Chapter 43: Raising Pigs

At this age, tending to pigs???!

Having set down the two baskets filled with chattering creatures, Hua Zhan returned to the carriage to unload the remaining items as well.

Three children, each cradling a cherished little piglet, encircled two bamboo baskets, their faces flushed with excitement.

Back in the days at the Marquis's residence, where had they ever laid eyes on little pigs, chickens, or ducks? This time around, not only did they have the chance to see them, but their elder sister-in-law even purchased some and now they had the opportunity to raise these creatures themselves.

At this moment, they were discussing how to divide not just one pig, but also a basket of chicks among them.

"How do we divide these two little ducks?"

Little Guo'er replied, "These aren't ducks; Sister said they're geese that will grow very big!"

The twins suggested, "Since there are only two, let the two elder brothers raise them. You can have the pig."

Little Guo'er protested, "Sister didn't say they were for you either."

"Come, let's go ask Sister-in-law about this."

The occupants within the house emerged upon hearing the commotion. Mrs. Chen supported the elderly matriarch as Aunt Mei followed closely behind.

"What's the matter with the three of you, making such a fuss? What do you want to ask your sister-in-law?"

The twins spoke in unison, "Geese! We want to raise geese!"

However, both the matriarch and Mrs. Chen, along with Aunt Mei, simultaneously directed their gaze to the piglets that the children were cradling in their arms. "Pigs?"

"Where did these piglets come from? You three can barely take care of yourselves, how can you possibly raise pigs?"

The trio replied in unison, "Not just pigs, but also geese and chickens. Sister-in-law took us to choose them."

Little Guo'er, pointing at the piglet in her arms, said gleefully, "This one is chosen by Guo'er. This piglet is plump; it will grow up to be very big and we can sell it for a lot of money!"

The twins frowned, "How can you be so materialistic? Pigs are so adorable, why would you want to sell them?"

Little Guo'er kissed the piglet affectionately, dismissing her brothers' naivety. "A pig needs to be fat to be sold for silver, to be eaten, and to help support our family. Otherwise, Sister-in-law won't have enough money. I'll work hard to fatten this pig up, and none of you will catch up to me!"

The elderly matriarch praised her granddaughter for her maturity, but how could these three children really know how to raise pigs? Full of questions, the trio approached and indeed saw a basket filled with fluffy yellow chicks, while in another, two ducks flapped their tiny wings, trying to escape.

The twins corrected, "They're geese, big white geese! Not the same as ducks, the old man selling them said they'll grow up to be huge and impressive."

"You're so kind, Sister-in-law. You didn't make us do anything this time, and you even brought us all these adorable creatures. We'll definitely take good care of them!"

The grandmother patted her two grandsons' heads affectionately. "Could it be anyone but your big sister-in-law? Now, off to the side."

As she walked out, she called out, "Lian'er, Lian'er, you're back!"

Yu Lian was helping her father-in-law carry items. On her way back just now, she had passed by her second uncle's house and fetched some rice and wheat flour from him. They had agreed on this earlier; last year's harvest had been bountiful, and her second uncle had stored plenty of grain. Buying from him saved them the trouble of going to the town shop and paying extra for profit.

With a few large bags of provisions, Hua Zhan, still recovering from his injuries, found it somewhat strenuous. Yu Lian thus helped her father-in-law carry one end each, working together to bring them down.

Hearing the grandmother's voice from afar, Yu Lian replied, "Grandmother, I'll talk to you in a moment."

The grandmother had already reached the gate. Spotting the situation, she hurriedly called for Aunt Mei to lend a hand. Though Aunt Mei had been a dancer in the past, she possessed considerable strength, far more than Yu Lian, who came from a family of delicate ladies.

Seeing Aunt Mei join in, the grandmother, not wanting her granddaughter-in-law to suffer, summoned Yu Lian. "Come here quickly, Grandmother has something to ask you."

Only one bag and a few small items remained. Yu Lian informed her father and Aunt Mei, wiped her hands, then walked over. The elderly matriarch led her to the baskets, pointing at them with a mix of laughter and tears. "What's going on here? We can barely manage ourselves, let alone take care of so many little creatures. How can we handle it?"

Little Guo'er hugged her piglet and softly protested, "They're not little beasts, they're treasures. Look how adorable they are, Grandma. They'll even bring in silver someday."

The old lady's heart softened at her innocent and lovely granddaughter, but also turned sour. In the past, they couldn't even afford to see a pig, let alone raise one. Now, at such a young age, she was already concerned about the family's livelihood and knew that pigs could be sold for money.

Yu Lian smiled and said, "Grandma, I forgot to mention this during the meeting. When we were in town, I saw people selling chicks and ducklings, and it dawned on me that we need to not only farm but also raise chickens, ducks, and pigs. I asked Aunt Ma, and she said every household in the village does this. By being self-sufficient, we can spend less on silver, save more, and ease the burden on our family, especially since we don't know much else. Whether we sell or eat them, it will be beneficial."

In the past, the matriarch would always agree with whatever Yu Lian said, but now she looked at the chicks, ducklings, and three piglets with concern. She said with a difficult expression, "You're right, but who in our family knows how to raise chickens, ducks, or feed pigs?"

