Reborn in a small village in the 1990s

With only a few days left until the Lunar New Year, Zhao Da'e had some spare money and discussed with his mother, Cheng Jinxiang, whether they should buy a pig and slaughter it for the New Year.

For many years, life had been a struggle, but this year things have finally eased up a bit and are not so difficult anymore. In addition, Cheng Jinxiang just gave birth to her second child, and her health has not been very good, so she should eat some meat to nourish herself.

Normally, making chicken soup would be the best thing to do, as it's not only very nutritious but also inexpensive. However, ever since the chicken plague at Jurenzhang's place caused problems, people from the township came and took away all the chickens and ducks to be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. After that, there was disinfection and other things, which took several days of hassle.

Once this storm passes, it'll probably be next year before we can raise chickens again.

Cheng Jinxiang complained that Zhao Da'e didn't know how to manage money and was always thinking about food. The family didn't have much spare money, and they couldn't afford to slaughter a pig just because they had a baby.

Later, Zhao Da'e came up with a compromise: he and his aunt's family would jointly buy a pig. This way, they would spend less money and have enough meat to eat.

Just do it.

Zhao Da'e and Zhou Chunwen ran to Zhangjingyingzi, where there was a pig farm, and the pigs weren't very big, only about 270 or 280 jin (130-140 kg).

However, such a large pig was considered large for that era, considering there was no pig feed available then, and the pigs were mostly native breeds. Therefore, they grew rather slowly.

Native pigs have their own characteristics, such as being resistant to cold and heat. Their meat also tastes relatively better.

The main advantage is that it allows the food to cook more thoroughly.

Pigs fed with pig feed in later generations likely had some residue in their bodies, causing them to take longer to cook and taste much worse.

At least, the fat in this era isn't so greasy.

The pig farmer's surname was Lin, and everyone called him Little Lin. This guy not only raised pigs, but he also slaughtered them himself.

After agreeing on the price with Xiao Linzi, Zhao Da'e gave the money to Xiao Linzi.

"Big sister, this pig costs a total of 1,216 yuan. You can give me your half whenever you have the money. No rush, I know my older cousin needs money to get married, so there's not much extra."

Zhou Chunwen didn't care: "Anyway, I don't have to spend any money. Do whatever you want. You and your aunt can go later."

In the afternoon, Zhao Da'e had his older cousin Zhou Tianfu drive a donkey cart and bring the pig back.

It was getting late, so after dinner, we prepared to slaughter the pig the next day.

In the evening, Zhao Da'e gave a heads-up. She went to call Zhao Tingxu, since he was her grandfather, so she called him too. As for her grandmother, Zhao Da'e just glanced at her and said, "Take it or leave it."

However, Zhao Da'e was still quite happy to call his third uncle over. His third uncle might not have any other skills, but he was an expert at drinking.

Sometimes Zhao Da'e actually quite likes his third uncle, even though his third uncle is lazy, good for nothing, and useless except for drinking.

However, Zhao Tiegang does have one redeeming quality—he's not easily flattered.

As long as you praise him a few times, Zhao Tiegang will immediately lose his bearings.

Zhao Da'e said to Zhao Tiegang, "Third Uncle, we're slaughtering a pig tomorrow. If there's any extra, you'll get five catties of meat. I'll stew it for you, and you can have a little wine with it, it'll be very enjoyable. But you'd better work hard from now on, you really have to. My third aunt has run away, and she probably won't be back this year. You're still so carefree and not worried at all, how can that be? You have to work hard and find another wife?"

Zhao Tiegang, who was already quite drunk, paused for a moment and said, "Niece... I wouldn't have gone to call her if you hadn't said your third aunt would definitely come back. If she doesn't come back... if she doesn't come back, I won't have a wife anymore, what will I do? I'm done with this..."

“You’re really something. What, you can’t live without Zhang Cuilan? You still have my brother, right? You need to work hard and do more work in the future. You should also go out and find some work to earn some money. Once you have money, why are you worried that Zhang Cuilan won’t come back? Someone like my third aunt, who would want her…”

Zhao Tiegang: ...

That hurts, niece! Just say less.

So Zhao Tiegang continued to lie there and refused to get up.

Zhao Da'e scoffed, "Go if you want, I'm calling you."

"Go away, isn't it tomorrow? What's the rush!" Zhao Tiegang continued sleeping.

Afterwards, Zhao Da'e turned around and informed his father, Zhao Tiesheng, but Zhao Tiesheng didn't want to go, and Zhao Da'e was too lazy to waste words with him.

If you don't want to go, then forget it.

Finally, Zhao Da'e went to call Zhao Tingming.

The next day, before dawn, around four o'clock.

Cheng Jinxiang then busied herself boiling water.

Outside the yard, everyone set up a large iron pot to scald the pig hair.

Then a few people went up and took the pig out.

It took a lot of effort to get it onto the cutting board.

As a result, Zhou Chunhong was accidentally kicked by a pig, and her lip was cut.

