RMCF: Chapter 25

 

Chapter 25

In the days that followed, Zhang Fangyuan played the role of the Xu family's prospective son-in-law. Xu Changren needed to go to town for a change of dressings and follow-up visits every five to ten days.

Whenever Xu He came to ask for his help, Zhang Fangyuan would promptly use his flatbed cart to take the person to the medical clinic in town. But if Liu Xianglan came to ask, he would put on a bit of an act.

Knowing Liu Xianglan's nature, being too good to her would, on the contrary,  make her think he was easy to manipulate. A fierce demeanor was better. In the end, after bringing the person back, he would stay to eat a meal cooked by Xu He before leaving.

If it weren't for Xu He, he wouldn't be so attentive to the Xu family. The bride price he gave was also to save face for Xu He. Although he didn't want to benefit the Xu family, they had, after all, raised He Ger. The bride price could be considered a form of settlement. If he didn't give it, the Xu family certainly wouldn't agree to betroth He Ger to him. He could only regard it as spending money to avoid trouble.

Furthermore, He Ger had told him that after their betrothal, his family treated him much more politely.

Zhang Fangyuan was both happy that his engagement to Xu He had brought him somewhat better days, and pleased that he would share these things with him.

The betrothal was arranged hastily, so he didn't have much time to prepare. Actually, marriages in rural households were far less complicated and tedious than those of wealthy city families. The bride price and the wedding banquet—managing these two well was considered very respectable. But these two things, one cost money, the other required effort.

Zhang Fangyuan calculated the money he had on hand; it wasn't ample.

His income came from buying and selling livestock. Currently, he could sell one pig every three to five days. After selling, he had to go find another to buy. So, in a month, if business was good, he could sell five pigs. Based on this calculation, trading five pigs could earn him about five thousand wen.

In the first month, he sold two pigs. In the second month, now nearing the end, he had already sold four, meaning he earned roughly six thousand wen. Redeeming the bracelet cost over four thousand, plus the money he had left before, he probably had around five thousand or so. But after giving half the bride price to the Xu family and his own expenses, he only had about three thousand wen left on hand.

Although his earnings were already beyond what ordinary farming families could hope for, there were many places requiring money recently.

He still owed the Xu family sixteen hundred wen. The wedding banquet would also cost at least a thousand. Aside from these major expenses, with a new person joining the household, he needed to prepare some new furniture as well.

Zhang Fangyuan looked around his house. When Xu He married in, other things aside, he should have a new wardrobe made for him, right? Even though he was a ger, he still cared about appearance, so a dressing table was essential. He also needed to add two new soft cotton quilts...

Zhang Fangyuan, who had never known the taste of worry when it came to spending money, was for the first time starting to have a headache over not having enough.

He planned to sell one more pig by the end of this month, and one and a half pigs before the wedding next month. The remaining half a pig's meat would be used for the wedding banquet. This way, the money on hand could temporarily cover it.

“He Ger!”

Zhang Fangyuan, lost in thought with his calculations, didn't notice he had entered the village. He reined in Little Black and saw Xu He sowing corn seeds in the field by the roadside. He jumped down from the cart. “Let me help you.”

Xu He wiped the sweat from his forehead. Seeing the person he hadn't seen for a couple of days, he felt an unconscious sense of relief. He quickly stopped Zhang Fangyuan from coming forward to help. How could he let someone who had been tired all day searching for livestock also help him in the field? “It's almost done.”

Seeing Xu He wouldn't let him help, Zhang Fangyuan thought the ger wasn't fully accustomed to his role yet and didn't insist on rushing over. Instead, he said:

“What do you want to eat tonight? I just slaughtered an animal and came back. There's fresh pork, all the offal is available.”

Xu He was about to say it wasn't necessary, but Zhang Fangyuan had already dashed back and lifted the cloth covering the freshly slaughtered animal for him to choose.

“Pick one. I'll come to your house for dinner tonight.” Zhang Fangyuan smiled. “That way, I won't have to start a fire when I get back.”

