My Fulang is a Delicate Flower Chapter 31 Part 4

"Huo Shu, you really learn fast. In such a short time, you’ve become so skilled you could practically start your own business."  

Butcher Qiao pulled a piece of meat from his basket and handed it to Huo Shu, grinning. "Look, this is from Lao Zhang’s family. They specifically asked me to give it to you, saying you did a great job!"  

Generally, when farmers hired a butcher to slaughter livestock, aside from paying the fee, they would also gift meat if they felt the work was well done, as a token of appreciation.  

Recently, whenever Butcher Qiao took Huo Shu along for slaughtering, the farmers not only gave meat to him, the master, but also separately to Huo Shu.  

Seeing this, Butcher Qiao was delighted as well.  

Huo Shu accepted the meat. "Master, you flatter me."  

Butcher Qiao replied, "I’m not just being polite, I know how capable you are."  

"In a couple of days, I’ll have to go to my father-in-law’s place in Nanyu County. He’s not feeling well, and your shiniang is worried, so she wants to take the kids back to see him. With the bandit unrest still unsettled, I’ll have to escort her there myself."  

[师娘 (shī niáng): lit. master's wife; fig. respectful term for one's teacher's wife]  

"While I’m away, I’ll leave the butchering work to you. As for the shop in town, I’ll have Fang He keep an eye on it. Though he’s a bit clumsy with his hands, he’s sharp-witted enough."  

Huo Shu replied, "Don’t worry, Master. If anyone needs help, I’ll go."  

Butcher Qiao nodded in satisfaction. "Good. You’ve worked hard most of the day, go rest now. I’ll head to the village head’s place and inform him."  

____

"Ah, the busy man! What brings you here today with time to spare?"  

When Butcher Qiao arrived at the Ji family, Ji Yangzong had just returned from notifying families with able-bodied men about escorting the grain to the city.  

He had just poured himself a cup of tea under the shed and was about to drink when he saw his guest arrive.  

"Busy as I am, it’s just trivial matters at home. You, as the village head, handle real village affairs, now that’s true busyness."  

"Enough, enough, let’s skip the flattery."  

Ji Yangzong called for Ji Taoyu to brew fresh tea.  

"So, what’s the matter?"  

Butcher Qiao plopped down under the shed. "With all this bandit unrest outside, my father-in-law happens to be ill. My wife and kids want to visit, so I’ll have to go with them."  

"When are you leaving? As I recall, your father-in-law lives in the county town down south. You’ll need to be careful at a time like this."  

"Exactly why I can’t let my wife and kids go alone, that’s why I’m going too."  

Ji Yangzong nodded. "This is your busiest season for business, but of course, you must visit if your father-in-law is seriously ill."  

"Here, Master Qiao, have some tea."  

Butcher Qiao quickly took the tea offered by Ji Taoyu and thanked him with a smile.  

Then he said to Ji Yangzong, "I came here specifically to mention this matter. I ought to contribute my share in delivering the village’s tax grain to the city, but unfortunately, the timing doesn’t work out."  

"No problem, family illnesses are always understandable."  

"There’s another thing. After I leave, I’ll hand over the butchering work in the village to my apprentice. Please help spread the word to everyone."  

Ji Yangzong’s eyes widened at this. "You mean Huo Shu?"  

"He’s only been with you for a few days. Are you really comfortable leaving everything to him?"  

Ji Taoyu had been about to go inside, but hearing Butcher Qiao mention Huo Shu, he changed direction and went to the side to flip the clothes that had just been hung out to dry, secretly listening to their conversation.  

"Huo Shu is capable! Don’t underestimate him. I barely had to teach him anything, he handles these tasks with ease."  

Butcher Qiao spoke with great pride, as if sharing in the glory. "When I took him to slaughter livestock, people even gave him meat afterward. After I leave, you can confidently have the villagers call on him. He’ll manage just fine!"  

Ji Taoyu narrowed his eyes. Was this really true?  

He distinctly remembered someone cutting his hand on the very first day of apprenticeship, moping around and claiming he was clumsy.  

"You must have taught him well."  

Seeing that even the picky Butcher Qiao praised Huo Shu so highly, Ji Yangzong also smiled.  

Butcher Qiao waved his hand. "It’s all thanks to your recommendation."  

"Let’s have a heart-to-heart as old friends. I think Huo Shu is a solid lad. He might seem a bit aloof, but he’s a good man."  

Butcher Qiao lowered his voice. "My second daughter isn’t getting any younger. Her mother is set on finding her a match in the city. But city folks have high standards, too many rules and pretenses. Sometimes, they’re not as good as the lads from the village."  

"Huo Shu doesn’t own much, but he’s hardworking. Later, I’ll hand over my shop to him. With someone to carry on the trade, I’ll have one less worry. These days are uncertain, even within the prefecture, things aren’t peaceful. Who knows what the future holds? Maybe someone like Huo Shu is the reliable kind."  

Ji Yangzong’s smile instantly vanished.  

He cleared his throat awkwardly and said, "That makes sense. But I think children's matters should still depend on their own wishes. Though parents arrange marriages through matchmakers, if the child isn't willing, wouldn't it all be for nothing?"  

"Kids are young and doesn’t know how to judge people or situations. If they happen upon someone smooth-talking and charming, they’ll think it’s a good match, completely unaware of the other’s true character. On the contrary, the quiet and dull ones are more reliable, they just suffer from not being good with words. If parents don’t make the decision for their child and instead let them act recklessly, wouldn’t that ruin their entire life?"  

Ji Yangzong forced a smile. "There’s some truth to that as well."  

On the side, Ji Taoyu pressed his lips together, fingers twisting the hem of his clothes, his brow furrowed.  

So the iron lump has turned into a fragrant pastry now.  

[铁窝窝 (tiě wōwo): lit. iron lump; fig. someone unremarkable or unrefined]