Chapter 31: Giving Charcoal in Snowy Weather

“Knock knock—” The small courtyard’s wooden door was knocked. Qi Wanfeng, who was cooking breakfast in the kitchen, heard the knocking and came out to take a look, walking over with curiosity in his eyes. Opening the door, he saw an amo (old woman) outside carrying a basket and two hens. Before he could speak, the other party asked him with a smile, “Is this Cao Silang’s family’s house?”

“Yes, yes it is, may I ask, Amo?” Qi Wanfeng saw that this Amo was a bit unfamiliar. He hadn’t been familiar with the people in the village in the years since he married into Caojia Village. There were also very few people who came and went to the Cao family compound, so he didn’t recognize who this Amo was.

“Then this is right. I am the servant of the Lizheng’s (local head) family. Everyone calls me Zhao Amo. Are you Cao Silang’s wife? Our Lady knows that your family’s Silang’s body is not well, so she asked me to send you some food.” Zhao Amo stuffed the basket and two hens that she was carrying in her hand into the xiaoge’r’s (a married man who takes on the role of a wife in a homosexual relationship) hand, not giving him a chance to refuse. “These two hens will lay eggs. They can lay two eggs every day.”

“This, how can this be? Your Lady is too, too polite.” Qi Wanfeng, carrying the things in his hand, really didn’t know what to do. He hadn’t seen the Lizheng’s Lady in all the years he had been in Caojia Village, yet that Lady had given him such a big gift.

“Our Lady sent it, so you should accept it.” Zhao Amo was a smiling person, and the corners of her eyes were folded wrinkles when she smiled.

“Okay, then please, Amo Zhao, say thank you to your Lady for me.” When Qi Wanfeng reacted, he invited the person to come in and sit in their house, only to remember that there wasn’t even a place to sit in their house now. There was an unspeakable embarrassment on his face.

“Haha, I have to go back after I deliver the things. Our Lady is still waiting for me to go back, so I won’t go in.” Zhao Amo was an experienced person, and he understood many things. Seeing this ge’r, he also liked him in his heart. He had also heard about the Cao family compound, and knew that this ge’r was also having a hard time.

“Then okay, Amo Zhao, come to our house for a visit another day when you’re free,” Qi Wanfeng said a little embarrassedly.

“Okay, okay, okay.” Zhao Amo waved his hand, turned around, and walked the way he came.

“Walk slowly, Amo Zhao.” Watching the person leave, Qi Wanfeng turned around, closed the door of the small yard, and put the two hens in the yard. He carried the basket and went into the house.

Cao Xiangnan, who was in the room, heard Wanfeng talking to someone outside. When he came in, seeing that he was carrying a basket in his hand, he knew that someone had sent something to their house, so he asked curiously, “Who came?”

An’an, who was playing with his adie (father) on the bed, curiously climbed down from the bed and stretched his neck to look at the things his amo was carrying.

“It’s the Lizheng’s family’s Zhao Amo. The Lizheng’s Lady asked the family’s Zhao Amo to send us some food, and two hens that lay eggs.” Qi Wanfeng put down the basket, checked what was inside, and took out the things one by one.

Inside was a bag of white rice and a slab of meat. Few families in the village were willing to eat white rice. White rice was too much more expensive than red-brown rice. Even if they grew white rice at home, they would sell it for money, and the family would eat coarse grains.

A small cloth bag fell out, and Qi Wanfeng picked it up curiously.

Cao Xiangnan also saw that bag. “Open it and see what it is,” he said.

Qi Wanfeng opened it and poured it out. What he poured into his palm was two liang (taels, a unit of currency) of silver. “This…” His eyes suddenly widened, and he turned his head to look at her husband.

An’an bit his small fingers, not quite understanding what was wrong with his amo.

The Lizheng was also there when the household was divided. Qi Wanfeng wanted to get back the two liang of silver from his amo that was for him to see a doctor, but his amo wouldn’t give it, saying that it was for his Fifth Brother to study. Now the Lizheng’s Lady had asked her family to send two liang of silver to him. It was probably also the Lizheng’s intention. Cao Xiangnan smiled, saying, “Take it all. We’ll remember these things in our hearts one by one, and we’ll repay them to them one by one in the future.”

“Hmm.” Qi Wanfeng tightly held the two liang of silver, his throat a little choked. He wanted to get back the two liang of silver from his amo’s hand, but now someone else had sent two liang to him separately.