Put that way, Xu He had no reason to refuse. He climbed up from the field and looked at the fresh pork, which was only divided into two large halves. He didn't intend to take any, firstly because it would require Zhang Fangyuan to take the trouble to cut it, and secondly, because a piece of pork could sell for dozens of wen.

“Let's pick some offal. Which part would you like?” Xu He said, feigning nonchalance. “I'll cook tonight.”

Hearing this, Zhang Fangyuan's eyebrows shot up. He immediately took out the pork stomach and pork heart. Seeing this, Xu He disapproved; these were valuable items. Sending them to his family to eat wasn't cost-effective. “How about the heart and lungs*? Stewed with radish?”

*the original says heart and lungs, although the next question doesn’t really make sense if it’s both, but I left it at that since the same is repeated multiple times later

“You don’t like pork stomach or heart?”

Xu He gave him a long look and shook his head. Zhang Fangyuan understood his meaning and took out the heart and lungs for him—a large set, enough to make a big pot of soup. Zhang Fangyuan also gave Xu He the two pork kidneys. “Stir-fry a plate. I saw the scallions you planted are plump and round, tender and green. They'd be perfect stir-fried with kidneys.”

“Alright.”

The two glanced at each other, both feeling happy inside. Their gazes met briefly, then each withdrew properly, somewhat shy.

“Then I'll head back first. I'll come over later.”

Xu He made a sound of acknowledgment. Only then did Zhang Fangyuan drive the horse cart home. He planned to unload the pork and then deliver two pieces of pork liver to his fourth uncle's house.

After sowing the last of the corn, Xu He packed a half basket of wild pigweed and cut a half basket of cabbage, combining them into one full back basket. Then he carried the pork lungs, heart, and kidneys, which Zhang Fangyuan had tied up with palm leaves, and went home.

On the road, he inevitably encountered villagers. Even without needing to approach and chat, they could see from afar Zhang Fangyuan's horse cart stopped by the roadside giving Xu He the offal.

The villagers watched enviously. After the New Year, whose family could eat meat like this on ordinary days? Even if they wanted some meat during the busy spring plowing, they could only use a small piece of cured meat to stew with cabbage. How could they have such variety?

Those who had previously said the Xu family would be unlucky for betrothing Xu He to Zhang Fangyuan were secretly beginning to feel jealous. After all, this benefit of getting meat was clear with the naked eye.

“Where did this offal come from! So fresh!”

Liu Xianglan had just returned home from tea picking and was about to scoop some water from the jar in the yard to wash her hands when she saw Xu He carrying the lungs, heart, and kidneys. She didn't even wash her hands, hurrying to meet him.

“He said he's coming over for dinner.” Xu He stated matter-of-factly.

Liu Xianglan smiled warmly. Although she didn't particularly want to see that formidable figure, if it meant enjoy meat because of it, that was another matter.

“He's been out slaughtering pigs again, I suppose?”

Xu He put down his basket. “Mm.”

“Then you go cook!”

Xu He said unhurriedly, “I'll chop the pigweed first, then cook. If it's late, the animals will get restless.”

Liu Xianglan had been busy all day and only ate a small pancake at noon. By now, she was somewhat hungry and craving the meat. “You cook first.”

She turned her head and called towards the house, “Shaochun, come out and chop the pigweed!”

Xu Shaochun inside heard the call and came out, her beautiful eyes wide with disbelief. She smelled fragrant; how could she be willing to chop pigweed? She was even more puzzled that her mother would ask her to do such rough work.

“I still have to brew Father's medicine. How about chopping it a bit later?”

Liu Xianglan rinsed her hands. “Later, the animals will be restless and annoying. I'll brew your father's medicine.”

Seeing her mother block her excuse, Xu Shaochun hesitated, unwilling to move. Xu He, seeing the situation, quickly carried the offal into the kitchen. He didn't want to give his second sister a chance to push the task onto him.

“Mother~” Xu Shaochun drew out the tone, going forward to pull on Liu Xianglan's arm.

