While Tian Zhigao and Tian Zhiyuan were discussing going to Province Y, in Zhang Fuji's yard across the alley, Zhang's father was teaching Jinniu how to play chess, and Meng Tao had nothing to do, so she was playing in the vegetable garden.
The yard is big. The original owner had cleared several vegetable plots. Zhang's father and mother also scattered some vegetable seeds. Green sprouts did grow, but unevenly. Some places were crowded, and others were sparse.
Meng Tao used a bamboo stick to carefully loosen the soil for the seedlings. After finishing two ridges of land, Zhang Di came back from school, yelling that he was very hungry. Meng Tao washed her hands and started cooking. When dinner was ready, she heard the iron door being opened. She saw Zhang Fu coming in on a tricycle.
"Everything is done! Wild boar meat and venison are put in bamboo baskets and stored in the small warehouse. Deer antlers, deer tendons, and deer penises are left at Master Gan's place for processing and soaking in wine. The wine will not be ready until tomorrow night, and it will be sealed in the jar and stored in the small warehouse."
Zhang Fu finished talking to Meng Tao and asked, "The small warehouse is very sturdy. We can store wild boar and venison in it without worrying about them being eaten by rats or something. But it's a pity that the meat will go bad in this warm weather! Master Gan said that the meat is very good, especially venison, which is very rare and precious."
Meng Tao said, "It's okay. At the latest, tonight or tomorrow morning, the boss will send a car to take it away."
"That's good."
Zhang Fu turned around and lifted the black oil felt covering the tricycle, revealing a small basket of fresh wild boar meat and venison. He said with a smile, "I kept 15 catties of venison and wild boar meat each. Master Gan kept 5 catties of each as a reward. In addition, he said he wanted to brew some wine, 2 catties each of deer antler wine and deer tendon wine."
"Okay, give it to him. Your family should also keep two jars, but I think that when your father and mother see the wine, they will definitely want to share it with relatives. This kind of wine is very precious, so you'd better watch it and don't let them give too much."
"I know, I know! Master Gan said: This kind of wine is more valuable than gold, and it can last a lifetime without spoiling... I will keep it myself, and no one else can touch it!"
When Zhang Fu heard that he could keep two jars of deer antler and deer tendon wine, he was overjoyed and immediately promised not to give them away.
Are you kidding? Giving this kind of wine to others is like giving gold. Master Gan said: He had gotten a lot of deer antlers and deer tendons before, but he had never seen anything as good as this one. Even the tiger bone and tiger tendon wine he got last time had a strange fragrance. It was simply the best in the world!
This kind of wine should be sealed for one or two years or even longer, and then opened for drinking. Take a small sip every day. It can cure diseases if you have them, and prolong your life if you don't have any. Even if you are in your seventies or eighties, you can be as strong as a teenager!
How could this be wine? It was simply an elixir. Zhang Fu was not stupid. He would hide such a good thing like gold.
Meng Tao thought to herself that Master Gan really knew what was good. These deer antlers and tiger bones used for making wine were placed in a space for a long time to be soaked in spiritual energy before being taken out. Of course, they were extraordinary and could indeed be said to be more valuable than gold.
Zhang Fu added, "We will use the venison and wild boar meat that we were given. My mother will come and make them into smoked jerky tomorrow. This way they can be preserved for a longer time. You and Jinniu can take half back to eat."
Meng Tao said, "Jinniu and I don't want it. We have a lot of smoked meat at home, and it takes a long time to finish it. We will stay at your house for the next two days, and just eat some fresh venison every day. You should also try to eat more while it is fresh. Even if you make jerky, eat it up as soon as possible. If you keep it for too long, it will not have any nourishing effect."
These meats contain spatial spiritual energy, so naturally the sooner you eat them, the better, as it is good for your body.
