Chapter 210
The river surface shimmered with rippling reflections. A boy wearing a straw hat herded cattle by the shore, skipping small flat stones across the water. Women and fulangs laughed and chatted as they pounded laundry in the calmer sections of the river, while men fetching water carried either wooden buckets or shoulder poles.
Flocks of ducks and geese swam and foraged. Shen Yan and Chen Xinlian kept watch over their ducks by the shore to prevent them from mixing with others' or being stolen.
She carried a fish basket, gathering river snails. Now that the weather was warm, she no longer feared the icy chill of the water.
Once the basket was a quarter full, she stood up from her crouch to rest, shaking the water off her hands. "Sister-in-law Lian, when Eldest Sister-in-law returns tomorrow, let’s go dig bamboo shoots in the mountains. If we gather enough, we can even sell some for extra copper coins."
"Sure," Chen Xinlian nodded. "Yuping plans to cut bamboo in a couple of days to fix the fence. It’ll be livelier with more people on the road." Having married into the Shen family some time ago, she was now familiar with them and no longer as shy as she had been when newly wed.
Xiaohuang ran over from where the calves were grazing. Shen Yan rubbed his furry head.
"Woof!"
Suddenly, distant barks echoed from the mountains. Xiaohuang’s ears perked up as he recognized the voices of Dahui and the others. Wagging his tail, he barked in reply before dashing off toward the sound.
"Second Brother is back!" Shen Yan exclaimed in delight. Since the calves were still grazing nearby, she didn’t leave.
Xiaohuang was smart, he’d find Shen Xuanqing.
"Sister-in-law Lian, I’ll head back first. Second Brother will want a meal when he returns, and my mother is still in the fields. I’ll have to call her back." As she spoke, Shen Yan slung the fish basket over her shoulder and picked up a long bamboo pole to herd the ducks and geese ashore.
"Little Calf, let’s go home."
She called out to the grazing calf nearby. It flicked its tail, lifted its head, and, understanding her, began ambling back while still nibbling grass.
Chen Xinlian nodded. "Go on, then."
As they walked down the slope and caught sight of their old house in the distance, the three dogs couldn’t contain themselves and bolted ahead. Shen Xuanqing didn’t stop them, leading the limping dwarf deer down slowly.
"Woof!"
Seeing the dogs circling and barking at the door, he knew Shen Yan and Wei Lanxiang weren’t there. Without needing his call, the dogs dashed toward the new house.
It was mid-afternoon, and most families were busy—either working the fields or gathering wild vegetables in the mountains. Few lingered outside to chat. By the time he led the dwarf deer to the main house, Shen Yan was already waiting at the gate.
"Second Brother, I’ve poured tea for you and filled the basin with water. I’ll go call Mother back from the fields." With a smile, she glanced at the blood-stained dwarf deer before hurrying off.
Shen Xuanqing, too lazy to walk to the backyard, tied the deer in a corner of the front yard. Xiaohuang and Huang’er barked at it twice.
He downed the tea in one gulp, wiping the spilled drops from his chin, feeling refreshed.
After washing his face and hands, he sat to rest. Wei Lanxiang and Shen Yan soon returned, chatting as they rolled up their sleeves to cook for him.
Shen Xuanqing pulled items from his bamboo basket and called out, "Mother, fry some eggs and chop a few chilies."
"Got it," Wei Lanxiang’s voice came from the kitchen.
Guaizi and the other dogs, having drunk their fill, sprawled in the shade, panting with tongues out. The dwarf deer, its leg injured, lay warily on the ground as the two yellow dogs circled it.
Shen Yan placed a small steamer in the pot with six large buns and lit the fire from the clay stove.
Wei Lanxiang chopped chilies and beat eggs. Once she added firewood to the stove, she entered the main room, refilling Shen Xuanqing’s tea bowl. "Food won’t take long. These past two days, Mother and I set aside an extra bowl of dishes at noon for you. After frying the eggs, we’ll heat that bowl in the wok. The buns will warm up quickly too."
"Good." Shen Xuanqing smiled, chatting idly. "This buck’s got a temper. Even with a lame leg, it tried goring me. Only settled down after a beating."
He pulled out a large leaf-wrapped bundle from the basket, his grin widening. "Honeycomb, a big one. We’ll keep some at home, and I’ll take the rest with me."
Shen Yan took it, unfolding the leaves on the table. Seeing the honey oozing from the cracks, she dabbed a finger in and tasted it, her almond eyes curving. "So sweet."
"The honey jar’s at the old house. I’ll fetch it." She stood up.
"Here." Shen Xuanqing handed her a few wild fruits from the basket.
Shen Yan took two. Finding them clean, she wiped them with a handkerchief as she walked, biting into them with crisp crunches.
Staying the night went without mention. Early the next morning, after hitching the mule cart, Shen Xuanqing fetched a grown lamb from the pen, binding its legs alongside the dwarf deer on the cart. Raising pigs and sheep was for profit, once the pigs were ready, they’d be sold the same way.
Wei Lanxiang and Shen Yan packed his belongings and saw him off at the gate.
Shen Xuanqing said, "If it gets too busy, ask Third Uncle or Yuping for help. Eldest Brother and I will slaughter the sheep at the shop and sell it for a day before he returns. I’ll bring back some mutton."
"I know. Don’t worry, just go." Wei Lanxiang nodded.
He drove the cart toward Jixing Town. Making money was like this, little rest to be had year-round.
"Baa—!" The lamb’s incessant cries drew the attention of passersby.
Guaizi also rode the cart, standing behind Shen Xuanqing. Fortunately, the cart was spacious enough, or he’d have had no room. Hearing the lamb, he barked back.
The lamb’s bleating was annoying enough, but Guaizi barking right behind his ear only made it worse. A sharp ‘Quiet!’ from Shen Xuanqing finally shut the dog up
Once they reached the broad and straight official road, the mule settled into a steady trot. As the cart rolled forward, Shen Xuanqing tallied up the expected profits: the dwarf deer alone would fetch at least thirty-five taels. Butchering the sheep at their own shop meant fresh mutton for the family while still earning another six or seven taels from the sale. All told, they'd likely clear nearly forty taels
The road grew busier with pedestrians and ox carts, though none moved as swiftly as his mule.
The thrill of a successful hunt lingered, softening his expression even when he wasn’t smiling.
No comments:
Post a Comment