Chapter Eighty-Three – Killing Pig Dish +
Since entering the twelfth lunar month, time seemed to fly by.
When snow began to fall outside, the three members of the Gu family put on their thick cotton-padded clothes and gathered around the stove in the main room, enjoying the warmth.
As the aroma of roasted sweet potatoes filled the room, Gu Yu suddenly felt his mouth water.
“Sister, are the sweet potatoes ready? I’m so hungry!”
“Almost, don’t rush.”
Listening to the conversation between Mengyao and her younger brother, Gu Yu’s lips curved into a smile. He then eagerly awaited the roasted sweet potatoes, anticipating how delicious they would be.
He was fortunate to have transmigrated into a fictional world. If it were truly ancient times, food like sweet potatoes might be unavailable. He wouldn’t be able to enjoy them like this now.
“Yu, they say they’re killing a pig in the village today. Shall we go and have some killing pig dish?”
“Killing pig dish?”
Just as Gu Yu was waiting for his roasted sweet potatoes, Mengyao’s sudden question piqued his curiosity. He wondered what killing pig dish was.
Gu Yu had transmigrated from modern times and wasn’t an ancient native. Therefore, he wasn’t very familiar with the customs of Linfeng Kingdom. Hearing Mengyao mention killing pig dish, he was completely clueless.
Seeing Gu Yu’s confused expression, Mengyao immediately realized that her little husband might not know what killing pig dish was.
Despite the hardships Mengyao had faced, when Gu Qing was still around, she had been doted on and knew a thing or two.
However, Gu Yu was different.
The Yang family had a low status, and they spent their days working. Gu Yu hadn’t had the opportunity to learn about such things, hence his ignorance about killing pig dish.
Mengyao carefully avoided mentioning Gu Yu’s past hardships, not wanting to hurt him. However, the current Gu Yu was not the original Gu Yu, so Mengyao’s concern was unnecessary.
“When the village collectively slaughters a pig, they set up a large iron pot and stew pork with spicy blood curd, along with some dried vegetables. They then ladle it over brown rice. It’s piping hot and very delicious.”
“They slaughter and cook it on the spot. It sounds pretty good!”
After hearing Mengyao’s explanation, Gu Yu suddenly found it interesting.
Killing pig dish… wasn’t this just a communal stew?
He didn’t expect that Yang Family Village would have such a communal meal. Moreover, it seemed to be free. The Village Chief was certainly generous.
After all, Yang Family Village had many villagers, and even if each person received a small piece of pork, it would require a considerable amount.
However, he wondered how it would taste.
“Sister, are we going to eat killing pig dish in the village this year?”
“Yes, we’ll go together. Auntie Wang Er said the Village Chief would send someone to notify us, so we just need to wait.”
“Alas! I told you before, it’s good to participate in lively events like killing pig dish. We can even eat for free! I remember last year around this time, you insisted on not going.”
“Not this time.”
Hearing her younger brother’s words, Mengyao’s face showed a helpless smile. She didn’t know how to explain it to him.
The past was incomparable to the present.
In the past, the Gu family was pitiful, relying on others for survival. Although there were no restrictions on attending communal events like eating killing pig dish, Mengyao felt it was humiliating.
Perhaps due to pride, Mengyao didn’t want to see the pity in others’ eyes, so she chose not to go.
She had her hands and feet. Once she could earn money and improve the Gu family’s situation, it wouldn’t be too late to attend.
With this mindset of working hard, Mengyao began hunting more diligently in the spring of the following year.
Some might argue that the Gu family couldn’t even afford to eat, so what was the point of pride? Could pride be eaten? Although Mengyao understood this, she would not abandon her pride.
As long as she wasn’t starving to death, she could maintain her dignity.
However, seeing her brother’s longing for meat, Mengyao felt guilty, thinking she hadn’t taken good care of him.
But now, the situation had changed, so Mengyao naturally had to go and eat killing pig dish.
Not only had the Gu family’s living conditions rapidly improved during this period, but Gu Yu had also cured the measles epidemic in the village. Mengyao felt it was imperative to attend.
If you ask why, it’s because Gu Yu is her husband!
The feeling of her husband being so capable made Mengyao feel incredibly happy. She wanted to show off more to others, to express her affection.
If Gu Yu knew about Mengyao’s childish thoughts, he would probably laugh and shake his head, but then he would find his little wife too adorable!
If she wanted to show off, then so be it!
He would definitely cooperate fully!
As long as his little wife was happy, he would feel sweet in his heart.
“The sweet potatoes are ready.”
After the sweet potatoes were finally roasted, the three members of the Gu family quickly shared them and were all satisfied.
In winter, not only the wild beasts on the mountain were reluctant to move, but people were too.
