Chapter 80: Buying a Donkey or a Second-hand Donkey?
On snowy days, the windows covered with mulberry paper can be illuminated very brightly.
The winter sun seemed to struggle out of the thick darkness, stretching its arms and yawning, its light gradually brightening from the gray-blue of the horizon, slowly spreading. Even in his dreams, Chenmiao, huddled under thick blankets, could sense the light gradually brightening on his eyelids until it became blinding.
She woke up promptly at daybreak.
Yesterday, on New Year's Eve, the family ate eight kinds of braised dishes, as well as sweet and sour fish, four-happiness meatballs, and stir-fried rice cakes. Finally, they played dominoes together to stay up until midnight, when they set off firecrackers to welcome the God of Wealth before going to sleep.
She got up with a yawn to do her hair and wash up.
Today is the first day of the lunar month, so I dressed up extra formally.
She put on a new peach-red cotton long jacket with auspicious crane patterns, the collar and sleeves trimmed with rabbit fur. Below was a pleated scarlet skirt with two ribbons. Her hair was styled in a double-bun hairstyle, with two hairpins inserted diagonally above and below. The jade hairpin given to her by Ninth Brother was on top, and below it was a peach-blossom beaded double-pronged hairpin. Several small velvet flower hairpins adorned the bun.
A peach wood comb was inserted upside down into the bun at the back of her head. Starting in autumn, young women in the market began to wear hairpins and combs as a fashion trend.
Draw your eyebrows, apply powder, and then apply lip rouge—that's it!
There were still several leftover dishes from yesterday's Lunar New Year's Eve in the kitchen. I simply heated them up this morning and ate some fermented bean curd pork with millet porridge, and some blanched tofu with garlic sauce. There's been too much meat and vegetables during the Lunar New Year, so I didn't want to put too much oil in my stomach this morning.
After everyone had finished their breakfast, Xiangjie and Jige finally got up. They had gone to bed too late the night before, and with fireworks and firecrackers going off all night, no one could sleep soundly. But that's the spirit of the New Year; the smell of gunpowder permeated the air.
I can almost hear the clamor of firecrackers in my dreams.
The year was noisy and joyful.
Shen Miao first pulled the dazed Xiang Jie over and combed her hair, styling it into a double bun with red lantern hairpins on both sides. The red silk tassels fell right beside her ears, making her look festive and cute when she moved around.
Ji Ge'er let him comb his own hair; he had already learned how to do hair buns after going to the academy. After he finished combing his own hair, he helped Chen Chuan comb his.
Shen Miao told them to change into their new clothes for the New Year and to go out with her to pay New Year's visits to the neighbors. She then went back into the house to take out the menu that Ji Ge'er had drawn yesterday, along with a large amount of money for the New Year. She happily slung her newly bought fan-shaped cloth bag over her shoulder—this little bag was the one Shen Miao had spotted when she went out to buy groceries and passed by a clothing store.
The bottom of the bag is padded with a small piece of cowhide, and the top is made of a very low saturation water-red fabric. The shoulder strap is three fingers wide and is fully embroidered with diamond-patterned floral designs. The surface of the bag is embroidered with various patterns in light brown-red, olive green, vermilion, and dark blue silk threads. The ends are made of velvet loop brocade, the top and bottom are made of dogwood pattern brocade, and the sides are made of longevity embroidery silk.
The embroidery on this small bag is exquisite, with different patterns and stitches, yet all feel smooth to the touch. The clasps are made of millet pearls arranged in a small fan shape. When I asked the price, it was over three hundred coins.
I didn't buy anything that day and went home.
Two days later, she saw it again as she passed by, and after hesitating for a long time, she finally went home, her heart itching with desire. Two days later, she gritted her teeth and went into the shop, and after much pleading, she managed to bargain down the price to fifty coins and bought it.
As expected, if I like something at first sight, I'll eventually buy it even after hesitating a lot.
But I definitely don't regret buying it. This bag looks small, but it can easily hold a flint, silver coins, copper coins, and keys. Even when fully packed, it doesn't deform because of the good leather support at the bottom. It's lightweight and stylish for everyday use.
It's Chinese New Year, so you should definitely treat yourself to a nice bag.
Shen Miao happily found a legitimate reason for herself.
Xiangjie and Chen Chuan were both wearing red cotton-padded clothes that Atao had made for them. One wore a lion dance hat and the other wore a tiger head hat. Their clothes were also decorated with colorful embroidery of various flowers, birds, insects and fish, which was very festive. Especially in winter, the cotton padding of the clothes was thick, making them look bulky. The two children looked like two moving buns when they wore them.
