Chapter 14: Meat Today

“Dad, what did you say, fifty liang? Our family has fifty liang?” Yan Yu’s keen ears picked it up!

“Well, wasn’t I planning to report it to you all tonight?” Yan Lao’er glanced around furtively, like a thief, and whispered, “Today, when I went to town, the people from the gambling den stopped me. They insisted on money, so Old Yan pawned all ten mu of our family’s land. No, wait, I didn’t even see a pawn ticket, so it must have been sold. Seventy liang total. After paying off the twenty I owed, there’s fifty liang left.”

“Dad!” Yan Yu pouted unhappily. “Why didn’t you tell us about such a big thing when you came back?”

“I just didn’t get around to it, did I? Your Eldest Uncle also told me to go to town again to cash in these slips. In just this short time around noon, I had to grab a bite first, didn’t I? Dabao, look at you, you’re still not happy. How about you come with me to town this afternoon? Don’t even mention it, that simple map you drew really worked wonders. It’s a good thing I had it, otherwise, I would have been completely lost.” Yan Lao’er said, feeling fortunate.

“Go to town?” Yan Yu’s eyes lit up, sparkling like little stars. “Yes, yes!”

Li Xuemei listened to the father and daughter enthusiastically discussing the sights of the town, smiling helplessly. It was only a small town, with barely a few streets crisscrossing it.

The family of three all drank some thin rice porridge. Yan Lao’er took his wife to Physician Cui’s home, returning the donkey cart along the way.

He suddenly realized why Old Yan had asked him to make another trip. The amount of stuff might have been only one reason; going on foot would allow him to drive the ox cart back on the return journey.

Upon arriving at Physician Cui’s home, they first offered a round of thanks. They offered the straw prepared for the donkey for a long time, but Madam Cui finally decided to accept it.

Physician Cui felt Li Xuemei’s pulse, and sure enough, it was a pregnancy pulse.

Amidst Madam Cui’s repeated congratulations, they returned home in a daze.

Although their daughter had said it long ago, having it confirmed by the doctor made their feelings different.

“It’s true, I’m about two months along,” Li Xuemei told Yan Yu.

Yan Yu grinned so widely her eyes crinkled shut, chuckling, “In a few more months, our family will have a second baby!”

“Yes, the second baby is coming! We need to start preparing in advance,” Yan Lao’er said, spirits lifted.

At first, they were naturally happy, but the joy didn’t last long before a touch of worry set in.

What harsh and difficult conditions they were in now! How could they raise a child?

“Second Uncle, Dad wants you to come over,” Eldest Nephew called out to him.

He responded with a sound and hurried over.

Entering the room, he blurted out thoughtlessly, “Eldest Brother, are you going to…”

“Silence!” Yan Huaiwen couldn’t help but snap at him. He was truly lacking in discernment. He could already get out of bed on his own, yet he kept asking questions.

He angrily took a couple of deep breaths. “Is the cart returned? Did you thank them properly?”

“It’s returned. I cut a bag of straw and sent it over,” Yan Lao’er replied honestly.

“Why did you bring your wife along? Is sister-in-law feeling unwell?” Yan Huaiwen vaguely remembered his sister-in-law falling seriously ill around this time, but he couldn’t recall the specific reason.

“My wife is pregnant!” Yan Lao’er was still brimming with joy. As soon as someone asked, he eagerly shared, “Physician Cui felt her pulse and said she’s about two months along, hehe!”

Yan Huaiwen’s entire body trembled!

Two months pregnant… a serious illness…

This child, this child, must not have been saved.

And it was during this period.

He warned himself again: they absolutely could not split the family.

Look at his second brother; how could he manage without him? He couldn’t even protect his own child.

Thinking of the new addition to the family, Yan Huaiwen couldn’t help but beam with joy. He pointed to the travel expenses the academy dean had given him and said:

“Our family’s lineage is thin, so adding a new member is a big deal. I didn’t think things through before; I bought coarse rice that’s only good for staving off hunger. It’s fine for us to eat, but sister-in-law’s body is precious. Go to the Grain Store and buy some fine rice and flour.”

