Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Become a Disciple
At the end of June, the Fan family's well was completed.
The family looked at the stone round well mouth and looked inside. The well was slowly filling up with water, but the water was still a little muddy as it was a newly dug well.
Fan Shoulin put two turtles into the well, firstly to test the water quality, and secondly, it was a local custom of praying for blessings.
It will take at least a month for the well water to become clear. Adding some alum and quicklime in the meantime can speed up the precipitation of turbidity.
While waiting, Fan Shoulin asked Carpenter Wang to help him make a windlass, which he then placed next to the well.
After the windlass was made, Chen threw the bucket tied with a hemp rope into the well, turned the windlass, and the hemp rope tightened circle by circle, and half a bucket of water was drawn up. It was much more labor-saving than lifting water manually.
The two girls Zhen'er and Qiao'er also tried it and found it easy. The two girls who originally didn't like going out to fetch water now enjoyed it.
I waited and watched day after day. After about twenty days, there was more water in the well. I took a bucket of water and looked at it. It was clear and cool to the touch.
The family felt much more at ease when they saw the two turtles they had released earlier were still stretching their four legs and swimming up and down in the well.
I dare not be careless about the water I use. Before using it, I asked a master to check whether the water was usable. After confirming that there were no problems, I started to use it.
That day, they fetched water and poured it into a water tank to let it sit. At night, they boiled a large pot of water, and the whole family took a nice bath. Everyone was happy and comfortable.
"Our well is working smoothly. Nothing has happened yet, and the water is flowing smoothly. Dad said he wanted to treat everyone who helped us to a meal before the autumn harvest."
At night, Kang He and Fan Jing sat on a cool mat and ate the cold melon that had been drawn from the well for most of the day. It was sweet and refreshing, just as good as the iced one.
The well was dug really well. It is a real blessing to have a well in the summer.
Kang He removed the seeds from the cold melon and brought it to Fan Jing's mouth. "I think it's not bad. Let's have a meal together and have some fun. We can set up two tables anyway, so it won't be too much trouble."
If you live in the village, you still have to treat people to meals. The relationships will be closer, the interactions will be more frequent, and it will be easier to get things done.
Fan Jing said, "He's very proud. After accomplishing something so impressive, how could he not show off? I'm only telling you, not me. He's certainly rich now, and I'm asking for money, but I want to rely on you to cook for him."
Kang He laughed and said, "You've really gotten to know your future father's temper. He even secretly gave me a hundred yuan today, saying it was for buying vegetables and meat. I guess the manure must have made a lot of money."
"He's a man who loves to drink and have fun. Life at home was tight before, and he couldn't do anything on his own. Now that he's feeling better, it's okay to let him have some fun."
Fan Jing said, "If you don't mind the trouble, just follow his instructions. It won't bother me anyway."
Kang He said: "Then you agree."
The next day, Kang He went to talk to Fan Dad and asked him how many people he wanted to invite. He also prepared vegetables and meat.
Upon hearing this, Father Fan was overjoyed. He said that there would be at most three tables of people, and people from the main house would definitely come over. In this way, the two families could sit together at more than one table. If he invited a few more people, he could have two more tables.
Kang He followed his instructions for the three tables and reminded him to remember to invite Hu the butcher. Father Fan said he knew about it.
Father Fan invited people to dinner at home, so Kang He and Fan Jing went to the city to buy meat.
The rabbits at home had grown up, so he planned to slaughter one and also kill a big rooster. With two kinds of meat and vegetables at home, he didn't have to buy much in the city.
He bought three pounds of fresh pork, five pounds of herring, and two big round winter melons.
On July 26th, people go home to have breakfast and dinner.
After noon, the whole family got busy.
Fan Jing killed rabbits, chickens and fish, and Chen helped to remove the chicken feathers and sort out the chicken and fish intestines, while the two maids peeled garlic and washed vegetables.
Kang He was cutting meat and preparing dishes at the stove, while Father Fan was tidying up the tables and chairs. There were not enough tables and chairs at home, so the tables and chairs from the other side of the main room had to be moved over.
Uncle Fan Shoushan and Zhang Jingui had already cleaned up the dishes and tables and came to help early, but Father and Grandma Fan came a little later.
A little later, Mr. Shen brought a large ceramic bowl of pickled vegetables, including sour beans and radishes, which were newly harvested this year and were just right for the taste.
Then Xu Yang also came with a basket of grapes and peaches. Gradually, more and more people came. Hu the butcher, Wang the carpenter... all brought something with them, and no one came empty-handed.
The yard suddenly became lively. Everyone came over after finishing their busy farm work and taking a shower. In the yard, they ate pears and winter melons rinsed with well water, chatted, and waited for a good meal in the evening. They all felt particularly relaxed.