Shen Miao, with a rather wicked sense of humor, took out cinnabar and used a fine brush to dot the middle of their foreheads with red dots. Then, each of them carried a fish lantern with a curled tail, and they stood side by side in this bewildered state, which made them even more adorable.
She couldn't resist hugging and giving the two children a good rub.
Ji Ge'er watched helplessly as his two younger siblings were dressed up as children in New Year's paintings. He immediately adopted a defiant attitude and insisted on wearing the plain blue floral dress.
Shen Miao had no choice but to regretfully go with him.
Big kids are definitely not as fun as little ones.
She led the three children from Aunt Gu's house, wishing them all the best and hoping they would get rich. She gave each child a string of New Year's money as a gift. Ji Ge'er and the others also received return gifts, but clothes make the man, and Xiang Jie'er and Chen Chuan were especially popular because of their clothes.
Every time they entered a house, their uncles and aunts would hug them tightly, stuffing fried rice, peanut candy, and oranges into their pockets. Before they had even gone halfway, the two children were already too heavy to walk.
With his arms and pockets full of candy and fruit, Shen Miao had no choice but to send Ji Ge'er back to get a cloth bag to put them in.
The last place we visited for New Year's greetings was Gu Dalang's oil mill.
Unexpectedly, the Gu family was unusually lively today—it turned out that the Gu family had bought a horse! The neighbors were all crowding in the courtyard to watch it. Some people were squatting on the ground to look at the horse's hooves, some were trying to pry open the horse's mouth to see its teeth, and some were even pulling up the horse's tail to look at its rump.
This made the horse want to kick the person.
Shen Miao first went up to wish Gu Dalang's family a Happy New Year, and then gave the two twins a New Year's gift, one string for each of them: "Happy New Year, Abao and Brother Abao."
"Happy New Year, Sister Shen!" Ah Bao and her younger brother crisply squatted down to greet her. Ah Bao, still foolishly imitating her sister's squatting posture, annoyed Ah Bao so much that she stomped her foot: "You're wrong again!"
The younger brother, clutching the money, scratched his head, seemingly puzzled.
Shen Miao bent down and smiled at the two of them. They were also wearing red cotton-padded jackets and trousers with plum blossom buttons. Standing with Xiang Jie'er and Chen Chuan, they looked like two pairs of children in New Year's paintings of different sizes, which was quite amusing.
Gu Dalang brought tea and then asked Abao and Adi to take Xiangjie and Chen Chuan to the hall to grab some fruit and sesame candy.
The Gu family was probably the wealthiest in the alley; as the saying goes, they were rolling in money. The table was laden with fruit, including oranges, dates, and even rare cherries, along with over a dozen different kinds of candy, immediately capturing the child's attention.
Although Gu Dalang had told them to go ahead and eat without being shy, Xiang Jie'er and Chen Chuan still obediently looked up at Shen Miao first, asking with their eyes whether they could go.
Shen Miao held a teacup in her hand. Seeing their expectant eyes, she smiled and nodded, "Go ahead, go ahead. Just eat a few dishes, so you won't get a sore throat."
"Okay!"
They cheered and grabbed the twins' hands, running into the hall to pick out candy to eat.
The children hesitated around the table for a long time before deciding what to eat. Xiangjie said she wanted to eat Disu (a type of flaky candy made with milk); Chen Chuan then said he would like to eat chicken head stuffed sugar (a type of candy made by hollowing out a gorgon fruit, stuffing it with sugar, and then soaking it in honey). The two even agreed to exchange them later.
To everyone's surprise, Abao generously said, "Don't be picky, grab a handful of both and eat them with both your left and right hands!"
Shen Miao wanted to turn around and stop them from eating too much candy. Although Xiang Jie'er and Chen Chuan came to the Gu family every day, and it was the New Year, there was no need to be too formal.
But they've both lost their baby teeth, and she's worried about them getting cavities.
Gu Dalang saw through it at a glance and laughed, "Let the children relax on the first day of the Lunar New Year. How much candy can they eat on ordinary days? Even if they indulge, it's only for a few days."
Shen Miao thought about it and agreed; he would ignore them for now.
Curious, she stepped forward to look at the horse that the Gu family had just bought.
The horse that the Gu family bought was naturally not a Rolls-Royce like Ninth Brother's, but a simple-looking dwarf horse used for hauling goods.
But it's still a Mercedes!
