Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Welcome the God of Wealth and Make Money
Baozhu said this, and Baorong agreed. He nodded and said, "I'll ask Big Brother to make it for me when I get home!"
Baozhu suddenly thought that making cat food might be a good way to make money. In this dynasty, many people, from the favorite concubines in the palace to the common people, keep cat slaves. It's a pity that they are all busy with their business now and have no time to do this.
Since she was going to make cat food for Lady Yu, Baozhu took Baorong to the street and bought a lot of chicken, chicken hearts, chicken livers, and the like, waiting for her eldest brother to come back that evening so he could make cat food for her. Her eldest brother was still setting up his stall at Zhouqiao, completely unaware that he had just taken on another job.
Knowing Baorong wanted to learn painting, Dalang naturally wouldn't refuse his younger sister's request. His cooking skills were now quite adept. He skillfully deboned the chicken, minced the heart, liver, and quail, and mixed them with carrots, blending them into a paste before pounding them into granules and drying them. He roasted them over the charcoal fire overnight, then pinched them the next day to see if they were done properly before storing them in a dry barrel.
I tried pouring a small bowl of food at the door, and the next day the bowl was empty. I guess these cats like to eat it.
The dry bucket was sealed with a lid. This small bucket could last for about half a week. If I give it to this beautiful lady, she will definitely not refuse it.
On the fifth day of the first lunar month, the family rises early to send away the ghost of poverty and welcome the god of wealth. The alley buzzes with the clatter of firecrackers, and the Zhen family members head to the alley's entrance. For the past few days, no trash or filth should be thrown outside. On the fifth day, all the household trash is piled up and burned. This is to send away the poor son. After burning the garbage, they burn some rice, flour, and paper money for the poor son. After the firecrackers are set off, everyone kowtows with extreme piety.
When you go home, you must not look back. If you look back, the poor guy will have to follow you home.
When they got home, they had to welcome the God of Wealth. There was still some fruit left in the cellar from the previous year's storage, and most of it was eaten by neighbors who came to visit. Zhen's father and Xu had also made some acquaintances, and they had eaten some of it during the past few days when they came to pay New Year's greetings.
There was a picture of the God of Wealth hanging in the house. I picked up some fruits and placed them on the table. I also put nine plates of meat, vegetables, and pastries. I opened the doors and windows, set off firecrackers, and kowtowed to invite the God of Wealth into the house. This time, I kowtowed with more sincerity.
When I went to set up the stall today, some of the big shops I passed by were open, and it was even more lively. The Zhen family only set up nine plates, but some wealthy shops directly offered whole pigs and sheep, and even gave out lucky money, asking the shop assistants to carry bags and throw money outside. A circle of people gathered at the door, scrambling to get it.
Jiang Shi rushed in and picked up a handful quickly. He came back and gave one to each person. Baozhu threaded the copper coins with a red string and hung them on the stall.
There was a lot of beating of drums and gongs all morning long. When there was a lot of activity, there were naturally people. In addition to those beating drums and gongs, there were also people setting up tents to invite people to perform. When there were many people, business in the street was good. Some people who picked up money immediately ran to the street to eat and drink.
The year passed quickly, and in a blink of an eye it was the seventh day of the lunar year. Ah Chan was absentmindedly sweeping the yard, waiting to open the door for Bao Rong. When Lady Yu asked her about it, she mumbled a few words in a mosquito-like voice, then lowered her head and continued to work, feeling a little guilty.
Until there was a knock on the door outside, she happily put down the broom and said, "Madam, someone is knocking on the door. I'll go check it out!"
After a while, he came in again and asked, "Madam, is this the young lady from the Zhen family who came here a few days ago?"
Madam Yu didn't even raise her head as she carved the lines along the grain of the wood. Ah Chan added quickly, "She brought some cat food. Madam, do you want someone to come in?"
Everything about this girl was written all over her face, and only then did Lady Yu look up at her. Ah Chan looked away, his eyes darting upwards, his toes rubbing circles on the ground guiltily.
No wonder he was looking towards the door with his ears erect today, it turns out he had something to hide. Yu Niang pretended to be cold,
"What good has she done to you?"
Ah Chan was so anxious that she was about to cry. She quickly replied, "No! Madam! Miss Zhen is not the kind of person you dislike. She is a good person. She just wants to learn painting, not buy a painting."
Lady Yu looked frail, and her movements were methodical, blowing away the fine sawdust. When she was almost done, she said coldly, "Let her in."
Ah Chan finally breathed a sigh of relief and trotted outside to call Bao Rong. Bao Rong came into the yard carrying a wooden bucket. Yu Niangzi's attitude was no different from the previous few days. Ah Chan knew that Yu Niangzi was angry because of her self-willed decision. She didn't dare to say anything more for a while, but she didn't want to say anything. She coughed twice, the sound was loud.
"The raccoon is hungry. I'll go feed him."
Baorong was wearing her usual short dress for painting today, with the cuffs tied tightly. She glanced at Lady Yu's expression and waved her hand, "I'll do it... I'll do it."
As soon as the bucket was opened, the cats all gathered around, craning their heads to sniff. Baorong counted them: six in total: two tortoise-shell cats, two large orange cats, and a black cat with golden eyes. The long-haired white cat didn't come around. It stretched lazily and then stood nonchalantly by the bowl, waiting for her to pour the food.
Baorong quietly reached out her hand and touched them one by one. Several cats raised their chins to rub her hands, purring comfortably in their throats.
Lady Yu pretended not to notice and continued carving. When she switched to another side, she called out to Ah Chan, "Bring me the chisel?"
Baorong trotted over to hand over the chisel on the table, and glanced at her, "Sister Achan is going to make tea."
