Chen Yuanqiu woke up after three rooster crows. It was just light outside the window.

“Dad, I’m going to the mountain to check the cages.” He didn’t even have time to rinse his mouth or wash his face.

Dad Chen hurriedly said, “Bring your second brother.”

“I know.”

“This child has become impatient because of his appetite.”

Old Chen replied slowly, “He was just lazy.”

“Don’t say that.” Dad Chen disagreed, “Compared with the children in the village, our children are pretty good.”

Old Chen snorted and said nothing, but his eyes were gentle and showed a faint smile.

 “I see that Ping ger’s cooking skills are getting better and better, and he is not much worse than the chefs in the town’s restaurants. The market day is on the 17th. Should we let Ping ger take shrimp paste and braised pig’s trotters to the market? Making money is secondary, it’s so that the neighbors know that our Ping ger still has advantages. What if he meets someone that likes to eat?” Dad Chen said softly, fearing that his voice would be too loud and his third son would hear it. He finally became more cheerful.

“I think it’s okay.” Old Chen thought for a while: “Tell Ping ger that if he can really find a reliable one, it doesn’t matter if he can’t have children. We have many children in our family, and we can adopt one among our nephews and nieces. Our children are all good. Thinking of his brothers, this is not a problem.”

Chen Yuanqiu went out happily, and when he came back, his mouth was almost grinning to his ears. He was so happy that he jumped three feet high, just like a child.

“Dad, Father, look, there are so many small fish and shrimps. Few people put cages in the mountains. We put a few cages down suddenly, and the harvest is really good.”

Dad Chen stood up and took a look: “Wow, there must be several kilograms here. I will sort out the small fish and shrimps first.”

“About five or six kilograms. We put nine cages. Second brother and I changed places and walked deeper. The harvest should be good tomorrow too.”

Dad Chen couldn’t bear to tell his youngest son with such joy: “We can’t eat too much of this shrimp paste. We have to save it for the market on the 17th.”

“To make money?” Chen Yuanqiu was dumbfounded: “Then…then, leave a small half?” He also knew that his third brother was sick and the family didn’t save much money to begin with, and now there might not be much left.

 “We’ll see when the time comes. If there are more, eat more.”

Old Chen said, “Aren’t you going to buy pig’s trotters? It’s too late, and they don’t have even four pig’s trotters for you.”

“Yes, yes, yes, I almost forgot.”

“Wait.” Dad Chen quickly took out the money: “Take the money with you, and buy half a catty of pork belly. I haven’t eaten meat for a while.”

Not long after Chen Yuanqiu left, Chen Yuandong came over, carrying two pig’s trotters and a piece of pork belly, which must be more than a catty.

“What are you doing?”

“Guixiang said that the pig’s trotters made by Ping ger are delicious.”

Dad Chen didn’t believe it: “Take the pork belly back.”

“If I take it back, Guixiang will scold me again.” Chen Yuandong smiled and went into the kitchen to put down the meat and pig’s trotters.

 “Tell your wife to come over for lunch.” Old Chen couldn’t do anything about his second son, so he smiled and said, “The youngest son just hurried to your third uncle’s house, thinking of buying four pig’s trotters in one go. I’m afraid he will cry from happiness when he enters the kitchen.”

“When I went to the mountain, I heard him talk about this, and I deliberately didn’t tell him.”

This is also a naughty boy. Dad Chen couldn’t stop smiling. The relationship between brothers is good, and parents are also relieved and happy to see it.

When Chen Yuping got up, only his dad was at home.

The stove had four pig’s trotters, two pieces of pork belly, a small pot of small fish, a small pot of shrimp, and a big bone.

“Are these all caged yesterday?”

“Yes, the five cages at home and the four cages at your second brother’s house are all here.”

“There are so many small fish and shrimps in the mountains.” Chen Yuping’s eyes lit up. Pure natural green aquatic products, delicious and fresh!

Taking advantage of the fact that there was nothing to do at this time, only the father and son were at home, Dad Chen said gently: “Ping ger, the market day will come soon on the 17th. The shrimp paste and braised pig’s trotters you made are delicious. I thought, how about we sell them on the 17th?”

“Okay.” Chen Yuping replied casually: “But there are not enough pig’s trotters. Maybe we have to go to town to buy a few more.”

“Let’s go to town on the 16th. The shrimp paste will be used for the market first. If you want to eat it later, we will make more.” Dad Chen didn’t expect his third son to agree so quickly, and he was relieved.

If Yuanqiu knew about this, he would probably cry.  Chen Yuping thought about it and smiled unkindly: “Dad, there’s no need for that. If we want to eat, we should eat it first. I think this shrimp paste won’t be used much at the market.” Selling it can by can is too small, and it won’t sell many cans. It’s more reliable to spread it on steamed buns and sell it. Steamed buns with shrimp paste can be tasted, and the price is not expensive, so it will be easier to sell.

He said his thoughts, and Dad Chen thought it made sense.

Almost two pounds of pork belly, the portion for braised pork is a bit small, and one person can’t even eat a few bites. Chen Yuping thought about stir-frying half of the pork and steaming the other half of the preserved vegetables, which is fragrant and delicious.

It’s early today, and there’s plenty of time. The shank bones are stewed early. When it’s almost stewed, put two radishes in, then make some stir-fried vegetables, and today’s lunch is done.

From four pig’s trotters, three and a half were made into braised pig’s trotters, and the remaining half stewed with soybeans.

 It is said that eating this will increase breast milk production. Chen Yuping doesn’t know whether it is true or not. He just heard from many people that his second sister-in-law is breastfeeding her baby, so it is also good to stew it.

The dinner was arranged clearly. Chen Yuandong’s family of three did not think of eating lunch and dinner there, but third brother said so, so he stayed and had dinner again.

On the way back, Liu Guixiang said to her husband: “Third brother’s cooking skills are getting better and better. Third brother is good-looking and has a good temperament…” As she spoke, she fell silent, thinking it was a pity.  “I think after third brother got sick, he seemed to have figured things out and became more cheerful.”

“My third brother was originally a lively and cheerful person, but after he became an adult…he gradually became less talkative.”

“He’s doing well now. Marriage is all about fate, and third brother is no different. I’ll look out for him carefully later. Dad said that on the 17th, I’ll go to the market with third brother to sell shrimp paste and braised pig’s trotters. My third brother has good skills, and maybe there will be good news.”

“You, as the second sister-in-law, should pay more attention to it.”

Chen Yuandong and his wife talked about this, and Old Chen and Dad Chen were also talking about this while lying on the bed. Although there was no sign of it, thinking about Ping ger’s good skills and how delicious his food was, it really touched their hearts, and some thoughts floated out of their hearts.

It should be good. After all, Ping ger is a good and reliable child.

In a blink of an eye, it was the 17th market day.