Chapter 135: A Feast for the Eyes and the Soul

Chapter 135: A Feast for the Eyes and the Soul

◎Brace yourselves!◎

For days on end, the courtyard was shrouded in smoke, as if a perpetual fire raged within. After three or four days of relentless smoking, the family's pork and mutton were finally cured to perfection.

On the day they hung the meat in the kitchen, everyone put their tasks aside, crowding into the cooking area. Shoulder to shoulder, head to head, they gazed up at the four neat rows of preserved meat dangling above the hearth. It was a sight that greeted them with every meal, a constant reminder of their newfound abundance.

"So much meat," Goose Egg drooled, perched on her father's shoulders, her finger in her mouth, savoring the anticipation.

"We're landowners now!" Ox was flushed with excitement. "Only the rich can afford this much meat!"

Wu Zhaodi playfully tapped his forehead, amused and exasperated. "Landowners don't hang smoked meat in their kitchens."

"Then what do they hang?" Ox rubbed his sore head, looking to his mother for answers.

"Gold bars!" Wu Zhaodi quipped, her imagination running wild. How would she know what the wealthy hung in their kitchens? They lived in grand compounds guarded by hired hands; she could only dream of such sights.

The little ones salivated at the sight of the meat. Peach Blossom smiled at their antics, not yet revealing that tonight's dinner would feature braised pig's trotters. She had deliberately saved one leg during the smoking process. With the recent flurry of activity, she hadn't had time to prepare elaborate meals. Now that things were settling down and the smoked meats were ready, her second brother and Ox had crafted a new table yesterday. She decided it was time to plan a proper feast with her aunties, to celebrate the completion of their new home. The whole family would gather, marking the joyous occasion of moving into their new abode.

Regardless of what's happening outside, they only focus on their own lives, living as they always have.

The adults all know about this, but the children are kept in the dark. Watching them greedily devour the meat, even the little girl who can't yet speak being held by her mother, babbling away, Chen Ershi shakes his head in worry: "She's a glutton too; how will she be when she grows up?"

Wei Dahu slaps him on the shoulder and laughs, "Are you worried about not having meat to eat while living in the mountains? Once those few stools you're making are done, I'll take you into the mountains for a lesson in hunting. Will you still lack for meat then?"

Chen Ershi's eyes light up at these words, and he places his hand on Wei Dahu's shoulder in return, immediately declaring, "As long as you're willing to teach me, brother, there's nothing I won't learn."

Because Dahu has been teaching Man Cang archery over the past two days, the target is set up in the woods where they chop trees. Who among the men doesn't dream of a life of adventure, wielding a sword and traveling the world? That's why Zhu Butcher is the dream of every young man in the surrounding villages. Escorting valuables sounds so impressive, doesn't it? Traveling throughout the year, enduring storms and hardships, how could working with a hoe compare to holding a greatsword?

Dahu seems so impressive, correcting Man Cang's bow stance sternly, standing with his arms crossed, cursing. Though it's intimidating, it's also enviable.

He really wants to learn.

"Dahu, that archery thing, can we learn it?" Chen Erniu scratches his head and chuckles. He hasn't been able to focus on chopping trees these past two days, often stealing glances at Dahu and Man Cang. It's been on his mind, but he didn't dare say anything. Man Cang is Dahu's wife's younger brother. He doesn't know if this skill is something passed down within the family. Even his elder brothers haven't dared to speak up, so he certainly didn't dare show any interest in learning.

He knows well that skills like carpentry, cooking, and hunting are typically passed down through generations. Just like when his second brother learned carpentry from an old master who had no heirs, otherwise, if someone else's child or nephew was available, it would never have been his turn.

Having a skill means that future generations can continue it. As long as they aren't lazy, they will never lack for food.

He still felt embarrassed watching, always feeling like he was stealing skills, very much ashamed.

"Why not? Seeing you all busy making tables, chairs, and wardrobes without time to spare, the targets were specifically made for you. Later, each of you should practice for an hour every day, staggered times. If there's work, do it; if there's nothing, learn archery. Whoever hits the bullseye first, I'll take them hunting." Wei Dahu wasn't afraid they'd learn; he feared they wouldn't be interested. He wished to teach a divine archer. If by some stroke of luck one of them could shoot an arrow a hundred paces away, he wouldn't have to worry about anything in the future.

Of course, this was akin to dreaming in broad daylight.

But it was daytime right now, so what about having a dream? One must have fantasies in life; who knows, maybe he would get lucky?

There were too many people in the kitchen. Peach Blossom waved her hands to shoo them out, telling them to go back to their business and not obstruct their work. They were indeed moved by the smell of meat. After everyone left, she and Second Sister-in-law busied themselves with dinner in the kitchen: roasting pig skin, chopping pig trotters, blanching and stewing large pork knuckles. She also took out the dried cow liver mushrooms she had prepared beforehand. The promised cow liver mushroom and cured meat rice for Dahu could finally be made after months.

