Chapter 73 – A Boisterous Pig-Killing Feast

Chapter 73 - A Boisterous Pig-Killing Feast

◎ A Boisterous Pig-Killing Feast ◎

After finishing the first dish, Taohua scooped water with a ladle to clean the pot and instructed her sister-in-law to keep the fire going. Once the cooking started, there was no respite until all the dishes were prepared. It was colder now, so the food had to be served hot.

Once the pot was heated, Taohua spooned in some oil, less than what she used for the spare ribs. While waiting for the oil to heat up, she took the sliced pork loin that Wu Zhaodi had prepared, along with some fatty trimmings.

Wu Zhaodi was skilled with a knife, a woman accustomed to working at the kitchen stove since childhood. Her cuts would impress even professional butchers; Taohua acknowledged that her own knife skills couldn't match up. When the oil was hot, she first threw in the fatty parts to render out the grease. As the fat curled up and the oil increased, she pushed it to one side of the pan, clearing the center for the pork loin. After stirring the loin for a bit, she mixed it with the fatty edges, tossing them together.

When the meat was almost done, she repeated the process, pushing it aside to create space in the middle of the pan. She then added the washed and shredded cabbage, followed by a few slices of ginger and salt for seasoning. To add a unique touch, she also threw in some zanthoxylum berries.

The logs in the fireplace crackled and popped as the flames roared, while the clash of the spatula against the iron pot created a down-to-earth country dish – stir-fried pork loin with shredded cabbage. As it was ready, Wu Zhaodi, watching nearby, promptly handed over a clean basin. Taohua transferred the dish into it and, without pause, continued to wash the pot.

The rabbits had also been cleaned up earlier. While they were fetching their mother from Apricot Blossom Village, their sisters-in-law hadn't rested for a moment. Upon the men's butchering of the pig, Second Sister-in-law promptly rendered lard and simmered chicken soup. Wu Zhaodi and the others were constantly busy, washing utensils, chopping meat, boiling some, and preparing vegetables and seasonings in advance. If anything was lacking from the Wei household, they sent the men to retrieve it. Taohua even noticed an unfamiliar pickle jar; her eldest sister-in-law had sent it over, saying that her family's pickles weren't ready yet.

Amidst the smoky and bustling kitchen, people came and went, creating a lively atmosphere.

A crowd had gathered around the kitchen entrance, where a group of children, lured by the aroma, were reluctant to move on. Doggie, not the least bit shy, accurately located the head of the household, Elder Wei. He clung to the elder's leg and cried out, "Grandpa, when are we eating? I'm starving!"

Mancang stood by, his face flushed with anxiety. "Not grandfather, you should address him as uncle!" he urged, exasperated with his foolish younger brother.

Old Wei erupted into boisterous laughter, bending down to lift Dogzi up. "You have to call me Uncle. I'm your sister-in-law's father, so you're on the same generation as your brother-in-law. How can you call me Grandfather?"

"Uncle, when are we eating? Tell my sister to hurry up!" Dogzi quickly changed his tone. He dared not urge his sister to cook at home; she could be extremely temperamental if someone rushed her while she was cooking. Even if she managed to hold back her anger, her gaze could be fiercely intimidating.

"Patience, just a little more patience and we can eat." Old Wei didn't dare to hurry the cook in the kitchen. Why rush when the one working hard to prepare the meal hasn't even complained of fatigue? How could they, who merely waited to be fed, bring themselves to press? Ansheng battled the greedy cravings in his belly, enduring with all his might!

The wok was smoking with heat, and this time Taohua had added quite a bit of oil; rabbits don't have much fat, and without enough oil, the meat wouldn't cook properly. Once the oil in the wok was hot, she poured in a large basin of diced rabbit meat and stirred it vigorously with her spatula. Truth be told, her arm was getting tired, and she could hear the dog barking outside, asking when dinner would be ready. Just like at Qian's place, she was busy cooking in the kitchen, but no one came to help her except for her mother. They were all sitting in the main room, chatting and laughing. They'd urge her to hurry up with the cooking when they got hungry, but they never bothered to come into the kitchen to lend a hand.