It was incredibly comfortable to huddle at home by the stove.
“Gu Yu, Gu Yu! Hurry and bring your bowls over. They’re at the village entrance, and the killing pig dish is almost ready.”
After someone shouted at their courtyard gate, the three members of the Gu family, each wearing their thick clothes, came out of the house and excitedly headed towards the village entrance.
Gu Yu, in particular, was eager to witness firsthand what killing pig dish looked like.
Perhaps considering that the Gu family members were all children, the Village Chief hadn’t called them to watch the pig slaughter, fearing the bloody scene might startle them.
Instead, he quickly sent someone to call the Gu family to eat while the killing pig dish was being prepared.
Gu Yu had helped the village greatly before, teaching doctors in the town about measles prescriptions. During the village competitions, Magistrate Bai had highly praised Yang Family Village in front of many village chiefs.
A land of talent and virtue.
In fact, it was all thanks to Gu Yu.
Other village chiefs had also heard about this matter and lamented that their villages hadn’t produced a genius young divine doctor, feeling envious.
In the end, they could only watch as the Village Chief of Yang Family Village, Yang Hong, happily accepted the prize money for “Best Village Chief.”
Yang Hong didn’t spend the prize money on himself. Instead, he planned to use it for the village’s development, to make Yang Family Village better.
Although Village Chief Yang often complained about various things in the village, having been a village chief for so many years, he had developed affection for it. Seeing the village develop increasingly well, he was naturally very happy.
Not to mention, he could show off in front of the other old village chiefs. Life was truly wonderful!
All of this was due to Gu Yu’s help. Therefore, the Gu family’s attendance at today’s killing pig dish was essential.
For this reason, the Village Chief had secretly set aside several large pieces of fatty pork. He planned to serve them to the Gu family upon their arrival as a special treat.
“Wow! It smells so good!”
“What are you talking about smelling good? Last time Mengyao made chicken wings, you and Xiaobai, one fox and one human, were squatting by the door practically drooling.”
“Brother-in-law, you don’t understand. Food made at home is different from communal meals, really! Taste it later, it’s especially fragrant.”
When the Gu family arrived at the village entrance, the villagers were already holding bowls and eating with gusto, their faces filled with satisfaction. Gu Yu was also starting to get hungry.
After the Village Chief enthusiastically served them the killing pig dish, Gu Yu looked at the pork and blood tofu in his bowl. He then picked up a piece of pork with his chopsticks and took a bite. He found it smooth and delicious, rich but not greasy, making him want to eat more.
With the light snow falling from the sky and the somewhat cold temperature, eating hot killing pig dish made it even more comforting.
Those who ate quickly, after finishing their first bowl, with smiles on their faces, asked for a second bowl. Even if the second bowl had less meat, just with the broth, it was incredibly enjoyable.
After finishing the entire bowl of killing pig dish, Gu Yu licked his lips, thinking that communal meals were indeed delicious.
“Hehe, brother-in-law, is it good!”
“Yes, it’s really good.”
“I told you so! It’s a shame I didn’t get to see the pig slaughter. I’ve been curious about it for a long time, but my sister never let me watch.”
“You’re just a child. If you watch such things, you might wet your bed from nightmares… Anyway, if you had actually seen the pig slaughter, you probably wouldn’t be able to eat the killing pig dish.”
After Gu Yu finished eating, Gu Qingheng chuckled and leaned closer. As he spoke, he sighed, as if regretting something.
His pensive demeanor, like a little adult, made Gu Yu smile. He then reached out and patted Gu Qingheng’s head, telling the little fellow not to overthink things.
“By the way, where’s your sister?”
“She was pulled away by those women. I wanted to go and listen to the gossip, but they wouldn’t let me. They’re so petty!”
“I guess your penchant for gossip has been exposed.”
Then, remembering that Mengyao wasn’t there, Gu Yu inquired with curiosity.
Mengyao had been by Gu Yu’s side earlier, but after saying she had something to do, she hadn’t returned for a long time.
When Gu Qingheng mentioned Mengyao’s whereabouts, Gu Yu nodded in understanding and didn’t dwell on the matter.
Since the entire village had come to eat killing pig dish, those women were naturally among them. Seeing Mengyao, it was normal for them to want to talk to her more. Unlike Gu Yu, he didn’t have a single friend in this village. Fortunately, he had his younger brother-in-law by his side, so he didn’t feel lonely.
“Oh no! Wild beasts are coming down the mountain to forage!”
Just as Gu Yu was considering whether to get a second bowl, a loud shout suddenly rang out, causing everyone to turn pale with shock.
…………
For those asking for the group number, the author does have one (but mostly spends time writing, so doesn’t frequent it much, only posting an update notification after releasing a chapter.)
Group Number: 728252192