Chapter Seventy-Two: Father
The new shop has been open for about ten days, and business is gradually stabilizing.
Zhang Yixian had also gotten used to occasionally working alone in the shop, waiting for Xiong Zixiang to come and help after his shift, and then the couple would squeeze into a small bed in the attic to spend the night.
As the number of copper coins in the money box increased day by day, I felt at ease.
But when the night is quiet, I still think of the earthen kang (heated brick bed) at home where I could sleep comfortably with my back in it.
That morning, Zhang Liuyi had just taken down the shop door and started a fire to cook soup and porridge when he heard familiar footsteps outside the door.
She looked up and saw her father, Zhang Dashan's, tall figure blocking the doorway.
He was still wearing that brown leather apron stained with oil, and he was carrying half a carcass of unsold pork on his shoulder. He looked travel-worn, clearly having just come from the morning market at Xishikou and hadn't even had time to go home.
"father?"
Zhang Liuyi quickly went to greet him and took the half-slice of meat from his shoulder. The weight made her arm feel heavy: "Why did you come here? Are you done at the morning market? You've taken a long way around. Why don't you go home and rest first?"
Zhang Dashan didn't reply, but just took a breath and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
He pulled a small package wrapped tightly in oil paper from his pocket and shoved it into Zhang Liuli's hand without saying a word.
"Take it."
The package felt greasy to the touch; the paper was soaked in oil.
Zhang opened it with a puzzled look, and inside was a large, thick, snow-white piece of lard!
"Father, what is this...?" She was a little confused.
"I'll make you some pork cracklings." Zhang Dashan said succinctly, his gaze sweeping over her face: "You've been so busy lately, your face has gotten thinner. Make some pork cracklings to replenish your energy."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yili was both amused and exasperated, pinching his chin, which had recently become a bit round from the unsold soups and braised dishes at his shop.
"Dad, look at me, where am I thin? All the leftover tripe and lung soup, pig's head meat jelly, and pig's ears from the shop ended up going to me! I'm got plenty of fat and juicy food!"
Zhang Dashan ignored her and just glared at her.
"Just take it! Stop talking nonsense!"
He paused, as if remembering something, and added, "When it's done, give some to Zixiang too."
Knowing her father's stubbornness, Zhang Liuyi no longer refused and had no choice but to accept the heavy gift.
"Okay, Dad. Would you like to sit down for a while? I'll get you a bowl of porridge to tide you over?"
"I'm not sitting here anymore."
Zhang Dashan waved his hand, walked to the wall, and with a grunt, hoisted the half-portion of pork back onto his shoulder.
He turned and walked out, his steps somewhat hurried.
Zhang Liuyi hurriedly took two steps after him: "Dad! Slow down! Is there anything around the house I can help with?"
Zhang Dashan stopped at the door and looked back at his daughter: "It's nothing... it's just that the rapeseed in the field and the early rice on the slope are almost ready to be harvested. If you have time... put up a sign and come back to stay for a couple of days."
After he finished speaking, without waiting for Zhang to ask any more questions, he carried the heavy load of pork and left without looking back.
His tall figure looked somewhat lonely in the morning mist.
Zhang Liuyi stood at the shop entrance, gazing in the direction his father had gone, feeling as if something had been spilled in his heart, a feeling he couldn't quite describe.
Dad, you're not just talking about farm work.
He was exhausted after selling meat early in the morning, but he went out of his way to come just to give her a piece of lard. He also mentioned the harvest season at home... He clearly missed his daughter!
Uncle and Aunt must miss her too. Brother Liu is still working as a carpenter outside, and although Sister-in-law goes back occasionally, Xiao Nan is still young, and the family is indeed short-handed during the busy farming season.
The thought of this made her feel a pang of sadness.
I've been so busy with the shop's business that I haven't been home for over ten days. I really shouldn't have done that!
She turned and went back into the shop, looking at the piece of lard in her hand.
Although we're not short of money, this is my father's heartfelt gift.
She sighed, rolled up her sleeves, and decided to cook it anyway.
The flames in the stove licked the bottom of the pot, the lard cubes sizzled in the pot, slowly curled up and turned yellow, and a rich aroma of oil filled the air.
Zhang stared intently at the bubbling oil in the pan, and made up his mind.
At this moment, Li Xiulan and Xiong Zijuan also entered the shop one after the other.
Li Xiulan deftly took out the jade flour, kneaded the dough, pinched it into small pieces, and quickly shaped them into round steamed buns, which she then arranged in the steamer.
Xiong Zijuan then took a rag and wiped the tables, chairs, and benches until they creaked.
"Sister-in-law, Sister Zijuan," Zhang said, glancing at the cracklings in the pot. "I was thinking... closing the shop for a couple of days."
