Chapter 5, the most beautiful thing in the world is the taste of meat

This type of bamboo weaving can be sold for about three copper coins each. During the market days on the fourth and ninth, they are sold, and on good business days, one can sell seven or eight pieces, while on poor days, it is possible that none are sold at all

Oh

This has led to a particularly poor relationship between Lu Youfu, the second branch, and the first branch, resulting in reduced interactions between the two families

Lu Wenliang nodded and was about to go to his second uncle's house. When he reached the door, he suddenly turned back and said to his wife, Tian'e: "Tomorrow we will go out, you kill a chicken."

Tian paused for a moment and nodded slightly

Moreover, you should not run around aimlessly. I heard from someone at Lord Wu's house that they are recruiting soldiers in Huai'an. It is said that the newly appointed governor intends to organize local militia for river defense. In any case, you and Guangyuan should stay close to Wenliang and behave yourself. These days are chaotic outside, so do not let anyone conscript you as a strong laborer.

No more words, it is as it is. You and your wife go prepare the meal, and in the afternoon, you still need to tidy up their things

What would it be like to be a carnivore

Lu Wenliang, as the elder brother, truly inherited his father's nature of always considering his younger brothers in everything, placing great importance on family ties. Lu Si, standing by, secretly admired this cousin who had no direct relation to him for his righteousness and benevolence.

Lu Si's second brother, Lu Xiaohua, is seven or eight years older than him. He is notorious for his waywardness, spending his days in a disreputable manner. He either gambles with others or engages in debauchery, and out of the 365 days in a year, he is hardly home for about 300 of them. When he does return, he either asks his mother for money or gets into arguments with her, much to the amusement of the neighbors.

Lu Youcai looked up and waved his hand to his wife, then asked his son Wenliang to go to his second uncle's house to inform Wang about the matter, so that Wang would not be left without a decision at this moment

Lu Youfu has no daughters, but he has two sons. The elder is named Lu Xiaohuazi, and the younger is named Lu Xiaozhuzai. Neither of these sons has been named according to the "Youwen Guangyi" generational naming convention, nor do they have formal names, and both are unmarried

It appears somewhat imbalanced, with an excess of yang and a deficiency of yin

Later on, through an introduction, the Wang family brought along the child from her previous marriage, who is now referred to as Second Brother Lu Xiaohua by Lu Si, and married Lu Youfu. After their marriage, the couple had another child, Lu Sizhu, who is Lu Si's Third Brother.

Tian E took a few eggs that were originally intended for trading oil at the market and cracked them open. Mrs. Wu picked some spinach from the vegetable garden and, after a sizzling stir-fry in the pan, sprinkled some salt, creating a golden and appetizing dish.

However, it seems that Lu Si has heard that Lu Xiaohua has a close acquaintance with a half-open door in the town, whether it is true or not is unknown, in any case, Lu Xiaohua has not mentioned it to him

This household has not purchased meat for over a month; the last time was when my father-in-law bought an extra two bamboo baskets and brought back one and a half jin of pork.

However, the amount of grain prepared by the government and the village is completely insufficient. Moreover, this time it involves river dredging, which is entirely manual labor, both arduous and exhausting. Therefore, each household must certainly bring extra grain; otherwise, after a day of heavy labor, they would not even have enough to eat, let alone the strength to work.

Aunt Wu said there was no straw left to burn, so Lu Si went to the haystack and brought back a bundle of straw, which he tossed behind the pot. Just then, Tian'e called for him to taste whether the soup was salty or bland

Lu Youcai has one son and one daughter. His son is Guangyuan, whose father is Lu Wenliang, and his daughter, Lu Xiaoqiao, married into a family that boils salt in Haizi.

Lu Youcai spoke while lowering his head and weaving bamboo. The calluses on his hands were nearly twice as thick as those of Lu Si. His fingers were also darkened, and there were quite a few puncture wounds on them as well

Lu Wenliang placed a small cloth bag on the table, and Lu Si picked it up and weighed it in his hand, estimating it to be around seven or eight pounds

Mother, let it be. Second Master is not at home, what should Second Madam do alone? Xiao Huazi doesn't know where he has gone, so I will go on behalf of his family. It's just a matter of exerting some effort, just be careful, it will be fine.