He thought for a moment, then added, “Although the harvest isn’t good this year, don’t be too frugal. Er Ya is still young, and I see that child is terribly thin. Cut some more meat and bring it back to nourish the children.”

Yan Lao’er felt a warmth in his heart. Old Yan was truly good; even though he was sickly, he still thought of this and that.

“Eldest Brother, your body is also weak. Just relying on medicine won’t do; you need to eat well and rest more.” Yan Lao’er decided to buy more. Not only did the pregnant woman and children at home need to eat, but Old Yan also needed to recuperate properly. How could just medicine be enough?

“I’m fine,” Yan Huaiwen waved his hand. In his previous life, he had gone to Prefectural City for refuge, and even then, the journey was difficult. This time, he planned to move his entire family north, a much longer journey that would only be more arduous.

A poor family needs a rich road; no matter how much they prepared, it felt insufficient.

In the end, money was still tight, and he didn’t know if they could make it all the way to Guanzhou.

“You’d better go quickly, and come back soon.”

“Alright!”

…

In the end, Yan Lao’er still didn’t take his daughter to town with him.

It was just past noon, the sun was high, and they would have to walk there. He felt bad for the child, so he could only promise to take her along next time there was an opportunity.

He walked quickly all the way, and upon reaching town, Yan Lao’er first went to pick up the ox cart.

The twenty-eight liang ox cart was indeed extraordinary; it looked much grander than the mule carts next to it.

Driving the ox cart, he collected goods along the way, and finally, at the Grain Store, he realized the extent of Old Yan’s generosity.

He bought a full four sacks of coarse rice. The shop assistant helped load them onto the cart. He tried to lift one slightly; it was very heavy.

He also bought some white rice and flour. Seeing that there was millet, he weighed out a small amount of that too.

He cut a piece of meat with a good balance of fat and lean, picked out some large bones that had been cleanly stripped, and finally haggled with the butcher for a while, getting him to give him half of the pig liver for free.

Some silver money was left, but he didn’t know exactly how much.

He only knew there were two pieces of broken silver and a string of copper coins plus a dozen or so loose ones.

Being illiterate isn’t scary; what’s scary is not knowing how to count…

Upon returning home, He noticed his Eldest Brother had actually gone out with Eldest Nephew.

“They said they were going to see how much wheat hadn’t been harvested yet,” Li Xuemei said. After helping organize the smaller items, she took the meat, large bones, and pig liver to the kitchen.

It was a rare chance to eat meat, so it had to be prepared well. She didn’t know how good Daya’s cooking skills were; there hadn’t been an opportunity for the child to show them these past few days. But she knew and approved of her husband’s cooking.

Today, she absolutely had to make Yan Lao’er cook himself.

A small basin of water. No need to be too fastidious; they were all parts of a pig, so no one should disdain anyone else. They were all washed in one basin.

Yan Lao’er finally managed to unload the four sacks of coarse rice. Once he started, he felt the weight; each sack was about a hundred catties.

After unhitching the cart and tying up the ox, his daughter volunteered to take on the task of feeding the ox, so he quickly dashed into the kitchen.

“I’ll do it.”

The loving couple had thought of the same thing.

Li Xuemei stepped aside, squatted down, and examined the stove.

Yan Lao’er weighed the cleaver in his hand, found a large, coarse porcelain bowl, and began sharpening the knife with a *cha-cha-cha-cha* sound.

Yan Yu heard the sound and came running over with a *teng-teng-teng*.

Clinging to the doorframe, she stared unblinkingly at her father.

With deft movements of the knife, the fat was separated from the lean, and then the skin was removed.

The large bones were chopped up.

He began to light the fire and heat the stove.

Daya heard the commotion and hurried over.

She saw her Second Uncle cutting the fatty meat into pieces and putting them directly into the pot. The meat grew smaller and smaller, and the lard increased, as an enticing aroma forcefully poured out.
(End of Chapter)