Chapter 454: Chapter 236: Catching a Piglet_1
In the dead of night, I ask for pink hues.
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Having decided to raise pigs, Lian Shouxin’s family returned to their old house that very day and began to clean out the pigsty. They carried the firewood from the pigsty to the outside of the main gate to spread out and dry. They also blocked the two gaps in the pigsty wall with stones. Then they started to fix up the interior of the pigsty.
Lian Shouxin borrowed a flatbed cart from the Upper Room, took Wu Lang and Xiao Qi with him, and went to the river hollow to dig earth. This so-called river hollow was a stretch of river beach. The soil there was good, with some patches even containing fine sand. The tenant farmers from Thirty Mile Camp often went there to dig earth and sand for stove-setting and wall-building.
After hauling back two cartloads of earth, they spread part of it inside the pigsty to create a soft ground that pigs enjoy rolling around on. The rest of the earth was used to raise a corner within the pigsty; they patted the earth firm and built a simple shed over it as a resting place for the pigs and a shelter from the wind and rain.
The next day, on the market day in Qingyang Town, Lian Shouxin bought back a bag of bran. That day was also the market day for Back Mountain Village, and Wang Shiliu, coming back from the market, brought with him the pig feed trough that Zhang Qingshan had made for Lian Manman’s family.
"This works out well, I’ll pick up the piglets from your home." Lian Shouxin was busy expressing his thanks and took the opportunity to speak.
Lian Manman followed Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang to buy piglets.
Wang Shiliu’s family lived in a large courtyard at the east end of the village. As soon as you entered the gate, you were greeted with the strong scent of mule and horse manure. Wang Shiliu’s family kept two large mules, and a stable was built to the left as you entered. Unlike other households in the village, Wang Shiliu’s family, besides farming, would raise a sow each year to bear piglets for sale. Additionally, the two large mules were used for hauling work for income.
This was also why Wang Shiliu was familiar with Zhang Qingnian and would go so far to attend the market at Back Mountain Village.
Across from the stable was the pigsty. However, the sow and piglets were not in this pigsty. Under the eaves of the Upper Room, Wang Shiliu’s family had prepared a separate pigsty for the sow and piglets because they required careful tending.
Not everyone could raise a sow and ensure her piglets survived after birth. Wang Shiliu’s family had their secrets to making money, which they kept to themselves.
The pigsty prepared for the sow and piglets was different from the smelly one below and the stable; it was very clean.
"These three were picked out by your sister-in-law, and we’ve been keeping them especially for you." Wang Shiliu’s wife came out, used a branch to rouse the resting sow and several piglets from their thick grass nest, and pointed to three of them.
Lian Manman peered inside; the three piglets that Lady Zhang had chosen were distinct—one was white with no mottled hair, another had a gray patch the size of a child’s palm on its rump, and the third had two gray patches on its neck. The sow was white, and there were two black pigs in the pigsty below.
It seemed that the gray spots on the piglets would turn black as they grew. Lian Manman thought to herself.
"Dad, take a look, what do you think?" Lady Zhang asked Lian Shouxin.
The piglets were not big, just over a foot in length, with very short fur, allowing one to clearly see the tender skin beneath. The several piglets, harassed by the branch in the hands of Wang Shiliu’s wife, ran about while making oinking noises, showing a lively disposition.
"Bring some pig feed." Wang Shiliu said to his wife.
Wang Shiliu’s wife turned and went into the house, returning with a ladleful of pig feed, which she poured into the feed trough. Then, with the empty ladle, she tapped the stone trough while making a series of clucking sounds. The piglets ran over and began to jostle for food at the edge of the feeding trough.
"Look how eagerly they scramble for food; the ones your sister-in-law chose, they all take to their feed well." Wang Shiliu’s wife remarked.
Indeed, the three piglets were robust, not only occupying good positions but also eating heartily. "Taking to their feed" was the local term, meaning they were good eaters.
Buying piglets meant buying those that were healthy and ate well. Generally, purchasing piglets involved such examination, along with knowledge of the sow and boar’s condition. Wang Shiliu’s family raised very robust pigs, so their piglets were popular.
Lian Shouxin jumped into the pigsty and picked up the three piglets one by one for a closer look.
"Alright, let’s go with these three." Lian Shouxin declared.
Lady Zhang was delighted, and so were Wang Shiliu and his spouse.
Wang Shiliu brought out a large scale, weighed the three piglets, then put them in a basket. He assisted Lian Shouxin in bringing them home, where they were placed inside the pigsty.
