Chapter 60 Smoked Goose

When Lin returned to the meat stall, she pulled her husband aside.

"I suggested that we set up a stall next to us first. I don't know when there will be stalls available elsewhere," Qiao Mancang said. "If there are more people setting up stalls, the government officials will collect more money, and they will turn a blind eye."

"I mean, how can he make money like this?" Lin asked, looking at Xu Kuan sitting upright. "Anyone who can find someone to write letters must be illiterate. He doesn't shout a word, so who knows what's written on his sign?"

When Qiao Mianmian heard this, she thought her mother's logic was amazing. She glanced at Xu Kuan, whose earlobes were still red.

Qiao Mancang said, "I'll help him take a look later. It's probably his first time setting up a stall, so he's a little shy about asking for help. He'll get used to it after a few more times."

“That’s true. Then you can help me out while I roll out the noodles,” Lin said.

Qiao Mancang returned to the meat stall, glanced at Xu Kuan on his right, who was still sitting upright. Just then, someone came to buy meat, so he said a few more words, "The meat is very good today, please take it. If you need to write a letter, you can ask my brother here. He is a scholar and has very good handwriting."

Upon hearing this, the meat buyers would all glance at Xu Kuan.

Xu Kuan went to look at Qiao Mancang with great surprise.

“Even if it’s just to kill time, you have to do something, otherwise it’s no fun just sitting here,” Qiao Mancang continued, following Xu Kuan’s reasoning. “You have to greet people, otherwise many people are illiterate and won’t understand what you’re doing here. Before the New Year, there are still many people who write letters, but at this time, all you can do is write letters.”

What else could he do? Qiao Mancang didn't know. He wasn't a scholar and didn't understand the ways of scholars.

Qiao Mianmian knew that when business wasn't too busy, she would come over and say a few more words, "You can also copy books, and you can also collect tuition fees for children's early education. Uncle Xu, if you come more often, people will gradually know that you can help people write letters, and more people will come to you."

However, after observing for a while, she found that there were still few people writing letters; there was only one in the morning, and it was her father's old customer.

Xu Kuan nodded, not daring to look Qiao Mianmian in the eye.

After the Qiao family closed their stall, Xu Kuan was still setting up his stall until evening, when he tidied up and went to the bookstore to find work copying books.

When he got home, it was almost dark, and his family was waiting for him to have dinner.

"Why don't you eat first?" Xu Kuan asked, frowning.

Madam Xu did not answer, but got up to help carry the things, while Xu Kuan went to put them down himself.

"Don't wait for me next time, you all eat first. I'll keep mine warm in the pot." Xu Kuan's expression was not good. "Also, you're not allowed to do anything about the embroidery room anymore. Yunzhu, remember this: if you secretly help Madam get work again, you can forget about staying in the Xu family."

Yunzhu shrank her neck and trembled. "Yes, sir, I've remembered everything."

Xu Kuan hummed in agreement. "Let's eat."

Madam Xu understood Xu Kuan's predicament. In the past, the family had no shortage of food and clothing, and they never needed to set up a stall in the market to make a living. Now, in order to support their son's education, they had to be frugal, and it was very difficult for them to put aside their pride.

Normally, Xu Kuan looked down on the work in the market. If it weren't for Madam Xu starting to do embroidery, Xu Kuan would never have gone out to sell calligraphy.

To their surprise, the news spread like wildfire in the alley, and when Xu Kuan went to the market again the next day, his neighbors all made a special trip to see him.

"It really is you, Brother Xu! What do you write?" Chun Sheng's mother couldn't read, so she stood in front of the stall and counted four characters, but she didn't know what they meant.

Jin also arrived. "It's obvious that they're writing letters for others. Otherwise, why would they set up a table here to paint for others to see?"

“Yes, you young people are so quick-witted.” Seeing Xu Kuan nod, Chun Sheng’s mother smiled and asked how business was. “Don’t be shy. If you’re setting up a stall in the market, you have to know how to hawk your wares. Look, you have to hawk like this: Anyone need help writing letters? We can help you write them here!”

