60s: I have a store

Chapter 535 Lard Bibimbap
As the sun sets, the afterglow gradually disappears into the horizon, and the bustle of the courtyard slowly returns to calm as everyone leaves.

The small courtyard which was just full of people now only had Zhou Yimin and Dapeng left.

Zhou Yimin looked at the gradually quiet courtyard, stretched himself, turned to Dapeng and said, "Dapeng, go call Li Youde over. We'll have some lard rice today!"

When Dapeng heard this, his eyes instantly lit up like the twinkling stars in the night sky. His face, which had originally looked a little tired from a busy day, was now full of excitement and anticipation.

He swallowed hard, and looked as if he had already smelled the tempting aroma of lard rice.

In this period of material scarcity, lard was a rare commodity. No one was willing to add even a drop when cooking, let alone use it to mix with rice.

In Dapeng's opinion, rice with lard is the ultimate delicacy. Just thinking about it makes his appetite aroused.

"Okay, I'll go call Youde over now!" Dapeng's voice trembled slightly with excitement. Before he finished speaking, he rushed out like a gust of wind, his steps so light as if he had wings under his feet, and ran towards Li Youde's house without looking back.

Zhou Yimin looked at Dapeng's departing back and shook his head helplessly, but the corners of his mouth unconsciously rose up, revealing a smile.

He thought to himself, does lard rice really have such a magical power? For him, who came from the future, if the lard had not been freshly fried in an air fryer, he would not be willing to eat this overly greasy food.

After all, in later generations, lard rice was regarded as a delicacy for poor people in the old days, but it has become a taboo food in the health concepts of modern people.

The so-called lard rice is simple to make. Just mix a small amount of lard in a bowl of white rice, sprinkle a little salt or drizzle some soy sauce, stir well, and it will become a bowl of fragrant lard rice.

Although Zhou Yimin was not very interested in the food, he felt it was fun to share it with his friends.

Zhou Yimin was not idle. He turned and walked into the kitchen and began to prepare this simple yet anticipated dinner.

He first scooped out an appropriate amount of rice from the rice jar and poured it into the pot. Then he turned on the faucet, and clear water rushed into the pot. He gently rubbed the rice with his hands, watching the off-white water gradually become clear, and then poured the water out.

Then he added an appropriate amount of water, covered the pot, lit a fire and started cooking rice.

The flames licked the bottom of the pot, making crackling sounds, as if adding some liveliness to the dinner.

Not long after, a burst of hurried and chaotic footsteps could be heard in the courtyard, and Dapeng's loud voice was the first to be heard: "Yimin, is the lard rice ready?"

His voice was full of impatience.

At the same time, accompanied by a slightly rough laugh, Li Youde's figure appeared at the door.

As soon as he stepped through the door, Li Youde's gaze went straight to the kitchen, as if he could see through the wall and see the lard rice that had not yet been taken out of the pot.

He smiled and strode towards Zhou Yimin, his steps eagerly yet cautiously, for fear of disturbing the upcoming delicacy.

"Yimin, I heard that there will be lard rice to eat today, I am so happy! When Dapeng heard the news, he was like crazy, pulling me and running, I almost couldn't keep up with him all the way."

As Li Youde spoke, he gestured with his hands to show Dapeng's eagerness when he pulled him. The smile on his face became more and more intense, and his eyes were shining with excitement. That light was like the brightest star in the night sky, full of anticipation for this special dinner.

The corners of his mouth rose slightly, revealing a row of white teeth that formed a sharp contrast with his dark skin.

He rubbed his hands unconsciously in front of him, as if he was already feeling the warmth and aroma of the bowl of lard rice in advance.

"Oh, I haven't tasted lard rice for a long time. Just thinking about it makes the glutton in my stomach get mad." Li Youde said as he patted his stomach with his hand. His stomach seemed to be cooperating with him and made a slight gurgling sound, which made the two of them laugh.

Zhou Yimin smiled and asked them to sit down, saying, "Don't worry, it will be done soon."

