Chapter 173: New Year and the Miraculous Effects of Quick-Acting Heart-Saving Pills
A few days before the Chinese New Year every year.

Every household would buy a few pounds of pork fat to make lard.

In the capital city, an average family can make three to five kilograms of lard, which, combined with the monthly allowance of vegetable oil, is barely enough for a whole year.

This year is an exception.

Because, after saving up meat coupons for several months, I only had enough to buy two kilograms. When I went to the vegetable market or grocery store, I couldn't get any fat meat or even fresh pork if I was too late.

This made people who had been looking forward to it for several months look extremely disappointed and depressed.

Middle Court.

Wang Mengde's home.

He Shengnan was happily boiling pork fat in the corner of the living room.

In the pot, neatly cut pieces of pork fat were bouncing up and down like a naughty child.

Soon, the fragrance drifted into the yard through the crack of the door.

Fortunately, many residents in the courtyard were also making lard or frying things, so it didn't seem particularly special.

"Meng De, is Meng De at home?"

Leaning close to the door and taking several deep breaths of the fragrance, Yan Bugui put away his expression of enjoyment and shouted towards the house.

At the same time, he muttered to himself that after passing several doors, the fragrance in front of Wang Mengde's house was the strongest. It seemed that a lot of pork fat was cooked today.

"Second uncle, come in and sit down."

Wang Mengde opened the door, saw that it was him, and said with a smile.

After entering the living room, Wang Mengde poured Yan Bugui another glass of boiled water. As for tea leaves, he was reluctant to leave it out.

Since the 1960s, tea has basically disappeared from the market. According to Aunt Cao from the neighborhood committee, the country is preparing to provide residents with one or two taels of tea per household during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day by going to supply and marketing cooperatives or stores with the "Beijing City Residents' Non-staple Food Purchase Certificate."

Moreover, this tea is of the lowest grade, high-broken or "big tree leaves".

Single men who have a formal "collective household registration" in enterprises or institutions can use their "personal purchase certificate" to obtain two cents per person during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day.

Yes, that’s right, it’s the weight of two coins, or ten grams.

Therefore, even though he could often get tea from Mr. Pu and Dean Lu, he would not give it to outsiders to drink.

It was just me and my father Wang Hao. We would secretly drink some at home and occasionally give one or two ounces to my father-in-law.

Just like that, when He Guangyao saw the tea leaves he sent, he was so happy that he could not help but smile. He happily pinched a small handful to make a pot of tea and drank it all day long. He carefully asked Zhou Xiaoyan to keep the rest for him.

"Second uncle, what do you want to talk to me about?"

Seeing Yan Bugui holding the enamel pot and looking into the pot, Wang Mengde asked curiously.

"Haha, Meng De, you are really capable. You can actually bring back such a large piece of pork fat this year.

I went to the grocery store at midnight yesterday and lined up. I was the third person to buy, but I only got half fat and half lean pork belly, which is far inferior to your all-fat one."

Yan Bugui said with envy.

Due to various reasons in the past two years, the number of pigs slaughtered this winter has dropped sharply. Coupled with food shortages, every family's demand for nutrition has increased a lot.

Therefore, ordinary people can no longer buy pork fat or fatty pork like in previous years.

The fat on the pork shipped in from the vegetable markets and grocery stores has already been left by others.

"Uncle, I am also a patient. He is the leader of the meat processing plant. He left it for me to thank me for curing his illness.

Of course, I paid what I owed, and this is not taking advantage of the country."

Wang Mengde explained.

Nowadays, this kind of behavior of buying good pork through backdoors is common. Many people use connections and relatives to buy the pork they like. It has become a social phenomenon.

As long as you pay the money and the meat coupons, there will be no problem.

This kind of meat that is reserved in advance is commonly known as "back door meat".

So he is not afraid of being known by others.

"Wow, you even know the leader of the meat processing plant. It will be convenient for you to buy good pork in the future."

Yan Bugui was so envious that his whole body was about to break.

As soon as he took a look into the pot, he roughly estimated that the pork fat weighed at least five pounds and could produce three or four pounds of lard.

In fact, his estimate was almost the same. What Wang Mengde brought back was exactly five kilograms.

Of course, he also secretly sent four pounds of fat pork to his father-in-law's house.

Zhou Xiaoyan, who was originally very worried, immediately looked relieved.

I secretly felt lucky that my daughter had good taste and found a really good son-in-law.

Now, if we use it sparingly and add some cooking oil, our nutritional needs for the year will be guaranteed.

He didn't care where his son-in-law bought it from or whether he used meat coupons.

At the same time, I also told the adults and children in the family not to tell anyone about this.

When boiling lard, it is done right before bedtime to prevent anyone from coming and noticing.

