He Zifeng's blue-and-white horse was so impressive that many villagers came to see it, wishing they could touch it. They thought it would be wonderful to have such a handsome horse at home. With a horse, it would be convenient to go anywhere.
There were indeed some restless fellows who tried to touch the horse.
Qinghua snorted in annoyance, and the other party immediately withdrew his hand, saying awkwardly, "This horse has quite a temper."
He Zifeng said, "That's how a one-year-old male horse is. Be careful, it likes to kick people."
Upon hearing this, everyone quickly moved aside to make room for the horse, fearing it might kick up its tail.
But the blue and white porcelain was so beautiful that even with its bad temper, the number of onlookers did not decrease.
He Zifeng noticed that Qinghua was practically baring its teeth, so he patted Qinghua's head and took it for a couple of laps to loosen its legs. Even this tall, imposing horse waddled around like a child.
They circled the village twice. He Zifeng took him up the mountain to groom his fur. Qinghua kept rubbing its head against He Zifeng. He Zifeng gently patted its back before happily heading home.
The aroma of simmering pork bones wafted out of the courtyard, enveloping his home in a smoky fragrance.
He Zifeng went to the small kitchen to find Qiu Yu, and saw Qiu Yu lifting the lid of the pot and gently stirring with a rice spoon.
He Zifeng gently put his arm around Qiu Yu's waist from behind and rested his head on Qiu Yu's shoulder. Qiu Yu said, "Don't be silly." There were still three women in the yard cleaning up the pig offal. If they went into the kitchen to get a pot or jar and happened to see them, what would that look like?
"Yu'er, are you tired?" He Zifeng rarely used such intimate words.
Qiu Yu felt his face burning. He felt as if the voice was tickling his ear: "Not tired."
He Zifeng held his hand. Before, when his son was at home, he had to maintain his status as a father and couldn't be too affectionate with Qiu Yu. Now that the child wasn't there, he leaned on Qiu Yu's shoulder and kissed her ear as he got up.
Qiu Yu turned around and hugged He Zifeng.
He Zifeng put his arm around the person and said, "How about we stop the business of making savory pancakes?"
Since their savory pancakes became popular, two other stalls started making them too, even cheaper by a penny, which has had a significant impact on them. Previously, their savory pancakes sold out quickly, but these days they barely sell out by noon. Making these savory pancakes requires grinding and kneading flour every day, which is time-consuming and laborious.
Now that they have horse-drawn carriages, making braised pork ribs and other braised dishes isn't too difficult, and they can go home earlier.
Qiu Yu said, "Okay." If they could take over the savory pancake business, things would be so much easier than before. However, they could only earn 1,200 coins a day from the savory pancakes. They could only make more braised pork ribs to make up for the loss.
However, I can't stop making the savory pancakes right away. I plan to wait another day. This time, I'll only make a hundred dough balls, enough for the inn and the escort agency, and also to let some regular customers know. I won't be making pancakes anymore.
Before, it would take 300 sheets to make up, but now making 100 is like child's play, and we make up quickly.
He Zifeng then heard that Gouzi's father was looking for him outside.
He Zifeng washed his hands and went outside, where he saw Gouzi's father gazing intently at his family's blue-and-white horse. Gouzi was also a horse enthusiast, and he was so captivated by it that he didn't know what to do. Seeing He Zifeng come out, he quickly said, "Your horse looks very robust." His own horse was an old one, capable of working, but it required careful maintenance. He planned to stop renting it this year and get another one. However, he had been to the horse rental shop many times and rarely seen such a handsome young horse; he almost wanted to pay He Zifeng to trade for it.
However, apart from He Zifeng, Qinghua did not buy into anything else.
It even bared its teeth at Dog's dad.
Dog's dad wasn't angry at all, saying that a good horse is one with a temper.
He Zifeng went over and touched the blue and white porcelain, which then became much more docile. He Zifeng said, "You can't do that, it's impolite."
The horse lowered its head; it was so intelligent.
Dog's dad watched from the side with wide eyes: "This is really weird." He was both envious and jealous.
