Chapter 170

As they walked back, one person was deep in thought while the other three laughed and played.

“Uncle, Second Brother, you wouldn’t believe how excited the villagers were when they heard they could exchange mushrooms for pork!”

Hu Wenhua grunted in response, thinking about how she was different from the villagers.

“Especially when they heard they could exchange for fatty meat too. They kept confirming with me over and over, afraid I might have said it wrong!”

Hu Wenhua thought to himself: She doesn’t dislike fatty or lean meat, she just doesn’t like meat at all, not even rabbit meat.

“I also know why the village head insisted on calling people over to say it in person. If he hadn’t said it in person, would they have believed him?”

Fan He nodded. “The village head has always been prudent. It’s best to say things face-to-face.”

Hu Wenhua thought: But did he really need to say it face-to-face? He already did!

“Those aunts were saying how tired they’ve been lately, more tired than during the busy farming season. Having pork to boost their health made everyone so happy.” Fan Jiang’s face beamed with a smile, feeling proud of his parents who not only managed to exchange mushrooms but also earned praise from the villagers.

Fan He and Fan Hu also stood tall with pride.

Hu Wenhua sighed deeply.

His untimely sigh drew the attention of the three youngsters.

Hu Wenhua quickly composed himself.

At lunchtime, Shuiqing prepared spicy double pepper rabbit, stir-fried a large pot of loofah with pork fat residue, steamed three sections of sausage sliced thinly.

These were the main dishes, with scrambled eggs and vegetables filling out the meal.

Hu Wenhua took a bite of the fragrant, spicy rabbit meat and wondered how anyone could not like rabbit meat.

Rabbit meat was so delicious.

Could it be because they found rabbits cute and couldn’t bear to eat them?

But cute as they were, they were undeniably delicious.

He then scooped up a piece of pork fat residue and felt it was like a treasure that tasted good no matter what it was cooked with.

As for the sausage, it needed no praise—it was always a great addition to any meal.

After finishing the meal, even the most carefree Hu butcher could tell something was wrong with his son.

He frantically signaled to his wife!

Hu’s mother’s heart skipped a beat. She was excited but tried to calm herself, gesturing for him to remain calm.

She couldn’t rush; she mustn’t let the cooked duck fly away.

Suppressing her excitement, she quickly pulled Shuiqing into the tea room and questioned her in detail.

“Which young girls in the village are around the same age as Wenhua?”

“Which households are near the old village chief’s house? Who do you think he’s most likely to meet?”

Shuiqing, entrusted with this important task, racked her brains.

“The old village chief’s house is in the middle of the village, surrounded by many households.”

Hu’s mother smiled knowingly. “Take your time; think it through.”

“Going from here, the first house is Auntie Zhang’s house. Auntie Zhang has a daughter named Xiao Cao, who is also sixteen this year, the same age as Wenhua.”

Hu’s mother knew Auntie Zhang and Xiao Cao.

When Qing’er was building the house, Xiao Cao came to help, and Auntie Zhang was one of the women who helped with the laundry.

Xiao Cao had visited several times, and she had seen her—a thin, yellowish girl who spoke boldly and acted decisively.

Did Wenhua like this type of girl?

Hu’s mother furrowed her brow in thought. “Could it be that they took a liking to each other when you were building the house?”

Shuiqing didn’t believe it.

Likes are hard to hide, just like a cough.

If Wenhua had noticed her back then, wouldn’t he have shown it sooner?

Hu’s mother also considered this possibility but put it aside for now, continuing, “Any others?”

“Shuiqing thought for a moment and added, ‘There’s also Li Dajie’s youngest daughter, Li Tiantian. They are related to the old village chief since they both share the surname Li and live next door to his house.’

He knew Li Dajie’s mother well from when he worked as a laborer.

She was quick and cheerful, especially kind to her daughters-in-law; she seemed like a genuinely generous person.

Speaking of her daughter, she was clearly filled with maternal affection.

It was obvious that Li Tiantian was pampered and somewhat spoiled.

Spoiling wasn’t a big deal; who wouldn’t want to be pampered by their parents?

‘On the other hand, there’s Zhang Chunhua from Zhang Tuzi’s family. She’s Zhang Xiaocao’s cousin, about fifteen or sixteen years old, but she’s not suitable.’ Facing his own younger brother and their mother, Shuiqing didn’t hold back and spoke frankly.

Gradually, Mrs. Hu’s expression changed, and she asked softly, ‘What’s wrong with her?’

‘It’s not just that her parents are lazy and greedy; her own conduct is improper too. They didn’t have much interaction with Zhang Xiaocao’s family in the past, but ever since Zhang’s family moved here and built an adobe house, she’s been very active. Whenever she comes, she always takes something with her, whether it’s vegetables or charcoal. She never leaves empty-handed.’

Shuiqing revealed everything he knew one by one.

Mrs. Hu shook her head in agreement.

Only those who were too embarrassed to come empty-handed would do such a thing; this was indeed problematic. Who would willingly go home empty-handed?

She sighed in dismay. ‘That family is no good.’

She worriedly asked, ‘Your brother wouldn’t be interested in someone like her, would he?’

Shuiqing replied confidently, ‘Impossible.’

Wenhua wasn’t blind.

Still, Mrs. Hu couldn’t help but worry.

Who could say for sure about marriage arrangements?

What if her son was blinded by infatuation and took a liking to her?

Mrs. Hu was deeply troubled.

Shuiqing wasn’t overly concerned.

···

Since the villagers of Shanshui Village learned they could exchange mushrooms for pork, except for the elderly and children who couldn’t easily move, almost everyone else got involved.

The Sun and Fan families stared at each other, their faces showing concern.

Both families couldn’t trade with Zhang Tuzi and Wang Mazzi.

They had initially thought that due to this year’s floods, they couldn’t go out or come in, even if the bamboo mushrooms were harvested, they couldn’t exchange them for rice. They had to see how Hu Shuiqing would act smugly.

Unexpectedly, they managed to exchange them for pork!”

“I don’t know why they need so many mushrooms!

Oh, right, they say the head of the Bai family in Nandu and his wife love to eat them, so we exchanged them as gifts.

They are generous indeed, even willing to exchange prime pork.

I heard they even exchange fatty meat, which is precious.

The rendered pig oil is kept for cooking. Adding a spoonful enhances the flavor of the whole dish, making it deliciously fragrant with meat!

They’re buttering up someone so obviously.

Old Lady Fan calculates on her fingers, ‘A big fat pig weighs almost two hundred catties. After removing the offal, bones, skin, and fur, there’s over a hundred catties of meat, right?

There are only about thirty households in our village. The Dings won’t exchange, and we four families can’t either. Strange. Each household could get three to five catties.’

She looks at Mother Fan with mocking eyes.

Whether it’s five catties or three catties, it’s still a lot of pork!

This weather isn’t great for preserving, but if it’s fat, it’s fine. Rendered pig oil can keep until next year without spoiling, to be eaten slowly.

As for lean meat and such, if they’re made into dishes, they’re gone in one meal, saving us from eating for two days.’

Mother Fan was fired up by the look in her eyes, struggling to say, ‘They don’t eat it themselves?’

Old Lady Fan replied calmly, ‘Those offal and bones aren’t thrown away. Boil them into a hearty soup with big bones. Even plain black bread tastes good with it.

Washed offal isn’t considered meat. It’s a pity that outsiders can eat it, but dear mother can’t!’

If this dear mother had something to eat, their two families would still be crowded together. Hu Shuiqing’s daughter-in-law would send pork over, and they could also get a share to remember the ancestors…”