Su Xiaoruan’s supermarket had plenty of milk, various brands, and each brand had several tiers of high-end and low-end varieties. Just the milk alone would be enough for their whole family to drink for several years.
After Grandma Su finished drinking the milk, she brought up the matter of ordering milk for themselves.
“That Benefactor is grateful to Ruan Bao and is willing to send our family milk, but we can’t be too greedy. So, I plan to order half a jin from the Hongxing Brigade, delivered every other day. That way, when the milky fragrance spreads from our house, no one will spread any gossip.”
Su Jianye felt it was unnecessary, but seeing how thin his sons looked, he couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.
Forget it, let’s order it. It’s only half a jin every two days, it won't cost much money anyway.
And just like that, the milk from Su Xiaoruan’s supermarket was given a legitimate explanation.
She also knew that her Parents and Sister Yingzi were reluctant to drink milk, feeling that such a thing was too precious.
Su Xiaoruan then thought that she might as well make Milk Porridge or milk steamed buns in the future; they would be delicious and provide nutrition.
After dinner, only Grandma and Su Xiaoruan were left in the Su Family home.
“Grandma, the brothers are only resting for one day, and they still have homework. They still have to go earn Work Points; it’s too hard on them.”
“It’s not hard. How else could our family build this new Green Brick house?”
Grandma Su was sewing a shoe sole, using a needle to push back the hair on her scalp, and said, “Ruan Bao, you must remember that if you want a good life, you cannot be lazy. Besides, given the current situation, if our family doesn't work desperately to earn Work Points, who knows how many people are watching us.”
Su Xiaoruan thought that was true.
Only if everyone in their family worked, coupled with the help from Eldest Uncle and Second Uncle, could their life be prosperous enough to stop others from gossiping.
The Su Family currently lived in a four-room Adobe house, and the new house was built right next door—a six-room Green Brick house—which made the entire Commune envious.
It was fortunate that they had the money sent back by Eldest Uncle, combined with their family’s frugality; otherwise, how could they have had the Financial strength?
Six Green Brick rooms sounded like a lot, but what about in reality?
Besides Grandma and the Parents, there were three Young men; they would all need to marry a Wife in the future, so just these six rooms wouldn't be enough to live in.
“Grandma, when will we build the Courtyard wall?”
“No rush, one step at a time. If someone asks, just say we need to save money to buy more bricks.”
Su Xiaoruan stopped talking. Having money but not being able to spend it freely, having to weigh everything carefully, was truly stifling.
After feeding the Chickens and Ducks, she put on her Bamboo basket and headed up the mountain.
She had to try again, to see if her Luck had returned?
She didn't dare go deep into the mountains; it was too dangerous. There were Wild Boars, Wolf packs, and supposedly Tigers too, though no one had ever seen one.
Su Xiaoruan walked intermittently along the path. At first, she occasionally ran into a few Children Digging Wild Vegetables, but as she walked further, she encountered no one else.
Su Xiaoruan dug up quite a few Mushrooms, and then thought about seeing if she could find any treasures, such as Ginseng or Lingzhi; those things were worth a lot of money.
What she thought of, came true!
“Ah!”
Su Xiaoruan let out a small cry, then quickly put down her Bamboo basket, took out the small shovel inside, and began digging slowly.
Perhaps she was so focused on digging that she didn't notice a small Wild Boar approaching her.
It wasn't until she heard an animal’s snorting sound that she realized she was in danger.
Su Xiaoruan felt her neck stiffen and her back tingle. She slowly turned her neck to look over.
Sweat!
It was actually a small Wild Boar.
Even though it was a small Wild Boar, judging by its size, it must have weighed eighty or ninety jin. It wasn't something a little girl with thin arms and legs like her could handle.
Su Xiaoruan’s first reaction was to climb a tree.
But before she could stand up, the Wild Boar charged toward her front left.
Only then did Su Xiaoruan see that besides herself, there was a second person present.
Moreover, if she guessed correctly, the reason the Wild Boar had made that aggressive snorting sound was likely because it had already clashed with that person first.
However, looking at where the small Wild Boar was positioned just now, it seemed to have spotted her first, and then been attacked by someone else.
Before Su Xiaoruan could figure it out, she smelled a scent of blood.
When she looked again, Huo Yunting had actually slit the Wild Boar’s throat.
Su Xiaoruan was startled; that smell of blood could easily attract other fierce beasts.
Ignoring everything else, she quickly dug out the Ginseng in three quick moves.
It was already mostly dug up, but she had been slow because she was concerned about the roots.
After digging it all out, Su Xiaoruan found that this Ginseng wasn't very thick, and it wasn't very old, probably only about sixty or seventy years.
She finally managed to dig it out completely intact and carefully placed it in her Bamboo basket. When she tried to stand up, she realized her legs were numb.
Leaning against the tree trunk, she was in a half-squatting position—as awkward as one could possibly be.
Huo Yunting hadn't expected to run into her here either.
It was also fortunate that he had arrived; otherwise, that Wild Boar would surely have injured the little girl quite badly.
“Are you alright?”
Su Xiaoruan shook her head, her face flushed, “No, I just squatted for too long, my legs are a bit numb.”
Huo Yunting helped her stand up slowly, then gestured for her to follow him through a few movements.
“Is it better now?”
Su Xiaoruan nodded, “Yes, much better, thank you.”
“We can’t stay here long; hurry down the mountain.”
“What about this?”
The Wild Boar was large Prey. If she carried it down the mountain openly, she couldn't expect to eat much of the meat.
That counted as public property of the Production Brigade.
“Don’t worry, I’ll hide it first, and then I’ll bring it down the mountain after dark.”
Su Xiaoruan knew he had selfish motives too, so she nodded, “Okay, hurry up then. A Wolf pack might come soon.”
Huo Yunting quickly covered up the bloodstains and led Su Xiaoruan down the mountain.
As for the Wild Boar, on their way down the mountain, Huo Yunting hid it in a hollow dead tree, even creating a layer of camouflage on the outside.
Su Xiaoruan glanced at it; his movements were quite practiced.
Huo Yunting seemed to be explaining, “My father and Younger siblings at home often don't get enough to eat, so we often hunt things on the mountain. Sometimes it’s hard to bring back, so we hide it directly.”
Su Xiaoruan suddenly understood. Perhaps Huo Yunting wasn't truly Unlucky; it was just that in order for his family to have enough to eat, he had to hide things, making others think he was naturally cursed with bad luck.
If that was the case, then Huo Yunting was actually quite a devoted member of his family.