Dog's father then saw what Qinghua was eating and said, "How can it eat this kind of fodder? This kind of horse's coat won't be shiny if it eats this. I know a fodder seller. His fodder is all brought back from the grasslands, it's so tender, and it's not enough to just eat fodder, it also needs some bean feed!" He had visited many old men who specialized in raising horses after he rented the carriage home, and that's how he learned these things.
Dog's dad understands now.
He Zifeng said, "Where can we buy the best fodder?" Now that the horse has come with him, he must take good care of it.
Dog's father said, "I'll talk to that man when I see him tomorrow. Tell him to come over tomorrow afternoon; he has seven or eight kinds of fodder, that's all he needs." Then Dog's father slapped his forehead and said, "Hey, look at me, I was so busy watching the horses that I almost forgot about the important matter." He was a little embarrassed. He Zifeng said, "Your family makes really good food. Can I buy some from you? I have a big market to go to the day after tomorrow." He used to see other people making a fortune from food, but he didn't know how!
I hadn't thought of it this way before, but now that I've discovered that He Zifeng and his wife know how to do it, I've started thinking about it.
He Zifeng said, "We've been making braised pork ribs recently and delivering them to inns in the county. But this stuff isn't cheap; we sell it to inns for fifty coins a pound. They can get a good price if they have shops, but it might not sell well if they go to the market."
Upon hearing He Zifeng's words, Dog's father immediately said, "Hey, you're overthinking it. When it's market day, people from nearby villages and the county all go there. Although some people go to find bargains, others are willing to spend money. A few days ago, a friend of mine brought back a truckload of jujubes from out of town. He bought them for five coins and sold them for thirty coins a pound. They were all sold out in half a day."
Meat is different. These days, everyone craves meat, regardless of whether they're rich or poor. He'd eaten Qiu Yu's cooking before. If that aroma wafted through the market, few could resist it.
Seeing his reaction, He Zifeng didn't say anything more. Gouzi's father was an expert when it came to going to the market. To be honest, He Zifeng was quite grateful to Gouzi's father. He was the only person in the village who had helped him make a fortune back then.
He Zifeng said, "I'll give the county inn fifty coins a pound. This stuff is expensive to cook and use, but we brothers definitely can't give you that price. I'll give you forty-five coins a pound. Take it if you think it's reasonable, or it's fine if you don't. It won't affect our relationship."
Dog's father was also very touched, knowing that the five coins were a share of He Zifeng's profit that he was giving him. With such kindness, what more could he ask for? He could make money even if he resold it. Dog's father said, "That's suitable. I'll take a hundred catties the day after tomorrow. We'll see how it sells later and adjust accordingly." He planned to sell it for seventy coins per catty. That meant a considerable profit.
He Zifeng nodded.
Dog's father then left happily.
He Zifeng told Qiu Yu about the business. Qiu Yu was also very happy. Raw pork bones only cost three coins per pound. With the ingredients and firewood, the cost per pound was twenty coins. One hundred pounds would be four and a half ounces, and they could make a profit of two and a half ounces.
Qiu Yu said, "I'll buy more seasonings tomorrow." The family uses up soy sauce, sugar, fermented rice, and other condiments every day. A single purchase lasts only a few days before the stock is gone. Since they plan to turn braised pork ribs and braised dishes into a business, these things are essential.
The village chief of Liuzi Village came here on a special occasion. As soon as he arrived, all three of his wives greeted him.
Upon hearing this, He Zifeng and his wife quickly went out and greeted him, "Hello, Village Chief."
They looked at each other, bewildered, not knowing what day it was, as waves of people arrived.
He Zifeng hurriedly went out to greet them.
The village chief, Liu Zi, also looked beaming. He said, "Zifeng, didn't you leave some manure? I happen to be free today, so I'll ask Zhuzi and Dazhuang to help you spread the manure on the ground first, and then burn it on top. When the snow covers it in winter, it will be ready. Next year, it will definitely be two acres of good land. That piece of land is in a pretty good location; you can't buy two acres of land for ten taels of silver these days."
