After braving the cold wind all the way home, Bai Xue jumped off her bicycle and waited for Zhang Yuan to take the burlap bag down for her.
"Xiao Xue, this bag is quite heavy. How about I carry it into the house for you?" Zhang Yuan got off the bicycle and took down the burlap bag, but didn't hand it over to Bai Xue.
Along the way, Bai Ruxue became Xiao Xue, quite naturally.
"I can manage it myself, but if you don't mind, come inside for a while! I happened to buy some delicious food, so let's have dinner at home tonight. Consider it my way of thanking you for saving my life!" Bai Xue said.
"I don't mind at all! No need for thanks, it's my honor to have saved you!" Zhang Yuan laughed heartily, parked the bicycle, picked up the burlap bag, and walked inside.
Bai Xue could only follow behind, feeling like she was the guest instead.
Once inside, Zhang Yuan put down the burlap bag and started introducing himself.
"Uncle, Auntie, I'm Zhang Yuan, an educated youth from our brigade's youth point, nineteen years old, from the Capital City!"
Bai Xue followed in and hearing him talk, she couldn't help but tease; why is he introducing himself like a matchmaking candidate? What's the point of being so detailed?
Unbeknownst to her, he had a purpose. He wanted to make a good impression on future in-laws so that pursuing their daughter would be easier.
"Xiao Zhang! Come, sit, sit! The day you saved Xiao Xue and brought her back, we haven't even thanked you yet! We're so grateful for you coming across Xiao Xue that day!" Bai Daliang warmly invited Zhang Yuan to sit down as soon as he saw him!
Because it was he who carried the original owner back that day, he had a great impression of this young comrade. Without Zhang Yuan having to do anything special, they all particularly liked this young man.
"Xiao Zhang! Come warm yourself up on the kang! Xiao Xue! Quickly, pour a cup of water for Comrade Xiao Zhang!" Wang Cuihua recognized him too and was very enthusiastic.
The four little ones were out gathering firewood on their sister's orders and hadn't returned yet, so Xiao Xue had to be instructed. Xiao Xue had declared she couldn't go down into the fields, also ordering her father not to.
"No need for water, Auntie, just warming up here is enough. Xiao Xue has been freezing all the way too, hurry up onto the kang to warm yourself up!" Zhang Yuan immediately walked over and unceremoniously sat down beside Bai Daliang, keeping a bit of distance from two infants, and still remembered to ask Bai Xue to warm up by the kang.
Bai Xue placed the burlap bag on the floor and climbed onto the north kang to warm her feet.
Bai Daliang looked at the burlap bag, then at Bai Xue's shoes, then lifted his head to look at Bai Xue.
"Dad, don't ask anything yet!" Bai Xue softly said one sentence.
Zhang Yuan watched the father and daughter's interaction with interest but didn't say anything in the end.
"Xiao Zhang! Stay for dinner tonight! Don't leave!" Bai Daliang said casually.
"Thank you, Uncle! Then I won't need to be told twice!" Zhang Yuan agreed readily.
"No need to be polite! You saved Xiao Xue; you're a benefactor to our whole family! Come! Sit a bit closer and warm up!" Bai Daliang scooted in for him.
"I've warmed up enough, Uncle! Young people have good physiques, not afraid of the cold!"
"Young people are indeed better!" Bai Daliang sighed.
If the educated youth from the youth point saw Zhang Yuan this afternoon, their eyes would probably pop out. How did someone who used to be sparing with words and reserved change into this? Did something happen?
They talked for a while, then Bai Xue stepped down with shoes on, ready to head outside.
"Xiao Xue, are you going to cook? I'll help you!" Zhang Yuan immediately stood up.
"No need to help, I can manage on my own. You're a guest, just sit and wait to eat!" Bai Xue refused.
No kidding, how could she let a first-time visitor help with cooking? Especially someone who resembled her idol and was her lifesaver in this life.
"It's alright! Don't treat me like a guest! I'll make a fire for you!" Zhang Yuan rolled up his sleeves and was about to walk outside.
At this moment, several little ones ran in.
"Big sister, you're back! Whose bicycle is that outside?" Bai Ruchuan noticed Bai Xue standing at the door as he walked in, not seeing Zhang Yuan inside, and asked.
"It's Brother Zhang's, who brought me back!" Bai Xue said, turning around, "Brother Zhang, someone will make the fire for me. You just wait inside!"
"Xiao Zhang! Just chat with me and wait to eat! Come, sit down!" Bai Daliang, seeing his daughter's signals, quickly spoke.
"Right! Xiao Zhang! These few can cook! You don't need to be busy! Sit down!" Wang Cuihua, who was holding a child, also advised.
Zhang Yuan had to return to sit down, unable to insist on helping Bai Xue with the fire.
After warming up a bit, the little ones came out. Bai Xue had already boiled water and made milk powder for everyone in bowls.
"Big sister, what's this?" Bai Ruxia led the inquiry.
The little ones actually didn't know what milk powder was.
"This is milk powder! Hurry up and drink! I'll go take it to Mom, Dad, and Brother Zhang!" Bai Xue said as she carried the milk into the room.
Seeing the milk powder, Zhang Yuan was quite surprised. This family looked very poor, yet they could afford milk powder.
However, upon recalling the father-daughter interaction earlier, he suppressed his curiosity.
"Mom, Dad! You drink too!" Bai Xue distributed the milk to each of them, but they looked at each other and their faces were full of confusion and concern, none of them picking up the bowls to drink.
"Drink up! This milk powder is delicious!" Bai Xue signaled to Bai Daliang.
"Okay, Dad will drink, never had milk powder before! Cuihua, drink up too! Boost your nutrition for more richness in milk!" Bai Daliang took a sip and urged his wife.
Wang Cuihua couldn't understand what game the father and daughter were playing, but when told to drink, she did. Being told it would help with milk production, she just couldn't resist.
She couldn't bear seeing the two babies hungry and crying.
It was the first time the four little ones had milk powder too. They were so joyous, sipping it slowly, letting the milky taste linger in their mouths.
Bai Xue also mixed herself a bowl. Milk powder from this era had a strong milky aroma; maybe because eating delicious food here was rare, it tasted incredibly delightful.
After drinking the milk powder, she took out the vermicelli to soak, and cut the cabbage and pork. By this time, the kids had drunk their fill. She asked her two brothers to make the fire, stir-frying the pork to get some meat oil, added salt and condiments she had just hidden in the burlap bag.
Then she put the cabbage in to fry until tasty, added water, put in the vermicelli, and steamed buns over the top.
"Wow, white buns!" Even the calm Bai Ruyun couldn't help but exclaim at the sight of the white buns.
"You'll get to eat them soon! Keep your voice down! We have a guest at home!" Bai Xue gently reminded her.
Bai Ruyun's face blushed red, she nodded and kept silent.
"Big sister! Can we eat to our hearts' content today?" Bai Ruxia stood beside Bai Ruyun, with work done but reluctant to go inside, asked.
"Of course! Eat to your heart's content! Eat as much as you can! There's plenty!" Bai Xue originally took out twenty buns, thinking they were enough since there was also some mahua. But with Zhang Yuan staying for dinner, she worried there wouldn't be enough, so she took out more to ensure there would be enough.