As soon as the cock crowed, Xu He got up in the dark.
It was still pitch black outside the yard. In late spring and early summer, the daybreaks were getting earlier and earlier, and those who wanted to go out early had no choice but to race against the morning light.
Xu He went to the kitchen with an oil lamp. He was going to prepare breakfast for two people and lunch to take to the city. Zhang Fangyuan lit a fire under the stove, threw two large pieces of firewood into the stove, and then went to the backyard to feed the horses. He had to give Xiao Hei enough water and grass to eat first so that he could run faster later.
Before dawn, Jijiu Village seemed to be dim and unclear. There was a faint light on the horizon, a sign of dawn. The wilderness was shrouded in silence and any sound could be heard from far away. The bamboo sticks in the stove burned and exploded, and the bang could be heard by people in the corners of the village, which meant that someone in the village had woken up.
Not long after, Zhang Fangyuan, who was loading a whole cart, smelled the aroma of fried meat, which was particularly tempting in the pure early morning breeze. Zhang Fangyuan followed the aroma and walked over. Xu He had already taken the fried meat out of the pot and put it into a lunch box.
“So fragrant?”
Xu He glanced at the person who was standing by with his hands on his hips and staring at him, and his eyes almost fell into the food box. He scooped up the last shovel of meat, but instead of putting it into the food box, he picked up a piece with chopsticks and handed it over to "feed the dog."
"I fried the celery at home. Try it."
Zhang Fangyuan rubbed his hands, then quickly turned his head and took the meat away. The pork tenderloin has no fat and the meat is chewy, making it perfect for a stir-fry. However, since there is no fat, you have to add oil when frying it. So even though it tastes delicious, it is not considered a home-cooked dish among rural people. It is more common in restaurants in the city.
Xu He fried the meat very tender and not at all dry. The aroma of lean meat and spices lingered in your mouth after eating it, which was very appetizing.
"It's delicious! I'll keep some for myself next time I go back to slaughter a pig."
Xu He said, "Please be frugal. It wastes fuel and materials." His heart almost bleeds every time he does it.
Zhang Fangyuan took the initiative to close the lid of the lunch box: "Since I am a butcher, I must take advantage of all the benefits of being a butcher, otherwise I will suffer a loss."
Xu He shook his head helplessly, but his eyes were gentle.
The two of them had a simple breakfast, just some porridge and two steamed buns, and then they closed the door when dawn broke.
The wild vegetables and pork were moved onto the carriage. The couple sat at the front of the carriage, swinging the reins and set off for the city. Today is market day in the city, and more villagers are going to the city than usual. In order to go early and come back early and save money on the bus, they set out as early as those who go to the city to do business.
Zhang Fangyuan didn't pull anybody, and the carriage was full of room.
It was just the beginning of the morning when the two of them arrived at the meat market.
"I haven't set up a stall for two days."
The butcher at the stall next to him was doing the same as usual, squatting on a stone block sipping noodles. He looked at the couple who came over today and said hello.
Zhang Fangyuan smiled and said, "I went home to do some work."
The butcher smiled. After Xu He helped Zhang Fangyuan wipe the stall clean, he pulled out his backpack of wild vegetables and took out two bundles of wild onions and two spring bamboo shoots. He had heard from Zhang Fangyuan that the butcher at the stall next door was from the city, so he always came back early and his wife would come to bring him lunch at noon.
He brought over some young spring bamboo shoots and wild onions: "These are some fresh wild vegetables dug in the village. Big brother, take some back to try."
The butcher quickly jumped down from the stone pier, feeling quite flattered, and thanked Xu He quickly.
These wild vegetables are not worth much money, but for people who live in the city and don't farm, they have to pay for all the food they eat. Even the wild vegetables that are commonly seen in the mountains have to be bought at the vegetable market early in the morning. People give them to them directly, which really shows their respect.
Moreover, they were all butchers who set up stalls to sell meat, so it was hard to get close to anyone. They were just making friends.
"My wife just said that she was going to buy some wild onions to make dumplings tomorrow, so we don't have to go to the market today."