"Haha, I don't usually ask him for help, but during Chinese New Year, when I need to buy more meat, I ask him for help."

"It's already very good to be able to help buy fatty meat during the Chinese New Year."

Yan Bugui pushed up the frame of his glasses and said.

"Besides, your family still has two portions of high-brain oil, so the amount of high-brain oil is still one and a half kilograms per month."

All along, the Wang family’s statement to the outside world has never revealed that there are three high-brain oil subsidies, and they have always said that there are only two high-brain oil subsidies.

"Haha, this hasn't been reduced. The monthly quota is still one and a half kilograms."

Wang Mengde said with a smile.

He sensed that Yan Bugui was probably plotting against his high brain oil.

At the beginning of this year, the ration of cooking oil was changed from one kilogram per person per month last year to a supply based on formal Beijing household registration.

Each person is issued an oil ticket every month, with which he can buy three taels of cooking oil.

The main varieties are soybean oil and sanitary oil.

Hygienic oil is cottonseed oil.

Peanut oil is rarely seen on the market and is basically unavailable.

Only during the festive season of the Spring Festival are small quantities released into the market.

These have basically been intercepted in advance by people with connections, and ordinary people can't even see them.

As for sesame oil, during the Spring Festival, each household is given an extra "festival subsidy oil ticket", with which one can buy one or two taels of sesame oil.

After the implementation of this policy, every household was greatly affected.

If you eat less cooking oil, your stomach will not get enough nutrition and your appetite will become very large.

The food, which was already insufficient, was being consumed at a rapid rate, which was adding insult to injury.

really.

Hearing that the dosage of high-brain oil had not been reduced, Yan Bugui's eyes lit up, and he said a little embarrassedly: "Meng De, you also know that we have many children in our family, and they are in the period of growth.

I didn’t buy good pork this year, and I can only make one pound of lard at most. Also, the national policy has reduced the ration of edible oil by more than half.

this..."

He rubbed his hands, gritted his teeth, made up his mind, and said directly:

"Meng De, can you spare me a few taels every month? Second Master will definitely not take it for nothing. Put it on the account first. After the New Year and the beginning of spring, I will go fishing to pay it off."

After saying that, he stared at Wang Mengde closely.

The sound of his abacus making ping-pong sounds.

The difference between getting something for nothing is that there is an extra, time-consuming fishing process.

"Second uncle, you know that everyone's ration has been reduced this year, although our family has an additional three kilograms of food each month.

But there are many children in my family, and I have to support my father-in-law's family with half of my income, so I really don't have any extra to give to you."

Wang Mengde said with an embarrassed look on his face.

He knew Yan Bugui's plan very well. Not only did he not have any extra money, but even if he did, he would not give any to him.

Seeing his refusal, a look of disappointment flashed across Yan Bugui's face.

Then he smiled and said, "Meng De, if you don't have any extra, forget it." After chatting for a few sentences, he found an excuse to go back.

After he left, He Shengnan finished cooking the lard. She took out a small half of the lard residue and divided it into four portions, placed them on a plate, and sprinkled some fine salt on them.

The four children, who had been circling around the pot eagerly for a long time, were not afraid of burning their mouths. Each of them took chopsticks and carefully put the food into their mouths.

"Meng De, you try it too."

He Shengnan picked up a piece and said to Wang Mengde.

Once the lard residue enters your mouth and you chew it a few times, it will immediately become fragrant and crispy.

Seeing him eat it, He Shengnan couldn't wait to eat a piece, squinting her eyes while eating.

After the lard in the pot has cooled, carefully put it in a ceramic jar and put it in a safe place.

I was just about to make dinner when I noticed that there was not much salt left at home.

Thinking about starting to prepare a large number of steamed buns, I also need alkaline noodles.

He Shengnan said softly:
"Meng De, go to the grocery store and buy a pound of salt and half an ounce of alkaline noodles. Oh, bring a glass bottle and buy a ounce of sesame paste."

"Okay, I'll go then."

Wearing a cotton coat, a hat, a scarf and gloves, Wang Mengde picked up a glass bottle and prepared to go out.

"Wait a minute, I didn't bring the food supplement book. If you don't bring this now, you won't be able to buy salt, alkaline noodles, and sesame paste."

Seeing him leaving like this, He Shengnan hurriedly stopped him and took out the "Beijing City Residents' Non-staple Food Purchase Certificate" from the bedroom cabinet.

This thing is as important as food grain book and food grain coupons.

It is no exaggeration to say that it is the lifeline of a family.

Many goods, especially food, require this to be purchased.

Arrived at the grocery store.

Fatty Guo had already gone home from get off work.

"Give me a pound of salt, an ounce of alkaline noodles, and two ounces of sesame paste."

Wang Mengde said to a familiar waiter.