Everyone praised Fan Shoulin and Chen Sanfang, and the two of them were grinning from ear to ear outside.
Fan Jing didn't like to joke with others. Even though it was so hot in the kitchen that people were sweating, he still had to stay under the stove and keep the fire burning.
Xu Yang heard Chen Sanfang praising Kang He's ability to others outside while cooking on the stove. He smelled the fragrance and ran in.
He looked at the sweat on Fan Jing's forehead under the stove and teased him again: "Da Jing, aren't you hot? You are born to guard this place. Who dares to steal your family's Kang Sanlang away?"
Fan Jing handed Xu Yang a pair of fire tongs and said, "Why are you joining in the fun if you're afraid of the heat?"
Xu Yang jumped to the stove and saw Kang He frying pork with garlic sprouts. The aroma was so strong that it could be smelled from far away.
He said, "I'm also going to learn a few cooking skills so that I can use them when I find a husband. Look at all the uncles and aunts out there, they all speak well of Kang He. With such a reputation, every family would be happy to marry a boy or girl to him."
Kang He smiled and said, "I really promised you, but you're still not happy."
Xu Yang laughed out loud.
He was worried that Yuan Guo was too thin. If he had Kang He's cooking skills, he could send him food every day and keep him plump.
As the sun went down, delicious food was served on three tables and everyone began to eat happily.
Kang He was called to Fan Dad's table, where he received a lot of praise and toasts.
He played finger-guessing games and rolled dice with everyone at the table, and his wins and losses were fair.
After dinner, there was more wine than food in my stomach.
Everyone had a great time eating and playing. When they left, the man's face was red and he reeked of alcohol.
But most of them come with their family members, so it’s not a big deal if there’s someone to look after them as they go home.
Fan Die Kanghe and Fan Jing, the three of them sent people out one by one.
When people left, everyone said hello to Kanghe and asked him to come to their house when he had time.
Some people also want to ask him to come over to help with cooking.
Hu Dasan also drank to his heart's content. Several men drank and played finger-guessing games. He won and lost half the time, but he had a lot of fun.
When walking, his steps were already light and unsteady.
"Brother Fan, you!"
Hu Dasan stopped at the door and gave Fan Shoulin a thumbs up, looking drunk.
The two of us have been interacting more frequently lately, and things are even better than before. At the table, you pick up meat for me and I pour wine for you.
Fan Shoulin's eyes were also red from drunkenness. He leaned forward and said to Hu Dasan in a low voice, "I have to thank you for coming to support us today, old brother. It's really a great honor for me to have you here."
The two of them laughed drunkenly.
Hu Dasan pointed at Kang He and Fan Jing behind Fan Dad and said, "Good, good! Your son-in-law, big brother, is great!"
Then he asked Fan Jing, "I heard your father said he wanted to find another job. How is it going? Have you found a suitable one?"
"What are you looking for? These days, it's hard to find a way to learn a skill."
Father Fan burped and spoke for Fan Jing.
Upon hearing this, Hu Dasan patted his chest and said, "Then just follow me and kill pigs!"
He staggered a step: "It also saves us from going out to ask for help. We are two brothers and we are reliable."
After hearing this, Mr. Fan sobered up a bit.
He said immediately, "Brother, please don't try to coax me with drunken talk!"
Hu Dasan said, "I'm not one of those people who talks nonsense to deceive people."
"Then tomorrow I'll take Dajing and the things to your house to worship as a master. Don't deny it when you sober up!"
"Just come, if you don't come I'll come and ask again!"
"Okay, this is reliable, let's settle it like this!"
Father Fan pulled Fan Jing over and said, "Quickly call out 'Master' and teach Uncle Hu."
Fan Jing's eyebrows moved slightly, and he looked at Kang He, who nodded slightly.
Fan Jing just called out as he was told, and Hu Dasan responded happily.
The two talked at the door for a long time before seeing the person off, and didn't stop until they got home.
Kang He had been busy for most of the day and was really tired. He went back and didn't help to clear the table and dishes. He went into the house and fell asleep on the bamboo couch for a while. No one said anything to him.
He slept for about an hour and then woke up again.
He went out of the house and saw that everything was almost cleaned up. Fan Jing had just taken a shower and there was still a smell of soap on his body.
He also went to get some water and took a shower. After washing up, he returned to the room and found Fan Jing lying on the bed.
Kang He saw the man resting his head on his arm, staring at the curtains in a daze.
He lay down next to her and asked, "Why, Shihui wants to learn the pig-killing skill from a master?"
Fan Jing raised his eyes and glanced at Kang He: "Why should I regret it?"
"Then why aren't you happy even though it's done?"
Fan Jing said: "He is just drunk and can't be trusted."
