Chapter 73

Chapter 73

The meal stretched on into the afternoon. Half the dishes on the table were cleared away, leaving the other half for them.

Cold food went with cold wine. The plates of pork hock and pig's feet held only a bit of sauce at the bottom. The plate of twice-cooked pork was scraped clean, with a few wild onions scattered on the table alongside a pile of cleanly gnawed bones, even some bone fragments—clearly chewed by someone with strong teeth.

Their tongues loosened by wine, the men grew boisterous, slapping tables, pounding their thighs, and tapping chopsticks on the tabletop. Zhao Quan, especially drunk, started making a scene, shouting hoarsely, "Juanzi, oh Juanzi, my dear Juanzi, your man can't stand up. Come help me, carry me home..."

The crowd erupted in whoops and hollers.

"Quan Zi's wife, Quan Zi wants you to carry him home!"

"Other men carry their wives, but you, Quan Zi, want your wife to carry you? Are you even a man?!"

"Hahaha..."

Quan Zi's wife blushed crimson. Originally sitting in the yard washing dishes with the other women, she got up and ducked into the kitchen, refusing to come out.

"Quan Zi, have you no shame? Getting drunk and asking your wife to carry you! With your burly build, you'll crush Juanzi to the ground and she won't be able to get up!" Er Lai's father slurred loudly. The wine-addled men, gathered among familiar company, couldn't help but crack a few jokes, their banter veering into bawdy territory.

"Haha, Quan Zi's wife is shy, hiding in the kitchen!"

"Gou Sheng, Gou Sheng! Your dad's drunk, and your mom's hiding. What are we gonna do?!" Someone even teased the children.

Seeing the conversation take a turn for the worse, Wang Shi rushed over and smacked Old Man Zhao's arm. "Drink, drink, drink! A few sips of horse piss and you forget which way is up! Talk about the land if you want to talk about the land, chat about the mountains if you want to chat about the mountains. What's with all this other nonsense! And Quan Zi, you don't know your own limit. Once you pick up that wine bowl, you can't put it down. Even a child knows you're done when only the bones are left, but not you lot! Sandi, help Quan Zi back. How could a woman have the strength to move a man?"

Then she looked toward the kitchen and raised her voice, "Juanzi, scoop a bowl of that pork head meat from the stove and take it back. There's plenty left. Take a bowl for Gou Sheng to eat. I saw that kid staring at that bowl during the meal, not even eyeing the pork hock. Seems he has a taste for it too!"

Her scolding, mixed with laughter, sobered the heavily intoxicated men a little. Er Lai's father even slapped himself twice, looking quite remorseful for his loose talk.

"Listen to your auntie, take the meat back!" Old Man Zhao shot a cautious glance at his wife. Her look was off—he was definitely in for a scolding later.

His own head was a bit fuzzy. He downed the last sip of wine in his bowl, slammed it on the table, stood up, and announced the end of the feast. "Alright, alright, no more wine. That's it for today. We'll drink again next time!"

"Sure, sure." The men quickly agreed but remained seated, too dizzy to stand. Good wine really goes to your head, no doubt about it.

Wang Shi shot her old man a fierce glare before turning and heading to the kitchen.

The women were the first to leave. Aside from a few cold dishes left on the table for drinking, the rest had already been taken to the kitchen. Almost no food remained; everything had been licked clean. Only the pork head meat was left over. The men, busy drinking and chatting, hadn't eaten much meat. Earlier, half had been sliced, and the other half continued simmering on low heat in the pot. Seeing the kitchen corner piled high with vegetables and eggs, Wang Shi simply fished out the remaining half of the pork head, sliced it evenly into thin pieces, and distributed them to everyone.

On such a lively, joyous day, having already eaten so much, a little more made no difference.

While chatting briefly with Quan Zi's wife, Wang Shi deliberately told her some amusing stories, making the young woman forget her earlier embarrassment and join in to help.

"Men are no good when they're drunk, and they say awful things. Don't take it to heart. Wait until Quan Zi sobers up, then give him what-for." Wang Shi picked up a slightly warm slice of pork head meat and offered it to her lips.

"Mmm." Quan Zi's wife shyly opened her mouth to take it, finding it tender, gelatinous, and savory—even better than when cold.

Watching Wang Shi pile meat into the bowl, her heart softened. Her own mother and mother-in-law had died early, and she rarely had an older woman be so close to her. She was clumsy with words and had a weak personality, often taken advantage of verbally by other village women. Few ever stood up for her. When trouble arose, she was used to hiding and avoiding conflict, unwilling to argue since she could never win.

If this had happened to Sister-in-law Zhu, she probably would have planted her hands on her hips and snapped back, right?

She couldn't help but think this, envying their straightforward, unhesitating personalities.

Of the three Zhao brothers, only Zhao Sandi didn't drink much. Zhao Dashan couldn't drink due to his injury, and Zhao Ertian got drunk after one bowl and was helped back to his room by Luo Shi to rest earlier. When Wang Shi and Quan Zi's wife came out of the kitchen, Zhao Sandi immediately put down his crossed legs, spat the chestnut shell in his mouth out toward Xiao Heizi, who was wagging his tail at him, took two steps forward, grabbed Quan Zi's arm, and slung it over his shoulder. "Sister-in-law, I'll take Quan Zi back first. I'll have Gou Sheng come with me to open the door. You stay here and chat with my wife and the others. No point going back anyway."

"I'll go with you." Quan Zi's wife immediately said, blushing as she looked at Wang Shi holding the bowl. "Auntie, Quan Zi is drunk. I should go back to take care of him. Let Gou Sheng stay here and play with Xiao Wu and the others."

