"What's going on?" Zhang Qiquan asked in surprise.
Hearing the commotion, Liu Cui and Zhang Xianglian, who were inside the house, quickly washed their hands and came over. When they saw Fang Heng, they both gasped in shock.
"Uncle, Aunt, Auntie, Third Brother is injured. Let him go inside and lie down first," Jiang Sheng said, her eyes red.
Zhang Xianglian reacted immediately and rushed into the backyard to make a bed, stacking three layers of mattresses to ensure that Fang Heng wouldn't feel pain when he lay down.
Liu Cui and Zhang Qiquan held Zheng Ruqian and listened to him recount everything. They were both terrified and filled with lingering fear.
"Don't go out during this time," Zhang Qiquan said in a deep voice. "Leave the meat to me."
As the prefectural city official, this matter should have been his responsibility.
Zheng Ruqian didn't take on any more jobs, just briefly explained the approximate price, and then let it go.
Although Fang Heng was injured, the 1,000 jin of cured meat that had been ordered was still there. No matter what, the meat had to be bought and the work had to be started.
Fortunately, Zhang Qiquan is a reliable person.
Over the next few days, he busied himself buying meat and getting things started, and the small flower-adorned courtyard began to take shape as a workshop.
Fortunately, although the courtyard was a front-work area and a back-yard area, there were two walls in between, so the workers' busy work was relatively quiet and did not disturb Fang Heng's rest.
He remained unconscious for seven days.
For the past seven days, Xu Mo, Zheng Ruqian, Wen Zhiyun, Chang Yan, and Jiang Sheng have all stayed by his side, and not one of them has left.
Every day they patiently helped Fang Heng change his dressings, fed him water, and washed his face.
"This prefecture is truly a place of trouble," Zheng Ruqian sighed. "Last time, my eldest brother's backside was bruised, this time it's my third brother, and who knows who it will be next time."
"Pah, pah, pah, Second Brother, you're such a jinx!" Jiang Sheng was furious and stomped on the tip of his shoe. "Don't talk nonsense."
No one will get hurt anymore, no one will.
Why isn't Third Brother awake yet? Could he really be dead?
Tears welled up in Jiang Sheng's eyes again. She leaned over the edge of the bed and sobbed softly.
Until someone gently stroked her hair.
Jiang Sheng thought it was Zheng Ruqian and waved her hand angrily, "Second brother is annoying, second brother jinx, Jiang Sheng doesn't want second brother to touch her."
This drew a sharp gasp from the man.
He teased in a hoarse voice, "Little Jiang Sheng, Third Brother just woke up, and you're already going to knock me out?"
Jiang Sheng was startled, then suddenly stood up, looked into Fang Heng's bright eyes, and screamed, "Third Brother is awake!"
There was a sudden commotion, with an inkstone falling, a stool overturning, a medicine box being knocked over, or books falling to the ground.
In a short while, four teenagers rushed over from different directions.
"Third brother, you're awake?" Xu Mo wiped the ink off his sleeve, smiling broadly. "It's good that you're awake."
Zheng Ruqian rubbed his sore backside, his face full of smugness, "I knew it, evil deeds live on for a thousand years."
Wen Zhiyun pursed her lips, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.
Changyan asked seriously, "Third Brother, how are you feeling? Are you feeling unwell? If you are, just ask Fourth Brother. He's the one who treated all your injuries."
“Yes, yes, Fourth Brother is amazing. He can save you all by himself.” Jiang Sheng gestured with his hands and feet at the same time. “You don’t know, Jiang Sheng almost fainted when she saw so much blood, but Fourth Brother was able to calmly apply medicine. He is truly born to be a doctor.”
Such effusive praise made Wen Zhiyun feel a little embarrassed.
It turns out that in the hearts of his older brother, younger brother, and younger sister, he wasn't a useless person; he was finally a useful person.
The inner repression was released to some extent.