This horse has a spotted blue coat and is only a head taller than a donkey; nags are all like this, with large heads, short necks, deep chests, and short, thick limbs. This kind of horse is not fast, but it is cheaper than fine horses, less prone to disease, and can be raised on roughage.
Most importantly, it can walk on various complex terrains, is strong, can carry a lot of goods, and walks very steadily.
Shen Miao looked at it with curiosity, reached out and touched the rough horsehair, then turned around and asked, "It's really nice. When did you buy this? And what about your donkey?"
Shen Miao had a strong impression of the Gu family's donkeys. They were good donkeys, apparently from Guanzhong, a breed that was exceptionally large, strong, and fast, making them very suitable for carrying loads and pulling carts.
It's the best among donkeys.
Gu Dalang stroked the horse's head affectionately and laughed, "Just a few days ago, the cattle and horse trading company was still open. I bought it because it was a few strings of cash cheaper during the New Year holiday. Donkeys can't compare to horses, and this nag, though not as fast as a fine horse, is much faster than a donkey. I've rented a small oil mill in the outer city, and I need to travel between the inner and outer city every day, so I can't do without horses. As for the donkey at home, I plan to sell it after spring."
Shen Miao guessed it, which was why she asked the question, so she immediately followed up with, "How about you sell your donkey to me?"
She had wanted to buy a donkey for a long time.
Upon hearing this, Gu Dalang exclaimed, "Of course that's great!"
Without any formalities, he immediately took Chen Miao to see the donkey.
When Gu Dalang went to buy a horse, he thought of using the value of his donkey as payment. Unexpectedly, none of the horse dealers in the cattle and horse market were willing to agree to this, or they offered extremely low prices.
These horse traders sell their horses at a bargain price before the New Year, hoping to get more cash to go home. If they were asked to use donkeys as collateral, the traders would have to go through the trouble and spend time selling the donkeys. This might be barely feasible under normal circumstances, but now that it's almost the New Year, everyone is desperately looking for cash to go home and reunite with their families.
Moreover, his donkey was only three years old, in its prime, strong and healthy, and looked just like a donkey. Before buying the horse, Gu Dalang had always treasured this donkey. How could he bear to give it up for a very low price?
But now that we already have a horse, raising this donkey would take up too much space and be a waste of money, so it's not worth it.
Just then, Shen Miao wanted to buy it, which suited Gu Dalang's wishes perfectly. Shen Miao was also a neighbor and an acquaintance, so he had nothing to worry about.
He can sell the donkey a day sooner and save money on fodder.
Gu Dalang led Shen Miao to the backyard, pointed to the glossy, robust chestnut-haired donkey in the thatched shed, and said with a touch of nostalgia, "I spent a full five thousand coins to buy this donkey! I trained it carefully for two years, and now it can plow fields, pull millstones, and carry goods with ease. Everyone says donkeys are stubborn, but mine isn't. It's as docile as a mule."
Gu Dalang then flipped the donkey's tail up for Shen Miao to see, "Look, this donkey's mane and tail hair are both white. Experts who judge donkeys all say that a donkey of this quality is top-notch, and it can even be bred with a horse to produce a red mule!"
As he spoke, he grinned and winked at Shen Miao, promising her a free ride: "In the future, you can bring this donkey to mate with my horse. If it produces a mule, I'll give you one of them, for free!"
Shen Miao laughed as well: "You said it, I've remembered it, you can't go back on your word."
"Of course!"
Shen Miao looked the donkey up and down. The Gu family used to often use this donkey to pull oil and transport sesame seeds, and it would go back and forth in the alley all day long. She often saw it. When it was hung on the stone mill to press oil, it could go around in circles all day without giving up.
So, she had actually been eyeing this obedient donkey for a long time.
It's rare to find such a docile and obedient donkey.
Earlier, Shen Miao had intended to buy a donkey and had even inquired at the cattle and horse market. But ever since she saw the donkeys from the Gu family, she couldn't stand the untrained donkeys at the cattle and horse market.
Some donkeys are too lively and will disappear if you let go; some donkeys are impatient and like to kick people at the drop of a hat; some donkeys are extremely stubborn and will throw people off as soon as you ride them; some donkeys are even more amusing, they look at people sideways and fart all the time.
As for buying a mule, Shen Miao was even less satisfied.
Mules cannot reproduce, have higher requirements for feed than donkeys, and are more prone to illness. Although donkeys are mostly bad-tempered, among "transportation animals" such as horses, mules, donkeys, and cattle, they are considered the most economical, practical, and easy to care for.
