In the afternoon, Chen Xian bought meat from Butcher Feng's house as usual.
Butcher Feng would stand in the village from time to time, looking around as if waiting for someone.
Someone greeted him, "Grandpa, who are you waiting for?"
Butcher Feng waved his hand and said, "No, just taking a stroll."
He walked away with his hands behind his back.
Before long, he saw a familiar figure approaching and quickly called out to the old woman working in the yard, "Old woman, he's here, he's here."
Then, Butcher Feng pretended to be serious as he cut meat on the chopping board.
Chen Xian got off the oxcart and said gently to the old man, "Grandpa, please cut more meat today. My business seems to be doing quite well. Give me ten more catties."
Butcher Feng rarely showed a smile. When he smiled, he bared his front teeth, looking just like a rabbit eating.
It's as ridiculous as it gets.
Chen Xian was a little puzzled. "Grandpa, is he in a good mood?"
Butcher Feng didn't say anything, just kept smiling, and Chen Xian felt that his expression was somewhat humble.
"Look at this scale, it's so high! The price of pork has dropped a bit now, it's 22 coins, 440 coins. You're a regular customer, how about I charge you 430 coins?"
Chen Xian nodded, "Thank you, sir."
Then Chen Xian left with the meat.
Butcher Feng said softly, "It's hot outside. Why don't you have a cup of cool tea at my place before you leave?"
Chen Xian was puzzled, as he had never seen the old man be so polite before. He waved his hand and said, "No need, it's not too far. We're just next door, it'll only take a quarter of an hour."
Butcher Feng opened his mouth, then silently smiled as he saw Chen Xian off. Chen Xian looked at the old man and felt there was a look of disappointment on his face. What was that?
After Chen Xian left, the old woman said irritably, "I've never seen you so enthusiastic before, old man, even letting people in for water?"
Butcher Feng retorted, "It would have been fine if I hadn't known this man's identity before, but if I knew he had helped us collect several hundred more pounds of grain and still treated him coldly, then I would be a terrible person... ungrateful."
The old woman asked doubtfully, "Isn't it because you're afraid of the man's identity?"
The old man frowned: "To say I have no worries would be stubbornness. Of course, we are just ordinary people, honestly running a small business. It would be foolish to knowingly run into trouble we can avoid."
When Chen Xian returned home, only Da Zhu and Er Zhu Zi were reading.
"Where are the others?"
Dazhu: "Cuihua, Aunt, Sanniu, and Siniu have gone up the mountain to set up traps. Aunt Li's family are hunters, so they know some tricks for setting traps."
Chen Xian nodded.
Chen Xian also went inside and started writing.
The latest story I promised Uncle Fu hasn't been updated for several days.
In the evening, the Chen family ate flatbread with twice-cooked pork.
Cuihua: "Dad, let me and my aunts go with you to the family business tomorrow. Dazhu, Erdi, Sanniu, and Siniu still need to go to school at the village school, right?"
Since there are no major theatrical rehearsals in the village right now, Mr. Zhou has arranged for adults to study in the afternoons.
Chen Xian nodded, "Okay, then we'll try our best to sell out by noon and rush back in the afternoon so as not to delay your trip to school."
Erzhu frowned, but the young man's face remained calm.
"Thank you for your hard work, Dad, sister-in-law, and aunts. I still have to study. To be honest, I really want to help, but studying is much more tiring than working."
Dazhu shoveled at the millet porridge in his bowl, nodding hurriedly, the young man looking somewhat troubled.
"Yes, I don't know if it's just my imagination, but when my brother and I write illegibly or stumble over our words, Mr. Zhou hits our palms with the ruler much harder than he hits others..."
"Mr. Zhou is really something. My second brother often brings him food, how come he doesn't know to be gentle with his food?"
Erzhu hesitated, looking at his elder brother as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
Sigh, it's because we deliver meals to him from time to time that Mr. Zhou is so strict.
Chen Xian glanced at Da Zhu and Er Zhu's expressions, and chuckled.
The oil lamp flickered and hissed.
The meat lay there quietly on the cutting board.
"It's very hot now, and the meat soup is easy to spoil if I make it in advance, which could upset the guests' stomachs and cause trouble. I'll get up and cook around 3 AM, take a shower, and then go to sleep."
The Chen family children all nodded.
Li Niang poked Shuang Shuang, who was eating.
"what?"
Li Niang lowered her voice: "Go to sleep early."
Early morning of the Yin hour.
The stars twinkled outside. Chen Xian rubbed his sleepy eyes, his body still weak. He wasn't used to getting up so early. He groggily opened the dilapidated wooden door, went out to run the toilet, and watered the vegetable garden.
The sound of crickets could be heard everywhere, and the whole village was pitch black; you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.
A cool breeze blew by, jolting me awake and banishing all sleepiness.
But then they saw an oil lamp lit in one corner of the kitchen, and the eldest daughter-in-law, Liniang, and Shuangshuang had already started working.
Steam rose in the air.
Chen Xian was slightly taken aback, only then remembering why Li Niang had poked Shuang Shuang last night.
Shuangshuang was heating the pot, Cuihua was cutting the meat, and Liniang was busy rendering the fat from the cut meat.
Today's task is heavy, and the pot is particularly large, so I'll just use both pots at the same time.
Chen Xian: "Good morning."
The strange greeting prompted Cuihua to laugh, "Why did you get up so early, Dad? I can do this little thing."
As the head of the Chen family, Chen Xian can be a hands-off manager.
Liniang and Shuangshuang responded, "Good morning, my husband."
At Chenshi (7-9 AM), Chen Xian asked his uncle to take care of things and go check on the workers at the house. He borrowed the uncle's carriage and leisurely went to town.
The rising sun shone on the faces of the Chen family members, and everyone was beaming with smiles.
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