Chapter 51: Killing a Pig
The wild boar was fat and huge, and the two fangs sticking out of its mouth made it difficult to attack.
Qin Feng bravely tied up all its limbs and hooves, and pierced them in the middle with two thick wooden sticks. The corners of his mouth twitched, and he swallowed his saliva and asked, "Dad, what do you think about roasting it directly? I heard that there are herdsmen in the border areas who like to roast whole sheep. They should be similar, right? After all, the meat is cooked and can be eaten. Let's not..." Before he finished speaking, Qin Xiangnuan came over and interrupted him.
"When roasting a whole lamb, you need to process it first. At least the fur should be removed, right?"
Qin Xiangnuan took the dagger from Qin Yi's hand, picked up a slightly sharp stone from the ground, and placed the blade against it. The rustling sound of the sharpening knife was particularly creepy in the evening. Qin Yi wanted to snatch the thing from her hand. Although he was not 100% sure, he still put on the attitude of an elder and said, "Nuannuan! How can you let a girl kill a pig? Let your uncle do it."
"Just wait for the meat!"
Qin Yi wanted to grab the dagger, but Qin Xiangnuan didn't let go. She just smiled at him faintly, "Second Uncle, don't look at me as thin and frail, but killing pigs requires skill and experience. When I was out playing, I often went to the market. There was a butcher named Zhao there. His pig-killing skills were unique in the capital. I thought it was interesting and fresh, so I followed him and learned a few things. I can still remember most of them now."
"Just let me try. If I fail, you can help me."
Qin Xiangnuan moved out the butcher in the market. Qin Yi didn't know whether it was true or not, and he no longer forced her to let go. He just controlled the wild boar with concern.
Killing a pig is a strenuous job, and Qin Xiangnuan was not completely confident.
A piece of pork this big, if processed properly, could support them to walk to the nearest village.
Success or failure depends on this one move!
"Cousin, what are you doing here? Hold Beibei a little further away, and cover her eyes later so she can't see." Qin Xiangnuan warned Qin Xiangning, who ran to her side with eyes full of innocence. It would be bad if this caused a shadow in the little girl's heart. Qin Feng quickly picked up Beibei and tucked her under his arm. He walked a little further away, but he still couldn't help but look back.
Qin Xiangnuan took out a handkerchief from her arms, poured some alcohol on it, and stuffed it directly into the wild boar's mouth.
The wild boar gradually stopped struggling. Killing a pig requires steady, accurate and ruthless efforts.
Qin Xiangnuan picked up the gleaming dagger, aimed it at the boar's neck artery, and measured the thickness of the flesh, estimating the amount of force she would need to exert. When she had a firm grasp on the situation, she raised her arm high. With a puff, the blade sank precisely into the flesh, not a single drop of blood spurting out. Silence fell all around, everyone staring at her. "Second Uncle, help me get a bucket or a basin or something."
"Oh, okay!"
Qin Yi regained his spirits after being called by her, holding the basin and stopping at the place Qin Xiangnuan indicated.
Qin Xiangnuan pulled the blade free, and blood gushed out, soon oozing out of the wooden basin. The wild boar, which had been grunting, also fell silent, lying there quietly. Is that the end? Qin Feng covered Beibei's eyes, rubbing them in disbelief. "Cousin! With your cooking skills, I'm afraid you can even earn a living!" he praised in a hoarse voice.
"Shut up, you're the one who talks the most!"
Qin Yi rolled his eyes and interrupted Qin Feng.
What pampered young lady would go out and butcher pigs and sell meat after she grows up? It doesn't sound like a good idea at all! Qin Xiangnuan didn't mind. She poured the hot water that Zou had boiled over the wild boar, shaved off all the thick, rough hair, and continued to process the remaining parts with a blade that had been heated by fire. Although the pig skin smelled fishy, it could be preserved for a long time and might be useful in the future.
"Second aunt, mother, please help me pack them all up."
Qin Xiangnuan washed the pork with water and handed it to the slightly grim-faced female family member. The usually delicate female family member, seeing that there was meat to eat, also bravely prepared to handle it, rolling up the hem of her clothes.
"Sister-in-law, why do I think Nuannuan is so different from before? She's like a completely different person." Zou looked back at Qin Xiangnuan who was cleaning up the mess, and couldn't help but wonder, she lowered her voice and said, "I've wanted to say these things since I left the capital, but I just didn't feel comfortable. But Nuannuan used to be so quiet, so different from now. Is it because we've encountered so many things in the mansion that she's changed, or is it like what the third daughter-in-law said, that some ghost has bewitched her mind?"
Some of the nobles in the capital also believe in ghosts and gods.
Although Qin Xiangnuan was helping the people in the general's mansion all the way, the strangeness of her words and actions still made Zou worried.
"I knew a fortune teller in my mother's family. She does have some tricks. She said that at night, if you light two pieces of yellow paper next to such a person and circle them around him, you will be able to see some clues. Sister-in-law, why don't we try it at night? If there is really a problem, we can bring Nuannuan back in time." Zou was unsure and just looked at Liu's expression.
Liu was silent for a long while. After hesitating for a moment, she turned around and looked at Qin Xiangnuan who was wiping her sweat with her hand. "No need, she is my Nuannuan."
"We protected her too well before. We only told her to learn the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and to understand propriety, righteousness, and integrity, but we never knew what she truly liked or loved." Liu looked at Qin Xiangnuan's back, a faint smile on her lips. "My daughter, I naturally know her better than anyone else. She's just happier now. Qin Guang always said that although his daughter was good, it was a pity that she couldn't pass on her martial arts and military tactics. But now..."
"As long as we meet Qin Guang, I will definitely tell him that there will be successors to his military tactics and martial arts."
Qin Xiangnuan touched the tip of her nose, not knowing if someone was talking about her behind her back, and suddenly sneezed.
Liu looked at her tenderly, "Perhaps, she will be even more outstanding than her father. Don't mention what happened today again. If others hear it, it might not be good for Nuannuan. This is my request, okay?" When Zou heard her say this, all her doubts disappeared. She nodded apologetically, "Don't blame me, sister-in-law. Look at me, I was just confused."
"We didn't say anything today!"
"I'll go see if Nuannuan needs any help..."
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