Shen Miao reached out and gently stroked the docile donkey that was chewing hay. Its large, dark eyes looked at him with moist eyes, and its coat gleamed. Shen Miao's heart was moved. He immediately asked, "Young Master, how much silver are you willing to give me for this donkey?"
Gu Dalang pondered for a moment, then laughed and said, "We're all neighbors, so I'll never ask for a high price. But don't make me lose too much, sister. I bought this donkey for 5,000 coins, so how about you give me 4,800 coins? This donkey has been with me since it was a year old. I raised it like a son for two years. Just consider it as if I raised it for free. I won't ask you for a single extra coin."
They were all neighbors, and besides, Gu Dalang's price was quite fair. A donkey as excellent and well-behaved as this would cost at least six thousand coins outside. Now that Gu Dalang had given her a discount, Shen Miao didn't haggle any further and immediately agreed.
Although Gu Dalang had long planned to sell the donkey, when the time actually came, he felt a pang of reluctance. He stretched out his round arms, gently hugged the donkey's hairy head, and sighed, "From now on, you'll be living a life of luxury with Madam Shen. I've found you a good home, so I haven't done you any wrong."
This donkey was surprisingly intelligent; it tilted its head and rubbed its forehead against Gu Dalang's arm.
It almost brought tears to Gu Dalang's eyes.
Gu Dalang quickly looked up, waved his hand, and shouted at Chen Miao, "No, take this donkey away quickly, don't let me see it again!"
Shen Miao originally went out to pay New Year's visits, but unexpectedly, she ended up bringing back a donkey.
After returning home, she first gave the money for the donkey to Gu Dalang. When she returned home, she found that many people had come to wish her a Happy New Year! The manager and his assistant of Taifeng Grain Shop, Zheng Tu who sold pork, Niu Dachui who sold mutton, Yu Xun who sold fish, and even several vendors from whom Shen Miao often bought vegetables all came over.
Shen Miao hurriedly and warmly welcomed them, offering them tea, fruit, and conversation. This lively atmosphere continued until nearly noon before gradually dispersing. Only then did Shen Miao have a moment to herself, and carrying the menu, she headed towards the watchtowers north of the bridge where Instructor Lin was located.
Although the curfew is no longer in effect and the city gates of Bianjing have been demolished, the watchtowers on both sides of the gates are still preserved.
Later, as the inner city became increasingly crowded, the emperor ordered the construction of additional watchtowers near the Xiangguo Temple and along the Bian River. These areas were lined with shops, restaurants, teahouses, eateries, and workshops, making them prone to widespread fires. Placing fire watchtowers in these locations would allow for timely detection and suppression of fires.
Back then, the Shen family's residence was saved thanks to these watchtowers; otherwise, the fire might have spread along the streets and become uncontrollable.
Instructor Lin had about a hundred men under his command, who took turns on duty every three days. Each watchtower had four to six people on duty.
From a distance, these watchtowers, taller than ordinary houses, stand not far apart in the snow. The bluestone bricks at the base of the watchtowers are now buried in snow. The second floor is the watchtower, which is not big, but it is well-maintained.
The soldiers on duty huddled around a small brazier, the charcoal inside crackling and popping. Several thick cotton quilts were casually draped over the brazier. On cold winter nights, they would wrap themselves in these quilts and make do with the night inside the tower.
Beneath the small, square window was a wooden platform on which various communication devices were placed. Horns and gongs were polished to a shine, and flags of different colors were neatly arranged.
Every hour, the Xiangjun (a type of military unit) would exchange signals with nearby watchtowers using flags. A blue flag indicated peace, a red flag indicated a fire, and a yellow flag indicated other emergencies requiring support.
Hu Mazi, wrapped in a cotton quilt, was so sleepy that his head was bobbing on the ground like a chick pecking at rice. Next to him, Erhu, a burly and strong man, had a face red from the cold wind and was also full of sleepiness. He rubbed his eyes and muttered, "This damn weather, the snow is falling like it's free. It's making my eyes go blank. I'm so sleepy, I'm going to take a nap."
The two of them stayed up all night yesterday. After all, it was New Year's Eve, and fireworks were going off non-stop. They didn't dare to blink, for fear that a spark might accidentally set the house on fire.
Having stayed up all night, Hu Mazi was still trying to stay awake: "Don't sleep! Didn't the instructor say that Madam Chen is coming to deliver the menu later so we can choose what to eat? The instructor also said that he'll treat us to the first meal so we can all have hot food."
