Having spent seven or eight years in the military, he must be a capable young man. Tang Lin couldn’t help but feel curious about this fellow’s situation.
“Elder sister, how old is your son? What’s his current rank? Why hasn’t he been in a relationship all these years? Could it be that your son’s standards are too high?”
The elderly woman waved her hand helplessly. “How could we dare to have high standards? There are no girls in their unit, and when he comes back for matchmaking, he never meets anyone suitable. Plus, they get very little leave each year.”
“So it gets delayed year after year. Just thinking about this worries me to death.”
He’s actually not that old – twenty-seven this year according to traditional reckoning. Currently, I’ve heard he’s a platoon leader in the military.”
Tang Lin nodded and quickly changed the subject. As everyone chatted about daily life, the afternoon passed quite quickly.
Leng Hui remained leaning against the bed without speaking the entire time. When sitting became tiring, she stood by the window to look at the scenery outside.
Based on her understanding of Comrade Tang Lin, she wasn’t interested in this candidate. She had heard that the minimum rank for military dependents to accompany service members was battalion commander. Additionally, since they’d have to do farm work in the countryside, just this alone meant the elderly woman’s son wasn’t within Tang Lin’s consideration.
The next day, Leng Hui helped Tang Lin get up and wash, then went to the cafeteria to get breakfast.
After the two finished breakfast, it was confirmed that Tang Lin’s treatment for the day would be the same as yesterday. Moreover, Tang Lin could now move freely as long as she didn’t make any large movements.
For the first time in many days, Leng Hui left the hospital again.
Leng Yongkang rode his bicycle to the factory gate and saw from afar that Leng Hui, who should have been at the hospital, was blocking the entrance again.
“Why are you at the factory again today instead of taking care of your mother at the hospital? If you’re here to ask me for money or ration coupons, I don’t have any.”
“I already advanced this month’s salary last time, and next month hasn’t come yet.”
Hearing this, Leng Hui couldn’t help but feel exasperated. “I’m not here to ask for money. Now that you’re at the factory, give me the bicycle. I need to use it today.”
“Where are you planning to ride the bicycle?”
Leng Yongkang really didn’t want to give up the bicycle from the bottom of his heart. He hadn’t forgotten how the mother and daughter had ridden the bicycle down a steep slope last time.
The front wheel rim had been deformed, and it had ultimately required replacing the entire rim to repair it.
“With spring blossoms everywhere, I plan to ride to the outskirts to gather some wild vegetables.”
Spring blossoms everywhere – in the agricultural era, this also meant the spring hunger period.
During this season, the winter wheat in the fields hadn’t yet ripened, while the grain stored at home was nearly exhausted – the classic spring shortage.
Wild vegetables from the fields became the life-saving food that could fill stomachs during this season.
When Leng Yongkang heard she was going to gather wild vegetables, however reluctantly, he had to give her the bicycle. He had originally intended to give some warnings.
But before he knew it, she had already ridden some distance away with the bicycle.
In the post-apocalyptic world, radiation-free wild vegetables were extremely precious, available on the market but priceless.
Having been here for so many days, the reason she wanted to gather wild vegetables today was because during yesterday’s conversation with the elderly woman, Leng Hui had heard them mention a type of Shu Qu Grass.
Shu Qu Grass, because its optimal harvesting time is around Qingming Festival, is also called Qingming Grass or Qingming Vegetable in some places.
Hearing them say yesterday that Shu Qu Grass could be used to make Qingming Dumplings and Qingming Meat Ba Zi, Leng Hui had to admit her mouth was watering.
She had previously pried open Old Lady Leng’s ‘treasure chest’ and seen that she had several pounds of rice flour inside, which would be perfect to make with Shu Qu Grass to satisfy her cravings.
“Leng Hui, Leng Hui!”
Jiang Jingtao pedaled his bicycle, huffing and puffing as he caught up. “Wait for me! Are you riding so fast because you’re in a hurry to be reborn?”
Leng Hui glanced back at his breathless state and said disdainfully, “So your lack of stamina is my fault now?”
“…” Jiang Jingtao choked on his words, defending himself indignantly, “I saw you zip past my house in a flash, so I chased after you on my bike. Besides, I just rode up a slope. If it weren’t for my good physical condition, I might have collapsed from exhaustion on that uphill stretch.”
“Hey, Leng Hui, where are you headed?”
“Ran out of food at home. Going to forage for some wild vegetables to eat,” Leng Hui fabricated casually.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Jingtao took her seriously. “Now that you mention it, your family has had a pretty unlucky month, with people getting injured and hospitalized one after another.”
Leng Hui ignored him. Spotting a large puddle ahead, she steadied her handlebars and smoothly maneuvered around it.
Jiang Jingtao, following behind, fumbled nervously, his handlebars wobbling wildly several times before he regained control.
“The road out of town is terrible. These huge potholes are all ruined by trucks. Leng Hui, Leng Hui, can you slow down a bit? If you’re going to forage for wild vegetables, what are you going to carry them in later?”
With a sharp “screech,” Leng Hui braked abruptly.
Planting her feet on the ground, she realized—thanks to his reminder—that she had forgotten to bring a basket. She did have her space, but with Jiang Jingtao tagging along, it wasn’t convenient to use it.
Seeing her sudden stop, Jiang Jingtao scrambled again before managing to halt his bicycle. “I mean, couldn’t you give a warning before stopping? What a bad habit!”
Leng Hui looked at him, annoyed. “I forgot to bring a basket.”
“Ha! I knew you forgot. I saw nothing tied to your bike earlier,” Jiang Jingtao said triumphantly, as if he had finally scored a point.
Leng Hui smacked her forehead in frustration and suggested, “How about you go back and fetch a basket, then come again?”
“…Going back would take too much time.” Having ridden such a long way to catch up with Leng Hui, Jiang Jingtao was reluctant to turn back for a basket. But without one, how would they carry the foraged greens?
Meeting Leng Hui’s teasing gaze, he knew she was deliberately messing with him. However…
“Tell me exactly where you’re going to forage, and I’ll go back for the basket and meet you there.”
Leng Hui gave a general location—just follow this road straight ahead.
Shu Qu Grass was easy to identify, with its slightly white fuzz standing out distinctly among the green fields.
Leng Hui first gathered some and stored them in her space, then piled the rest she picked on the ridge.
By the time Jiang Jingtao arrived with the basket, Leng Hui had already collected a lot, forming a small heap on the ridge. Once packed into the basket, it was nearly full.
Pressing down the Shu Qu Grass in the basket, the two foraged a bit more before cycling back.
“My mom heard I was coming with you to gather Qingming Vegetable. She’s preparing at home in advance to make Qingming Jiao Ba for lunch and asked me to invite you to eat at our place.”
“Thanks, but no. Cooking is quite a hassle, and besides, I need to go back to the hospital to take care of my mom.”
Unaccustomed to visiting others’ homes, Leng Hui politely declined his invitation.
“Qingming Jiao Ba is only eaten once or twice a year. My mom prepared two types of fillings—preserved meat filling and egg filling. Are you sure you don’t want any? My favorite is the preserved meat filling. With one bite, not only do you taste the savory flavor of the preserved meat, but the Jiao Ba also sizzles with oil.”
Leng Hui swallowed, feeling annoyed. How dare he tempt her with such delicious food.
If she returned to the Leng Family, given Old Lady Leng’s stinginess, she might not be willing to use her treasured rice flour to make snacks.
Maybe she should just go to Jiang Jingtao’s house for lunch today?