Then, the three of them sat together and started chatting.

Zhou Yimin spoke first, his expression becoming serious: "You two have been selling goods on the black market recently. Have you been targeted?"

After all, the quantity of goods he provided was not small. It would be troublesome if he was targeted by people with ulterior motives during this sensitive period.

When Dapeng heard this, the expression on his face instantly became tense.

He was fully aware of the seriousness of the matter, so he quickly stood up, walked quickly to the door, carefully stuck his head out, and looked around with his eyes like searchlights. After confirming that no one was eavesdropping, he breathed a sigh of relief and felt relieved.

He turned around and said to Zhou Yimin with a complaining look on his face: "Brother, I call you brother, okay? Can't you be more careful when you say such things?"

As he spoke, he walked to the door, closed it gently, and checked the gap in the door to make sure there was no gap that could allow sound to pass through.

After all, there are many people in Siheyuan and they all have many opinions. If these sensitive topics are heard and spread by someone with ulterior motives, the consequences will be unimaginable.

Zhou Yimin finally reacted and realized his negligence. He said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I forgot for a moment."

He thought to himself that he was in Zhoujiazhuang, where the environment was simple and he didn't have to worry too much, but this was a courtyard with a complicated population, and he had to be extra careful with everything he said and did.

Li Youde also spoke up at this time: "That's for sure, but those people saw that we were able to sell so many things for a long time, and thought that we must have someone backing us up, so they didn't dare to act rashly."

As he spoke, he gestured with his hands and a smug look on his face.

After all, to be able to survive in the black market, one must have certain skills, otherwise, both the person and the goods would have been eaten up by others long ago.

Now is not like later times, where there are cameras everywhere. If you break the law, you will be easily caught and brought to justice.

If it were today, if you committed a crime, you could hide in a remote place, change your name, and there would be a high chance that you would not be caught.

Dapeng nodded repeatedly, agreeing with Li Youde: "Yes, although those people covet the goods in our hands, they dare not take action easily."

After hearing this, Zhou Yimin frowned slightly and said, "Okay, but you still have to pay attention to safety. If it really doesn't work, we'll stop for a while!"

His eyes were full of worry. After all, he didn't want his friends to be in danger because of these things.

Dapeng and Li Youde looked at each other and nodded to show that they understood.

But in fact, both of them knew in their hearts that they would not stop until they had no other choice.

After all, over the past year or so, they have made money that they never dared to imagine before by selling goods on the black market. This money is enough to change their lives.

They were reluctant to give up now. They chatted for a while, and the topic gradually shifted from black market business to daily life. Zhou Yimin looked at Dapeng and Li Youde and suddenly asked, "You two are not young anymore, do you have a partner?"

When Dapeng and Li Youde heard this question, they were stunned at first. They obviously didn't expect Zhou Yimin to suddenly ask this.

The two showed a hint of embarrassment on their faces, and then told the truth: "No! Recently, my family has been urging me to go home so much that I almost don't want to go home."

Dapeng scratched his head and smiled helplessly: "My family nags me every day, saying that I am not young anymore and should find a wife and start a family, but my job..."

His voice gradually lowered and there was a hint of confusion in his eyes.

Li Youde also sighed: "Yes, we also want to live a life with a wife and children, but if we are caught doing this, we will be charged with speculation, which is a serious crime in this period. We want to save more money in the future and find a wife. Then we can stop doing this and buy a job and live a stable life."

As he spoke, he looked forward to a better life in the future, with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

After hearing this, Zhou Yimin couldn't help but feel sympathy for the two people's situation.

He understood Dapeng and Li Youde's concerns. In this special era, their choice was also helpless.

He didn't say anything else, but just thought silently in his heart that if he had the chance in the future, he would definitely help them get rid of this life of fear.

At this moment, the aroma of cooked rice came from the kitchen, filling the whole house. Dapeng sniffed hard, and his face instantly regained his excitement: "Wow, the rice is ready, it must be very fragrant!"

