Daily life of farming and supporting a family on the ancient Loess Plateau

It's that time of year again to slaughter pigs for the Lunar New Year.

Fortunately, the pigs didn't run away this year. This is probably because no one has been releasing them; they've been kept in pigsties, and their ability to run in the wild has somewhat diminished.

Another reason is that this year's pig has grown too fat and can't run.

This year, the pig at home has had a significantly improved diet. It no longer eats grass every day like the pigs in the village, but instead eats the cracklings left over from pressing oil at the oil mill. As a result, it has grown very quickly and its net weight has reached 300 jin (150 kg).

Although the pig didn't escape this year, it was so fat that even the men in the family had a hard time catching it in the pigpen. Just as they finally managed to get the pig onto the chopping board, ready to cut it, they saw Ji Manqing rubbing his hands together, eager to get to work.

Ji Manqing stopped his father, who was about to draw his knife, and volunteered, "Father, even a precious sword needs a successor! From now on, you can leave the pig-slaughtering to me! Don't worry, I'll definitely do a clean and neat job."

After saying that, he deftly rolled up the sleeves of his cotton-padded jacket and confidently took the pig-slaughtering knife that had long been sharpened to a gleaming shine.

Old Master Ji hesitated for a moment, then handed over the knife without saying a word, which was tacitly agreeing that Ji Manqing would be in charge of slaughtering the pig this year.

However, Ji Manchuan expressed great doubt: "Manqing, can you do it? Don't you think you'll end up chopping off your own fingers like you did when you killed the chicken last year?"

Full of confidence, Ji Manqing said proudly, "Third Brother, you look down on me! Just you wait and see, this year I'll give you a piece of my mind!"

As he spoke, he gripped the knife handle and plunged the blade into the pig.

Just as everyone was about to marvel at the skill of the knife, the pig under Ji Manchuan and the others was terrified and began to squeal loudly and start to struggle and tremble violently, so much so that the people holding the pig down almost lost their grip!

It turned out that Ji Manqing had taken an unorthodox approach, stabbing the pig in the armpit with his knife.

Good heavens, it doesn't matter if the knife misses, it still pierced the skin and flesh, and the pig's blood gushed out and splashed all over Ji Manchuan and the others' faces as the pig's body shook.

Ji Manqing himself was covered in blood, just like a soldier who had just fought his way back from the battlefield.

"Manqing, are you even capable! Clean your eyes before you cut, okay? Look at all the blood on our heads, faces, and bodies!" Ji Manchuan shouted as he struggled to press down on the pig beneath him.

Ji Mantun wiped the pig's blood off his face and instructed, "Manqing, make sure you're careful before you cut!"

Ji Manqing gripped the knife hilts tightly, took a breath, and said confidently again, "Second Brother, Third Brother, don't worry, this time there won't be any trouble!"

As a result, the knife missed its mark again.

Although Ji Manchuan and the others were mentally prepared, seeing the pig beneath them covered in blood, howling in pain, struggling violently, and unable to breathe its last, they were both angry and amused.

Ji Manqing gave an awkward laugh, trying his best to salvage his image, and said, "The pig was just struggling too much, oh, one cut doesn't count! Let's do it again! I don't believe I can't kill a pig!"

Ji Manchuan gritted his teeth and said, "I don't think you're up to the task. Quickly give the knife to your father and let him handle it!"

"Don't worry, there won't be any problems this time!"

"I can't let go of my worries!"

Old Master Ji couldn't bear to watch those two cuts anymore. While helping to tie the pig's snout, he pointed out to Ji Manqing where to make the cuts.

This time, Ji Manqing really felt he was in the right place. He took two deep breaths, aimed at the spot the old man had mentioned, and stabbed it.

However, this stab was even more outrageous, almost injuring Ji Manchuan, who was pressing down at the front. Enraged, Ji Manchuan said he almost lost his life at his brother's hands, and kicked out, about to kick Ji Manqing.

Ji Manqing was also anxious and angry... He refused to believe that he couldn't kill this pig today!

He drew his knife, stabbed again, drew his knife again, stabbed again...

Finally, after giving Ji Manqing a resentful glare, the pig slowly breathed its last.

Seeing that the pig beneath him had finally stopped struggling and was dead, Ji Manchuan breathed a sigh of relief, shook off the pig's blood, and said, "This pig must have died with its eyes wide open! Oh, it wasn't killed, it was driven to its death by Manqing's anger and pain! I reckon if the pig could talk, it would have said, 'Brother, can you send someone else? I beg you, can you just give me a quick cut?'"

Ji Manqing chuckled and tried to save face, saying, "Nobody is born knowing how to wield a knife and kill a pig. This is my first time. I'll get used to it later, and I guarantee I'll kill him with one blow!"

Ji Manchuan was skeptical of this.

However, after this story spread, Ji Manqing earned the title of "Number One Knife of Niujiazhuang".

This year's Lunar New Year in Niujiazhuang is a bountiful one.

Many people in the village slaughter pigs, but few sell the pork; most of it is kept by the family for the New Year and for consumption afterward. Before the New Year, almost every household buys new clothes for the elderly and children, and they are also willing to spend money to buy New Year's snacks and candies for them from shops in the county town.

The Ji family spent the New Year in the old courtyard again this year. Although Ji Manchuan and Ji Manqing repeatedly invited Grandpa Ji and Madam Yang to spend the New Year in the new house, the two old people just wouldn't agree.

They said they could only eat and sleep well in the old courtyard; they didn't enjoy eating or sleeping well elsewhere.

There was no other way but to accommodate the two elderly people, Jia Ronghua and Hu Xirong had to come to the old courtyard early to help prepare the New Year's meal.

Another year has passed in a flash, and another year has gone by in a flurry of activity.

The New Year in Northwest China seems to be spent in a vast expanse of white.

On Lunar New Year's Eve, snowflakes were still falling gently. Layers of white snow covered the desolation of the world, making the white gullies and ravines seem somewhat desolate.

Everything on the Loess Plateau seemed to be asleep, with only wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys of every household from morning till night, indicating the abundance of the New Year's Eve dinner.

The ancients had many taboos, and regardless of whether one was rich or poor, there were certain things to avoid during the Lunar New Year, such as not hitting children before or after the holiday. But there were always those who would cause trouble and invite trouble, like Ji Yongning.

Because Ji Manchuan and Ji Manqing were busy scalding the pig's head and singing the hair off the pig's legs for Grandpa Ji, the task of putting up the Spring Festival couplets in the new courtyard this year was left to Ji Yongning and a few other boys, including Shaowa.

Ji Yongning heard from Erdan that he found a pheasant nest when he went to pay respects to his mother's grave today. He was in a hurry to go to the ditch with Erdan to set a trap for the pheasant, so he hurriedly put up some Spring Festival couplets and ran to the ditch.

They failed to trap the pheasant. When they returned, they found Ji Manqing standing at the gate with a dark face, while Ji Manchuan was laughing heartily to the side.

Ji Yongning didn't know why his father's face was so long. He wondered if his father had been scolded by his grandfather today. Before he even reached the courtyard gate, he saw Ji Manqing pick up the broom handle by the gate and swing it at him.