"Tomorrow we’ll be slaughtering the pig at ho, so co back early," Old Master Lian said.
In tenant farr households, during ordinary days, unless guests arrived, most were reluctant to spend money on at. However, each family would raise two or three pigs, over the course of a year, and slaughter them when the New Year approached. Most of the pork was sold in exchange for silver coins to purchase necessities for the New Year. Sotis, the money from one pig was used to cover the entire next year’s spending on necessities like cooking oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and the like. So families relied entirely on this money to accumulate enough to marry off a son.
However, once a pig was slaughtered at ho, both children and adults had to enjoy a feast to celebrate the New Year with plenty of at.
Here, they called this the "New Year pig slaughter."
When the family initially split, Old Master Lian said that the pigs in the pigsty would not be divided, ensuring Lian Shouxin’s family would get a share of the pork during the New Year pig slaughter.
"Alright, we’ll co back early tomorrow," Lian Shouxin agreed.
The next day, the breakfast shop opened as usual.
"When the custors are gone, we won’t cook; we’ll head straight back," Lady Zhang said. This way, they could make it back in ti to help at ho.
As the number of custors gradually decreased, Xiao Qi began to daydream, which Lady Zhang noticed.
"Alright, once your father and I finish up here, you can go ahead," Lady Zhang told the children, "Help out with whatever work there is."
Slaughtering the New Year pig signified that the New Year was almost here—it represented abundance and the opportunity to enjoy a hearty al of delicious pork. In the children’s eyes, the New Year pig slaughter was almost as joyful a festival as the New Year itself.
Xiao Qi was eager to return ho to witness the pig slaughter and could not wait to hear Lady Zhang say this.
Lian Manman, Wu Lang, Xiao Qi, and Lian Yeye left the breakfast shop and headed ho.
Upon entering the courtyard, they saw Old Master Lian, Lian Shouren, Lian Shouyi, Lian Jizu, Erlang, and Butcher Zhang standing at the entrance of the pigsty, appraising the pigs inside. When tenant farr households slaughtered a pig, they generally hired a specialized butcher. Butcher Zhang was famous far and wide for his butchery skills, and the Lian Family had always engaged his services for their pig slaughter.
The Lian Family had raised three pigs this year, and Old Master Lian planned to slaughter two of them, leaving the one that was not yet of sufficient weight to be raised a little longer.
"Uncle Lian, you’ve raised so fine pigs—so smooth and sleek, with a good thick layer of back-fat," Butcher Zhang laughed heartily, giving a thumbs-up, "And this pigsty, it’s exceptional. I’ve seen many others, but yours is truly clean."
These were precisely the words Old Master Lian loved to hear. Lian Manman couldn’t help but think, despite Butcher Zhang’s burly appearance and occupation of slaughtering pigs, the man certainly had a way with words. No wonder, among those who sold pork, his business was the most prosperous.
Lian Manman stepped forward to greet Old Master Lian and Butcher Zhang.
"Why haven’t your father and mother and your Third Aunt co back yet?" asked Old Master Lian, noticing that only a few children had returned.
"My father and mother are right behind us; we ran ahead. Mother told us to help out with whatever work there is when we got here," Lian Manman said.
Old Master Lian smiled.
"Go to the Upper Room and ask if your grandmother has any tasks for you. Don’t stand around here; once we start catching the pigs, we don’t want you getting hurt," Old Master Lian instructed.
"Yes," Lian Manman replied, and the children continued walking into the yard.
In front of the east wing room, several wooden posts had been erected to form a fra with a thick layer of yellow earth piled underneath it, and next to it was a wooden chopping block.
Lian Manman arrived at the Upper Room first. Inside the outer room, both large stoves were lit, the iron pots filled with water that was already bubbling at the bottom. Heating the stoves were Lady He and Lady Gu, the two sisters-in-law.
Lady Gu wore old clothes from Lady Zhou and had her hair wrapped in a blue cloth, looking entirely like a common tenant farr’s wife. After a few days under Lady Zhou’s guidance, her actions while stoking the fire and doing chores had beco quite adept.
Lady Zhou stood at the back door, directing Sanlang and Lian Shouli as they moved large wooden tubs outside.
"Don’t just stand there in the way," Lady Zhou said upon seeing Lian Manman and the others, "Where’s your father? Hasn’t he co back yet?"
"To stand in the way" was the local dialect for being in the way.
"My father will arrive soon." Lian Manman stepped aside and also picked up a large wooden tub to carry outside.
Today, with the pig slaughter at hand, the household mbers were kept busy by Lady Zhou, leaving no need for Lian Manman to do much else. Seeing Lian Manman was observant and helpful, Lady Zhou then turned her attention to Lady Gu.
"Eldest son’s wife, why are you so sluggish when stoking the fire? Who are you upset with? If you don’t want to work, go to your room and tend to the seedlings; don’t get temperantal with here," Lady Zhou scolded.
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