Zhou Yimin got up and walked into the kitchen and brought out the cooked rice.

The steaming rice exudes an enticing aroma, which increases one's appetite at the sight of it.

He took out the lard that had just been fried, as well as salt and soy sauce, and placed them on the table.

Dapeng and Li Youde could no longer contain their excitement and stared at the rice and lard on the table.

They couldn't wait to pick up the bowls and start mixing the rice.

Dapeng first scooped a large spoonful of lard and put it on the rice. Watching the snow-white rice instantly turn golden, he sprinkled a little salt on it, then picked up the chopsticks and stirred it quickly.

As the chopsticks turn the rice, the lard gradually melts and seeps into every grain of rice. The rice becomes shiny and attractive, and the aroma becomes more and more intense.

Li Youde was not to be outdone. He added a little soy sauce to the rice, which turned the rice a light brown and looked even more tempting.

The two of them were mixing the rice and swallowing their saliva, as if they were having a fierce competition.

Zhou Yimin looked at the two and said with a smile, "Is this necessary for you two?"

He knew clearly that the two men in front of him had saved a lot of money through black market business and they had no shortage of meat to eat on a daily basis.

But at this moment, they were so fascinated by this bowl of rice with lard that he found it a little funny.

Dapeng ate his meal in big mouthfuls while speaking incoherently, "Yimin, you don't understand. We dare not eat too well in Siheyuan. If people knew that we often eat meat, they might report us. So we can only secretly improve our lives. This rice with lard is a delicacy for us."

Li Youde also nodded in agreement: "Yes, we can only do this occasionally to satisfy our cravings. We have to be careful at other times."

After hearing this, Zhou Yimin couldn't help but feel emotional.

He didn't expect that even with a certain economic foundation, Dapeng and Li Youde still had to be so cautious in life.

But when I think about the characteristics of this period, it seems that this is the case. Unless you live alone, if you live in a courtyard house, it is basically like this. If you eat well for one or two meals, it is acceptable, but if you eat so well every meal.

It is indeed easy to make others jealous, and they may report it at that time.

Zhou Yimin didn't say anything else. He picked up the bowl and started mixing the rice.

Although he was not very interested in rice with lard, at this moment, sharing this meal with his friends made him feel a different kind of warmth.

The three of them sat around the table, eating the bowl of rice mixed with lard attentively.

The room was very quiet, with only the sound of chopsticks hitting bowls and the occasional satisfied exclamations from the three people.

The last ray of sunset shone through the window onto them, illuminating their contented smiles. This picture seemed to be frozen at this moment, becoming an unforgettable memory in their hearts.

As the rice in the bowls gradually decreased, expressions of satisfaction appeared on the faces of the three people.

While eating, they chatted from time to time and shared interesting things in life.

The tension and pressure originally brought about by the black market business gradually dissipated in this warm atmosphere.

For Dapeng and Li Youde, this meal of lard rice is not just a delicious meal, but also their yearning and pursuit for a better life in this difficult era.

For Zhou Yimin, spending this night with his friends also made him more deeply realize the difficulties people face in this era and the preciousness of friendship.

When the last grain of rice was swallowed, the three of them leaned back in their chairs with happy smiles on their faces.

Their stomachs were full and their hearts were filled with joy from the dinner.

Dapeng burped and said with a smile: "Yimin, today's lard rice is so delicious. I feel like I can savor it for a long time."

Li Youde also said: "Yes, I haven't eaten so well in a long time. Yimin, thank you for letting us taste such delicious food."

Zhou Yimin smiled and waved his hand: "We are all friends, why be polite. If you want to eat in the future, you can come to my place anytime."

The three of them sat for a while and talked about future arrangements. Zhou Yimin had originally thought about reducing the workload recently, but this suggestion was rejected by Dapeng and Li Youde.

Zhou Yimin did not insist, so as not to affect the relationship between the three of them.

(End of this chapter)