunt Zhang who's in line behind you," Chen Yongqiang asked.

Seeing the stares from the surrounding villagers, He Jun decided against arguing any further: "Yes! Of course I want it! Weigh it for me!"

He was seething with anger; Chen Yongqiang was like a rock in a latrine, both smelly and stubborn.