"Dad, look at Da Qiang's pigsty!" Yun Er Man pointed towards the pigsty.
"When did they start raising so many sika deer?"
"Huh? And there's a big yellow ox too!"
Could this kid have stolen it from the next village?
This ox is really sturdy...
Old Man Yun stroked his pipe, his mind brimming with questions as he walked into the courtyard.
"Haha, Brother Yun is back! The venison is already stewed, and Da Qiang even lit some charcoal to roast the deer legs!~"
Du Lao San, holding a jar of sorghum wine, welcomed Old Man Yun and the others in.
"Where did this sika deer come from?" Yun Da Man asked.
"Where from? Of course, your little Sweet Treasure attracted it. Oh, you should have seen it, when little Sweet Treasure rode the big yellow ox through the village, she was so majestic..."
"Yes, our village has suffered from drought and floods again this year. It's been a long time since every household has eaten venison!~"
"Sweet Treasure is the most blessed. She just went for a stroll and brought back so much delicious food, haha..."
"Old Man Yun, save me a deer leg next time, I'll trade you salted goose eggs. Are two baskets enough? I've been saving for half a year!"
"..."
Old Man Yun, looking utterly bewildered, walked to the washbasin, washing his hands while looking around.
He just didn't think Fu Da Qiang had that kind of popularity.
The tofu maker's family, from generation to generation, were either buyers or sellers of tofu.
A lively scene like today was almost unheard of.
So all of this was brought about by his youngest daughter...
Yun Da Man and his two brothers scrambled to wash their hands, eyeing each other warily.
As soon as they heard their sister had brought good fortune again, they couldn't wait to go hug her.
"Tsk, second brother, what are you rushing for? You've wet my clothes!" Yun San Man nudged Er Man.
"I didn't! I'm washing so we can eat, I'm starving. Hey, hey, elder brother, don't push me!"
Yun Da Man shoved his two younger brothers aside, washed his hands in a flash, and then darted into the house.
Er Man and San Man, still wet: "..."
They always thought their elder brother was quite steady and honest, but they never expected him to be so shameless.
Pushing and shoving like that, what kind of behavior was that?
"Haha, my dear sister, let big brother kiss...?"
As Yun Da Man entered the west room, he saw Old Man Yun had gotten there before him, holding his sister and doting on her.
Yun Da Man: "..."
Gu Shi couldn't help but laugh and cry, giving Old Man Yun a reproachful look, "You're dirty, don't get your daughter's skirt soiled!~"
Old Man Yun, having worked all day, was covered in dust and dirt.
This embrace had already smudged little Xi Tian's collar.
"Hehe, I just really missed my daughter!" Old Man Yun grinned, revealing his big yellow teeth.
Yun Er Man, his hands not even dry, walked into the house. As soon as he crossed the threshold, Liu Cui Rong grabbed him and pulled him towards the storeroom...
"What are you doing? Let go!~" Yun Er Man shook her off, looking disgusted.
Liu Cui Rong's eyes darted around, glancing towards the pigsty.
"Er Man, go talk to Mom and Dad later and ask them to keep the ox and sell all the deer!"
"Didn't you see those greedy bastards staring at our venison?"
"As soon as they see good food, their mouths water. It makes me sick to look at them, ugh! So disgusting..."
He absolutely did not believe that the villagers would kindly help slaughter and skin the deer, bleeding and lighting fires.
They all looked so greedy, like weasels, and it was so off-putting.
If they ate one deer by themselves, it would last them several days.
Why should they be treated to free food and drinks?
His sister-in-law's brain must have been hit by a door...
Yun Er Man frowned upon hearing this, "No, what are you gagging about? Huh? Did you drive that deer and ox back?"
"Little sister hasn't said anything yet, what are you shouting about?"
"Besides, can our family eat a whole deer?"
"The weather is so hot, it won't even keep in the cellar. So you'd rather let the venison rot than share a piece with others?"
One cannot be too selfish...
Their family had been dismantling the house and moving bricks these past few days. Besides Yun Wang Cai's family, who else came to take a look?
Those who could help squatted among the ruins and helped pick up a few bricks and tiles, and those who couldn't brought some plums and tea eggs.
Especially the village chief's family, they helped carry wood after working in the fields in the morning...
Now that they had slaughtered a deer and were treating everyone to a meal, what was wrong with that?
Would they die, or lose a piece of flesh?
"They all have ulterior motives. You watch, these damned things are definitely coming for little Sweet Treasure!~"
Liu Cui Rong glanced back at the courtyard. The venison had been served, stewed until it was tender and fragrant...
"Get lost, why am I telling you this? You don't understand human language, get away!"
Yun Er Man pushed Liu Cui Rong away with annoyance and quickly walked towards the dining table.
This wasteful thing, listening to her just now, she even wanted to eat his sister's big yellow ox.
How could she be so wishful?
The village chief, Old Man Yun's family, and Fu Da Qiang sat at one table. Xi'er and Huai Hua poured wine bowls and fried chili paste, and brought out freshly dug dandelion greens.
Jin Huai Hua also made tofu stewed with cabbage, scallions mixed with tofu, spicy tofu, and preserved tofu.
Fu Da Qiang hadn't sold much of the tofu he made this morning, and now it was all used up.
His family lacked everything, but not tofu...
"Come, come, let's toast!~" Old Man Yun, beaming, raised his large bowl and took a big gulp.
Drink enough and sleep, wake up tomorrow and continue working.
In another day, the old bricks and tiles would be mostly moved.
The men in the village were all hearty drinkers, no one hid or slacked off...
Fu Da Qiang raised his wine bowl, tilted his head back, and drank more than half of it.
The village chief was older and couldn't drink like the young people. He switched to a small wine cup, taking a small sip each time.
"Sip!~"
He had to make a sound; drinking had soul.
In Xiao Jin Heng's room, next door at Du Lao San's house.
"Young master, please eat something. This food is freshly made by the kitchen, and it tastes great!~"
Kong Xing Zhuo persuaded him.
Xiao Jin Heng looked at the table full of delicacies, with no appetite to eat them at all...
He squinted and asked, "Is venison that delicious? Humph, this young master has eaten enough! More than enough!~"
Kong Xing Zhuo: "..."
Young master, no one asked if you've eaten enough!
He knew that the little village girl must not have invited the young master to eat venison next door, and he was sulking here.
"What delicacies haven't I eaten? What's so great about stewing a pot of venison?"
Xiao Jin Heng threw down his chopsticks, his small chest heaving, filled with anger...
Kong Xing Zhuo exchanged a look with Granny Jin, both looking helpless.
"Young, young master, how about, how about I go ask Sweet Treasure to..."
"Ask her to do what? Invite this young master to eat venison?" Xiao Jin Heng sneered, "What a joke, I wouldn't go to such a vulgar occasion even if I were carried there!"
Just then, a cute little figure appeared at the doorway.
Xiao Jin Heng's eyes lit up, and he suddenly stood up, "Little village girl, you're here..."