Chapter 41: Director Zhao has misbehaving hands ^[1]手欠 – (colloquial) having a habitually overactive pair of hands which often touch and play with things at inappropriate times, and accidentally break them or otherwise cause trouble

Zhao Village is currently raising two pigs that were purchased from Liu Hezi Brigade of Shuangshan Commune.

The gatekeeper helped Zhao Ke make a phone call to contact an acquaintance and inquire about the location of the county pig farm, as well as the route and travel time.

Thus, the next morning, Zhao Ke and the others got up early, ate some dry food, and walked from the county to the pig farm outside the county, almost without taking any detours.

The person introduced by the gatekeeper was Liu Zhigang, the security team leader of the pig farm. He had a square face and a very upright appearance.

He was also a retired soldier.

Zhao Ke struck up a conversation with him and took out a pack of cigarettes from her satchel to offer to him.

Liu Zhigang refused. “You were introduced by Lao Meng, so from now on, we’re friends. Besides, I can’t help you much, just leading you to meet some people.”

“Isn’t that a big help? Without Meng Ge and Liu Ge, we’d be totally clueless coming to the county.”

Liu Zhigang pushed her hand back firmly and advised, “Give this pack of cigarettes to Lao Fang, the person in charge of selling piglets at the farm.”

Zhao Ke said, “I have another pack. Liu Ge, please take this one.”

Liu Zhigang replied, “Give it all to him—it’ll be useful.”

At this point, Zhao Ke didn’t insist anymore, put the cigarettes back, and said she would bring him something from home next time.

This time, Liu Zhigang didn’t refuse.

While they were talking, Zhao Feng and the other three quietly stood aside.

Zhao Feng’s eyes looked very pure; Zhao Shuanzhu would only act as directed, without much thought; Zhao Rui and Wang Lao San kept watching how Zhao Ke interacted with people, especially Wang Lao San, who stared intently, studying her.

Liu Zhigang led Zhao Ke and the four others into the pig farm.

The pig farm was a large building divided into pens, all built with bricks, cemented over, and even had windows.

Wang Lao San sighed, “This is better than the houses people live in back in the village.”

Liu Zhigang explained, “Winters here are cold, and pigs need to stay warm, or the losses would be greater.”

Zhao Rui pointed to a long roll of plastic sheeting above the windows and asked, “Is that for keeping warm in winter?”

Liu Zhigang nodded, “Yes, the windows need to be sealed in winter.”

Zhao Feng and Zhao Rui exchanged glances with the other two, thinking how extravagant it was—pigs lived better than people.

Although it was warm now and the windows were open for ventilation, the sheer number of pigs, combined with the unfrozen urine and feces, produced a constant stench that assaulted the nose.

Zhao Ke wanted to cover her nose but politely held back.

Liu Zhigang chuckled and asked, “Can you handle this? I don’t know what your Production Team was thinking, sending a young, clean-loving girl like you to deal with pigs. If you stay here long, the smell will soak into you.”

“It’s just a smell, and it washes off. Our Brigade sent me here because they trust me. I definitely won’t back down over something this minor.”

Liu Zhigang gave her a thumbs-up. “Even my wife complains about the smell when I get home, nagging me to take a hot bath every day. Plucking chicken feathers isn’t this thorough.”

Apparently, many men didn’t like bathing.

Zhao Ke thought about it. If it were her, she wouldn’t be able to stand someone reeking of pig stench lying beside her at night.

She spoke kindly, “Saozi tirelessly heats water for you every day—it shows she’s both hardworking and good to you. Liu Ge, you’re truly blessed.”

“Absolutely.” Liu Zhigang grinned widely, pointing to his clothes. “I’m the only one in the whole pig farm who wears clean clothes to work every day.”

A worker feeding pigs nearby overheard and spat in his direction, scolding, “Lao Liu, you’re shameless, bragging again. Everyone in the farm already knows how great your wife is—do you have to broadcast it outside too?”

Liu Zhigang smirked smugly. “So what? My wife is great.”

