Chapter 4 That kid doesn't even deserve it?
"Mother, come on, have some more. After you finish eating, drink two bowls of soup. I asked Xiao Er to make it especially for you. Drinking more soup is good for your health..."
In the living room, the mother and daughter sat at a four-foot round table.
Five dishes were laid out on the table: four main dishes and a soup. The most prized dish was the soup in the middle, made with venison bones as the base and venison as the main ingredient, along with medicinal herbs such as venison antler, ginseng, wolfberry, and codonopsis. It was said to nourish the heart and kidneys, and such a soup was extremely rare and highly sought after elsewhere.
With the main soup being plentiful, the side dishes became much lighter: stir-fried venison, stir-fried greens, stir-fried mushrooms, and a cold wild vegetable salad.
With venison soup at the bottom, this was a rare delicacy even for wealthy families. Unfortunately, some people were picky eaters, so Song Jin patiently coaxed them to eat.
"Come on, another bite. Ah, this venison is good for your health, so let's have a bite of wild vegetables too."
Niu Tielan sat opposite, looking at the bowl full of meat and vegetables, and felt utterly greasy.
This dish is a rare treat for outsiders, but it's a staple in their family. Her daughter is always out in the mountains, and there's meat hanging all over the house; she's never short of food. Besides...
Niu Tielan put down her chopsticks, frowned, and asked with a hint of accusation, "Didn't I say I wouldn't add any medicinal herbs? Do I still have any say in this family?"
Song Jin wasn't worried at all. She added another slice of ginseng to her mother's plate and said earnestly, "Mom, be good, don't be picky about food, your health is the most important thing."
Niu Tielan retorted angrily, "Your mother isn't in good health, but she's not terminally ill. I'm tired of taking medicine every day, even if you're not fed up with it. I'm not taking it anymore, give me something else."
Even if ginseng is very good, eating it in one meal can make you very irritable.
Seeing that the girl was refusing to eat, Song Jin sighed helplessly. She had to watch her mother like she was watching a child. After watching for a while, the girl finally gave in.
"Alright, Mother, you finish what's in your bowl, and I'll have Xiao Er bring out the stewed radish."
Niu Tielan looked over expressionlessly: "Are you trying to stuff me to death so you can inherit my fortune?"
Song Jin protested her innocence: "It's not that exaggerated!"
Niu Tielan remained silent, only picking out meat from her bowl and letting her daughter, with her tiger-like belly, finish the leftovers.
Song Jin was at her wit's end: "That's enough, that's enough. You have to eat the ginseng and deer antler."
Niu Tielan: "Eat my ass!"
...
Although there were only two of them, the mother and daughter enjoyed their meal immensely.
Song Jin was born with greater strength than the average person, and after training her "superpowers" and running into the mountains every day, her appetite became much larger than that of an average person. She finished off all the leftovers from a table full of food, even cleaning up the soup with her rice.
The fine tradition of cherishing food should be maintained in every year.
After the meal, Xiao Er, who had already eaten outside, came over to clear the table.
The mother and daughter don't like to be disturbed while eating, and they usually eat together.
The two maids in the house had clear divisions of labor: the reliable Xiao Mei was in charge of arranging things and tidying up Song Jinniu and Tielan's rooms; Xiao Er was in charge of cooking for the family of six and washing the clothes of the mother and daughter; and Xiao Mao and Xiao Duo were responsible for the cleanliness of the front and back yards, as well as the vegetable garden and livestock.
However, on the other hand, even the average small landowning family in town couldn't afford to support so many people.
Most small landlord families, with four or five branches and dozens of people, had to consider the younger generation's education, marriage, and social obligations. They would do all the work themselves, at most hiring some temporary laborers during the busy farming season. By the end of the year, they could barely make ends meet while each person had a little savings. It was rare for them to specifically hire maids and servants.
After all, it's not as cost-effective as taking a concubine or mistress; they're hardworking, inexpensive, and it's perfectly legitimate.
The Niu family is different; it consists of just the mother and daughter, and they have a good fortune.
Niu Tielan was quick-witted and skilled, particularly in cosmetics and spices. Although he didn't own a shop, he would provide new formulas to the Lin family's trading company every year, earning some money, which he then used to buy land and mountains.
Year after year, in addition to their hundred acres of fertile land, their family also had a tea plantation and a mulberry orchard, generating considerable income each year.