Then he handed the glass bottle and the pantry book to the counter.

"Doctor Wang, this is one pound of salt. According to policy, you can only buy half an ounce of alkaline noodles and one ounce of sesame paste."

The waiter said in a low voice with a smile on his face.

If it were an ordinary person, he would have been scolded for randomly stating the purchase quantity.

That is Doctor Wang, who not only has a good relationship with Fatty Guo, but also everyone in the neighborhood knows that Wang Mengde has superb medical skills.

If people eat grains, they will inevitably get sick, and they might fall into his hands one day.

Therefore, he didn't dare to get angry. On the contrary, he had to speak carefully.

"Okay, then buy according to the prescribed quantity."

Wang Mengde said kindly.

New Year’s Eve.

The whole family sat around the dining table in the living room.

Even Yaya stared with big eyes, lying in He Shengnan's arms, looking left and right.

There were six plates and basins on the dining table.

This year's New Year's Eve dinner has two fewer dishes than last year.

In terms of quality, there has been no decline, and there are still chicken, fish, meat and eggs.

It’s different for other families.

The quality of their New Year's Eve dinner has obviously declined a lot.

"Come on, come on, everyone eat some food."

After drinking a glass of wine with Wang Mengde, Wang Hao picked up the chopsticks and spoke to everyone.

He didn't go into any red tape and wasn't even bothered to say anything auspicious.

Just invite everyone to eat.

After hearing his instructions, Wang Yuanchao, Wang Weiguo, Wang Yuandi and Wang Yuanxun, like hungry wolves, started to eat the dishes they had already observed.

Seeing how delicious the food was, the adults also started eating with smiles on their faces.

Ten minutes later.

After having enough fun, everyone slowed down.

Picking up the wine glass, Wang Hao sighed, then whispered, "I wonder how your grandparents and uncle's family are doing today?"

Since the countryside has set up big canteens and started eating from communal pots, they have not been able to go back home to celebrate the New Year in the past two years.

Before the New Year, he took some time to visit Tiangezhuang.

The current situation in rural areas at that time made him very worried.

But there was nothing he could do, so he could only instruct Wang Mengde to go back and visit the two elders often and secretly bring back some nutritional supplements.

"Dad, don't worry, grandpa and grandma are in good health now. The last time I went back, I brought a lot of food, enough for them to eat until the end of the New Year.

Besides, the food is usually bad, so during the New Year, the team will definitely find a way to make everyone eat better. I heard that the team is even planning to kill a pig for the New Year."

Wang Mengde comforted him.

He has already prepared everything that could be prepared.

"Well, then I feel much more relieved."

next door.

Lao Jia's family.

Yi Zhonghai and his wife, the deaf old lady, and the Shazhu brother and sister all spent the New Year at the Jia family.

Jia Zhang picked up a large piece of pork belly, chewed it twice, and swallowed it whole.

Then she looked up and saw her eldest grandson Banggeng and granddaughter Xiaodang eating heartily, and her heart was filled with joy.

"Haha, Banggeng, Xiaodang, you two should slow down a bit, don't choke again."

She is still frightened by the last time Xiaodang almost lost his life because of a chicken bone.

"Got it, grandma."

Bang Geng swallowed a piece of chicken leg and agreed vaguely.

Seeing that her eldest grandson listened to her so much, Jia Zhang was very happy, so she said with emotion: "It would be great if I had two more grandsons like Bang Geng."

He does not mean that.

Aunt Yi was originally very happy, but after hearing this, she became very excited and suddenly felt uncomfortable.

She covered her chest and fell headfirst onto Yi Zhonghai's shoulder.

"Auntie, what's wrong with you?"

Sha Zhu was planning to raise his glass to toast Yi Zhonghai, but when he saw the sudden situation, he hurriedly said.

Yi Zhonghai supported Aunt Yi and saw her holding her chest. He said with an unpleasant expression, "Zhu Zi, go and call Lao Wang and Wang Mengde next door to come over."

Wang Mengde came over immediately after receiving the news and gave her ten quick-acting heart-saving pills to swallow.

After a few minutes, Aunt Yi had recovered almost completely.

Instructing several people to help Aunt Yi to the bed in the bedroom to rest, Wang Mengde pondered for a moment, then said in a low voice:
"Uncle Yi, Auntie has chest pain. Fortunately, my family has prepared some medicine, otherwise Auntie Yi would be in danger."

"Meng De, thank you for this time. By the way, where can I buy the medicine you just took?"

Yi Zhonghai said with gratitude.

At the same time, he also became interested in the quick-acting heart-saving pills.

It was these ten inconspicuous little pills that actually saved a life.

Just now, he was almost scared to death by Aunt Yi's condition.

(End of this chapter)