Chapter 152: I'm Not Scolding You

Chen Daliu’s mind was as clear as a mirror. As he led the group through the village, glancing around, he muttered inwardly, “Fortunately, Madam had the foresight to issue instructions right after the village pigs were poisoned. Everyone here remembers well enough not to slip up.”

There was no way to find any clues. Now, only two cows remained in Niuluo Village. It seemed they feared the cows might wander off again, so instead of taking them out to graze, they just cut grass and brought it back to feed them.

Owing a debt of gratitude, one must speak cautiously. The three of them had each taken a pound of meat yesterday. Though the villagers of Niuluo hadn’t cared well for the cattle, the cows were not communal property, so Chen Daliu spoke sternly, advising the people from Xiaxin Village to be more vigilant and to report such incidents promptly in the future, rather than rushing off to fight with other villages.

The villagers of Niuluo readily agreed.

Before leaving, the three visitors mentioned wanting to buy some beef.

Meat was a rarity. After bringing the meat home yesterday, a little oil was added and half a pound of beef was stir-fried with hot peppers; the whole family enjoyed it immensely. Even the coarse grains didn’t seem harsh on the throat anymore.

Now, these three had no intention of getting anything for free. They had money ready and, since meat coupons were unnecessary, they were determined to bite the bullet and buy three to five pounds to satisfy the cravings of their mothers and children at home.

Of course, they hadn’t expected to get the meat without payment yesterday either, but Comrade Chen and the others were just too warm-hearted.

“Leaders, I really can’t help it. We originally planned to sell it yesterday, but then we thought—this was sick cattle meat. If someone ate it and fell ill, wouldn’t we be causing harm?” Chen Daliu explained.

“No matter how tight money is, you must never do something harmful!” Officer Zhao exclaimed in surprise. “Did you throw the meat away?”

“No, no, who would be willing to waste it?” Chen Daliu replied. “We asked everyone yesterday, and nobody was afraid to eat it. They gritted their teeth and divided the meat among every household. Since it was sick beef, no one dared delay cooking it. It was all cooked that very night, and by now it has mostly been digested.”

This left the commune officials momentarily stunned. So, no meat was available for purchase?

They said they weren’t afraid of dying, but it was obvious they were just craving the meat badly.

Well, it was what it was. In these times, having a single meal of meat was a matter of luck.

“Honestly, we country folk aren’t so precious. This morning, aside from a few cases of mild diarrhea, no one’s feeling unwell,” Chen Daliu continued. Then, realizing something, he hurriedly asked, “Leaders, did you eat that meat yesterday? Are you feeling okay? It’s our fault for not thinking it through. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have dared offer you any meat at all.”

“We’re fine. We’re not so delicate—we’re just like everyone else,” the commune officials quickly waved off his concern.

As for the villagers’ diarrhea, Officer Zhao and the others understood roughly why—it was because they hadn’t eaten meat for so long that their stomachs were unsettled.

If the Niuluo villagers knew what the commune officials were thinking, they would scoff softly. “Please, with Madam around, we get to eat meat every now and then; our stomachs wouldn’t be so weak.”

When Chen Daliu and the three officials parted ways, Officer Zhao stepped out a few paces, then couldn’t help but look back.

“Comrade Chen, has all the beef been eaten in the village?”

Chen Daliu was momentarily taken aback, looking at Officer Zhao with confusion.

“No, don’t get the wrong idea,” Zhao quickly added, “I just meant, if anyone in the village still has some left, maybe they could sell me a little.”

The other two officials looked at Chen Daliu expectantly.

Scratching his head, Chen Daliu hesitated, “Well, our village has eighty-six households. Each has at least five or six people, some even a dozen. Once the meat was divided, it was only enough for one or two meals. Since it’s from sick cattle, no one wanted to keep any for long. I don’t think there’s any left now.”

Then he added, “If you want, you can wait here—no, better at my place—and I’ll go ask around the village?”

“No, it’s fine. If there’s none, there’s none,” Zhao waved him off.

“Yes, I was just asking casually,” Zhao continued. It wouldn’t be proper to ask again after everyone had eaten. If word got out, people might think the commune officials had come to bully the villagers.

Chen Daliu watched them leave with an apologetic look, but once they were out of sight, his face darkened with annoyance. He grumbled under his breath, “What calculating scoundrels, still wanting to buy! We want to buy too. Who wouldn’t want affordable meat without using coupons?”

“Shameless!” he muttered.

As soon as the commune officials left, Xiao Hei appeared. Passing by, he caught Chen Daliu muttering angrily and glanced sideways at him but ignored him, continuing toward the treehouse.

Chen Daliu didn’t realize at first. After Xiao Hei had gone some distance, he froze and reached out toward the dog’s disappearing back. “Hey, Xiao Hei, I wasn’t cursing you…”

Oh no, Xiao Hei might think he was being scolded!

It was lunchtime. Bai Xi’s meal consisted of braised beef with dried tofu and fried potatoes with pork cracklings. The rice was steamed with a mixture of polished rice and dried sweet potatoes.

Polished rice like this wasn’t common in the village, but Bai Xi ate alone, so it was enough, with only occasional servings of coarse grains.

This was a special privilege for her, but even the coarse grains she ate had been meticulously sifted several times—no bran, no large or rough grains. The quality was better than what city dwellers typically ate.

“Master, Xiao Liu is quite amusing,” Xiao Hei returned, chuckling.

Bai Xi glanced at Xiao Hei and tossed a piece of beef from her chopsticks to him. After he caught and swallowed it, she asked, “What did you see?”

Xiao Hei whimpered, “When I came back, he was cursing loudly.”

“Cursing about what?”

“Cursing those shameless commune officials trying to take advantage.”

Bai Xi smiled, imagining Chen Daliu grumbling and swearing. She had to admit, Xiao Liu was doing well managing the village. Whatever task he was given, nothing went wrong.

She hadn’t expected to get beef back yesterday, but Chen Daliu and the others had brought the money and returned with more than half the meat. The people of Xiaxin Village were probably furious to the point of near madness.

“Xiao Hei, this beef really is good, isn’t it?”

Xiao Hei nodded excitedly, growling softly. “Master, should I go back to Xiaxin Village again?”

After all, there were still three cows there. The more you go, the more familiar you get.

Bai Xi gave Xiao Hei a sharp look. “Behave yourself. Once is enough. If you go again and the people of Xiaxin Village get riled up and come knocking on the door, what then?”

Xiao Hei’s face was full of pride. “Master, I’m here. Don’t worry. The people of Xiaxin Village wouldn’t dare.”

Bai Xi just glared, unwilling to argue, and resumed eating.

Seeing there was no chance, Xiao Hei reluctantly sat down nearby.

(Lately, I’ve been secretly updating a chapter late at night. Has no one noticed? I feel like I’m slipping by undetected—don’t know why. Hehe…)