Farming for Three Meals a Day [Farming Life] 51

Chapter 51

The imperial court had strict laws. Those who robbed homes, bullied others, or caused market chaos would be taken to the government office, beaten, and imprisoned.

The official asked, “Are they from Shanxiu Village? Where’s the village chief?”

Village Chief Zhou quickly said, “Your Honor, this family’s surname is Li, they’re butchers from the next village, not from our Shanxiu Village. The Liu family, a widowed mother and her son, were at home when they barged in, locked the door, and trapped them inside. Fortunately, the Ye family discovered it quickly, otherwise, who knows what they would have done.”

As the village chief, he naturally protected his own villagers. These people had come to Shanxiu Village to cause trouble, he couldn’t let them off easily.

The official nodded, the shackles in his hand clinking. “Outsiders coming to another village to lock people up and cause trouble? We’ll have to take them back and investigate.”

His words made the Li family turn pale. Father Li quickly stood up and said, “Your Honor! It’s true that my second son is discussing marriage with this family, we just came to take a look, we didn’t come to cause trouble!”

Ye Xi said casually, “So you’re saying you might have come to kidnap someone and force them into marriage?”

Li Xi’s elder brother quickly shook his head. “Don’t talk nonsense! We came here politely!”

Li-ge’er spat. “You’re lying! Locking me and my mother in the house, is that polite?”

Mother Li signaled to Li Xi. “Quickly explain to the officer, don’t let him wrong us. You have feelings for Li-ge’er, ask him to drop this matter.”

Li Xi’s eyes were calm as he glanced at his mother. “Your Honor, I wasn’t aware of this. They came here to cause trouble, not for my marriage, but to harass the Liu family. They locked us in the house, please enforce the law, I have nothing else to say.”

Father Li, the elder son, and the younger son were furious and wanted to hit him. “You ungrateful wretch! You think you can separate from the family by dragging us all down with you? Dream on!”

Li-ge’er stepped forward and said, “I know what you’re thinking. You thought by coming to my house and causing a scene, scaring me, I would break off contact with Li Xi and make him give up the idea of separating from the family. You’re overthinking it. If he separates from your family, I’m willing to marry him. If you refuse to let him separate, I’ll wait. Don’t think I’m made of paper, so easily manipulated!”

Li Xi looked at Li-ge’er, stunned, unable to react for a moment.

Li-ge’er glared at him. “I know you can distinguish right from wrong. Since you didn’t defend them today, I know you’re trustworthy and will protect me in the future.”

Li Xi’s eyes welled up, and he nodded, his voice hoarse. “I definitely will.”

Ye Xi thought for a moment and suggested, “Let’s settle this today. We’ll drop the charges, and your Li family will separate today. The officials and the village chief are here, we can write a contract and make it official.”

Mother Li flatly refused, spitting on the ground. “You outsider, telling us to separate? Li Xi is my son, it’s our decision whether he separates or not, how he fulfills his filial duty and supports us in the future!”

Li Xi couldn’t bear it anymore and took out a tattered piece of cloth from his pocket. “This is a record of the days and earnings from selling pork I butchered. Although it’s just simple markings, it clearly shows what I’ve done for the family and how much money I’ve earned. May I ask, which of the Li family’s expenses isn’t covered by this money? What can my elder and younger brothers show to prove their contributions to the family?”

Li Xi’s elder and younger brothers opened their mouths, wanting to retort, but they couldn’t. They knew they had been idle at home.

Mother Li clutched her chest in anger. “You ungrateful wretch! You’re disowning your parents! I can’t keep you in this family anymore!”

Li Xi believed that after years of hard work at home, he had repaid his parents for raising him, and he had no qualms about separating, wanting to live his own life.

“I must separate from this family!”

Father Li shouted, “Fine, since you’re determined to establish your own household, then so be it! But don’t even think about taking anything with you. The house and land belong to the Li family. Since you’re separating, then leave empty-handed!”

The elder and younger brothers nodded. “Yes, everything in the family belongs to us, you can separate if you want, but you won’t get anything!”

Li Xi didn’t care, he was hardworking and capable of earning money. “I won’t take a single coin, I’ll just separate, and I won’t be responsible for supporting Father and Mother anymore. Since you’re making me leave with nothing, then Elder Brother and Younger Brother, after receiving the family assets, will be responsible for supporting our parents.”

The two brothers, only thinking about dividing the family assets, agreed without hesitation. “Fine, you, Li Xi, have nothing to do with us anymore, we’ll take care of Father and Mother.”

Having reached an agreement, they quickly asked Village Chief Zhou to write a separation contract, witnessed and signed by the official, and the Li family members pressed their fingerprints on it.

“Since this is settled, and I’m no longer part of the Li family, if you come and cause trouble for the Liu family again, I won’t be polite!” Li Xi said firmly.

The Liu family dropped the charges, and the official collected ten copper coins as a fee and left.

Li Xi, honest and kind, bowed to the Ye family and thanked them. “This is all thanks to you, I even managed to separate from my family because of this incident, I’m grateful for your help.”