"Er Ya, go and start the fire. You can't do anything else," Zhou Chunwen complained.

My cousin Zhou Tianfu also complained, but then said, "Go apply some red peony powder, and it will be fine in a bit."

Zhou Chunhong went inside crying in pain.

The group of people outside started preparing to slaughter the pig.

But no one has ever killed anyone, so no one wants to use a knife.

There are sometimes too many customs and traditions in rural areas.

Everyone says that slaughtering a pig is killing a living being, implying it will shorten one's lifespan. Therefore, people usually find someone with a strong constitution to slaughter the pig.

Of course, it was also fortunate that it was a pig slaughtering.

If you're slaughtering a cow, there are even more rules and regulations to follow.

An old ox has worked hard and made great contributions; whoever kills it will lose ten years of their lifespan.

Therefore, in rural areas at that time, almost no one slaughtered cattle unless the cattle themselves were dying.

Of course, every village has a butcher.

The butcher is not afraid...

However, butchers are usually people with a tough life, but few of them end up with a good ending.

So, over time, the number of butchers decreased.

Sometimes Zhao Da'e felt that this thing wasn't being punished for killing, but rather that the butcher's family was well-off and could eat more meat, and then high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar took them away...

Of course, killing chickens and ducks won't shorten your lifespan. Killing a few rats won't cause any problems either.

Anyway, killing pigs and cows is considered bad luck, and killing sheep doesn't seem to cause any problems.

Anyway, the local custom is actually quite bizarre.

And just like that, the butcher was gone.

Zhou Yuren came out with a butcher's knife. The knife wasn't exactly standard; it was just long.

"Uncle, are you sure you can handle this?"

Zhou Yuren chuckled: "No problem. It's completely in the dark, just stab it."

result……

Zhou Yuren went up and stabbed the pig...

It missed...

He stabbed his left hand with his right hand...

Everyone quickly told him to go back. Zhao Da'e was also shocked; Zhou Yuren had only been on screen for less than three minutes before he was completely crippled…

"No, Uncle, what did you just say?"

Zhou Yuren looked embarrassed, ignoring the blood still on his hand. He shook it, rolled a cigarette, and lit it. "I just forgot. I was completely blind. I closed my eyes when I stabbed him. It's okay... I'll open my eyes next time."

Zhou Yuren went inside and washed the wound with cold water. Although the wound was quite large, he took a cloth and bandaged it. Turning around, he took the butcher knife and went out again: "Today, I refuse to believe I can't even kill a pig."

"Ahem, Uncle, don't try to be a hero if you can't do it," Zhao Da'e said.

Others also said, "If you can't do it, then give up and find someone else."

Zhou Yuren disagreed.

Let him do the killing then. Anyway, his left hand is already injured this time; at worst, the wound will be deeper. Besides, Zhou Yuren has learned his lesson this time and is wearing gloves.

"You guys hold it down. Don't let me misjudge it."

The crowd protested, "Just do it already!"

Zhou Yuren stabbed the pig, and this time the stab was precise. In less than three minutes, the pig was dead; it must have been stabbed in the heart.

Zhou Chunwen took a large iron basin and filled it with pig's blood. In no time, the basin was half full.

The rest was no longer her concern. Zhou Chunwen carried the pig's blood into the house, then poured some water and sugar and placed them aside.

Cheng Jinxi was lighting a fire at the house, preparing to stew a pork stew later.

Zhao Da'e wasn't too keen on watching the commotion anymore; there were so many people outside, and it was cold. She didn't want to freeze outside.

Moreover, once the pig is slaughtered, the subsequent work becomes much simpler.

It involves placing the pig on a cutting board and scalding it with boiling water.

This is the origin of the saying, "A dead pig isn't afraid of boiling water."

After scalding with boiling water, the pigskin will be less tightly bound to the pig hair. Then, use a metal sheet, sickle, or scraper to remove the pig hair.

This process is actually quite slow, since the pig's natural hair isn't easy to remove. So you have to repeatedly pour boiling water on it, scald it repeatedly, and scrape it repeatedly.

The hardest part is the pig's head; that's a tricky spot. Usually, when there's no other way, we'll light an alcohol torch, or melt asphalt and scald it.

Unlike later generations, which had simple hair removal machines in slaughterhouses, the leg hair removal machine in slaughterhouses was just rows of tiny, fine nails. The entire process was electric and very quick, taking only a minute or two.

But it's not possible right now; it needs to be done manually, which is very slow.

Taking advantage of this moment, Zhao Da'e went inside.

"Auntie, what can I do?"

"You can just stay on the kang (heated brick bed)."

Zhao Da'e was too lazy to get on the kang (heated brick bed). With such a lively event, how could he possibly get on the kang?

"Big sister, how about I help you start the fire?"

“Hey goose, stop messing around. Do we need two people to start a fire? Why don’t you go get some wood?” Zhou Chunwen said, rolling his eyes.