Village Chief Liu had always treated him well, but this was the first time he had received such genuine help. He Zifeng said, "Thank you, Village Chief, I'll go over there too!"
Village Chief Liu said, "You're good at cooking, how can you do such dirty work? Don't get your hands dirty, we'll finish this little bit of work right away." Then he laughed heartily, "I just came to tell you."
After saying that, he called to the people, picked up the basket, and went over.
Even Qiu Yu, who was standing nearby, was somewhat shocked: "How can the village chief be so kind?" She had never heard of him working for anyone before. He was the highest-ranking official in the village; who could usually order him around?
They even made the village chief do their work. It's already a miracle they didn't help the village chief with his work.
He Zifeng said, "I made braised pork trotters with soybeans today. I'll send a bowl to each of the three of them later." Half the village is craving their food. But very few of them actually get to eat it.
Although they were doing this business, the price was too high for the villagers, so they had never sold any.
They don't sell them, but the villagers have always been craving them; stewed pig's trotters are the most prestigious gift.
About half an hour later, the village chief and Shuanzi and the others finished their work. They were all experienced farmers; they didn't know how to do other things, but when it came to tending the fields, they were all experts. Shuanzi and the others went straight home.
The village chief came over to talk to He Zifeng. He saw that He Zifeng had prepared a large bowl of pig's trotters, with broth and soybeans. They had cut the pig's trotters into pieces, there were three large pieces, and they were emitting a faint aroma.
The village chief wanted to be polite, but the aroma was just too irresistible. He took it and didn't dare say much, afraid that drooling would be impolite.
After swallowing for a moment, Village Chief Liu said, "You two are too kind. Is this little job really worth all this trouble? But it smells really good. Consider it an extra snack to go with your drinks."
He Zifeng said, "If you like it, I'll bring you more next time."
Village Chief Liu waved his hands repeatedly, "No, no, these are all for you to sell for money, how can I accept them? Just this once, don't do it again." After saying that, he carried the pig's trotters back home, making countless villagers drool along the way.
Not only the village chief got one, but Zhu Zi and Da Zhuang also got one. They were overjoyed. They said, "He Zifeng is so kind; he helped us out with such a nice dish."
Shuanzi's father said, "This thing costs a lot of money. He should be more proactive when there's work to be done. It's not easy for him to live alone."
“That’s right.” Shuanzi said with a smug look, “I have nothing to do with Brother He. We grew up together like little kids. If he needs anything, I’ll definitely be there for him.”
Shuanzi's father looked at Shuanzi and said, "You can't compare to He Zifeng. He's only been gone a short time. He has a house, land, and now he even has a carriage. He's really something." He smacked his lips and said, "It's a pity that your Uncle He is so clueless. Such a good kid, yet he's so disheartening."
Shuanzi noticed that his father hadn't had a drink yet, and he felt a bit sentimental. He quickly added, "You're much better than him. You're more level-headed, and our family doesn't cause any trouble."
Shuanzi's father, Yipin, shared the same idea. Seeing that Shuanzi could still say such a thing, he said, "Go get some wine, let's have a drink, just the two of us."
Shuanzi happily went to get some wine, and when he came out, he found that Dazhuang had also gone to get some wine. The two of them had been given good dishes by He Zifeng, just in time for the New Year. Dazhuang said, "Next time Brother He has any work, just call me. I'm not doing this for the dishes he delivers, I just want to say that Brother He is a person worth befriending."
Shuanzi said, "What you said hit the nail on the head. That's what I was thinking too."
The two had just finished getting their wine when they heard someone outside say, "People from outside the village have arrived."
The village is a communal place, and outsiders are rare. When someone says someone has arrived, everyone cranes their necks to see who it is.
Two men came. One was a burly man in his early twenties, as strong as an ox. The villagers' eyes lit up when they saw him; he'd definitely be a good worker in the fields. The other was as thin as a stick. The two of them together were quite an eyesore.
They were all heading in the same direction, and everyone realized it was He Zifeng's house.
Although the matter between Wan Hai and Liang Zi has come to an end, the village will inevitably talk about it for years to come.