She didn't have any intention of keeping secrets. Seeing Second Sister-in-law watching by the side and Wu Zhaodi, who came in to help stoke the fire, staring intently at how it was done, Peach Blossom carefully taught them. Her cooking skills were learned from Chef Qian, not very refined, but she could shamelessly say she had a bit of talent for the stove. Although she learned in bits and pieces, the meals she cooked were surprisingly delicious.

In this matter, Chef Qian had complex feelings toward her. His attentive teaching of his eldest son only resulted in a half-baked learner, while Peach Blossom, who assisted on the side, did everything during banquets—washing vegetables, picking vegetables, serving dishes—and could even listen and learn. And she learned it well.

The kitchen was bustling with activity, and so was the forest. The wood was all sawn, and Chen Ersi was still busy making tables, chairs, and benches. Chen Erniu and Chen Dashi were free, along with Man Kui. The three lined up to practice archery.

Wei Dahu stood by, occasionally stepping forward to hold their arms and adjust their postures. These were men accustomed to farm work, lacking no strength. As long as their posture was correct and they practiced more, except for those naturally unsuited for this, they would eventually develop accuracy through diligent training.

To Wei Dahu's comfort and regret, the dream of a divine archer disciple was indeed just that—a dream. But three blind mice can match Zhuge Liang; in just this short half-day, he had a plan in mind. Compared to Man Kui, who had touched a bow two days earlier, when Erniu, the simpleton, picked up the bow and placed the arrow, his aura instantly changed. Apart from missing the target several times at the beginning due to not grasping the knack, he hadn't missed since. Although he was still far from the bullseye, this progress was already quite gratifying.

Beyond that, there was Full Storehouse, a lad not particularly gifted but with an admirable trait - he never gave up easily. Seeing Second Ox progress swiftly despite starting later than him, Full Storehouse remained unruffled, steadfastly adhering to his own pace, advancing steadily in a way that pleased Wei Dahu greatly.

In contrast, Eldest Brother seemed out of sorts. Lacking Second Ox's talent and Full Storehouse's tenacity, he grew impatient when he realized he couldn't match Second Ox's accuracy in hitting the target. After practicing half an afternoon without a single hit, his composure wavered, his spirits visibly dampened.

Wei Dahu didn't console him; there was nothing to say. He wasn't a child anymore, already a father himself, yet unable to maintain his composure while learning a skill. This was unlike Second Brother, who had been chosen by a carpenter as an apprentice due to his steady disposition, capable of enduring solitude. Archery required the same discipline; few were geniuses, most achieved perfection through years of daily practice. Even though Second Ox could hit the target on his first try, demonstrating high talent, did he become arrogant? No! He continued to practice diligently, neither boasting nor rushing, maintaining a commendable attitude.

"Swish—"

"It's time for dinner!"

As the kitchen fire died down and night fell, Peach stood at the courtyard gate, calling towards the woods. She didn't dare venture out; she was virtually blind after dark. The woods now appeared ominously dark, but she could make out several figures bustling about.

"Coming." Wei Dahu turned around in response, pulling out his arrows. His eyes shone with admiration for Second Ox; on just the first day, he was nearly hitting the bullseye, three consecutive arrows grazing the edge.

Only when Peach called them for dinner did they realize it was already dark. This only increased Chen Ergou's joy. "Am I doing alright?" he asked Dahu eagerly, relieved that he hadn't missed the target even once in the darkening light. Worried that Dahu might not think him suitable, he had put in great effort all afternoon, believing he had the potential to become a hunter.

"You're too good to be just a hunter," Wei Dahu said playfully, nudging Second Ox with his elbow and winking, "Ergou, don't blame me for bringing you into the mountains, okay? What if it ruins your future..."

"Don't tease me," Chen Ergou blushed, "I'm just a commoner. You can send me to work the fields, but sending me to battle would be a death sentence. What future? That word doesn't apply to me." Chen Ergou knew his limits well; finding archery intriguing, he aimed to strive for the life of a hunter, assisting Dahu in protecting their family. That was his goal.

As for prospects, oh mother, even if his mind were duller than it is, he knew that people like them, who couldn't do anything, would be sent to the front lines as cannon fodder if they didn't have connections to smooth their way in war. It sounded good on the surface, but in reality, they'd just be human shields, targets for arrows and death.

He would only want to go to war if his head had been kicked by a donkey. Big Tiger loved to tease him about this.

Chen Dashi walked at the back, listening to their conversation, and couldn't help but sigh. He later realized that his attitude was wrong, especially when he saw how incredibly composed Banzhang, the young lad, was. Instantly, he reflected upon himself, understanding that one could not rush learning a craft. How could he lose his composure just because someone else was better than him? It was truly pathetic to compare oneself with others when one lacked skill. No, no, that wouldn't do.

