"No, Second Sister-in-law, please listen to me first. I really can't accept this for nothing. I'm not helping you out of any benefit. But there's something I really want you to do for me."

Xu Minghan suddenly thought that instead of craving this every year, he might as well spend some money to have his second sister-in-law's mother make some for him. Of course, he would definitely pay her for the service.

"What is it? Tell me."

"Second sister-in-law, I just wanted to ask Auntie how well you've learned the art of making cured meat?" If Second Sister-in-law already knows it, then there's no need to trouble the old lady.

Chen Fengjuan was a little embarrassed when this was mentioned. "I've never actually done it myself. I've just watched my mom do it a few times. But my older brother knows how. He's been helping me with it for the past few years. Is there a problem with that?"

Xu Minghan glanced at his mother and preemptively warned her, "It's a promise, Mom, don't be angry if I say it."

Granny Liu looked completely bewildered. "Why am I angry? What does it have to do with me? Honestly."

"Then I'll be frank, Second Sister-in-law, could you ask your eldest brother to make some cured pork and sausages for me this year? I'll pay for it, including the labor costs." Xu Minghan was thinking of eating his fill this year.

Chen Fengjuan thought it was something serious, so she waved her hand and replied, "Sure, it's no big deal. I'll call my hometown village later, and you can have some during the New Year. But how many kilograms of meat do you want? It might be a lot lighter after it's dried."

"I want a pig." Xu Minghan held up one finger.

"How many? One, from Ming Han, isn't that a bit too many?"

Chen Fengjuan looked at Xu Minghan with some difficulty. A pig, excluding its internal organs, weighs at least 180 jin (50 kg). Even if it is made into cured meat, it will still weigh more than 100 jin (50 kg). Can they finish it?

"Xu Minghan, are you asking for trouble? Do you think you're so rich? You want a whole pig too? I think you're just a pig." Sure enough, Granny Liu got angry as soon as she heard Xu Minghan's words. Buying twenty or so catties was one thing, but wanting a whole pig too? What a big mouth he had.

Zhou Nianmei, who had been silent all along, looked at Xu Minghan and asked curiously, "Minghan, are you planning to give it away?"

"Sister-in-law, I wanted to eat it myself. Xuemei and I both love this kind of food. A whole pig may seem like a lot to you, but it won't make much when it's cooked properly."

"Hmph, how much can the two of you eat?"

"Mom, it's not just the two of us, there's also you, Xiaowan, and Mingjiang, right? Besides, my eldest and second eldest brothers are in Tianshui City too, they can come over and eat too!" Hearing this, Xu Mingjiang even felt that one pig wasn't enough!

Granny Liu was too lazy to pay attention to him anymore. She waved her hand and said, "Alright, alright, you decide for yourself. I don't care about you anymore. You're right no matter what you say."

Seeing that her mother-in-law was silent, Chen Fengjuan looked at Xu Minghan and hesitated, saying, "Minghan, the price of pork this year is four yuan per jin. It will definitely rise a bit during the Spring Festival. Last year, it rose to six yuan per jin. A pig that costs about 270 or 280 yuan can yield 180 jin of meat. That includes ribs and such. Even at four yuan per jin, it would still be more than 700 yuan. Do you really want it?"

"Yes, of course I want it! Just ask my older brother to keep an eye out for me. I like it smoked, and I want it smoked for a long time." Some people don't like smoked food, but Xu Minghan and Zhang Xuemei love it and think it's delicious.

"It's nothing. If you really want it, you might as well just ask for a whole pig. That would be more cost-effective. We can even cure the pig's head and ears for you. They're delicious too."

"Second sister-in-law, please stop talking, my mouth is watering." Xu Minghan exaggeratedly wiped his mouth, looking more and more like he wanted to eat as he talked.

"Pfft," Chen Fengjuan couldn't help but laugh, "Then you'll have to wait a while. It's only July now, there are still several months to go!"

"That's why I said I should make more and put it in the refrigerator, so I can eat it from the beginning of the year to the end, and then we can have a backup plan," Xu Minghan said confidently.

"Well, Fengjuan, why don't you ask your older brother to make me thirty jin of meat too? I want pure meat." Zhou Nianmei's stomach was whetted by Xu Minghan's words, and she felt that she could make less. In fact, she hadn't really eaten much of the half-piece of cured meat that Fengjuan gave her every year. The man in her family could eat a whole plate by himself, and she only got a taste.

“Sure, I told my older brother that this year is going to be a huge project, he’ll be very busy.”

"Is your place for smoking cured meat big enough? There's so much of it!" Xu Minghan started to worry again that the other party's space wasn't big enough.

Chen Fengjuan waved her hand and said, "Don't worry about that. My family lives at the foot of the mountain. We also built an extra room next to it, which is used to smoke cured meat. In previous years, other families in the village have asked my mother to help them, so there is enough space."

"That's good. It will be hard on you, Auntie and Brother. Second Sister-in-law, don't worry, let Brother calculate the wages as he sees fit." Xu Minghan felt that this was really hard work. He had seen many people smoking cured meat while browsing his phone in his previous life. The smoke was unbearable for anyone, so he definitely had to pay them more.

"Why pay me? Just give me the money for the pork. My family does this every year anyway, so it's fine." Chen Fengjuan refused directly. She already owed Minghan a huge favor, so why should she charge him when she could help him? If it weren't for the fact that the price for the whole pig was too high, she wouldn't even want to accept the money for the pig.

"No way, I can't let my aunt and brother do such hard work for nothing. Besides, I want to do it again next year. How can I ask them for help if you don't take my money?" Xu Minghan believed in keeping accounts clear even between close brothers, and besides, he really wanted to do this for the long term!

"This..." Chen Fengjuan hesitated for a moment, thinking that she should find some time to learn how to make it herself, and then cook it at the old house so that it would be convenient for Minghan and the others to eat it.

"Alright, Second Sister-in-law, it's settled then. Aunt and Brother's skills are valuable, so it's agreed." Xu Minghan was too lazy to argue and ended the conversation directly.

Seeing that they had finished talking, Zhou Nianmei asked, "Minghan, your sister-in-law just wanted to ask about the situation on your brother's side. When he called before, he didn't explain clearly before saying that he had to get to work, so I'm quite unsure about the situation."

"Well, sister-in-law, my eldest brother and second brother are helping me renovate my house. They also took on renovations for two other households in the same neighborhood. They're planning to send all the people who worked with them before to Tianshui City. They've now formed their own renovation team, and they're doing pretty well. As they get more clients, their income will definitely get better and better."

"Right, I'm just worried that he won't eat well outside. They're all grown men, and none of them cook. I heard they usually just make themselves some noodles and make do. It's okay for a short time, but it won't last long!"

Zhou Nianmei was worried that her husband would develop health problems from not eating well while working away from home. When he worked near the village before, the employer provided meals. Now, although the wages are higher, it's become more difficult to find food.

“Yes, your second brother is the same. He already has a bad stomach, and I’m worried about him too!” Chen Fengjuan added.

Xu Minghan glanced at them, an idea forming in his mind. He smiled and said, "Why don't you two go and cook for them? Let your eldest brother pay you."