Records of the Cattle and Horses of Chang'an

The dinner was lively yet quiet. The livelier part was that Jiang's mother kept picking up food for her mother and niece, earnestly asking them about the hardships they had endured along the way. In contrast, the three children were very silent.

Jiang Shangxian listened to their conversation with his ears perked up, trying to filter out useful information from it, while also not forgetting to learn from Jiang's mother.

Jiang Wangri would secretly glance at his sister from time to time. He was thinking about how to sleep at night. Originally, the family of three each had a room, which was fine, but with two more people, he felt a toothache.

Xia Zhenying quietly ate her rice with big mouthfuls, and each chopstick would pick up braised lamb.

Along the way, she had really had enough of soft, hard, and soaked Hu pancakes!

The biggest expense for the two of them along the way was accommodation. Because she was the young lady with her, Mrs. Jiang was afraid that she would be harassed by some lustful men, so she tried to stay in hotels whenever possible.

Old Madam Xia and Jiang's mother were both experienced and wise. They chatted with each other and ate quite fast. They even took the time to check on their three children's eating habits.

Chinese parents are most concerned about whether their children are full, which is similar to raising pigs.

Jiang's mother saw that Xia Zhenying only ate meat and no vegetables. It was not because she felt sorry for the meat, but because she felt sorry for her niece. Although her brother was not a human being, she was still a young lady. She didn't know how much hardship she had suffered along the way.

Old Madam Xia looked at Jiang Shangxian for a long time. She just lowered her head to eat. Not to mention her expression or reaction, even her eyes could not be seen.

Jiang Wangri could see some of it, but the boy had a clear and stupid look on his face, as if he had no thoughts at all.

Her uneasiness eased a little. Fortunately, at least her daughter was the one who was in charge of the family for the time being. She couldn't kick her mother out!

Thinking of this, she also picked up a piece of braised mutton. As she was old and her teeth were not in good condition, the braised mutton was stewed until it was soft and tender. She could eat it if she held it in her mouth hard.

"Could this material on Niannu's head be the same one you wore when you got married?"

Jiang Shangxian, who was called, raised her little face and smiled obediently, then continued to eat with her cheeks puffed out. If five people were eating together, it would be easy not to feel full if they were not serious. She had a big appetite, probably because she was still growing.

"Yes, mother has a good memory. It was at that time when I came all the way to Chang'an to marry. These are the only thoughts I have, and I have never been willing to use them."

Jiang's mother took over and glanced at the headscarf, as if filled with longing. "It was Aye who asked someone to buy it for me back then."

Old Madam Xia's nose was sore: "You child, isn't it for you to use when I give it to you?"

But I know in my heart that my daughter still has resentment in her heart.

After taking a bath, Old Lady Xia felt much better and talked a lot. She also took out two small silver longevity locks, one for Jiang Shangxian and one for Jiang Wangri.

The muscles in the exposed part of her forearm had atrophied a bit, and the yellow-white skin pulled the flesh and hung on the bones. The round bone connecting to the wrist was particularly protruding.

This is premature aging caused by poverty.

"I prepared it a long time ago. I was worried about asking someone to bring it to me. I thought I would bring it to the two children when your brother comes to see you. But things are so unpredictable..." When she mentioned her son, she wiped away her tears again, and Xia Zhenying beside her also sobbed softly.

No one is stupid. My daughter is my own, but this family will belong to my grandson in the future. If I come here empty-handed, my life will be very difficult.

Jiang Shangxian stroked the silver lock in his hand, thinking that this old lady Xia was also a miserable person. She lost her husband in her early years and her son in her old age. She had to send off her loved ones before her. Her family used to be pretty good, but now it was reduced to ruin and nothing was left.

Isn't this a perfect fate? What a good fate, what a good fate.

"Grandma gave it to you, so just take it. Keep it safe and don't lose it." Jiang's mother also wiped away tears: "If you have this thing, why go through so much trouble along the way? It's better to sell this useless thing, so that you can have a better time on the road."

Old Madam Xia shook her head. "Back then, my son-in-law was gone, and your sister-in-law was ill, so it wasn't easy for us to come. I just thought you still blamed me."