"Yes, the instructor said yesterday that they'll all have hot meals from now on!" Erhu jumped up from the ground again: "How could I forget such a great thing? Has it arrived yet?"
Being a garrison soldier is hard work, and most of those willing to serve are not from Bianjing (Kaifeng), but rather are recruited from nearby villages and towns or even other prefectures. Their parents and brothers live far away, and they have no wives to take care of them. Otherwise, it wouldn't be difficult to have family members bring them a meal while they are on duty.
Then I wouldn't be so greedy.
Hu Mazi quickly glanced out the window and shouted, "Not yet... Oh, here she comes, isn't that Madam Shen!"
Madam Shen was easy to spot; she stood out even in a crowd. His excitement instantly banished his drowsiness. Before she even reached him, he was already swallowing hard, his face filled with longing. "Back in the summer, I went to Shen Ji's restaurant for grilled fish. It was so delicious! I still crave it!"
Unfortunately, winter vegetables are expensive now, and many side dishes are unavailable, so Shenji's grilled fish has been taken off the menu.
They hadn't waited long when Zhang Liubao, the brother on duty downstairs, came running upstairs with a small sheet in his hand, covered in writing.
Zhang Liubao was the only one among them who could read, so he read to them: "Kung Pao Chicken is chicken stir-fried with peanuts, diced carrots, and diced cucumbers; Vinegar-braised Cabbage is... Braised Pork Belly with Preserved Mustard Greens... Stir-fried Winter Melon Slices... Braised Pork Ribs... Garlic Turnips... Which one would you like to eat? Madam Shen said you can choose any three. Three vegetarian dishes are sixteen coins, one meat dish and two vegetarian dishes are twenty coins, and two meat dishes and one vegetarian dish are twenty-four coins."
After thinking for a moment, Hu Mazi said, "Then I'll have Kung Pao Chicken and Braised Pork Ribs, plus some turnips."
Erhu's eyes lit up, and he said cleverly, "I want braised pork with preserved mustard greens, stir-fried cabbage with vinegar, and stir-fried winter melon." After saying that, he nudged Hu Mazi with his elbow, "Mazi, if we two brothers choose like this, we can eat six different dishes together."
Hu Mazi nodded in agreement.
Zhang Liubao replied, "Okay, I've got it. I won't charge you this time; the instructor said he'll treat." With that, he ran downstairs again.
Hu Mazi and Erhu looked at each other, wondering, "Is this it? Will we really be able to eat hot food tomorrow? Besides, these dishes don't seem to have been served at Chenji's shop before, so we don't know how they taste."
However, having eaten at Shen's restaurant several times before, the two of them had great confidence in Madam Shen's cooking skills and had no doubt that it would taste bad. In high spirits, they began discussing why the Kung Pao Chicken was called Kung Pao Chicken.
"Grand Tutor, could it be the Crown Prince's Junior Guardian's intention?" Hu Mazi pondered, stroking his chin. "Could it be because General Yue likes to eat this diced chicken?"
Many of the young soldiers like Hu Mazi joined the army after hearing about General Yue Fei's exploits in capturing three cities and rushing a thousand miles to reinforce Bianjing. So when they heard the name Gongbao, he was the first person they thought of.
Isn't General Yue the Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince?
"But I seem to remember that General Yue likes to eat tofu? Last time the Emperor entertained him, he even prepared a tofu feast."
"Who cares about the chicken pieces? They're bound to be delicious. I can't wait for tomorrow. Just hearing the name of the dish makes me hungry."
The two of them, no longer sleepy, continued chatting together, from the roast duck and fish they remembered to mutton soup and fried sauce soup with flatbread. The more they talked, the hungrier they became, so they got up and made themselves a bowl of instant flatbread to satisfy their cravings.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Shen Miao first went to the Feng family to prepare a homecoming luncheon. The luncheon was relatively simple, and she returned home at 1:45 PM after finishing.
After tidying up the vegetables, we started preparing the boxed lunches.
Of the six dishes, apart from braised pork ribs and braised pork belly with preserved mustard greens, the rest are all quick and easy dishes.
The braised pork belly with preserved mustard greens was prepared yesterday and was just waiting to be steamed. So, Shen Miao chose to make the time-consuming braised pork ribs first. First, she chopped the ribs into small, even pieces, used a "three-step" method to wash away the blood and remove the odor, then heated the oil in a wok until it was very hot and slightly smoking, then poured all the ribs into the wok at once.