As soon as Chun Sheng's mother called out, Jin Shi also started shouting, and they actually managed to get someone to come over and ask how much the money was.

"We'll calculate the money based on the paper." Xu Kuan didn't dare look at Chun Sheng's mother and the others. When he finished writing the letter and looked up, Chun Sheng's mother and Jin Shi were no longer visible. "Brother Qiao, where are they?"

"You mean Chunsheng's mother and the others? They must have gone to buy groceries. Don't mind them, the people in our alley are very friendly. They heard you had a stall and wanted to come and see." Qiao Mancang was also selling meat today. After his own food shop opened, he went from selling meat every one or two days to selling meat for two days and resting for one day.

Xu Kuan nodded. When he saw someone looking over again, although he still couldn't speak, he didn't immediately avoid their gaze like before.

When no one wrote to him, he copied books; days with something to do passed quickly.

Before she knew it, the end of the month arrived. Qiao Mianmian took her brothers to the Luo family and learned that Madam Luo had arranged for her son to marry her niece. The main purpose was to strengthen family ties, and the wedding banquet would be held soon, with the Fu Man Lou restaurant invited to host it in the middle of next month.

When Luo Da mentioned this, he was afraid that Qiao Mianmian would overthink it, so he explained, "My husband only has one son, so he's being cautious."

"I understand. It's already very kind of them to think of me for the engagement party." Qiao Mianmian didn't take it to heart. It was a favor to ask her to come, but it would be normal if she didn't.

She helped with the preparations until she returned home in the evening. In return, she received a reward and three dishes from the Luo family. She chose the more expensive mutton, pig's trotters, and smoked goose.

On her way home, Qiao Mianmian rubbed her arms, exhausted. "When I have money in the future, I definitely won't set up a stall every day. I'll take on more apprentices, let them cook, and supervise them every day."

This was Hu Qianqian's first time managing a banquet, and she almost made mistakes several times due to nervousness. "Mianmian, you're amazing! You didn't make a single mistake from beginning to end."

"That's right. Before I left home, I had already thought about what to do. When I arrived at the Luo family's house, I knew exactly how to arrange things just by glancing around." Qiao Mianmian said, rubbing her stomach. She was a little hungry. "Hey, isn't that Uncle Xu? Hasn't he packed up his stall yet?"

The siblings walked over, and Qiao Mianmian greeted them with a smile, "It's almost dark, there aren't many people around now."

"Huh?" Xu Kuan was so engrossed in copying the book that he forgot the time. Seeing the sunset turning half the sky red, he hurriedly packed up, "I...I'll pack up now."

Qiao Mianmian helped pack, but Xu Kuan grabbed his things and ran back, which puzzled her. "Why are you in such a hurry?"

Qiao Jiawang shook his head.

Qiao Jiaxing said, "Maybe you're afraid your family will worry?"

"Maybe, then let's walk faster." Qiao Mianmian said, walking faster. As soon as she turned the corner of the alley, she saw her parents sitting at the door. She waved to them immediately.

"Give it to me." Qiao Mancang took the bamboo basket from his son. "How was today?"

Qiao Jiaxing: "Everything is very good. You can rest assured about Fifth Sister's cooking skills. Everyone praises her; no one says it's not delicious. Madam Luo is very happy and let us pick three dishes to bring back. Our family is in for a treat today; we have three meat dishes!"

Lin opened the bamboo basket and glanced inside. "Oh, there's stewed mutton too. We can't eat all these good dishes in one go. We have to be careful with our money."

As she spoke, she ladled out a bowl of mutton. "Mianmian, take this to Old Lady An's house at the alley entrance. I saw the doctor come out of her house today; he must not be feeling well. I remember she likes to eat mutton."

A small bowl of mutton isn't much, but it's enough for an elderly person to have a meal.

