Chapter 62: Buying Meat. They are your uncle and aunt, how can you break off the relationship?
After talking about the matter, Zong Xiao rarely had a good night's sleep.
In the middle of the night, he felt someone leaning towards him in a daze, and the person seemed to whisper something in his ear.
But he was too tired to open his eyes.
Qiu Xuan touched his forehead and saw that he didn't have a fever, so she lay back down.
At that time, she covered her head with the quilt and hid under it to think. When she poked her head out again, the person next to her had already fallen asleep.
Qiu Xuan was worried. After all, he had just returned and had taken a shower. She was afraid that Zong Xiao might catch a cold again.
Qiu Xuan still remembered Zong Xiao's mother saying that he had always been a hardy child and rarely got sick. But since they got married, Zong Xiao had fallen ill more than once because of her.
Qiu Xuan is reluctant to let go of a man who treats her wholeheartedly and considers her in every way.
She turned around and moved her pillow over.
The two of them were very close that night.
The next morning, Qiu Xuan just woke up and heard a knock on the door.
The only one who could shout at the top of his lungs early in the morning was Zong Anji.
She put on her clothes, got off the kang, and hurried over to open the door for him.
I saw Zong Anji holding a bowl of paste and laughing foolishly.
"Second sister-in-law, is my brother up yet? I just made the paste, and mother said to put up the couplets early in the morning."
Qiu Xuan stepped aside to let him into the courtyard. "Your second brother must be exhausted from all the traveling these past few days. He's even fallen asleep. Come on, I'll get it for you."
Qiu Xuan bought two couplets that day, and the one she owned was still in her backpack and she hadn't taken it out yet.
Afraid of waking Zong Xiao, she quietly opened the door and entered the room. Her movements were very gentle, but the person on the kang still woke up.
"Third brother is here?" Zong Xiao turned to the right out of habit, and this movement directly pulled the wound, causing him to gasp in pain.
"Well, you take a rest. It's just a couplet, we can do it together." The room was dim, and Qiu Yu did not notice the paleness on Zong Xiao's face.
She took her things and left the house without staying long.
Zong Anji was not idle in the yard either. He carried the paste and went straight into the kitchen. There were three rabbits in the room. He had to take a good look to see if they had grown up. If they had, he would make spicy rabbit meat.
He squatted on the ground and poked the little rabbit with his hand.
I don’t know if the rabbits sensed danger, but the three of them huddled together.
When Qiu Xuan came in, she saw him doing something evil. She couldn't help laughing and said, "It's strange, the three of them are only afraid of you. They never act like this when other people come."
Zong Anji picked up the fattest one and poked its belly, "Second sister-in-law, this fat one can be slaughtered."
Qiu Xuan finally understood why the rabbits were afraid of him. It turned out that he had always wanted to kill them.
Qiu Xuan shook her head. "No, your second brother is still thinking of pairing them with rabbits in the future."
Zong Anji felt a little regretful, but still obediently put the rabbit back into the nest.
It is not difficult to post couplets, but it requires two people to do it together, one to post them while the other watches them. As long as they are not crooked, it's fine.
The two of them brought a stool, and just as Zong Anji was about to get on it, he was stopped by the Zong's mother who came out of the yard.
The clan mother said, "You should put up this couplet in your own yard to bring good fortune. Where is your second brother?"
Qiu Xuan didn't know about this custom. She said, "Mom, Erlang is still asleep. Let me do it."
Fortunately, the gate was not too high, and she could reach it by standing on a stool and tiptoeing.
The three of them had posted the couplets in the blink of an eye.
The grandmother looked at the red paper and the black words and felt happy.
This year is the first good year for the Zong family in all these years. Both sons are married, and she, as a mother, has no regrets.
The clan mother said to Qiu Xuan, "Mother has prepared breakfast early this morning. Go wash your hands and we'll go home to eat."
Qiu Xuan was just about to say that she would go over after she had packed up when she saw a pink and tender girl running out of the house.
"Second Aunt, I've been waiting for you for a long time." Huaixue was wearing a pink padded jacket made by her grandmother. She had a peach hairpin next to her hair. Her little face was white and tender, and at first glance she looked like a peach.