Once, when Dogzi rushed to urge her, she was already simmering with frustration. She had spent the entire day laboring in the fields and, upon returning home, had no respite before being expected to prepare the evening meal in the kitchen. Physically exhausted and mentally frazzled, she couldn't restrain herself from taking out her anger on Dogzi. From that day on, Dogzi never dared to hurry her again in the kitchen. Whenever he felt hungry, he would hold his belly and watch his mother tend to the fire from the hearth's entrance.

Thinking of this, Taohua couldn't help but quicken the speed of her stir-frying. The stove was ablaze with a roaring fire, and the oil in the pan was hot. She still tossed in a generous amount of dogwood, commonly referred to as chili peppers in the countryside, along with scallions, ginger, star anise, and Sichuan peppercorns, not omitting any of these ingredients. Soy sauce was also an essential part of the mix. Finally, she sprinkled coarse salt over the dish, and with that, a dish of stir-fried spicy rabbit meat with a complete set of colors, aromas, and flavors was ready to be served.

Tonight's schedule is too tight, or I would have braised the pork head, ears, and tail, and prepared a huge pot of boiled fish with Auntie's spicy pickled cabbage. Her pickles are so flavorful, with just the right kick of chili peppers. The taste would have been irresistible. Alas, there's no way to manage it all. The fish will have to be caught fresh another day in the mountains, and the pork head won't have time to braise. We'll have to settle for stir-fried dishes and some refreshing cold salads instead.

Indeed, there's the tender and sticky pork knuckle that needs to be slow-cooked early tomorrow morning. Unfortunately, it's not on the menu for tonight.

As Taohua cooked around the stove, Wu Zhaodi was by her side, preparing garlic and white meat salad, as well as a cold vegetable dish. There had to be both hot and cold dishes; in case the heavy meat dishes became too much, there would still be something refreshing to cleanse the palate.

Wu Zhaodi couldn't believe she had such rebellious thoughts—she had never been sick of eating meat in her life, only starved for it. But looking at the heap of meat on the stove and the half-pig hanging in the yard, not to mention the four hams in the bucket, how could they not get tired of it tonight? It was all meat!

The fourth dish was the indispensable braised pork. Since there wasn't a whole piece of pork belly in the kitchen, nor had it been pre-cut, Taohua asked Wei Dahu, who was in the yard, to fetch a large piece of fresh pork belly. After receiving the meat, she didn't wash it immediately but instead held it by the skin and rubbed the back of the meat against the slightly heated wok to remove the hair and improve the texture of the skin.

Once the skin was charred black, Taohua scooped some water and used a knife to scrape off the blackened part, revealing the original color of the pork skin.

She threw the meat onto the cutting board. As Wu Zhaodi urged her to continue cooking, she handed the knife over. Taohua washed the wok again, grabbed some pickled cabbage from the jar, and, using the knife Wei Dahu had given her for protection (which she had never needed for defense but often used to scale fish), cut the pickles. Then, she made a large pot of pickled cabbage and sliced pork soup.

After pouring out the soup, Taohua continued to scrub the wok clean. She called her eldest sister-in-law to stoke the fire while she added oil, but not too much this time. Once the oil was hot, she poured in all the diced pork belly and fried out the fat until both sides turned golden brown. She then scooped the cooked pork into a bowl, took sugar from the wooden cabinet, and told her eldest sister-in-law not to make the fire too strong. She slowly melted the sugar over low heat, and when the bubbles started to boil, she asked her eldest sister-in-law to increase the flame and stir-fry the pork belly to coat it with the caramelized sugar.

Wu Zhaodi and Third Uncle Grandfather's granddaughter watched quietly, their hearts fluttering as Taohua liberally added oil and sugar. Meat was a rare treat for them; they had never seen such a cooking method! How enlightening, they thought, that braised pork was made this way and required sugar! The control of heat was also crucial—the alternating intensity of the fire made the dish all the more precious!

Once the pork belly was evenly coated with the caramel, Taohua threw in the prepared slices of ginger, bay leaves, star anise, and green onion. She even asked Dahu to pour a small bowl of liquor into the wok and stir-fried everything together. Under Wu Zhaodi's astonished gaze, she added half a ladle of water, some coarse salt, and simmered it over a low flame after bringing it to a boil.