Qiao Mianmian didn't have much of an impression of this old lady An, only that she lived alone. She took the bowl and went over to knock on the door.

After a while, people inside came to open the door.

“It’s…it’s Mianmian, no need, no need.” Grandma An quickly waved her hand.

“I was helping out at a wedding banquet, and the host sent over some dishes. My mother remembered you like them, so she asked me to bring them over. Don’t be shy, we have plenty more.” Qiao Mianmian poured the mutton into a bowl on the table. “You don’t look too well, are you sick?”

"Getting old makes you prone to illness, it's nothing serious." Grandma An said, asking Qiao Mianmian to wait a moment. "Your mother is a kind person. I'm really happy that she remembered I like to eat mutton."

She went back inside and brought out a bag of shortbread, saying, "Take these back and eat them."

Qiao Mianmian said she couldn't accept it, and Old Mrs. An lowered her face, saying, "I can eat your mutton, but you can't eat my snacks?"

"Okay, I'll take it. You get some rest, I'll go home first." Just as Qiao Mianmian turned to leave, a man, around forty years old, arrived.

After the door was closed, she heard the man call out to Old Mrs. An, her aunt.

When she got home, Qiao Mianmian told her about it.

There was mutton and half a smoked goose on the table. Lin said to eat these first. "That's her husband's nephew. She's pitiful. She lost her son in middle age and her husband in old age. You're young and don't know, but Old Madam An used to be very fierce. She even dared to fight with men. Now she doesn't go out. Every time I come over, I see her sitting in the courtyard, lost in thought, just getting through each day."

Qiao Mianmian thought to herself, "She really is a bit pitiful."

At this moment, Qiao Mancang asked, "Was Zheng Ming adopted by her?" Zheng Ming was Old Madam An's nephew.

Lin said no, "If we really adopt him, and he doesn't come to serve us, do you think the An family will agree?"

"That's true." Qiao Mancang said, shoveling a big mouthful of rice into his mouth. The smoked goose was fragrant and spicy, making it especially good with rice.

"Back then, it was the second son of the Zheng family who wanted to seize Old Madam An's house, so Zheng Ming stepped in and said he would take care of Old Madam An in her final days. Old Madam An also said that she would leave the house to Zheng Ming. Since then, no other member of the Zheng family has had any contact with her. Over the years, Zheng Ming has come two or three times a month, and he has taken care of her, but it can never compare to that of a biological son." Madam Lin said, gesturing with her lips.

She had been taken care of by Old Mrs. An when she was young. Back then, she had been divorced and remarried, and many people gossiped. Old Mrs. An was a formidable woman; she directly confronted the gossips and told her to learn from her. She also remembered Old Mrs. An telling her that being a woman was not easy, and given her special circumstances, if she wasn't strong enough, who would her children rely on?

Lin kept the kindness she received in her heart, and since they lived so close by, she would visit them from time to time.

Today, all the fat under the skin of the smoked goose has been cooked away, leaving only the firm skin and thick meat.

Qiao Mianmian prepared a chili powder and minced garlic sauce for the smoked goose; dipping it in before eating made it even more flavorful.

The bowl of smoked goose was quickly emptied, and everyone was quite full.

After the Qiao family had eaten and drunk their fill, Old Mrs. An was still slowly eating her mutton. Because of her bad teeth, she ate very slowly.

Zheng Ming sat in the chair, his brows furrowed. "We agreed that I would take care of you. You were in good health a few years ago, so I didn't insist. But since you've been taking medicine this spring, come home with me. The house is all ready; you can move in."

"I'm not going," Old Mrs. An refused decisively.

"Why are you so stubborn?" Zheng Ming couldn't understand. "I have to work every day, one in the south of the city and the other in the north. I don't have time to come here every day. If you come back with me, someone will take care of your meals and laundry. Otherwise, if something happens to you, how am I supposed to explain it to my uncle?"