The taste of meat, the most unforgettable flavor in the world

He appears to be somewhat restless and uneasy

Mom, I am going to catch chickens

However, compared to Aunt Wu, the woman from the Wang family is much more aggressive, or one might say particularly petty.

In my impression, Lu Si seems to remember that in the previous life, it was said that Han women during the Ming Dynasty bound their feet, thus proving the so-called bad customs of the Han people

One can tell without tasting that the sister-in-law's cooking is delicious

What Wu is complaining about is the matter of the second son, Lu, having a wealthy family that provides labor.

Given Wang's stingy nature, it is not considered a small amount

The husband sings while the wife follows, which is also a manifestation of love

Regarding my nephew, the Wu family is quite good. Lu Si dines at their home, and the Wu family never speaks. Of course, this may be related to the "husband's authority" during the feudal era, meaning that whatever Lu Si's uncle says, this aunt of his will listen to.

His wife, Tian E, was just as displeased as her mother-in-law. However, it was her father-in-law who brought up the topic. As a daughter-in-law, she did not dare to say much, so she discreetly tugged at her husband's sleeve, implying that he should not heed his father's words and to stay out of the matters concerning the second uncle's family.

After finishing the meal, go back and tidy up the quilt and clothes. Tomorrow, you will go to the assembly with your brother Wenliang and Guangyuan. Once you arrive at the location, the three of you should look out for each other. When it comes to daily tasks, do not be lazy, but also do not be overly foolish. Whatever others do, you should do the same

Therefore, in this era, if anyone were to say that a certain girl has bound feet, her family would fight you fiercely. This is akin to how Lu Si in his previous life would speak of a girl selling herself outside.

Moreover, the Wang family indulges their eldest son, and coupled with Lu Youfu's fear of the Wang family, this has made it impossible to manage Lu Xiaohua. As a result, Lu Xiaohua, who is already in his twenties this year, has not been able to find a wife, and his bad reputation has even deterred matchmakers from coming to his door

Lu Si's second uncle, Lu Youfu, is someone who cannot even make a sound with a single slap, so naturally, the Wang family holds the reins both inside and outside the household

I said I didn't want it, but my second mother insisted on bringing it home, leaving me with no choice.

Lu Youwen's family has only one son, Lu Si

The local government provides food for the villagers assigned to labor, but it is not abundant. It mainly consists of two parts: one part is the grain distributed by the grain officials to each locality, and the other part is prepared by the local government for river works.

Wu was on one side, seeing her husband directly addressing the matter of the river dredging, not willing to listen to her opinions at all, feeling so wronged that she was about to shed tears.

Mr. Wu is now advanced in age and can no longer work in the fields. He spends his time at home assisting his wife with household chores, mostly in a supportive role, such as tending the stove while cooking and tidying up the vegetable garden. He is unable to perform other tasks.

This long-standing family lineage has no words to express.

Aunt Wang, originally married to Mr. Wang, remarried Mr. Lu, the second uncle, who is the wealthy Mr. Lu. Aunt Wang's first husband worked at a kiln in the town, where an accident occurred that resulted in his death.

Therefore, the Lu family has a total of 8 male members: three elders, four in the middle generation, and one younger (Guangyuan). The only female descendant is the youngest of the elders.

This is also why farmers are reluctant to serve in corvée labor; not only do they toil exhaustively, but they also have to subsidize grain. Who would be willing to do that?

The chicken soup is boiled white, and Tian E added a bit of vegetable oil, without any MSG or seasonings, but as soon as the pot started to boil, a fragrant aroma wafted out, making Lu Si and Guang Yuan, who were sitting at the kitchen door, salivate. Especially Lu Si, who seemed to be lured by a craving, kept glancing into the pot from time to time as he sat there.

