The Butcher's Little Husband - Chapter 5

In early June, there is more farm work in the fields. The vast wheat fields gradually turn yellow and will be ready for harvest in just a few days.

The most common trees in Xingtian Village are apricot trees. Every household has several trees planted both in and outside their yards. They are also planted along the riverbank at the entrance of the village, winding along the river without an end in sight. There’s also a large area on the mountain behind the village.

The most beautiful time of year is March and April when apricot blossoms begin to bloom, their pink stamens and white petals with a faint blush. The blossoms look like snow, but slightly more beautiful, covering the entire branch.

But the most popular part is the apricots harvested after the flowers bloom. By mid-May, the apricots begin to ripen. Some are green, some are green with white, some are white with yellow, some are yellow with red, and some are half yellow and half red. The colors are really strange, like fat dolls huddled together, clinging to the green leaves and looking out with a smile.

In previous years, Tian Xiaoman has always been the most active during this time. He prepares his backpack early and heads up the mountain to pick apricots.

There’s a small south-facing hillside farther from their village where the apricots ripen earlier than those in the village. Others don’t care much, because apricots are so common in the village that there is no need to go so far to pick them.

As the saying goes, “Peaches are filling, apricots harm, and under the plum tree, people die.” Eating too many apricots can cause one to get a sore throat, and every year Tian Xiaoman suffers from nosebleeds due to eating too many. Therefore, Mother Tian has set a rule—he can only eat four or five apricots a day.

Eating too many apricots is a concern, but this year, Tian Xiaoman can’t even muster the interest to pick them. This makes Mother Tian worried as well.

It has been more than ten days since he came back crying. During this time, Tian Xiaoman hasn’t gone out even once. He just sits at home listlessly every day, sighing. Although he stops crying, it is still very annoying to hear him sighing constantly.

Especially over the past few days, he has taken out his brothers’ books, trying to teach himself to read.

In fact, Mother Tian had previously sent him to school, but after being hit twice on the palm by the teacher for disrupting the class, he cried and refuses to go again.

Now he is flipping through the books again. He must have remembered what that young man Zhang said that day.

“Sigh…” Another sigh escapes Tian Xiaoman’s lips.

Mother Tian can’t stand it anymore. “Xiaoman? The apricots on Dongshan are almost ripe. Aren’t you going to pick them this year?” she tries tempting him.

“No… I want to read a book!” Tian Xiaoman insists, though his head can’t retain a single word.

“Really not going? Xiaoguo said he would go today!” Mother Tian continues.

“Xiaoguo?” Tian Xiaoman is surprised. Yang Xiaoguo is his good friend. They share the same love for eating, and he can eat more than anyone else. If Xiaoguo gets there first, Tian Xiaoman will definitely miss out on the apricots this year!

“Mother, where is my backpack? Find it for me quickly!” Tian Xiaoman demands, realizing that if he doesn’t hurry, he’ll miss out on the apricots.

“I got it out for you earlier, so carry it with you quickly! If you’re late, they won’t wait for you!” Mother Tian helps him with his small backpack. Just as he is about to rush out of the yard, she turns back, grabs a steamed bun, and shoves it in his mouth before he runs off.

Alas, she thinks, he’s sixteen and about to get married but still behaves like a child. What can I do?

“Yang Xiaoguo, wait for me!” Tian Xiaoman trots after the large group and soon sees Yang Xiaoguo, who is indeed following the adults with a basket on his back. However, the adults are heading to the fields, while Yang Xiaoguo is on his way to Dongshan to pick apricots.

“Xiaoman… why… why are you here?” Yang Xiaoguo, surprised, pulls his hands behind his back, still chewing something in his mouth.

“Xiaoguo, what are you eating?” Tian Xiaoman narrows his eyes suspiciously.

“Nothing… nothing! Xiaoman, didn’t you say you weren’t going?” Yang Xiaoguo hesitates, trying to avoid answering.

“Don’t try to change the topic! Hand over the food! Or…” Tian Xiaoman makes a grabbing motion, pretending to tickle him.

