Although Niu the Mute's family was poor, fortunately, Niu the Mute and his two sons were hardworking and strong. Now that their food problem was solved, Zhang Min said:
"I know you have plenty of chickens to eat, but please keep this one! It's a small token of my appreciation!"
With grain at home and such a low profit margin, and with Niu Yaba able to work at the docks, there's no worry about not being able to buy chickens in the future.
Niu Da didn't refuse again, saying, "We still have some lard at home. Take a bowl back and make some pork cracklings for the kids."
"Tell the mute man to stop working at the docks. They always shortchange him, taking advantage of him. I'm planning to grow some fruit trees at home. Why don't he help me manage this orchard? I'll pay him two strings of cash a month, more than at the docks. At least I won't shortchange him. And when your family is busy with farming, he can help out at home."
The chickens at Niu Yaba's house were kept to lay eggs. They had been raised for three years and he couldn't bear to kill them, so Zhang Min's two sons hadn't been able to eat a single chicken for several years.
Try to give the mute cow dung a little more generous treatment.
"Well then, thank you, brother!" Zhang Min said.
Niu Da gave half a piece of lard to Niu Yaba.
When Niu the Mute left, he hugged Xiao Fubao. Xiao Fubao opened her big, round eyes and gestured excitedly with her little hands and feet. Zhang Min held Xiao Fubao's hand and smiled:
"Oh my, look at these chubby little hands! What a lucky child! Everyone says it's good to have a son, but I think as long as he's healthy and clever, it doesn't matter if it's a boy or a girl! Without daughters, where will men find wives?" "If our family were better off, I'd love to have another soft little girl like this!"
When Xiao Fubao heard Zhang Min praise her, her eyes narrowed into slits with a smile. Xiao Fubao liked people who were kind to her, which is why she liked the mute couple.
After the houses were built, they had to search for piglets everywhere, clean the pig cages, go up the mountain to cut pig feed, and cook pig feed.
Niu Da said to Chen Yu, "Tomorrow I'll go to town and buy some piglets to raise." Niu Da bought ten piglets, thirty-odd chicks, and a dozen goslings in town.
In the morning, Niu Cuihua helped Chen Yu cook pig feed. Shen Shi used two bamboo baskets to put the chickens and geese in separately, and laid a layer of straw as a pillow stuffing on the bottom of the baskets to keep the chicks warm.
Then grind the millet you bought, pour it into warm water, and feed it carefully every day, paying close attention to cleanliness and hygiene.
Niu Baozhu had to take care of Xiao Fubao and Niu Baolan, as well as the chicks and goslings, and weave cloth. Fortunately, Old Lady Zhong helped take care of the three children.
Niu Da and Niu Er chopped firewood for their daily needs and also cultivated a large vegetable garden, where they planted many rare vegetables.
They planted dozens more precious fruit seedlings and took meticulous care of them every day. Not only is one seedling worth half a pound of meat, but most importantly, they had to be very careful to prevent insects and birds from feeding them.
Although it was very hard work, the Niu family was very happy.
There were thirteen citrus trees, twelve peach trees, twelve plum trees, thirteen lychee trees, and a gardenia tree that originally grew next to them.
When the gardenia tree blooms, its fragrance fills the air, bringing a sense of comfort and adding a touch of sweetness to the hardships of the past.
Grandma Zhong led Niu Baolan and Xiao Fubao in play. One-year-and-two-month-old Niu Baolan was already toddling around and had begun to speak: "Mama."
"Father"
"Grandma"
Old Mrs. Zhong smiled so much her eyes narrowed into slits: "Hey!"
Little Fu Bao was eager to hear Niu Bao Lan speak. She opened her little mouth and babbled for a long time before finally uttering the first word: "Mama."
"Mother" is the language that all babies know.
She was too small to actually speak, so she suddenly rolled over, shakily climbed out of the cradle, and sat up crookedly.
“Little Fu Bao can sit up now! Sixth Sister, Sixth Sister, son-in-law, look! Little Fu Bao can sit up now!” said Old Mrs. Zhong.
