The Butcher's Little Husband - Chapter 118

Back in the Li family courtyard, everyone sat outside chatting. Tian Xiaoman took out the white melon from the basin, sliced it several times, and divided it into nine portions.

There were three people in his family, two in his eldest brother’s family, plus his father, Amu, and Grandmu Liu Xilin—a total of nine.

Once it was cut, Tian Xiaoman called Le Ge’er and asked him to deliver two portions to Grandmu Liu. He knew he didn’t want to intrude on their family reunion, so he did not force them to come out.

In the past, a basket of white melons only cost a few copper coins—not exactly a rare treat. But times were different now. White melons had become precious.

At first, Grandmu Liu refused to take it. But when he saw Le Ge’er stubbornly refusing to let go, he had no choice but to accept. 

Back in his room, he wiped away tears. If only his husband and son were still alive… But even so, it was a blessing to have met such a kind family in his old age.

Liu Xilin sat quietly beside him, saying nothing. But in his heart, he swore he would repay their kindness in the future.

Tian Xiaoman had handed out melon to everyone—except Little Tuanzi. 

The little one saw everyone eating the sweet-smelling white melon and grew a bit anxious.

He grabbed the hem of Tian Xiaoman’s clothes with both hands and tried to climb up. “Amu, baby~” When he behaved, Amu would call him “baby.” When he didn’t, it was “little rascal,” “little devil,” and the like. Little Tuanzi was a bit aggrieved. He felt he was always very well-behaved—the best!

“No more!” Tian Xiaoman replied mercilessly. 

But Little Tuanzi glanced at the table—there was clearly more!

Tian Xiaoman noticed and lifted him up in front of him. “What did Amu tell you? Don’t get your clothes dirty, right?”

Little Tuanzi nodded solemnly.

“Then look at your clothes!” Tian Xiaoman pointed at his gray apron, his face smudged with streaks—he looked like a piglet fresh from the mud!

The little one followed his Amu’s gaze, looked down at himself, then hugged his Amu’s neck flatteringly, grinning like a flower. “Amu, I’m good!”

Tian Xiaoman rolled his eyes helplessly. “You’re the best? I’ve never seen a kid as ‘good’ as you!”

He handed him the last piece of white melon, first biting off the seed section.

Little Tuanzi watched mournfully, then took the melon, sulkily took a bite—and his expression softened. So sweet~ So delicious~

He buried his head in the melon and finished it in no time. He licked his lips in satisfaction but didn’t ask for more—he knew there was none left.

Li Wenxuan saw his greedy little face and offered his own piece. 

Little Tuanzi leaned in and took a small bite, then shook his head to show he did not want any more. If there was plenty, he could eat. If there was not, he could not ask for more.

Tian Xiaoman was pleased. Good—he wasn’t being selfish. Everyone had a mouth to feed, no need to give everything to one child.

Thanks to Tian Xiaoman’s influence, even Father Li and Li Amu no longer insisted on giving their share to the children. As Xiaoman said, they’d have many chances to eat again in the future.

After eating, Tian Xiaoman went to boil water for a bath. The others stayed in the yard, chatting.

Li Yiran shared the reason for his return, and everyone was relieved. If the court was taking action, that would help. Some families were barely holding on.

This year hadn’t been the worst. If it hadn’t been for the locust plague, the drought alone wouldn’t have brought people to ruin. Life would’ve just been tighter. But if the drought continued… that would be another story.

Li Yiran said, “This time, the court is not only providing disaster relief. They’re also planning to dig a canal.”

“Dig a canal?” Everyone was stunned. Wouldn’t that mean forced labor?

“Yes. There are big rivers around our province. If we can dig a canal to divert the river water, it’ll solve the drought. And since the lower reaches of the river flood every few years, diverting some water to our area could also prevent floods.”

Everyone nodded. It was a brilliant idea—killing two birds with one stone. But…

“As for the labor, this time’s different. Each worker will get daily rations, and adult men will receive an extra share for doing corvée work.”

Everyone agreed. Forced labor used to be mandatory—each household had to send someone or pay silver if they didn’t. The Li family had paid silver since no one had gone.

But now, with disaster looming, people would likely fight for the chance—anything for food. 

Families that didn’t send people still had to pay. It wasn’t fair to let others do the work while you stayed home. If a household had no adult men, there would be flexible arrangements.

At the entrance of the county town, a long line had formed—everyone had come to collect their relief food. Fortunately, the two officials overseeing the delivery were also from the disaster area; otherwise, the rations might have disappeared before arrival.

Alongside food distribution, they informed people about the corvée labor plan. 