After realizing this, he felt quite embarrassed. Although he quickly corrected his stance, he found learning to be arduous and awkward. The techniques were all the same, and he didn't think there was anything wrong with his bow-holding and arrow-drawing posture, yet he just couldn't hit the target. Every shot went wide, making his son's favorite eggs his only achievement of the day.

"What's the point of feeling down? Everyone has their own strengths." Wei Datiger turned around and saw his older brother hanging his head. Smiling, he placed a hand on his shoulder. "Later, I'll set up a wooden post for you. You can use the big sword from home. I'll draw a line, and when you can stab that line steadily with one hand holding the sword, it's no different from practicing archery and hitting the bullseye."

Chen Dashi's eyes lit up; he had long coveted that sword. "Really?"

"Why would I lie to you?" Wei Datiger laughed, leading him into the courtyard. "In fact, it doesn't matter if you don't learn anything, if you don't shoot arrows or practice swordsmanship. We're not aiming for anything grand, nor do we need to acquire skills to venture out and make a name for ourselves. I just thought that since we're here in the mountains, and things aren't stable outside, and Aunt and Uncle are getting old, the whole family relies on us. We can't stay in the mountains forever, and when we run out of something, we'll have to buy it from outside. As soon as we step out of our home, there's a chance of encountering danger. You need to have the ability to protect yourself."

Chen Dashi nodded, acknowledging the truth in his words, somewhat embarrassed. "Datiger, I'm really not good at shooting arrows. I can't grasp the knack of it; I can't even properly load an arrow, and I often let it slip. I'm just not cut out for it. Can I focus on this sword instead? I'll study hard and definitely won't hold you back. I want to protect our family alongside you."

Wei Datiger gave him a hearty pat on the shoulder. "Why not? Yes!"

No matter what, one must stand on their own two feet. Just thinking about having to go down the mountain to transport grain, if they were unlucky enough to encounter bandits, or even villagers, he had to ensure that they wouldn't cower in fear. Regardless of whether an arrow missed its mark or a sword thrust went astray, they couldn't show weakness; they had to face their challenges head-on.

In the main room, the dishes were already laid out. The dried mushroom and preserved pork rice, to keep it warm, was still in the pot on the stove, to be served when everyone was ready to eat.

The remaining dishes included a large pot of radish stewed with pig's trotters, a basin of braised pig's knuckles, a big bowl of steamed egg custard, two plates of stir-fried preserved pork with vegetables, and small bowls of dipping sauce for the pig's trotters. All these were neatly arranged. Yes, there was also wine. Two jars sat nearby, one for the men, the other a white peach fruit wine steeped with peach blossoms, suitable for the women to enjoy a small glass.

How could they celebrate the joy of their relocation without wine?

Upon entering, each man naturally took his seat beside his wife.

The rice had already been scooped into bowls. Chen Erniu swallowed hard at the sight of the basin of braised pig's knuckles; everyone present except Lin Daren had tasted the braised pig's knuckles prepared by Peach Blossom, and whether they had or hadn't, they all remembered them fondly. There was no one master of the house now, so no invitation was needed. Chen Dashi, as the representative of the younger generation, got up to pour the wine, while the eldest sister handled the pouring for the women. The couple filled up everyone's bowls, and all the guests raised their wine bowls, standing to clink them together, even the little children joined in the fun, standing up too.

All eyes turned to Old Wei. He felt awkward under their gaze and could only stammer, face flushed: "Well, since we've stepped into this courtyard gate and are eating from the same pot, there's no you or me anymore. We're a family now. In a family, there will inevitably be bumps and bruises along the way. If there's anything wrong, any discomfort, let's not bottle it up inside. Speak up, and everyone should be more tolerant."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

No one picked up where he left off, so he had to continue, "Is there anything else I need to say?"

"Your speech was great, is there anything else you want to add?" Uncle said, barely holding back his laughter.

Old Wei shook his head immediately. What else was there to say? Let's start eating before the kids' drool lands in the plates.

"Agreed." Uncle Chen cleared his throat and looked around at the bustling family gathered tightly around the table, his face full of smiles. How lively, how wonderful it was. "What my brother-in-law said is what I wanted to say. We should unite and live our lives well, regardless of whether old or young, this surname or that surname. As long as we live in this courtyard, we are one family."

Everyone nodded again.

"Shall we start then?" Uncle Chen asked with a smile.

"Start, start, start! Hurry up, I'm starving!" Uncle Chen the Second couldn't hold back any longer. As soon as he spoke, he reached out with his chopsticks straight for the large pork knuckle.

"Start!" Little Ya, who was tied to her mother's back, suddenly stretched out her little arms and waved them twice. The first word she blurted out after being born was actually imitating her great-uncle's speech, and her pronunciation was surprisingly accurate, a tender and milky "start".

The crowd was first stunned into silence, followed by an eruption of laughter.

"Words from the Author"

Happy New Year, my dear readers~ Wishing all of us good health and smooth sailing in 2024~