Qiu Xuan's hands were dirty, so she didn't hug her. "Why do you look so beautiful today? Is this a New Year's dress?"
The grandmother said, "She's been clamoring for new clothes since yesterday. She's already changed into them this morning. If they get dirty tomorrow, they'll be gone."
Huaixue smiled and said that she would not let her clothes get dirty. Tomorrow is Chinese New Year and she has to go play with her friends and show them.
"Aunt, let's go back to the house." Huaixue took Qiuxuan's hand and pulled her home.
Qiu Xuan, who originally planned to go home first, had no choice but to follow Huai Xue after seeing this.
"These children." Seeing that no one had put away the stool in front of the door, the grandmother moved it back to Zong Xiao's yard by herself.
She put down her things and was about to leave when she heard a muffled cough from inside the room.
Thinking about how Zong Xiao had been running up and down the mountain these days, Zong's mother thought that since she was already here, she might as well go in and take a look to make sure he was not sick.
In the room, Zong Xiao had already woken up and was slowly getting dressed.
The clothes were thick in winter and he had to pull them on, but he couldn't use the strength on his right side, which made it difficult for him to put them on.
Just as he was buttoning the last button, the door was suddenly pushed open and a ray of light shone into the room.
He thought it was Qiu Xuan who had returned, so he said without even looking up, "Wait for me, I'll do it with you."
"Who are you waiting for? Why did you get up so late? Are you sick?" The clan mother was worried about him and came over to take a look.
"Mom?" Zong Xiao didn't know why his mother suddenly came in, but when he heard his mother say that, he knew that his family didn't know about his injury yet.
Zong Xiao stood up and was about to pour water for his mother, but when he touched the teapot he found that it was still cold.
The clan mother plopped down on the stool and waved at him, "I just came here after dinner, so you don't have to prepare anything for me. I just heard from Xiaoyun that you haven't woken up yet, and I thought you might be exhausted these past few days."
Zong Xiao did not deny it.
The clan mother looked at his pale cheeks and felt distressed, "It's all mother's fault. How could I be bewildered and agree to let you go into the mountains during the New Year? Fortunately, you are fine." "I'm back safely. Besides, I made a lot of money this time in the mountains." Now that the family has divided up, Zong Xiao has never given the money he earned from hunting to the clan mother. Of course, she won't think about it.
Seeing that he still had little energy, the clan mother said, "I'll go buy some meat later to nourish you."
"Okay, I'll listen to you."
Although the real Chinese New Year is tomorrow, many villagers start preparing food a day in advance.
As soon as Qiu Xuan entered the kitchen, she saw the things that her grandmother had placed on the table, about ten plates of various sizes.
"Why did you prepare so much?" Qiu Xuan asked Huai Xue beside her while washing her hands.
"Grandma said that there are more people in the family this year, so we need to prepare more. She also said she would make braised pork for me." Huaixue pointed to the pork cut into square pieces by her grandmother, her eyes full of anticipation.
That was braised pork, soft and sticky with a hint of sweetness, she loved it very much.
"You like it so much." Qiu Xuan pinched her little face and walked forward to take a closer look at the dishes prepared on the table.
Everything was complete, but for Qiu Xuan, there was one crucial thing missing, that was dishes that replenished qi and blood.
Huaixue pulled her sleeve and stood on tiptoe, asking, "Aunt, what are you looking at?"
Qiu Xuan: "Auntie wants to add another dish. I'll go buy it later. Do you want to come with me?"
"Yes!" Huaixue loves going out the most, especially with Qiu Xuan.
Qiu Xuan didn't have any money with her when she went out. She was afraid that if she got there too late, the hunter would have sold all the things, so she simply went home without even having breakfast.
I happened to bump into the clan mother who was coming out of the house.
Qiu Xuan shouted, but her eyes fell on Zong Xiao behind her: "Mom?"
The clan mother steadied her and said, "Why are you in such a hurry? If there's anything urgent, tell me and I'll help you guys."
Seeing Zong Xiao pointing at his right shoulder and shaking his head, Qiu Xuan immediately understood.