Li Ran smiled. “Li Xi, this is all thanks to our Li-ge’er. If he hadn’t agreed to drop the charges, the separation wouldn’t have happened so quickly.”

Li Xi, seeing Li-ge’er, became shy and awkward again, smiling foolishly.

Li-ge’er scolded him playfully, “What I just said doesn’t count, everything depends on my mother’s approval.”

Li Xi nodded. “I know.”

Liu Xiufeng and Mother Liu came out of the house. They hadn’t been involved in the discussion, having stayed inside to let the younger generation handle it. Mother Liu had observed Li Xi’s actions clearly.

“Li Xi, you’re a good man, Auntie approves of you. I regretted stopping the marriage discussions between Li-ge’er and your family before because of your troublesome family, I was afraid Li-ge’er would suffer if he married into your family. Now that you’ve separated and have nothing to do with them, I naturally agree.”

Li Xi’s eyes welled up. “Auntie, but now that I’ve left with nothing, I’m afraid Li-ge’er will have to endure some hardship. But don’t worry, I’m strong and capable, I know how to butcher pigs, sell meat, farm, and do other work, we’ll have a good life eventually.”

Mother Liu wiped her tears. “Don’t say that, if you don’t have money, you can earn it. With your skills, there’s nothing to be afraid of. We mountain people rely on the land and our strength to earn a living, no one will starve. You and Li-ge’er are both hardworking, you’ll have a good life.”

Ye Xi and Lin Jiangshan walked home hand in hand. Ye Xi said happily, “I didn’t expect the Li family’s troublemaking to actually lead to a good outcome. It seems Li-ge’er will be having his wedding feast soon.”

Lin Jiangshan said, “Li Xi is a man of character, we should keep in touch with him in the future.”

After walking for a while, they reached Mrs. Wang’s house. Ye Xi gave her the embroidered quilt covers, and she was full of praise.

“Xi-ge’er’s skills are truly amazing, no one in the village can compare to your embroidery. My daughter will have a beautiful dowry, thanks to you!”

Ye Xi smiled and exchanged a few polite words. Mrs. Wang insisted they stay for dinner, but Ye Xi declined, saying they had chores to do at home.

“Alright, I won’t keep you then. But come back the day after tomorrow to help us prepare the bridal chamber.”

Her daughter’s wedding was in two days, and they needed to invite people to prepare the bridal chamber and bring good luck.

Ye Xi had never done this before, it had to be someone who was married, preferably with children, blessed with good fortune.

“Auntie, I’m not suitable, I don’t have any children yet,” Ye Xi said, thinking that he hadn’t given birth yet.

Mrs. Wang glanced at Lin Jiangshan and smiled. “You’re not blessed? Lin lad is so good to you, you two are living such a good life, many people in the village can’t compare to you. You’ve just gotten married, and you’ll have a baby soon, don’t worry.”

Ye Xi’s ears turned red, and he could only agree.

Mrs. Wang then said to Lin Jiangshan, “Lin lad, you’re a strong man, don’t just use your strength in the fields, you have to work hard in bed too, so you can have a baby soon, that’s what makes life meaningful and enjoyable.”

Lin Jiangshan, thick-skinned, nodded. “I know, Auntie, we’ll try to have a baby next year and invite you to the celebration feast.”

Mrs. Wang finally stopped talking, afraid of saying anything more inappropriate. Villagers placed great importance on having children, and elders would often give advice to newlyweds.

On their way back, they encountered a peddler selling goods, one of his baskets containing steaming hot white tofu.

Villagers brought bowls to buy tofu, five wen per piece, a treat for the family and a change of taste. Making tofu was troublesome, and soybeans were precious, they couldn’t afford to eat it often. Finally encountering a peddler selling tofu, they all gathered around.

Ye Xi said, “Let’s buy a piece of tofu too and stew it with chili, it will warm us up.”

Lin Jiangshan paid five wen for a piece of tofu, and they walked home hand in hand.

It was past Minor Snow, and after sunset, snowflakes mixed with the howling winter wind, rustling the treetops.

In the kitchen, Ye Xi simmered the tofu in a clay pot. He stir-fried minced meat in hot oil, then added chili sauce and minced garlic, followed by the blanched tofu and a bowl of water, covering the pot and simmering for a while.

When he lifted the lid, the chili sauce had blended perfectly with the tofu, the red oil and meat broth bubbling. He sprinkled some ground Sichuan peppercorns and chopped green onions and called Lin Jiangshan for dinner.

This was the perfect dish for warming up in winter. They mixed the tofu and meat with rice and ate several bowls, Lin Jiangshan’s nose even sweating slightly.

Ye Xi’s forehead was also sweaty, his lips red and plump from the spice, and he took small breaths.

Lin Jiangshan couldn’t resist the sight, remembering Mrs. Wang’s words earlier. His throat tightened, and he lifted Ye Xi into his arms, carried him back to the room, closed the door, blocking the fawn’s curious gaze from the doorway, and said, “My dear husband, let’s have a baby.”