Chapter 190
According to what Fang Zichen had taught him before, Zhao Ger thought that Zuixiao Restaurant followed a high-end route, catering to big bosses and wealthy patrons, while their own shop took the commoner route. Their customer bases didn't conflict, so cooperating with Zuixiao Restaurant would be a win-win situation.
Yang Mutao ordered thirty ducks daily, and their own shop recently needed to increase its quantity as well. In total, they needed to prepare about sixty ducks per day.
Working alone, he definitely couldn't manage it all. He had no choice but to hire help.
Killing ducks wasn't too difficult; it was quite easy, just a matter of moving one's fingers. For sixty ducks, six people could finish the work in a little over half a day.
Zhao Ger first went to ask Aunt Liu if she wanted to do it, offering thirteen copper coins per day, working from morning until just past noon.
Aunt Liu's health wasn't great; she couldn't handle heavy labor, but light work was doable.
"I'll do it. Of course I'll do it."
She knew Zhao Ger intentionally looked after their family, always thinking of them first when there was good work. If Fang Zichen passed the county-level exam, the whole family would move to Yuanzhou. Such opportunities wouldn't exist anymore.
It was already hard for a woman to find work, and she was no longer young, making it doubly difficult. Now that there was work available, she naturally wanted to do it.
Now, being able to earn a little was better than nothing.
Zhao Ger then went to find Uncle Liu (ger) and his daughter-in-law, Liu-shi, and went to the clan leader's house to find another person. These were all good people. Last time, when they were making chili sauce, there were two fulangs whose work was especially quick and skillful. Zhao Ger found them, talked over the business with them, and then stayed a while longer to catch up on general news. And just like that, another day went by.
He was completely in charge of this matter and made all the decisions himself; Fang Zichen didn't interfere or ask any questions about it.
When Fang Zichen returned, he was carrying another large bundle on his back. Zhao Ger thought he had gone somewhere to rob someone.
He stepped forward to take it, but it was surprisingly light.
Xiao Feng's wounds had improved somewhat recently, and he could now help with light chores at home. Before, even a slight movement would pull on the wound, causing pain and even bleeding. It still hurt now, but it was within tolerable limits. As soon as he felt a bit better, he couldn't sit still. Unable to do heavy work, he always rushed to wash vegetables, dishes, and sweep the yard.
After dinner today, he returned to his room to make the bed. Fang Zichen knocked and entered.
"Uncle... Uncle Fanh, ah..." He gasped, his gaze landing on what was in Fang Zichen's hands and then sticking there, unable to look away. His expression became excited.
Fang Zichen shook the half-person-tall, pink, chubby, long-eared rabbit plush toy in his hand: "Do you like it?"
Xiao Feng even forgot to stutter, his face reddening with joy: "I like it! I like it!"
"Then it's for you." Fang Zichen tossed the plush toy to him: "Originally, I wanted to buy you a live one. But, I saw that its pee seems a bit smelly, so I didn't buy it."
He regretted buying the goat before, and he regretted buying the dog too. The dog didn't eat grass; it ate whatever people ate. But his little son wanted to carry or hold it every day. When Zhao Ger was too busy, he'd make him bathe the dog and clean up its waste. Cleaning it up once made him lose his appetite for three days and nights, and his handsome face looked much more haggard.
Raising a dog was almost like raising a son who didn't understand human speech yet and relieved himself everywhere.
That noon, he had squatted in front of the rabbit vendor's stall for a long time, haggled with the owner for half the day, and was still hesitating whether to buy it or not when he was dissuaded by a puddle of rabbit urine.
When he left, the middle-aged man even raised a carrying pole as if to hit him.
Xiao Feng hugged the plush toy tightly. The material used for this plush was soft, skin-friendly, and delicate, with a smooth, silky feel. It was stuffed with cotton, chubby and plump. The rabbit's facial expression was adorably dumb, cute, and realistic. Xiao Feng liked it very much.
He liked rabbits because when he was six years old, he found one in the mountains. He didn't have many friends, and his heart was full of grievances with no one to tell. The rabbit became his secret confidant. He desperately needed someone who would listen to him, who wouldn't dislike him for stuttering or get impatient halfway through. He secretly kept it in the woodshed, treating it as a companion to rely on for survival. But after only two months, Liu Gouzi found out. Liu Gouzi killed the rabbit, ate it for a free meal, then called Xiao Feng over and, without a single word of explanation, slapped him across the face.
The reason was that the rabbit kept in the woodshed peed, and the smell was too strong. He said he was bothered by the stench. Another reason was that Xiao Feng dared to keep something from him, which made him very unhappy, feeling as if he had been challenged.
Although rabbits were cute, they were indeed not easy to raise. That day when he said he wanted a rabbit, Fang Zichen agreed without a second thought. In the following days, Xiao Feng noticed he hadn't bought one and felt a faint disappointment. But he knew he was living under someone else's roof. Fang Zichen and Zhao Ger were willing to take him in, giving him a place to stay. For that, he should be deeply grateful. He had no right to ask for anything. He couldn't ask, nor should he ask.
He thought Fang Zichen had already forgotten. He never expected him to still remember.
The rabbit doll didn't need feeding, didn't need to pee, and he could even hug it to sleep at night. It was even better than a live rabbit.
He was extremely excited. Guaizai rushed out from the kitchen. He had just finished bathing, his hair a messy, wet tangle.
This time, his voice was heard before he was seen.
"Brother, what was that shout? Did you see a ghost? Don't be scared, Guaizai is here! Guaizai will fight it for you. Wow..."
He screeched to a halt at the doorway, his eyes sparkling.
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