“These pigs and deer in this yard will be a bit of a hassle to take them to the town.” An Dafeng glanced at An Manduo, who was eating a large cabbage with his head down.
“Manduo, tomorrow you and Mancang go to town and take these pigs and deer over to sell.”
An Manshou looked up upon hearing this and gave a hearty laugh.
“I’m going with Mancang, but it’s unlikely that Mancang and Manduo alone can manage to get the town going.”
An Mancang shook his head.
"Big cousin, second cousin, you don't need to help out. Just do what you're supposed to do. I can go by myself."
I won't take these pigs and deer to town. Tianxiang Restaurant in town is a big restaurant; it can definitely handle that many pigs and deer. I'll just call someone from Tianxiang Restaurant to come and take them away.
“You should at least leave me one of those pigs.” An Daliang, who had been silent, suddenly blurted out this sentence.
Everyone at the table stopped eating and looked at An Daliang.
An Daliang continued, looking completely at ease.
"Manyi is about to get engaged, so bringing a pig as part of her dowry would be a matter of pride and honor for our old An family."
An Dalin took a slow sip of wine and nodded leisurely.
"Alright! Third brother, you can give whatever you want as a dowry when your daughter gets married. Giving dowry items when a daughter gets married is a matter of course, I have nothing to say about that. It's just this pig. If we leave one for you, how much are you planning to give? As long as your family can afford it."
An Daliang, puffing on his cigarette, was displeased upon hearing this. "As an older brother, it's only right and proper for me to leave a pig as part of my sister's dowry. What's the point of talking about money?"
An Dalin slammed the wine bowl in his hand onto the table with a loud bang, and his ruddy, spirited face instantly darkened.
"Hey Da Liang, what you're saying isn't human! What, if your daughter gets married, does my son have to give you a pig as a dowry? What kind of logic is that?"
Behind the curtain, at a table, He Sanfeng, who had been listening intently to the commotion, couldn't sit still any longer and got up to lift the curtain upon hearing this.
“He Anmancang was born and raised by me, He Sanfeng, so why can’t my family have a pig?”
If you ask me, I'd say we should at least give them two. There are already five in the yard, what's wrong with giving them two?
Second brother, are you planning to take it all? There should at least be some for my family, right?
An Manshou's wife, Liu Xiaoqiao, burst out laughing.
"I say, Third Aunt, what you're saying is a joke. My cousin Mancang's family has already been adopted by Second Uncle's family. They really have nothing to do with your family anymore. You're just being unreasonable and blatantly robbing us!"
"How can it not matter? Even if he was adopted, he's still a child who crawled out of my belly, a piece of flesh that fell from my body, He Sanfeng. He's my son, He Sanfeng's son, whom I raised with my own hands and feet. It's only right that I take his child. I should leave two pigs in the yard for him."
Liu Xiufen nodded in agreement, "What Mother said makes sense. She is still a piece of flesh that fell from my body, she is still my mother. Even if she was adopted, we can't treat her like an outsider just because of that."
Liu Xiaoqiao gave a sarcastic smile, clearly disapproving.
"Oh, Xiufen, back when we were young girls, you always had such a rambling mouth, you could make black sound like white."
We both married into this family from Liujia Village, and you still have such a sharp tongue!
When the family was divided, I never saw my third aunt treat my cousin Mancang as her son. Now she's suddenly changed her tune.
"Even the opera mask can't change as quickly as Third Aunt's face."
Qiao Qiuniang awkwardly tugged at Liu Xiaoqiao's sleeve, signaling her to stop talking.
Liu Xiaoqiao pulled up her sleeve and glared at Qiao Qiuniang.
"What are you doing? Qiu Niang, you're too kind-hearted and too soft-hearted. Otherwise, would you have been taken advantage of and left with nothing?"
Don't you have any idea how you've been oppressed by your mother-in-law and sister-in-law all these years?
"They've already separated the family, and he's been adopted into my second uncle's family. How can we let them treat us like pushovers?"
Qiao Qiuniang's face was stiff, and she couldn't say a word.
Liu Xiufen's face immediately darkened, and she rolled up her sleeves, pointing at Liu Xiaoqiao's nose, ready to fight.
"Liu Xiaoqiao, are you deliberately trying to cause trouble here? Are you afraid that our family is getting too peaceful? Are you intentionally trying to make me unhappy?"
"What's wrong with you? I can't stand your robbery attitude. What are you trying to do? Are you going to make a move?"
"Come on, come on, I'll let you slap my face. If you dare to move an inch, I'll chop off your filthy hooves."
Although Liu Xiaoqiao is named Liu Xiaoqiao, she is not small at all. Her big and burly figure is almost comparable to that of a tough guy. Her frame is twice the size of Liu Xiufen's.
Anle sat to the side, swallowing hard. "Damn, my great-grandfather's eldest daughter-in-law is really something else!"
But she likes this temper!
When dealing with robbers, this brutal and tyrannical approach is the only way to resolve the issue.
Liu Xiaoqiao suddenly stood up, startling not only Liu Xiufen but also He Sanfeng, who trembled and dared not utter a sound.
Anle sneered inwardly, "Ha, look at this cowardly bully."
"Mother, the rabbit hutch hasn't been built yet. Why don't you go out and build it?" Anle casually made up an excuse to send Qiao Qiuniang away.
Anyway, staying in this room, I won't be able to enjoy this meal in peace.
“Mother, I’ll go with you and my older sister to build our nest.” Anning stood up and was about to go out with Qiao Qiu’s mother.
"Why build a nest in the dark? Let's talk about it tomorrow." Liu Xiufen grabbed Qiao Qiuniang, who was about to leave the house, and pulled her up.
She hadn't even gotten her hands on those two pigs yet, and she was already pointing at that spineless Qiao Qiuniang and agreeing.
Once she responded, her second uncle certainly wouldn't be able to say anything more.
It's a fool not to take advantage of a bargain. These are two pigs, each worth four or five taels of silver.
Anle coldly observed Liu Xiufen, who was full of ulterior motives. Don't think she didn't know what she was up to.
"Auntie, stop talking and hurry up and eat. Once you're done eating, we should leave so I can rest. I've been up and down the mountain all day, and I want to rest."
"Mancang, don't sleep tonight. Stay outside and guard those pigs and deer. I'll go to Tianxiang Tower first thing tomorrow morning to ask around." An Dalin picked up a piece of stir-fried cabbage, sipped his wine and ate heartily. After instructing An Mancang, he turned his head and changed the subject.
"Big brother, third brother, it's getting late, so I won't keep you any longer. When you get old, you're no longer useful. My old arms and legs have been working hard all day in town, so I need to rest."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