She said, "Nothing, Mom. I just want to go to Butcher Li's to buy some pig livers so I can stir-fry them for lunch. I heard people say they're good for replenishing qi and blood."
Fried pork liver is not as fragrant as fatty meat, but after hearing what Qiu Xuan said, the clan mother had no objection.
She said, "It's time to give you two a good rest. I'll pay for it, just wait."
As soon as the others left, Qiu Xuan immediately stopped smiling. She stepped forward to look at Zong Xiao's shoulder and asked with concern, "Why did you come out? Did you put on your clothes by yourself? Did you tear the wound?"
"No, I'm fine." Zong Xiao remembered what happened last night as soon as he saw her.
It turns out that I am so important to her that she is willing to stay for me.
Zong Xiao: "As soon as I woke up, I wanted to go out for some fresh air. I'll go buy it with you later."
Afraid that she would refuse, Zong Xiao hurriedly said, "The air in the mountains is good. I want to get some fresh air."
Thinking that his injury was in his shoulder and not his leg, Qiu Xuan reluctantly agreed.
Zong Xiao was in a good mood. He stretched out his hand and was about to hold Qiu Xuan's hand when he was interrupted by a sound.
"Aunt, I'm here." Huaixue ran to the two of them with a bamboo basket and showed them her palm. "Grandma just gave it to me. She said it was money for buying meat."
Qiu Xuan took it and said, "My mother-in-law told her to keep the money. That's how old people are. If you don't accept it, they will nag you."
Taking advantage of the fact that there was no wind, the three of them walked together towards Li the Butcher's house.
During the process, Zong Xiao wanted to hold Qiu Xuan's hand again, but was interrupted again and again by Huai Xue.
I don't know what's going on with that little girl, but every time Zong Xiao reached out his hand, she would turn her head away. After three times, Zong Xiao had no choice but to give up.
"Aunt, is the pork liver delicious?" Huai Xue stepped between the two of them, holding one of them in each hand.
Qiu Xuan smiled and said, "It's delicious. Auntie will make it for you at noon."
Zong Xiao had no choice but to say helplessly, "Little greedy cat."
Chinese New Year is tomorrow, and Butcher Li’s family has been very busy these days.
Everyone has saved money for a year just to have a good New Year. Those who come to buy meat all squeeze in the front, and each person buys at least two pounds.
"You and Huaixue wait here, I'll go in and take a look." Qiu Xuan didn't let him go in because she was afraid that others would run into Zong Xiao.
She squeezed in from the side carrying a bamboo basket. Since she didn't want to buy pork, she didn't go to the stall, but went to Aunt Li who was helping out nearby.
"Auntie, do you have any more pig liver?"
"Yes, yes, yes. The pig was just slaughtered and is still warm." Aunt Li took out two pieces from the sewage bucket and let Qiu Xuan choose.
Qiu Xuan asked the price. It was cheap, two large pieces were only the price of one pound of meat, so Qiu Xuan bought both.
When she squeezed out of the crowd with the bamboo basket, she saw the third branch of the Zong family pointing at Zong Xiao.
He is an old man but he starts to act arrogantly in front of everyone.
Zong Lao San: "Look at you, your personality has changed since you got married. It's just that your second aunt said a few words that day, why don't you recognize your uncle and aunt? I went to see them before the New Year. Your second uncle fell ill when he came home and he hasn't gotten out of bed yet."
Zong Xiao said calmly, "Since we broke off the relationship, I naturally never went."
The third elder of the clan snorted coldly, "After all, they are your uncle and aunt. As elders, how can they admit their mistakes to the younger generation? Go there tomorrow with some good wine and meat and see if they will not make a fuss with you."
"Isn't this Third Uncle? What brings you here?" Qiu Xuan walked over and stood in front of Zong Xiao. She was used to this and didn't think there was anything wrong with it.
"Uncle San makes it sound like our eldest wife has bullied you and asked us to come visit them with good wine and meat. I, a new bride, have no idea of the past when I first arrived in our village, but now that I hear what Uncle San said, I really want to know if you uncles have ever brought wine and meat to visit their orphans and widows in the past."
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