Song Jin is another story. She can easily earn several taels of silver just by taking a trip into the mountains, but that's only because she wants to live off her parents. Occasionally, she might find some high-quality medicinal herbs, but most of them are consumed by herself and her mother, with only a small portion going to her.
Song Jin would deliver the goods to Huichuntang in the county, and this time was no exception.
After dinner, she tidied up briefly, packed away some herbs she had collected over the past few days, and prepared to go out. Of course, the most valuable items were the deer antler and deer penis from this trip, as well as a few pieces of wild ginseng that her mother had always disliked.
Song Jin: "Mother, I'm going to the county to deliver medicine to Doctor Liu. Should I bring anything home?"
Niu Tielan felt annoyed just thinking about those medicinal herbs and said irritably, "Don't bring me anything, it's bad luck."
Song Jin's lips twitched: "Okay, I'm leaving then."
Niu Tielan continued to complain: "Go and come back quickly, and remember not to feed Xiao Hei beans, or he'll just keep farting all day long."
Song Jin: "...Understood"
Xiao Hei was Song Jin's mount, a magnificent Akhal-Teke horse, born from the union of their town's most beautiful little gray donkey and a mule. It perfectly inherited its Akhal-Teke father's sleek body and long legs, as well as its beautiful mother, the little gray donkey's head. With its glossy, long legs, it was a head taller than most mules, and incredibly handsome.
It just loves to fart; it farts every time it eats beans, and beans happen to be its favorite food.
Song Jin walked to her donkey pen. Little Black was chewing hay. When it saw her coming, it suddenly raised its head, its long ears twitched, and its bright black eyes stared at her. It looked like a horse, a donkey, and a rabbit all at once—very beautiful.
"Hey kid, let's go to the county town."
Song Jin walked over, patted the little black dog's head, opened the donkey pen, pulled it out, and skillfully picked up the strap to collect fodder.
Little Black excitedly nudged her waist with its head, huffing and puffing.
Song Jin laughed loudly: "Stop fooling around, have a little of everything, or don't blame me if you go hungry."
Little Black: "Huffing and puffing"
Song Jin chuckled, "Alright, alright, I'll give you more beans, but be quiet, or they'll all be gone if Mom sees."
"What do you see?"
Niu Tielan's chilly voice came over.
Song Jin immediately laughed and said, "Mom, why did you come here? It smells bad here."
Niu Tielan sneered: "If you feed it less beans, it won't smell bad."
Song Jin said ingratiatingly, "Little Black works so hard running around, it's just one of its hobbies."
Niu Tielan chuckled. She really had the nerve to say that.
This wretched mule is impossible to rouse, demands the best feed, has a terrible temper, is picky about food, and does almost no work all year round; it's purely a good-looking but useless thing.
In most families, it would have been sold long ago. It's useless for work but still edible; only her daughter would be so lucky.
Out of sight, out of mind, Niu Tielan tossed the purse from her waist over: "Go to the county town and behave yourself, don't wander around. Yan Sheng's taking the provincial exam soon, buy some good writing materials and send them over."
Song Jin easily took the purse, raised an eyebrow, and said with a hint of jealousy, "You bought such nice things? Does that kid even deserve it?"
Niu Tielan, annoyed: "Then give it back to me!"
Song Jin quickly put away his purse, chuckled, and led the equally excited Xiao Hei outside. Once on the street, he gently lifted his foot, fastened the rope onto the mule's saddle, and sat on Xiao Hei's back.
The mule was tall and imposing, its head held high and chest puffed out, with a longbow and arrows hanging on one side, adding to its imposing presence.
She was tall and slender, with bright eyes and white teeth, radiant and beautiful. Her almond-shaped eyes were bright and clear. Because she was going out, she wore a dark blue robe with a cloud pattern, her slender waist cinched, and black boots that covered her trouser legs. She sat on the mule with extraordinary grace.
"Mother, I'm leaving."
Song Jin turned to her mother and smiled, a bright and beautiful smile. Then she patted Xiao Hei's head, pulled the rope, and Xiao Hei grunted twice, taking off running off with her.
Niu Tielan stood at the doorway watching until no one could be seen anymore, then she raised the corners of her mouth in a slight smile.
Although this wretched mule is lazy and stubborn, only listening to her son, it is indeed more useful than a regular mule. It has good stamina, is fast, and looks handsome, without the ostentation of a horse.
Forget it, let's not kill it for now.
It's okay if it smells a bit.
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