Xu He smiled slightly and nodded. He turned around and told Zhang Fangyuan to deliver the remaining bamboo shoots and onions to the person in charge of the market stall. The person was also a city dweller, and since he had accepted the favor and paid less for the stall fee, he should also keep in touch with him on a daily basis.
Zhang Fangyuan frowned and agreed readily.
"Then I'm out."
Zhang Fangyuan lifted the backpack for Xu He: "Come back soon."
"good."
The butcher next to him watched Xu He walk away, and he picked up his bowl of noodles and slurped it: "Your wife looks aloof, but she is actually quite warm-hearted."
Zhang Fangyuan smiled and said, "He just doesn't like to talk, but he has a good heart."
While answering, he also put out the mountain products.
"Hey, you're also selling mountain products?"
"A hunter in the village asked me to sell it to him."
Xu He went out with the basket on his back, but did not go to the vegetable market. Instead, he set up a stall at the place where bamboo shoots were sold before the West Market. This place was mostly where country people set up stalls. They did not have to pay for the stalls, and there were quite a few people.
He set up his stall swiftly, feeling very excited. He had been looking forward to selling vegetables, and now he was finally here.
The wild vegetables were placed in a cool place yesterday and watered, so they still look fresh. Moreover, he was not as experienced as the villagers who had been selling vegetables for years. He picked the wild vegetables very old and had to pick them again himself after people bought them. Soon, women and husbands came to the stall to look at the wild vegetables.
"It's tender and fresh, and it's freshly picked."
The husband saw that the scallions were cleanly rinsed and carefully selected them: "These scallions are more comfortable to look at than those covered in mud."
"Of course, it will save us some trouble when we go back." Xu He took out a piece of cut banana leaf from the basket: "Husband, take two handfuls back, they are delicious for stir-frying meat or making dumplings and buns."
The husband nodded, picked up two bundles and handed them to Xu He. He took them and quickly wrapped them in banana leaves, tied a palm leaf on the outside, and carefully put them into the buyer's basket.
The woman who was watching the vegetables at the stall next to her saw that Xu He's vegetables were clean, tender, and neatly wrapped. She immediately wanted to go over and take a look, but the stall owner stopped her and whispered, "You have to wash the unfresh vegetables yourself. The ones on my stall with mud on them are the freshest."
The woman gave a dry laugh, and while the boy was busy preparing the vegetables, she slipped over to Xu He's stall and picked up a handful of tender and crispy golden vines.
The young man glared at Xu He angrily, but Xu He ignored him and continued to greet the guests warmly. Soon, most of his vegetables were sold out.
"Who are you to steal my business?"
After the people who came to buy vegetables had dispersed, the young man put his hands on his waist and couldn't help but scold.
"There are stalls everywhere, who is stealing whose business?"
"I don't care if others put it somewhere else, but you put it next to me, aren't you deliberately trying to steal my business?"
It was not the first time that Xu He had encountered an unreasonable person. He did not get angry and continued to water his vegetables.
"Hey! You're still so arrogant, do you know what my man does?"
Xu He said honestly: "I don't know."
"Okay, you're a new guy with a tough temper. I want to see whether you're tougher in words or in bones. Believe it or not, I'll get someone to deal with you!"
Xu He was too lazy to pay attention to him and even shouted to sell vegetables.
The young man was so angry that he didn't know what to do, but he didn't want to start a fight with others directly. He kicked the vegetable basket, moved his stall away, and avoided Xu He as if he was avoiding the plague god.
There were many people selling wild vegetables in the market, and Xu He had prepared quite a few wild vegetables. By the time of Si, the sun was already quite high, and many vendors had left with their vegetables, either to finish their work and go back, or to sell under the bridge on the street or to sell at a low price in the alleys of the residents.
Xu He still had a lot of wild vegetables left to sell, so he packed them up and prepared to put them next to Zhang Fangyuan's meat stall in the afternoon. If someone came to buy meat, they could buy some. If he couldn't sell them, he would take them home to eat himself or dry them and store them. In short, he couldn't take them to the city to sell again, as they would become less and less fresh.
He calculated the money he earned from selling vegetables, and thought it was a good income, about thirty cents, enough to buy a pair of chicks to take home. Suddenly he frowned again. He had happily agreed to Zhang Fangyuan's request to make buns for him. If he went to buy flour, he would not be able to buy the chicken.
