The woman produced so much silver at once that Liu Qinyi, as the village head’s wife, did not have that much on hand. She carefully tucked the silver into her bosom.
Seeing her so cautious, no one mocked her; instead, they praised her discretion.
Zhao Jiaqi saw the old woman off. Watching the old lady leave, chatting and laughing, silhouetted against the setting sun, was also a moving sight.
Dinner that evening was very simple. However, after dinner, he went out for a while. When he returned, Zhao Jiaqi was already lying on the kang, on the verge of sleep.
She sat up on the kang and looked at the person warming himself by the fire on the floor, asking with some drowsiness, "How did it go?"
"Everything is taken care of. This matter is over. Don't worry!"
Te Twelve had taken people to the town magistrate. Wang Juxiang and the others explained they had gone to work and had not been killed. The town magistrate did not want to get involved in such troublesome matters. Since the people had arrived, he closed the case.
"The town magistrate said I have to give Liu Er Lengzi two hundred wen every month until the remaining silver is paid off!"
Zhao Jiaqi chuckled. Wasn't this what they called installment payments? However, with over one tael of silver remaining, she suspected even if Fan Zehao offered it, they wouldn't dare to accept it again!
"Since everything is settled, hurry up and get on the kang to sleep."
"I'm too cold. I'll warm myself by the fire a bit longer. You go to sleep first!"
If he didn't get rid of the cold, he would bring a chill to his wife if he got into bed. The contrast between hot and cold could easily make one sick!
Seeing that the person had returned and the matter was handled, the person on the kang found it impossible to keep her eyes open and fell asleep.
She had no idea when the person beside her got into bed.
When the rooster crowed three times, it was the unshakeable wake-up call.
Zhao Jiaqi opened her eyes. Her side was still empty. She couldn't help but sigh inwardly. This person was truly diligent. If this household wasn't wealthy, it would be incomprehensible.
She made breakfast, but the person hadn't returned yet. Looking at the high sun, it was already quite late. By all rights, he should have returned long ago. Could something have happened?
With this thought, Zhao Jiaqi became restless. She put on her padded jacket and went outside to wait.
Standing at the door, she craned her neck in anticipation.
Instead of him, she saw Aunt Liu and Granny Li returning. Seeing her waiting at the door, Aunt Liu waved at her, her face beaming with unconcealable joy!
Zhao Jiaqi walked a few steps to meet them. Aunt Liu jumped off the cart, smiling, "Why are you waiting outside in this cold weather? You can trust me and your master to handle things!"
She smiled and shook her head. "I naturally trust you both to handle things. It's just that my husband hasn't returned from hunting yet, and I'm a little worried!"
Speaking of this, the two old women looked up at the sky. It was indeed getting late. But thinking of the winter, there weren't many wild animals in the mountains!
"Your husband managed to catch a live deer, so his hunting skills must be very good. Hunting is difficult in winter, especially after the recent snowfall. There are even fewer animals in the mountains. Perhaps he hasn't returned because he didn't catch anything!"
"It's alright, don't worry. There aren't many large wild beasts in our mountains, only smaller ones. Nothing unexpected will happen!"
That's what she said, but without seeing it for herself, who knew what the situation in the mountains was like.
Zhao Jiaqi didn't say anything, just nodded, and took the reins from Aunt Liu, leading the cart into the courtyard.
The women unloaded the goods from the cart into the house and sat on the kang to rest for a while. Just as Bai Kaishui was serving water, they heard a clamor outside!
Hearing this sound, Zhao Jiaqi's mind went blank. Thinking something had happened to someone in the family, she dropped her water bowl and ran out.
As she lifted the cotton door curtain, Fan Zehao was just throwing a plump wild boar onto the ground. The commotion came from the village children and some old men.
Soon, more and more people gathered in the small courtyard. They had all come to see the wild boar. Nowadays, a wild boar was more interesting than people!
Zhao Jiaqi hurried forward and saw that his padded jacket had a few holes, and his trousers had a gash about a finger's length long, with soft white cotton spilling out.
She looked him up and down from head to toe. Her heart, which had been pounding, only slowly returned to normal when she saw he was not injured.
"What's wrong with you? That animal is so fierce and covered in quills. Why did you catch it? Couldn't you have caught some chickens or ducks? We have enough to eat, and if anything had happened, what would happen to me and the child!"
Without waiting for an explanation, she first scolded Fan Zehao. Only then did tears begin to fall.
The person involved was both happy and heartbroken. He couldn't hug his wife in front of so many people.
He used the rough pads of his fingers to wipe away her tears. "Don't cry. I won't catch these things next time. I'll listen to you from now on and only catch chickens, ducks, and rabbits!"
Zhao Jiaqi felt a bit out of her mind. Seeing the onlookers, her face suddenly flushed red!
"Hurry up and wash your hands. Your meal is being kept warm in the pot in the kitchen!"
After his wife finished speaking, she shyly went back into the house. Sitting on a stool, she realized at that moment that her fingers were trembling!
Outside.
The village head hadn't seen a wild boar in a long time. Seeing this fat pig, which must have weighed at least three hundred jin, being carried back by him.
He stepped forward, patted Fan Zehao on the shoulder, and grinned so wide that his gums showed. "Well done, truly remarkable! Our Nanlan Village has produced a master hunter. I'm happy for you!"
He had been praised before, but this was sincere praise, which made him a little shy!
"Uncle, what are you saying? It was just good luck today!"
It wasn't just good luck; it was incredibly good luck. Now, they wouldn't have to buy pork for the New Year. This one pig would be enough for a year, with leftovers!
Some curious villagers couldn't help but smack their lips. They exchanged glances with the village head, their intentions obvious!
How could the village head not understand what these villagers meant? They were all gathered around the pig, all wanting a piece of meat to satisfy their cravings!
"Uncle, what's wrong with the villagers' eyes? Do they have an eye condition?" Fan Zehao, though simple, was not truly foolish.
They were signaling the village head, and he didn't understand their intentions. Rather than guessing, it was faster to ask directly.
When the village head was asked this, he felt a bit awkward but didn't hide it. "Our village is poor. Pork in town costs fourteen to fifteen wen per jin. Most of the elderly who stayed here have limited money."
"Yes, nephew. It's almost New Year's, and we were thinking of buying some meat to celebrate. If you sell this meat, could you give us a discount? We only get to eat meat once a year during the New Year."
Fan Zehao looked at the uncle speaking honestly. He didn't use words like "give it to us for free." He then looked at the other onlookers. They all looked poor, their clothes patched one after another, yet they still wore them.
He didn't respond immediately. He just said to the village head, "I don't manage the household. I need to ask my wife about this."
This statement stunned everyone. This man, over seven feet tall, was actually controlled by a woman. They all found it unbelievable!
The village head was also taken aback, but he had seen all sorts of people. Wasn't it just being afraid of one's wife? What was there to it? "Go and ask. Talk to her properly!"
Fan Zehao grinned and went inside. He returned shortly.
"My wife said that we all live in the same village, and it's fate that we know each other as fellow villagers. Meat that costs fifteen wen a jin in town will be sold to you for seven wen a jin from my wild boar. No one has it easy. If we can save a little, we should."
As soon as he said this, the people in the courtyard's eyes lit up, and they were about to rush forward.