Chapter 79 (2/2)
Old Yu looked at his grandson and granddaughter who had become somewhat alienated from him. He thought about how his second son had left the house with practically nothing. If it wasn't for the relatives who had sent money to his son and the villagers who had aided him, they probably wouldn't have a house to live in such a cold day. Thinking back to that, he couldn't help but feel guilty.
After thinking about it, he turned around and took the fish basket from Dashan. He poured the remaining ten small yellow croakers that they couldn't sell into Xiaocao's basket. Old Yu stroked Little s.h.i.+tou's head using his fishy hands and said, ”Take these fish home to eat...do you have any money on you? If you don't, Grandpa can buy you what you want.” Yu Dashan's mouth moved as he glanced at his father. But in the end, he didn't say anything. These days, without the fis.h.i.+ng expert, Yu Hai, they had caught fewer and fewer fish. In addition, the varieties of fish they caught had also dwindled. They had lost quite a few regular customers in town. Now, their business was getting worse and worse.
Every time they brought home money, Madam Zhang would complain that it was too little and that it was not enough for the family's expenses. The money they had earned by selling fish this time, was the lowest amount they had earned. If they also bought things for the children, he was afraid that they'll never hear the end of it when they returned home.
When he saw Xiaocao sensibly shaking her head and heard her say, ”Grandfather, there's no need. We brought money with us,” he felt relieved. At home, his mother kept harping on about money, and his wife talked too much. All of this made him feel very annoyed.
After saying goodbye to their grandfather, Xiaocao continued walking forward. Suddenly, she was attracted to a pork stall in the distance. She pulled Little s.h.i.+tou and walked over. The swarthy and plump butcher had a tangled and coa.r.s.e beard. His eyes were especially big, which made it seem like he was glaring at people whenever he looked at them. He appeared to be quite fierce looking.
However, the people who knew him all knew that Butcher w.a.n.g was famous for being a good person. Whenever he sold meat, he never gave the customers less meat or change. He even gave his regular customers some things that are of little value. His reputation was quite good in the nearby villages.
”Little girl, are you buying meat?” Butcher w.a.n.g knew that his appearance often scared children and made them cry. So, when he saw the sister and brother pair, he hurriedly showed them what he believed to be a kind smile. He also softened his voice as he called out to them. But he didn't know that this kind of expression made him look even more fierce.
Little s.h.i.+tou was scared by the butcher and hid behind his second sister. But after thinking about it, he stepped forward and walked in front of his sister. At home, he had boasted that he would protect his sister well. However from his clenched fist, trembling body, and reddening face, it was obvious that he was about to cry. Everyone could sense his fear and nervousness.
When Butcher w.a.n.g saw that his smile produced the opposite of his desired result, he awkwardly scratched the back of his head. But he didn't forget to praise Little s.h.i.+tou, ”Little guy, you are very brave. You know how to protect your sister. You really are a young man!”
From his manner and tone, Xiaocao determined that this man was a blockhead who had a mean-looking face but a heart of gold. She held her brother's shoulders and ruffled his head, smiling as she said, ”Uncle is praising you, aren't you going to quickly thank him?”
Little s.h.i.+tou bashfully lowered his head. In a small voice, he replied, ”Thank you for your praise…”
”Good child, what a good child…what do you want to buy? Uncle will give you a discount!” Butcher w.a.n.g laughed out loud, his voice was loud and clear like the rumbling of thunder.
Yu Xiaocao looked at the meat in the stall. She saw that what was remaining was less than two catties of a moderately sized, not too fat and not too thin leg meat. There was also some fatty oil, a few pig bones, and a large pig head.
Her line of sight was instantly attracted by the pig head. She proceeded to ask, ”Uncle, how is this pig head sold? Do you also sell pig liver, pig heart, pig stomach, and the large intestines of pigs?”
During this time period, almost all the pig heads were used as a sacrifice to the G.o.ds. Very few families in the villages would eat them. The main reason that people didn't eat pig heads was that they disliked the distinct flavor of the pig heads. If the flavor isn't properly taken care of, then the oil, salt, firewood, and the grains they used would be wasted on the pig's head.
But since both the twelfth lunar month and the first month of the lunar year had pa.s.sed, no one had been interested in the pig head. After hearing her questions, Butcher w.a.n.g asked her with good intentions, ”Little girl, why does your family want a pig head? What are they planning to do with it? Pig heads don't taste good. Why don't you buy some pig bones and make a stew with it? I can sell you the pig bones for a cheaper price. As for the pig liver and pig hearts, it has been all sold out. The filthy and smelly pig stomach and pig intestines have either been thrown out or fed to the dogs. Is your family raising a dog?”
Just as she had expected...the people from this time period didn't have a method to cleanse the dirty and smelly internal organs of animals. Because they didn't have a method to cleanse it, they didn't dare to eat them. However, the pig stomach and pig intestines tasted delicious after being braised. In addition, the braised pig head dish was one of the most popular braised foods her shop had sold in her previous life!
”Uncle, I also don't know what they're going to do with those items. It was my father who had told me to buy those items. How much does the pig head cost per catty? Also, please give me all of the pig stomach and pig intestines……” Xiaocao pointed at the pig head with a smile, confidently asking him to sell her those items.
Butcher w.a.n.g nodded his head and said, ”There's no need to weigh the pig head. Pig heads are usually sold after the buyer and seller comes to an agreement. A pig head usually costs eight copper coins. But since it's off-season right now, I'll sell it to you for six copper coins. The pork stomach and intestines haven't been thrown away today. I'll give them to you for free if you want it.”
Wow! A pig head usually weighed around seven to eight catties, but it was only sold for six copper coins! It was so cheap that it was almost ridiculous. What's more, the pig stomach and intestines were offered to her for free! Yu Xiaocao felt that she had gotten a huge deal for this trip!
Thinking about her long-term business, she suddenly asked, ”Uncle, seeing that there aren't many things left in your stall, your business must be doing good. How frequently does your family to kill a pig?”
Butcher w.a.n.g laughed out loud and proudly replied, ”Thanks to the blessings from the villagers, my meat stall business has been doing well. Almost every time the market opens, we kill one pig. At other times, we are busy catching pigs in the village!”