Li Xiulan was placing the steamer on the stove when she heard this and looked up: "Take a couple of days off? Sure! You should go back and rest too. Staying in this shop every day, even an iron body can't take it."
Xiong Zijuan nodded in agreement: "Exactly! Go back and spend some time with your family, relax a bit."
Both of them had expressions of agreement on their faces, clearly also feeling that Zhang Yi should go home and visit his family.
In the evening, Xiong Zixiang finished his shift and, as usual, came over to help.
Zhang Liuli scooped a small bowl of the cooked pork cracklings and handed it to him.
"Dad brought over some lard this morning. I rendered some cracklings in it. Have a taste."
Xiong Zixiang picked up a piece of golden-yellow pork crackling, took a bite, and his mouth was filled with its delicious aroma.
"Mmm, smells good!" He swallowed. "Why is Dad here? Is something wrong?"
Zhang Xiaoyi also ate a small piece; the fried pork cracklings were crispy.
She paused, then recounted what had happened that morning: "...Dad said the rapeseed and early rice at home are ready for harvest, and he wants me to go back and help out for a couple of days."
Xiong Zixiang nodded upon hearing this: "It's time to go back. I'll ask someone to help me ask for leave in a bit, and we can lend a hand. It'll be a good opportunity for you to relax a bit."
“Okay,” Zhang Yili replied, pointing to the counter: “Could you write a sign for me that we’re closed for two days? I’ll hang it up.”
Xiong Zixiang responded, took the wooden board, picked up a worn-out brush, dipped it in ink, and began to write stroke by stroke.
As evening approached, the work chants of those leaving the dock echoed out.
After the last few customers who had finished drinking soup wiped their mouths and left, Zhang Liuyi quickly began to clean up.
She carefully wrapped the unsold braised food in oil paper and stored it in a small jar on the shelf.
Then everyone cleaned and wiped the shop inside and out, including the tables, chairs, benches, stove, and floor.
Then, they hung the sign that said "Closed for two days" in the most conspicuous place at the entrance of the shop.
Xiong Zixiang also rushed over and helped her install the heavy window panels one by one and tighten the latches.
The small shop immediately fell silent.
"Just lock the shop door. You can stay home and not worry about this place." Xiong Zixiang patted the door panel.
"Mm," Zhang Yili replied.
Zhang Yili packed some simple clothes, locked the shop door, and then set off with Xiong Zixiang, Xiong Zijuan, and Li Xiulan on their way back to Zhuohe Village.
Pushing open the familiar courtyard gate, a pungent aroma of firewood and cooked food wafted towards me.
The kitchen was steaming with warmth. In the yard, little Nan'er was squatting on the ground, engrossed in playing with mud. Hearing the noise, she looked up, her little eyes lighting up. She immediately dropped the mud in her hand and rushed over like a little cannonball, calling out, "Auntie! Auntie! Nan'er missed you!"
Zhang Liuli bent down and picked up his little nephew, weighing him in his arms.
"Oh dear, our little Nan'er has gotten heavier again!" The little guy giggled and hugged her neck affectionately.
Aunt Wang, hearing the commotion, poked her head out of the kitchen: "You're back? Wash your hands quickly, dinner's ready! Your dad's been nagging you all day!"
Zhang Dahe smiled contentedly as he watched his niece bring in her grandson.
Zhang Dashan strolled out from the east wing and, seeing his daughter return, quickly poured her some water.
Dinner was prepared by my aunt, Aunt Wang.
A large bowl of thick rice porridge, a dish of freshly pickled vegetables, and a bowl of stewed green beans and eggplants until they were very tender.
They were all home-style dishes, steaming hot, with aromas that wafted straight into your nose.
The whole family sat around the kang table in the main room.
The room suddenly became lively, with the soft sound of chopsticks touching the rim of bowls and the slurping of soup, all blending together to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Aunt Wang, not even bothering to eat herself, picked up her chopsticks and kept piling food into Zhang Jinzhi's bowl: "Eat more! Look at you, you must not be eating well at the shop!"
Zhang noticed the small mountain that had instantly piled up in the bowl.
"Auntie, I'm eating well. The shop has soup and meat, I haven't missed a single meal."
"Can those be the same?"
Aunt Wang glared at her reproachfully, but her hands didn't stop moving as she picked up another piece of food and piled it on top.
"Leftovers from the shop can't compare to the nourishment of home-cooked meals!"
Zhang Dashan didn't say anything, but silently reached out with his chopsticks, picked out the most tender green bean from the green bean bowl, and placed it steadily on top of the small mountain in Zhang Liuyi's bowl.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com