Baorong worked efficiently, which made Madam Yu look at her more and her expression improved a little. After she had carved a rough shape on the wooden board in her hand, she stood up and stretched.
"You want to learn painting?"
Since Lady Yu had spoken to her, Baorong did not want to miss the opportunity, so she bowed and explained her purpose.
"I've heard that you're a good painter. I also love painting. I used to paint mostly landscapes, flowers, and plants, and never felt any hindrance when painting. But since I started painting animals, I've always felt that my paintings lacked spirit. That's why I've taken the liberty of coming here so many times, hoping to ask for your guidance."
Baorong looked at Lady Yu with a determined look. The cold reception he had shown her the last time had made him afraid to even look at her. This time, he finally saw Lady Yu's face clearly. Her face was very pale, and her figure looked frail. But her hands were strong. The hard pear wood was as soft as steamed buns in her hands, and she could easily carve a smooth curve with a carving knife.
Lady Yu didn't respond, nor did she answer. She just said calmly, "Go and plane that stack of pear wood boards."
Ah Chan made tea and came out, only to see Bao Rong studying the plane.
Perhaps because he had started talking to Madam Yu, Baorong was no longer as reserved as he was at the beginning, and revealed some of his natural cuteness. He shamelessly held up the plane and asked Madam Yu how to use it.
Ah Chan was still a little confused about what her wife was thinking, so she just listened to her wife teaching her how to use a planer. Bao Rong and Ah Chan smiled at each other. Regardless of whether to teach her or not, it seemed like she accepted her.
Baozhu was worried about Baorong coming alone, so she had been waiting outside since Baorong went in. Ah Chan took the time to sneak out and tell her something, but she was still a little worried, so she found a teahouse and sat there until the afternoon, and only felt relieved when she saw Baorong come out.
"Madam Yu asked me to help there!" Baorong chattered and told his sister what happened today in detail, with a smile on his face.
Baozhu saw that her hands were pierced by the wood thorns and felt distressed. "Is Madam Yu willing to teach you?"
Baorong didn't know either. Lady Yu's reaction was always indifferent, but Ah Chan told her not to worry, because Lady Yu was always indifferent to everyone and she must be willing for her to go.
"Madam Yu told me to bring my paintings tomorrow and didn't say anything else. I saw it today. Madam Yu's woodcuts are incredibly detailed. I've never seen anything like them. Ah Chan said she tested the wood she used for the carvings one by one, putting a lot of thought into it." Bao Rong was intrigued. Initially, she had only wanted to ask for advice, but after learning more, she was filled with admiration. "It would be great if I could become her apprentice."
In order to learn painting, Baorong felt that any hardship was worth it. She was very happy to think that she could go again tomorrow. Yu Niang did not avoid her and gave up her seat when she saw her.
She also saw Yu Niangzi's paintings—Achan had taken her into the studio with her permission. Yu Niangzi was a serious person, but her paintings were lively; her grasshoppers and dragonflies were lifelike, and her raccoon slave's paintings were even more beautiful.
"Anyway, you don't bother me now. At most, I'll run a few more times to help my wife." Baorong chattered incessantly, leaning against her elder sister, rubbing her head on her shoulder. She was very happy now, happier than making money.
Baorong chattered all the way, and Baozhu listened with a smile. When he returned, Baorong carefully selected two paintings, one of cricket fighting and one of autumn water, to take with him tomorrow. He then rolled up the painting again and sighed.
"After seeing Lady Yu's paintings, I realized that my current level is too low."
Baozhu touched her head and was about to comfort her when she heard the sheep bleating outside again. Baorong seemed to be injected with chicken blood and forgot his previous momentary depression. He went to the woodshed, got some hay and scooped some bean cakes to feed the sheep.
Baozhu was at a loss for words. It was already mid-afternoon when the two of them returned. Grandma and her aunt had gone out to burn incense and probably wouldn't be back in the evening. Ah Xiu had gone to deliver soup at the stall on Zhouqiao Street, so it was just the two of them at home.
There was a vegetable vendor walking around the streets outside. Baozhu asked what vegetables were left, and the vendor replied that they only had some leeks. Baozhu hadn't eaten fresh vegetables for a long time, so she asked him to buy two bunches of leeks.
Last night, my mother and elder brother rolled out a lot of dumpling wrappers and put them in the cupboard. They could be kept there in the cold weather. Baozhu smelled them and found they were not yet sour, so she made the filling of leeks and eggs, and sat under the shed with Baorong to make dumplings.
Wrap one and put it in a basket. It will freeze hard in a short time if left outside. It can be stored for a long time in winter and will not go bad even if it is frozen for a few days.
It was still early, and he was afraid that his elder brother would eat directly at the stall, so he locked the door with Baorong and went to Zhouqiao Street so that his elder brother and the others could save some food for dinner.
People in this dynasty love to eat and are good at it. Even wontons can be made in dozens of flavors. Baozhu once tried the one with red bean paste and honey filling, which tasted very novel.
There are a lot of people on the street today, and the stalls are so busy that there is no time to look up. Many shops along the street have just opened today, and they are too lazy to light a fire, so they send their waiters to the stalls to order food.
The eldest brother and Jiang Shi went back several times, and since they were really busy, Ah Xiu stayed behind to wipe the table and wash the dishes. The stove was on fire all the time, and even though Ah Zhong was very skilled these days, his hair was still singed by the stove fire.
Baozhu stood behind the stall familiarly to collect money and give change, and Baorong also helped Axiu wash the dishes.
I had originally thought of closing the stall early so I could go back to eat, but I didn't expect that there would be even more people on the street after dark. They all heard that there would be dragon and lion dances and Nuo opera after dark, so they came out to watch the fun without even eating.
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