"It's Mom back!" Zhao Wanzi exclaimed as if she had seen a savior when she saw He Tiantian. She wanted to run over and bury her face in her mother's arms, but there were too many people on the road, and she was hesitant.
This was the first time Zhao Wanzi had ever seen so many people, carrying loads on shoulder poles, baskets, and pulling carts.
Standing by the roadside, they saw several carriages speeding past.
That carriage was beautiful, with pretty bells hanging from it. As it passed by, she could almost smell a pleasant fragrance.
It was also Yulan's first time in the city, and she was a little nervous.
The awkwardness on her face finally disappeared when she saw He Tiantian coming over. She led the four children, hand in hand, to He Tiantian.
"Maruko's mom, are you all done with your work over there?"
"Now that we're done with our work, let's take the kids for a walk. The slaughterhouse is at the end of the road ahead; we'll have to try our luck there if we want to buy a sheep."
He Tiantian was holding two children's hands, and Sister-in-law Yulan was also holding two children's hands. The six of them walked forward while looking around.
The wide road was lined with vendors displaying their goods, with food being the most abundant item.
Children can't resist food. He Tiantian saw a toddler, about a year old, tugging at his father's trouser leg and begging for food.
He Tiantian walked up to the stall and saw that it was selling similar items, which were colorful and quite attractive.
If even an adult like her can't resist such a temptation, how much more so a child?
He glanced sideways at Zhao Denglong and Zhao Wanzi; the two children were also staring longingly at the stall. When they saw He Tiantian's gaze, they quickly looked away.
She couldn't buy them; her mother already struggled to earn enough to support them both. How could she afford snacks?
"Auntie, you have so many children, buy them one to try, it's so sweet! Sweeter than candy!" The young vendor waved a piece of pastry stuck on a bamboo skewer in front of the children.
"How much is one?" He Tiantian asked.
"It's not expensive, just one penny per piece."
"Ah, such a small piece costs a penny!" Sister Yulan couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
"Sister-in-law, I use the finest ingredients, and the recipe is a family heirloom!" the vendor replied.
He Tiantian thought to herself: It's just a small pastry, what kind of family secret recipe could it possibly have?
Such a simple thing, no one would buy it in modern times. If she ever has the chance to open a snack shop, she will definitely bring modern pastries to the ancient times.
"Alright, four coins, please!" Four coins were really nothing to He Tiantian. She paid decisively and gave each of the children one coin.
Liu Yulan and Liu Shuixian looked at their mother timidly, hesitant to reach out and take her hand.
The two little ones knew they had been staying at Aunt He's house for so long and had already eaten plenty of good food. They felt bad if their aunt spent money on them just to go to the market.
"Wanzi's mother, we don't need ours. Give them all to the lanterns and dumplings." Sister-in-law Yulan was very embarrassed; after all, she should have paid for the children's things.
He Tiantian pushed the food directly into Yulan and Shuixian's arms, "You two are being so polite to your aunt, don't you treat your aunt like family?"
Liu Yulan and Liu Shuixian quickly shook their heads, "Auntie, that's not what we meant."
“Then why are you being so polite with your aunt? Now that I’m able to buy you food, you can buy food for me when you’re able to in the future.” After saying that, He Tiantian led the children forward.
The slaughterhouse was quite far from the bustling city center, and He Tiantian and her friends bought quite a few things after walking around there.
There was food and useful items, and Sister Yulan even bought a few yards of cloth.
Now that she's earning money, she plans to make a set of clothes for herself and her husband. Of course, she also plans to make a set for Wanzi's mother and the baby in her belly.
"It should be just ahead." He Tiantian pointed to a small courtyard ahead, where the screaming sounds of pigs being slaughtered could be heard from afar.
"Okay, I'll go knock on the door." Sister Yulan, carrying the things she bought in her basket, went up and knocked on the door.
Soon a butcher came out, wearing a large apron and holding a knife in his right hand.
The butcher looked like he ate very well; he was round and plump like a little pig. He had a thick beard, a large face, and a deep, rough voice.
"What's up? Here to buy meat?"
Sister-in-law Yulan looked at the bright red blood still dripping from the knife and took a step back in fear. Then she nodded blankly, "I... want to buy a sheep."
"Male or female?" Butcher Zhang asked in a rough voice.
“It’s a woman,” Sister-in-law Yulan quickly said.
"Wait here." After saying that, Butcher Zhang slammed the door shut.
The courtyard smelled awful, and a blast of hot air rushed out when the door closed. The foul stench of blood hit Sister Yulan's face directly, making her so nauseous she almost vomited.
Sister-in-law Yulan couldn't help but cover her nose and look back at He Tiantian.
What does this mean?
Before He Tiantian could figure it out, she heard a goat's pitiful cry coming from the yard.
"Oh no!" He Tiantian's expression changed.
Sister-in-law Yulan seemed to know as well, and quickly went up and knocked on the door again.
After a long while, Butcher Zhang opened the door again from the inside. Then you could see him holding a skinned and cleaned goat.
"Ten taels of silver, no bargaining." Butcher Zhang pushed the goat in front of Sister Yulan.
"I..." Sister Yulan was almost in tears. She hadn't mentioned the dying goat.
He Tiantian walked forward speechlessly. This butcher's hands were really fast; he didn't give anyone any time to react.
"Ten taels of silver is fine, but I want a live, milk-producing female goat!" He Tiantian said, quite annoyed.
Butcher Zhang was taken aback, and when he spoke, he discovered he had a gold tooth.
Why didn't you say so sooner?
"You didn't even ask," He Tiantian said, speechless.
“I don’t kill pregnant goats; they have a spirit. Come in and choose one yourself,” Butcher Zhang said, opening the gate to the yard.
He Tiantian followed them inside. It seemed that Zhang the butcher was the only person in the large courtyard.
There were many chopping boards in the yard, covered with clean, slaughtered pork, mutton, beef, and so on...
The four little ones were seeing such a bloody scene for the first time, and they were so frightened that they held hands and hid tightly behind Sister Yulan.
Butcher Zhang led them from the front yard to the back yard; the slaughterhouse was quite large.
When He Tiantian arrived at the backyard, she saw several women busy cleaning the slaughtered meat and using boiling water to remove the fur from the small animals.
The whole courtyard smelled foul and pungent; staying there for too long made me feel nauseous.
[Author's Note]: Known as the "Quick Hand of the Jianghu"—Zhang the Butcher
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