“Okay, okay…” Yang Xiaoguo pouts and hands over some osmanthus candy that his brother has brought back. Seeing the half-empty oil paper bag, he sighs. This bad Xiaoman has a nose like a dog’s; he can never hide any delicious food from him.

Noticing his reluctance, Tian Xiaoman comforts him, “Don’t be stingy. Every time my brother brings something, I always share it with you. Once we pick the apricots, I’ll make apricot jam for you.”

When the older women in the village see the two of them, they think, Hey, this Xiaoman is bullying that poor boy again, but Xiaoguo is a weakling and always lets him! This shows the importance of a good reputation.

Tian Xiaoman doesn’t know that he is being talked about, and even if he does, he won’t mind. People’s words are their own, and he isn’t living to please anyone. Misunderstandings are just that—misunderstandings.

The two boys, walking along the path outside the village, joke and play, sometimes nudging each other or swatting at one another. Their laughter fills the air.

“Wow, so many apricots!” the two gers exclaim in awe, as they do every year.

Yang Xiaoguo is the most impatient. He spots a large yellow apricot, picks it, wipes it on his clothes, and puts it into his mouth. “Hmm… so sweet. Xiaoman, you should try some too.” The apricot is so sweet in his mouth that he feels very satisfied.

“I’m not as greedy as you!” Tian Xiaoman shrugs, ignoring the fact that he is already full from the steamed bun he ate before leaving.

He looks up at the apricot-laden tree, thinking to himself, Last year, there weren’t many apricots, so I ran out of jam by August. This year, I can make more jars.

While thinking, his hands aren’t idle. He quickly puts several big apricots into his backpack.

After eating one, Yang Xiaoguo, not wanting to be left behind, starts picking as well.

Although Xingtian Village has many apricots, whether from the village or the mountain behind, every year merchants come to buy them to make dried apricots or apricot kernels. It is an additional source of income for the village.

Some adults, wanting to make extra money, limit how many the children can pick. Only the apricots in their own yards are for them to eat freely.

Tian Xiaoman and Yang Xiaoguo aren’t subjected to these restrictions. They are both bottomless pits when it comes to food, and the more apricots, the better. Every year, they are the only ones who come to pick the fruit in this area. Though they call it a patch, there are only three or four trees, but the trees are large.

After filling their backpacks with apricots, they decide to head back. They can always come back tomorrow.

By the time they return to the village, it is already afternoon. Mother Tian sees them and greets warmly, “Xiaoguo, you must be hungry! Come to my house for dinner. Xiaoman’s father went to town to buy some meat today, and I made braised pork.”

“Mother, your ger is here! Why didn’t you call me first?” Tian Xiaoman pouts, feeling a little jealous.

“You brat, why are you jealous now? Don’t talk back or I’ll give all the food to Xiaoguo!” Mother Tian smiles at her ger, glad to see him finally in a better mood after going out.

She helps both boys remove their backpacks and serves them bowls of rice. Watching them eat heartily makes her happy.

“Thank you, Aunt Tian!” Yang Xiaoguo says after wolfing down two bowls of rice with a big helping of braised pork, then resting with a satisfied belly.

Mother Tian smiles as she watches Yang Xiaoguo’s round face and greasy little mouth. She has watched him grow up, and he is just as old as her own Xiaoman. She is happy to see him so content and isn’t in any hurry to give him to her oldest son. That can wait.

“Mother, please help me. I want to make jam from all these apricots today,” Tian Xiaoman says, having finished eating but still thinking about the apricot jam. He doesn’t even take a break and immediately speaks up.

“Okay, okay. You take a rest, and I’ll help you!” Mother Tian says lovingly as she looks at Tian Xiaoman.

Parents always take the best care of their children. As the old saying goes, The husband is someone else’s treasure, but the child with a lazy eye is your own treasure. What’s more, Xiaoman’s apricot jam really is good. No one else can make it as tasty as he can.

As for Tian Xiaoman, he isn’t good at studying or embroidery. His little bit of cleverness goes into food. He often comes up with new ways to cook, sometimes delicious, sometimes not so much, but most of them are delightful.