Covering the wok, Taohua finally caught her breath. When she turned around, she saw a circle of people gathered at the entrance to the kitchen.

"…"

Chen Erniu held his son, Iron Bull, and both father and son wiped their mouths simultaneously. Goodness, did anything spill?

It smelled heavenly!

Wei Dahu glanced at his wife, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down uncontrollably. He couldn't resist, couldn't resist. His wife wouldn't even need a knife to threaten his life in the future; all she needed was to wave a spatula at him, and he'd submit without resistance. He'd let her do as she pleased, even offering his neck willingly, as long as she prepared this braised pork dish for him.

"Sweetheart, why don't we start the meal?" Wei Dahu looked at her eagerly, voicing what everyone else dared not say.

Taohua glanced back at the stove and nodded with a smile. "Alright, it's almost ready. Let's serve the dishes on the tables!"

A delighted grin spread across Wei Dahu's face as he called out to the men to set up the tables and chairs in the yard. Taohua, seeing this, turned to Wu Zhaodi and Third Uncle Grandfather's granddaughter-in-law. "While the food is still hot from the stove, let's quickly portion it out into plates and bowls. Each table will have its share."

"Sure!" Wu Zhaodi nodded and, along with Third Uncle Grandfather's granddaughter-in-law, began dividing the dishes.

There were no shortages of serving dishes and bowls in the kitchen, all brought from their homes and familiar items they had used before. Wu Zhaodi squatted on the ground, ladling chicken soup from a large pot – the result of boiling two chickens. With four tables to cater to, that meant four bowls of soup, which equated to half a chicken per bowl – not a small amount!

She was in charge of scooping while Third Uncle Grandfather's daughter-in-law carried the bowls to the yard. The men weren't just waiting to eat; each had tasks to attend to. After setting the tableware, those women busy in the kitchen prompted the men to take their children to wash their dirty hands.

After playing together for half a day, the children had formed strong bonds. They insisted on sitting at a table by themselves, but their fathers, with a firm pat on their bottoms, put an end to that notion. At their age, unable to even hold chopsticks properly, they were far too young to sit at a table alone! They needed discipline.

The gosling was still small and wailed loudly as his father scolded him ruthlessly. In turn, the father was reprimanded by his own father, making for quite a lively scene before the meal.

The chicken soup was served first, followed by four bowls of fragrant fried pork ribs, one for each table; four servings of shredded cabbage stir-fried with pork loin, again, one for each; four bowls of spicy stir-fried rabbit meat, also one per table; four pots of sour meat slices soup, one for each; four servings of garlic-laden braised pork, one on each table; and four bowls of chilled mixed vegetables, once more, one for each. Of course, there was also the much-anticipated braised pork, which was still simmering in the pot.

With seven dishes already on the tables, their quantity was remarkable. Each dish was served in a full basin or platter, not just a tiny portion like what the wealthy families in town would offer. A plate of shredded cabbage stir-fried with pork loin alone could feed a family of five to six with hearty appetites, not to mention the rabbit meat and the large basin of pork ribs, let alone the fragrant, oil-rich chicken soup. Enough said, anyone listening would be drooling at this point.

Dahu's wife was an excellent homemaker, ensuring that every dish was generously portioned and well-marinated. The group of villagers, who often lacked such richness in their meals, stared wide-eyed at the layer of yellow fat floating on top of the chicken soup, their mouths watering. Oh my, how delectable the soup looked!

Could they eat now?

Of course, they could. As the head of the family, Elder Wei first invited the relatives to sit. "In-laws, please take your seats."

Pushed by her aunt, Zhao Sufen took her place at the main table, which was the first one closest to the main hall. This table was reserved for the hosts. Today, all the guests at Wei's house for the hog-killing feast were close friends and neighbors, but Zhao Sufen and Mancang were true honored guests, and thus should sit at the main table.

Not being shy, Zhao Sufen willingly took her seat, appreciating the Wei family's intention. Elder Wei personally pulled Mancang and Dogzi to join them, seating them next to their mother. Mancang felt a bit awkward; he came when Elder Wei called him but stood rooted to the spot otherwise, unsure where he belonged. Dogzi, on the other hand, was eager to sit by his mother's side, tugging at his brother's sleeve while Elder Wei reached out for him.

