RMCF: Chapter 35

 

Chapter 35

The rooster had just crowed its first call when Xu He got up in the dark.

It was still pitch black outside, but as late spring turned to early summer, dawn came earlier, and those needing an early start had to race against the morning light.

Xu He carried an oil lamp to the kitchen. He had to make breakfast for two and lunch to take to town. Zhang Fangyuan started the fire in the stove, tossing in two large pieces of firewood, then went to the backyard to feed the horse. He needed to give Little Black enough water and fill him with grass so he’d run fast later.

Before dawn, Jijiu Village was neither light nor dark. A faint glow on the horizon hinted at the approaching daybreak. The fields beneath this veil were tranquil; any sound made could travel far. The bamboo poles burning in the stove crackled and popped; the sound could be heard even by households at the village corner, letting them know someone was already up.

Not long after, while loading the flatbed cart, Zhang Fangyuan caught the scent of stir-fried meat, especially enticing in the pure morning air. Following the scent, he found Xu He had already finished stir-frying the meat and was packing it into a food container.

“So fragrant?”

Xu He glanced at the man standing beside him, hands on hips, staring as if his eyes were about to fall into the food box. Xu He scooped the last spatula of meat, not into the box, but picked up a piece with chopsticks and offered it to ‘feed the big dog’.

“Stir-fried with homegrown celery. Try it.”

Zhang Fangyuan rubbed his hands and quickly leaned over to snatch the meat with his mouth. Pork tenderloin had no fat marbling; the meat was firm and very suitable for stir-frying. But because it lacked fat, you had to add oil when cooking. So, even though it tasted delicious, it wasn't considered an everyday dish in rural households, appearing more often in town restaurants.

Xu He had stir-fried the meat very tender, not dry at all. The flavor of the lean meat and seasonings lingered in the mouth, utterly mouthwatering.

“Delicious! Next time we slaughter a pig, let’s keep some for ourselves again.”

Xu He, however, said, “Better save some. It uses up oil and seasonings.” Making it once felt like his heart was bleeding.

Zhang Fangyuan proactively fastened the food box lid. “Since I’m a butcher, we might as well take full advantage of being a butcher. Otherwise, wouldn’t we be losing out?”

Xu He helplessly shook his head, though his eyes held a gentle warmth.

Breakfast was simple: some congee and two steamed cornbread buns. By the time dawn broke, they locked the main gate and headed out.

They loaded the wild vegetables and pork onto the cart. The couple sat at the front, flicking the reins as they set off for town. Today was a market day in the city, so more villagers were heading in than usual. To go early and return early, and to save on travel fare, they set off as early as those going into town for business.

Zhang Fangyuan didn’t give anyone a ride; the cart was already fully loaded.

The couple arrived at the meat market just after the start of the Chen (7am) hour.

“Haven’t seen your stall for a couple of days, huh.”

The butcher at the neighboring stall was, as usual, was squatting on a stone block slurping noodles. He greeted the couple as they arrived.

Zhang Fangyuan smiled and said, “Had some family matters to attend to.”

The butcher chuckled. After Xu He helped Zhang Fangyuan wipe down the stall, he pulled out his basket of wild vegetables, took out two bundles of tied wild onions and two spring bamboo shoots. He’d heard Zhang Fangyuan talk about the butcher next door; he was from town, so he always arrived very early, and his wife brought him lunch at noon.

He walked over with a tender spring shoot and some small wild onions. “Some wild vegetables dug up from the village, fresh. Big brother, take a bit back to try.”

The butcher hurriedly jumped down from the stone block, somewhat flustered and surprised, and quickly thanked Xu He.

These wild vegetables weren’t worth much money, but for town’s folk who didn’t farm, all their food had to be bought. Even common wild vegetables like these had to be picked out early in the morning at the vegetable market. Getting them as a gift was truly a sign of respect.

Besides, they were all butchers with stalls selling meat; it wasn’t like anyone was trying to curry favor. It was purely about making friends.

“My wife was just saying tomorrow she wanted to buy some wild onions to make dumplings. This saves a trip to the market.”

Xu He nodded slightly with a smile. He turned and told Zhang Fangyuan to give the remaining shoots and onions to the person managing the market area. They were also townfolk. Since they had shown favor by reducing the stall fee, they should maintain a good relationship in daily life.

