Bringing Good Luck to your Husband in the 70s - Chapter 32

Chapter 32 Obtaining the Prescription

The weather cleared, and the brigade really did send people to repair the Educated Youth Point.
At the village, the party secretary shouted through the loudspeaker, mobilizing all the young and middle-aged villagers to help so that the Educated Youth Point could be repaired as quickly as possible.

That afternoon, Li Xiaoqing and Wu Xiaoxiao came over to talk to Su Yue. Old Lady Han gave them the room and asked them to sit inside for a proper chat.

Wu Xiaoxiao looked around at Old Lady Han’s clean, spacious room and couldn’t help but envy Su Yue.

“Su Yue, you’re so lucky to live here. It’s clean and big. You don’t know how miserable it’s been for me living in other people’s houses these days. I had to squeeze in with the old lady and three children in one room. The noise of snoring, teeth grinding had kept me awake all night. One of the kids even peed in the dung bucket, and they didn’t empty it for days. The smell was awful. I tried to tell them once, but they ignored me, so I couldn’t say anything else. Every day, I just prayed for the rain to stop.”

Li Xiaoqing sighed too. “It was the same at the old lady’s house where I stayed. At times like this, families in the village like to keep dung buckets in their rooms for convenience.”

Wu Xiaoxiao pouted. “The house where I stayed wasn’t fit for living. The food was awful. Every day it was just rice porridge or dried sweet potatoes. And they even treated people differently; men ate better, while women got whatever was left. Since I was lumped in with the women, I always got the worst food. It made me so angry.

“And on top of that, I had to do housework. I was busy every day like a robot, because it wouldn’t be right to live there and not work. If I slacked off, the daughters-in-law in the family would taunt me.

“And the rations I brought with me? They took them all, leaving me only two taels. I wanted to argue, but I knew I still had to live there. If I quarreled with them, I’d have nowhere to stay, so I had to swallow it.”

The two of them poured out their grievances, almost to the point of tears.

Su Yue broke into a sweat as she listened, suddenly realizing how fortunate she was to have ended up at the Han household. Old Lady Han was a fair and reasonable person, which made her life so comfortable. Unlike Wu Xiaoxiao and Li Xiaoqing, she hadn’t suffered at all.

Li Xiaoqing patted Wu Xiaoxiao comfortingly. “It’s better now. The brigade is repairing the house for us, and we’ll be moving back soon. Even if the Educated Youth Point is shabby, at least it’ll be our own place. We can keep it clean ourselves.”

Wu Xiaoxiao eagerly agreed. She looked happier about going back than anyone.

Seeing their excitement, Su Yue couldn’t help sighing inwardly. It seemed she was the only one reluctant to leave, while everyone else was looking forward to returning.

Thinking about moving back also made Wu Xiaoxiao remember Su Yue’s cooking. She swallowed hard, clutched Su Yue’s arm, and shook it. “Su Yue, just thinking about the food you’ll cook after we move back makes me drool. Honestly, I dreamed of it every night, and my pillow was practically soaked with saliva!”

Su Yue laughed and patted her. “You’re exaggerating again.”

Wu Xiaoxiao shook her head vigorously. “I mean it! I’ve wanted to eat your cooking so badly that I wished we could move back immediately. Now that the weather has cleared, my wish will finally come true.”

Li Xiaoqing looked forward to it too. She suggested, “Why don’t we celebrate on the day we move back? We can all buy some good food, and Su Yue can cook a feast for us. What do you think?”

Wu Xiaoxiao’s eyes lit up. “Great idea! I still have a pound of meat coupons. I’ll buy a pound of pork.”

Li Xiaoqing said, “I have meat coupons too. I’ll buy a pound of ribs. I’ll also ask Wei Jia and Mao Lin to get something too.”

Wu Xiaoxiao nearly bounced with excitement.

Looking at them, Su Yue could tell they were just greedy. Still, she went to the kitchen and heated up some steamed buns and dim sum for them.

When the two saw the food, they were nearly moved to tears. They gobbled it down without a shred of dignity.

Wu Xiaoxiao even said with her mouth full, “Su Yue, this is the best thing I’ve eaten in ages. I never want to leave you. If I were a man, I’d marry you without a second thought!”

Su Yue didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Eventually, the two left with full stomachs and happy hearts.

Compared to Li Xiaoqing’s excitement, the Han family was deeply reluctant to let Su Yue go. With her around, they had delicious food every day. In less than half a month, the whole family had put on weight, especially the children, whose once-thin faces had filled out with visible roundness.

No one wanted Su Yue to leave. They wished she could stay forever. But the Educated Youth Point was repaired quickly within two days and the brigade notified everyone to move back.

Su Yue couldn’t keep lingering at the Han family’s house while the others had already returned. It would be improper. So she asked the Han brothers to help her move in the afternoon. They carried her things to the Educated Youth Point.

Han Aiguo also came along, carrying her clothes and walking beside her.

Though his legs made walking difficult, Su Yue didn’t stop him. She knew he didn’t want her to leave. And truthfully, she didn’t want to leave him either.

She walked slowly as a girl, and he walked slowly because of his disability, so naturally they fell behind the others. No one thought much of it, and it gave the two a rare moment alone.

Han Aiguo had been unusually quiet the past two days, and now too he said nothing. Su Yue secretly poked his arm and teased with a laugh, “What’s wrong? Cheer up. I’m not going far, it’s okay.”

