Fetching People

Black pork has more lean meat and less fat, and such pigs are cheaper than large white pigs. Fang Zhiyuan likes black pork very much, and black pork tastes much more fragrant than large white pigs. The lunch is stewed pork with sauerkraut brought by Lin Zheng’s fulang, and fried pork liver, roasted pig blood, and stir-fried pork intestines.

The four dishes are all served in a large bowl. Lin Xin’s fulang as main chef made more farm-like flavors than Fang Zhiyuan’s. The pork in the sauerkraut is cut as big as a child’s palm and as thick as a finger. Fang Zhiyuan thought it would be a bit greasy to eat, but after eating a large piece of meat, he felt fat but not greasy. It was salty and fragrant in the mouth, and then scooped up a large piece of sauerkraut. He ate three bowls of rice with it.

Da Zhuang and Xiao Zhuang also ate happily, their mouths were full of oil. Lin Cheng’s fulang was happier to see his grandson eating happily than he was. Seeing that Xiao Zhuang had dripped broth on his collar, he quickly wiped it with a wet cloth and said to Lin Zheng’s fulang in a reproachful manner: “Second’s fulang, Xiao Zhuang is still not stable when eating, why didn’t you bring him a bib? The food is greasy, and you will waste your clothes if you wash it too much.”

Lin Zheng’s fulang left in a hurry today and didn’t bring a bib. When his mother-in-law said that, he felt a little unhappy. He was originally against his father-in-law, and he felt uncomfortable that his mother-in-law was biased towards Lin Shuang. At this time, Lin Cheng’s fulang said that he didn’t bring a bib, and he subconsciously thought that Lin Cheng’s fulang was picking on him again, saying that he didn’t know how to be frugal.

He looked at Xiao Zhuang, reluctant to say anything about the child. He was unhappy in his heart, and it showed on his face. Fang Zhiyuan looked at him and sighed in his heart. Every family has its own problems. It seems that the truth that mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are born enemies is a fact in any world.

After eating, Fang Zeng went to the town and asked Fang Zhiyuan what he wanted and said he would bring it back for him. Fang Zhiyuan had food and drink at home and didn’t lack anything, so he didn’t say anything. Fang Zeng looked at his nephew and didn’t say anything. He thought Fang Zhiyuan was stingy with money, so he thought he should buy some snacks for his nephew.

After eating, Da Zhuang and Xiao Zhuang followed their mother to make glutinous rice cakes. The adults mixed the glutinous rice flour. They washed their hands, took the mold, stuffed the dough into it and smoothed it. They imitated the adults to pat the table a few times. Fang Zhiyuan didn’t do it, and just watched.  

Da Zhuang made a round cake, which looked quite realistic. Xiao Zhuang insisted on making a turtle cake, but after he patted it, the glutinous rice ball stuck to the mold. He patted it hard, but the glutinous rice ball didn’t move at all. Xiao Zhuang was so anxious that he finally tried to dig it out with his hands. Of course, the turtle cake was also messed up.

Lin Zheng’s fulang saw it and hurried forward to take a look. Only then did they realize that he didn’t sprinkle dry glutinous rice flour on the mold. As a result, the glutinous rice stuck to the mold. Lin Zheng’s fulang was impatient and looked at Xiao Zhuang with a tiger face, strictly forbidding him to play with glutinous rice cakes again. Lin Cheng’s fulang said a few words to him, and the atmosphere in the room suddenly became depressing.

Although Xiao Zhuang was young, he didn’t dare to move when he saw that his mother and auntie looked unhappy. He stood in the room at a loss, not knowing what to do. Fang Zhiyuan took his little hand and went out resignedly. He coaxed him to eat a dried persimmon cake, which made this little foodie energetic again.

Da Zhuang came over soon. He looked at the dried persimmon cake in Xiao Zhuang’s hand, and his eyes lit up. Maybe it was because of the education of the elders at home that he was embarrassed to ask Fang Zhiyuan for food, so he just looked eagerly. His little eyes looked at the dried persimmon cake that was bitten unevenly by Xiao Zhuang from time to time.

Fang Zhiyuan did not favor one over the other, and went in to get another one for Da Zhuang. Da Zhuang was embarrassed and lowered his head, so Fang Zhiyuan simply stuffed it into his hand. After the first basket of glutinous rice cakes was steamed, Da Zhuang and Xiao Zhuang dragged Fang Zhiyuan into the kitchen.

The freshly steamed glutinous rice cakes were fragrant. Da Zhuang and Xiao Zhuang looked at the steamer eagerly, and Fang Zhiyuan also felt a little hungry when he smelled it. Lin Cheng’s fulang looked at it, then lifted the steaming cloth and used a spatula to get three turtles in the bowl.  The glutinous rice cakes just out of the pot had steam rising from them, so Lin Cheng’s fulang didn’t dare to give them to eat. Fang Zhiyuan thought about cooling it with cold water, he was also excited by the white little turtle.

