Back to 1984: I built a chicken farm on a barren mountain.

At Zheng Dali's home, Zheng Dali's wife, Zhang Caifeng, prepared a table full of dinner.

Outside the window, the Milky Way glistens in the deep blue sky, with one or two tiny stars occasionally hanging playfully on the eaves.

In Chenjiazhuang, Zheng Dali's family wasn't exactly wealthy, but they were still considered well-off.

Zhang Caifeng pulled up some scallions, poured in some sweet bean sauce, and then made some pancakes.

Tonight's dinner was a bit special because there was a roast chicken missing a leg on the plate in the middle of the table.

Xiao Douzi ate the chicken leg, and Zheng Xuejiao put the rest away. When her parents came back, she told them about Chen Wenfeng coming over to buy meat and bringing roast chicken with him.

Little Bean was a little unhappy. When he went out to play with his roasted chicken leg, one of his friends took a bite out of his delicious chicken leg.

He went home crying, and Zheng Xuejiao spent a long time comforting him.

Zhang Caifeng pointed to the roast chicken on the plate and said:

"I guess Wang Guizhi asked Wen Feng to bring this roast chicken over. I'll bring her some apples sometime. Their apples aren't as good as ours."

Zhang Caifeng and Chen Wenfeng's mother, Wang Guizhi, have always had a good relationship. They met after Zhang Caifeng married into Chenjiazhuang and later joined the same team, so they had a lot of daily interactions.

Despite his background as a butcher, Zheng Dali was quite afraid of his wife. Hearing Zhang Caifeng say this, he nodded repeatedly in agreement.

The family of four all sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), cross-legged, around the kang table.

Little Bean stared longingly at the roast chicken. Zhang Caifeng glared at her son and said:

"You're such a spineless coward, just like your old man. Is it really worth crying over a bite of someone's chicken leg?"

She tore off another chicken leg and, under Xiaodouzi's watchful eye, placed it in Zheng Xuejiao's bowl.

Zheng Xuejiao said:

"Mom, give it to Xiaodouzi, he loves it!"

Ignoring her sensible daughter, Zhang Caifeng tore off another chicken wing and gave it to her son. Looking at her hands, which were covered in grease and bits of chicken, Zhang Caifeng licked them and couldn't help but say:

"The roast chicken in this city is so delicious!"

Zhang Caifeng unfolded a pancake, tore off some chicken for herself, placed the chicken on the pancake, took a few crisp scallions, dipped them in some sweet bean sauce, wrapped them all in the pancake, and began to eat heartily.

Zheng Dali laughed:

"Wife, you have quite the appetite!" she said, wrapping scallions and chicken in a pancake and eating as she spoke.

"The reason why roast chicken in the city is so fragrant is because they use more seasoning..."

Before Zheng Dali could finish speaking, Zhang Caifeng scolded:

Even if I gave you the seasonings, you still couldn't make it taste like this!

Zheng Dali, having been interrupted by Zhang Caifeng, didn't dare to get angry, but just stuck out his tongue sheepishly. Zheng Xuejiao happened to see this and couldn't help but laugh. Feeling embarrassed, Zheng Dali said irritably:

"Eat your food quickly. This is an adult conversation; children shouldn't interfere!"

Zhang Caifeng rolled her eyes at Zheng Dali, then tore off a piece of chicken for Zheng Xuejiao and said:

"Ignore your old man and eat more meat."

The four of them then stopped talking and began to eat in silence.

Little Bean was almost full after eating the chicken, and said:

"I'm stuffed."

"Have some more biscuits, or I'll be asking for snacks again tonight!"

Under Zhang Caifeng's coaxing, Xiaodouzi ate another piece of bread and then stopped. Zheng Xuejiao, who had a small appetite, finished her meal in no time. The two siblings then left the table.

"Honey, what do you think of what Qin Xiaofen said?"

Zheng Dali had mentioned to Zhang Caifeng during the day that Qin Xiaofen wanted to be a matchmaker for Zheng Xuejiao, and now that the two children had left, he brought up the topic again.

"What do you think of Qin Xiaofen? I heard from the villagers that she doesn't have a good reputation. Besides, even if she is a good person, how good can things be if she's with Han Laosi?" Zhang Caifeng said after drinking a bowl of porridge.

"Regardless of Han Laosi's character, I just think Xuejiao is at the age where she should be getting married. She should take advantage of this opportunity to marry into a good family. If she delays any longer, she'll become an old maid and it will be harder for her to find a husband. Besides, Qin Xiaofen is right. Whoever acts as matchmaker, we should be the ones to make the decisions."

Zheng Dali's words struck a chord with Zhang Caifeng. What mother wouldn't want her daughter to find a good match while she's young? Yet, subconsciously, Zhang Caifeng was reluctant to let her daughter marry. After pondering for a long time, she said:

"If there's a suitable match in Chenjiazhuang, I'd like Xuejiao to marry into Chenjiazhuang, closer to me. That way, I'll feel at ease, and I can visit her whenever I miss her."

Zhang Caifeng's words reminded Zheng Dali, who then said:

"Honey, I think someone might be interested in our Xuejiao?"

Who is it?

"Hou the Leper!"

"Hou Laizi, ugh, that sleazy guy, I wouldn't want him!"

Zheng Dali, hearing Zhang Caifeng's dissatisfaction with Hou Laizi, said:

"I'm just guessing, because Hou Laizi has been coming to the butcher shop every day lately, and sometimes he's even subtly inquiring about our Xuejiao. Even though she's not well-off, she's quite dedicated, isn't she!"

"Even if we try our best, it won't work. Our daughter is such a good catch, can't she be picky?"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Seeing Zhang Caifeng's anxiety, Zheng Dali quickly nodded in agreement, then, as if remembering something, he said:

"Qin Xiaofen said that the person she introduced to Xuejiao is exceptionally well-off and is from the city."

"Oh, city folks, huh? That's not bad."

Zhang Caifeng was somewhat moved by these conditions. Although it was a bit far away, it wasn't a bad thing for her daughter to marry well.

The two were whispering to each other at the dinner table, unaware that Zheng Xuejiao had overheard them clearly through the curtain in the main room.

Her face flushed red and then turned pale, and her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was about to jump out of her throat.

When Zheng Dali mentioned marrying her off to someone in the city, she unconsciously felt a fear of the unknown. But when Zhang Caifeng said she wanted to keep her in Chenjiazhuang, she thought of Chen Wenfeng again.

When she heard the name Hou Laizi, she couldn't help but shake her head again.

Just as she was about to continue listening, Little Bean, who was playing in the yard, called out:

"aunt!"

"Why!"

A familiar voice came from outside, speaking affectionately to Little Bean:

"Little Bean, are your parents home?"

"At home, they are eating, but they are eating too slowly."

Do you eat quickly?

"Quickly, I eat very quickly when I don't talk, and I eat very slowly when I do talk."

"That's a good girl. Where's your sister?"

"Sister? Sister!"

Xiao Douzi raised his voice and called out to Zheng Xuejiao. Zheng Xuejiao hurriedly came out of the house and quickly greeted the person who came, calling out:

"Auntie, you're here! Have you eaten?"

"I've already eaten. Come over and stay with your mom for a while."

Zheng Xuejiao shouted towards the house:

"Mom, my aunt is here."

Hearing the commotion outside, Zhang Caifeng went out to see what was happening and smiled, saying:

"Takase, have you eaten? Come in quickly!"