The three children, hugging their piglets, spoke in unison that they would do it; they would feed them!

The elderly woman waved them off to play elsewhere. "Let's not talk about whether you kids can actually take care of them. Even if you learn, raising these animals isn't a short-term task. It takes months or even years for them to grow. Not to mention the food they'll consume, what if they get sick due to inadequate care? Yan'er and Xing'er will probably lose interest after a couple of days."

Yu Lian linked arms with her grandmother, smiling. "So, this responsibility falls on you. You're the matriarch of our family, our anchor. I'm sure you'll handle these little ones with no problem. This year, we won't be able to plant for the spring harvest, and we'll have to buy food in autumn. But by then, our chickens will have grown and started laying eggs. By winter, the pigs will be fat. We can keep one for ourselves and sell the other two. Wouldn't that bring in some silver?"

The matriarch was taken aback. "Me?"

"…Lian'er doesn't mean to imply that Grandma is lazy or unwilling to learn or work hard. It's just that, honestly, without embarrassing you, my old body has become accustomed to a life of luxury. I find it challenging just to walk over here. Grandma wants to focus on preserving my health, to stay alive long enough to see your lives stabilize and settle down. Then, I can leave knowing you'll be alright."

"Grandmother's frail body is plagued with ailments, preventing me from exerting myself. I fear that any exertion might lead to further health issues, necessitating more visits to the physician and draining our silver. It would also burden you all with worry and labor... Grandmother truly does not wish to become an additional burden through any unforeseen incidents."

The elderly lady bowed her head, her hair a mix of white and silver, and wrinkles creased her profile, revealing the signs of an advanced age. Yu Lian understood that at this age, she was considered quite senior in this era, and her health was indeed frail. Her vitality was diminished, and her aged body, like fragile old bones, was susceptible to illnesses.

This is why she was even more fearful of any ailment befalling her, for it might cast a shadow over the entire family.

She gently shook the old lady's hand and smiled brightly, saying, "Grandmother, back when I was in my maiden's chambers, I read some miscellaneous books, one of which was written by a wandering physician. It mentioned that as people age, they should move around even more; those with weaker constitutions particularly require exercise. It's truly beneficial to keep the body active. Now, farming would surely be too strenuous for you, and sitting idly at home can be dreadfully dull. Over time, it wouldn't do your spirits any good either. So why not find something to occupy yourself with? Enjoy good food and drink, and perhaps take up tending chickens and pigs at home. Engaging in such activities will not only help improve your health but also elevate your mood."

The elderly lady hesitated, "Can it truly be that good?"

"But... Grandmother doesn't know how to do this, how... how would she feed me?"

Having spent her entire life as a respected Lady of a noble household, the Elder Madam never imagined that one day she would be tending to chickens and pigs in the countryside. At her advanced age, she was not repelled by this change in circumstances, but the sight of the two baskets filled with chicks and ducklings, along with the three piglets held by the children, still felt incredibly unfamiliar and uneasy to her.

She truly hadn't anticipated that her granddaughter-in-law's trip to the town would result in so many creatures being purchased, all for the purpose of assigning tasks to her.

"You'll be just fine, Second Grandpa is a master at raising pigs and chickens. I'll invite her over to our home soon, and she can teach you the ropes. This task is yours, and once you've learned, you can instruct our three children. In the future, you and the kids will take charge of feeding our poultry. As for me, my parents, and Stepmother Mei, we have other responsibilities to attend to."

The old matriarch nodded in front of her granddaughter-in-law, then turned to glance at the two baskets filled with little creatures, and compared them to the pigs held by her three grandsons. She rubbed her forehead in exasperation.

She... can actually do it?

At her age, feeding pigs??

Perhaps the granddaughter-in-law was overestimating her abilities.

Though Yu Lian's body appeared fair and beautiful, she wasn't a delicate or hesitant person when it came to tasks. She efficiently organized her grandmother's affairs. Once her father-in-law had moved everything in, she instructed the twins to visit their uncle's house and inquire about when their aunt could come over.

The twins clung to the little piglet, unwilling to let go. Yu Lian took out a bundle of sugar-coated Hawthorn sticks, several of them, swaying them before the twins, making their mouths water with desire.

They pleaded, "Sis, sis... give us the candy apples!"

Yu Lian distributed one stick to each twin and another to Little Guo'er nearby. Then, she counted out five more and said, "Take these along as well, for the children at Uncle's house."

The twins protested, "Sis, you underestimate us! We can easily finish two or three sticks each! No need to bother others!"

"It's not for you, but for the children at Uncle's house. They've helped our family so much, and now we're asking Aunt for another favor. They'd likely refuse other gifts, but giving their kids some candy apples is acceptable. You must deliver them obediently. One should know how to repay kindness and reciprocate favors. When asking for help, there's a proper way to do it - it's a matter of etiquette. Do you understand?"

The twins shook their heads honestly, "No, we don't!"

Little Guo'er: "I understand, I understand! Sister, Guo'er will go. Guo'er is willing to go; Little Pea must be thrilled!"

"Also, call Uncle Qiushou over and let him teach Father how to build a pigsty."

Hua Zhan held a bowl of water, sipping it as she listened, then proceeded to walk towards the house.

"..."