Tie Niu and the twin siblings, Ya Dan and Ge Dan, clamored to sit with Uncle Dogzi. However, Dogzi, eyeing the fried pork ribs on the table, sat with his hands folded, behaving obediently, eagerly awaiting the signal to grab a rib to gnaw on.

"Dogzi, which dog doesn't love gnawing on bones!"

After greeting the relatives, Old Master Wei led Third Uncle Grandfather and his wife to the main table. However, Third Uncle Grandfather waved his hand and plopped down on the table adjacent to the main one, chuckling as he pushed away Old Master Wei's hand. "I'll sit here. My old lady, my son, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, and their spouses—haha, it's a good thing we haven't had any great-grandchildren yet, or else our big family would occupy two tables!" He noticed Chen Erniu carrying Iron Bull and called out to them. "Why are you standing foolishly there? Come over and sit at this table."

Chen Erniu was about to bring his son over, but Old Master Wei stopped him with an outstretched hand. He suggested that they move the other two tables closer, as everyone in the courtyard knew each other except for his relative. There was no need to differentiate between the main table and the guest table. "Just merge the tables together. Eating at one big table will be livelier."

"That's right, we're all family, so why bother separating the tables? Hurry up, everyone, combine the tables. It'll be much livelier eating at one table." Second Uncle stood by with his arms crossed. Seeing his son standing dumbfounded without taking action, he gave him a kick on the backside. This kid had no sense of propriety; he was the youngest among their generation, yet he didn't act promptly. Did he expect his father to help carry the tables?

With a kick to his buttocks from his father, Chen Sanshi didn't bother brushing off the dust on his pants. Instead, he immediately reached out to help Chen Erniu lift the table. Zhao SuFen wanted to stand up with her son, but she was held back by her eldest sister-in-law, who smiled and said, "Why stand up? Even if the heavens themselves descended, you've already secured your seat today. No need to move; just ask them to bring the table over."

Seeing Dogzi fixated on the pot of spare ribs, she was delighted. She called out to him and Mancang, "You two little ones, don't mind the adults. If you're hungry, grab chopsticks and eat. At your sister and brother-in-law's house, there's no need to be formal; treat it like your own home. Be good, eat if you're hungry!"

Dogzi looked up at her with a obedient smile, still resting his folded hands on the table without reaching out. He dared not stretch out his hand with his mother watching. If he did, his palm might swell from the switch, and even his brother couldn't save him!

Mancang also refrained from reaching out; he was even more well-behaved than Dogzi. This pleased his aunt to no end. How could their relatives be so skilled at raising children? All three siblings were adored, each one more delightful than the next!

Four square tables were combined into one large rectangular table.

With no need to separate tables, Iron Bull and Duck Egg and Goose Egg insisted on sitting with Uncle Dogzi. The adults had no choice but to give in to their demands. Old Master Wei personally carried Goose Egg, who had received a spanking from his father, to sit beside Dogzi. Goose Egg, seated next to the spinning top master, Dogzi, laughed until snot bubbled out of his nose.

Tables were arranged, and Chen Dashi, carrying the chicken soup, promptly placed a bowl in each of the four corners. In a blink, the table was filled with platters and bowls of dishes.

As the tables became crowded with food, the children's mouths watered, yet even the youngest and most naive, Duck Egg, merely sucked on his fingers while drooling, imitating the concept of 'looking at plums to quench thirst' without reaching for the meat in the bowls. Including Iron Ox, who sat twisted on his stool like a wriggling maggot—no, a silkworm—the children had all been well-behaved, taught by their elders.

Old Master Wei invited everyone to sit down. The men, knowing there would be alcohol, nudged each other, all avoiding sitting next to their wives and children, instead gathering together in an unspoken agreement. When Wei Dahu emerged with the wine jar, the men's eyes glinted green, much like the kids salivating over the meat.

Zhao SuFen watched this scene, feeling a bit dazed.

Though these were relatives she had just met today, from her son-in-law's side, she didn't feel any sense of estrangement or formality. Each person who met her gaze smiled warmly. The men were as expected, but the younger generation, like Cousin Chen Da and Second Uncle, looked at her with familial affection. Elders like Third Uncle Grandfather carried no airs, and she, visiting her daughter's husband's family for the first time, truly felt what it meant to be a "honored guest."