After finishing her meal, Grandma An put down her chopsticks and looked at her nephew, whose hair was already half white at only forty years old. She still insisted, "What's there to explain? I've lived to my sixties, that's long enough. Your two and a half rooms are rented, and no matter how you tidy them up, I can't fit them in. Alright, go back now, or it'll get dark."

She waved her hand, saying she was going to rest.

Zheng Ming sighed, helped wash the dishes, and before leaving, knocked on the door. "If you're not going, let Sanhua come and take care of you. I'm worried about leaving her alone. Once you're better, if you want some peace and quiet, then let Sanhua go home."

After a while, a soft "hmm" came from inside the house.

Zheng Ming left helplessly. Only after hearing the door close did the old lady An get up and go out to take a look.

She saw that the table was clean and the yard had been swept, sighed softly, went over to open the door, and went to the Xu family's house across the street.

“Everyone’s home.” Grandma An stood at the door, leaning against the stone wall.

Xu Kuan was copying books in the courtyard, while Madam Xu was sitting in a chair. They were not familiar with Old Madam An, but Yunzhu recognized her as their neighbor across the hall.

Madam Xu stood up and asked, "Come in and sit down. What brings you here?"

"Well, I'd like to ask Scholar Xu's father to write something for me." With that, Old Madam An took out her purse. "I know it's getting late, but I'm in a bit of a hurry. Could you please help me out?"

Madam Xu looked at her husband, Xu Kuan, who paused for a moment before nodding and saying it was okay.

It was getting late, so Xu Kuan lit a candle. By the time he saw Old Madam An off, it was already dark.

The alley was pitch black, with only the dim moonlight illuminating the stone pavement.

Everyone fell asleep, and it wasn't until dawn that people started to get up one after another.

The Qiao family ate breakfast early and went to set up their stall. When they passed by the door of Old Mrs. An's house, Lin went to take a look and saw that the door was closed, so she figured the old lady hadn't gotten up yet.

When they arrived at the market, Xu Kuan was already there. His business wasn't doing very well; he only got one or two orders a day.

However, he also helped copy books, for which he received some money.

Qiao Mancang asked him why he didn't become a teacher. Xu Kuan paused for a moment, "The academy is too far from home. If something happens, it's difficult to handle. It's more comfortable to set up a stall here. Anyway, it's just to pass the time. I don't care how much money I make."

Qiao Mancang believed him and said, "That makes sense, but I still hope that our business will prosper. It's always good to have more money."

There weren't many customers yet, so the two started chatting.

At the food stall, Madam Lin remarked something unusual: "In the past, Xu Kuan and your father would at most exchange greetings, but now, he can answer a question or two about anything your father asks."

"I feel indebted to our family, so even if I don't want to chat, I have to respond," Qiao Mianmian said.

"You silly girl, don't be so direct. Hurry up and cook the noodles. The weather's warmer now, and we're getting more customers." As Lin was speaking, two more customers came in and ordered noodles. "Alright, please have a seat!"

The Qiao family was bustling with activity. Xu Kuan only sent one letter that morning, but time flew by and it was time to pack up.

Qiao Mancang went to take another look at Xu Kuan's work. Seeing the densely packed words, he felt dizzy. "No, I can't understand this."

"Have you packed up and closed up?" Xu Kuan asked.

"Well, there won't be many guests coming up, so we might as well go home. We need to cook some braised dishes and prepare other food. Everyone should take this time to rest." Qiao Mancang went on and on.

When they returned home, Xu Kuan was still copying books; he wouldn't go back until evening.

When they returned to the alley, the Qiao family saw that white banners were hanging in front of Old Madam An's house again. Lin was immediately stunned. Qiao Mancang went in to ask what was wrong and learned that Old Madam An had passed away.