The stove is only so big; one person is enough to tend the fire.

Helpless and miserable, Zhao Da'e ran out again, carried a pile of wood, and went back into the house.

"How about I chop the sauerkraut?" Zhao Da'e asked.

"Do you know?"

"No. But when my mom cuts sauerkraut, she just swings the knife and chops it hard."

"Forget it, go peel the garlic," Cheng Jinxi instructed.

Zhao Da'e looked at them, picked up a few cloves of garlic and handed them to Zhou Chunhong: "Here, Second Sister. Peel the garlic."

Zhou Chunhong: "Mom said... said... let... let... you... you..."

Fine, Zhou Chunhong stopped talking and quietly peeled the garlic.

Although she was speechless at Zhao Da'e's refusal to work, she simply couldn't speak properly and was too lazy to talk.

After a while, the pigs outside were finished being shaved. Zhao Tiegang went to shake out their intestines...

Nobody wants to do this stupid job.

That's why Zhao Da'e told Zhao Laosan to come yesterday. After all, Zhao Laosan is the kind of person who, as long as he can drink, will do any kind of work that isn't too strenuous...

Even though I can get a free meal, I should at least call him over. It's better to have him do some work.

Zhao Da'e is actually a man who clearly distinguishes between gratitude and resentment. Although Zhao Tiegang isn't a very good person either, he's still his third uncle, and Zhao Tiegang's main problem is that he can't find a wife.

The main problem lies with Zhang Cuilan.

That woman is a scoundrel. She's cheap, lazy, greedy, and cunning. She's gluttonous, lazy, has a bad reputation, poor manners, a terrible temper, is ugly, sick, and mentally unstable. You could say she's got all five vices.

Moreover, Zhang Cuilan was heartless and ruthless.

When Zhao Yongbo was four years old, Zhang Cuilan would go back to her parents' home and not return for a long time.

Even though her son died, she didn't seem to care.

What use is a woman like that? Marry her and take care of her in her old age...

Zhang Cuilan going home would be pointless; her reputation wasn't good, and nobody wanted her. So Zhao Da'e wasn't worried at all.

Zhang Cuilan will come home sooner or later.

Moreover, Zhao Tiesheng didn't come today. Neither did Zhao Tingxu. They both said they were shameless enough not to come to Zhao Da'e's aunt's house for dinner. Ironically, the shameless Zhao Tiegang became Zhao Da'e's closest relative at this time.

"Third Uncle, there's not much meat on the pig's head. I don't like to eat it either. When you're done, split the pig's head in half. Take it back to have with some wine, and give some to my little brother too. Oh, and take the pig's tail with you too."

The younger brother was naturally referring to Zhao Yongbo. Zhang Cuilan had run away, and although Zhao Yongbo was mischievous and rebellious, Wang Guixiang still had to keep an eye on him.

Although Zhao Yongbo went astray in his previous life, that was because he wasn't raised properly. In this life, at least Zhao Yongbo hasn't gone astray yet, so let's raise him properly from a young age.

Zhao Tiegang's mood immediately improved, and he worked with even more energy: "Big Goose, let me tell you. Making these pig intestines is a skilled job; most people can't do it..."

Zhao Da'e had already run back into the house.

Cleaning pig intestines... well... most people couldn't do that. That chore... ugh!

Zhou Yuren sold some of the meat; people in the village bought it, three jin for him and two jin for others, so Zhou Yuren sold about half of it. After that, all that was left for himself was about thirty jin of meat and a rack of spare ribs.

Zhao Da'e kept more of his share. Although Zhao Da'e didn't like the conditions at home, Cheng Jinxiang insisted that since they had slaughtered a pig, they should also send two jin to Zhao Da'e's grandfather and uncle.

Helpless, Zhao Da'e decided to only send two jin (1 kg).

Later, Zhao Da'e told Zhao Tiegang, "Third Uncle, you cut ten jin and take them back. Keep six jin for yourself, and give two jin each to my grandfather and my uncle. My mother insisted on giving them to him."

"That's for sure, you have to give your grandpa some too."

Zhao Da'e sighed: "Alas, a woman's ways."

Turning back, Zhao Da'e complained to his mother, "This family gets a share, that family gets a share. It's almost gone. We still need to save a few pounds for my grandma, and send some to my eldest uncle. Oh, and what about my second and youngest uncles?"

My second uncle and my eldest uncle aren't blood relatives; they're two children from my maternal grandparents' side who couldn't survive. When my maternal grandfather was still alive, his brother, Fafa, was swept away by the floodwaters and disappeared without a trace. My maternal grandfather rescued the two children from the flood. They became orphans and widows, and my maternal grandfather helped raise them. So, in a way, they were blood relatives.

"We have to give them something. When I came back, your second uncle kept asking about you."

"Alright." Zhao Da'e was too lazy to do the math. There were too many relatives, and if he kept calculating, there wouldn't be any meat left. He'd just eat first.