| TBBOTOF | 343
On the morning of the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, just as the sky began to lighten, the back courtyard gate was wide open. Several large boxes were already placed on the mule cart, securely fastened with thick hemp ropes to prevent them from falling off during the journey.
Beside the mule cart, Tang Li placed a few packed bundles into the carriage. She turned to look at Tang Erhu, who was standing by the gate. She held back her emotions, but in the end, she couldn't resist and threw herself into her father's arms, wailing.
Tang Erhu sighed, his large, calloused hand patting her back comfortingly. "Alright, alright, why are you crying? It's a long journey, take good care of yourself."
Though his voice was rough and firm, his expression gradually revealed reluctance.
Liu Yao stood nearby, unsure how to console them. The previous night, the two of them had been both excited and reluctant, unable to sleep well.
However, Wei Dong didn’t have the time to wait for them to bid farewell to their families. The trade caravan had already set a departure time, and they needed to hurry over to join them.
So, after securing the ropes, he turned to Tang Xu and said, "I'm leaving now. Go back inside and get some more sleep; it's cold out here."
Tang Xu rubbed his eyes and wrapped his cotton-padded coat tighter around himself. He reminded, "Drive carefully, don't rush. If it's dark and the road is far, don’t make me worry."
"I've done this plenty of times, I know what I’m doing. Don’t worry." Wei Dong reached out and rubbed Tang Xu’s cheek, feeling its icy coldness. He frowned slightly and urged, "Go back inside quickly, don't catch a cold."
Tang Xu's eyebrows arched into a smile. "Got it. I'll just say a word to Ah Li and then head back."
Wei Dong nodded.
Tang Xu walked over but didn’t say much. He simply reminded Liu Yao and Tang Li that if they felt uncomfortable during the journey, they should speak up early and not be shy about it.
Tang Li, her eyes red, nodded. "Brother, I understand."
"Alright, alright, get going. Stop dawdling here," Tang Erhu waved his hand, urging them to leave.
As they watched the cart roll away, disappearing into the distance, Tang Xu turned his head and noticed that his father was still standing by the gate. Tang Erhu’s eyes were also tinged red.
Wang Cuicui, standing beside him, sighed softly and murmured, "Who knows when they'll be back from this journey?"
"They say they'll return once a year, and even if not, surely every three years at the latest," Tang Xu smiled gently, offering comfort. "Once they settle in and send word, Dad, if you’re really worried, you can always travel with a caravan to see them yourself. Seeing it with your own eyes will ease your concerns."
These words seemed to open up Tang Erhu’s mind, instantly brightening his mood.
That’s right—he was strong and in good health. There was no reason he couldn’t take a trip with the caravan. Once the shop wasn’t too busy after the New Year, he would go and see for himself!
With this thought in mind, he waved his hand. "Alright, let’s go inside. It’s freezing out here!"
Then, with his hands clasped behind his back, he strode through the courtyard gate.
Tang Xu raised an eyebrow—oh? So his father had finally come around.
Wang Cuicui also waved at Tang Xu, urging him, "Xu Ge’er, hurry inside! It’s freezing—don’t catch a cold."
"Alright. Auntie, don’t bother cooking lunch—come eat at our place," Tang Xu said before heading in.
After securing the back gate, he yawned and glanced up at the overcast sky, frowning slightly.
It looked like snow was coming. Without realizing it, his steps quickened on the way back.
He hadn’t slept well the whole night. Even though Wei Dong had traveled this route many times before, he couldn’t help but worry. Now that he was gone, drowsiness finally crept up on him.
Days passed. Wei Dong had said he would return around mid-May, but in the end, he was half a month late.
Because the family was building a new house, construction resumed as soon as the ground thawed in early spring, and Tang Xu became busy again.
Old Wu and Old Sun had returned to their hometowns to spend the New Year with their relatives, saying they would come back for a short stay once the weather warmed up.