Zheng Ming brought his family to handle the funeral arrangements. His eyes were red. "Yesterday I asked the old lady to come back with me, but she refused. She insisted on living alone. I was worried that she couldn't take care of herself, so I asked my daughter to come and stay with her for a few days. But no matter how much we knocked, no one answered the door. It was only when Sizhu from next door climbed in and opened the door that we found out the old lady had passed away."

"Why so suddenly?" Qiao Mancang frowned slightly.

“Yes, I didn’t expect it either. She ate all the mutton your family sent yesterday. Seeing that she had such a good appetite, I thought it wasn’t a serious illness.” Zheng Ming said with self-reproach, “If my uncle knew that I didn’t attend my aunt’s funeral, he would never forgive me.”

"Don't think too much about it, just accept my condolences." Qiao Mancang patted Zheng Ming's shoulder. "We'll help you with the arrangements. The old lady was a good person when she was alive. We're all neighbors, so we should do our part now."

He went to the door and called his second son, who stayed behind with Lin to help.

The others went home first. When Qiao Mianmian got home, she saw that her grandmother's eyes were also red.

"Life is truly unpredictable," Zhang sighed. "Since your parents are over there, you should stay at home. Your grandfather and I will help with the rest."

The white banner hung in the alley for three days. On the day of Old Madam An's funeral, Qiao Mianmian went to help with the cooking, which was free, but Zheng Ming still gave her a red envelope.

Qiao Mianmian refused to accept it, and Zheng Ming then brought over a pig's head.

"Thank you so much for your help these past few days. Your family is already so busy, and you even put aside your business for my aunt's sake. Please don't mind this little bit of food." Zheng Ming placed the pig's head on the table.

"Oh, you're too kind," Lin said, "We're all neighbors. We've received help from your aunt before, so it's only right that we help out."

"Sister-in-law, please keep it, otherwise I'll feel bad." Zheng Ming insisted on keeping the pig's head. After leaving the Qiao family, he went to the Lu family across the street.

Lu Zhao and Qing Jiu had just returned when they saw Zheng Ming and were surprised to see him, wondering why he had come.

"I'm sorry, we just got back and we only have cold tea at home." Qingjiu touched the teapot. "Please sit for a while, I'll go make you some tea."

"No need for that!"

Zheng Ming took out a silver lock necklace from his sleeve. "This was given to Qingjiu by my aunt. She said that seeing Qingjiu reminded her of my cousin when he was young. Thank you all for your help these past few days. She didn't have anything good to leave behind, only this. It was for my cousin's first birthday. I hope Qingjiu won't mind."

Qingjiu was stunned. "Why...why are you giving me this? I didn't do anything."

“You’ve done so much. I haven’t taken good care of you; it was you who helped buy rice and deliver firewood. Since it’s your aunt’s wish, this is definitely for you. She must really like you to give you this necklace.” Zheng Ming looked at Qing Jiu. Actually, Qing Jiu didn’t look like his cousin at all, but the feeling they gave off was very similar.

Qingjiu looked at his master, unsure whether he should accept the gift.

Lu Zhao and Qingjiu nodded, "Take it, we'll go to sweep Grandma An's grave next year."

Despite having spent little time together and being neither related nor acquainted, Lu Zhao felt a slight tightness in his chest.

Qingjiu burst into tears, "Waaah, we didn't get to see the old lady one last time. Every time we went to see her, she would give me some snacks."

"Snacks?" Zheng Ming said her aunt didn't like snacks.

"It's all kinds of snacks, like shortbread, fried dough twists, and maltose." Qingjiu always gets to eat something whenever he goes, and Grandma An always gives him a big handful to take home.

However, sometimes the fried dough sticks and shortbread would get soggy. He thought that the old man didn't go out often, so he would buy more at once because he couldn't finish them all.

Seeing Qingjiu wiping away her tears, Zheng Ming understood that the old lady had prepared this food for the people who came to visit her.

He took a deep breath silently. "It's getting late, I'll head back now. My aunt will be very happy to know you're going to sweep the graves."