Since most villagers couldn’t read, they posted several notices outside the city and assigned literate soldiers to read them aloud.

The chosen soldiers were usually younger and had friendly faces—if a rough, fierce man had stood there, the villagers would have run off scared.

At first, people panicked. They could barely eat, and now they had to work too? Wasn’t that a death sentence?

But once they learned that labor came with food, their attitudes changed. 

Some asked, “Can gers go?” Others asked about age—“What if he’s over sixty? What about twelve or thirteen?” A group of two or three gers even came to inquire.

They reported the situation to Li Yiran. 

After thinking it over, he told the messengers to say this: “Families can send more people, but they must be under fifty and strong—at least sixteen years old. Gers won’t be accepted for digging, but there are other tasks like making rations where gers are allowed.”

Hearing this, people were a mix of relieved and anxious. But it wasn’t too bad—at least they’d get food every day, even if it wasn’t enough to feel full. After all, they were used to being half-hungry anyway.

Each county had an assigned official. Once enough laborers gathered, work began. 

First, the rivers around each county were widened. If there was no room to hold the diverted water, the drought could turn into a flood.

Then, they selected a larger river beyond the county and connected it to the local waterways—so the water could actually flow in.

Finally, they dug a channel from the big river to this region. It wasn’t just one county involved. It was a massive project, so manpower was essential.

The court had been prosperous in recent years, with a well-stocked treasury, so they weren’t stingy with funding.

But that didn’t mean people could profit from a national disaster. Just last month, a merchant in another county tried to inflate grain prices and was arrested by the project overseers.

All the refugees who caused trouble at Willow Tree Slope were forced to join the labor teams—but their treatment was much worse than for those who volunteered.

Little Tuanzi’s first birthday was very simple. It wasn’t the time for grand celebrations. The whole family just had a meal together.

The highlight was the Zhuazhou ceremony.

(Translator’s Note: Zhuazhou (抓周) — A traditional Chinese rite for infants, usually held at one year old, where various objects are placed before the child. The item the child grabs is believed to symbolically predict future interests, talents, or career paths.)

Everyone contributed an item: Grandpa’s small bow and arrow, Uncle’s official seal, Father’s butcher knife, Amu’s brush and book, another uncle’s hoe, another’s cooking ladle, a carpenter’s knife, and various other scattered items.

Tian Xiaoman had originally planned to train him to grab certain items. The boy could already talk and walk, so it’d be easy. But Li Wenxuan stopped him. He said the child should take what he likes. Forcing him would only ruin him.

Tian Xiaoman thought about it. He used to want him to become an official—but now, even being a butcher was fine. There were 360 professions. As long as you could support yourself, any trade was good. If everyone became an official, who would do all the other work?

When Little Tuanzi was placed on the mat, he looked around, confused. So many things—what was Amu asking him to do?

Li Wenxuan encouraged, “Tuanzi, go pick something you like.”

“Okay~” Tuanzi replied sweetly. He toddled over, picking up items, examining them, then putting them down.

Everyone’s expressions changed with his every move—cheering when he picked something up, sighing when he let it go.

Though he didn’t understand why they were watching him so closely, he enjoyed the attention. He giggled more and more, playing with everything—yet taking nothing.

Just then, “Zhizhi——” the cicadas cried in the trees. One flew down and landed on the mat. 

Tian Xiaoman’s heart sank.

Sure enough, Tuanzi’s eyes lit up. He toddled over, pressed his tiny hand down, caught the cicada, and tucked it carefully into the pouch on his apron. Then he wobbled over to his father. 

He loved bugs~

Everyone: “…”

Tian Xiaoman: “You little brat! Do it again!”

How could his son pick a bug during the Zhuazhou ceremony?! Now it all made sense—he wasn’t checking for symbolism; he was checking what could fit in his bag!

Startled, Tuanzi trembled and covered his pouch in grievance. His bug had been taken away by Amu~

No one knew what to say. With most items, you could spin something auspicious. But a cicada?

At last, Li Yiran broke the awkward silence. “Cicada, pronounced the same as ‘chan’ (toad), fell from an osmanthus tree—this can be interpreted as ‘winning the laurel in the toad palace,’ implying future success in the imperial exams.”

Everyone: It’s good to have someone educated around!

They all nodded and echoed the sentiment.

Tian Xiaoman’s mood finally eased a little, though he still gave Tuanzi a glare. 

Tuanzi, meanwhile, crept behind his father and pulled out the cicada to play again…

Calm down! Calm down! It’s his first birthday—it’s not good to beat him today! Tian Xiaoman reminded himself to stay calm, then glared at Li Wenxuan, who was shielding Tuanzi.

Just you wait until tonight!