In fact, women during the Ming Dynasty did not bind their feet, as women in any household were considered to be second only to strong laborers (male members). If they bound their feet, they would be rendered useless and would provide little assistance to the family

There are women with bound feet, but they are mostly the women from brothels. These women are usually forced to bind their feet by the madams at a young age, in order to be appreciated by customers for the so-called 'golden lotus' when they grow up

Tian E saw her son and younger brother-in-law catching the most prolific laying hen, feeling a bit heartbroken. She wanted to say something but ultimately said nothing, instead revealing a faint smile on her face

Therefore, whether it is her son Wenliang or her grandson Guangyuan who goes, she feels heartbroken. However, this is a matter for the authorities, and what can an old woman do about it

Just as the chicken was chopped and ready to be put into the pot, Lu Wenliang returned, saying that his second aunt was very happy to hear that Wenliang was going to represent their family. She insisted on giving him a few kilograms of rice to take with him for the journey.

At that time, Wu was already displeased, as Wang's calculating nature had led to a poor relationship between the sisters-in-law. She was unwilling for her son to take the blame for the second family's issues.

Lu Wenliang has no particular objections, he just feels sorry for Guangyuan

In addition to the few acres of land at home, Lu Youcai relies on his skill in weaving bamboo baskets to support his entire family

Lu Youfu had intended to discipline Lu Xiaohua properly back in the day, but since Xiaohua was brought over by the Wang family, he, as a stepfather, was concerned that being too strict would invite criticism from outsiders

Guangyuan, this child, has a nonchalant expression on his face, seemingly unaware of the hardships of river dredging, as if he is merely thinking of going out to play

When Guangyuan returned and mentioned that the government was going to undertake river works, Mrs. Wu sighed deeply. In her youth, she had worked on river projects alongside her husband and was well aware of the hardships involved in such labor.

Lu Si's grandfather had three sons: the eldest, Lu Youcai; the second, Lu Youfu; and the youngest, who is Lu Si's father, Lu Youwen

If one wants to find someone to take their place, they must pay that person, and also give a portion to the village elder Ma, which is really not cost-effective. If one does not find a replacement for the grain, it would at least require double the amount, which is even less cost-effective. Therefore, Lu Wenliang said at that time that he would go, and asked Guangyuan to stay home and help his grandparents with the farm work

Lu Si smiled as he scooped a spoonful of chicken soup, blew on it, and drank it down, finding it so delicious that it left him with an endless aftertaste

Lu Youcai did not want to say that the second son was not at home, Xiaohuazi was nowhere to be seen all day long, and Xiaozhu was unable to return from Xinxingchang. His family could not function without labor. The implication was that his grandson Guangyuan should support this household, while his son Wenliang should assist the second uncle's family.

Lu Si's aunt, Mrs. Wu, is a girl who married into the family from Baoying County, which is over a hundred miles away. She has been with the Lu family for forty years. Although she is not tall, she was quite skilled at farm work in her youth. It is said that in her younger days, Mrs. Wu could compete with strong young men in carrying loads.

Lu Xiaozhu is much better than his brother Lu Huazi, being an honest person just like his father, Lu Youfu. At the age of 14, he was sent by Lu Youfu to apprentice at a restaurant in Xinxingchang, and now seven years have passed in the blink of an eye. It is said that he is already receiving a monthly salary, and after enduring for another two or three years, he will be able to cook independently, at which point he will also be a master chef

Lu Youcai, sitting under the eaves weaving a bamboo basket, saw his nephew approaching and handed over the small stool beside him. Although the old man felt angry that his nephew did not listen to him, he genuinely cared for this child who had lost his mother since he was young

Upon hearing that his father wanted his mother to kill a chicken, Lu Guangyuan was overjoyed and hurriedly ran to the chicken coop to catch one. Lu Si was also tempted and, fearing that his sister-in-law might change her mind, quickly joined Guangyuan in catching the chicken. He then rushed to the kitchen, took a knife, and swiftly cut the throat of a hen that weighed nearly 3 jin.

Little Fourzi has arrived

Lu Si's aunt, Mrs. Wu, knew that it was useless to say anything now; saying too much would only provoke the old man. Thus, she quietly went to the stove to boil water

You think about others all day long, but do they think about you, the esteemed one? The work on the river is incredibly hard, and it's one thing for Wenliang to go, but you even want your grandson to go. I really don't understand what you, as a father, are thinking

Lu Youcai glanced and said: "Just take it, after all, you need to bring rice when you go out anyway"