In the afternoon, Zhao Jiaqi, who was cleaning offal in the courtyard, saw Wang Zhaodi enter the yard with excitement. She vividly described the scene of Wang Zhenzhu catching her husband in the act.
"Sister-in-law, I'm telling you, you should have seen it. In broad daylight, Fan Fu was wrapped in a bedsheet, being chased by Wang Zhenzhu. The young widow behind him was chasing with Fan Fu's underwear, crying for him to take responsibility. Oh, you really should have seen it. That family's commotion hasn't settled down yet."
She couldn't help but laugh. Although she hadn't seen the scene, Wang Sao's description made her imagine how embarrassed Fan Fu must have been.
Limping, wrapped in a bedsheet, being chased through the streets by his wife, with a young widow trailing behind holding something, fluttering in the wind – the scene was truly exciting.
"Now Wang Zhenzhu has a sister," she thought, and perhaps wouldn't bother her anymore.
She also admired Fan Fu's stamina, coming from that widow's house in the morning and going again in the afternoon.
Men, hmph, indeed all lustful creatures.
After chatting for a while, Wang Zhaodi noticed Zhao Jiaqi was washing pig intestines. "Oh, sister, this stuff smells so bad, why are you eating it?"
"Sister-in-law, this stuff smells bad but tastes good. Bring your husband and kids tonight, and we'll have a meal together. Try my cooking, I guarantee you'll want it again and again. I also want to thank you and your husband for helping me move."
Wang Zhaodi listened and quickly waved her arms. "What are you talking about? We're neighbors, it's just a small favor. Don't mention it again, or I'll be too embarrassed."
Their whole family had fallen on hard times. It was a miracle they hadn't been forced to death. How could she have the nerve to ask for food?
Because she had bought a lot in the morning, and the braised meat was also plentiful, she made another batch of husband and wife lung slices with pork. With so much to deliver, she borrowed Wang Sao's wheelbarrow to go to town.
When she returned the wheelbarrow, Wang Sao pulled her into the house.
"Sister-in-law, the meat you made is delicious. You gave me such a big plate. I don't have much to give you, but I know you're collecting vegetables in the village. I've prepared a basket of lotus roots for you. My husband will carry it back. These are from our own pond, not worth much. Don't dislike it."
Wang Zhaodi pointed to the basket of lotus roots already packed on the ground. Zhao Jiaqi was startled by the sight – a full basket, weighing at least forty to fifty pounds.
"Sister-in-law, this won't do. This would sell for a good amount of money. Besides, I'm collecting vegetables to sell for money, I can't accept it for free."
Zhao Jiaqi quickly refused. Weren't country people relying on what they grew to sell for some money to support their families?
Wang Zhaodi frowned and feigned displeasure. "Wasn't the meat you gave me worth money? I've already eaten it. Even if I vomit it up, you can't sell it anymore."
Fan Guangping, standing nearby, also chimed in. "Moreover, your meat is much more valuable than those vegetables. If you're so polite and keep things so clear-cut, how can our two families be friends?"
Fan Zehao also tugged his wife's sleeve, indicating she should accept it. "This is a kind gesture from my brother and sister-in-law. At most, if you make something delicious in the future, give us a little more."
Wang Zhaodi held her hand and smiled. "Your husband is sensible enough to understand this, why are you so stubborn?"
She was rendered speechless and accepted with a smile. This back-and-forth made the two families even closer.
After chatting for a while, Wang Zhaodi learned that their family was supplying food to restaurants in town. This made her very envious and happy for them. "That's good. It's much better than your husband hunting in the mountains; that job is dangerous."
This hit a chord with Zhao Jiaqi, and she couldn't help but nod. "Yes, I was thinking of having him go to town with my eldest brother to do some odd jobs, something that includes meals, even if he earns a little less per day."
As she met more people and saw more of the world, Zhao Jiaqi believed her husband would become smarter and more sophisticated in his dealings.
Fan Guangping, sitting on a low stool, sighed when he heard his sister-in-law's words.
"There aren't that many good jobs in town. There are some on the docks, but Wang Lifeng has monopolized them. We work for twenty-five wen a day, and we have to hand over ten wen. After working ourselves to death, we only get fifteen wen. Even so, people are scrambling to do it every day."
If they went late, they couldn't even earn those fifteen wen. So, those who wanted to work had to go early.
Zhao Jiaqi didn't expect it to be so difficult to find work in town. She lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment, then offered a suggestion. "If my eldest brother and sister-in-law have time, why don't we team up and make some food to sell in town?"
Wang Zhaodi and Fan Guangping were surprised by this sudden good fortune, their eyes lighting up. "Yes, we have time."
Wang Zhaodi replied quickly. "We two have plenty of time."
"Then, come to my house tomorrow, and we can discuss it in detail. It's late now. If we go back too late, my mother will worry."
Wang Zhaodi suddenly slapped her thigh. "You're right! Look at me, I was so engrossed in chatting with you that I forgot about my aunt. You two should go back quickly. I'll be there first thing tomorrow morning."
The couple warmly saw them off. On the way home, Fan Zehao asked her curiously, "Wife, are you going to teach them how to make this braised meat?"
"I want to hear your opinion!" she asked instead of answering.
He lowered his head, thinking about something. It wasn't until they were almost at their doorstep that he replied decisively, "Sister-in-law and eldest brother are good people, but we don't know what's in their hearts. We still can't teach them this recipe."
His words were crude but true, and Zhao Jiaqi felt the same.
Seeing his wife didn't speak, he asked cautiously, "Am I too mean? But I think it's important to guard against others. Just like the old hunter told me, if I told others my hunting techniques, I might starve."
Isn't this a case of teaching the apprentice to starve the master?
She smiled and shook her head. "You're not mean at all. What you said is very right, but you should never have the intention to harm others."
Receiving his wife's affirmation, Fan Zehao was excited for a long time and nodded solemnly, indicating that he understood.
Seeing her happy, he whispered, "Then tonight, reward me by bullying you a little?"
As he spoke, he started being naughty again. Zhao Jiaqi directly hit him on the back of the head.
The next day, Fan Zehao got up before dawn. Without going hunting in the mountains that day, he felt something was missing.
When Zhao Jiaqi woke up, found her side of the bed empty, and the covers cold, she knew the simpleton had gone up the mountain again.
She sighed helplessly. This habit probably wouldn't change anytime soon.
As soon as she got up and washed, there was a knock on the door. Opening it, she saw the pork vendor.
Behind him, on the ox cart, were two baskets of goods. From a distance, a foul smell wafted over.
"Just put the things in the courtyard. How much silver, I'll give you the silver."
Zhao Jiaqi was straightforward, and the vendor wasn't one to dither. He directly stated the price: "Two pig heads, twenty-six jin, two hundred and eight wen. Pig trotters, nine jin and six liang... A total of three hundred and fifty-one wen. I'll give you three hundred and fifty wen. That basket of offal is a gift."
While Zhao Jiaqi went inside to get the copper coins, the vendor had already moved the meat-filled baskets into the courtyard.
Soon, a string of copper coins was handed to him. "Count it."
"I trust you, I won't count it. I'll come to deliver at this time tomorrow." Pork Rong chuckled, pocketed the copper coins, and turned to leave.
As he was about to leave the courtyard, he suddenly remembered that someone had inquired about her yesterday. He stopped and kindly reminded her, "Farmer's wife, after you left last night, a woman about thirty years old asked me about you. I didn't say much, just that you bought pork offal."
Zhao Jiaqi's mind was filled with questions. Someone was asking about her?