Traveling Through Those Years Of Farming (Quick Transmigration) - Chapter 27

Tang Xiuyuan is a chatterbox. He never stops talking except when he drinks water. From the small matters, like the engagement between his housekeeper and the granddaughter of the old nanny who served his mother, to the big issues, like his sister breaking his favorite dagger yesterday, everything becomes a big deal in his eyes.

It is the first time that Tang Dingyuan meets such a chatterbox. He even regrets helping him in the past, which leads to his current entanglement with him.

The two meet by accident. That day, Tang Dingyuan takes the five taels of silver awarded by the academy to buy gifts for his family. While shopping, he happens to see Tang Xiuyuan standing in front of a clay doll stall, choosing clay dolls. Behind him, a sneaky man reaches into his purse.

Tang Xiuyuan does not sense the impending crisis at all. The small vendor notices it but keeps his head down, choosing silence over confrontation, adhering to the belief that less trouble is better than more.

Tang Dingyuan enjoys doing good deeds; after all, most of the people he helps thank him and affirm his noble character.

So, without thinking, he walks to Tang Xiuyuan’s side, pats his shoulder, and subtly separates him from the sneaky person behind him.

The entire sequence of actions flows naturally, appearing as a chance encounter among acquaintances. The thief, startled, glares at Tang Dingyuan before leaving. Since Tang Dingyuan wears the academy’s robes, the thief dares not harm someone who might have future prospects as a scholar, and Tang Xiuyuan’s purse is thus saved.

At first, Tang Xiuyuan does not realize that Tang Dingyuan has helped him. He racks his brain to recall Tang Dingyuan’s overly dazzling face. It is only when Tang Dingyuan points to the purse rope, which was originally tied around his waist and is now about to be untied, that he realizes he has just encountered a thief.

On that day, Tang Xiuyuan is out to choose a birthday gift for his younger sister. Most of his private money is in that purse. If it is stolen, his future days would be difficult.

To express his gratitude, he insists on treating Tang Dingyuan to a big meal. During the meal, they learn more about each other.

For example, both of them share the surname Tang. One is called Tang Xiuyuan, and the other, Tang Dingyuan. Their names sound like those of brothers. Tang Xiuyuan feels that this is fate. Moreover, Tang Dingyuan has a good temper. Communicating with him feels like being bathed in a spring breeze. After just one meal, Tang Xiuyuan considers him a close friend and even wants to chop off a chicken head and burn incense to become sworn brothers.

“I saw you buy a red garnet hairpin the other day. Who are you going to give it to? Do you have a sister at home?”

Tang Xiuyuan chatters on about the events of the past few days. After releasing his desire to talk, he finally begins to care about his good brother. Remembering the hairpin Tang Dingyuan buys, which is clearly something a little girl would like, curiosity sparkles in his eyes. 

He also has a sister, and he wonders what Tang Dingyuan’s sister looks like and if she is as cute as his own little chubby sister.

Thinking about his own sister, who drinks three bowls of honey water a day and occasionally enjoys ginger milk, snow fungus and red date soup, and refreshing desserts, he finds himself wanting to meet his good brother’s sister even more.

“Not just a sister,” Tang Dingyuan replies, remaining calm. The person in front of him poses a potential threat, and he must nip it in the bud. “She’s a little sister who has been engaged since childhood.”

He emphasizes the word “engagement” to assert his position.

“Ah?”

Tang Xiuyuan scratches his head. “Is it an arranged marriage?” 

He doesn’t notice Tang Dingyuan’s hidden intentions at all.

“No.” Tang Dingyuan shakes his head. “After my parents passed away, Uncle Lu and Aunt Lu adopted me. They not only sent me to school but also betrothed their eldest daughter to me.” He has come to terms with his past and can now speak of it openly.

“That truly sounds like a kind and generous pair of elders.”

 Tang Xiuyuan is in awe. Although his family lives a comfortable life, the elders never spoil their children. The children of the Tang family must help in the sugar water shop from a young age. As a result, Tang Xiuyuan is familiar with the prices and living standards of country folk.

It is not easy for a farmer to nurture a scholar, let alone a stranger with no blood relation.

“Yes.”

“Yes,” Tang Dingyuan thinks of Uncle Lu, who tricks him out of half a chicken leg the last time he goes home, and Aunt Lu, who frequently reminds him to share the chickens and ducks gifted by students’ families with his own family when he opens a school. 

They really are kind and generous… right?

“Your parents must be blessing you, allowing you to meet such good people.”

Tang Xiuyuan pats his shoulder, and all the comfort is left unspoken. After a brief conversation, he becomes even more curious about Tang Dingyuan’s family and wants to see what that kind-hearted couple looks like.

******

“Wait for a moment; I’ll go greet my father first.”

The carriage soon arrives at the village entrance. Tang Xiuyuan exchanges a few words with Tang Dingyuan, then lifts the curtain and jumps down.

This visit to his good brother’s house is completely unexpected, and he hasn’t prepared any gifts. Arriving empty-handed wouldn’t be polite. Tang Xiuyuan decides to go to his sugar water shop to fetch two cans of sugar water. The sugar water specially sold to traveling merchants is beautifully packaged, with carved pottery and a red paper cover, making it a thoughtful gift for his first visit.

He returns quickly, holding two jars of honey water: the best yellow peach honey water from his shop and the rock sugar and snow pear water that is perfect for the season.

Ha!

