CHAPTER 183: CHAPTER 183: SETTLING ACCOUNTS AND RECIPROCITY

Jiang Hu warmed his hands and feet by the fire, and when his clothes were warm enough, he found a place to change out of them.

Iron Egg insisted on grinding two lotus seeds, creating an opening for them to sprout, but he couldn’t persist any longer.

However, this task was indeed quite tiring on the wrists. Everyone combined, they only managed to grind just over a dozen seeds.

Fortunately, it was still early, so there was no rush. They could take them back and work on a couple at a time when there’s nothing else to do.

By the way, there was still more than a pound of lotus seeds at home that were brought back a few days ago, and they needed to be processed together as well.

Once they were warm enough, Jiang Hu extinguished the fire, covered it with some soil to ensure no sparks were left outside, and then prepared to head back.

Previously, they didn’t know exactly how many lotus roots there were, so they brought two baskets, and now they could fill one with leaves to use as kindling on the way back.

The lotus seeds were wrapped tightly in a bundle and carefully placed in a bamboo basket to prevent them from spilling accidentally on the way.

Before leaving, Jiang Hu glanced back at the pond: "When we return, we should tell the village chief about the location of this pond. It might come in handy."

The water in this pond was clear and ice-cold, quite unlike the river, suggesting it might be springing from an underground river.

Upon further contemplation of the pond’s location, although it was situated halfway up the mountain behind Fu’an Village, if one stood at the mountain’s peak, they would notice that the pond’s level seemed almost the same as that of Fu’an Village.

If there indeed was an underground river passing beneath the pond, it wouldn’t be impossible.

Winter brought early darkness. By the time the group returned home, it was already evening. Aunt Yang had fed the pigs, and Uncle Liu was in the field cutting cabbages.

The cabbages were tightly bound, each one large. He would strip the old, yellow leaves to feed the pigs and neatly place the rest in a bamboo basket.

Seeing them return, he called out loudly: "Back already? Please carry these cabbages home; I can cut them but can’t carry them."

A basket of cabbages weighs sixty to seventy pounds.

Jiang Hu: "Uncle Liu, why are you busy again? Didn’t we tell you to rest well?"

Uncle Liu moved his arms: "It’s nothing. I also pick the easier work to do. Sitting or lying down all day isn’t right. I feel like I’ve grown younger during this time."

A person becomes restless in their old age. If they don’t find something to do, they get bored and restless.

In Jiang’s house over the past month, whenever he had free time, he would find something to do himself, like gathering tender grass to feed the chickens and rabbits, or helping to pick vegetables, sweep the floor, and so on, and he felt much better mentally.

Moreover, cutting cabbages wasn’t tiring; it wasn’t hard labor.

Jiang Hu carried the baskets back a few times with Seventh Lucky and moved the cabbages home from the field, placing them in the room behind the kitchen.

This location was closest to the stable and cattle pen, which made it more convenient to load onto the cart in the morning.

Additionally, the temperatures had dropped significantly at night lately, so they couldn’t be left outside directly.

While moving the cabbages, Jiang Hu also mentioned the matter of the fat pig to Uncle Liu.

Uncle Liu hesitated for a moment but did not refuse.

"Then I must thank you on behalf of Ze’er’s parents. The pork from your family is not easily found outside, and there’s usually only some available during the New Year each year."

Although Uncle Liu hadn’t been back to town for long, these past few years, the steamed meat ordered by Tongfu Restaurant for the New Year was in high demand and often out of stock.

In the evening, Liu Ze was puzzled when he heard about this, and he waited until he sent his grandfather back to his room to ask.

"Grandfather, why did you accept it? Didn’t you say we shouldn’t take advantage of others? Uncle Jiang and Auntie don’t usually shortchange us with food, so why aren’t we paying for the pig?"

If it had been before, Liu Ze wouldn’t have cared about the money for a pig, whether given or not.

A few pieces of silver didn’t mean much to him; he wouldn’t think too much about it.

But after staying in the village for a while, he realized that a few pieces of silver didn’t mean much to his family, but for the villagers, an entire family’s annual expenses might not even reach a few pieces of silver.

For him, the money for a few books was a huge sum for the villagers.

Knowing this, Liu Ze understood what a big advantage it was to accept a pig from Uncle Jiang’s family for free.

He thought his grandfather would refuse, but surprisingly, his grandfather did not.

At the dinner table, he couldn’t refute his grandfather’s words, but he also wanted to know why, hence his private inquiry.

Uncle Liu had just soaked his feet and was feeling warm all over as he lay in the quilt, relishing the comfort brought by a warming pot, making him feel drowsy.

But hearing his grandson’s question, he perked up: "Ze’er, apart from clearly accounting between blood brothers, there’s also the saying of reciprocating gifts."

"Now our family has a good relationship with Jiang’s family. I see that you seem to live more comfortably here than at home."

Liu Ze nodded; it was indeed true, and there was no denying it. Not only was he in better physical health, but his mood was also much improved.

"You see, this courtyard was built by Grandpa for free, and Uncle Jiang remembers it too. The pig is also an expression of Uncle Jiang’s goodwill as a return gift. If you don’t accept it, wouldn’t you be refusing Uncle Jiang’s goodwill?"

Liu Ze somewhat understood: "Is that so?"

Uncle Liu smiled: "Let’s put it this way. If you give little Xue a small gift and she insists on paying you, would you be angry?"

Liu Ze quickly nodded: "Yes, we’re friends, so it’s not right to take money for a gift."

Uncle Liu patted Liu Ze’s shoulder: "That’s the point. Previously, we had a business relationship with Jiang’s family, but now we’re friends, understand?"

Liu Ze understood: "Friends need clarity on some matters, but there are things that cannot be obstinately clear."

Uncle Liu yawned: "Alright, it’s pretty cold, so you should go rest too."

Liu Ze helped cover his grandfather with the quilt, extinguished the candle (which the Liu family had brought, as the Jiang family only had oil lamps), and was about to leave.

Just as he opened the door to step out, Uncle Liu suddenly remembered something and said, "Oh, I forgot to mention, we’ll still be returning to the county town for the New Year, and we’ll be back after."

Liu Ze paused for a moment at the door, then nodded: "Oh, got it."

Only his mood wasn’t as high anymore.

This Jiang Hu didn’t know, but early the next morning, Jiang Hu and Seventh Lucky got up early, as both had to go to town today.

The vegetables were transported using a carriage, while Jiang Hu used an ox cart to load a large fat pig to deliver it to the Liu residence in town, and also to hand over a letter from Uncle Liu written last night to the steward there.

With Aunt Yang now at home, Erniang didn’t need to get up early to cook. All the household chores, such as washing clothes, were handled meticulously by Aunt Yang.

However, this didn’t mean Erniang could take it easy. Shortly after Jiang Hu left, Erniang also got up to gather half a basket of red sweet potatoes that were harvested earlier, chopped them up, and cooked them for the pigs.

The large fat pigs had a considerable appetite, requiring a big pot of cooked food every morning.