Ch 66: The Farmer Ger in the Apocalypse

“What?” Shen Qing didn’t catch what Lian Ou had said.

However, Lian Ou didn’t continue the conversation and simply turned back to frying more fritters.

That evening, everyone had dinner at the small courtyard at the foot of the mountain. The meal featured pickled cabbage stewed with pork ribs, generously filled with meatballs and fried tofu, making everyone eat so heartily that no one even lifted their heads from their bowls.

“If it weren’t for the New Year, who could afford to eat like this?” Second Aunt Lian said as she picked up another bite of pickled cabbage. With so much meat in the pot, even the cabbage tasted richer than usual.

“You’re talking as if your family lacks good food. Your household is one of the wealthiest in the village,” Madam Guixiang teased.

Second Aunt Lian shook her head and, seeing that the people at the table were all close and trustworthy, sighed and admitted, “To be honest, it’s not that we don’t have food. But my mother-in-law is very frugal. If it’s not a holiday, forget meals like this—even the kids don’t get to eat eggs every day.”

But that was understandable. If the elders weren’t careful with spending, how could they save up wealth for their descendants? The Lian family had two sons who both married women instead of gers, and they still managed to become one of the more prosperous households in the village. That was thanks to Old Lady Lian’s diligent management of the household.

However, for all her frugality, she did know when to spend money to maintain appearances. The Lian family had planned to butcher their pig on the second day after Little New Year. But with the quarter of a wild boar that Shen Qing had given them earlier, they actually didn’t need to slaughter a pig this year at all.

Yet, in the village, things weren’t just about whether there was enough to eat—it was also about maintaining one’s social standing.

The Lian family was one of the wealthier and more status-conscious households in Lantang Village. At first, they had planned to sell their entire farm-raised pig, but after much discussion, the elders decided that skipping the annual pig slaughter for the first time in years would look bad. People in the village might talk behind their backs. So, they gritted their teeth and went ahead with it.

This was just how things worked in the village. People needed face, just like trees needed bark. Even if something wasn’t necessary, it was still done to maintain appearances. But at least there were always families who couldn’t afford to slaughter a pig themselves, so they would come to buy portions.

As soon as the Lian family announced that they were butchering their pig, many villagers came to place their orders for fresh pork in advance.

The village head’s family was the same. They had also planned to butcher a pig, just two days later than the Lian family.

Miao Shi thought for a moment and then asked Second Aunt Lian, “Has all the meat been reserved already? We didn’t raise any pigs this year—just some chickens.”

“You’re still buying? Doesn’t your family have plenty of meat already?” Second Aunt Lian asked, surprised.

“It’s not about needing more meat—we need some good fatty cuts. Save me some prime pork belly with a nice thick layer of fat.”

They did have plenty of meat, but wild boar meat was all lean. During the New Year, it was about symbolism—eating something rich and glistening with oil was considered auspicious. How could they celebrate properly without fatty pork to make the meal feel abundant?

“That’s true.” At the mention of good fortune, Second Aunt Lian stopped talking. Villagers were deeply superstitious about such things. “Alright, I’ll save it for you—but ten pounds is a bit too much.”

Shen Qing, listening from the side, suddenly recalled a dish he had seen in one of Mother Tang’s stored videos. His mouth watered just thinking about it. In the apocalypse, ingredients were scarce, and he had never been able to gather all the necessary components. But now that he had the chance, he quickly spoke up. “Aunt, has anyone reserved the pig trotters? If not, save them for me too.”

“What, you like pig trotters, Qing Ge’er?” Pig trotters weren’t exactly a prized cut, especially around the New Year. People wanted to eat big chunks of meat, not tough, chewy parts. Usually, they were given away to the butcher as part of his payment or as extra portions for those helping with the slaughter. “No one’s claimed them. They’re all yours.”

Madam Guixiang chimed in, “You really like those? If you want, I’ll save you ours too when we butcher our pig.”

Shen Qing eagerly nodded. Although his family had plenty of wild boar meat, wild boar trotters were tough and dry—not the texture he wanted. He had also heard that wild boar trotters were used in traditional medicine, but since no one in his household knew how to prepare them properly, they had just been wasted.

When Little New Year arrived, Shen Qing and Miao Shi went to celebrate with the Miao family in Shiqu Village. A festive occasion was always livelier with more people. Now, Shen Qing and Miao Shi were truly honored guests in the Miao household. Liu Yue’e and Li Yanzi were so busy with the endless line of customers buying tofu that they called out to Qiao Niang and Xue Niang, “Bring out the freshly roasted peanuts and fried tofu puffs for your aunt. If you need anything, just call through the window!”

The two little girls eagerly responded. These snacks were usually rationed for them, but with their aunt visiting, they had a chance to eat more.

The peanuts were roasted with coarse salt and dried chili peppers, while the tofu puffs were sprinkled with Sichuan pepper salt. Once you started eating, it was impossible to stop.

“No need to fuss, sister-in-law. I’m family, no need to treat me like a guest or trouble the children,” Miao Shi said, climbing onto the heated brick bed and sitting next to Old Lady Miao. Looking outside at the endless stream of people, she asked, “Do they work like this every day? Don’t they ever take a break? How long are they planning to keep this up?”