Lin Cheng’s fulang saw Fang Zhiyuan’s action and quickly stopped him, saying: “Huzi, you can’t cool the glutinous rice just out of the pot with cold water. The glutinous rice is cold on the outside and hot in the middle, and you will burn yourself when you reach the middle. You can’t eat hot glutinous rice in a hurry, remember next time.”

When Lin Cheng’s fulang thought it was ready to eat, Fang Zhiyuan and the other three all held bowls and sat in a row waiting to eat. To be honest, the glutinous rice cakes without sugar and stuffing were not as delicious as imagined, but they were very fragrant. Glutinous rice is thick, and one can satisfy hunger. Fang Zhiyuan finished eating and felt that he could eat one less bowl for dinner.

 Not far away, the unique sound of mule cart wheels came from afar. Fang Zhiyuan could already tell that it was his uncle’s mule cart, and excitedly took Da Zhuang and Xiao Zhuang to the door to greet his uncle. Fang Zeng got a lot of things when he went there, and he also brought a lot of things when he came back.

Looking at Fang Zhiyuan, Da Zhuang and Xiao Zhuang, he stopped the mule cart, took out three candied haws from the backpack in the cart, and gave them to the three of them.  

Lin Cheng’s fulang saw him from the door and shouted, “Nephew, what are you doing? You brought food for our two children. Why spend money for nothing?” Fang Zeng said indifferently, “It’s nothing. Da Zhuang and Xiao Zhuang don’t call me uncle for nothing. I should give them some food. Aunt, I brought some meat from the town this time. Manager Chen insisted on giving me ten kilograms of braised beef. I can make a dish for the banquet. You can taste it tonight. I have a piece of cloth here. I want to make clothes for Huzi. I have to trouble you to make it.” 

Lin Cheng’s fulang smiled and agreed, saying, “Okay, as long as nephew doesn’t mind that aunt’s cooking is not good-looking. Aunt will add some leather to the clothes so that it will be warm and light to wear. I guarantee that Huzi will not be cold no matter how cold the weather is.” Fang Zeng went to the town and brought back more than these things. Shopkeeper Chen brought ten kilograms of beef and a box of snacks.  

When he went to Third Chen’s place, Third Chen had made a lot of money selling dried persimmons these days. Seeing Fang Zeng giving him pork, he gave Fang Zeng a basket of tangerines and a piece of cloth for him to take back. Tangerines are from the south. They are sold for two or three wen per catty when transported here. This basket must be at least ten catties. Fang Zeng refused for a while before he couldn’t refuse.

When he brought the tangerines down, Da Zhuang and Xiao Zhuang’s eyes bulged. They had seen tangerines before, but the number of times they had eaten them could be counted on one hand. They only knew that tangerines were delicious. Their eyes followed the basket in Fang Zeng’s hand and ran around Fang Zeng.

Fang Zeng liked children and was not a stingy person. He took two each and let them eat first. Lin Cheng’s fulang saw it and quickly stopped them. This tangerine is not a candied haws. One costs four or five wen, and two costs ten wen.  They don’t take advantage of others like this, otherwise people will accuse them of being short-sighted.

Although Da Zhuang and Xiao Zhuang wanted to eat, they still listened to their grandmother. Even if they were reluctant, they had to put down the tangerines reluctantly and stopped touching them. Fang Zeng said, “Aunt, it’s nothing for the children to eat something. I’m not happy if you stop me like this. Do you treat me as an outsider? Come Da Zhuang, Xiao Zhuang. Take them and eat them. If your grandma says something to you, don’t be afraid, just come to uncle’s house and uncle will take care of you.” He stuffed the tangerines to Da Zhuang and Xiao Zhuang again.

After Fang Zeng said this, Lin Cheng’s fulang couldn’t say anything more, but he also thought about what they could send to Fang Zeng’s family. No matter what, their family had to show their appreciation, otherwise it would be a mess if they only took in but didn’t give out.

Seeing that their grandmother didn’t stop them anymore, Da Zhuang and Xiao Zhuang cheered and ran away with the tangerines, fearing that their grandmother would regret and not let them eat.  

Fang Zhiyuan did not go with them. He was helping his uncle with some things. When he saw a basket of eggs, he asked his uncle, “Uncle, there are two chickens laying eggs at home. Why did you buy eggs?”

Fang Zeng looked at the eggs and smiled and said, “I didn’t buy them. I went to my senior brother’s house in Liu Village to invite him to our house for a drink. His family stuffed them in.”

Fang Zhiyuan asked curiously, “Uncle, which uncle is it? I don’t seem to have any impression.”

