Goldfield
Chapter 75: Helping

He thought for a while and almost said ‘half catty’ but then he remembered that in ancient times half catty was equal to about eight ounces. After all, isn't there a saying that says ‘half catty is eight ounces’, which means ‘there's not much to choose between the two’? Therefore, he hastily corrected himself, “Please give me four ounces each.”

The price of vinegar and soy sauce turned out to be a total of five copper coins. He then counted all the transactions he made today. His mother had given him twenty copper coins for an allowance, and he had sold Xiaolian embroidery for a hundred copper coins. Silk embroidery costs ten coins, and seasoning and seasoning are thirty coins. He also put ten coins into his elder brother's hand. After that, he still had eighty coins in hand. So that doesn't mean he's wasteful, does it?

Snarling….

They had breakfast this morning. Even Little Shitou, who was used to only eating twice a day, hugged her stomach, which rumbled in protest, with a depressed expression on her little face. However, he did not even suggest the possibility of buying something to eat.

The food market has several stands that sell breakfast that has not closed. Xiaocao carefully held the herbs and walked to the stall with his younger brother. He bought a bowl of hot soup, took out pancakes from his shepherd's wallet, and soaked a piece of pancake into the soup for his younger brother.

The soup they bought was just plain Chinese cabbage soup and was only given a small amount of salt as the flavoring. On the surface, only a few drops of oil are visible. Actually, the taste of the soup was quite mediocre. However, it had long since boiled over a small stove and its mouthfuls easily warmed the stomach. The pancakes they had brought from home this morning had long since gone cold. By letting the pancake soak in the soup, it becomes warm and becomes easy and convenient to eat.

There was a little boy, about four to five years old, who was in the breakfast room. He observed the delicious pancakes of the two brothers with pure envy. He swung his hand and complained to his father, “Dad, I also want to eat those savory and tasty pancakes. Buy one for me! ”

The owner of the stall has noticed that the pancakes contain green vegetables. Confused, he asked, “Little girl, where did you buy that flatbread? How can there be green vegetables this season? ”

Little Shitou ate the pancakes in a big bite and happily replied, "my second brother made this pancake, but there are no green vegetables in it. We dug up some wild plants in the mountains to make pancakes. My second brother is a very good cook, so no one else can make something as tasty as this. ”

“I want to eat pancakes, Dad, Dad, I want to eat wild plant pancakes, wahhhhhh..” After he saw the satisfied expression on Little Shitou's face, he said, the little boy started crying and sobbing sadly that he wanted to eat it.

That morning, Lady Liu had packed the three remaining pancakes for the two brothers to bring to the city. They had both ripped one of them off to put in the soup, so there was still a whole pancake on the table. When Xiaocao saw this, he hurriedly said, “We still have one more. Older uncle, if you are fine, bring it to give to the younger brother to eat. ”

“How could I possibly do that? You two brothers won't eat enough! ” The breakfast seller smiles awkwardly at the sister-sister couple as he secretly persuades the boy.

“This is no problem. We had breakfast before we came here and just wanted to have hot soup to warm our bodies. ” Xiaocao has seen that the boy cannot be soothed. She cried until traces of mucus flowed from her nose, and her continuous sobs produced small bubbles inside. He and his younger brother ate one pancake and drank a bowl of soup. That was enough to calm their stomachs, and when they got home at night there would be dinner. Therefore, he offered the rest of his pancakes to them.

The owner of the food stall thought for a moment and said, “Then I say thank you. The soup you two drank is free. Take that as a sign of my gratitude. ”

A bowl of soup costs one copper coin. Every penny saved is a penny earned. After Yu Xiaocao thanked the stall owner, he left the food market with his sister. They went to a place outside the city gate where Uncle Ma was waiting for them. His donkey cart was already full of people, and they were just waiting for the two of them.

If Madam Liu found out that they had spent thirty copper coins on herbs and seasonings, she would definitely start lecturing them. They had almost nothing to eat at home, why would they buy condiments?

When they reached home, Xiaocao opened the gate and carefully stuck out his head to look. Xiaolian was in the middle of the courtyard embroidering. When he saw Xiaocao's cunning move, he giggled and said, “Xiaocao, what shameful thing are you doing? Relax, I'm not home right now! ”

After hearing that, Xiaocao entered the courtyard in relief. He grinned, “Who did something embarrassing? I just bought some seasoning in town and was afraid Mother would lecture me for spending money recklessly .. This, this is the money left after selling your embroidery. ”

“I've told you before that you can spend the rest of the money for whatever you want. How can buying seasoning be considered a reckless expenditure? ” Xiaolian casually took the money bag and felt its weight. Surprised, he said, “How much seasoning did you buy? You don't use too much money. ”

His five embroidery pockets had previously been sold for a total of seventy-five copper coins. However, the rest of the money in the bag Xiaocao had given him had five more coins than the usual seventy-five, and he could feel the difference.

Xiaocao explained to his sister that the embroidery shop owner had given him a better price for the bag, and then said, “Xiaolian, please don't tell Mom that I bought this spice. I have something I need! ”

“What can't you tell your mother?” Yu Hai limped out of the room and grinned at his two adorable daughters. His legs had healed so he did not need to use crutches to walk again.

“No, no! Dad, do you know how to make this type of bamboo tube? If you have time, can you help me make two? I still need to return what I borrowed to someone! ” Xiaocao deliberately changed the subject and handed the bamboo tube containing the soy sauce to his father.

Ever since her birth mother died, Yu Hai had never been able to taste the boiled red pork again. He appreciated the memory of the taste of the dish.