After her first husband passed away, Zhao SuFen remarried twice. In both the Zhou and Qian households, some looked down on her, some despised her, some ignored her, and some slandered her... Her second husband's parents were deceased, so there were no relatives to visit. But the Qian family had many relatives; whenever they visited or were visited during festivals, Chef Qian would only bring his two sons, never his later-married wife.

She didn't understand why she, a legitimate wife, had brought shame to him. Dogzi was already five years old, and in all those years in the Qian household, Zhao SuFen had never been respected by the Qian family's relatives. Yet here, in her son-in-law's family, everyone treated her as an honored guest.

Zhao SuFen wasn't blind to sincerity from mere politeness. She knew that the Wei family's friends genuinely welcomed her and her two sons.

Looking up at her son-in-law, who was opening the wine jar and joking with the group of men, Zhao SuFen, in this moment, considered Wei Dahu as one of her own sons, just like Mancang and Dogzi.

The last main dish was served, its aroma wafting, capturing everyone's attention.

Taohua emerged with the braised pork, meeting the gaze of everyone. She felt like the center of attention now, from Third Uncle Grandfather all the way down to Eggy, who was drooling while biting her fingers. Everyone's eyes were fixated on... the braised pork in her hand.

The caramelized pork was reddish-brown, glistening, tender, and sticky, bound to be succulent when tasted, filling onlookers' hearts with joy and making their faces bloom with smiles.

Taohua placed the dish on the table, and Eggy let out a delighted "Wow," saliva dribbling down the corners of her mouth.

Four plates of braised pork were served one after another.

When all the dishes were finally arranged, the table was utterly packed, plate upon plate, bowl next to bowl, just like the people sitting around it, leaving no room for even a breath of air. Everyone held their chopsticks, awaiting the host's signal to begin.

Head of the household, Elder Wei, glanced at everyone and said with a smile, "Eat!"

As the words faded, the sound of chopsticks clashing against plates immediately filled the room. All thoughts were put on hold; stomachs had to be satisfied first. The men forgot about drinking, the women neglected their children, and the children were too busy drooling to care – all reaching for the meat with their chopsticks in unison.

Chen Dashi picked up a piece of stir-fried spicy rabbit with his chopsticks. His luck was good; he managed to get a piece of the leg meat, which was tender and succulent. With one bite, the freshness of the rabbit meat combined with the pungent aroma of the chili peppers instantly transformed the bland taste buds into a rich symphony of flavors. The taste was so delightful that he kept nodding in approval, repeatedly dipping his chopsticks into the bowl brimming with rabbit meat.

Beside him, Chen Erniu was different; he had a very specific target in mind – the braised pork. With one deft swoop of his chopsticks, a hefty chunk of braised pork, soaked in savory gravy, quivered delicately between the sticks. Chen Erniu's eyes fixated on its color and the layers of fat, and he couldn't help but exclaim inwardly, "Oh my, I can hardly wait!" He eagerly shoved the loaded chopsticks into his mouth, a move so hearty it nearly reached his throat, yet this minor mishap did nothing to deter the instantaneous bloom of joy across his face. "Mmm, oh my, how can it be this delicious? This is the kind of hearty meat a man should feast on! Each bite floods the mouth with richness!" It was indeed greasy, undeniably so, but that was precisely the flavor he craved. Yes, greasy – perfectly so!

Delicious, indeed! The well-marbled pork belly, with its perfect balance of lean and fatty meat, is such that even the ladies find it hits the spot, the lean parts tempering the richness of the fat.

For a moment, everyone was too absorbed in their meal to speak, the only sound being the clinking of chopsticks against porcelain.

Taohua sat beside Mancang, a spot deliberately reserved for her by the family. On her side was Mancang, then Mother, then Dogzi, then Goose Egg, then Sister-in-law Fang Qiuyan on Goose Egg's other side, and Duck Egg on her own. Even if the children clamored to sit together, apart from Iron Ox and Dogzi, Duck Egg and Goose Egg were still too young to handle chopsticks properly; how could they possibly feed themselves? They'd likely watch in frustration as the adults enjoyed their meat, unable to pick any up themselves, and end up crying out of eagerness.