Kang He snorted and laughed: "That may not be the case. It is easier to speak your mind after drinking."
"I don't know who said they liked me when they were drunk before. Could it be that they were lying?"
Hearing this, Fan Jing couldn't bear to recall the past: "This is different."
Kang He saw this and said, "In the past two months, our two families have visited each other frequently. Seeing how good our family is, they may have become more concerned. When they came to our house for a drink today, everyone praised us, but we praised Hu Tuzi, and he was very proud."
"Our family didn't rush to ask for a promise. He might have agreed to it just because he drank alcohol."
"But things haven't been finalized yet. We'll find out tomorrow when we go to the Hu family. If Hu Dasan still refuses to change his mind, then all our hard work won't be in vain. If he denies it tomorrow, he might just be talking nonsense because he's drunken. We know what kind of person he is."
"Our family is not one of those shameless people. If he wants to play tricks on us like this, we don't need to keep in touch with him anymore."
After hearing this, Fan Jing felt better and relaxed.
Seeing this, Kang He came forward and said, "If you really think it's unreliable, then let's do something reliable."
Fan Jing asked doubtfully, "What?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Kang He pressed him under him.
He gave the man a push, thinking that he was just thinking of something, but with his head full of filthy thoughts, he had no time to think of anything else.
"After a busy day, Mom and Dad are tired and must be fast asleep. I see there's still some water in the pot."
Fan Jing wondered why this man was so cunning and asked him, "Aren't you tired?"
Kang He's hand slipped into Fan Jing's thin collar. He was still wearing the red undergarment he had worn at his wedding.
The clothes had a nice color and made the skin look particularly bright. He couldn't help himself every time he saw them.
It is probably because it always reminds people of what happened on the night of their wedding. Although things did not go as smoothly that night as later ones, the first time is always unforgettable. The excitement and anticipation are hard to match.
"It's so hot, and I've been cooking all afternoon. How could I not be tired? But I just got back and got drunk and slept for a while, so I'm not tired anymore."
Fan Jing closed his eyes: "I'm tired."
Kang He refused to listen: "Why are you so tired? You just killed chickens and rabbits and kept the fire burning for half a day. If you say it's hot, I believe it.
I'm not as tired as you are from working in the fields today. Who would chop firewood for the stove after coming back from the fields on ordinary days?"
Fan Jingjiao was speechless and could only respond with "Why do you talk so much?"
Kang He is also deaf, he doesn't talk much and just does his work.
Fan Jing only felt a chill under his body for a moment, and some people moved faster than anyone else.
Knowing that he couldn't escape the beating, he simply lay flat on the bed, told them to finish the job quickly and go to sleep.
Kang He snorted, "If it really comes quickly, you'll definitely be unhappy. Then even if you beg for it to last longer, it won't happen!"
Fan Jing didn't know where he got so many twisted ideas from, and he loved to bring them up at times like this, making people's ears turn red.
He simply stopped talking to him.
The next day, early in the morning, the family heated up some leftover food from yesterday.
After dinner, Father Fan gathered some materials and prepared celery, lotus seeds, red beans, red dates, longan, and dried lean meat strips for the apprenticeship.
These things were bought by Chen, who was selling radish in the city when Fan Jingqi was thinking of changing his career. She bought them when she got a good price and kept them there in advance.
Earlier, Father Fan said that the things were bought early. How could one prepare the apprenticeship gift so early before a master was decided? He didn't expect that it would be put to use today.
Kang He also took out a set of new summer clothes from Liang's shop for Fan Jing from his box, which made him look refreshed.
"He's almost as handsome as the day we went on a blind date."
Fan Jing said, "What was so handsome about that day?"
He had never worn new clothes, and his family didn't allow him to carry a sword or a bow, for fear that he would not be able to look good.
"That's because you didn't look in the mirror when you went out. I bumped into someone in the crowd, and when I looked up, I got hit in the heart."
Fan Jing said, "You were obviously afraid of getting beaten because you saw me put down my knife that day."
Kang He looked at the man and was silent for a long time: "How can a person say such ugly words?"
Fan Jing lowered his eyes and raised the corners of his lips slightly.
"You've always been handsome, even on a blind date like you are now."
When Kang He heard this, his mouth curled up again and he felt happy in his heart.
Later, Fan Dad, Kang He and Fan Jing went to Hu's house.
Hu Dasan was drunk all night last night and got up early this morning.
He got up and washed himself, then asked his husband two or three times if he had seen anyone coming.
Qiao Fulang went to Fan's house for dinner yesterday, so he knew about the apprenticeship.
Every time he went to the city, his son would ask him about taking in an apprentice. However, after a month or two, the old man still didn't agree. But yesterday, after a drink, he happily agreed.