Nowadays, whenever an outsider comes to the village, everyone gathers around to take a look.
The two outsiders headed straight for He Zifeng's residence.
The burly-looking one knocked on the door first, and He Zifeng opened it and asked, "Who are you looking for?"
The burly young man said, "I'm looking for He Zifeng."
He Zifeng said, "That's me!"
Qiu Yu came out as soon as she heard this. The three sisters-in-law who had come to help with chores at home, not knowing what the other party wanted to do, also followed Qiu Yu.
He Zifeng said, "The yard isn't ready yet, so I won't invite you inside. Let's talk outside." The pig offal needed to be washed repeatedly, and there were so many basins in the yard that there wasn't even room to step.
The two men didn't seem to mind. The burly young man spoke up, "The town mayor is my grandfather. He said he knew about what happened in the county and told you not to be sad, that a bald pheasant can't fly into a respectable place. When he saw you last time, he thought you were alright. It just so happened that the county government was hiring and asked my grandfather if he had any recommendations. So he recommended you. The county government wants you to report for duty the day after tomorrow, and they've already sent your uniform back."
The moment the sturdy young man spoke, everyone in the village perked up their ears to listen. After he finished speaking, they were filled with envy, and some clever people even went directly to invite Village Chief Liu.
Village Chief Liu hadn't finished his drink when he wiped his mouth and hurried over.
For the men in the village, becoming a yamen runner was like a meteoric rise to the top! Being able to eat at the yamen gate was a prestigious thing. Without a respected person to recommend you, even spending twenty taels of silver wouldn't guarantee you a job.
"Wow, this is great news for our village!"
"You've made something of yourself. Ah Feng, your good days are coming."
Village Chief Liu laughed heartily, "I told you he was a good man. Go back and tell the old town chief to rest assured. I can vouch for He Zifeng myself. He definitely won't let the old town chief down."
He Zifeng never expected such a good thing to happen to him. Since the old town mayor had given him face, he certainly had to accept it. He thanked him repeatedly.
But the old town mayor's grandson said, "My grandfather doesn't promote people casually. You must have some connections. Work hard, and you'll do well in the future."
Village Chief Liu clicked his tongue in amazement. This was practically backing He Zifeng up! That was incredibly generous of them. From now on, as long as He Zifeng didn't go astray, his life would be secure with plenty of food and drink.
Although the village chief of Liuzi Village was the head of the village, his authority was limited to the village; outside the village, he had no power. The yamen runners, on the other hand, acted with impunity throughout the county. Having connections in the county made things easier, and everyone, especially those who needed favors from others, were increasingly determined to curry favor with them.
After the old town mayor's grandson finished speaking, the gaunt young man next to him said, "My master is Young Master Dian. He gave you a piece of Qingmo ink to encourage you to live a good life!"
Young Master Dian was traveling and collecting local customs when he witnessed this major event and found it quite entertaining. He thought that although Wan Hai didn't intentionally kill anyone, the person died because of him. He figured Wan Hai would definitely be imprisoned for at least twenty years, but he was only imprisoned for two days before returning. A little angry, Young Master Dian couldn't stand this. So he gave his personal Qingmo to He Zifeng and told him that good would prevail over evil.
This blue ink stick is top-grade and quite valuable. I heard the old town mayor arranged this job for him, so I took the opportunity to send someone over. Although I only met him once that day, it left a deep impression on me. It's just a pity that I can't stay here, so this is the only way I can do it.
Qiu Yu now runs a snack business and regularly orders food boxes. Seeing that these two had come all this way to help them, she was extremely grateful and packed two food boxes of braised pig's trotters with soybeans for them to take over.
The two accepted the gift as a token of their gratitude before leaving.
The old town mayor even sent his grandson, and the village chiefs from the surrounding villages also brought generous gifts such as grain and cloth to He Zifeng.
They all brought back braised pig's trotters from their own homes as a thank-you gift. There were three village chiefs in total, so I guess they won't have braised pig's trotters with soybeans when they set up their stall tomorrow.