Wen Zhiyun pursed his lips, finally mustered up his courage and said softly, "Third brother, don't be afraid. This time you mostly have superficial injuries, except for your abdomen, which is more serious. But as long as you rest well, you will definitely recover."
Finally, he added, "I will definitely make it healed."
Fang Heng nodded seriously.
Xu Mo and Zheng Ruqian, who were standing nearby, couldn't help but laugh.
Even Chang Yan and Jiang Sheng smiled.
For seven whole days, the children's faces were once again filled with happy smiles.
Zhang Xianglian, who was outside the door, breathed a sigh of relief and finally dared to go to the workshop to help.
These past few days, watching Zhang Qiquan and his wife make cured meat, Zhang Xianglian curiously tried it herself, adding several spices and reducing the amount of salt. She was surprised to find that the meat tasted even better this way.
It's not overly salty, while retaining the flavor of cured meat and its ability to not spoil easily.
Zhang Qiquan was greatly surprised and pulled Zhang Xianglian aside, asking her to help adjust the other proportions to see if there was a better recipe and taste.
Ideally, the amount of salt and spices should be precisely measured down to the ounce.
Making cured pork is simple, but making it to the right standard and achieving the perfect flavor is difficult.
It was at this time that Zhang Xianglian discovered how sensitive she was to taste; she could detect the difference between adding more or less salt, adding or removing a spice.
During the period when Fang Heng was recuperating after waking up, she was like a happy lark, cooking for the children every day and then helping out in the front workshop.
Until the first batch of cured pork was smoked.
Five hundred catties were delivered to Youranju in Fucheng, which received unanimous praise, and another thousand catties were ordered.
The remaining 500 jin (250 kg) had to be personally hauled back to Xieyang County by Zheng Ruqian.
This means they are leaving the prefectural city.
Looking at the small workshop and the unfamiliar city, Zhang Xianglian suddenly felt a pang of reluctance to leave.
She looked at the front yard, then the back yard, and then at each piece of cured meat drying under the eaves, and sighed deeply.
"Auntie." Jiang Sheng appeared behind her at some point, carrying a small package. "Auntie, Jiang Sheng is leaving."
Zhang Xianglian was startled. "Child, where are you going? Aren't we going back to Xiyang County together?"
“Yes,” Jiang Sheng nodded, “but Auntie doesn’t want to go back.”
Zhang Xianglian was taken aback.
Jiang Sheng continued, "Auntie has been so happy lately. Uncle Zhang even praised you for being skillful and making better cured meat than others. This is also a strange place, so no one will recognize Auntie or hurt her."
"Although Jiang Sheng likes her aunt's cooking, she likes her aunt's happiness even more. If her aunt can stay in the city and be happy every day, then she should stay here."
"Jiang Sheng, you will miss your aunt."
After the little girl finished speaking, she smiled and turned around, clutching her small bundle.
Zhang Xianglian suddenly felt a lump in her throat and rushed over to hug her tightly. "Little Jiang Sheng, why are you so sensible?"
Why do you have to be so smart?
The gate of Fucheng.
The horse-drawn carriage and the donkey cart started up at the same time, carrying six children and 500 jin of cured meat, heading towards Xieyang County.
As Zhang Xianglian watched them disappear, she felt both reluctant and saddened, tears blurring her vision.
Five days later.
The county government office in Xieyang.
The servant whispered to the magistrate of Xiyang County, "Sir, they have returned from the prefectural city."
"They finally decided to come back, after all this time! It's been a whole month!" the new magistrate huffed. "I thought they were going to stay in the prefectural city forever."
He was grinding inkstone, preparing to issue new regulations.
The servant clicked his tongue hesitantly, "I just found out that the reason they were delayed for so long is because Young Master Fang was attacked in the prefectural city and seriously injured..."
The rest of the words were left unsaid.
The new magistrate was astonished, and the writing brush in his hand fell to the ground.
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