Zhang Fu thought what she said made sense, so he agreed and moved the meat to the kitchen. Meng Tao cut a piece of each type of meat, cut it into thin slices and put it directly into the pot. The simple cooking method, with only a little salt and ginger slices, made it very fresh and delicious. Everyone rushed to eat it, and Zhang Ma's pot of pork rib soup was put aside.
When Zhang Di heard that his brother, Sister Taohua and Brother Jinniu were going to the cinema to watch a movie, he immediately quit and insisted on watching a movie, too. He would not go back home to the factory tonight and wanted to live in the new house in the courtyard!
Zhang Fu chased after Zhang Di and beat him up. Zhang's father felt sorry for his youngest son and said, "Alright, alright, if you don't want to go back, then don't go back. Jinniu and Taohua are coming today, and everyone is happy, so we'll stay here tonight."
Zhang Fu looked at his father and said, "If you two don't come back, my mother will be on the night shift. My aunt and uncle will see that our house is dark and they will run over to see that the door is still open. If they ask about it tomorrow, how will you answer and explain it?"
"What is there to explain? You can't hide it from them. We bought this yard and didn't steal or rob it. Just tell them the truth!"
"My third uncle is in a hurry to find a house to get married. Are you telling the truth at this critical moment? I will not let my third uncle get married in this courtyard. I don't need to talk about how he resents us. My eldest aunt and second uncle will definitely make a fuss over this and blame you for not having brotherly love. During the New Year, they asked our family to borrow money but you refused. Now they have money to buy a big courtyard..."
When Zhang Fu mentioned borrowing money, Zhang's father's face darkened and he snorted, "I had just been discharged from the hospital and went home. I didn't complain about my poverty to anyone, but they had the nerve to ask me for money? I need money too. Let them do whatever they want. It's been so many years. God can see whether I talk about brotherhood or not! I just need to be worthy of my parents and my conscience! I will make it clear to them that you are my eldest son and you are old enough to get married and have a family. Your mother has saved some money over the years and borrowed some from your uncle to buy this courtyard house specifically for your marriage. Don't let anyone worry about it. It's useless! This house is in your name. As a father, I am lucky enough to live with you. I can't make the decision."
After hearing what his father said, Zhang Fu remained silent.
The main reason for hiding the purchase of the yard was that he was worried that his father would consider their brotherly love and insist on giving the yard to his third uncle for his wedding. Now that his father has thought it through, there is no need to hide it.
The father and son discussed family matters without avoiding Meng Tao and Jin Niu. Even if the two did not want to listen, they had no choice but to sit beside them and listen like puppets, not interrupting or saying anything.
Zhang's father didn't want to watch the movie, but stayed at home to watch the house. Zhang Fu rode his tricycle to take Meng Tao, Jinniu and Zhang Di to the cinema. Everyone in the tricycle was laughing and joking, just like a family of brothers and sisters.
Zhang Fu deliberately turned a corner and walked towards the back alley, intending to pass by the broken yard of the Tian family with a collapsed wall, so that Meng Tao could take a look and confirm whether it was the best family in Linshui Village.
It was quite far away, so Zhang Di pointed and said, "Look, that's the family that quarrels and fights every day."
Meng Tao said "hush" and asked him to be quiet for the time being.
The tricycle passed through a narrow alley. On the right was a brick wall of someone else's house, and on the left was a fence made of a few pieces of wood. The electric light coming through the house illuminated a woman walking in the yard. She had short hair cut to her ears and wore a gray coat. From the way she walked, Meng Tao knew without even looking at her from the front that this was Wang Shuifeng.
So it was really the Tian family who ruined their reputation and couldn't stay in Linshui Village, so they fled to the county town to settle down? Haha, they are quite capable, better than Meng Taohua in the previous life. After Meng Taohua's reputation was ruined, she would not leave, and no one took her away. She endured the heavy humiliation and stayed in the village until her death.
I just wonder if the Tian family can live up to their wish and stay in the city forever without having to go back to the village? (End of this chapter)