“Isn’t that the truth?” Old Lady Miao sighed. “Your two brothers get up before dawn to grind soybeans, sweating buckets even in the dead of winter! They work nonstop until sunset. Making money is addictive!” Though she spoke of their hardships, there was pride in her voice—who wouldn’t be pleased to see their family earning well? “If it weren’t for the tradition that working during the New Year is bad luck, they wouldn’t want to stop at all. They’re convinced business will be great on the second and third day of the new year when people visit relatives. But there’s no way around it—we’ve set the 29th as the last day, and we’ll reopen on the 6th. That way, we can enjoy a proper New Year’s break.”

They were making a lot of money, but the family had noticeably lost weight. Old Lady Miao couldn’t help but feel distressed seeing them so worn out.

Meanwhile, Shen Qing took the opportunity to visit Tongsheng Miao’s home again, paying respects to Scholar Miao. Scholar Miao instructed him to start with the Three Character Classic, patiently reciting it several times. Shen Qing listened carefully, committing it to memory. He wasn’t aiming to learn how to write—just being able to recognize characters was enough for now.

However, this time when he visited Tongsheng Miao’s home, the medicinal smell in the courtyard was even stronger than before. There was even a stove outside the kitchen, keeping a medicinal brew warm. Shen Qing curiously observed it but didn’t ask. Instead, he waited until he returned to Miao’s home and inquired with Old Lady Miao.

The topic was rather somber for a festive time, and Old Lady Miao sighed heavily. “Ah, that’s for Tongsheng’s wife. The doctor said if she can survive this winter, she might recover—but I don’t think she will.”

She shook her head. When doctors said things like that, they usually didn’t mean the patient had real hope of recovering. Rather, they were hinting that the family should prepare for the worst before the season was over. “The Scholar’s family has already prepared her coffin and burial clothes for good luck, but she hasn’t shown any improvement. Their children are just seven and two years old… it’s truly pitiful.”

The Miao family was well-off, so Tongsheng Miao’s wife had been receiving treatment for a long time, with no expense spared on medicine, yet she still wasn’t getting better. When Old Lady Miao said “pitiful,” she wasn’t just referring to the sick woman—she was also talking about her two children.

Tongsheng Miao himself was only twenty-seven or twenty-eight, and he had been a well-known prodigy in the countryside since childhood. Everyone believed he would eventually pass the imperial exams, and with his family’s wealth, there was no doubt he would remarry if his wife passed away. But for the two children, life under a stepmother’s care would not be easy.

Shen Qing fell into deep thought. He thought about the miraculous healing abilities of the other world, then glanced at Miao Shi and Old Lady Miao’s legs. In the end, he said nothing. He still had his own family’s problems to deal with—how could he possibly help anyone else?

The next day, Miao Shi deliberately waited until late in the morning before heading to the Lian household. “I really can’t stand watching pigs get slaughtered. Some people love gathering around to watch, but I just don’t get it. The sound of pigs squealing makes my heart ache.” Back in the Shen family, she had no choice but to witness the process every year.

It was strange—she could butcher a dead pig without a second thought, even a wild boar, gutting and cleaning it without blinking. But she simply couldn’t bear to watch them being killed. “Luckily, Second Aunt Lian invited us to the feast, so we don’t have to go too early.”

If they had gone to help, they would have had to arrive at dawn, likely carrying a bucket to help collect the pig’s blood.

By the time they arrived, the pig had already been slaughtered, and the blood had been drained. The butcher was busy pouring hot water over the carcass and scraping off the hair. Seeing them from a distance, Old Lady Lian greeted them warmly. “Oh, you’re here at last! We’ve been waiting for you—come inside and have a seat!” She personally took Miao Shi’s hand and led her in.

She wasn’t about to be careless—after all, this was the family that had gifted them a quarter of a wild boar! Just for that, Old Lady Lian was more than happy to show Miao Shi extra respect.

The feast seating was arranged separately for men and women. The men sat in the main hall, while the women and gers had two tables inside. Since the pig had just been butchered, the meal hadn’t started yet. The tables were set with roasted peanuts and sunflower seeds, and everyone chatted as they waited. When Miao Shi and Shen Qing arrived, they were warmly welcomed. Whatever anyone thought in private, today they were guests, and the hosts treated them with honor. Naturally, no one would openly stir up trouble.

Shen Qing wasn’t quite used to this kind of hospitality. He had never been disliked in the village, but he had also never been received with such enthusiasm. After some small talk, someone suddenly glanced at Shen Qing with a smirk and said, “Have you heard? The Shen family is butchering a pig today too.”

The atmosphere stiffened. Some people looked at Shen Qing and then at Miao Shi, unsure if they should continue the conversation. Shen Qing didn’t mind, but judging by the man’s expression, it wasn’t going to be anything good.

Another person glanced around the room and counted heads. “Almost everyone from our village is here at the Lian household today. I bet it’s pretty empty over at the Shen house—must not look too good for them.”

“Not empty at all!” the first man laughed gleefully. “You wouldn’t believe it, but they didn’t invite anyone! Zhao Aiye’s family just casually asked about it, and the old woman snapped at them!”

The crowd murmured in shock. The Zhao family was her actual in-laws—it wasn’t like they had any bad intentions. How did a simple question lead to an argument?

◦°˚(*❛‿❛)/˚°◦