Chapter 93

Butcher Hu widened his large round eyes in confusion and said, “Why wouldn’t I let you do it?”

He wasn’t foolish!

If everyone in the family could earn money, he would be all for it.

However, he added, “But don’t overwork yourself. There’s our son too; let him do the dirty and tiring work.”

Sons are meant to be put to work so they can shoulder the burden of supporting the family in the future.

Hu’s mother felt reassured.

Immediately, she decided not to stay for dinner at her daughter’s house and wanted to hurry home before it got dark.

Having been away for so long, she assumed the house would be very dirty. She wanted to clean up, soak the rice, and start steaming early the next day.

Butcher Hu had no objections.

They just waited for Hu Wenhua to return from cutting bamboo.

“Dad, Mom, I’ll drive the ox cart to take you back. The carpenter has just finished a few wooden barrels, so I can deliver them to you as well,” Fan Jin offered.

Butcher Hu was about to argue that it wasn’t far and it would be a hassle to go back and forth, but hearing about the barrels, he swallowed his words.

Shuiqing went into the house and gathered a lot of items they had previously purchased, focusing on fire starters, candles, and lamp oil.

Hu’s mother had always been frugal, avoiding buying such items if possible. During their last trip to the city, they had stocked up on a lot of supplies, and since they would be going back often, they could always buy more. Today, they took the opportunity to bring some back for her parents, which might come in handy later.

Fan Jin addressed his mother-in-law, “Mother, thank you for all your help these days. This winter is unusually cold, and coal might be in short supply. Don’t worry, I’ve arranged with the local charcoal makers to have some delivered to you.”

Gold Bull and Silver Bull made charcoal for sale every year. He had already arranged with them to sell all their charcoal to him this year, instead of taking it elsewhere.

Shuiqing had said they would take as much as they could get, and once the new house was built and there was more space, they could stockpile a lot.

His mother-in-law would probably be reluctant to buy more, so he planned to deliver it to them himself.

He would also send some to his own mother, fulfilling his filial duty.

Hu’s mother’s first reaction was to refuse: “I haven’t helped much, so it hasn’t been hard.

We don’t need you to send coal. Your father and brother are earning money, we can buy it ourselves.”

Having some coal for cooking in winter was convenient, but it wasn’t necessary to use a lot.

She felt it was too much trouble for her son-in-law to send it from afar, and even if he wasn’t her biological son, she would still worry about him getting tired.

“Your heart is enough.” Butcher Hu’s attitude this time was much better, and he didn’t find Fan Jin as displeasing as before.

Fan Jin didn’t argue further. With the ox cart, once the charcoal was made, he could send it over without it being returned.

Hu’s mother saw that her daughter had packed a lot of things for her to take home and felt embarrassed, quickly waving her hand and whispering, “Qing’er, this is too much!”

Having come to help for ten days, her intention was to assist, and taking things back felt inappropriate.

It would also be embarrassing in front of her son-in-law.

“Your mother-in-law hasn’t received any. If we take this, what will your husband think?”

Shuiqing smiled, “It’s fine, Mother. Your son-in-law said it’s to thank you for your help, it’s extra.

If my mother-in-law comes to help, she will get some too. But now she hasn’t done any work, so sending things over would spoil her and make her expect more in the future, which we can’t afford.”

They had asked Fan’s mother before, but she had claimed to be in pain and unable to do any work. If they still sent things, she might expect even more later.

Some people don’t appreciate kindness.

You send them something, and they don’t think it’s good, but rather that they deserve it.

Hu’s mother thought of Fan’s mother and stopped persuading her.

Disliking someone who mistreated her daughter was understandable, though she only mentioned it because she was the biological mother of her son-in-law.

“Alright then, once the house is built, you can shut the gate and enjoy your own peaceful life.”

Butcher Hu watched the mother and daughter whispering without annoyance, quietly waiting.

Before long, Hu Wenhua came back with a few kids dragging bamboo.

They only needed to cut a few bamboo stalks at the edge of the bamboo grove, not going up the mountain, so it was quick and didn’t take much time.

Hearing they were leaving, Hu Wenhua, though prepared, still felt reluctant. Jiang Hehu and Xing Hui’s bright smiles faded.

Fan He immediately said, “Uncle, take all this bamboo back to sell!”

Their family had a bamboo mountain, making it convenient to cut bamboo.

Hu’s mother smiled and intercepted, “Do you think Niu Tou Town is like the capital city? There’s plenty of bamboo around Niu Tou Town, unlike in the capital city where people have to leave the city to get bamboo tubes.”

Hu Wenhua suddenly realized that indeed, the method of selling bamboo used by his nephew wouldn’t work in Niu Tou Town.

Even if bamboo tubes were used to hold wine, giving it a pleasant fragrance and making it taste better, people in Niu Tou Town wouldn’t spend a penny on them; they would be more likely to cut bamboo themselves.

“No need to bring them! If someone really wants bamboo tubes, I’ll just cut a few bamboo stalks near Niu Tou Town.”

Fan Jin and Butcher Hu securely tied the wooden barrels onto the cart, placing the delivered items inside the barrels. The cart was driven only by Fan Jin and Hu’s mother, while Butcher Hu and Hu Wenhua, who had larger frames and quick steps, walked alongside.

It was still early in the day, and with three big men, especially two with imposing figures and fierce looks, and no disasters or famines outside, Shuiqing wasn’t worried about their safety.

She only wanted to earn as much money as possible, save money, and stockpile supplies for the winter and next year.

She not only wanted to survive but to live a life of plenty!

·

Ling Ran followed Fan Jin and the others back, knowing that the Fan family lived better than ordinary farmers because of brewing wine.

Upon arrival, he was secretly surprised at the scale of the house being built.

This wasn’t just an ordinary three-room house; it was a courtyard with four buildings!

Each room was spacious, and from chatting with Fan Jiang, he learned that this was their mother’s decision, saying that large rooms looked bright and felt comfortable to live in.

By dinnertime, facing food that was exactly the same as what Fan Jiang and his family were eating, he hesitated and pursed his lips.

“What’s wrong? Not hungry?” Shuiqing asked, seeing Ling Ran hesitating to pick up his chopsticks.

Could he be full just from looking at the food?

“Brother Ling, my mom’s cooking is always delicious! Once you taste it, you’ll know,” Fan Jiang said loudly, grabbing food with big bites and finding time to show off to Ling Ran.

Fan He proved with his actions that the food was especially delicious!

Worried that Ling Ran’s family might misunderstand, he raised his bowl with clearly defined knuckles, smiling as he explained, “It’s not that. I just didn’t expect to be eating the same food as all of you.”

Since leaving Ling’s family, he had run out of money and had to work hard for his food. Other families only gave him a bowl of rice or a steamed bun to eat, and even when they cooked meat and eggs, it wasn’t something he could eat.

At Fan’s home, they used coarse pottery bowls like small basins, with large white rice on the bottom and dishes with meat, eggs, and vegetables stacked on top, just like the children in Fan’s family!

His meal even had more food than the five children.