"Alright, you go take care of Quan Zi. Gou Sheng can stay at my place. Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on them." Ignoring her protests, Wang Shi shoved the bowl of pork head meat into her hands, smiling. "Take it. It's not just for your family. Everyone's getting some. You can heat it up later to eat, or don't heat it—it makes a good cold dish with porridge for a meal."

"How can I both eat and take..." Quan Zi's wife was truly embarrassed and tried to put the bowl back, but Wang Shi half-pushed, half-escorted her out the courtyard gate.

"Don't dawdle. Look, they're already far ahead." Wang Shi gave her a gentle push. "I'll have Xiao Wu and the others bring your table, chairs, and dishes back later... Gou Sheng knows which table is yours, right?" She turned to look at Gou Sheng, who was squatting by the doghouse, holding a bone to please Xiao Heizi.

"I know!" Gou Sheng quickly said. "The one Grandpa Zhao and the others were drinking at. It has my tooth marks on the edge."

"That name really suits you!" Wang Shi laughed and scolded, saying no more. She waved at Quan Zi's wife, urging her to catch up before they got too far.

Not wanting to be rude, Quan Zi's wife had no choice. Clutching the bowl of pork head meat, she trotted after the two men.

Once one person leaves a feast, others soon follow.

Wang Shi filled a bowl of pork head meat for each household. She didn't press them to stay. Today hadn't been easy for her or the women who came to help—picking vegetables, cutting meat, tending the fire, cooking. Preparing meals for dozens of people was no light task. They'd only rested during the meal itself, then helped clear tables, wash dishes, bustling about like spinning tops without a moment's pause.

Not like those lords waiting to be served, sitting around with nothing better to do, even cracking jokes about the women!

"Old sister, we'll head back now." Feng Shi not only held a bowl of meat but also had half a wild boar leg hidden in the basket she'd brought eggs in that morning—secretly stuffed by Wang Shi's eldest daughter-in-law on her instructions. Wu Dazhu's family received the same. These two families got it as thanks for their care these past days. "I'll have Man Liang come move the table later. Don't worry about it. Finish cleaning up and rest a bit. You must all be tired."

"Alright, then I won't handle your table and chairs. I'll wait for Man Liang to come get them." Wang Shi saw the family to the gate. Old Man Zhao and Li Dahe, old brothers, held hands with endless things to say. Li Dahe's tongue was thick, and he clapped Old Man Zhao's shoulder with his big palms, starting to boast. "It's too late this year, but next year! Next year my family will raise three pigs. We'll slaughter one for New Year's pork feast and invite your whole family over to eat. We brothers will drink just like today, and the food will be just as good as today's. Ah, really, incredibly sumptuous. In all my decades of feasts, only today's was truly satisfying!"

"Absolutely!" Old Man Zhao also started boasting. "Not to brag, but this feast of ours, ordinary folks really couldn't pull it off. It's only for entertaining you all. Anyone else, you see, definitely wouldn't do it like this—too stingy!"

This made Li Dahe laugh heartily. "Then it's settled! Next year, next year we'll definitely invite you to a feast!"

"Then I'll be waiting!" Old Man Zhao also wanted to raise three pigs—sell one, slaughter two, eat one, keep one. "Then we brothers will drink again."

"Good, good."

Watching two old men their age putting on a reluctant farewell act, Wang Shi and Feng Shi found it painful to watch. Each dragged one away.

A few younger generation members remained chatting in the yard. Wang Shi left them to Zhao Dashan to host. She helped her husband, who was weaving as he walked, back to their room, took off his clothes and shoes, and smacked his rock-hard arm. "Drink, drink, drink! You agreed to one jug. Think I didn't see or what? Holding the jug, having Xiaobao top it up for you. You really..." She was furious. She'd guarded against this a thousand times, afraid someone would notice something off, busy enough to steam buns on the spot if needed. And him? Pulling this trick in front of so many people! Luckily it was done discreetly, and everyone was too drunk to notice the wine seemed bottomless—pouring and pouring, never seeing the end.

Still not venting her anger, she raised her hand and slapped Old Man Zhao's face several times—*papapap*—as soon as his head hit the pillow and he passed out. A few hard slaps later, not only did he not wake up, but her own palm hurt terribly. "Thick-skinned and rough! Hitting you just makes me suffer!" She grumbled and cursed nonstop.

"You won't get to drink next time. I'll have Xiaobao hide the remaining half-jug. Don't even think about touching another drop!"

"Eat and drink your fill, then tomorrow you're going to the fields to cut rice!"

"Don't expect me to help you in the fields this year!"

She ranted for a while, but the only response was thunderous snores.

"..."

Wang Shi's head throbbed with anger. She turned and went to her daughter's room.

Huaihua and the others had been sent home by their mothers after the meal to feed chickens and herd ducks. Xiaobao had gone out to play with them for a bit, then came back, slipped into her room, climbed onto the bed, and obediently took her afternoon nap.

Looking at her daughter, limbs splayed, round little belly rising and falling, snoring softly in her sleep, Wang Shi picked up the cattail-leaf fan nearby, sat on the edge of the bed, and fanned her for a while.

Feeling the coolness and comfort, Zhao Xiaobao drowsily opened her eyes. Seeing it was her mother, a soft smile spread across her face. "Mama, Xiaobao still wants to sleep."

"Okay, Xiaobao, keep sleeping." Wang Shi took off her shoes, lay down beside her, and fanned her with the fan, now lazily, now briskly. "Mama will fan you."

"Mama sleep too." Zhao Xiaobao yawned, rolled over, and snuggled into her mother's arms, little hand clutching her clothes.

The fan fell by the bedside. The afternoon sun shone on the mother and daughter sleeping in each other's embrace, the light flickering, hot and heavy.