Chapter 76: New Year's Goods

Where there is sunlight, there must also be shadow.

Tang Banxia understood this better than anyone.

Director Yu, seeing her so perceptive, was even more satisfied. “That’s why I hope you can keep a low profile for now.”

At least until he received a reply from his superiors.

She hardly needed the reminder; Tang Banxia was already hiding her talents. So far, the only thing she’d revealed to others was the Beast Lure Powder. Though the powder was remarkable, its effect was ultimately limited.

But the Numbing Muscle Powder was different. Having come from the future, she well knew that the nation was anything but peaceful at this time. If used cleverly, the Numbing Muscle Powder’s potential was unimaginable.

Last time, she’d deliberately used it at the state-run restaurant to incapacitate the patrol team. She knew its value better than anyone. Such a useful medicine shouldn’t be kept hidden.

That was also why, when Director Yu asked her for it, she’d handed it over so readily.

Moreover, though she couldn’t help her father for now, in the future, once she demonstrated her talent for pharmaceuticals, the Numbing Muscle Powder would serve as her stepping stone. No one would question her abilities anymore, and that would give her the opportunity to speak with those in power.

Once she had access to the upper echelons, she’d have a chance to maneuver on behalf of her father.

She had never revealed these thoughts to anyone. After all, a secret buried in the heart is the only true secret.

It was refreshing to speak with someone clever; Director Yu left, thoroughly satisfied.

He needed to send the Numbing Muscle Powder to his superiors as soon as possible.

After he left, Wen Mubai poked his head out of the bedroom, “Director Yu’s gone?”

“You saw him leave, didn’t you?” Tang Banxia shot him a look.

Wen Mubai scratched his head awkwardly. “I was just worried he might try to play the sympathy card.”

“You’re overthinking it. Director Yu is an upright man.” Tang Banxia went back to sorting her medicinal herbs.

Wen Mubai, for once, retorted, “You can never truly know someone’s heart, no matter how well you know their face.”

“All right, all right, you’re always right,” she replied with a smile.

Time flew by in a blur.

In the blink of an eye, December arrived, and the end of 1968 was near.

As soon as December began, the atmosphere of the New Year began to build. Tang Banxia and Wen Mubai started busily preparing for the festivities.

Around this time, Tang Banxia received a reply from A’Meng, who also sent a large hunk of frozen beef and a piece of beef tallow. In the letter, A’Meng agreed to keep up regular correspondence.

Tang Banxia was overjoyed when she received the letter. Knowing how cold it was in the northwest, she packed up some cotton fabric, peanuts, and soybeans to send back.

She didn’t stop there. She also sent a package to Village Chief Mao in Shijie Village, wishing him a happy New Year and subtly mentioning her parents.

She could only do her best.

A few days later, she received parcels from Beijing and Sichuan, sent by her grandmother and eldest sister-in-law, both full of supplies.

Tang Banxia’s heart softened with a bittersweet ache as she looked at the goods. This was the meaning of family—no matter how far apart, they always kept each other in their thoughts.

There was even a package from Heilongjiang, which surprised her until she read the letter and realized it was from her eldest uncle. Soon after, more parcels arrived from her second and third uncles, and from her Tang cousins.

Except for her second brother, everyone in the Tang family sent her New Year’s gifts and supplies.

She worried about her second brother, but as a soldier, his absences were frequent. Worrying wouldn’t change anything.

Normally indifferent to spirits and deities, she quietly followed Sister-in-law Sun to make offerings at the temple, sincerely burning incense.

As Sister-in-law Sun said, a sincere heart moves the heavens!

Tang Banxia agreed wholeheartedly. When she got home, she also paid her respects to the Grand Master of the Three Purities.

Easterners tend to feel uneasy without some spiritual comfort.

Well, even if there was no statue, as long as the Grand Master was in her heart, he was everywhere.

Having done all she could, she spent the remaining days running around with her two sisters, buying New Year’s goods.

Today, Sister-in-law Hu told her that the supply and marketing cooperative in town had just received a batch of ration-free palm oil, and Tang Banxia eagerly tagged along.

At the store, she and Sister-in-law Hu squeezed their way in, elbowed and jostled more than a few times, but finally managed to snatch some of the coveted oil.

But curse their luck—the oil was rationed.

Carrying two catties of oil out, Tang Banxia looked utterly bedraggled.

Sister-in-law Hu laughed until she had to hold her waist. “You really are a girl from a well-off family!”

Tang Banxia didn’t argue; she truly had never experienced anything like this.

No wonder, in later years, she could never beat the older generation when vying for discounted eggs at the supermarket—they’d been trained since childhood!

She was enlightened.

The next day,

Sister-in-law Sun invited Tang Banxia to the big market.

Tang Banxia, a city girl attending her first country fair, followed along in high spirits.

To her surprise, she ended up catching two pickpockets at the market.

She was amazed—the thieves seemed to target her alone.

It was only after Sister-in-law Sun explained that, despite her efforts to blend in, her upbringing still set her apart. Anyone could see she came from a good family.

Tang Banxia sighed.

Truly, one should never underestimate anyone.

Still, the big market was a lot of fun.

At the fair, she bought freshly made tofu, drank freshly ground soy milk, and enjoyed steamed buns stuffed with more vegetables than meat.

She watched a master craft sugar paintings in one fluid motion, saw fresh fried dough sticks, and tasted savory tofu pudding.

She even came across a huge beehive that no one had bought for ages. Tang Banxia paid a premium and took it home.

There were also vendors selling homespun cloth. With Sister-in-law Sun’s help, she bargained and got three bolts each at seventy cents a bolt.

When they left the stall, Tang Banxia could almost feel the shopkeeper’s resentment.

“Look at you, so timid,” Sister-in-law Sun teased. “Afraid she’ll come after you?”

Tang Banxia covered her mouth, whispering, “You never know.”

Sister-in-law Sun shot her a glance. “Come on, next stop.”

Following Sister-in-law Sun again, Tang Banxia went to buy fish.

“Most of the fish sellers are from Dahe Village. Their village is right by the reservoir—they catch fish every year. Makes everyone jealous,” Sister-in-law Sun explained.

As Tang Banxia listened, she scanned the stalls around her.

Most of the goods were similar, but there were always some delightful surprises.

For Tang Banxia, it was like treasure hunting—unexpected finds popped up from time to time.

Sure enough, she found a stall selling frozen pears and bought ten catties.

Later, she stumbled on another selling wild mountain goods and bought several batches of dried hawthorn to make chrysanthemum tea—a refreshing snack too. She bought out the lot.

This trip to the fair was bountiful.

After seeing all the new things, Tang Banxia started frying New Year’s treats.

First, she used the beef tallow to cook a big pot of hot pot base. The whole house was soon filled with the spicy aroma. “Mmm, this is the flavor!”

She shot a glance at Wen Mubai, who was itching to try it. “You can’t have any.”

Wen Mubai’s eyes were brimming with tears.

“No room for negotiation.” Tang Banxia was firm and impartial.

Wen Mubai slumped in defeat.

Once the base was ready and poured into a dish to solidify, she cut off a piece and, that very night, made the hot pot she’d been craving. They didn’t have the means to cook at the table, so everything went into one pot.

Of course, she wasn’t selfish. She made a tomato-based hot pot for Wen Mubai with tomato paste.

That’s right—nothing goes better with a winter night than hot pot.

After the meal, they were all the more motivated for what came next.