Chapter 54 Misunderstanding. He wanted to go into the mountains.
It was after noon when the Zong Xiao brothers finally arrived home.
The three little gray rabbits were still alive. Qiu Xuan was stunned for a moment when she saw them. She did plan to let the rabbits give birth to puppies, but she had never thought of raising them from cubs.
Zong Anji placed the rabbit on the wooden table. His arms were still sore from carrying it all the way. He rubbed his shoulders and said to Qiu Xuan, "Second sister-in-law, we caught a rabbit today, and these three are its cubs. My brother asked me to bring them back because he thought they wouldn't survive outside."
Qiu Xuan petted the fluffy little rabbit, feeling a pity for it. "It's so small, I'm afraid I won't be able to keep it alive. Let's keep it in the kitchen for now. It's warmer there."
Zong Anji opened his mouth and swallowed the rest of the words.
He was about to tell Qiu Xuan that although these three were small, they were just enough for one dish.
Hearing the noise in the yard, Liu Yueyang, who had been embroidering in the house, put down what she was doing and came out.
"Finally, you're back. My sister-in-law made sausages today. Have you tried any?" Liu Yueyang walked over to Zong Anji, raised his hand and squeezed his arm, saying with concern, "The rice is still hot in the pot. I'll go get you some."
In front of the whole family, Zong Anji blushed. He grabbed the person who was about to serve the rice and said softly, "Just take a break. I'll do it myself."
Thinking about going to his father-in-law's house today, Zong Anji ate lunch very quickly.
After the meal, he quickly slaughtered the dying rabbit.
Qiu Xuan stayed in the kitchen. She had promised Pope Anji to make this dish, so she wanted to explain every step clearly.
Spicy rabbit meat is easy to make, but it requires a lot of oil and ingredients. Qiu Xuan picked out the spices and laid them out on the table for Zong Anji to see.
"Put these in the pan when the oil is hot, and add these when you're almost ready." Qiu Xuan said carefully, and made him taste each one of them for fear that he would remember.
"I understand, sister-in-law. I'd just like you to watch me cook it once." Zong Anji said as he poured the rabbit meat into the wok.
He counted in his mind, and when he felt the rabbit meat was almost done, he took it out. After repeating this twice, the rabbit meat was fried until golden brown.
Once this step is done well, the rest will be easier to make mistakes. Qiu Xuan watched carefully and didn't say a word until the food was out of the pot.
"Second sister-in-law, why don't you try this?" Looking at the rabbit meat in the pot, Zong Anji couldn't hide the joy on his face. This was the first time he had cooked in the true sense, and it looked very successful.
At least it looks similar to the dishes made by Qiu Xuan.
Qiu Xuan picked up a piece and tasted it. She nodded and said, "It's cooked just right. If you like spicy food, I can add more chili next time."
Knowing that he was going to the Liu family, Qiu Xuan took out the sausages she had prepared early in the morning and said, "Take this with you too. Yueyang knows how to make it. When we get there, fry it in a little oil and then cut it into slices. This can also be a dish to go with wine." Qiu Xuan put the sausages in the food box and handed it to Zong Anji.
"Thank you, Second Sister-in-law." Zong Anji didn't know how to thank her. He murmured, "When I come back tomorrow, Second Sister-in-law, just come to me if you have any instructions."
Zong Xiao leaned against the door and couldn't help but smile when he saw his third brother's appearance.
Married people are different. Now they are willing to work and cook, but they didn’t like to do these things before.
Zong Xiao looked up at the sky and said to him, "Hurry up and go. If you don't go now, it will be dark."
"Hey, I'll be leaving first." Zong Anji picked up the lunch box and happily left the house.
Liu Yueyang had already packed everything, and when he saw him come out, the two of them left home together.
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The next morning.
It was rare for Zong Xiao not to get up early. He lay on the kang and looked sideways at Qiu Xuan who was sleeping soundly beside him.
The nights were cold these days, so he deliberately moved the quilt towards Qiu Xuan.
Seeing this, Qiu Xuan didn't say anything, so he agreed. Last night, he even put the quilt next to Qiu Xuan, and Qiu Xuan could reach him with just her hand.
"Isn't it getting late?" Qiu Xuan went to bed early yesterday and has had enough sleep now.
