Chapter 31 Rules
The Zhou family had not had dinner yet, but the food was ready, obviously waiting for them. As soon as they arrived at the village entrance, Datou led his younger brothers and sisters to rush up, shouting.
They climbed up hurriedly without caring that the cart was moving. When Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang saw this, their eyes were smiling. While scolding them, they took the time to stretch out a hand and pile the children onto the cart.
From a distance, Old Zhou saw the smiles on their faces and knew that the trip was going well. He turned around and went back to the house with his hands behind his back.
Xiao Qian led her two sisters-in-law to move the table from the main room to the yard. It was a little dark in the room, and it would be a waste to light an oil lamp. Since there was still light outside, they could eat outside.
Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang, one holding money in a cloth bag and the other carrying a big rooster in a basket, both rushed home.
Before she even entered the door, she shouted, "Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, let's stew chicken tonight."
Without even looking up, Xiao Qian said, "You are so beautiful. You have to eat chicken every time you enter the city. The chickens at home are used to lay eggs."
Zhou Liulang had already rushed over, turned his back to let her see the basket on his back, and said loudly: "I don't want the chicken at home, I want this one."
When Xiao Qian saw the miserable chicken, she exclaimed, "Where did you get this chicken? Did you steal it?"
Xiao Qian's eyes widened. Could it be that after Silang learned how to gamble, the other two little ones also learned how to steal chickens?
So should I touch the dog next time?
Xiao Qian couldn't help pinching her waist, but Zhou Liulang was unhappy and turned around and said, "Sister-in-law, am I that kind of person? This chicken was given to me by someone else."
Xiao Qian heaved a sigh of relief, took the miserable rooster out of the basket, weighed it, and found it was quite heavy. She couldn't help asking, "Who is so stupid? Even though this chicken looks miserable, it is still meat, and it is so fat, yet they gave it to you."
Zhou Liulang chuckled, "I also think he's quite stupid, but some people say we've suffered a loss. Anyway, this is a long story. Sister-in-law, let's kill the chicken and stew it first. Manbao brought this back specially for mother's health."
Xiao Qian looked at the time and said, "Forget about tonight and leave it for tomorrow."
She looked at the rooster in her hand carefully and couldn't help muttering, "In fact, maybe it can still survive if I keep it..."
Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang stared with wide eyes, as if they saw the chicken moving away from them. Without thinking, the two brothers turned around and shouted to Manbao who had just entered the yard: "Manbao, the eldest sister-in-law wants to raise a rooster and sell it. You should persuade her."
Xiao Qian glared at the two brothers.
Manbao didn't care that the cart hadn't stopped yet, he slid down from it, then ran to Xiao Qian's side, hugged her arm and shook her, "Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, please kill the chicken quickly, this is a chicken for mother's body, a rooster replenishes qi and blood, mother may get better after eating it."
Qian also walked out of the door slowly and said with a smile: "Manbao, don't bother your sister-in-law. It's getting late. If you want to kill her, you have to wait until tomorrow."
"No, look, there is still light. We can make a fire and eat in the evening. It's not too late."
The children were all looking at him eagerly, so Old Zhou said, "Okay, since it's a show of filial piety from the children, let's cook it tonight. It doesn't matter if we cook it early or late. I don't think the chicken is very energetic. If we leave it for tomorrow, it might die."
Manbao also nodded repeatedly, "Dead chicken is not delicious."
Xiao Qian took the chicken to kill it , and Feng and He Shi hurried to help, one boiled the water on the stove, and the other prepared the ingredients for stewing the chicken.
There aren’t any good dishes to go with it at home nowadays, but you can pick two big radishes, cut them up and stew them together.
The three sisters-in-law were busy in the kitchen, while Zhou Dalang and his friends were in the yard reporting today's events to Old Zhou.
The money from the sale of the grain was used to buy medicine, and the rest was given to Old Zhou, who then gave it to Qian.
The family's money has always been managed by Qian.
The Zhou family has neither too many nor too few fields, and there is only some left when the harvest is good. Fortunately, they have many laborers, and they can take on odd jobs besides farming, so they can save some money here and there.
The family was able to save so much money, and Qian had contributed a lot to it, because she was the one who mediated all the family affairs. She was the one who arranged who did what work and how to do it. Even Old Zhou would listen to her.
Qian took the money, counted it, and made a mental note of it. Turning around, she found Manbao gathered with the children, chattering about something. She couldn't help but smile and asked Zhou Dalang, "Did Manbao cause you any trouble today?"
Zhou Dalang glanced at Manbao, who was leaning on his butt with his back to them, and he didn't know what he was whispering to the children. Everyone was exclaiming in surprise, so he hesitated for a moment and said, "Dad, Mom, Manbao and his friends made a lot of money in the county today."
Old Zhou groaned and said with a smile, "Did Manbao sell the flower basket?"
Zhou Dalang said, "Not only that, she also sold a big rooster and made three coins of silver from it."
Old Zhou and Qian were stunned and quickly called Manbao over to ask.
Manbao was bragging to his nephews and nieces, and when his parents asked him, he puffed out his little chest even higher and proudly recounted what they had done in the county today.
She grew up listening to stories. Her parents told her stories, her brother and sister-in-law told her stories, Mr. Zhuang told her stories, and Koko also often told her stories. In addition, she has recently come into contact with storybooks and has already touched the edge of storytelling. So she danced with joy and described things well, and everyone listened with gusto.
Especially those who had never been to the county town, such as Datou. Although they had never been there, after hearing the description given by the aunt, they imagined it in their minds and felt that they had also been there.
Manbao was talking until her mouth was dry, and Qian silently poured her a bowl of water.
Manbao drank it, his eyes sparkling as he said, "Mom, you don't know, there are so many people in the county town, can I take you there next time?"
Qian smiled slightly, "Why would I go to the county town? You guys can go there."
Zhou Dalang's eyes slid from Manbao's small cloth bag to Zhou Wulang's cloth bag and said, "Mom, we can't give so much money to the children. What if they lose it?"
Qian also said to Manbao: "Manbao, give the money to mother and I will keep it for you, okay?"
Manbao shook his head, "I want to take care of it myself. I'm an adult now."
Qian smiled slightly, patted her head and said, "You are also a member of our family. Do you know the rules of our family?"
Manbao shook his head.
Qian said, "Your brother and sister-in-law have to pay 60% of the money they earn outside to the government. You can take the money yourself, but you have to pay 60%."
Since it was a rule, Manbao had no choice but to agree. She thought for a moment and said, "Okay, but I have to count how many there are in total."