Fang Zeng thought about it. His senior brother came to his house to pay New Year’s greetings on the first day of the new year and never stayed for dinner. His brother brought his nephew back on the second day of the new year. It seems that his nephew has never seen his senior brother. Thinking of this, he quickly explained it in detail to avoid the embarrassment of not knowing who the person is when the time comes.

 Fang Zeng said, “My senior brother learned hunting skills from your grandfather. He also went out for a few years and is better than me. Since your grandfather passed away, he has come to our house every New Year’s Day to pay New Year’s greetings, and all four rituals are complete. Later, when I was older, I also learned hunting skills from him. This year, it’s your birthday, and I want to invite him to join in the fun.”

Fang Zhiyuan understood after hearing this.

The glutinous rice cakes were steamed, and Lin Xin’s family and Lin Zheng’s fulang were unwilling to have dinner at Fang’s house. Fang Zeng gave each of them ten tangerines, but they didn’t take any and ran away. Fang Zhiyuan had to deliver them door to door. Of course, when he came back, his hands were not empty, and the small basket in his hand was full of eggs. Fang Zhiyuan was depressed looking at the two small baskets of eggs. Is it popular to send eggs now?

Da Zhuang and Xiao Zhuang are Fang Zhiyuan’s little tails. At this time, Fang Zeng kept them at his home for dinner. After the adults left, they were more relaxed. Sometimes they ran over to throw a chestnut, and sometimes they took their time to bury a sweet potato in the stove. Soon, their little faces were gray.

Fang Zhiyuan was happy to see this. Usually, only he and Fang Zeng were at home. Today, there were two more children, and the atmosphere was much more lively. He liked it just by looking at it, and didn’t care about Da Zhuang and Xiao Zhuang’s black hands and gray faces. He led the two little foodies to wash their hands and faces with hot water.

In the evening, Lin Zheng came to pick up Da Zhuang and Xiao Zhuang, and agreed with Fang Zeng to pick up Auntie Liu the day before Fang Zhiyuan’s birthday. He came to take a look so that he could start the next day. He carefully told Fang Zeng the address of Auntie Liu’s home, hugged Xiao Zhuang, and took Da Zhuang back.

In the following days, Fang Zeng and Fang Zhiyuan delivered the pickled spicy cabbage to the grocery store in the town, and bought cabbage from Lin Xin’s family and made another round.

It was the day before Fang Zhiyuan’s birthday. Fang Zeng had borrowed tables, chairs, bowls and chopsticks, bought most of the ingredients, and picked up Auntie Liu.

Auntie Liu looked like a skinny old auntie. When he got off the car, he brought a boy who was a head taller than Fang Zhiyuan. Fang Zeng explained Auntie Liu to the situation tomorrow and let him make the decision to cook.

Auntie Liu looked at the ingredients prepared by the Fang family and had a clear idea. The ger came down with two big pots in his hands while Fang Zhiyuan was stunned. Fang Zeng hurried to take over and said, “Child, don’t do it. It’s heavy. You are still young. Don’t get tired.”

Auntie Liu smiled and said, “This is my grandson Liu Zhuang. He has been strong since he was a child. These two pots are nothing to him. It’s okay, Fang, don’t worry.”

At this time, Fang Zhiyuan took a closer look at the ger in front of him. He was a head taller than him, and his facial features were not as delicate as those of the gers here, but more like a man. From today’s perspective, he was handsome and tough. His face was very angular, his nose was very high, and he looked rather taciturn, which made him a living prototype of a tough man in the future. If it were now, he would definitely attract many girls.

Unfortunately, in this era, he was tragically born a ger, and he looked a bit like his own mother. He might be at a disadvantage in the aesthetics of the men here. Thinking of this, Fang Zhiyuan felt a little sorry for this young ger.

Auntie Liu said to Fang Zeng: “Master Fang, your kitchen is not small, but the stove can’t burn three banquet tables. If you want to build another big stove, don’t bother. Just build a stove in the yard and dismantle it after use.”

When Fang Zeng heard this, he went to move bricks, and Fang Zhiyuan also went to help. Liu Zhuang also followed behind to help move. Fang Zhiyuan looked a little embarrassed and said quickly: “Mm, you don’t have to move it, just let me and my uncle move it. You are a ger, go and rest with your grandmother, and leave this work to us.”

Liu Zhuang looked at Fang Zhiyuan who was talking to him with some surprise. He followed his grandmother to work in other families. Every family thought that he should do more work if they were paid. He was helping to let his grandmother rest more. Now that Fang Zhiyuan said this to him, he was a little surprised, but more of a gratitude for others’ kindness.

He shook his head and said, “It’s okay, I’m used to making stoves, it’s nothing.” He said and accelerated the movement of his hands.