Zhang Fangyuan, with a serious expression, agreed readily.

“Then I'll head out.”

Zhang Fangyuan lifted the basket onto Xu He’s back. “Come back early.”

“Okay.”

The butcher next door watched Xu He walk away, then picked up his noodle bowl and slurped. “Your wife seems a bit aloof, but he's quite warm-hearted.”

Zhang Fangyuan smiled. “He just doesn't like to talk much. His heart is very good.”

While responding, he also laid out the wild game.

“Oh, you're selling mountain goods now too?”

“A hunter from the village asked me to sell them.”

Xu He, carrying his basket, didn’t go to the main vegetable market. Instead, he went to the place in the west market where he had sold bamboo shoots before. This area was mostly where villagers came to set up stalls, no stall fee required, and there was decent foot traffic.

He efficiently laid out his stall, feeling quite cheerful inside. He’d been looking forward to coming to sell vegetables, and now he finally was.

The wild vegetables from yesterday had been kept in a cool place and sprinkled with water, so they still looked very fresh. Also, unlike seasoned village sellers who might pick older vegetables, forcing buyers to sort through them again at home, his were tender. Soon, women and fulang* began stopping by his stall to examine the vegetables.

*fulang — husband, referring to a married ger

“So tender and fresh, just picked too.”

A ger noticed the small onion bulbs were washed clean and picked carefully. “These green onions look much more pleasing than ones with mud on them.”

“Exactly. Saves you some trouble later.” Xu He took out a cut banana leaf from his basket. “Fulang Sir, take two bundles back. They're great stir-fried with meat, or in dumplings, or buns.”

The ger nodded, picked two tied bundles, and handed them to Xu He. He quickly wrapped them in the banana leaf, tied them with a palm leaf strip, and carefully placed them in the buyer's basket.

A woman looking at vegetables at the next stall saw that Xu He's vegetables were clean, tender, and neatly packaged. She immediately wanted to go over, but the stall owner called out to her quietly, “Only vegetables that aren’t fresh are the ones washed by the seller. Look at mine with mud still on—that’s the freshest.”

The woman gave a dry laugh. While the young ger was bent over sorting his vegetables, she slipped over to Xu He's stall and picked a bundle of tender chinaroot.

The young ger seller glared fiercely at Xu He. Xu He ignored him, enthusiastically attending to customers. Soon, nearly half his vegetables were sold.

“What kind of person are you, daring to compete with me for business!”

After the vegetable buyers dispersed, the young ger, hands on hips, couldn't hold back his scolding.

“There are stalls everywhere. Who's competing with whom?”

“Others set up elsewhere, I don’t care! But you setting up right next to me is clearly trying to steal my business!”

Xu He wasn’t new to unreasonable people. He didn’t get angry, calmly sprinkling water on his own vegetables.

“Hey! You're quite arrogant! Do you know what my man does?!”

Xu He answered honestly, “No.”

“Fine! You, the newcomer, have quite the attitude! Let’s see if your mouth is harder or your bones! Believe me, I’ll get someone to teach you a lesson!”

Xu He couldn’t be bothered with him and even started calling out to sell his vegetables.

The other ger was furious but couldn't start a fight right there. He kicked his vegetable basket and moved his stall away, avoiding Xu He as if he were the plague.

There were many people selling wild vegetables at the market, and Xu He had prepared a lot. By Si (9-11 am) hour, the sun was quite strong. Many vendors had already packed up and left, either calling it a day and heading back to work or moving to sell in residential alleys and under bridges at discounted prices.

Xu He still had quite a few wild vegetables left unsold. He packed them up, planning to place them next to Zhang Fangyuan's meat stall in the afternoon. If someone came to buy meat and wanted some on the side, they could buy. If they didn't sell, he’d take them home to eat themselves or dry them for storage. In any case, he couldn't bring them to town a second time to sell again; they’d just get less fresh.

He calculated the money from selling vegetables; the income was decent, over thirty wen. Enough to buy a pair of chicks to take home. Then his brow furrowed. Earlier, in his excitement, he’d agreed to make buns for Zhang Fangyuan. If he bought wheat flour, he wouldn’t be able to buy the little chickens.

He pondered this as he returned to the meat market. Zhang Fangyuan was chopping mutton for a customer.

“Back?”

“Mm.”