Little Fu Bao is seven months old now, and it's normal for her to be able to sit up. But she's just so adorable, like a porcelain doll. Her big, bright eyes are so lively when she looks around. Her little hands are chubby, and as soon as she sits up, she puts them together in a circle, making a gesture of blessing. That's why she's so lovable.
Although it was already dusk, Niu Dayi had just finished selling the eggs and was following along as they built the house, so he didn't hear Old Lady Zhong's shouts.
Shen Yu was cooking when she heard her mother calling from the next room. She quickly wiped her wet hands and said:
"Oh my, my precious daughter can sit up now!"
Niu Meihua, leading Niu Baozhu, came running over. "Mom, Fifth Sister can sit up now? Does that mean she'll be able to play with us like Fourth Sister soon?"
Niu Baozhu said in her childish voice, "Play, Fifth Sister, grow up quickly and play with us. Baozhu will give all the good food to Fifth Sister!"
Chen Yu smiled.
Every morning when Niu Cuihua gets up, she sensibly helps the family weave cloth to sell for money. By dusk, she cuts pig feed for the chickens, pigs, and old cow. She has already cut seven or eight baskets of pig feed and is stepping in, covered in sweat.
"Mom, is it time to eat?" She was surprised to find that her fifth sister could sit up: "Mom, my fifth sister can sit up now?"
Chen Yu smiled and said, "Yes, Fifth Sister can sit now!"
Niu Cuihua patted the bits of wild grass off her body, took three steps at a time, and went over to pick up Xiao Fubao. Xiao Fubao stretched out her chubby little hand and touched Niu Cuihua's face.
Little Fu Bao's hands are soft, with delicate and warm skin. It feels very comfortable to be touched by these little hands.
Chen Yu said, "Big girl, dinner is ready. We've been waiting for you to come back so we can eat together!"
Although she had no son, all five of her daughters were very sensible. The eldest, Niu Cuihua, and the second, Niu Meihua, couldn't bear to see their parents working too hard, so they helped Chen Yu with the chores.
Niu Meihua was too young to do much else, so she fed the chickens and helped Shen with the cleaning.
The third child, Niu Baozhu, was only three years old, and the fourth child, Niu Baolan, was just over one year old. Naturally, they couldn't do much. But Niu Baozhu never caused anyone any trouble. She always ate her food obediently. Afraid that her younger sister, Niu Baolan, wouldn't eat obediently, she would cleverly compete with her sister.
Under Niu Baozhu's guidance, Niu Baolan has become a little foodie, growing up plump and healthy.
Chen Yu went into the kitchen again and said:
"Baozhu, go and call your father, your second uncle, the mute uncle, and all the migrant worker uncles to come and eat!"
Niu Baozhu ran out and shouted, "Daddy, Second Uncle, Uncle the Mute, dinner's ready!"
When Niu Da, Niu Er, and the migrant workers heard that it was time to eat, they were all tempted by Chen Yu's cooking skills. As soon as they entered the house, they saw a table full of dishes.
A dish of braised pork with radish, a pan-fried fish, a plate of scrambled eggs, and six or seven side dishes. Madam Shen said, "Today's side dishes are grown in our own garden, not bought from the market! Everyone, please try them."
Chen Yu has been busy with other things for the past two months and hasn't had much time to tend to the vegetable garden. Little did she know that the vegetables at home would grow so well.
"Madam Shen, what kind of radishes are these? They're really delicious!" Li Si said.
Old Mrs. Zhong also asked, "Girl, where did you buy these radish seeds? They taste so good!"
Shen Zishan said, "These radishes are both fresh and sweet."
Li Si and the migrant workers were so focused on eating their food and vegetables that they exclaimed, "Your side dishes are so delicious!"
Shen Yu tasted the stir-fried cabbage from her own garden. A delicate sweetness lingered on her tongue. These vegetables were planted in early spring. She had planted them last year, but she had never seen them taste this good.
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