Butcher Fulang’s Noodle Shop - Chapter 48
Xu Zhongyue saw Zhang Nanming’s lonely expression and immediately understood what he was thinking. He heard that Zhang Nanming’s wife was ill recently. The two of them were far away from their hometown. They had no relatives in Qingjiang Town and no children. The approaching New Year naturally added to the sadness.
“There is a saying, I think may go too far, but if the water is clear, there will be no fish, and if the people are careful, there will be no disciples. I once heard that your brother and the entire Salt Division used all kinds of methods during the war, to force the salt merchants and gentry in various places to pay for military supplies. Otherwise, it would not have been possible to calm down the chaos everywhere in just three years and allow us people to live and work in peace and contentment. I have also heard people say that in the court, as an official, you must not be too honest. If ministers pursue the reputation of being honest and upright too much, they will have fewer practical means. I don’t know whether this is true or not. Sir, you might as well think about it.” After saying this, Xu Zhongyue stood up.
Just as he was about to go downstairs, Zhang Nanming hesitated for a moment and suddenly raised the tea cup, a sign of paying respect to him by replacing wine with tea.
Xu Zhongyue raised his thin lips slightly and said, “I don’t know where I heard it from. If you can understand a thing or two, sir, it’s your own enlighten that has arrived.”
Xu Zhongyue was not interested in the turbulent events in the court and the fighting between the monarchs and ministers in the clouds. He only liked to stay with Song Shi’an and spend many days and nights together.
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As soon as the twelfth lunar month entered, Song Shi’an became increasingly busy.
The New Year atmosphere in Qingjiang Town was getting stronger, and merchants were returning home one after another.
Except for the occasional early firecracker or two, the town seemed much quieter than before.
The porters had saved money for a year, and in winter they were willing to stay at home instead of going out to pick up work, drink some wine, and play a dozen mahjong to relax their tired muscles.
The two stores “Dragon Looks Back” and “Dockside Restaurant” had reunion dinners on the eighth and tenth day of the twelfth lunar month respectively.
As the “major shareholder” and store owner, Song Shi’an prepared generous red envelopes for the employees. The faces of the men who received the red envelopes were all shining with joy. After dinner, it was a long and happy holiday until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
The ewes and lambs raised at home are growing well. Xu Zhongyue hired someone to cut the fodder they eat and send it to his home. The wild goats he raised were chubby and had thick hair.
Song Shi’an specially invited two of his best friends to come to his home and gave them homemade milk cakes. He asked the girls to cut off the wool and make beautiful and thick new clothes for him and Xu Zhongyue.
There was enough wool and clothing material to make three waistcoats for Aunt Liu and hid two cousins. In the middle was a stand-up collar with a button-down collar. The buttons were tight enough to fit close to the body, not to mention how warm they were.
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Xu Zhongyue went to Chenliu Village to buy two whole pigs. When he came back, the mule cart also contained baskets of fresh Chinese cabbage, potatoes, dried eggplants, dried sweet potatoes, dried vegetables, whole pumpkins, gourds, and two large baskets of eggs.
He smiled and said to Song Shi’an: “I couldn’t resist Boss Chen. He said that he had made a lot of money selling loaches and eels in the past six months. He felt uneasy if he didn’t give us something. I was too lazy to argue with him, so I let him put them all on the car.”
Song Shi’an also smiled and nodded, not thinking it was too much.
A few years ago, Xu Zhongyue went to Chenliu Village and told them that in the coming year, in addition to loaches and eels, crayfish that were not eaten in the fields would also be caught for them, and a bucket would still be worth three cents.
The vegetables and grain they need in their store were first purchased from Chenliu Village. When two parties did business, naturally the deeper the relationship, the more at ease both parties would feel.
Song Shi’an went back to the house slowly, and Xu Zhongyue just packed up the vegetables and killed two pigs.
He kept one for his own consumption, and divided one into two halves. Half of the pig was given to Aunt Liu’s family for eating, and the other half was given to Old Man Liu by the river.
Old Man Liu was the one who saved Xu Zhongyue, and he would give gifts like this every year, to pay for his life-saving grace.
This time, when he drove the mule cart to the riverside, Old Man Liu and his family quickly pulled him in, treated him to a bowl of good wine to keep him warm, and gave him peanuts, red dates, and other snacks.
Xu Zhongyue was not greedy for snacks. He only said that his wife was pregnant and was at home alone. He hurried back when Old Man Liu called him.
“There is something very strange that I’ve been thinking about, so I’d like to mention it to you.”
Xu Zhongyue nodded, and Old Liu Tou continued: “A few days ago, there were officers and soldiers wandering around the river, asking around whether floating water always floated down the river during the war. Are any of the corpses alive?”
The soldiers were usually very aggressive and domineering when they met people, but this time they were so polite that Old Man Liu felt strange at first sight.
“I just said no.” After all, no one knew Xu Zhongyue’s true identity, and Old Man Liu didn’t want to cause trouble. “I don’t know if they are looking for you.”
Xu Zhongyue smiled and said, “It must not be.”
Before leaving, Old Man Liu’ss family filled a basket full of fresh fish and asked Xu Zhongyue to take it home.
“Our river doesn’t freeze in winter, and there are plenty of fish. I regard you as my son, so don’t be polite to me! I’ve heard that pregnant wives who eat more fish will have smarter children!”
Xu Zhongyue had no choice but to thank him.
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After returning home, Song Shi’an and he were busy killing and salting fish, braised pork, braised fish cakes, fried pork dumplings, making steamed buns, and various pastries.
When he was busy, his seven-month-old stomach often felt turbulent, kicking, and small handprints and footprints would appear on the belly.
Seeing this, Xu Zhongyue clapped his hands: “Our children are so energetic!”
Song Shi’an shook his head: “It’s so noisy!”
They were busy happily like this, it was New Year’s Eve.