CHAPTER 146: CHAPTER 146: EATING, DRINKING, AND WALKING

Saying that, it turns out they don’t even want the twenty taels, just food and drinks will do.

Not to mention Jiang Hu was stunned, even Li Sheng, who was squatting in the corner eating roasted sweet potatoes and watching the fun, was wide-eyed with his mouth agape.

He kept thinking, this is such great luck, truly great luck!

He even wished he could take that little master home to raise!

But he didn’t dare.

"Xiao Li, you’re too lazy to go back for lunch, just eat with us at home."

Er Nian took a freshly sharpened knife and a small bamboo basket, ready to catch fish.

In the big stone jar in the yard, there were quite a few fish, mainly crucian carp and grass carp, also some eels, but they were caught and sold to the restaurant this morning.

However, there was one left from the ones the kids caught earlier.

Li Sheng wanted to refuse; he hadn’t helped out much and felt awkward imposing for a meal.

However, what he said was: "Sure, thanks, sis-in-law. Is there anything you need help with?"

Er Nian thought for a moment and nodded: "Then help me catch two rabbits to send over there, I saw they have cooking stuff but probably no meat."

There were twenty to thirty people who came along with Liu Laoye, carrying all sorts of gear and cooking tools.

This time Liu Laoye and Jiang Hu both went over there, and everyone was clearing the weeds and brambles on the ground.

Someone asked Jiang Hu about the location of the village well, some were fetching water, some setting up earthen stoves, and some chopping wood to make sheds.

Besides that, there were many green tiles and other things on the ox cart.

It really looks like what Liu Laoye said, nothing needed the Jiang family to handle, they prepared everything themselves.

Li Sheng quickly stood up, patting his backside: "Alright then, I’ll randomly pick two male rabbits to send over?"

The female rabbits had to be kept for breeding.

In Fu’an Village, almost every household raised rabbits, and they were no strangers to taking care of them.

Er Nian already caught two big grass carps: "Okay, go ahead and catch them."

Just then Qixi also returned, so Er Nian asked him to go to the field to pick some vegetables for lunch.

This morning, when Jiang Hu came back, he brought about half a catty of softshell turtle meat, just enough to stew with the eel and eat.

With this nourishing soup, Er Nian decided not to kill any chickens today. Two fish, along with a bit more stir-fried vegetables, would suffice.

Qixi, like Liu Ze, although coming from the town to the countryside, has truly been living quite well with the Jiang family.

Though usually busy and tired, flipping the soil and digging peanuts left blisters on his hands.

Nonetheless, life is fulfilling and free.

Most importantly, the meals, although simple, are particularly delicious, and sleep is especially restful, without fear of scolding or beating.

Before long, when Er Nian came back, Jiang Hu and Liu Laoye also returned.

Jiang Hu looked helpless, while Liu Laoye appeared cheerful and very satisfied.

When passing by his own carriage, Liu Laoye suddenly stopped and went inside.

"Oh right, Xiao Jiang, I almost forgot, my brother sent me half a catty of fresh turtle meat this morning, although there’s not much meat, but it’s a great tonic, too much is bad for you, have Er Nian stew it later."

Having said that, he came out, with an oilpaper package in hand, and shoved it into Jiang Hu’s hand.

Jiang Hu cradled the half catty of turtle meat, almost crying and laughing at the same time.

"Uncle Liu, didn’t the shopkeeper tell you, this turtle was actually sold to him by me?"

Liu Laoye was taken aback: "You sold it? That sly old man, he didn’t tell me!"

Jiang Hu nodded: "I still have half a catty at home, originally planned for the kids to try. It was actually something the kids caught the day Liu Ze brought back those things."

Saying this, Jiang Hu told the story of that day again.

"It was still Liu Ze who was clever, he could actually recognize whether the turtle was male or female, and Xiao Mi even brought back a lot of turtle eggs, once they hatch, we could raise them ourselves in the future."

As long as they can hatch, raising them for a few more years doesn’t matter to them, after all, the turtles are too small and wouldn’t sell for much anyways.

Liu Laoye was overjoyed: "That’s wonderful, if they are turtles raised by your family, they surely would be more nourishing than those caught in the fields!"

As people get older, they enjoy eating something good, which could let them live a few more years.

"However, these were also caught in your family fields, so the taste would certainly not be bad, hurry, let’s go back and have Er Nian cook the soup."

As he spoke, he grabbed Jiang Hu’s wrist, almost dragging him straight home.

Jiang Hu was pulled by Liu Laoye, both crying and laughing helplessly.

They reached the yard and saw Er Nian catching eels in the stone jar, immediately continuing to drag Jiang Hu over.

"Er Nian, my brother also sent half a catty of eel meat, originally thinking of eating alone at home, it would be too nourishing, so I brought it over. Coincidentally, it turns out it was sold by your family, let’s stew this half catty together."

Thankfully Jiang Hu cooperated, such a strong man, if Jiang Hu hadn’t feared that the thin Liu Laoye might fall, but followed along as being pulled, how could Liu Laoye possibly drag Jiang Hu? Impossible.

Er Nian was startled by Liu Laoye’s actions, paused before understanding what he meant.

Holding up the eel: "I was just thinking of stewing the eel with the turtle meat, now with this extra half catty, wouldn’t it be too nourishing?"

Whether it’s eel or turtle meat, those are great tonics, before there wasn’t much meat, but many people, so it was okay.

Now adding another half catty, it’s a different story altogether.

However, Liu Laoye’s eyes lit up, nodding repeatedly: "This is good, this is good!"

"Er Nian, just stew them together, add more soup, leave enough for us to eat, the rest for my fellows, let them taste, so they’ll work harder, won’t they?"

Er Nian didn’t hesitate: "No problem."

With many workers around, this was something she didn’t think of before.

Liu Laoye reminded her, although there were many people, by adding more soup and cutting the eel and turtle meat into smaller pieces, even if everyone didn’t get to eat the meat, surely each could get a taste of the soup?

Jiang Hu guided Liu Laoye to the eaves to chat with Liu Ze, then went to help prepare the meal.

At the same time, he recounted the earlier conversation with Liu Laoye.

To be precise, it was Liu Laoye’s insistence.

After all, initially, they mentioned a fifty-year lease, but somehow it turned into no payment needed later on.

Aside from Jiang Hu providing food for the workers, if he felt uneasy about it, whenever the Jiang family had something good in the future, they’d save a portion for him.

Like that sorghum syrup.

That’s a good thing, when the shopkeeper bought the syrup, he put it into small jars, filled three one-catty bottles, and sent them to his brother, which is Liu Laoye.

And Liu Laoye said he drank a cup of sugar water every day, the usual awkward and uncomfortable situations when visiting the toilet were much smoother.

The remaining two bottles, he planned to send them to the county to his son and daughter-in-law.

Also, to let them know how well Liu Ze was doing staying with the Jiang family, he can now eat and drink, and is able to walk on his own.

Er Nian nodded: "They should be informed, so the parents can be more at ease."