Pig Killer

"Da Chong, watch them line up to get the broth. I'll go in and process the fish." Shen Hui'e instructed her son.

"Okay!" The big tiger responded readily, holding a large wooden spoon and eager to try.

"Be careful not to get burned." Shen Hui'e reminded him carefully.

"Oh!" the tiger responded crisply.

"If you don't mind, I'll do it." Cheng Donglai said courageously. Compared to the earthen stove, Da Chong was a little short.

"Where is the big tiger?" Shen Hui'e asked, her eyes fixed on him.

Da Chong approached the big iron pot and found that it was a bit difficult for him to scoop the soup, so he had to say obediently, "Then let Brother Cheng do it!" and handed over the big wooden spoon in his hand.

Seeing this, Shen Hui'e quickly said, "Donglai, go wash your hands first."

"Hey!" Cheng Donglai withdrew his outstretched hand and responded quickly. He ran to the yard, picked up the ladle from the wooden barrel, scooped some water, rinsed his hands left and right, shook his hands dry, and then took the wooden spoon from the big insect's hand.

Shen Hui'e looked at the wooden spoon and told Cheng Donglai, "Two spoons per family is enough."

"I know, ours must be as big as a wooden spoon." Cheng Donglai said cleverly.

Shen Hui'e looked around and saw the fire in the stove, which had already burned out. "I'll go in and kill the fish." She carried two baskets and walked towards the backyard with ease.

When Shen Hui'e came back from killing the fish, the soup had already been served.

Shen Hui'e picked up a wooden bucket and poured clean water into the big iron pot. The water boiled and it was time to clean the pot!

Shen Hui'e rinsed the chopping board, then began to debone the fish and mince the meat.

To be honest, the onlookers have seen it many times, and they still make sounds of surprise from time to time.

They couldn't say anything fancy to praise it, they just felt it was addictive, enjoyable and very comfortable to watch.

"Mrs. Pig-killer, I bought this meat paste. Go home and make fish balls yourself, okay?"

"Okay! Why not?" Shen Hui'e responded readily.

This is because they are afraid that if they speak up too late, they will be out of stock.

He bought some of this and some of that, and soon all the fish in the two baskets were sold out.

"The rest can't be sold. We have to save some for ourselves to eat!" Shen Hui'e said to them apologetically.

"I understand, I understand." Everyone looked at her with understanding and said actively, "Can we sell fish tomorrow?"

"Haha..." Shen Hui'e smiled and said, "No problem, but we have to catch this fish."

"I know, I know. We'll buy as many as you can get."

"Mrs. Pig-killer, the spring ploughing season is coming soon. Are you still going to open your stall?"

"Well..." Shen Hui'e looked at them hesitantly and said, "It's hard to say. My family has to plant the land. If we miss the farming season, we won't have food. We also have to pay taxes! If we don't pay on time, we will be punished."

"It's been nearly a month since spring ploughing. We won't be able to eat good food."

"I'm very sorry, but I'm too busy to be with them all." Shen Hui'e looked at them helplessly.

Shen Hui'e had bought almost all the fish and meat and started to cook her own meal. After being busy for a whole morning, she was already very hungry.

"The big iron pot is good. It can cook everything in one pot and we can eat together without separating." The big insect looked at her with his sparkling black eyes.

"Yes!" Shen Hui'e looked at them with her dark and deep eyes emitting a charming luster and frowned slightly. The three of them, mother and Cheng Donglai, all ate while standing and holding their bowls.

Sitting on the ground with a cushion in her hand, Shen Hui'e pouted and couldn't stand it.

There are many mosquitoes, rats and ants in the summer, so sitting on the ground is not a good choice.

Shen Hui'e was chewing the fish balls in her mouth, thinking in her head, how to properly move the tables, chairs and benches?

Shen Hui'e stared at her meat stall, which was high enough to facilitate Huang Zhongchang, a tall man, to repair it with adobe bricks.

The pubs and noodle shops all have wooden floors, with straw mats for people to sit on.

Shen Hui'e's bright and dazzling starry eyes moved slightly, and suddenly her eyes lit up, she got it!

Let's make this meat stall longer. Anyway, the thatched roof is still there! As for how to sit, it's even simpler. There is a low couch in the house. Ask the carpenter to make it higher, a long bench!

"Hehe..." Shen Hui'e laughed out loud with joy.

"Mother, what are you laughing at?" The big tiger asked her with its black eyes full of curiosity.

"I was thinking that it's not elegant to eat while standing like this!" Shen Hui'e said as she looked at them with her head slightly tilted.

"Why don't we eat while standing? Let's squat." The raccoon slave said, pretending to squat.

"No, no, no!" Shen Hui'e quickly put down her bowl and chopsticks and pulled her.

"Grandpa, uncle and other uncles squatted at the entrance of the village with bowls in their hands to eat in the summer." Da Chong looked at her with his big black eyes and said.

Shen Hui'e's face turned black when she heard this. Her son was right. It was cold in winter, so they just ate at home sitting on the bed.

It was a warm day, so we all ate outside, one to cool off, and two to chat.

"It's not good to squat like this." Shen Hui'e said while picking up the bowl again.

"But what if we don't squat?" The raccoon asked her with his big, bright eyes.

"Let me think about it." Shen Hui'e looked at her with warm eyes and said, "Let's eat first."

"Oh!" Li Nu stood in front of the meat stall, holding the bowl and picking up the fish balls in the bowl.

"It would be nice if you could sit down." Da Chong said to her, tilting his head slightly. He was also eating in front of the meat stall.

Upon hearing this, Shen Hui'e looked at him with her dark and bright eyes and said, "Big Chong, this is a good idea!"

Shen Hui'e spread her legs and took a horse stance. "It will be very comfortable to sit like this."

Da Chong put down his chopsticks, stepped back and looked at her and said, "But what should we do? How can we sit down?"

I was waiting for you to say this. Shen Hui'e put down her chopsticks and said, "Come on, go on, go back to the house and move out our low couch."

The big bug's eyes lit up when he heard this and said, "Okay! Okay!"

The mother and son hurried into the house, and then carried the jars and pots on the low couch to the bed.

The two men carried the low couch out of the house and placed it in front of the meat stall.

Da Chong sat on the low couch holding the bowl and looked at the meat stall in front of him. "This is too low," he gestured.

"Just raise it higher." Shen Hui'e said logically, "Why don't we ask a carpenter to make a new one?"

"Oh! That's right!" The big insect looked at her with green eyes.

"Look for Uncle Liu." Li Nu swallowed the fish ball in his mouth and said to them.

"Looking for him?" Shen Hui'e's eyes moved slightly when she heard that, and she remembered the man carrying the tree trunk, Liu Ding, who was a good carpenter.

"Okay, after dinner, let's go find your Uncle Liu." Shen Hui'e agreed readily and urged them, "Hurry up and eat, we'll have enough for today!"

Each person ordered two bowls full of fish balls.

After the big bug had eaten and drunk his fill, he put down his bowl and chopsticks and said, "The fish balls made in the big iron pot are delicious."