Chapter 455: Chapter 236: Catching Piglets_2
The three piglets totaled fifty-seven pounds and some change, we’ll just round it to fifty-seven pounds. At fifty wen per pound, that would be a total of two thousand eight hundred and fifty wen. Lian Manman took out two strings of money, eight strands of money, and counted out another fifty wen to pay for the piglets.
Wang Shiliu happily left with the money in hand. It was common for households to buy three piglets at a time, but few paid as promptly as they did.
When Wu Lang and Xiao Qi returned from school, they saw three new piglets in the pigsty, busily enjoying their feed.
The three piglets represented the promise of having three fat pigs for the New Year, lots of delicious meat falling off the bone, symbolizing wealth and savings. More importantly, these three piglets were now their property; unlike the past, before they had separated the households, when after a year of hard feeding, all they would receive were barely the equivalent of a pig’s leg.
Wu Lang and Xiao Qi both squinted their eyes with smiles, leaning over the pigsty wall, watching for a long time and unwilling to leave. Xiao Qi even petted each piglet’s head before finally feeling satisfied.
"Mom, since you won’t let me work in the shop, I’ll take care of feeding the pigs from now on," said Lian Zhizhi after dinner.
"I and Xiao Qi will take care of digging up the vegetables for the pigs," Wu Lang reiterated.
All the children were eager to help out, and Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang were naturally pleased.
"Once these three pigs are raised, we’ll have enough meat for the New Year, and even money for Wu Lang and Xiao Qi to attend school next year, with some to spare," Lady Zhang said with a smile.
"Our pigsty is too small. If it were bigger, we could raise a couple more piglets," said Lady Zhang after a while. "I noticed that Wang Shiliu’s family still has two piglets that are also good at snatching food."
"Mom, once we’ve built the new shop, we’ll construct a bigger pigsty behind it. Then, we can raise as many pigs as we want," Lian Manman said.
"Right, we’ll plant more vegetables too. We’ll have enough for ourselves and the shop, and the rest can go to feeding the pigs... I always said Manman gathered so many vegetable seeds, we wouldn’t have space to plant them in our garden. Now we’ll have the perfect place," Lady Zhang added with delight.
"Mom, should we also raise some chickens and ducks this year?" Lian Zhizhi suddenly asked.
"Yes, I was planning on that," Lady Zhang promptly replied. "It’s just that our chicken coop..."
As she spoke, Lady Zhang’s face showed a troubled expression as she turned to look at Lian Shouxin.
"My dear, perhaps we should bring up the issue of the chicken coop with his grandpa and grandma?"
The children looked toward Lian Shouxin as well.
Lian Shouxin’s face, previously filled with laughter, soured upon hearing Lady Zhang’s words.
"About that..." Lian Shouxin had just begun to speak when a commotion arose from the direction of the Upper Room.
"What’s happening in the Upper Room? What’s that noise?" Lady Zhang said, startled. It was normal for the Lian Family to experience minor quarrels, but such loud uproars were rare.
"It’s my grandma and Sister-in-law Xiu E," Lian Manman reported, listening briefly.
The commotion outside was too fierce to ignore. Lian Manman walked out of the house, and upon reaching the door, she saw Zhao Xiue storm out of the Upper Room like a whirlwind, cursing and crying all the way to the eastern chamber.
Erlang and Lady He followed out from the Upper Room, accompanying Lady He into the eastern chamber.
"What happened?" Lian Manman asked Lian Yeye, who was coming out of the Upper Room.
"Sister-in-law Xiu E wanted to eat eggs, but grandma said there weren’t any," Lian Yeye whispered to Lian Manman. "Our chickens haven’t laid, but grandma bought a few eggs to celebrate Auntie’s birthday. Sister-in-law Xiu E wanted those, and a quarrel broke out. Grandma called Xiu E greedy, and Xiu E accused her of being biased and harsh, not treating her like a person. She said the child in her womb is the first great-grandchild of the Lian Family, and yet less valued than just a girl. Grandma got furious, said some harsh words, and Xiu E shot back, threatening to go back to her parents’ home."
As they spoke, Zhao Xiue had packed a small bundle and was leaving the eastern chamber.
"... I know, none of your elders or youngsters can comfort me. Raised by my own parents, I became nothing in your house, everyone takes a turn stepping on me. What kind of family doesn’t care properly for a daughter-in-law with child? It’s just me, with nothing to eat or drink, not even a single egg allowed. Is the child in my belly not sown by the Lian Family? You all have this and that to enjoy, but me and my child can just watch. Has anyone seen a more haggard bride? In just a few days, worn down to skin and bone by you... smiling tigers, doing one thing to my face and another behind my back, as if I’m oblivious. I know who I’ve antagonized... You want me and my unborn child dead! Heartless and conniving, if I can’t live here, can’t I just leave? I’m going, let you all be pleased with yourselves," Zhao Xiue ranted on, heading for the door.
Lady He and Erlang tried to stop her, but she wouldn’t be held back.
"Why are you holding me? I can’t stand it; I can’t survive in your house, and you stay quiet. Are you even a man? My child and I are so unfortunate," Zhao Xiue pushed past them, heading straight to the main gate.
"Let her go, let’s see how far she gets with that belly!" bellowed Lady Zhou’s voice from the Upper Room.
"Look at that, see the elders of the Old Lian Family. They say even a tiger won’t eat its cubs, but you’re worse than tigers," Zhao Xiue paused to retort before turning and striding out with her head held high.
Unable to stop Zhao Xiue, Erlang had no choice but to follow her out.
About the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, the Lian Family’s main door was slammed open, as Zhao Fugui and his wife arrived with several helpers in tow.
***......***
Delivering the second update, in search of your rosy support. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it on qidian.com with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
