Chapter 1: Death

This years snowfall was exceptionally heavy, with feathers of snow gently falling to the ground, quickly accumulating into a thick layer. It had been a long time since Little Pine Village experienced such a significant snowfall. Children outside were busy building snowmen and having snowball fights, filling the air with laughter and joy. Today was New Years Eve, and the adults didnt restrict them, allowing the children to play freely.

"Ming Rui, dinner will be ready soon, go call the children in to eat," Qu Manli said while stir-frying in the kitchen, addressing Ning Ming Rui, who was tying an apron and assisting her.

Ning Ming Rui glanced at the stove, confirming that the dishes were indeed almost ready and there was nothing more he needed to help with, so he took off his apron and went out.

"Come back soon for dinner!" he called out at the doorstep, not needing to go outside since the children were playing in the yard and could hear him.

Soon, the children came running in, chasing each other, eager not to miss out on the delicious meal.

Ning Ming Rui watched the rambunctious children and, considering the day, swallowed the reprimand he was about to utter: "Go help your mom bring out the dishes."

The children rushed into the kitchen, pushing and shoving, and soon Qu Manlis voice came from the kitchen: "Youre eating with dirty hands, if you get a stomachache, dont complain! Go wash your hands, all of you!"

Listening to the commotion in the kitchen, Ning Ming Rui shook his head and smiled.

Before long, the table was filled with well-cooked dishes. There was braised pork ribs, treasure fish, soy duck, braised chicken, steamed salted meat, stir-fried Chinese cabbage, and scrambled eggs with green onions...

All were dishes rarely seen on the table during usual times.

While the adults were still mindful of their image, the children didnt care at all, eating heartily and ravenously, which made Ning Ming Rui shake his head repeatedly.

Qu Manlis eyes were soft as she watched the children enjoy their meal, feeling that her day of hard work was worth it. After placing some dishes into the childrens bowls, she then looked at her husband.

Ning Ming Rui was sipping a small amount of liquor, occasionally picking up a peanut and popping it into his mouth, his eyes half-closed, very content.

"Why arent you eating the good dishes and eating peanuts instead? Do my dishes not suit your taste?" Qu Manliswords, spoken in her gentle voice, came out as a coquettish scolding.

"Of course not?" Ning Ming Rui quickly picked up a piece of pork rib and put it into his mouth, showing that his wifes cooking was very much to his liking.

"Your cooking is the best!"

Seeing Ning Ming Ruis thumbs-up, Qu Manli snorted and didnt argue with him. She added more dishes to his bowl: "If its delicious, eat more. After a year of hardship, this is the time to enjoy some good food."

In the 1980s, the countrys economy developed significantly, and people became wealthier, with more delicious food on the table. However, compared to the past, most people were just able to eat their fill. The Ning familys meal was already remarkable in Little Pine Village. Other households, even the village heads family, only had one or two meat dishes at most.

This was thanks to the big business Ning Ming Rui did before the year. He made nearly a thousand dollars, a sum that some people in Little Pine Village had never seen in their lives! Of course, besides Ning Ming Rui and Qu Manli, no one else knew about this business. Ning Ming Rui understood the principle of not flaunting wealth.

The villagers only knew that Ning Ming Rui had made money, but in their imagination, at most, it was no more than ten big unity notes. How much more could it be, could it be fifty big unity notes?

The atmosphere in the Ning family was warm, while in a dilapidated earthen house at the end of the village, a person quietly stopped breathing.

A woman, skin and bones, was wrapped in a tattered cotton quilt that no longer showed its original color, lying quietly on the cold kang.

On the wooden table missing a corner, there was a bowl with cold soaked rice, floating with a few yellowish pickled cabbage leaves.

Outside, the sound of firecrackers and peoples laughter and joy filled the air, but one person would never hear it again.