Chapter 19: Home

The ox driver was called Uncle Ox. His surname was not Ox, but because he often drove people to the county town. As time went by, people would call him Uncle Ox. He was the only person in the village with an ox, and his life was much richer than the average person’s.

Uncle Ox obviously knew Jian Dalang. Seeing that he had bought so many things, he said sourly, “What kind of fortune has Dalang made? Why would he buy so many things?”

There was so much meat that even he could not buy so much at once.

Father Jian smiled foolishly. “How could I make a fortune? I ate too many wild vegetables. Not to mention us, the children at home are all skinny. My father took out all of the family’s money, and the child’s mother also went to his mother’s house to borrow some money. That’s why I bought these grains. Otherwise, I’m afraid the child wouldn’t be able to hold on.”

That was true. Uncle Ox saw that the father and daughter in front of him were both skin and bones. They must have owed a lot of money to be able to buy these things, so he was not envious at all. He consoled them dryly, “The days will get better and better. Just wait to earn a lot of money in the future!”

Father Jian smiled and did not reply. He helped his daughter into the ox cart.

“Let’s go, Uncle. It’s just time to go back and eat.”

After leaving the city gate, Daliang folded a large leaf by the roadside and wrapped the pork. Then, he hugged it tightly in his arms.

He looked at the pork and then at his daughter. Then, he let out a long sigh.

“Say, why did you buy so much dried meat?”

Even though he said that, he still hugged the meat in his arms tightly.

“Don’t feel sorry for me, Father. I have a use for this meat. I plan to make some stewed meat and sell it. If it sells well, we will have an additional income in the future.”

“Who doesn’t know how to make stewed meat? Who would be so stupid to spend more money to buy other people’s cooked meat?”

Jian Qingqing sighed. She bought the meat first without asking for permission because she was afraid that this would happen. Father Jian would not support her. Old Man Jian might, but it would take a lot of effort to persuade him. So, after buying it, they would be much easier to accept it.

“Let’s try it first. I will cook it tonight and bring it to the restaurant for them to see. If they don’t want it, then we can eat it ourselves. After all, we didn’t buy that much.”

Father Jian was even more disapproving, “What restaurant? The restaurant has its own chef, and he has practiced cooking for so many years, right? Isn’t it better than other people’s cooking? And you only started cooking in the past few days. How can you compete with the chef? Why would he buy your stuff?”

“Just give it a try. How do you know no one will buy it if you don’t try? If I didn’t try to ask them, how would I know that mushrooms can be sold?”

Uncle Ox, who was sitting in front, also understood what the father and daughter were talking about. Thus, he also advised Father Jian, “That’s right, brother. Your daughter is right. If you want to make money, you have to fork out some capital. Those people who sell snacks and food, don’t they buy food first and try and see if they can sell it? If it sells well, then continue to do it. If it doesn’t sell well, then take it home and eat it yourself. It’s just a matter of some effort.”

Uncle Ox often went to and from the county town, so he had his own views and wisdom. To make money, there had to be sacrifices, and if there were sacrifices, then there would be gains. If he wanted to earn nothing for nothing, then he could only do some hard work as a laborer.

Uncle Ox knew this, so he spent a lot of money in the early years to allow his sons to learn how to cook. Now, he was doing quite well, so although this year’s disaster year was quite serious, it was not to the point of running out of food.

Although Father Jian did not agree with Uncle Ox’s words, he did not want to talk about his daughter in front of outsiders, so he kept his mouth shut. He planned to go home and call his wife and father to persuade this ambitious daughter.