After dinner, Zhang Huimei handed Lu Ping’an an apple and said with a smile, “Ping’an, have a taste. These just arrived at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative—the first batch of the year!”
“If my sister hadn’t saved a few for me, I wouldn’t have been able to get any!”
Lu Ping’an’s eyes lit up as he took the apple. “Thank you, Second Aunt!”
What he cared about wasn’t the apple itself—but the seeds.
He had plenty of land in his space, but lacked seeds. With these apple seeds, he could grow apple trees too!
Zhang Huimei smiled. “You child, why are you being so polite with your aunt?”
After speaking, she glanced around. Seeing that Li Jianguo wasn’t nearby, she lowered her voice.
“Ping’an, tell Second Aunt honestly—did you actually catch those fish?”
“With your uncle’s skill level, there’s no way he could’ve caught fish that big—and three of them at that!”
Lu Ping’an was startled inwardly and forced a bitter smile. Since she’d already guessed, why ask? How was he supposed to answer?
Zhang Huimei stared at him and laughed. “Alright, no need to answer. I just wanted confirmation.”
“I won’t make it difficult for you. Your expression already told me the answer.”
“Let your uncle show off for a few days. When I have time, I’ll make him take me fishing too!”
Lu Ping’an couldn’t help but laugh, silently observing a second of silence for his uncle.
After she left, he began eating the apple carefully, collecting the seeds—nine in total.
He slept alone in a separate room. After closing the door, he flashed into the Spirit Spring space.
Planting the nine seeds and watering them with Spirit Spring water, tender sprouts instantly broke through the soil!
Looking at the corn, mung beans, red beans, and potatoes that were nearly mature, his eyes shone brightly.
He checked on the fish in the river as well. After yesterday’s harvest, the total number in his space had likely reached seven to eight hundred.
The largest weighed over twenty jin—and in another day or two, they would grow even bigger.
Although he had already bathed earlier, he stripped and soaked in the Spirit Spring again.
The moment he entered, he felt every pore in his body open. A special energy flowed into him, continuously improving his physique.
Black impurities oozed from his skin from time to time, only to be washed away by the spring water.
After soaking for about an hour, he stepped out and found his skin as tender as a baby’s.
Chuckling, he left the space and lay down to sleep.
At dawn the next morning, Lu Ping’an woke up and immediately entered the Spirit Spring space.
The apple saplings had already grown as tall as he was—thriving vigorously.
He harvested the corn, mung beans, red beans, and potatoes, then replanted them, expanding the cultivated area dozens of times.
This batch would ripen by tomorrow night. After that, he would officially have grain reserves stored in his space.
He walked up to the stone stele and tapped the sign-in option.
【Ding! Sign-in successful. Reward: Master-level Sichuan cuisine skills from the future. Automatically integrating!】
The moment the voice ended, a flood of information poured into his mind—like a lifetime of research and mastery of Sichuan cuisine.
“What the hell, this can be a reward too?”
Lu Ping’an was stunned.
He hadn’t expected such a reward from signing in.
Still, he loved Sichuan cuisine. It contained many classic dishes!
Though surprised, he felt this reward was better than even a hundred jin of pork.
He drank a large cup of Spirit Spring water and left the space.
After getting up, he found both his uncle and aunt awake—they worked at the same factory.
“Ping’an, up so early? I’ve already put the fishing rod on the table,” Li Jianguo said with a smile.
Zhang Huimei added, “Ping’an, I boiled three eggs. Eat two and leave one for Lingyi.”
“Your uncle and I won’t be back for lunch—we’ll eat at the factory.”
“In the evening, I’ll come back after work and cook.”
“Take this one yuan and buy something outside for lunch.”
She handed him a yuan.
Lu Ping’an quickly waved his hands. “Second Aunt, I have money. You don’t need to give me any!”
Li Jianguo laughed. “Your money is yours. If your aunt gives you some, just take it.”
After hesitating, Lu Ping’an accepted it. “Thank you, Second Aunt.”
Zhang Huimei smiled. “We’re family—no need to be so polite.”
“We’re heading to work. Be careful when fishing—don’t fall into the lake!”
With that, the couple left. They didn’t eat breakfast—like most people in those days.
Food was tight, and many families ate only two meals a day. Only those doing heavy labor might eat a little in the morning.
After washing up, Lu Ping’an went straight to the state-run restaurant and bought ten meat buns, which required food coupons.
Each bun cost only twenty cents, stuffed generously with pork. He ate five in one go before finally feeling full.
Returning to the courtyard, he happened to run into little Dong Jing.
He took out two meat buns and held them out to her.
Dong Jing waved her hands frantically, not daring to accept them—though she couldn’t stop herself from swallowing.
“Take them.”
Lu Ping’an put on a stern expression.
Startled, Dong Jing quickly accepted the buns.
He grinned and walked toward his uncle’s house.
Dong Jing watched his back deeply before running home. Soon, the voices of Grandpa Dong and Grandma Dong could be heard.
“Granddaughter, where did these meat buns come from?” Grandma Dong asked in shock.
Dong Jing replied, “The big brother with the fish bucket yesterday gave them to me!”
Grandpa Dong immediately thought of the tall, thin figure—Little Li’s nephew.
“Old man, what do we do now?” Grandma Dong asked.
Grandpa Dong sighed. “Jing girl, eat them. If he gave them to you, he won’t take them back.”
“Little Li’s family are all good people. We owe them more and more.”
Grandma Dong fell silent.
“Grandpa, Grandma, I can’t finish this much. You eat too.”
Though she swallowed again, Dong Jing didn’t eat immediately. She handed one bun to her grandmother.
“Child, you eat. Grandma isn’t hungry.”
Dong Jing shook her head and held the bun up high.
“Old woman, eat. Let’s split one. Otherwise Jing girl won’t eat either,” Grandpa Dong said.
Only then did Grandma Dong accept it, looking at her granddaughter with doting eyes.
The two elders struggled to survive, but as long as they were there, the little girl still had a home.
Seeing her grandparents eating the meat bun, Dong Jing finally smiled happily and sat down to savor the delicious bun herself.
So fragrant!!!