Chapter Twelve: Selling in Town

After sending the meat into the kitchen, Old Madam Zhou came out carrying a wooden basin, just as she saw Old Man Zhou raising his hand to hit someone. Without thinking, she called out, "Stop!"

"Old man, the two kids came to bring us meat, why are you trying to hit them?" Madam Zhou walked closer and handed the wooden basin to Zhao Laixi.

"Meat? What meat?" Old Man Zhou asked in confusion.

"Ah, it's like this..." Seeing that Old Man Zhou was still in the dark, Zhao Laixi recounted in detail how the village chief had mediated the situation. He repeatedly explained that Little Ding hadn't acted on purpose—he'd been frightened while fighting wolves last night and his foolishness had flared up again...

When Old Man Zhou learned that the village chief had mediated, and that Da Bao had sent over all the leftover meat from last night, his anger subsided considerably. Hearing Zhao Laixi's explanation, he found it reasonable—after all, he knew his own foolish grandson. If it wasn't for his spells of confusion, how would he have dared hit his own grandfather and uncles?

At that moment, seeing Old Man Zhou's expression soften, Little Ding seized the opportunity and said, "Grandpa, I'm sorry!"

Old Man Zhou snorted coldly but said nothing more. Standing beside him, Old Madam Zhou's eyes widened in shock.

What? Their foolish grandson had hit the old man? And even his second and third uncles? Was this really her grandson? No wonder they had sent over twenty or thirty pounds of good meat for no reason—so there was a cause behind it!

"You two, get out of here this instant. I don't want to see you again!" The previously smiling Old Madam Zhou suddenly exploded with anger; her face was so cold it could freeze water.

"Well—Grandma, we'll be going then. You carry on." Sensing disaster, Zhao Laixi quickly pulled Little Ding away.

"That damned Da Bao, encouraging the fool to hit his grandfather! Serves him right—why didn't his other leg get crippled too?" Old Madam Zhou redirected her anger to her eldest son. Ever since his leg had broken and he couldn't work, she had looked down on him and could no longer stand the sight of him.

Even after Little Ding and Zhao Laixi had left, Old Madam Zhou's shrewish scolding could still be heard.

When they returned to Da Bao's house, Little Ya and Xiao E had already cooked porridge.

Though there was half a bin of coarse rice left, this was freshly harvested grain meant to last until the next year's crops came in, so they had to be frugal.

As Little Ding looked at the thin, watery porridge in the earthen bowls on the low table, he frowned. He really needed to think about how to earn some money.

In a few gulps, he finished his porridge. When he went to the pot for a second bowl, he found it empty. Even porridge, it seemed, was rationed to just one bowl per person.

He stood there with his empty bowl, perplexed, when Er Niu brought her own bowl over. "Husband, I can't finish mine. Would you help me eat it?"

Little Ding felt a pang in his heart. How could he not understand Er Niu's intention? No wonder everyone in this family was so thin and frail—they couldn’t even have their fill of porridge, how could they be healthy? He didn’t know how he had treated Er Niu before his memory loss, but from last night to today, he could see her true feelings. She was just a thirteen-year-old girl, yet she was willing to go hungry herself so her husband could eat. How could Little Ding not be moved?

He gently stroked Er Niu's cheek. "You eat it, nourish yourself so you can bear me children. Your husband is already full."

"Husband—" Er Niu blushed, casting him a reproachful glance. "Don't say such silly things, there are others here..." She glanced at the others eating.

At this, Xiao Zhu'er lifted her bowl and looked up, saying, "Foolish Brother, you and Sister-in-law go on whispering, I didn't hear a thing."

At last, everyone broke into laughter.

After the meal, Da Bao asked Zhao Laixi and Little Ding to carry the wolf to town to sell.

Zhao Laixi was too weak to carry the big wolf alone. Little Ding, being foolish, couldn't be sent by himself for fear he'd be cheated.

Little Ding also wanted to use the opportunity to learn more from Zhao Laixi, so as to avoid another blunder like "kicking Grandpa and punching his uncles."

"Foolish Brother, can we keep the wolf?" Xiao Zhu'er asked pitifully. She had tasted wolf meat for the first time and found it delicious. She hadn’t had enough, and now it was all gone. She really wanted more.

Beside her, Tian Xiaofu also looked over with hopeful eyes. After all, he was just eleven, born to a poor family, and rarely saw meat. He could count the times he’d eaten meat on his fingers.

"When your brother sells the wolf for money, I'll buy you something tasty. Whatever you want, I’ll buy for you," Little Ding said, crouching to stroke his little sister’s face. Seeing her clothes, old and patched, clearly handed down from her siblings, he added, "And I’ll buy you new, pretty clothes..."

"Great! Foolish Brother, I want new clothes, I want to eat meat, I want sugar figures, I want meat buns, and I want..." Xiao Zhu’er tilted her head, trying hard to think, but couldn’t come up with anything else.

She had tasted and seen so little. Meat she’d eaten yesterday, meat buns and sugar figures she’d only seen at New Year, when the landlord Xue’s little grandson at the east end of the village had them. She’d only then learned that such things existed—and they smelled so good she wanted to take a bite. But the landlord’s grandson was mean, letting her sniff but never giving her a taste. He really was a wicked child.

"Alright, just wait for me to come home. When the sun goes down, I’ll bring you good food and new clothes. But you must listen to Mother and your older siblings, understand?" Little Ding took her small hand.

"Alright, it’s a deal! Pinky swear—" Xiao Zhu’er stuck out her little finger. Little Ding hooked his own around it, and a sweet smile bloomed on her face.

From Zhao Laixi, Little Ding learned that their village was called Luoxia Village, belonging to Luoxia Town, which was part of Luoxia County.

The county, town, and village were all named after Luoxia Mountain.

Luoxia Mountain was where Little Ding had fought the wolf the previous night. That mountain was connected to the hills behind the village, and together with the surrounding peaks and ranges, they were called the Luoxia Mountains. The hills behind the village were mostly bare stone, steep and sparsely vegetated, impossible to climb from the village side; the peak where he’d fought the wolf was nearer the main summit, towering and thickly forested, home to many birds and beasts.

Luoxia Town and Luoxia Village were both close to the mountain, hence the name. The county was named for having the mountain within its borders.

Luoxia Village was the closest to the mountain—just five or six miles from the west side of the village to the foot of the mountain; climbing up the outer slope would be about a dozen miles. No one from the area dared venture deep into Luoxia Mountain; those who had gone in never returned.

Luoxia Town was the nearest township, east of the village, about twenty miles away—a walk of about an hour.

Luoxia County lay to the southwest, more than forty miles from the village—a two-hour walk.

"Will the wolf fetch a better price in town or in the county?" Little Ding asked.

"In the county, of course. The county is much busier, with more wealthy buyers," Zhao Laixi replied. "If we’re lucky, we might get ten taels of silver for the wolf in the county. In town, at most five taels—and even that’s unlikely today, since it’s not market day."

"Alright, let’s sell it in the county!" Little Ding decided.

"What? No! We can’t go to the county!" Zhao Laixi shook his head firmly.