CHAPTER 80: CHAPTER 79: EATING WHOLE ROASTED LAMB

After bidding farewell to the County Government, Lin Wanwan made another round of purchases in town before hastily returning to Lin Family Manor. Behind her carriage followed a rented donkey cart full of New Year goods she bought from the modern town and Xiaoxi Town.

As luck would have it, there were many farmers at the West Market Slaughterhouse in Xiaoxi Town today, bringing sheep for sale. With the New Year approaching, farmers took the sheep they had raised for more than half a year to town to exchange for some money and cloth for the New Year.

Lin Wanwan bought nine sheep in one go, which would be enough for everyone in the clan to have a good feast.

She only spent eleven guan on buying bluefin tuna and intended to give more, but was sternly refused by the clan leader of the Lin Clan, who insisted that prices shouldn’t be tampered with. Everything else, including other seafood, was given to her as a bonus, not willing to charge any extra coins.

According to the clan leader, selling to one’s own clan should not be more expensive than selling to outsiders at the docks, or else what would become of the people at Lin Family Manor.

Therefore, Lin Wanwan had to give up, not giving more, but she sold the fish and seafood to Jie Yuting for sixteen thousand, so she planned to take advantage of the approaching winter solstice to treat the entire clan to a good meal.

The sun was setting, the sound of waves crashing, and smoke curling upwards, painting a picturesque and cozy fishing village scene.

As Lin Wanwan’s carriage entered the village entrance, several clan members came running over: "Teacher Lin, you’re back, with so many things, let us help you unload."

Lin Wanwan pulled aside the curtain of the small window in the carriage, looked outside at the speaking Lin Mengjin, and smiled: "Oh, it’s Cousin Jin, why are you all at the village entrance?"

Lin Mengjin replied: "It’s getting dark, and seeing you haven’t returned yet, the clan leader uncle asked us to meet you. With the New Year approaching, the roads aren’t safe at night, and just as we stepped out, we saw you."

Lin Mengli, looking at the donkey cart filled to the brim covered with oilcloth, curiously asked: "Wan’er, what did you buy? So much."

Tomorrow is the winter solstice, and there’s an ancestral worship in the clan, so Lin Mengli also returned from Wanghai Town.

Lin Wanwan laughed and said: "It’s for tonight’s meal at Lin Family Manor. I bought the sheep freshly slaughtered in town today, one for the clan to use for making steamed meat buns, and with the remaining ten sheep, I plan to treat everyone in the clan to roast lamb."

Everyone couldn’t help but gather around the donkey cart, exclaiming: "Treat us to roast lamb?"

Lin Wanwan affirmed: "Yes, I’ll treat you all. Everyone bring bowls and chopsticks to the school playground tonight to eat."

Lin Mengjin and the others immediately erupted in excitement with animated chatter.

"Really treat us all to lamb? Ten sheep, that’s so much! We can eat to our heart’s content!"

"Mother, even during New Year, we wouldn’t have so much meat to eat!"

"Wan’er, are you really treating us all to lamb tonight? But, the winter solstice is tomorrow, are we eating tonight?"

Lin Wanwan motioned for Lin Mengjin to uncover the oilcloth, saying: "Absolutely true, tonight everyone will have roast lamb! See for yourself, there’s half a cartload."

"Oh, so much lamb! Mother dear!" Everyone’s eyes widened in amazement as drool secretly started falling.

Everyone was too deprived of meat. Seeing meat made them more excited than a cat seeing fish.

Some clan members observing the newly planted fields saw a group of people and loudly asked: "What are you up to? What’s all the fuss about?"

Lin Mengjin excitedly shouted: "Teacher Lin is treating the entire clan to roast lamb! A full ten sheep! She bought them from Xiaoxi Town!"

The crowd surrounded Lin Wanwan’s carriage all the way, shouting from the village entrance to the school, quickly spreading the news to everyone in the clan. Those working in the fields hurried to the ridges, and the women weaving put down their spindles, running out to find out about the lamb feast.

Eating meat was an even happier occasion than the New Year!

The entire clan thronged around Lin Wanwan’s carriage, just like fans around a superstar, jostling into the school playground.

The clan leader and Lin Mengbo, who were cleaning in the ancestral hall, along with a few more stable young people of the clan, were also drawn by the commotion.

They put down the cloth in their hands and successively stepped out of the ancestral hall. From the highland location of the ancestral hall, standing on the open ground in front, they could overlook the entire Lin Family Manor. The clan leader quickly noticed the hustle and bustle around the school and muttered: "What’s going on? Wan’er is being generous again, surely giving others another advantage."

"Clan Leader Uncle, we’ve nearly finished wiping, should we go check it out, investigate for you?"

The clan leader sighed and said: "Alright, let’s go have a look."

As soon as he spoke, the group of so-called "steady young people" behind him disappeared like the wind, stirring the dry leaves on the ground which lazily floated down at the clan leader’s feet.

"Hey, these little rascals." The clan leader chuckled and scolded, turning to lock the ancestral hall door, then headed towards the school.

By the time the clan leader, walking with a dignified pace, reached the steps of the school, it was already packed with people. Ten stoves were set up in the open ground of the playground, and ten sheep were being roasted on wooden spits, the air filled with a mouthwatering aroma of meat.

Lin Zhentian, holding a glass jar of cumin powder in one hand, busily moved around the area, sparingly sprinkling just a little on the lamb each time.

Had Lin Wanwan not assigned him this task, he truly wouldn’t have brought himself to do it. After all, for Lin Family Manor, a group of farmers and fish sellers didn’t deserve such fine things. The spices alone were worth the price of gold!

But it was Teacher Lin, who actually was willing to use such good ingredients to treat everyone like one big family!

The clan leader was also stunned by Lin Wanwan’s lavishness. The last time he arranged for her wine to be brought into the house, it wasn’t even this extravagant. For over four hundred mouths in the whole clan, eating just a bite would already be a blessing; could they dream of being full?

Lamb was not something a farmer could have their fill of! Was this something they could even think about?

Oh dear, mother they call!

The clan leader felt an immediate headache, looking at Lin Wanwan’s beaming face, his hand shook twice, not knowing what to say. Finally, he pulled her aside and asked: "What are you doing? Why are you spending so lavishly again, I told you not to keep giving them so much."

Lin Wanwan laughed and said: "It’s okay, Clan Leader Uncle, the tuna from the deep sea was much favored by the nobles and gentry in Xiaoxi Town, I sold it at a great price, and I’m in a good mood, so I decided to treat everyone to a meal. Besides, tomorrow is the winter solstice; it’s about celebrating with good food."

The clan leader shook his head and said: "Even if you sold it well, that’s your capability, your status and knowledge allow you to deal with those at the top. What does it have to do with the clan? If it were anyone of them, they wouldn’t fetch a price. It’s all your own achievement, why share it all with them. And besides, you’re talking about ten sheep, that fish couldn’t trade for so many sheep.

Forget it, forget it, I won’t say more, the meat is already roasted like this, no point storing anymore, go and make the arrangements, go on, go on."