Xiaocao quickly took back the soy sauce tube from him and stressed, “I need to use this spice, so you can't touch it! Oh right, where did you go? ”

“Next to Auntie Zhou's place. They had got a big order and had to finish it tomorrow, so they asked our mother for help to kill the chicken. ” Xiaolian took the seasoning proffered from her sister and placed it in a hidden corner in the kitchen.

Yu Hai called Little Shitou, “Nak, come with Dad to help cover the vegetable fields with a blanket. In just five days, they had already grown to a height of several centimeters. I have never seen vegetables grow this fast, even in previous years when spring was warmer than this.

Of course they grow fast. He doused it every day with mystical stone water. Xiaocao rubbed his nose somewhat agitatedly and said, “I will visit Auntie Zhou's house and see if they need help.” With that, he escaped as fast as a wisp of smoke.

Madam Fang today went to the city to sell her chickens and eggs. In the city, he learned that Lord Huang's father was going to celebrate his sixtieth birthday and needed about thirty chickens for the banquet. The waiter in charge of buying the food had ordered forty chickens and asked him to prepare everything today so that they could be sent to the residence the next day.

He rushed home after receiving the order. There were not enough people in the house to help kill, pluck, and clean all forty chickens in one afternoon. Besides, her husband is not home. Madam Fang was afraid that her three children and herself would ruin this huge order, so she asked Madam Liu to help.

When Xiaocao got there, Zhou Linglong and his sister were in the kitchen with boiling water. Madam Fang was holding a machete and was about to kill the chicken. There were five or six roosters lying on the ground with their legs tied. Her mother, Lady Liu, was beside a large wooden basin and poured hot water from the bucket into it. Inside the basin were three cut chickens that were still hairy.

“Mother, Aunt Zhou, I came to help!” Xiaocao casually greeted them and frowned when he saw that there was a lump of chicken blood on the ground.

Madam Fang picked up a chicken with her legs tied up and pulled some of the feathers from her neck. As his knife was about to be thrown, he heard a voice and looked towards it with a smile, “You're back, Xiaocao? If I had known earlier you would also go to the city, we could have gone together. Do you have fun shopping in the city? ”

“Aunt Zhou, don't you want any leftover chicken blood from a chicken kill?” Xiaocao replied irrelevantly and looked at the ground soaked in chicken blood with a hint of regret.

Madam Fang hesitated in confusion and said, “Why would anyone want chicken blood? It's not even delicious! ”

Yu Xiaocao blinked and replied, “You can eat chicken blood! If made well, there is no peculiar smell or taste either. You need to eat blood to enrich the blood, so chicken blood is great at this. It can also relieve arthritic pain, improve blood circulation, and open things up! ”

“Uh… .I've never heard of chicken blood having all those properties. Who did you learn this from, Xiaocao? ” The knife in Madam Fang's hand shook because she didn't know if she should cut off the chicken's head this time or not.

Yu Xiaocao rushed into the kitchen and asked Zhou Shanhu to take the basin for him. He placed it in front of Madam Fang and said, “Aunt Zhou, listen to me! Properly cooked chicken blood will have a tender and very delicious texture. You can use it with tofu to make soup, and it can also be boiled with cabbage. If boiled with sauce, it will be soft and smooth, and very delicious! ” “This child, you described it so well that saliva almost came out of my mouth. Okay, all the chicken blood will be yours. After finishing cooking, do not forget to bring Aunt Zhou a bowl.. ”Mad Fang nimbly used a knife to cut her chicken neck. Red blood flowed into the basin.

Xiaocao felt as if he could see a row of culinary dishes floating in front of him. He greedily wished he could take chicken blood and start cooking now. Two months have passed since the New Year celebration. They could not even eat their coarse grains, let alone taste meat or fish. Living a life like this had caused his desires to become uncontrollable!

“What are you standing there for? Didn't you come to help? Go back home and grab the basin where we used to wash vegetables. We can pull out the fur faster this way! ” Mistress Liu said in a pampering yet slightly scolding tone as she smiled at her daughter, “OK!” Yu Xiaocao agreed and ran away.

Madam Fang looked at her cheerful steps as her figure grew smaller in the distance and smiled, “Sister Muyun, your family's luck must have changed. Just look, ever since you moved, your husband's legs have healed, Xiaocao's body is healthy, and you don't hurt anymore. You need to relax a little. In the future, your family will definitely get better. When some chicks hatch in the spring, grab some and take them home to raise. They can lay eggs and nourish the body of your children. You and your children have thin bodies, ah.. ”

Madam Liu raised her head to smile gently at the woman. After moving on, his smile appeared more often. He held back his laughter as his hand continued to pluck the chicken easily. The steam billowed from the wooden basin and smelled a fishy smell in the air…

When Xiaocao returned, he saw Madam Liu opening the chicken belly, removing her internal organs, and throwing them to the ground. He hesitantly asked, “Will these all be thrown away?” Madam Liu gave her a quick glance and teased, “Do you really want to eat something so dirty and stinky? There's chicken shit in it. If you succeed, you'll be the only one eating it. Okay, stop joking around and help me pick up the chicken that Aunt Zhou slaughtered. I need to blister them, and you can be in charge of pulling out the fur! ”

“Xiaocao, work carefully! If you do well, Auntie will give you ten copper coins as payment.. ”Madam Fang can see that Xiaocao is a trained hand in this job and promise her.

Lady Liu interrupted heavily, “We are all fellow villagers and neighbors. No need to give us money to help you! Besides, he is still a child, how much help can he do.. ”.