Dogzi loved spare ribs, and there was still a chunk of braised pork in his bowl that Old Man Wei had stood up to serve him. Mancang also had some, which he was currently enjoying.

Dahu was directly across from Taohua, and when she looked up, she caught him grinning at her, though she couldn't fathom what he found amusing.

Despite this, a smile tugged at the corners of her lips, and she returned his grin.

The couple sat across a table filled with delicious food and fine wine, grinning foolishly at each other. Everyone else in the room pretended not to notice, focusing on their own tasks: some were enjoying the meat, others were feeding their children, and still others engaged in conversation, all with a keen sense of propriety.

When the initial commotion subsided and their hunger was appeased, people no longer buried their heads solely in their food. Instead, the women moved to sit together, chatting as they ate, while the children finally joined Uncle Dog to gnaw on spare ribs. The men began to take turns pouring drinks for each other.

Only when the wine is poured does it truly become a proper feast to celebrate the slaughter of a pig!

Wei Dahu first poured a bowl of wine for Third Uncle Grandfather, then followed with his father. He intended to pour a cup for his mother-in-law as well. Seeing this, Zhao SuFen quickly took the bowl and held it up with her hand, smiling. "I can't handle such strong alcohol that burns the throat. Don't worry about me, just enjoy your meal."

"Very well." Wei Dahu didn't insist. Since his mother-in-law declined, he followed the family hierarchy and filled his Third Uncle Grandfather's son's cup. He generously poured for both his First Uncle and Second Uncle. However, he paid no attention to Chen Erniu and his older brother. He placed the wine jar on the table and told them to help themselves if they wanted a drink; he wasn't going to serve them personally.

Having grown up together as brothers, they didn't adhere to such formalities. They all rose to pour their own drinks from the jars.

Third Uncle Grandfather and Uncle Chen were sipping their wine while discussing next year's spring planting. The older generation was always preoccupied with the work in the fields. With no outsiders present, Uncle Chen brought up the issue of stored grain: "Have you prepared any? You must pay attention; the current situation doesn't seem too promising."

"Initially, I was confused about storing grain. Suddenly, why should we store it? The past couple of years have been favorable, with no droughts or floods. Our harvest has been good every year. Forget about the rest, at least we managed to store some!" Third Uncle Grandfather sighed. After Li Chunying's visit, he felt increasingly uneasy and sent his son and daughter-in-law to town to investigate. Upon seeing the situation, they realized something was seriously amiss. So, they promptly dug a hidden hole in the mountains and concealed their grain that very night.

Third Uncle Grandfather, wise from his years, had seen more than the younger generation's share of salt. He sensed that the times might be unstable. As an elder of the Chen family, he couldn't ignore the signs without warning his clan. However, it was likely that none of the Chen family members took his words to heart.

After all, the world had been peaceful for so long. Suddenly suggesting the need to store grain, they would probably nod in agreement but then privately dismiss him as an old man gone mad.

Half-listening to Third Uncle Grandfather's talk about grain storage, Chen Erniu's family was also among the first to be notified. While Chen Erniu lacked brains, Wu Zhaodi readily agreed. She spent her days in the mountains and knew the terrain well. Initially, Chen Erniu thought they could just store the grain at home, but Wu Zhaodi slapped him and scolded him as a foolish ox. The following day, the couple went to the mountains together.

" Stored, in a very secretive spot." Drunk after two bowls of wine, Chen Erniu nearly revealed their hiding place. Fortunately, Wei Dahu poured more wine into his mouth to stop him from speaking further.

"Shut up right now! A couple of sips of alcohol, and your head is already spinning. Don't expect me to invite you to drink again," Wei Dahu said, frustrated by Chen Erniu's lack of discretion. No matter how close they were, this matter needed to be kept tightly under wraps. It must not be disclosed to outsiders.

Sitting among the women, Wu Zhaodi let out a sigh of relief. She glared fiercely at her husband; he truly was a foolish ox. Third Uncle Grandfather was right – when his mother gave birth to him, she must have forgotten to give him a brain, bestowing only strong limbs on this simple-minded fellow!