The worker rolled his eyes, rested his hands on the shovel, and said to Zhao Ke, “Girl, don’t bother responding to him. Say the pigs stink, he talks about his wife. Mention feeding pigs, he talks about his wife. Bring up weighing pigs, and he’s still on about his wife…”

Zhao Ke couldn’t help but laugh.

“Shoo, shoo.”

Liu Zhigang waved him away. “This is my new acquaintance. Don’t stir up trouble here.”

Zhao Ke smiled brightly and responded in a particularly warm tone, “It’s my first time hearing this—it’s not annoying. Liu Ge, feel free to say more. It’s a good chance to teach the young men in our Production Team how a capable man treats his wife.”

At first, she thought Liu Zhigang was complaining and had even tried to say something nice for his wife. She didn’t expect it was all about showing off.

In this era, a man who cherished his wife like this was quite rare. From what she could see, he was worth befriending, so Zhao Ke continued to shower him with praise, as if it cost her nothing.

Liu Zhigang was delighted and enthusiastically invited them, “Come to my house for dinner tonight. Your Saozi’s cooking is naturally like this.”

He raised a thumbs-up again.

Zhao Ke kept refusing, and Zhao Rui and the others all waved their hands as well.

At this time, everyone’s circumstances weren’t great, so how could they go to someone else’s place to eat? Besides, there were four young and strong men with them, who were obviously big eaters.

Liu Zhigang wouldn’t let them refuse. “It’s settled then. You’re staying at the guesthouse, right? After work, I’ll tell your Saozi, and we’ll come find you. Meizi^[2]Younger sister, if you don’t come, Gege will be angry.”

He didn’t give Zhao Ke and the others a chance to speak, quickly walking over to a middle-aged man with a smiling face like Maitreya Buddha. First, he introduced Zhao Ke to him. “This is my Meizi, here to buy piglets for the Brigade. You should really help check carefully.”

Then Liu Zhigang turned around and waved at Zhao Ke. “Come over, this is Lao Fang I told you about. He’s the best at picking piglets. If there’s anything, just ask him.”

Zhao Ke had no choice but to step forward warmly, greet him as Ge, and introduce Zhao Feng and the others.

The five of them—four grown men—stood behind a young girl with a fresh face. It was clear they were following her lead. Lao Fang looked at them curiously. “This Meizi is the one in charge?”

Zhao Ke took out the proof and introduction letter issued by the commune.

This kind of thing was the most useful when out and about, so Lao Fang didn’t question further.

Receiving a look from Liu Zhigang, Zhao Ke discreetly slipped two packs of cigarettes to Lao Fang, shielded by Zhao Feng and the others.

Cigarettes were even more persuasive than Liu Zhigang’s words. Lao Fang smiled more warmly. “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely pick out the best for Zhao Meizi. If you don’t understand anything, feel free to ask.”

Liu Zhigang reminded them a few more times before leaving.

Lao Fang turned to Zhao Ke. “Are you in a hurry? If not, feel free to take a look around first.”

Zhao Ke replied, “Not in a hurry.”

“Alright then.”

Lao Fang led them to the pigpens holding the little piglets.

Zhao Ke nudged Zhao Rui with her elbow. “If there’s anything you don’t understand, just ask. I don’t know much about pig farming either and might miss something.”

The four nodded, though they still looked a bit hesitant.

Zhao Ke whispered to Zhao Rui and Wang Lao San, “We already gave the cigarettes, so we can’t let the money go to waste.”

One pack of cigarettes cost over twenty cents, close to thirty cents. Two packs of cigarettes could buy seven or eight bowls of plain noodles.

Feeling the pinch, Zhao Rui and Wang Lao San nodded emphatically.

Zhao Ke didn’t hold back at all. She pulled out a notebook and pen from her bag, quickly caught up to Lao Fang, and asked, “Fang Ge, if we bring the piglets back and feed them well in our Brigade, can they be ready for market by winter?”

