chapter thirteen the chicken's ass
Lian Maner knew that she had spoken to Zhang's pain. But if it didn't hurt, Zhang wouldn't have come to her senses.
Zhang sat in a daze for a while, and finally managed to wipe away her tears.
"Your great-uncle mother looks like she can't do anything, and the family is waiting for dinner. Mother still has to go and help." Zhang discussed with Lian Man'er, "Your father and us also have to eat. Mother has remembered all of your words, Man'er, and Mother will have a sense of proportion this time."
Lian Man'er was a bit helpless, Zhang's was truly virtuous, and also very considerate of the big picture. To be honest, if she were to get along with someone, she also hoped that the other party was someone like Zhang.
To make Zhang change was not something that could be done overnight. Now that Zhang was willing to listen to her, this was a good transformation. Just as Zhang's words, a little more work won't tire a person out, thinking of this, Lian Man'er stopped stopping Zhang's.
"Then I'll go with Mother, I can also help with the work." Lian Man Er said. Gu was so smart, and Zhang was a straight and honest person, she was afraid that Zhang would suffer.
Zhang's going to help with the cooking, Zhao's coming along to help.
Gu was under the stove burning fire, making a room full of smoke, but the fire was not lit, and was bending over and coughing. She thought that Zhang had a grudge against her because of Lian Man'er's matter and refused to come to help, and that just now was just a pretext. She was angry and hateful, gritting her teeth, and when she saw Zhang and Zhao come over to help, she immediately smiled.
Zhao entered the door and took over the work in Gu's hands.
"...... The firewood is a bit damp ...... things are put where I don't know, younger siblings you see ......" Gu smiled to Zhang .
Zhang's looked at Lian Man'er, and Lian Man'er nodded gently to Zhang's.
"Sister-in-law, the firewood was just dried by Wulang yesterday, and it's not damp at all. It's because sister-in-law hasn't done these tasks for years, her hands are raw." Zhang said to Gu.
"Yes, fourth sibling you're right, it's my hands that are raw. Fifth Lang is a good boy." Gu was busy saying.
Zhang looked at Lian Man'er again, who nodded encouragingly at her. That's how it should be, with some people, you can't always be the good old boy, toughen up in order to gain respect.
Zhang's heart moved slightly. If it was usual, she would definitely go along with Gu's words, at the very least, she would not refute Gu, even though what Gu said was not right. The slightest bit of change for her today was that Gu went along with what she said, and even expressed her affirmation of Gulang's labor.
What Man'er said was indeed right, Zhang thought, it was really out of place for her to be as obedient as she was in the past.
"Sister-in-law, looking at what Mother means, she wants sister-in-law to take turns cooking the family's meals as well. Sister-in-law can definitely cook better than us, it's just that it's her first time doing it and she's a bit rusty. Sister-in-law is a smart person, watch and learn, and you'll soon get the hang of it." As Zhang spoke, she pointed out all the things in the house to Gu, and even taught Gu by hand. These were all taught to her by Lian Man'er, saying that she couldn't "clamor for attention."
Gu's face accompanied the smile, but her heart was bitter. She knew that Zhang's heart was soft and good at talking, and she planned to use good words to coax Zhang into staying, so that Zhang would do all the work for her. Now it seems that Zhang has no such intention at all.
Gu's is spoiled for a long time, even if Zhang's in the side of the guidance, drying up the work also stumbled. Zhang was a diligent and sharp person, so she couldn't stand it, and in the end, she did most of the work, although Gu also got a face full of gray smoke.
"Auntie is a fast learner, next time you'll be able to cook for yourself." Lian Man'er said deliberately.
The corner of Gu's mouth twitched, next time, she wouldn't allow there to be a next time, in a moment she was going to go back to town with Lian Shouren.
This side of the meal was just ready, Lian Laozi and Lian Shouren's brothers came back from outside around the same time. The brothers put the silver on the kang, a whole ten or so envelopes of silver, put half a kang of white flowers. Master Lian, Lian Shouxin and Lian Shouli were all frowning, but only Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi were inexplicably excited. It turned out that Lian Shouren had borrowed six hundred taels of silver from Lao Jin, and cashed in the whole five hundred and forty taels.
"There's also the matter of the flowers, the family also needs money, borrow more, be more generous." Lian Shouren said.
His son had already borrowed the money, so Master Lian couldn't say anything else.
"Eat first," Master Lian said, "After eating, you'll go to the town, the money you owe people should be paid back in a hurry."
This side settled the dishes, Gu's excuse to let Lian Shouren wash his hands, called Lian Shouren out, the couple whispered for half a day before returning to the table.
The family quickly finished breakfast, Gu headed out to collect the bowls, and secretly passed Lian Shouren an urging wink.
"Father, Mother, I'm going to town to return the money," Lian Shouren said to Master Lian and Zhou, "I also have to buy some dowry for Hua'er, and I want Hua'er's mother to organize it. Her mother and I will go back together."
Master Lian was about to nod, but Zhou coughed. In all matters concerning his daughters-in-law, Elder Lian had traditionally listened to Zhou's decision, so he didn't say anything, and had to listen to what Zhou had to say.