Liu Xianglan knew her daughter was acting spoiled, but unlike usual, she didn't indulge her. She only advised, “The county exams will be over soon. You won't be at home much longer. You should still learn to do some work. It'll be better when you go to the Fei family.”

“Madam Fei is such a capable person. Where would I need to do these things? When the time comes, I just need to accompany Scholar Fei in his studies.”

Liu Xianglan said, “It's not certain he'll pass this time. Help out at home a bit first. Butcher Zhang will be here soon.”

“I'm going to brew your father's medicine.”

Xu Shaochun saw that her mother was increasingly favoring Xu He and stamped her foot in anger. It was just that Zhang Fangyuan had given some bride price money and occasionally brought some meat. Yet her mother acted as if she'd never seen the world before, treating him like royalty.

Fuming, she dragged out a small stool, took out the cabbage, and began chopping the pigweed haphazardly with a knife.

Zhang Fangyuan arrived early. He came straight to the Xu house after leaving his fourth uncle's place. His aunt had initially tried to keep him there to eat stir-fried pork liver, but when he refused, she teased him, saying he only knew how to run to his future in-laws' house now.

By the time he reached the Xu house, He Ger had already put the pork lungs and heart into the pot and was scoring the pork kidneys. Pork kidneys needed to be sliced open in the middle to remove the white fat inside; if this white fat wasn't removed, they would have a gamey smell. He was bent over, working carefully, so focused that he didn't even notice Zhang Fangyuan coming in.

Only after finishing scoring the kidneys did he see Zhang Fangyuan had already squatted down by the stove.

Xu He looked at the man sitting obediently by the stove, tossing firewood onto the fire. In the glow of the flame, that sharply defined, exceptionally resolute face was coated in a soft radiance, making him seem much more approachable than usual. Zhang Fangyuan actually had very regular features, but it was a kind of aggressive handsomeness. Those who liked it liked it immensely, but most people were too afraid to look closely.

His chopping motion paused. For a moment, he lost track of time, as if they were already an old married couple.

Zhang Fangyuan suddenly looked up. Their eyes met. Xu He averted his gaze, his voice not loud but enough for both to hear. “Hungry?”

“A bit.”

“It'll be ready soon. I'll put the radish into the pork lung soup, then start stir-frying the dishes.”

Zhang Fangyuan said okay.

Outside, Xu Shaochun heard the rather warm conversation between the two in the kitchen, and her chopping of the pigweed became even more chaotic.

“Didn't expect your Second Sister, who looks so delicate, would have such strong hands. Chopping the pigweed so loudly.”

Hearing this, Xu Shaochun's face flushed with embarrassment.

After giving Xu Changren his medicine in the inner room, Liu Xianglan came to the kitchen and saw the two working silently on the meal. She exchanged a few polite words with Zhang Fangyuan. Although everyone under the same roof had their own ulterior motives, they couldn't resist the delicious aroma of the stir-fried pork kidneys Xu He cooked. Everyone ate their fill and enjoyed the meal, temporarily forgetting their grievances.

Xu He was also generous. Seeing Zhang Fangyuan was coming for dinner, he boldly scooped several bowls of their household's fine rice to cook. Whenever Zhang Fangyuan finished a bowl of rice, he silently refilled it for him. Finish one bowl, refill another. The dishes went very well with rice to begin with. Liu Xianglan watched, her eyes nearly popping out, but she didn't dare say anything at the dinner table.

After the meal, not only was the entire steamer of rice finished, but the pot of pork lung soup was also completely devoured. She had thought there would be some left for her to take to the tea plantation tomorrow, but she had underestimated Zhang Fangyuan's appetite.

After that meal, the Xu family members were full, and Zhang Fangyuan was also stuffed. He happily returned home.

“Not even married yet, and you're already siding with him like this! You're something else!”

After Zhang Fangyuan left, Liu Xianglan, unable to contain her anger, scolded Xu He.

Xu He indifferently cleared the dishes. When he brought the meat, he didn’t see her holding back with her chopsticks either.

 

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