He looked at her, lips moving as if to speak, but he held back. He wanted to ask when he could marry her, keep her by his side forever. But how could he propose now, when he couldn’t even walk properly or work in the fields? He had asked around, but there was still no news of the prescription for treating his legs. Without that, he felt too guilty to ask her to marry him.

Seeing his expression, Su Yue instantly guessed what he was thinking.

She thought about her current points and couldn’t help but smile, leaning close to whisper mysteriously, “How about this? If you smile for me, I’ll give you a surprise.”

Her mischievous tone made Han Aiguo’s lips twitch despite himself. He smiled and asked playfully, “What surprise?”

“Wait for me at home the day after tomorrow. I’ll show you then.”

Han Aiguo assumed she meant to cook something delicious and bring it to him. Even if it wasn’t much of a surprise, he would be happy just to see her. He nodded. “Alright. I’ll wait for you.”

They soon arrived at the Educated Youth Point. The Han brothers dropped off her luggage and went back.

The other four educated youths had already returned. Seeing Su Yue arrive, they rushed to hug her. “We’re finally together again! It feels so good to be back in our own place!”

The foodie Wu Xiaoxiao immediately dragged Su Yue to the kitchen, pointed at the meat, and exclaimed, “Look what we bought from the town! I haven’t eaten meat in days. Tonight we’ll feast!”

Everyone nodded eagerly.

Su Yue glanced at the meat, then noticed a basket of crabs. She was stunned. “Where did these come from?”

Wei Jia grinned. “I went to town this morning planning to buy pork, but I saw an old man selling freshly caught crabs at a discount. I thought you could make something tasty with them, so I bought the basket. Can you cook them?”

“Of course!” Su Yue’s eyes lit up. Crabs were a delicacy, and she hadn’t had seafood since arriving. She couldn’t wait.

She quickly cleaned the crabs with a brush, cut them in half, and dusted the exposed meat with flour to lock in the juices.

Wu Xiaoxiao hovered nearby, watching closely. “Su Yue, how are you cooking them? I thought crabs were always steamed.”

Pouring oil into the pan, Su Yue replied, “Not this time. I’m making sauce-fried crab.”

Though Wu Xiaoxiao had never heard of it, she was certain it would be delicious. Everything Su Yue made was delicious.

Su Yue fried the crabs until golden, scooped out excess oil, then sauteed onions, ginger, and garlic until fragrant. She added the crabs back, splashed in a little wine, and then poured in her prepared sauce. She reduced it over high heat, finally seasoning with salt and sugar.

A rich, mouthwatering fragrance filled the air. The shiny brown-red crabs glistened in the pan, looking irresistible.

Li Xiaoqing leaned over the stove, sniffing eagerly. “It smells amazing!”

Su Yue handed out chopsticks. “Go on, taste it.”

No one stood on ceremony. Each took a piece, bit in, and immediately their eyes lit up. The tender crab meat and savory sauce melted together, it was even more delicious than pork.

Mao Lin sighed, “I’ve had steamed crab before, but it tasted earthy and awful. These are so good! Were the ones I ate before even real crabs?”

At that moment, the familiar voice of the system rang in Su Yue’s mind.

Congratulations, host. Sauce-fried crab has been rated A-level. Reward: 50 points.

Fifty points! Su Yue’s eyes widened. She almost jumped in place and shouted, “Yes! Grade A!”

The others stared at her. “Su Yue, what’s wrong?”

Realizing she’d let her excitement show, Su Yue quickly coughed and explained, “It’s just… the crab meat is so delicious, I couldn’t help myself. Anyway, I’m also making steamed pork ribs, braised pork, and shredded pork with Beijing sauce. With white rice, it’ll be perfect.”

The others cheered. To them, it was like a dream.

Inside, Su Yue bit her lip, struggling to contain her joy. Fifty points in one dish! She had finally cooked something at A-level. Just one dish had given her the equivalent of dozens of regular ones.

She had been so close to 800 points already. With these points and the others she earned that night, she had enough.

That evening, the five of them feasted until they were too full to sleep and were pacing the yard to digest. Zhao Fang and Han Xiaoru, who had only plain porridge and buns, nearly choked with jealousy.

Later, when the others were asleep, Su Yue quietly opened her points panel. The number had reached exactly 800.

Her nose stung with emotion. From the moment she’d arrived, she had worked tirelessly to earn points, cooking every day, scraping together ingredients, never stopping. Finally, her effort had paid off.

She smiled foolishly. “System, I have 800 points. Can I redeem the prescription now?”

The system’s tone even sounded pleased: Congratulations, host. Do you wish to redeem now?

“Yes,” she answered without hesitation.

Redeeming… please wait.

Three seconds later, a ding sounded. The number on her panel reset to zero, and a prescription appeared in her mind; ten neat lines written in elegant block characters, listing medicinal ingredients and preparation methods.

The system reminded her: Host, everything you purchase with points belongs solely to you. You may view it in your mind or summon it physically. Just close your eyes and recite its name, and it will appear in your hand.

Curious, Su Yue tried it immediately. She closed her eyes, silently recited the name, and the next second, a piece of rice paper dropped into her palm.

Fortunately, it was night and the lights were off, so no one saw. She carefully folded the prescription and tucked it under her pillow for safekeeping.

Lying down, she smiled contentedly. Tomorrow, she would give him the surprise early.

Translator’s Food Notes:-

Sauce-Fried Crab:-

Shredded Pork with Beijing Sauce:-