Niu Dali was not happy. He even felt a little like dying—life held no love, no joy.
He squatted in the corner beside the cauldron used for the communal meal, where the smell was strongest, yet he had no desire whatsoever to sneak a bite. He just kept smoking.
"Look at him." Cai Xiaonian took a slice of meat, not forgetting to share some with the children.
He was the kids' king in the courtyard, because he really could play with them—slap cards, shoot marbles. As long as Wang Yan did not step in, he was number one.
Smacking his lips as he spoke, he said, "Looks like his soul's gone. Think we ought to find him some spirit medium to take a look?"
"You're just making fun of him." Wang Yan shook his head with an amused smile.
At present, the only person who could make Niu Dali want to live or die was clearly Yao Yuling. What truly made him want to die was having no hope left at all. That meant Yao Yuling marrying Wang Xin.
Today, at the turn of spring and summer in 1980, the sky was clear and the breeze was gentle. Everyone was happy, except Niu Dali, whose world was a desolate autumn and a freezing winter.
At Ma Yan's entrance banquet, Wang Yan's cooking had won everyone's approval. Over the past while, whenever the courtyard held a feast for some major occasion, he had been the one in charge of the cooking, earning unanimous praise. Naturally, Wang Xin's wedding was no exception.
Well in advance, Wang Yongge had painstakingly saved up all kinds of ration coupons through borrowing and trading. A month earlier, he had already settled the menu with Wang Yan and reserved some supplies.
Ma Yan cracked sunflower seeds at