Traveling through ancient times, I led my family to prosperity

"Okay, let your father pack up in advance, and we will ask Zhang the butcher in town to help kill the sheep." Zhang said with a smile.

On the twelfth day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang the butcher came to Xiaolan's house early. Shengxuan, Zhang Shanfeng, Zhang Qingfeng, Zhang Qingnian, Ding Yi, Wang Er, Dajiang and Xiaohe stood at the sheep fence, ready to catch sheep.

"Brother Sheng, your sheep are really fat and strong." Butcher Zhang laughed and showed an envious look, "You have so many sheep, can you give me one?"

Butcher Zhang makes a living by slaughtering pigs. These days, most people in the village raise pigs, but no one raises sheep. At least this is the first time Butcher Zhang has slaughtered a sheep in all the years he has been in Shengjia Village.

Don't be fooled by Butcher Zhang's burly appearance, but he runs a butcher shop after all, and he is good at speaking, so it's no wonder that his meat stall is the most popular in the town with the best business.

Xiao Lan came forward to greet Zhang the butcher, "Uncle Zhang, my family doesn't have enough sheep to eat. We want to keep them for ourselves and not sell them."

Zhang Tufu had heard that Xiaolan had brought back a batch of sheep from Xingyuan Prefecture. The sheep on the grasslands were juicy and tender, with little smell of mutton. They were very popular in Liaodong Prefecture. He also knew that Xiaolan's sheep were for their own consumption and were not going to be sold. But he couldn't help but try to get close to her and said, "Next time you have these good sheep, you must leave a few for me, and we'll set the price according to yours." Butcher Zhang said with a smile.

"No problem. Next time I have this delicious meat, I will definitely think of you." Xiao Lan said with a smile.

While they were talking, Sheng Yuguai and Bao's family of three arrived, and then Hu Yidao also came.

A frame made of several logs had been erected on the farm a long time ago, with a thick layer of grass underneath and wooden boards next to it.

Zhang, Shen, Xiaoting and Xiaoyan were lighting a fire on the stove and the pot was full of water, which would be used to dehair the sheep after they were slaughtered.

The four of them were all wearing old clothes and their hair was wrapped with cloth. They were afraid that the ash from the burning fire would fall on their hair. After all, it was freezing cold in winter and washing their hair would be too painful.

Xiaowen, Xiaohu, Xiaocheng and Xiaoqiang also have a day off today and are busy with everyone else.

While Zhang was lighting the fire, she was directing the three boys to carry a large wooden basin out. Xiao Lan was a perceptive person, and when she saw this, she hurried over to help.

Sheng Xuan didn't need to do anything to catch the sheep from the fence. Ding Yi, Wang Er and Da Jiang jumped into the fence and quickly caught the three sheep. Xiao Wen and the others were ready to make a move, but were stopped by Zhang Shanfeng.

Animals like sheep will fight back desperately if they feel they are about to be killed for their meat. Zhang Shanfeng was afraid that they might hurt the children by kicking their hooves, so he didn't let them get close to the fence.

Before long, the three sheep were tied up by their hooves and hung upside down on stakes.

Xiao Lan and the other children watched from afar and could only hear the sheep wailing.

Butcher Zhang thought to himself, "We all know that Xiaolan's family has several farmhands. Today, I saw that they are all strong and capable." He looked around at the people on the farm and couldn't help but sigh in his heart, there are so many people, and it is a blessing to gather together. But Shengxuan is also generous. He wants to kill three sheep today. It is said that the sheep costs sixteen taels of silver each, and these three sheep cost forty-eight taels of silver. He is not short of money. He has developed to what he is now in just two years. It's amazing.

Killing a sheep is much easier than killing a pig because sheep are small. Everyone was watching with great interest how Butcher Zhang cut the sheep. However, Xiao Lan could not stand such a bloody scene, so she turned back to the yard. When she returned to the kang, the sheep's howling had stopped.

Xiao Lan thought to herself, Butcher Zhang was really quick.

"Look at you. What's the big deal about killing a sheep? You were so scared that you ran back." Zhang watched her daughter steaming back and forth and joked with a smile.

Zhang was very happy, and the family slaughtered a sheep. The whole family was happy.

A large wooden basin was filled with sheep's blood, which was still steaming hot. Zhang Shanfeng took a wooden stick and stirred the blood while adding salt. Shen brought a basin of water and mixed the water into the sheep's blood, while Zhang Shanfeng kept stirring it.

The sheep was slaughtered, and Xiaolan came out to watch the fun. Seeing that Xiaolan was watching with great interest, Shen couldn't help but give her some knowledge. Adding salt and water to the sheep's blood is to prevent the blood from coagulating. In this way, the sheep's blood cake will be tender and delicious.

Xiao Lan stood there watching the scene, while Xiao Wen, Xiao Hu, Xiao Cheng and Xiao Qiang took wooden basins and poured boiling water from the house onto the dead sheep. When the sheep was almost scalded, Zhang the butcher took out a scraper and shaved the sheep while it was still hot.

After the wool is shaved clean, the next step is to remove the sheep's offal, and then take the naked sheep off the rack and put it on the table.

The three sheep were all treated in the same way. As for the miscellaneous work of dealing with the sewage, it was not Zhang the Butcher's responsibility, it was something that Xiaolan's family needed to do.

After processing the three sheep, there was a whole basin of sheep's blood. Zhang took a smaller basin, divided the blood into portions, and gave them to neighbors and relatives and friends in the village.

After the sheep are killed, of course everyone will have a big meal together.

The men cleaned up the farm, dismantled the wooden frames, and cleared the meadows that were stained by sheep's blood and wool; the women made fire and cooked.

Simmer a pot of rice and beans, and in another pot, throw the sheep bones, sheep head, sheep feet into the pot, fill the pot with water, and turn up the fire under the stove. After the pot boils, add the sheep blood.

Today we eat mutton and drink mutton soup. A pot of dry rice and a pot of mutton soup are very nourishing in winter.

The head of the village and several village elders were invited, but the women were not invited. However, Zhang had already sent the sheep's blood in advance, and when the mutton soup was ready, she sent a bowl of mutton soup.

Because it was a dinner party, Zhang and Xiaoting prepared some cold tofu skin, stewed tofu, and stir-fried shredded radish and bean sprouts.

The aroma of meat filled the air. Xiao Lan took a deep breath and sighed secretly, the sheep nowadays are more fragrant than the modern sheep. Just smelling the scent is enough to make people dizzy.

Xiao Lan's family, plus Zhang the butcher and the guests, there were quite a lot of people. There were three tables of people. The men and guests sat at two tables, and the women and children sat at one table.

Xiao Lan couldn't wait to climb onto the kang and sat down at the table waiting for dinner. Today everyone can eat to their heart's content, Xiao Lan thought happily.

The mutton was stewed with the bones and meat together. Xiaolan's mouth was full of oil. The meat on the bones was the most fragrant and was her favorite. The mutton soup was stewed to a white color. After drinking a mouthful, the whole body was warm. The mutton blood was also delicious. When you scoop a spoonful into your mouth, it almost melted in your mouth and left a lingering fragrance.