Not to mention, Li Da stopped Zhu Laosi from visiting the scholar’s house at noon that day. No matter how capable Li Da was, he was only a farmer, a butcher, and he was in awe of scholars, especially scholars who had passed the imperial examinations, so he thought about bringing some meat over after killing the pig.

　　The pig was killed and the meat was divided.

　　The pig farmer gave him 20 coins for slaughtering the pig, including the pig’s offal. Li Da spent 10 coins to buy another pound of meat, and went to Zhu Laosi’s house with his things, and gave the pig’s offal to Zhu Laosi.

　　Zhu Laosi was not polite and gave the meat to his wife to stew or stir-fry in the evening. Zhu had already boiled hot water, and the kitchen staff left. Li Da washed himself with the hot water, and the bloody smell on his body disappeared. He dressed again and picked up the pound of meat.

　　”Let’s go.” Zhu Laosi was waiting.

　　Go early and come back early, it’s getting late.

　　Zhu Laosi led the way, and Li Da carried a pound of meat to the scholar’s house.

　　The conversation at Zhu Xiucai’s house only lasted for a cup of tea. Zhu Laosi exchanged greetings with Zhu Xiucai’s father, and Li Da only listened to Zhu Xiucai’s flowery words. Finally, he left Zhu Xiucai’s house, took in a pound of meat, and exchanged it for a thin piece of paper.

　　Zhu Laosi took a look at it, but couldn’t understand what was written on it.

　　”Ten coins for a pound of meat in exchange for a piece of paper? Can I eat or drink it? I’d rather eat from the ground, which is solid and can fill my stomach…”

　　Li Da carefully folded the paper and put it in his arms, and said from the bottom of his heart: “I’m stopping you from reading it now. It’s not easy for Zhou Zhou to be caught in the middle. Gu Zhao has to give up on his own.”

　　Zhu Laosi shook his head when he heard this. Li Da knew that his son-in-law would not pass the exam, so wasn’t it a waste of money?

　　That night Li Da rested at Zhu Laosi’s house. The next morning he went to a family to slaughter a pig. He bought two pounds of meat with the money from the slaughter. He carried the pig to the water, did not eat, and returned to Xiping Village carrying his bag on his back.

　　Li Zhouzhou and Gu Zhaocai had just finished their lunch, which consisted of multi-grain porridge, steamed sweet potatoes, and pickled radishes. After lunch, the sun was shining brightly, so the two sat in the yard to bask in the sun. Gu Zhao pulled Li Zhouzhou to take a break after being busy all morning.

　　They have to fetch water, feed pigs and chickens, cut food for the pigs, and cook when they get home. Li Zhouzhou never stop working.

　　Gu Zhao looked tired, but Li Zhouzhou felt that this was not tiring at all. It was the most leisurely time of the year. During the busy farming season, people rushed to harvest the rice in the fields, but they could not just leave it there after harvesting it. They had to dry, air-dry and pound the rice to make it clean. Then the tax officials sent by the prefecture and county would register them one by one and start weighing and paying taxes.

　　”Sit down and rest for a while even if you’re not tired.” Gu Zhao fed his wife the peeled peanuts.

　　Li Zhouzhou was still a little embarrassed, but since no one was at home, he followed his husband and ate the peanuts. Gu Zhao massaged his wife’s shoulders and peeled a peanut to feed him from time to time.

　　Less than ten minutes later, Li Zhouzhou couldn’t sit still anymore and said, “Dad should be back soon. I will boil the water in the pot and knead the dough.”

　　It was already past noon. Dad said that one family would slaughter two pigs, and two families would butcher pigs, and the work could be done in one day. We just had to walk at night and sleep for a night, so we should be home by now from Shili Village.

　　”Zhou Zhou, don’t worry. Maybe there will be some temporary work in Shili Village.” Gu Zhao said comfortingly.

　　Li Zhouzhou nodded, it was not impossible.

　　As they were talking, the courtyard door opened. Li Zhouzhou saw his father coming back, and his face relaxed. He immediately stepped forward and took the things. Then, those who needed to cook started cooking. Hot water had already been boiled on the stove, and Gu Zhao mixed it with cold water and brought it over.

　　Li Da washed his hands and face in the yard, and used the water to wash his feet.

　　Seeing this, Gu Zhao scooped a ladle of hot water over and said, “Dad, let me add some hot water for you to soak in comfortably.”

　　”Dad, how do you feel about the temperature? Do you want more?” Gu Zhao asked.

　　Li Da then said, “Give me another scoop.”

　　”Okay.”

　　Gu Zhao went to the kitchen to fetch hot water. Li Da sat on a stool, watching the backs of his new son-in-law coming in and out. As soon as he entered the door, he saw Zhou Zhou talking to Gu Zhao, and Zhou Zhou had a smile on his face. That was enough.

　　After Li Da finished soaking his feet, Li Zhouzhou in the kitchen had already cooked the noodles. He cut a few slices of the fat pork he brought back, put the pork slices into the hot pot and stir-fried them for a while. When the pork was fried to release oil, he poured in the cabbage and pickled radish, and after frying, he put them directly on the bowl of noodles.

　　After finishing the thick bowl of noodles, Li Da felt full and satisfied.