When the old town mayor and his village came, the villagers were very envious. But later, village mayors from other villages also came. Gradually, they began to understand the situation.
This is all to speak out for He Zifeng!
Everyone's attention was focused on Liangzi's death and Xiao Wan's accidental death. They all forgot that He Zifeng was actually the biggest victim. His house was burned down, and later they tried to frame him for murder. It was only thanks to the old town mayor's keen insight that the truth was uncovered.
As a result, everyone felt sorry for Liangzi and Wan Hai's family, almost ignoring the fact that neither of them were good people.
The old town mayor was right. He was referring to people like Wan Hai, saying that pheasants are not worthy of serious consideration.
Now that the old town mayor has personally secured him a job as a yamen runner, let's see who dares to bully He Zifeng so brazenly in the future.
The village was about to produce a government-employed official, and every household wanted to get involved with him before he became successful. Belatedly, everyone started sending gifts to He Zifeng, and they were all quite generous; several people even brought live chickens. He Zifeng refused them all.
As for the He family's old mansion being tightly shut? Who cares if they're dead or alive!
Meanwhile, He Zifeng's pig's trotters were brought to the old town chief, who was now quite old and didn't have the teeth of a young man anymore. He simply said, "That young man from the He family is very kind. You and your father go and eat."
His grandson agreed, then called his father, and the two of them set up the table. As soon as the food box was opened, a fragrant aroma wafted out. Even the old town mayor's nose twitched slightly.
The father and son each picked up a pig's trotter and started gnawing on it, savoring its tenderness and flavor. The skin and tendons separated easily with a gentle touch. It was incredibly delicious. They tossed aside their notebooks and began eating. What was initially eighty percent craving had become ten percent craving after hearing their slurping sounds.
Soybeans, when simmered for a long time, seem to melt in your mouth with a gentle bite, becoming more and more fragrant with each bite.
Even the old town mayor said, "I'll try one." If he hadn't said that, the two of them probably would have eaten it all.
The old mayor took a bite, and sure enough, it was soft, savory, and delicious—something he'd never tasted before. He was instantly hooked. But it was too late. His son and grandson already had piles of bones in front of them. Luckily, he'd spoken up and there was still one left; otherwise, they wouldn't have had any. The old mayor scolded them, "You have no respect for elders! Why didn't you share with me? You only care about your own food!"
His grandson said, "Why don't you ask Young Master Dian? He also got a food box. I'm thinking that someone of his status wouldn't eat scraps, so let's not waste them." He had been thinking about this since he started eating, and now he was offering his advice to his grandfather.
The old town mayor said, "Then go and ask!"
The old town mayor's grandson returned in less than fifteen minutes, looking somewhat annoyed: "We were too late; he'd already given it to someone."
The old town mayor had no choice but to say, "Fine." Even though the pig's trotters were gone, he wouldn't let the soybeans go to waste. He forbade the father and son from eating them; they'd be used as a snack with their drinks that evening.
The story of Young Master Dian giving away pig's trotters was just an excuse. Although he didn't eat such things, it must be good that the old town mayor sent someone to ask for them. He had someone bring them over, tasted a bite of the soybeans which were delicious, and then ate a bite of the pig's trotters which were tender and tasty. He exclaimed, "No wonder he specially sent someone to ask for them."
The servant said, "Young master, the carriage is ready, we need to set off." If it weren't for his young master's playful nature and insistence on watching the trial, they would have left long ago.
Young Master Dian said, "Ah, I'm reluctant to leave." This is the first time he's eaten so comfortably since arriving here. "No, please wrap up everything in this food box for me; I'll eat it on the way."
"This..." The servant hesitated.
Young Master Dian raised an eyebrow, and the servant finally relented, obediently going to pack up the food box. Young Master Dian brought the servant who had gone to Chishui Village to his side and said, "Have you remembered the location of the Second Young Master He's house? We'll have to pay a visit on our way back."
"I've got it," said the lean servant.
Only then was Young Master Dian satisfied, and he boarded the carriage.
Author's Note: This is today's update. I'm posting it early; there won't be any updates tonight.
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