Chapter 17 How About Starting a Pig Farm?

At that moment, the vehicle lurched violently, as if it had hit a deep pothole. The woman with the long face lost her balance and nearly fell off the truck, but fortunately, An Yan reacted swiftly and caught her just in time, saving her from tumbling down. The people around them quickly reached out to help as well.

“Feng Yuxiang, if it weren’t for Captain Lin’s wife, you would’ve fallen. Look how generous she is,” someone commented.

“That’s right. I always thought she was better than Doctor Zhu. At the garrison, Doctor Zhu only treats Captain Lin well and looks down on the rest of us, barely sparing a glance.”

The woman with the long face now seemed a little embarrassed and thanked An Yan.

An Yan didn’t dwell on it and instead addressed the crowd, “Ladies, please don’t call me Captain Lin’s wife anymore—it’s quite a mouthful. My name is An Yan. Just call me Xiao An, like Aunt Wang does.”

After the incident, everyone’s enthusiasm seemed to wane a bit, and the group quieted down. Perhaps it was because they had risen early, and with the vehicle swaying back and forth, some of the children drifted off to sleep in their parents’ arms.

Another half hour passed before they finally arrived in town.

The soldier driving the truck knew exactly where the families wanted to go and drove straight to the town’s department store.

As soon as the truck stopped, the women surged forward in a frenzy that looked like a hundred-meter sprint. An Yan was stunned by the sight.

“Xiao An, what are you waiting for? Hurry up! If you’re late, there won’t be any meat left!” Wang Guilan called out, urging her on.

“Meat? But isn’t there a supply at our garrison’s co-op?” An Yan asked, puzzled.

“That’s far too expensive! Only a fool would buy it there. Everyone comes to town to buy extra and store it up,” Wang Guilan replied.

A fool? Was she talking about me? An Yan wondered. Still, she picked up Lin Nuannuan and followed behind Wang Guilan.

She had intended to look around the department store first, but seeing everyone rushing to the food market, curiosity got the better of her and she trailed along.

The so-called food market was much like the produce markets that would appear in older neighborhoods—stalls of every kind lined the area.

An Yan spotted a vendor selling candied hawthorn. “Nuannuan, Auntie will buy you some candied hawthorn,” she said.

The little girl was delighted at the prospect of a treat. After eating two pieces, she wrapped the rest back up. “Sister, I’ll take the rest home for my brothers.”

“So thoughtful, Nuannuan. Auntie will buy you two more later—these are just for you,” An Yan said, smiling.

“Xiao An, why are you buying that? Come here!” Wang Guilan called loudly, pointing to a spot she had clearly saved for An Yan.

“Thank you, Aunt Wang. Take these candied hawthorns home for Erdan,” An Yan offered.

“Oh, I couldn’t possibly—how generous of you,” Wang Guilan replied.

“Please, take them. Otherwise, I won’t stand here anymore,” An Yan insisted.

Wang Guilan laughed. “Well, then, I’ll thank you on Erdan’s behalf.”

An Yan wasn’t tall, so she stood on tiptoe to see ahead, just as the butcher shouted, “Stop making a fuss! There’s no pork today, only mutton and beef.”

In the Northwest, cattle and sheep were everywhere—not at all rare—but pork was scarce. Besides, some people’s faiths forbid them from eating pork.

At the news that there was no pork, many grumbled and moved away.

“Sir, why isn’t there any pork today?” An Yan asked the butcher as she eyed the beef and mutton, already thinking of making tomato beef stew for the three children, yet still making conversation.

“I don’t know either. I’ve heard there’s been little meat these past couple of weeks. That old Zhao at your garrison’s co-op, I hear he has his own sources. If you really want pork, you might try him,” the butcher replied.

Something in his tone caught An Yan’s attention. Could this old Zhao be a meat profiteer?

Still, the high demand for pork in the Northwest made An Yan secretly consider opening a pig farm. Pork here fetched a higher price than beef or mutton—surely, she could make a fortune.

She realized there were so many opportunities waiting for her in this era. What a land of business prospects!

With a soft “oh,” An Yan took out her meat coupons, bought a chunk of beef brisket, and after a quick word to Wang Guilan, she went off to browse the market. Passing by the poultry stall, she saw chicks for sale.

“Boss, are these all female chicks?” she asked.

“Yes,” the vendor replied.

“How much for one?”

“One poultry coupon buys ten, and each is ten cents,” he said.

It wasn’t expensive, so An Yan pulled out a small stack of coupons from her pocket, leaving the vendor wide-eyed. What sort of girl was this, with so many coupons?

The vendor generously gave her a small bamboo cage for the chicks.

On her way back, she saw Wang Guilan heading toward the co-op and hurried to catch up. She remembered Wang Guilan mentioning once that Jiang Weiguo’s sister worked here as a clerk.

Sure enough, when she entered, she found Wang Guilan chatting with a woman in her thirties.

When An Yan walked in, Wang Guilan waved her over. “Xiao An, come here.”

“Yafei, let me introduce you—this is the wife of the First Company Captain.”

“The First Company Captain? Lin You?” Jiang Yafei clearly knew Lin You, and was surprised at first, but quickly collected herself. “I never thought the army’s toughest man would be tamed by a little girl.”

“The toughest man?” An Yan was puzzled, looking at Jiang Yafei with curiosity.

“You didn’t know? Lin You is the army’s champion—first place at the military competitions for five years running. Ever since he arrived at the garrison, he’s always been number one.”

An Yan shook her head. She truly hadn’t known Lin You had such a remarkable record.

Jiang Yafei gave An Yan a look full of envy.

That gaze made An Yan uneasy. What was that supposed to mean—so what if he’s the toughest man...?

Suddenly, An Yan understood the implication behind that look, and her cheeks flushed.

Later, she bought all sorts of goods at the co-op, filling a burlap sack to the brim.

***

By the time An Yan returned home, the sun was setting.

Outside, Lin Hongzhe was sitting in the courtyard, washing clothes.

“Xiao Zhe, why are you doing laundry? Leave it—I’ll wash it,” An Yan called.

Lin Hongzhe looked at her. “I wash my own clothes.”

Upon seeing her brother, Lin Nuannuan, who’d been out playing all day, ran toward him excitedly. At the sight of his little sister, the icy expression on Lin Hongzhe’s face melted instantly. He wiped his hands on his clothes and scooped Nuannuan up in a hug.

Nuannuan smiled joyfully and held her candied hawthorn to his mouth. “Brother, have some—it’s really sweet.”

Lin Hongzhe shook his head and affectionately patted her head. “Brother doesn’t want any. Nuannuan should eat it.”

The little girl giggled, took a big bite, and the sweet and tangy taste filled her face with pure contentment.

An Yan, carrying her bulging sack of goods, went inside.

In the house, Lin Hongzhuo was doing his homework in his room. Hearing the commotion, he looked up and saw An Yan had returned. He huffed, but when he lowered his head again, he realized something was wrong.

Why hadn’t his little sister come back with her?

He immediately put down his pencil and ran out. “Where’s Nuannuan?”