I was originally worried that he would change his mind after sobering up this morning. It would be bad if the Fan family really came over then.
I didn't expect that he still remembered things and was looking forward to someone coming.
Qiao Fulang said that he was just drunk and promised everything.
Hu Dasan said, "I've been thinking about taking in a disciple for a long time. Do you think I'm just drunk and making such a hasty decision? I'm not that foolish."
"This Kang Sanlang is a capable man. Look how well he's managed the Fan family. He might achieve great things in the future. I've accepted Fan Jing as my apprentice. This is a favor that no other family can match."
Upon hearing this, Qiao Fulang said, "You have such far-sightedness in your calculations, and you put so much thought into making friends."
"What do you know? Do you think I really don't care about anything when it comes to making friends? There are plenty of people out there who want to send their children to learn my craft, and they're even willing to pay a lot of money as a tribute. Why am I still unsure? I just look down on them."
Hu Dasan said, "I'm attracted to Kang He, and the Fan family is also honest, so I agree. Do you think I'm calculating? I'm not calculating a little bit, and I've been visiting a few good families. Do you really not care about anything with Dalang?"
When Qiao Fulang heard his thoughts, he was touched and knew that he had always had his child in his heart.
"It's hard for you to be such a father."
I didn't have to wait long before I saw the Fan family coming from a distance.
Hu Dasan went to the door to answer it.
"I came just as I said I would!"
"I'm just worried you won't come! I've been mentioning it several times."
When Kang He and Fan Jing saw this, they knew that the matter was mostly settled.
He politely called the person, presented a gift, and went into the house to talk.
"You know my brother's personality. He's quiet, but he's kind-hearted. From now on, if he follows you around, you'll have to worry about him!"
"I also watched Dajing grow up, and I know his good intentions best. He is quiet and meticulous in his work. Brother Fan, you can rest assured."
The two elders talked for a while and then said they would pay their respects to each other as teachers.
Fan Jingyi politely offered tea and called people. Hu Dasan drank the apprentice's tea, responded to the call, and said a few words in a formal manner, and the ceremony was completed.
Seeing that it was almost done, Kang He stepped forward and gave the man a red envelope.
Hu Dasan felt the red envelope was heavy when he held it, and he quickly pushed it away: "What does this mean?"
Kang He said, "Da Jing and I make a living in the mountains. My parents are always worried. Once we get into this business, we can't easily leave. If it weren't for Uncle Hu's generosity, who was willing to take Da Jing as his apprentice and teach our family some hope, we would still be stuck in the mountains, and I don't know when this life will end."
"This little gift is not enough to express my gratitude. It's just a little extra. I hope you don't mind it."
When Hu Dasan heard this, he felt like a living Bodhisattva who saved people from suffering, and he thought it was pleasing to the ear.
He said, "It's not easy to make money these days. I know what you mean, but I don't want to give you a big gift. From now on, Dajing just needs to learn the craft from me. He has the ability, so it's easy for him to break into this business."
"No matter how easy it is, it still requires uncle's effort. He has a quiet personality and doesn't like to talk, so I need uncle's tolerance. If you don't accept our gift, I will feel very sorry."
Kang He was determined to give the red envelope and would not let others refuse it. Besides, this was not an improper bribe, but a way to show sincerity.
Too much courtesy is never a bad thing, and who would complain about others being too generous with their gifts?
Seeing this, Hu Dasan accepted the things.
Seeing this, Kang He expressed his sincerity again and said, "I heard from my father that Brother Hu is very capable and has started a business in the city. He is very busy during the day and rarely comes home. In the future, if there is anything happening at uncle's house and Brother Hu is too busy to come back, just send me and Dajing to do it."
After that, he turned to Qiao Fulang, who was at the other end of the room, and said, "When my uncle is too busy at the kitchen, he always calls me over. If I can't do anything else, I think it's smart to help my uncle."
"Your cooking skills are no match for mine. Everyone praises your skills. I've taken your advice today. I'll invite you to help me cook two dishes when we have a dinner party someday."
Both Qiao Fulang and Hu Dasan were very happy.
After talking for a long time, the matter was finally settled and they dispersed.
Both families were satisfied with the apprenticeship and talked about it with everyone they met.
The news spread quickly throughout the village, and everyone knew that Hu Dasan had accepted Fan Jing as his apprentice.
When Hu Dalang heard the good news, he brought his wife and children home, and the two families had dinner together.
When Qiao Fulang's family came to visit, Kang Helai prepared a large table of dishes.
The roof of Fan's house was blown off by strong winds and heavy rains, so Hu Dasan came over wearing a straw raincoat to help repair it.
The two families visited each other more and more frequently, and would often send each other a plate of food after a good meal.
This is a story for later.
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