“Given how your Production Team raises them now, it’s not possible. The pigs won’t have enough fat. Trying to sell them this winter would be a big loss.”

That meant it would have to wait until next year.

If there were no returns this year, the enthusiasm of the commune members would definitely drop.

Zhao Ke frowned in thought as she continued asking about feeding methods.

Lao Fang explained, and Zhao Ke jotted everything down without hesitation. Whether the Production Team would be willing to feed them well was a separate matter; she had to learn the knowledge first.

Zhao Ke’s serious attitude influenced Zhao Feng and the other three. To absorb as much knowledge about pig farming as possible, they didn’t care whether their questions seemed silly or not. Even Zhao Shuanzhu tried asking a question.

When they spoke up, Zhao Ke focused on taking notes. She wrote so quickly that her handwriting almost flew off the page.

Lao Fang, after taking the two packs of cigarettes, talked until his mouth went dry. He started to regret it.

But if he went back on his word, and Liu Zhigang heard about it, he’d definitely be mocked. Lao Fang could only change the topic, pointing to a pen full of little piglets. “You can try picking some yourself first. I’ll tell you later which ones are good.”

He wanted a breather.

Zhao Rui and the others had already let loose, still full of energy.

Zhao Ke closed her notebook and agreed with a smile.

Lao Fang was delighted. “I still have some work to do. I’ll come back in half an hour.”

With that, he quickly slipped away.

Zhao Feng watched his jiggling waist as he walked and said enviously, “Their food must be really good.”

Zhao Rui and the other three looked at Lao Fang’s back and nodded in agreement.

Zhao Ke said, “The kids in our Production Team will all be plump and round in the future.”

The group exchanged glances, then looked at the piglets in the pens on both sides, their eyes full of hope.

Zhao Ke counted; there were twelve pens of piglets, and near the south gate, there were eight sows with large bellies.

Zhao Feng and the other three had already started inspecting the pens one by one. Wherever they went, the piglets would be startled and scurry to the farthest corner, huddling near the sows and squealing softly.

Zhao Ke’s attention was entirely on the varying sizes of the piglets. Her nose had already grown accustomed to the smell here, and she paid no mind to anything else, crouching quietly in front of one of the pens.

This nest of little piglets has the smallest size, and their bodies are still pink and chubby, they should have just been born not long ago.

When the other piglets saw her squat down, they grunted and quickly ran far away. Only one remained, still flailing its limbs and lying sideways on the ground, eyes tightly shut, its pink little belly rhythmically rising and falling, sleeping soundly.

It is larger than the other piglets in the nest, probably because it eats well and sleeps well.

So pink.

The little piglet’s eyelashes even seemed to be pink.

Its small, short tail was slightly curled, slanting towards Zhao Ke.

Zhao Ke stared for a while, unable to resist stretching out her claw, not minding the dirt, and grabbed the piglet’s tail, straightening it.

The piglet was startled, immediately waking from its dream and getting up to scramble forward.

Zhao Ke was quick with her hands, and with both hands through the pigpen door, she pinched its body.

The piglet struggled, twisting its head and tail in opposite directions, its short, stubby mouth constantly making noise.

Zhao Ke held it up to her eyes and muttered, “Hey, what are you afraid of, I’m just looking at you, I won’t do anything to you~”

The piglet cried out sharply.

Suddenly, one heavy breath after another could be heard.

The atmosphere became eerie and dangerous.

Zhao Ke slowly raised her eyes and froze.

The mother pig, who had been lying sideways, stood up, snorting through her nose, her round eyes glaring viciously at Zhao Ke and the piglet in her hands, stepping closer.

The pressure was overwhelming.

Pigs are omnivores.

Zhao Ke laughed awkwardly, gently putting her hands down. As soon as the piglet’s feet touched the ground, she quickly let go.

The piglet darted back to its mother’s side.

Only then did the mother pig stop, glanced at Zhao Ke, and then turned to lie back down.

In that moment, Zhao Ke felt that its gaze seemed to say: What are you afraid of, I’m just looking at you, I won’t do anything to you.