Chapter 318 Pork Distributed Throughout the Village
The 29th day of the twelfth lunar month.
The snow was still falling, and layers of snow piled up on the ground, leaving a deep pit underfoot.
Snowflakes fell onto the cutting board, staining it red with pig's blood, and everyone's heart was burning with excitement, for this was destined to be a prosperous and joyous New Year.
Cheng Wanwan's family consists of seven people: an elder, four sons, a daughter-in-law, and her youngest granddaughter. They are entitled to a total of two jin and one liang of meat.
Although there wasn't much meat, it didn't matter. As long as there was meat at home, she could just buy some more from the store and secretly add it to the meal.
"Your family has seven people, plus Master Yu, Master He, Kong Xiuniang, Cheng Tongsheng, Afu, and Wu Xiaochui, totaling three jin and nine liang," the village head said with a smile. "Do you want all meat, or would you like some offal and bones in return?"
Cheng Wanwan was about to wave her hand.
The village head then spoke up: "Being able to stay in our Dahe Village for the New Year is a kind of fate with Dahe Village. Regardless of whether you are a villager or not, you must have everything you need. Don't you all agree?"
The people in line behind nodded in agreement.
"Master Yu is a schoolteacher, how can he not eat meat?"
"Xiao He also contributed to catching the wild boar today, so Xiao He deserves a share."
“Cheng Tongsheng has lived in our village for so long, he’s practically a part of Dahe Village now.”
"Kong Xiu Niang teaches embroidery for free, and of course we share our meat too, for free."
"Ah Fu and Xiao Chui are so sensible, how could we not give the child meat?"
"In my opinion, Young Master Shen should also get a share. Even though he's not here, we still need to be polite."
"..."
Everyone chatted amongst themselves, their faces filled with kind smiles.
Cheng Wanwan laughed: "I want two and a half catties of pork, plus a pig's trotter, a spare rib, and the rest can be replaced with large bones and offal."
She handed him her large basin, which was quickly filled to the brim, giving him a sense of abundant joy.
Not only did the people of Dahe Village receive a share, but the newcomers to Dahe Village also received wild boar meat, three ounces each, without any discrimination.
It was the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month. In the evening, people had to prepare the food needed for the New Year. Every household lit fires and started cooking.
Many people came to Cheng Wanwan's home to buy firewood. This firewood, which was originally stored in the soap workshop, has been almost sold out in the short four or five days of snow and low temperatures.
"Auntie, there's not much firewood left," Wu Xiaochui reported as he entered the kitchen. "Based on our firewood supply, the remaining firewood will only last until the seventh day of the first lunar month."
Cheng Wanwan said, "Let's think about this after the New Year."
If the snow stops a year from now, this problem will be solved.
If there's no dry firewood, wet firewood is still usable, it's just a little more troublesome.
"Xiao Chui, put aside your accounting work for now, wash your hands, and come help." Cheng Wanwan pointed to the pork on the cutting board. "Chop all this meat into small pieces. The finer you chop it, the better the lion's head meatballs will taste."
Wu Xiaochui asked in confusion, "What does this meat have to do with lion's head meatballs?"
Zhao Sidan burst into laughter: "I used to think that lion's head meatballs were made from lion's heads, but I later found out that they are just deep-fried meatballs."
Wu Xiaochui blushed deeply: "I've never eaten meatballs before..."
"It's so delicious." Afu licked his lips. "Your second sister's lion's head meatballs are even better than those in restaurants."
He kneaded the dough as he spoke.
Today we're making a lot of fried foods, a New Year's tradition in Dahe Village: pure meatballs, tofu meatballs, chive meatballs, fried dough sticks, fried dough twists... We also need to make some snacks for the children, like maltose and sugar cakes. The kitchen is so busy that we can't keep up with the activity, and the tables in the main room are also bustling with activity.
Master Yu and He Xiao also arrived, but these two were not good at anything, so they just sat on the side drinking tea and chatting about current affairs.
Kong Xiuniang was making some unusual pastries that no one in the village had ever seen before. They were simply made of flour, eggs, and sugar, and she could make all sorts of pastries.
This was in preparation for the Lunar New Year the next day; the family was busy until very late before they could rest.
On the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, early in the morning, Old Man Zhao asked his two sons to bring over the largest table in the house, and a total of three tables were set up.