"You and your two brothers go and pay back the money, and the three of them stay at home. I've thought about Hua'er's dowry. Her great aunt's store is now open, what things don't she have? Even if there are one or two things that are temporarily missing, if we let them buy them, they will be cheaper than us. We'll just open up the things we want to sell at home and bring them to her great aunt along with the silver, it's a lot less hassle."
Surprisingly letting Zhou's words go to her head, Gu's busy winking at Lian Shouren again, telling him not to agree.
"Mother, that Sun family is not an ordinary family, flower dowry ......" Lian Shouren also did not expect Zhou's will be arranged this way, so he wanted to find a reason to shirk.
"You've only lived in town for a few years." Zhou interrupted Lian Shouren's words and coldly swept a glance at Gu, "Lan'er has lived in the county for these many years, and her store is thriving, matching how many big families. She knows more about buying things than you do. Hua'er's marriage, thanks to her great aunt, otherwise, where would you go to know what Sun's son? The dowry matter, entrusting it to her great aunt, is the most secure."
Lian Shouren was said by Zhou's speechless rebuttal, Gu's at this time and did not dare to contradict Zhou's, can only be next to the dry anxious.
"Moreover, Hua'er is going to get married, I'm the milkman also have to teach her some rules, lest to others as a daughter-in-law without rules, the shame is my Lian family." Zhou added.
Is it possible that I, as a mother, am not better than you at teaching? Gu's heart was infuriated, but she could only hold her breath and didn't dare to say anything.
"Let's do this according to what your mother said. Hua'er has always lived in town, and this old mansion hasn't been lived in for a few days. When she goes out in the future, it will be even harder for her to come back. For these few months, just stay at home." Elder Lian said, "The house in town is rented, unlike your own home. Hua'er will also be getting married at home."
"Yes, Hua'er, you come over and I'll live with you, so the two of us might talk properly." Lian Xiu'er also said joyfully.
Lian Laozi had given the word, no matter how reluctant Gu's mother and daughter three were, they could only agree for the time being, the twinge in their hearts was beyond words.
"It's almost time for the fall harvest, let Jizu and the others come back as well." Before Lian Shouren left the door, Elder Lian instructed again.
Lian Shouren agreed and headed to the town with Lian Shouyi and Lian Shouxin.
......
Farming families had little free time throughout the year, and small children in farming families, from a very young age, had to help adults do the work that they could.
Just after dinner, Zhou moved a bench and sat under the eaves of the main house, greeting Lian Zhi'er and Lian Man'er, several children.
"Open the chicken coop and catch chickens."
What are you catching chickens for, are you going to kill them for dinner today? Lian Man'er twisted her head to look at Lian Zhi'er.
"Let the chickens out and let them find their own food. Milk also needs to feel how many eggs there are today. We don't need to care about the roosters, just catch the hens and touch them one by one for milk." Lian Zhi Er saw that Lian Man Er was a bit dazed, and thought that she had fallen on her head and couldn't remember a lot of things, so she busily explained to her.
"Oh." Lian Man'er nodded, then followed Lian Zhi'er and Xiao Qi, jumping into the chicken coop. The Lian family had about ten chickens, only three were roosters, the rest were hens, and all of them were laying eggs.
This chore was similar in nature to a game in the eyes of a small child. With his two sisters around, Xiao Qi became playful and chased a small, nimble hen around the chicken coop, clucking and running in circles.
Zhou didn't care about him, only letting Lian Man'er and Lian Zhi'er catch the chickens.
These chickens were all fed by these children, so they weren't afraid of them. Lian Man'er quickly caught a reedy chicken and handed it to Zhou.
Zhou took the hen and cradled it in her arms, holding it down with one hand and reaching for the hen's butt with the other.
Lian Man'er watched with some embarrassment as Zhou's fingers reached into the chicken's ass. What is Zhou doing?
Zhou quickly drew back her fingers and released the hen.
"This one has no eggs today."
Zhou spoke and took the other hen that Lian Zhi'er handed over, still doing the same thing.
"This one has only one egg,...... today there are collectively five eggs." Zhou's final announcement.
"Milk touches can be accurate, never made a mistake." Lian Zhi Er said softly.
The original is to use this method to touch the hens today will lay eggs or not, also really ...... direct.
"Milk is still really capable." For what it's worth, this is definitely called a masterpiece, at least that's what Lian Man'er thought.
"All give me something to watch." Zhou rushed at He, who had come out of the compartment, and shouted, "One less egg, and I'm not done with you."
"It's none of my business if the chickens lay more or less eggs." He twisted her face, slammed the curtain and went back into the house.
"With this move by milk, no one will be able to steal the eggs." Lian Zhi'er chuckled in Lian Man'er's ear.
"Second old lady, often steals eggs?" Lian Man'er reacted quickly.
Lian Zhier pursed her lips and smiled.
It turned out that Zhou wasn't afraid of getting dirty touching the chickens' asses every day, not only because she wanted to know in advance how many eggs would be produced, but also in order to prevent her daughters-in-law from stealing eggs ah.