She yawned and pulled her hand out from under the covers.
Zong Xiao retracted his gaze and lay down flat on his back. "If you're sleepy, just sleep a little longer. There are only two of us at home anyway."
It is indeed much more comfortable for two people. At least they don’t have to wait for everyone to get together before eating every day, and they can eat whenever they want.
Qiu Xuan also thinks this is a good thing.
She was lying on the kang, dozing off, when she suddenly remembered that there was something she had never told Zong Xiao.
She asked her family about the sausages yesterday, and no one said they had ever eaten them, so she guessed it must be a good business.
If they could sell this thing before others developed it, they would probably make a lot of money.
She turned sideways to face Zong Xiao and asked him, "Are we very far from the provincial capital? Is it prosperous over there?"
Zong Xiao didn't know why she asked this, but he still explained everything to her, "It would take at least a day to ride in a carriage. The capital city is naturally better than ours. It's a large area with many people."
After saying this, he gradually figured it out. Could it be that Qiu Yun wanted to go to the provincial capital?
Thinking of the seven taels of silver hidden under the mattress, Zong Xiao's originally ignited hope was completely extinguished by a basin of cold water.
"It's so far, and we still have to take a carriage. It seems I really need to save more money." Qiu Xuan thought it would only take half a day to get there, but if it took one day, then it would take two days to go back and forth.
The delay on the road was too long, and it must have cost a lot of money, so the profit from this business was not much.
Zong Xiao was even more convinced when she said this. It turned out that she still wanted to leave, and this idea had never changed.
Zong Xiao gave a bitter laugh and said, "The city is expensive and everything requires silver. If you want to go, you'll need to bring more silver."
"That's right." Qiu Xuan woke up completely. She half sat up and put on her cotton coat. It seemed that the business she had just discussed with Zong Xiao was not feasible.
She thought about it and didn't continue.
Qiu Xuan got off the kang and went straight to the kitchen. She had to see if the three little rabbits were alive. It was not possible to go to the provincial capital to sell sausages now, so all her hopes were placed on the rabbits.
In the house.
Seeing Qiu Xuan leave, Zong Xiao also got off the kang.
However, he did not leave the house. Instead, he went to the wooden box and took out the purse that had been kept at home. There was silver in it, most of which was what they had saved in the past six months.
Zong Xiao took out two taels of silver and carefully put them into the purse under the mattress.
He thought that if Qiu Xuan really wanted to leave, she would have to take some money with her. She was too embarrassed to ask for it, so he would do it.
The weather changed again today. I couldn't even see the sun this early in the morning.
Qiu Xuan took some hay to feed the rabbits. The three rabbits were very strong and were still alive after a night.
Qiu Xuan found a small wooden bowl, put some water in it, and put it in the backpack.
While she was busy, someone knocked on the gate from outside.
Zong Anji was standing in front of the door, carrying some meat. "Second brother, it's me."
Qiu Xuan opened the door and asked him to come in and sit down. It was too cold outside and not as warm as inside.
"Second sister-in-law, I won't go in. Yueyang is still waiting for me at home. By the way, this meat is from my father-in-law, you have to accept it. They loved the rabbit and sausage from yesterday. My eldest brother-in-law said that the sausage is really good with wine, and he also asked me to ask you if you can sell it in town in the future."
Qiu Xuan had originally given up the idea of selling sausages. After all, sausages are expensive and the cost is high, so people in the town may not be willing to buy them. That's why she initially thought of selling them in the provincial capital. After all, people there are rich and willing to spend money.
Fifteen or sixteen cents per section is not expensive for them.
But now, after hearing what Zong Anji said, she started to have new thoughts.
If the drinker likes it, he is willing to spend the money.
Qiu Xuan said, "This sausage is expensive, and I don't know if it will sell well in town. I'll make some and sell it down the mountain after the New Year."
Zong Anji handed the meat to her and said with a smile, "It's very easy to sell. My eldest brother-in-law thought that if you sell it, he would let me help buy some for them. They want to eat it during the New Year, and this food is also very good for entertaining people. Second sister-in-law, don't refuse the money. My eldest brother-in-law said that this matter should be handled separately."