Resentment? Of course she did. Her husband's family had long since disappeared, and it was fine that no one from her own family came, not even a letter. She was raising two children alone and bearing the grief of losing her husband. The hardship was imaginable. But when she knew it was her brother who had the accident, she felt relieved.

Tit for tat, one family at a time, and the situation will be even.

"Why didn't you send a letter at the beginning? Your sister-in-law is not feeling well. It would be better for her to come to Chang'an. There are more doctors here than in Chuzhou." Jiang's mother couldn't help but feel a little resentful. If your sister-in-law was still alive, at least your niece wouldn't have become an orphan without a father or mother.

There is no need to come to Chang'an and cause trouble for yourself now.

"How can I endure such a tiring journey? If I come, I'm afraid I'll lose my life before I even reach Chang'an."

What Old Lady Xia said was true. When her son died, the family still had some money, and the house and land were still there.

But my daughter-in-law was extremely weak. She spent the whole day crying or lying down. We spent all our family savings on her treatment. In the end, she died and all the money was gone.

Later, Jiang Shangxian happened to ask Mrs. Xia one day why she spent all the family property on her daughter-in-law.

For the time being, it seems that she will not empty her wallet for anyone except her parents.

Old Lady Xia said: The person is lying there, what can we do if we can't treat him?

The topic could not be continued here. Seeing that it was almost dark, Jiang's mother began to arrange the rooms. As the only male in the family, Jiang Wangri naturally had his own room. Jiang's mother and I had not seen each other for many years. According to social customs, they naturally had to sleep together and kiss each other.

But when her eyes fell on Jiang Shangxian, she was conflicted. Ever since her daughter developed a habit of cleanliness half a year ago, it was really a pain in the ass if anyone else sat on her bed. What should she do?

Jiang Shangxian tilted his head and looked at his mother quietly, with an indifferent look. But Jiang's mother couldn't help but feel her scalp tingling. She knew very well that if she let Xia Zhenying get into her bed tonight, this girl would have to get up early tomorrow morning to wash the bedding!

Maybe I have to get up and take a shower! What a loser this guy is!

It's not like she's only staying for one day. If she washes it every day, let alone having enough bedding to change for her, whose bedding can withstand such washing?

No matter how strong the material is, it needs to be washed to prevent it from breaking!

Jiang's mother looked embarrassed. "Zhenying, your cousin has a problem with her bed. She won't let anyone touch it. So, you'll have to squeeze in with your aunt tonight. Tomorrow, your aunt will buy you a small couch to sleep on."

Xia Zhenying felt a flicker of embarrassment, but she also knew that this was not the time for her to be picky. Without any trace of grievance at being neglected, she nodded obediently, "Yes, thank you, aunt."

The two of them decided on it after a few questions and answers. Old Madam Xia didn't show it on her face, but she couldn't help but wonder in her heart, what's wrong with this? Could it be that after I get married, I won't be able to live in the same bed with my husband?

Fortunately, she only thought about it in her mind and didn't show it at all.

"Hey, good boy." Although Jiang's mother looked kind and loving with a smile, she was actually so heartbroken that she could hardly breathe. Buying a small couch would cost a lot of money!

Jiang Shangxian was very satisfied when she saw that she had made the arrangements. He clapped his hands and handed the task of washing dishes to his younger brother, and went to make the braised lamb to be sold the next day. Today, Jiang's mother also ordered a lamb head weighing more than three pounds. If it couldn't be sold tomorrow, she would probably see the lamb head at dinner.

With such wonderful expectation, Jiang Shangxian washed it carefully while sucking his saliva, and pulled out his tongue to brush it several times.

Some people don't like eating sheep's heads because they find them scary. This thing is actually similar to eating rabbit heads in Sichuan and Chongqing, eating insects in southern Yunnan, and Wenzhou people's love of eating duck tongues. People who like it will love it.

Jiang Shangxian loves to eat everything. There is nothing in the world that she doesn't like. For a gourmet, the most important thing is to be bold in trying new things!