Chapter 317 (1/2)
Because the two families lived far apart, they usually didn't see each other very often. Thus, Second Granduncle's sons weren't very familiar with Yu Xiaocao. She pulled down her m.u.f.fler and chuckled dryly at Yu Yang.
Luckily, Yu Lixia walked out of the inner courtyard at this time. When he saw Yu Xiaocao, he revealed a surprised expression, ”Xiaocao, why did you come out on such a snowy day? Is there something going on at home?”
”Nothing's going on! My family slaughtered a pig and my father told me to give your family some meat.” Yu Xiaocao's nose had been frozen until it was a bright red and a layer of frost had frozen on her long eyelashes. This contrasted with her pale white skin and made her look like a snow fairy.
”This year everyone's having a rough time and pork is so expensive. You guys could take the pork and sell it for money to buy more grain, so why are you giving us some pork? Quickly take it back…” In the past, Yu Lixia's family had the best circ.u.mstances out of all the three brothers. Yu Hai's family had been squeezed dry by Madam Zhang yet he, as the Second Granduncle, couldn't do much. When Yu Hai's family had split from the family, he also didn't help much. Thus, how could have the nerve to take things from the younger generation?
Yu Lixia's eldest daughter-in-law saw the large slab of meat and the sack of grain on the sled and she couldn't move her eyes away. She hurriedly interrupted her father-in-law and said, ”Father, Niece had traveled from afar and must be freezing. Quickly let her in and warm up.”
Yu Xiaocao hastily shook her head, ”No need, I still need to go to Xishan Village to send more New Year's gifts ah! Second Granduncle, let me wish you a Happy New Year in advance and I hope that this year is smooth and auspicious!”
She unloaded the meat and grain set aside for her second granduncle's family and then climbed back on the sled before telling Big Gray to leave. Yu Lixia had wanted to have her stay to eat lunch, but she had refused with the reason that she needed to go to her maternal grandparents' home. She wasn't very familiar with her second granduncle's family and didn't want to make awkward conversation with them.
Yu Lixia's eldest daughter-in-law impatiently opened the sack. When she saw that it was full of white flour, she cried out in astonishment, ”Father, Dahai's family is really generous. There's so much white flour here, at least twenty or so catties. And this pork, it must be around a dozen catties too. If we took it into town, we could sell it all for a couple taels ah!”
Yu Lixia leveled a glare at her and said, ”How could it only be worth a couple taels? This is wild boar meat!! Yu Hai's family is truly benevolent and kind. My third brother is now living a comfortable life with them!! Eldest son's wife, this meat is the New Year's gift that Dahai gave to us. No matter how much money it's worth, we cannot sell it!”
His eldest daughter-in-law smiled, ”Then we will have to enjoy such delicious food! Tsk tsk, Dahai's family truly has skill to be able to get ahold of such fresh cabbage! We will be able to eat cabbage and pork dumplings for the New Year's Eve dinner! Our family is probably the only family in the village who will be able to eat cabbage and pork dumplings this year ah!”
Yu Lixia grinned until the wrinkles by his eyes became more p.r.o.nounced, ”We're enjoying the fortunes of my third brother! Next year when we have a harvest of grain in spring, don't forget to send some to your third uncle. As relatives, we can only become closer to each other if we work on our relations.h.i.+ps.”
Yu Yang was the youngest son of Yu Lixia. He stared in the direction that the snow sled disappeared and abruptly exclaimed in fright, ”Father! Did you see clearly what was pulling the
Yu Lixia looked at the prints that were left in the snow and smiled, ”What else could it be? It must be one of the dogs that your uncle is raising at home ah! Your uncle is truly odd. During a disaster year, there's nothing for people to eat yet he still raises a few dogs that eat precious food!”
Yu Yang wasn't convinced. He thought for a bit and decided it seemed a bit absurd before he softly said, ”Father, I don't think that animal looked like a dog, I think it looked more like a wolf…”
”Nonsense! Have you seen wolves before? If a wolf doesn't eat a person, that's already considered a great blessing. Who would have the guts to have one pull a sled?” Yu Lixia roundly scolded this excitable youngest son of his. This fellow really had the craziest imagination. How could a wolf pull a sled for humans?
Yu Yang muttered somewhat resentfully, ”I think it looks like a wolf. Its ears are perked up and its tail droops down. If it's not a wolf, then it must be a mix between a dog and wolf! Hm! When I have time, I should go visit Brother Dahai's family and look. If they have some puppies, I'll ask him to give me one.”
Yu Lixia slapped a hand on his son's head and said, ”Get a dog? Are you going to feed it your own rations ah? Right now no one can even fill their own stomachs, so how can we have any extra to raise a dog? Just forget this idea of yours ah!”
Yu Xiaocao traveled swiftly down the snow covered roads and finally made it to Xishan VIllage at noon. When she entered the village, she came across a matron who was puttering around doing nothing outside. The woman was frightened at the sight of Big Gray and fell on the ground as she shouted, ”Oh my goodness ah! Wolf, a wolf is in the village!!” Before Yu Xiaocao could say anything, she scrambled off fearfully towards her residence.
Big Gray slowed down and turned his head around to look innocently at Yu Xiaocao. Xiaocao helplessly said to the wolf, ”Let's leave quickly and avoid any people she may bring around. They might think you're a wild animal and try to kill you.”
Big Gray showed off an arrogant expression. Humans were all so small and weak, how could they possibly harm him?
However, in order to avoid any unnecessary ruckus, Yu Xiaocao still urged him to accelerate and get to her maternal grandparents' residence. The gate to their residence was wide open. She knocked a few times and then unloaded the sled. She first unharnessed Big Gray and led him to a secluded place to rest to avoid people from being scared by him.
Her eldest maternal uncle heard the noise outside and came out of the house. When he saw Yu Xiaocao, who looked like a small snowman, with a large gray wolf, the sight scared him so much that he hurriedly picked up a wooden pole at the side of the wall to prepare for a fight.
”Eldest Maternal Uncle, it's me! Xiaocao.” Yu Xiaocao noticed his actions and knew he had been frightened by Big Gray, so she hurriedly explained.