Qiu Xuan finally understood that Zong Anji said so much just to help the Liu family buy some sausages.
She accepted the meat and hummed, "Okay, then I'll make some in the next few days, and you can bring it over when the time comes. I'll make sure everyone can enjoy it during the New Year."
After sending the people away, Qiu Xuan carried the meat back to the kitchen.
There were still quite a few left from yesterday's sausage casings. With so much meat arriving again today, Qiu Xuan was wondering whether to make it into sausages or just make it all into sausages.
One can be stored, the other tastes better.
She was lost in thought when Zong Xiao walked in from outside.
"My third brother just came?" Zong Xiao looked calm. He had just counted the silver and money. Excluding the two taels, they still had thirteen taels in their hands.
This amount of silver was not enough to spend in the capital city, so Zong Xiao thought he should go into the mountains. No matter what he hunted, as long as it could be sold for money, it would be worth it.
Qiu Xuan was chopping meat. Without even turning her head, she said, "I asked my third brother to take some of the sausages I made yesterday to Liu's house. They said they were delicious and wanted to buy some for me."
Qiu Xuan cut the meat into pieces and continued, "Since Chinese New Year is still a few days away, I might as well make more now. Maybe I can sell some in the village before the New Year. What do you think?"
Seeing that she was focused on making money, Zong Xiao became more determined in his own thoughts.
He must go to this mountain.
"That's a good idea. Since we're going to make sausages, let's make more this time. I'll go to Butcher Li to buy some meat. Do I need to buy anything else?" Zong Xiao thought about going out and asking the hunters in the village if any of them wanted to go into the mountains in the next two days.
After all, having more people means we can take care of each other and go deeper.
The good things in this mountain are all deep inside.
Qiu Xuan thought for a moment and replied, "Then let's buy some more pig intestines. I'm afraid these casings won't be enough. Let's prepare more. It's better to have more than not enough when the time comes."
"Okay, I'll go now."
Zong Xiao went back to the house, got the silver and money and left the yard.
He first went to Duan Saner's house. The two brothers went into the mountains all year round and were good hunters. If they went together, their chances of catching prey would be great.
"It's almost New Year's Day, why does Second Brother Zong want to go into the mountains at this time?" Duan Saner brought him some hot water, and the two sat down facing each other.
Zong Xiao naturally wouldn't tell him the truth.
He said, "At this time of year, the wild animals in the mountains are also short of food. I thought I might as well go in and try my luck. If I can hunt a wolf or a bear, I can sell it for a high price before the New Year."
The price of fur is the highest in winter, and if you can hunt it, you will get at least a few taels of silver.
Zong Xiao's words moved Duan San'er. Although they had earned a few taels of silver from their sheep a few days ago, that amount was too little. If the two brothers wanted to get married, it wouldn't even be enough for the betrothal gift.
However, Duan San'er did not agree directly. He thought for a moment and replied, "Second Brother Zong, I need to think about this matter and ask my younger brother's opinion. I'll tell you tomorrow and give you a definite answer."
"Okay, if you two brothers want to go, just put a stone on the steps in front of my yard before noon tomorrow. When I see it, I will know that you are going. I will come to your house to find you tomorrow evening. If you don't want to go, you don't have to tell me." Zong Xiao didn't stay long. He still had to go to other hunters' homes to ask.
There were only a few hunters in the village who were familiar with him. He walked around the village for a long time and finally only identified two people.
The two men had no family and no children, so when they heard that they could go into the mountains to hunt and make money, they immediately agreed.
The three of them agreed to go into the mountains early the next morning. There were less than ten days left before the Chinese New Year, and if all went well, they would be able to make a fortune before the New Year.
Qiu Xuan prepared the meat filling at home but Zong Xiao didn't come back.
She heated up the food and moved the stool to the yard.
She thought of making a batch of sausages first, which would need to be air-dried for a few days and would take a long time to use.
When she finished preparing the sausages, Zong Xiao finally came back with the meat.
"But there are so many people? Why did you take so long?" Qiu Xuan wiped her hands, stepped forward to take the things from his hands, and said, "You're back just in time. The food is ready. Let's eat."
Zong Xiao's eyes followed her the whole time. If someone else was there, they would have noticed the reluctance and attachment that could not be hidden in his eyes.
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