Taohua picked up a piece of rabbit meat, enjoying the spicy flavor. She slowly chewed on the bone, relishing its delicious taste. If the spiciness became too much, she ladled a bowl of sour cabbage and meat slice soup. Aunt Chen's sour cabbage was flavorful, and though she didn't use much, the soup was delightful, with its tangy, crunchy cabbage and savory meat slices – a truly refreshing combination.

Fang Qiuyan shared similar tastes, so the two women focused on the rabbit meat before them, leaving a scattered pile of bones on the floor. Taohua's legs were occasionally tickled by the wagging dog tail, making her itch to scratch.

All the village dogs had gathered at the Wei family's today. As the house dog, Xiao Hu was unprotective of his food, wagging his tiny tail and poking around the table, causing bones to fall in every direction – there was simply too much for them to finish.

"You've cooked this rabbit meat quite well. It's spicy and flavorful."

"It's thanks to Iron Ox's mother's knife skills. Chopping the meat into small pieces makes it more flavorful," Taohua explained, aware that Wu Zhaodi disliked being called by her name. She leaned in to chat with her sister-in-law. "We're a bit pressed for time today. Actually, we could have added some water around the pot, covered it, and let it simmer for a while. That would have made it even more delicious."

"Fang Qiuyan, you really know how to enjoy your food!" Qiuyan chuckled playfully.

"Next time when Dahu catches a rabbit, I'll cook it for you. You'll see how irresistible the taste is," Taohua said with a smile. Noticing a chicken leg remaining in the pot of chicken soup, she casually picked it up and placed it in Mancang's bowl.

"That's settled then, I'm definitely having a bite!" Fang Qiuyan also grabbed a piece of chicken and put it in the gosling egg bowl. She didn't need to worry about the duck egg; her mother-in-law was watching over it.

Mancang was already quite full. Normally, he only had two meals a day, mostly consisting of bread. As a child, no one invited him to feasts even if they occurred in the village. He couldn't recall if his family ever hosted a feast when he was young; it was all a blur. Anyway, in his memory, this was the first time he had attended a hog-killing feast, and the second time at a banquet. The first banquet he attended was also here, for his sister and brother-in-law's wedding. Back then, surrounded by strangers, he felt restrained and didn't engage in their merriment.

Now, however, his mother and sister sat on either side of him. Meat pieces occasionally found their way into his bowl, and every dish on the table was incredibly delicious. Enveloped in laughter and joy, he could even see his younger brother with an oily face, gnawing on a rib. He had many loved ones, and he hadn't been neglected by the warmth of human life.

He loved his sister's family so much and enjoyed these communal feasts.

Next to Li Dalang's neighbor, a large yellow dog sat behind Wei Dahu, wagging its tail. Wei Dahu secretly slipped it a piece of chicken. The dog was perceptive and endearing, not making a sound on the morning when Li Dalang had found a snake in his bed or during the secretive night when they transported grain up the mountain. It deserved a reward.

The dog caught the chicken in its mouth, wagged its tail at Wei Dahu, and then found a corner to enjoy its treat quietly.

The plate of braised pork in front of them was empty, and Chen Erniu couldn't resist the temptation. He dared not reach for the dish on Third Uncle Grandfather's table, so he set his sights on his wife's plate. Wu Zhaodi knew him too well; when she caught his gaze, she smiled but was also a bit annoyed. However, he was her husband, so she pretended not to notice his sneaky attempt to grab some food.

Once Chen Erniu succeeded, he became completely fixated on the braised pork from their table, savoring each bite with great delight.

Seeing this, Taohua asked if they wanted any. Fang Qiuyan waved her hand, "If they like it, just take it over. The braised pork is delicious, but two pieces are enough; it gets too rich after that."

Cao Xiuhong and Third Uncle Grandfather's granddaughter-in-law agreed, "Just give it to them, they're longing for it so much that their necks are stretching out! It would be distressing to see them like that." All the men drinking there were family, so why would they be tempted by the meat? They could eat anything else on the table, and besides, who could consume much braised pork without feeling overwhelmed by its richness?

Taohua carried the plate of braised pork to the group of men. Upon seeing his wife approach, Wei Dahu grinned, took the plate from her, and discreetly held her hand under the table. Oh dear, whether it was due to the alcohol or simply because her hand was soft, Wei Dahu lost interest in the tempting pork. He yearned to nibble on her delicate fingers.

