Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 1113 The Wang Family's New Year
As early as noon on the 29th of the lunar year, some families were already having their New Year's Eve dinner. These days, the economy is not good, and many households actually only eat two meals a day; very few families eat three meals a day.

Because it's Chinese New Year this year, many families cooked porridge and prepared some pickled vegetables in the morning. By noon, the better-off families might have managed to buy some meat to eat together, while the less fortunate families would borrow eggs from various places to have a meat dish at home.

The city of Beijing relied almost entirely on grain imported from other regions. However, since 1959, these imports became increasingly difficult and scarce. At one point, there was an emergency where the city's grain reserves were insufficient to meet six days' needs. At that time, the city's population was less than 4 million (the "non-agricultural population" enjoying commodity grain benefits). Residents were supplied with low-standard grain rations, changing the system of "certificate-based" grain rationing implemented since the "unified purchase and sale" system of 1954 to "rationing based on coupons." Everyone with a formal household registration in Beijing (those "eating commodity grain") received monthly grain coupons. These coupons included: coarse grain coupons, flour coupons, rice coupons, etc. Grain rations varied according to age, ranging from 3 jin for newborns, 6 jin for infants, 8 jin for children, and up to 21 jin for adults. Furthermore, rations varied based on status, with slight increases for university and high school students, government officials, and those in special occupations. Of the total supply, flour accounts for 20%, rice accounts for 10%, and the remainder is supplied with coarse grains such as cornmeal, dried sweet potatoes, and sometimes sorghum flour, fresh sweet potatoes, and other miscellaneous grains.

Infants were issued milk certificates, receiving two bottles daily, each weighing half a pound. Children over one year old received one bottle, mixed with "milk substitute powder." Milk substitute powder coupons and infant candy coupons were issued monthly. Because Qin Huairu's household registration had been transferred to the city, thanks to her husband Jia Dongxu's death in the line of duty, the Jia family, though outwardly struggling, was actually living much better than when Jia Dongxu was alive.

Last year, pork, a staple food for most residents, was rationed starting in January 1959. Anyone with a formal household registration in Beijing was given three coupons per month (one for the first half of the month and one for the second half), each coupon rationing 1-3 liang (approximately 500-150 grams) of fresh pork, depending on supply. When pork was scarce, the ration was 1 liang, and when it was plentiful, it could not exceed 3 liang. However, starting in May of the same year, the three coupons per person per month were reduced to two (one for the first half of the month and one for the second half).

At the end of last year, vegetables were officially classified as "National Category II Commodities." The "unified management of production and sales" system was strengthened. A rationing system was implemented for residents. Each person with a formal Beijing household registration was rationed 100 grams (2 liang) of fresh vegetables per day, with no restrictions on variety. They could choose from radishes, potatoes, cabbage, etc., but potatoes were the most common. A small number of "scallion coupons" were also issued, which allowed the purchase of small amounts of scallions, ginger, and garlic, mainly arranged by the neighborhood committees, with a focus on supporting families of revolutionary martyrs at the grassroots level. However, sometimes even with coupons, there were no vegetables available; in such cases, ration coupons could still be used to purchase pickled or salted vegetables.

Eggs were rationed starting in January 1958. Each household was given 1 jin (500 grams) per month with a "resident's food purchase certificate". However, "large households" with more than ten people were given an additional 1 jin per month.

However, when everyone was preparing for the New Year this year, they discovered that eggs were unavailable. Pork was also out of the question, as were chickens, ducks, and fish. Without eggs, families could only rely on bean products as the main dish for their New Year's Eve dinner. But Liu Haizhong's family was an exception. The day after the Lunar New Year, Liu Haizhong's apprentice delivered a basket of eggs to their home. No one knew where he got them from. Some curious people always wanted to know something about the Liu family, but unfortunately, the Liu family kept their mouths shut.

Peanuts and melon seeds are "enjoyed" only once a year. Every Spring Festival, each household is given half a catty of peanuts (including the skin) and two liang of roasted melon seeds with their certificates. Peanuts and melon seeds are oil crops and were listed as "unified purchase and sales" commodities as early as 1953, so every household received roughly the same amount.