With a sizzling sound, she quickly stirred the ribs with a spatula, searing them until golden brown on both sides and slightly charred. Then she added chopped scallions, ginger, and garlic to the pan, stir-frying them with the ribs. Once the aroma of the scallions, ginger, and garlic was released, she added star anise, cinnamon, bay leaves, and other spices, drizzled in wine, poured in soy sauce for color, and continued to stir-fry, ensuring that each piece of rib was coated with sauce as it rolled around.
It already smells delicious at this point.
Finally, add a ladle of water to cover the ribs, cover the pot, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook for about half an hour, until the meat is tender and the broth is rich.
While waiting for the ribs, Chen Miao simultaneously started two pots: one for steaming braised pork belly, steamed buns, and mixed grain rice; the other for stir-frying Kung Pao chicken. First, she cut the chicken into diced pieces. She also chopped plenty of scallions, ginger, and garlic and prepared them in advance.
Fry a handful of peanuts over low heat until crispy, then remove and set aside. In a bowl, quickly prepare a sauce by mixing vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, rice wine, cornstarch, and half a bowl of water. Stir well and it's ready.
Heat oil in a wok, then add diced chicken, diced carrots, and other ingredients and stir-fry. Continue stir-frying until the chicken changes color, then push it to the side of the wok. Add minced scallions, ginger, and garlic, and stir-fry until fragrant. Immediately pour in the sauce, bring to a boil over high heat, and cook until the sauce thickens. Finally, add the fried peanuts, stir well, and the dish is ready.
The rich sauce coats the diced chicken, and the peanuts are crispy and crunchy. This dish is perfect with rice, as it combines sour, sweet, and spicy flavors.
Next, I made stir-fried winter melon slices and vinegared cabbage. I used two separate pots, each with a few minutes' interval between adding scallions, ginger, and garlic to sauté until fragrant, then stir-fried them over high heat. Including the time for chopping and preparing the vegetables, it only took about fifteen minutes to complete.
Eating meat while warming yourself by the fire in winter can easily cause internal heat. It's good to eat two refreshing vegetarian dishes to cool down and regulate your stomach.
The same applies to garlic turnips. Peel them, slice them thinly, sauté the garlic until fragrant, then add spicy dogwood and pickled ginger and stir-fry until fragrant. Add soy sauce, salt and other seasonings to make a fragrant and spicy dish. Frozen turnips will also have a sweet taste and smell even better than meat. It is also a great dish to eat with rice.
All three vegetarian dishes are simple and quick to prepare, nothing much to say about them. By doing this, once all the stir-fried vegetables are cooked, the ribs, braised pork belly, and staple food will also be ready.
Shen Miao carefully placed the six prepared dishes into large bowls, then used all her strength to steadily lift the bowls onto the small serving cart. Next, she bent down to light the stove under the cart and covered it with a quilt to keep it warm.
After everything was in place, they brought out the secondhand donkey they had bought from the Gu family.
Unlike cars, which depreciate with use, a well-bred used donkey is much more valuable than a new one. Take this donkey, for example; it's incredibly well-behaved. Compared to other donkeys, or even to Ninth Brother's donkey that poops fifteen pounds of dung every day, it's far more obedient.
Thinking of this, Shen Miao smiled and took out a small handful of beans from her pocket, waving them in front of the donkey. The donkey sniffed and immediately came closer, quickly eating all the beans in her hand and even affectionately rubbing against Shen Miao's hand.
"He's quite outgoing." Shen Miao patted the donkey's head gently with satisfaction and said softly, "You'll have to work hard today, Shen Shiyi Lang."
The name was given by Xiang Jie'er. If we don't count Tang Er, Fu Xing, A Tao, and You Yu, then according to the Shen family's four people, two dogs, three chickens, and one cat, it ranks eleventh and is a male donkey, so it got its name.
Xiang Jie is playing the role of the elder sister again.
Shen Shiyilang was obediently led by her and then tethered to the front of the car. Shen Miao gently patted its back, and it moved forward.
With Shen Shiyilang pulling the cart, Shen Miao's life became much easier. Her hands were empty, and she walked briskly alongside the cart. Despite a busy day, she didn't feel tired at all; she could even chat with the donkey from time to time along the way.
Although they didn't speak the same language, it didn't seem to hinder their conversation.
As they approached the north of Jinliang Bridge, her figure, walking side by side with her donkey, was reflected in the Bian River. Shen Miao suddenly thought of something: In this world, she seemed to be someone who owned both a car (donkey) and a house.
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