Amidst all the people, he wouldn't let go of her hand, and Taohua feared being teased if anyone noticed. These men didn't hold back in their jests and loved to provoke each other. She tried to pull away, but he held on tight. Abandoning his drink, Wei Dahu stretched his long legs and turned his back to the lively feast.

Sitting on the stool, he was now at eye level with standing Taohua. With his back to everyone, Wei Dahu held both of his wife's hands. He didn't show any signs of intoxication as he gently shook her hands, discussing their sleeping arrangements for the night with a smile: "There are only two rooms at home, and they won't fit us all. I talked to Second Uncle, and Aunt has prepared Big Sister Dahua's room. Originally, I planned for you and Mother-in-law to stay at Second Uncle's for the night, but Father said he'd go there, letting me sleep with our son Mancang in his room. You and Mother-in-law can sleep in our room. Does that work for you? If not, we'll find another solution. Sanhua's room is quite spacious, so we can squeeze two people in there."

Everything was settled, so why not? Taohua felt a warm glow in her heart. He had arranged for her mother to sleep with her, showing his thoughtfulness and concern that her mother might not rest well in someone else's home. With her by her side, they could also share some intimate mother-daughter conversations. What a considerate man! How could Taohua have any objections? But this arrangement would mean inconvenience for her father, the head of the family. How could she let him sleep at Second Uncle's place? "Father..."

Wei Dahu interrupted her with a smile, "It's alright. Father himself suggested it. He doesn't want to sleep in Sister Daya's room. He said he'd squeeze in with Sanshi, whose bed is quite spacious, enough for two."

Seeing his wife still frowning, Wei Dahu knew she was filial and concerned about both her parents. He reached out to smooth away the creases between her brows with his large, calloused fingers. "Alright, alright, don't frown. Is this arrangement okay then? Hmm?"

Looking past him towards her father, she saw that Wei Elder, noticing his daughter-in-law's gaze, understood his son's intentions. He couldn't do anything but nod, knowing his son was trying to please his wife. Not knowing what the couple was discussing, the elder simply nodded at his daughter-in-law without a second thought. Whatever they were saying, a nod was the right response.

Taohua then turned her attention to her mother, who was engaged in conversation with her maternal aunt, beaming with happiness. Seeing this, Taohua's face lit up with a smile as she gently nodded, "Then, let's proceed with this arrangement."

"Um." Wei Dahu gently squeezed his wife's hand.

After an intimate moment, Wei Dahu reluctantly released his hold, and Taohua leisurely returned to her seat.

Her elder and second sisters-in-law shot her knowing winks, teasing her with amusement, "Young couples are just so affectionate. Even during a meal, you two can't help but sneak in some intimacy. We old married women can only envy such love."

Taohua's face flushed crimson, unwilling to be outdone. She teasingly retorted, "How are you an old vegetable stalk? From what I see, Sister-in-law is still tender and delicate, just like an unwed maiden! It was just a meal, yet Big Brother couldn't help stealing glances at you; I saw it all!"

"Ha ha ha!" Wu Zhaodi, witnessing Fang Qiuyan's embarrassment, couldn't stop laughing and joined in the teasing. "Not only did Taohua catch a glimpse, but I saw it too! I wonder who's being so clingy here. With two children already, how can they still be so inseparable?"

This time, Fang Qiuyan's face turned crimson with embarrassment, and in frustration, she tugged on their sleeves to retaliate.

Across the table, Wei Dahu heard his sister-in-law teasing his wife. He relentlessly nudged his elder brother's elbow, attempting to help Taohua regain her dignity. "With how sweet you two are together, Brother and Sister-in-law, I'd say Duck Egg and Goose Egg will soon have a younger sibling, right?"

The surrounding people burst into laughter upon hearing this.

Chen Dashi and his wife blushed as red as monkey bottoms. The sister-in-law playfully tugged at Taohua, while the elder brother urged Dahu to drink, each finding their own way to retaliate.

"Author's Note"

(Three-in-One)

Struggling to write ten thousand words daily amidst your flattering remarks, whether you like it or not, this deal is happening! (Big Fat Orange slams the table)