Tang Dingyuan sneers inwardly. He knows that he must remain vigilant around Tang Xiuyuan. The yellow peach honey water alone isn’t enough; adding the rock sugar and snow pear honey water makes it even more appealing. For the little greedy cat, the combined value of one plus one is definitely more than two. 

Even though he’s as excellent as he is, he still feels the pressure.

Tang Xiuyuan, blissfully unaware, beams as he holds the two jars of honey water, completely oblivious that just moments ago, his good brother had already devised a hundred ways to cut ties with him in his mind.

******

“I want 20 portions of braised chicken with rice.”

“I want 40 portions of braised chicken with rice and 20 portions of mapo tofu rice.”

“Don’t push the people behind you. It’s not your turn yet. Don’t shove; be careful not to spill the soup from the rice.”

…

The open space in front of the Lu family’s main house has been converted into a few rooms, with smoke wafting from them. The aroma of food makes Tang Xiuyuan unable to resist stretching his neck to look toward the bustling crowd. 

This is the wholesale point established by Lu Xiuyu two years ago. Over the years, she has introduced many new dishes, and her stall is no longer limited to just the main road. Now, most people in Yuyang County know there is a girl at Sandangkou Village who is particularly skilled at cooking.

Today’s featured dishes are yellow braised chicken and mapo tofu rice. 

Tofu is a new delicacy “developed” by Lu Xiuyu. So far, the outside world only knows that its raw material is soybeans, but the production process remains unclear. Tofu is soft and delicious, easily taking on various flavors through seasoning. The elderly from wealthy families and officials love it, and now countless purchasing agents queue up daily to order tofu from Lu Xiuyu.

As for the braised chicken, it has become a popular choice among busy professionals looking for quick meals. Raising chickens is simpler than raising pigs, and they reach market size more quickly. To cut costs, Lu Xiuyu adds side dishes like potatoes, green vegetables, and mushrooms when cooking braised chicken. A serving of braised chicken rice costs only five cents. It not only tastes great but also boasts a rich meat flavor, quickly gaining popularity in places where manual laborers gather, such as docks and rice warehouses.

Now, Lu Xiuyu no longer sets up a stall herself; instead, she has established a wholesale point at her doorstep, allowing small vendors to buy in bulk. The wholesale price is one cent cheaper than the market price, and for larger quantities, it can be one and a half cents cheaper. Many vendors flock to her after hearing the news, allowing Lu Xiuyu to make money from the comfort of her home.

At this moment, Lu Xiuyu stands in the shop collecting payments, while Jiang Bai’e, Xu Jiaoniang, and Liu Lanhua help out. They receive wages, earning 20 cents a day simply for washing ingredients and distributing lunch boxes—almost equal to the daily income of heavy laborers carrying bags at the dock.

Tang Dingyuan glances only once before withdrawing his gaze. He has always felt that Lu Xiuyu does not resemble the Lu family, and there seems to be a subtle discord in their energy. He hasn’t felt this way before, but as he grows older, he becomes increasingly uncomfortable interacting with this cousin. 

He does not notice that Tang Xiuyuan is drooling, seemingly lingering too long at the wholesale point.

******

“Grandpa, Grandma, Second Uncle!”

Tang Dingyuan leads Tang Xiuyuan into the Lu family yard, where only the two elders and Lu Jiafu are present. 

In recent years, Old Butcher Lu largely retired from business. The butcher shop and livestock slaughtering duties are handed over to the eldest Uncle Lu, while the second and third Uncle Lu handle the work in the fields. Currently, Lu Jiafu remains at home, appearing to be “sick” again.

“Yuan Ge’er is back! Is this your classmate from the academy? He looks like a handsome young man,” Xu Jiaoniang calls out upon spotting him.

Xu Jiaoniang spots Yuan Ge’er from afar, greets the eldest daughter, and slips out. She wonders how the eldest daughter’s business can be so good; she’s been busy serving food to the point where her arms have thinned out quite a bit. If it weren’t for her mother-in-law forcing her to help at the shop, she wouldn’t want to do such hard work.

“I greet all the elders. I am Dingyuan’s friend; my name is Tang Xiuyuan.”

It is the first time Tang Xiuyuan visits someone else’s home without the company of his elders. He feels so nervous that he can barely speak. “These are the two best-selling sweet soups from my shop. I hope you like them,” he says, handing the two cans of sweet soup to Lu Jiafu and Xu Jiaoniang. As food enthusiasts, how could Lu Jiafu and Xu Jiaoniang not recognize the distinctive emblem of Tang’s sweet soup shop? The young man before them is actually the heir of the sweet water shop.

“This kid looks delicious at first glance! Ah, no, I mean, you seem very sincere,” Lu Jiafu laughs as he takes the two jars of sweet soup, his excitement causing him to let slip a bit too much.

Tang Xiuyuan is taken aback at first; what a bold comment! However, he feels relieved when he hears the second part of Uncle Lu’s sentence.

While Tang Dingyuan’s adoptive parents appear kind and amiable, Tang Xiuyuan can’t shake off a slight unease. Their gazes are too enthusiastic for his comfort. He turns away and wipes the sweat from his forehead. Through the open door, his eyes meet those of a girl in the shop across the street.

Embarrassed by the accidental encounter, Tang Xiuyuan quickly turns his head, his ears turning red.

The author has something to say: Lu Laoer: This child has been dealing with sweet soups since he was young; he must have been pickled and tasted (ˉ﹃ˉ).