Old Zhao's family brought all the ingredients and cooked a sumptuous reunion dinner together. This is a custom in the village: even if the family has separated, as long as the parents are still alive, the younger generation must eat the reunion dinner together.
Old Zhao's family has more than a dozen people, and Cheng Wanwan's family also has more than a dozen people, totaling nearly thirty people.
The kitchen was the women's domain; they would gather around and discuss the dishes, chattering away without stopping.
Outside the courtyard, children were playing and chasing each other, creating quite a lively scene.
The main room was dominated by men. Old Man Zhao sat in the main seat, while Master Yu and He Xiao drank tea, and Cheng Zhao and others chatted with them.
"I never knew the New Year could be so lively," Master Yu exclaimed. "Dahe Village is truly unique."
Before he left the Yu family, he had also celebrated the New Year, but it was never this lively.
Later, he left the Yu family and wandered alone, experiencing the bitterness of spending the New Year alone. Later, he married a wife and had children, and the New Year slowly began to have flavor.
Suddenly, I felt homesick.
It wasn't the Yu family, but his wife, and their son and daughter.
He had originally planned to return on the 20th of the twelfth lunar month, but unexpectedly, he couldn't go back. Once the road was open, he would definitely borrow the carriage from the Sui Ru family to return to Huzhou as quickly as possible and be with his family.
He Xiao took a sip of tea and said slowly, "It is indeed lively."
The He family must be even more lively now.
Bright red lanterns, crackling firecrackers, a steady stream of visitors...
The He family in the capital, a He family he can never return to, a He family with whom he will never have any connection again… And the woman who once smiled sweetly at him, she must be married by now. I hope she made the right choice, and I hope she lives a peaceful and happy life in her later years…
He Xiao lowered his head, treating the tea like wine, and drank it all in one gulp.
"Why do you all seem so down?" Old Zhao stroked his beard. "But it makes sense. It's the New Year, a time for family reunions. You're all alone in a foreign land, so it's normal to feel unhappy. Come on, Master Yu, tell me what the preliminary examination is all about, so that this old man who's never been to school can learn about it too."
When it comes to exams, Zhao Sidan can no longer play happily outside and is forced to come to class.
"The first exam is called the county exam. The exam center is located in Ping'an County. The exam will be held on the second day of the second lunar month, and there will be two sessions," Master Yu said, stroking his beard. "Those with poor handwriting will be eliminated in the first session. Jing Si, your handwriting is still too poor; you need to practice more..."
Zhao Sidan cupped his hands and said, "Yes, Master."
Cheng Wanwan could understand the boy's pain. He had only been able to read for half a year, and it was already quite good that he could write clearly. If he wanted to learn Cheng Zhao's handwriting, it would probably take at least several years. Zuo You Si Dan was still young, so he could practice slowly.
Old Zhao said with a smile, "Fourth Egg, you are the hope of our whole family. You must pass the imperial examination and become a student."
Zhao Sidan said with a bitter face, "My older cousin only passed the imperial examination at the age of sixteen. I'm not as smart as him, so I definitely can't do it..."
“You two can’t be compared,” Zhao Dashan said. “The Cheng family is poor, and my older cousin has to earn money to study. He’s lucky if he can spend half his day studying… And I remember, the first year he took the exam, he needed to pay a deposit of several taels of silver. Because the Cheng family couldn’t afford it, my older cousin was delayed. Otherwise, he could have become a student at the age of twelve…”
Zhao Ergou nodded: "Big Cousin works very hard studying, but Sidan, you don't have to worry about anything. Afu has taken over the work of feeding the chickens and ducks. If you don't pass the preliminary examination, it means you've been slacking off in your studies."
"Alright, alright, what are you older brothers doing threatening your younger brother?" Cheng Wanwan said with a laugh. "If passing the preliminary examination is so easy, why don't you all take it?"
Zhao Dashan quickly shook his head: "Well, Sidan, just do your best. It's okay if you don't pass the exam."
Zhao Ergou coughed: "I have no interest in the imperial examinations, they're just too difficult. Sidan, it's not too late for you to give up now."
"I won't give up." Zhao Sidan puffed out his chest. "If I don't pass this year, I'll try next year. If I don't pass next year, I'll try the year after. I don't believe I can't pass."
Only by becoming an official could he request that his mother be granted the title of Lady of the Imperial Decree, so that she could become the most glamorous old lady in the surrounding area.
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