Transmigrated Family C14

Chapter 14: Eating Meat Today

“Father, what did you say? Fifty taels? Do we really have fifty taels?” Yan Yu’s little ears perked up.

“Well… I was planning to tell you all about it tonight.” Yan Lao’er looked around furtively like a thief and lowered his voice. “I went to town today, and the people from the gambling house stopped me, demanding money. So Old Yan pawned—no, actually sold—our family’s ten mu of land. Seventy taels in total. After paying off the twenty-tael debt, we have fifty taels left.”

“Father!” Yan Yu pouted in dissatisfaction. “Why didn’t you tell us such a big thing when you got back?”

“There wasn’t time! Your eldest uncle asked me to go to town again to cash in these notes. It’s almost noon, and I have to eat something first, right? Dabo, look at you, getting all grumpy. How about coming with me this afternoon? I have to say, that simple map you drew was really useful. Without it, I’d be completely lost!” Yan Lao’er said with relief.

“Going to town?” Yan Yu’s eyes sparkled like little stars. “Yes, yes!”

Li Xuemei listened to the father and daughter passionately discussing the sights of the town and could only smile helplessly. It was just a small town, with only a few streets no matter how you looked at it.

After a meal of thin rice porridge, Yan Lao’er took his wife to Dr. Cui’s house and returned the donkey cart along the way.

Then, he suddenly realized why Old Yan had made him run the extra trip. The number of goods was one reason, but more importantly, if he walked there, he could drive the ox cart back on the return trip.

At Dr. Cui’s house, he expressed his gratitude profusely. He tried to refuse the bundle of wheat straw prepared for the donkey, but in the end, Madam Cui insisted on accepting it.

Dr. Cui took Li Xuemei’s pulse and, sure enough, confirmed it was a pregnancy pulse.

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

Even though their daughter had mentioned it before, having a doctor confirm it felt entirely different.

“It’s real. About two months along,” Li Xuemei told Yan Yu.

Yan Yu grinned wide, eyes curving into crescents. “In a few more months, we’re going to have a Second Treasure!”

“Yes! Second Treasure is on the way! We need to start preparing early!” Yan Lao’er said energetically.

At first, they were happy, but soon, worry crept in.

Their current living conditions were harsh and difficult—how would they raise another child?

“Second Uncle, Father wants you to come over,” his eldest nephew called out.

He responded and hurried over.

As soon as he entered, he asked without preamble, “Big Brother, do you—”

“Shut up!” Yan Huaiwen couldn’t help but snap at him. His second brother was so tactless. He could already get out of bed, yet the man kept asking!

He took a deep breath to calm himself. “Did you return the cart? Did you properly thank them?”

“Yes, I did. We gave them a bag of wheat straw,” Yan Lao’er answered honestly.

“Why did you take your wife with you? Is she feeling alright?” Yan Huaiwen vaguely remembered that his sister-in-law had fallen seriously ill around this time, though he didn’t know the details.

“My wife is pregnant!” Yan Lao’er couldn’t contain his excitement. As soon as someone asked, he eagerly shared, “Dr. Cui checked her pulse. She’s two months along, haha!”

Yan Huaiwen’s entire body tensed.

Two months pregnant… Then, she had fallen seriously ill…

This child—this child, in their past life, had not survived.

And it had happened around this time.

He reminded himself once again: They must not split the family.

Just look at his second brother—how would he manage on his own? He couldn’t even protect his own child.

Thinking about the new addition to the family, Yan Huaiwen couldn’t help but smile. He pointed to the silver he received from the academy and said:

“Our family is small in number, and having a child is a big deal. I wasn’t thoughtful enough before and only bought coarse grain to keep us full. We can manage, but your wife is in a delicate condition. Go buy some fine rice and white flour from the grain shop.”

He thought for a moment and added, “Though times are tough, we shouldn’t be too frugal. Er Ya is still young, and I’ve noticed she looks quite thin. Buy some meat to nourish the children.”

Yan Lao’er’s heart warmed. Old Yan was really kind—even while sick, he was still thinking of everyone else.

“Big Brother, your health is also weak. Just taking medicine isn’t enough—you need to eat well, too.” Yan Lao’er decided to buy more. It wasn’t just for the pregnant wife and kids; Old Yan also needed good nutrition. Medicine alone wouldn’t cut it.

“I’m fine,” Yan Huaiwen waved him off. In their past life, he had taken refuge in the provincial capital and barely survived. This time, he planned to move the whole family north. The journey would be even longer and harder.

A poor family needs to be rich on the road. No matter how much they prepared, it would never feel like enough.

Money was still tight. He wasn’t sure if they could make it all the way to Guanzhou.

“You should go now—come back early.”

“Alright!”

—

In the end, Yan Lao’er didn’t bring his daughter along to town.

The sun was scorching just past noon, and since they had to walk there, he didn’t want her to suffer. He promised to take her next time.

Walking briskly, he reached the town and first picked up the ox cart.

The 28-tael ox cart was indeed different—it looked much more impressive than the mule and donkey carts around it.

He drove the cart around collecting goods. Finally, he arrived at the grain shop and saw just how generous Old Yan had been.

They bought four entire sacks of coarse rice. The shop assistant helped load them onto the cart, and he tried lifting one slightly—it was incredibly heavy.

He also bought some white rice and fine flour, and upon seeing millet, he measured out a small portion of that as well.

Then, he got a good-sized piece of meat, some cleanly scraped large bones, and, after haggling for a long time, managed to get half a portion of pork liver for free.

After all the purchases, he still had some money left. He didn’t know exactly how much, but there were two silver ingots and over a dozen copper coins.

Being illiterate wasn’t the real problem—not being able to count was.

When he got home, his elder brother and nephew had gone out.

“They went to check how much wheat was still left unharvested,” Li Xuemei explained while helping him organize the smaller items. She then took the meat, bones, and liver into the kitchen.

It was rare for them to have meat—they had to prepare it well. She wasn’t sure how good Da Ya was at cooking, since she hadn’t had a chance to see her in action. But as for her husband’s skills? She was confident.

Tonight, Yan Lao’er must cook personally.

She filled a small basin with water. “It’s all from a pig, so no one should be picky. Wash it all together.”

Yan Lao’er, having finally unloaded the four sacks of coarse rice, was feeling the strain—each sack was about a hundred pounds.

After securing the ox, his daughter eagerly took on the job of feeding it, while he hurried to the kitchen.

“I’ll do it.”

The couple had the same thought.

Li Xuemei stepped aside, crouching down to examine the stove.

Yan Lao’er grabbed the kitchen knife, picked a big ceramic bowl, and started sharpening the blade with swift, rhythmic strokes.

Hearing the sound, Yan Yu dashed over.

She clung to the doorframe, watching her father intently without blinking.

With each precise chop, the fat and lean portions were separated, then the skin was removed.

The bones were cleaved apart.

The fire was lit, and the stove was heated.

Da Ya, hearing the commotion, rushed over—only to see her Second Uncle cutting the fat into pieces and throwing them straight into the pan.

As the pork fat rendered down, releasing more and more lard, a rich, mouthwatering aroma filled the entire house.

——Finally, they were eating meat today!