He hesitated and returned to the meat market, where Zhang Fangyuan was chopping mutton for a customer.
"You're back?"
"Um."
Zhang Fangyuan wrapped the lamb leg and served it to the customer. Xu He glanced at the meat stall. Half of the mountain products were sold, but not much pork.
"The pigs this time are small and the meat is not fat enough, so they are not as easy to sell as usual. Fortunately, there are still many people buying mountain products. However, they are not willing to buy a whole pig. It is easier to sell them by skinning them and selling them separately." Zhang Fangyuan whispered, "I can get an extra two cents per pound by selling them separately."
Xu He's eyes curved.
Maybe people come to the meat market with the intention of buying meat. Most of the meat in the meat market is pork. When they see mountain products, their eyes light up and they think of asking the price. City people are tired of pork and sometimes they are willing to spend some money to try something different. Besides, mountain products are not always available for purchase, after all, they are supplied by hunters, unlike pork, which is raised in captivity and is commonly available to villagers.
As the two were talking, they heard a commotion outside the meat market.
"My scholar is getting married, and I'm here to order some things to prepare for the banquet."
"Congratulations, ma'am! Look, the meat on my butcher's stand is the fattest and most delicious. It's perfect for cooking or feasting!"
"Auntie, I'll give you a big discount. Come and have a look at my stall!"
The man who came to do business and bought meat was undoubtedly a big customer. There were not many people buying meat in the meat market at this time, and suddenly someone came who wanted to buy more. Most of the stall owners went to greet him and try to grab this business.
Zhang Fangyuan and Xu He looked at each other.
"Fei Lian's marriage to your second sister has been decided."
In fact, after the marriage was settled, Liu Xianglan was angry for two days about the bride price. Later, after being persuaded by Xu Shaochun, she calmed down and became proud again. She told everyone that she was marrying into the Fei family.
The village was buzzing with discussions, and for a moment, no one knew whether to envy the Xu family or the Fei family. In short, all the young men of marriageable age in the village were sad, including Chen Si, Zhang Fangyuan's closest neighbor.
The couple had just gotten married and were in love. They went up the mountain to dig wild vegetables and went outside the village to buy them. Xu He had hardly gone out to the fields in the past two days. She hadn't met any villagers and didn't know whether her second sister's matter had been settled. But she had heard Zhang Fangyuan say that the Fei family had come to visit.
"Hey, isn't this He Ge'er and Zhang the butcher?"
Mother Fei was treated like a star by a group of butchers, and she felt very proud of herself. She had already noticed the Zhang family's meat stall which had no business, and she walked over to the couple's stall with a basket on her arm and a smile on her face.
"Oh, the meat is too lean. Otherwise, I would have ordered it from you."
Mother Fei looked at the hanging lean meat, and sidelong glanced at the dark-skinned Xu He, who was thin and tall. She really couldn't understand why this appearance made her son distracted for so many days. She moved her eyes and said, "I'm afraid that the business of this pig's appearance will not be easy to do."
Seeing the weird look on Fei's mother's face, Zhang Fangyuan guessed that she probably knew what Fei Lian was thinking. Seeing that she didn't want to buy meat from their house, he didn't need to be polite anymore. He threw the boning knife into the chopping board with a bang.
"Mrs. Fei is really capable. Not only does she take care of Mr. Fei's wedding banquet, but she also has the leisure to care about the affairs of the villagers. She is really amazing."
Looking at the gleaming knife, Fei's mother subconsciously shrank her shoulders. She saw that the butcher was not a flatterer and did not even give him face even though they had a scholar. She did not dare to say anything else. After looking at Xu He, she quickly left with the basket.
Although Xu He didn't care much about Fei's mother, he still curled his lips slightly when he was protected by someone. He tugged at the corner of the angry person's clothes and suddenly made a decision on the matter he was entangled with before: "I want to buy a few chicks and ducks to keep at home, but I don't have enough money."
Zhang Fangyuan's eyes suddenly lit up with smiles, and he immediately took out the box of money for selling meat: "Take it and buy it."
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