CHAPTER 63: CHAPTER 63: WILD BOAR FOR DINNER TONIGHT

Da Wa and Er Ni were digging for worms on the hillside near the house when Jiang Hu returned, and he saw them running home shortly after.

"Dad, look how many worms we caught." Both of them had a bamboo jar in hand and proudly handed them over to Jiang Hu.

Jiang Hu was taking a few newly bought chicks out of the back basket. Seeing the jars full of worms, he was surprised: "So many! One jar is enough for Dad, and the other can feed the chickens."

Er Ni was about to pour them into the bamboo basket where the chicks were, but was promptly stopped by Jiang Hu.

"That’s not good; first, give the chicks some water, and feed them in the evening."

He had carried them a long way under the sun, and the chicks were already quite startled, so they shouldn’t eat just yet.

Er Ni let out an "oh," quickly handed the jar to her brother, and went to the kitchen to fetch some water.

The eggs would be delicious! She wanted to raise the chicks well, so everyone could enjoy eggs someday!

This time, Jiang Hu bought ten chicks, and once they’re all grown, they wouldn’t lack eggs in the future.

"Hu bro, I made you some dumpling soup, have a bite before heading to the mountains." As Er Ni brought over the water, Er Niang also came out from the kitchen.

"Dad, it’s such a hot day, and you’re still going to the mountains?" Da Wa, who had just run back from the field, was still sweating all over.

"Yes, we have guests tonight, so I’ve got to catch some game," Jiang Hu said as he poured a little water from the bowl Er Ni had brought into the bamboo basket.

"Dad also bought some lean meat for Mom to cook for you at noon. I won’t be home for lunch, so behave yourselves and don’t wander around."

Originally, he’d rented an ox cart back today, planning to go to the mountains in the afternoon and deliver a game to Little Ding’s dad tomorrow.

But Little Ding’s dad said he’d deliver it himself in the afternoon and head back to town early tomorrow with the vegetable delivery vehicle, taking the chance to see how he drove the ox cart.

Thus, he couldn’t go up the mountain in the afternoon, so he’d better catch the game and return early to host Little Ding’s dad at night.

"Alright, be careful on your way out, Dad." Da Wa nodded sensibly.

Jiang Hu had some dumpling soup, took a jar of worms as bait, and put some water in a bamboo tube, then headed to the mountains.

He left not long before noon, but the weather was already heating up. Er Niang watched the kids at home and didn’t do any work outside, opting instead to make clothes from the cloth bought yesterday.

They bought the cheapest coarse cloth, which wasn’t as soft as cotton, but after making clothes, rubbing them several times, and washing them, they wouldn’t irritate the skin.

This summer clothing shortage affected all six family members, and each needed at least two outfits to interchange, so Er Niang was busy these days.

It was still cool under the eaves, and occasional breezes made it cooler than inside. While Er Niang made clothes by the small bed, Da Wa and Er Ni practiced writing with little sticks on the ground nearby.

Jiang Hu didn’t know much, but letting the kids learn early was better than going to school clueless.

Morning gruel for Little Mi and Tie Dan was more filling than milk, so only before preparing lunch did Er Niang feed them milk again.

Jiang Hu bought half a pound of lean meat, though he told Er Niang to cook it at noon, she didn’t use it all. She only sliced half, made meatballs, and cooked meatball and vegetable soup.

The remainder was saved to stir-fry with green peppers at night.

After eating, they took a nap, and waited for a long time until Jiang Hu returned.

Once again, he came back with a full load.

"Wow, so many wild chickens, Dad, what’s this ugly thing?"

Da Wa was the first to run to greet his dad, and upon seeing the prey in his dad’s hand, he exclaimed loudly.

"This is a mountain pig. Be careful, Da Wa, its quills are sharp."

Jiang Hu lifted it a bit higher, wary of Da Wa running into it.

Little Mi, lying on the small bed, hearing Jiang Hu’s voice, eagerly shouted, "Dad, Dad!"

Jiang Hu walked over smiling: "Little Mi wants to see too? When you grow up, you can eat the meat too."

Little Mi also saw the mountain pig, which was actually a porcupine with many black and white quills on its back!

However, it was hanging upside down, tied by the leg with a grass rope by her dad, showing no signs of struggle.

Er Niang, a step behind Da Wa and Er Ni, was also surprised to see the mountain pig: "Hu bro, aren’t mountain pigs nocturnal? How did you catch one?"

"Gluttony. I took two old cucumbers thinking I’d catch a rabbit. This thing showed up instead. I saw it trying to escape and grabbed a stick on impulse. Surprisingly, luck was on my side, and I killed it right away."

Jiang Hu put down the mountain pig by a pillar: "Let’s eat this tonight; it’s already dead, and it won’t be fresh tomorrow."

Unfresh game wouldn’t fetch much money, better to just eat it.

Er Niang nodded, but instead of dealing with the game first, she went to the kitchen: "Hu bro, I left some food for you at noon. Put the wild chickens away and eat something."

Da Wa followed Jiang Hu into the chicken coop, and Jiang Hu sent him to fetch the scissors Er Niang used for sewing clothes.

With a few snips, the feathers on the wild chickens’ wings and tails were trimmed.

"Dad, why are you trimming the wild chickens’ tails?"

"We’re not selling these chickens yet. We’ll keep them for a while before sending them to the restaurant. By the way, are there any worms left from this morning?"

"Yes, I’ll get them." Da Wa said as he ran to fetch the worms to feed the chickens. Jiang Hu kept the wild chickens in the coop, trimmed the feathers so they wouldn’t fly away.

Coming out, he told Er Niang about the plan, and she had no objections, while Little Mi thought to herself that her dad was really clever.

Er Niang heated up the rice for Jiang Hu before preparing to deal with the mountain pig.

Jiang Hu quickly came out with his bowl. There were even two meatballs specially left for him at noon, and he enjoyed them, savoring each bite with a smile.

"Er Niang, hold on, you should boil some water. The quills on this mountain pig are sharp; I’ll skin it shortly."

Er Niang, unsure how to handle it, heeded him and went off to boil water.

This mountain pig was not like store-bought pork that cooked easily, it needed to be stewed in advance. Jiang Hu finished his meal in a few bites and got busy.

The mountain pig had a strong flavor, which could easily overpower someone without the skill. But no matter, as long as there was meat, he was happy.

Besides, Er Niang was a decent cook in her own right. Previously they had set aside two taels of inferior wine specifically for cooking. By the time the kitchen aroma wafted out, so strong even Little Mi couldn’t resist sniffing the air, an ox cart slowly made its way into Fu’an Village.

Old Master Ding knew of Fu’an Village, yet he didn’t know where the Jiang family lived. Upon entering the boundaries of Fu’an Village, he realized he’d forgotten to ask beforehand.

He was just pondering whether to ask someone for directions when a young man voluntarily approached him.

"Grandpa, who are you looking for?"