Zhang Fangyuan wrapped the lamb leg and gave it to the customer. Xu He glanced at the meat stall. About half the wild game was left, but not much pork had been sold.

“This pig was small, the meat isn't very fatty, not selling as well as usual. Luckily, quite a few people are buying the mountain goods. Even if they can't buy a whole animal, skinning and selling it in parts actually sells better.” Zhang Fangyuan added quietly, “Selling in parts, I even charge two wen more per jin.”

A slight curve appeared at the corner of Xu He’s eye.

Perhaps people coming to the meat market had already decided to buy meat. Most of the meat here was pork, so seeing wild game, their eyes lit up and they wanted to ask the price. City folks, tired of pork, were sometimes willing to spend a bit more for a different taste. Moreover, wild game wasn’t always available; it depended on hunters supplying it, unlike pork which was raised domestically and commonly available from village households.

While talking, they heard a commotion from the entrance area of the meat market.

“Our scholar son is getting married, need to order some things to prepare for the banquet.”

“Congratulations, Madam! Look, the meat at my stall is the fattiest! Perfect for banquets and events!”

“Madam, if you buy a lot, I'll give you a good deal. Come take a look at my stall!”

Buying meat for an event was undoubtedly a big customer. At this hour, there weren't many meat buyers in the market anyway. Suddenly having someone wanting to buy in bulk, most stall owners rushed to greet them, hoping to secure the business.

Zhang Fangyuan and Xu He exchanged a glance.

“Fei Lian and your Second Sister's marriage is still settled.”

Actually, after the marriage was agreed upon, Liu Xianglan was angry about the dowry for a couple of days. Later, persuaded by Xu Shaochun, her anger subsided and her pride swelled up again. She’d tell anyone she met about the marriage alliance with the Fei family.

The village was abuzz with discussion. For a while, it was unclear whether to envy the Xu family or the Fei family. In any case, all the young men, women, and ger of marriageable age in the village were heartbroken, including Zhang Fangyuan’s nearest neighbor, Chen Si.

The newlywed couple was still in the honeymoon phase, going up the mountain to dig wild vegetables and outside the village to buy livestock. Xu He hadn't been out working in the fields much these past two days and hadn't met any villagers, so he didn't know if his second sister's matter was settled. He had only heard Zhang Fangyuan mention the Fei family visiting.

“Oh, if it isn't He Ger and Butcher Zhang?”

Madam Fei, surrounded by butchers vying for her attention, felt quite pleased with herself. She had spotted the Zhang family’s meat stall with no business from afar. Basket in hand, she sauntered over to the couple’s stall with a smile.

“Aiya, it's just that this meat is too lean. Otherwise, I would have placed the order with you.”

Madam Fei pinched and examined the hanging lean meat, giving the dark-skinned Xu He a sidelong glance. Thin and tall, she really couldn’t understand how someone like this had made her son lose his spirit for so many days. Her eyes shifted. “I'm afraid with this pig's quality, business isn't easy, is it?”

Observing Madam Fei’s snide manner, Zhang Fangyuan guessed she probably knew about Fei Lian’s original intentions. Since she clearly didn’t intend to buy meat from them, he saw no need to be polite either. With a flick of his wrist, he slammed the cleaver down onto the chopping block with a loud thud.

“Madam Fei is truly capable! Not only handling the wedding banquet for Fei Xiucai, but also having the leisure to be concerned about fellow villagers’ affairs. Truly impressive.”

Madam Fei instinctively flinched at the sight of the gleaming large blade. Seeing this butcher wasn’t one to flatter, not even giving face to a scholar’s family, she didn’t dare say more. After one last glance at Xu He, she clutched her basket and hurried away.

Although Xu He didn’t care much for Madam Fei, being defended still brought a slight curve to his lips. He tugged the sleeve of the fuming man and suddenly reached a decision about what he had been wavering over earlier. “I want to buy a few little chickens and ducks to raise at home, but I don’t have enough money.”

Zhang Fangyuan’s eyes immediately lit up with a smile. He promptly produced the money box from selling meat. “Take it and buy them.”

 

***

T/N 

the ancient's time period table for easier understanding: the day is split into 12 periods according to the zodiac

and to my lovelies, if you've read any of the recommended novels, I'd love to hear what are your thoughts?

I've got more if you want hehe 

also, if you've got any recommendations for me, I'd love to hear~ 

 

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