In addition, each household will receive an extra "holiday subsidy oil coupon" during the Spring Festival. This coupon can be used to purchase 1 liang (50 grams) of sesame oil or sesame seed oil.

Salt is supplied based on the "BJ City Residents' Food Purchase Certificate," with each household receiving 1 jin (approximately 500 grams) per month. The choice is between coarse salt or refined salt. Larger households with more than ten members may receive an additional half jin (approximately 250 grams).

Each household receives half a jin of thin yellow soybean paste per month with a voucher (unpackaged, household must bring its own container). Larger households with more than ten members receive an additional half jin.

Sesame paste is supplied on three major holidays (Spring Festival, National Day, and May Day). Each household can receive 1 liang (50 grams) of sesame paste upon presentation of a "BJ City Resident Food Purchase Certificate". It is unpackaged and residents must bring their own containers.

In addition, during festivals, there are also 2 liang of thick vermicelli, 1 liang of vermicelli, half a liang of Sichuan peppercorns, half a liang of star anise, half a liang of wood ear fungus, half a liang of daylily, and half a liang of baking soda, all supplied to each household with the "BJ City Residents' Food Purchase Certificate".

Soy sauce (low-grade) and vinegar (bulk) are basically available without limit, but each purchase cannot exceed 3 jin (1.5 catties). Fortunately, there is no limit on the number of times. The public calls it "limited quantity, unlimited times".

This is the current situation for Chinese New Year this year. You can imagine what each household has to prepare, so the festive atmosphere is very weak this year.

Normally, before noon, the alley would be filled with the sound of firecrackers, but this year, only a few households could afford to set off firecrackers. When Wang Li arrived at Zhang Erya's house with a bag full of firecrackers, Zhang Erya jumped up with joy and pulled Wang Li out to play.

Wang Zhan didn't go to Old Zhang's house. He stayed home alone, tidying up the kitchen and sorting out the ingredients he would need for the next few days. He pickled what needed to be pickled and cleaned what needed to be cleaned, handling everything in an orderly manner.

Finally, after preparing the ingredients for today's New Year's Eve dinner, the chicken soup was already simmering, and the dumpling filling was ready, Wang Zhan began the chopping and preparation work. Just as he was busy, he heard someone calling him from the gate. There were only two people who could come here and call him Brother Zhan: Yan Jiekuang and Xu Damao. However, Xu Damao had been heard to have gone to the countryside to spend the New Year with his parents, so the person at the gate could only be Yan Jiekuang.

What is Yan Jiekuang doing here during the Chinese New Year? Wang Zhan didn't even take off his apron and walked straight to the front door, saying as he walked, "The door isn't locked. What, you've become more law-abiding during the New Year? Can't you just come in by yourself?"

Wang Zhan opened half of the door and saw two people standing at the door. No wonder Yan Jiekuang didn't come in directly. The person standing behind him was Yan Bugui. When Yan Bugui saw Wang Zhan, who had grown to be over 1.7 meters tall, he really didn't recognize him. The last time Yan Bugui faced Wang Zhan was when Wang Zhan was ten years old. That was when the East Courtyard had a conflict with Courtyard No. 95 before they moved.

Although it was Liu Haizhong from the backyard and Jia Zhangshi from the middleyard who charged into battle that time, Yan Bugui was still among the crowd. Therefore, Wang Zhan had a very bad impression of Yan Bugui. Out of respect for Yan Jiekuang, Wang Zhan did not send them away but led them directly to the right passageway in the front yard, which Wang Zhan had converted into a small tea room.

The room contained only a long wooden sofa, a long coffee table, and four chairs. Against the east wall was a sideboard with two thermos flasks and a tray with a teapot and six teacups on it.

After the two sat down, Wang Zhan poured them two glasses of water and then sat down next to them. Yan Jiekuang could tell from Wang Zhan's actions that he didn't like dealing with his father and that he was probably allowed in because of him. So Yan Jiekuang took the initiative to bring up the purpose of his visit—to borrow meat.

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhan narrowed his eyes, glanced at Yan Jiekuang, and then turned to look at Yan Bugui. Yan Bugui realized that he had no choice but to speak.

(End of this chapter)