Meanwhile, Old Wen had formally taken Wei Xi as his apprentice—he had already knelt and served tea in the ceremony.
There was plenty of work to do around the house. Tang Mei took Goudan to the shop with Tang Erhu and Wang Cuicui. Thankfully, Liu Ge’er was still at home; otherwise, even preparing meals would have been difficult.
With so many people in the household, Tang Xu considered hiring a woman from the village to help with cooking and cleaning. Since the job was close to home and involved only household chores, offering 150 wen a month should be enough to attract someone willing to do it.
However, he wasn’t very familiar with the village women and their husbands. After thinking it over, he grabbed a small basket of eggs and headed to Wei Zhonghong’s house.
With spring plowing in full swing, most households were busy working in the fields. At Wei Zhonghong’s home, only she was there—everyone else had gone out to tend to the land.
"Auntie~" Standing outside the courtyard gate, Tang Xu called out.
Wei Zhonghong was in the backyard feeding the chickens. Hearing the noise, she didn’t come out but simply responded loudly, "I’m here! In the backyard!"
Tang Xu entered the house and went straight to the backyard.
"Xu Ge’er, what brings you here? Didn’t you have to cook for the workers?" Wei Zhonghong knocked the chicken feed bowl upside down against the fence, smiling warmly.
"Liu Ge’er is handling it. I actually came to ask for your help," Tang Xu said, handing over the basket. "We have too many eggs at home—please take some off our hands."
"You, ah! Why did you bring so many?" Wei Zhonghong glanced at the basket full of eggs and couldn’t help but give him a look. "Eggs sell so well these days—one costs three wen!"
"We have over a hundred chickens laying eggs, and we collect a whole basket every day. I’ve already salted a big batch," Tang Xu chuckled before getting to the point. "Auntie, do you know anyone reliable? I want to hire a long-term worker."
"A long-term worker?" Wei Zhonghong wiped her hands and thought for a moment. With so much poultry at home, feeding them three times a day, gathering fodder, and cooking feed—it was indeed a lot of work.
She quickly ran through the people she knew in her head. It wasn’t too difficult to find someone.
"What are the requirements?"
"They should at least be clean and hardworking, that's the main thing."
Wei Zhonghong nodded. "Alright, I’ll ask around for you in the next couple of days. But with everyone busy planting crops right now, families that are doing okay might not be willing to take on long-term work."
"I’m offering 150 wen a month, plus meals—but no lodging," Tang Xu added with a grin. “Auntie, you know how good our food is. Even if the pay isn’t much, at least they’ll eat well."
Hearing that, Wei Zhonghong couldn’t help but laugh. "That’s true! Not many households can match your family’s cooking."
"Just help me keep an ear out, Auntie. Ask around in the next few days. I don’t know when Ah Dong will be back, and we’re getting short on hands at home." If the old elders hadn’t taken people back home for the New Year, he wouldn’t be this shorthanded now.
"Alright." Seeing him about to leave, Wei Zhonghong walked him to the gate. "By the way, a lot of villagers have been asking if you still want chickens and ducks. They’re thinking of raising more."
"I’ve actually been considering this," Tang Xu said, pausing at the gate. "What if I sell the braising spices to the villagers so they can cook the meat themselves? Once they’re done, I can buy it back from them. What do you think?"
Wei Zhonghong didn’t want to make the decision for him, so she said, "You should wait until Dongzi comes back and discuss it with him. I’m just worried that someone might cause trouble."
Right now, only close relatives were involved in making the cured and braised goods, but plenty of villagers were eyeing this money-making opportunity. If he started selling the braising spice mix, there was a risk that someone might take advantage of it with bad intentions.
Tang Xu sighed. "Alright, we’ll wait until he’s back to decide. Auntie, I’ll head home now, you don’t need to see me off."
Wei Zhonghong nodded. "Don’t worry. After dinner tonight, if I’m free, I’ll ask around for you. If there’s any news, I’ll come over to let you know."
"Great. Thank you Auntie."
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