Reborn in a small mountain village in 1991

Chapter 76 Buying an Old Sow

After Xu Chunsheng noted down the location, he took Cheng Runshu home.

As the two entered the courtyard, they saw Cheng Runshu's parents enjoying the cool air under the eaves, occasionally fanning themselves to keep away the annoying mosquitoes and flies.

"Dad, Mom, I'm home."

"Uncle and Auntie, I've brought Runshu back."

After exchanging a few casual words, Xu Chunsheng prepared to leave.

Cheng Runshu hurriedly said:

"Brother Chunsheng, please stay for dinner. I have something I'd like to discuss with you."

After saying that, Cheng Runshu opened his eyes wide and looked at Xu Chunsheng with a pout:

"Please, brother?"

Mr. and Mrs. Cheng, who were standing nearby, also took the opportunity to persuade them to stay:

"It's a rare treat to come here. You didn't eat at our house last time, so you absolutely have to have a meal with us before you leave this time."

Cheng Runshu immediately replied:

"Yes, brother, I'll go cook right now. You can try my cooking later, okay?"

Seeing how enthusiastic the group was, Xu Chunsheng didn't refuse anymore. Besides, he needed to borrow books from Cheng Runshu later, and he might need her to explain them to him.

Seeing that Xu Chunsheng agreed to stay for dinner, Cheng Runshu said happily:

"Then please sit down for a while, brother. I'll be done cooking soon."

Before long, it was time for dinner. During the meal, Cheng Runshu shared his thoughts with Xu Chunsheng:

"Brother Chunsheng, will you be taking your wine to town to sell later? I'd like to learn from you about the winemaking process, how to sell it, and how to keep the accounts. Is that alright?"

"This way I can also help my brother with some chores and learn some experience."

"After I get my work permit, I want to find a job at the county's winery. I'll learn from you and gain some experience first, which will make it more reliable to apply for jobs later."

After listening, Xu Chunsheng thought for a moment and nodded in agreement:

"You can watch from the side, but my current skills aren't good enough to sell the wine in town. I need to steam two more batches to try."

After Xu Chunsheng successfully brewed the first batch of liquor, he soaked fifty catties of corn and tried brewing it again on his own. The results were noticeably worse than when Tang Yongnian was with him.

He went to see Tang Yongnian, who told him: "The temperature is too high now, and it's hard to control the fermentation time. If it's too short, there will be less wine, and if it's too long, the wine will be sour. You can only practice more and find your feel for it."

Cheng Runshu nodded:

"Sure, I'm sure you'll be able to take the wine to town to sell soon."

Mr. and Mrs. Cheng, who were standing nearby, also chimed in:

"Chunsheng is very capable. Now he can even brew wine. With you taking care of Runshu, we feel more at ease."

"Uncle and Auntie, you're too kind. Runshu has helped our family a lot. Runshu wants to gain experience, so please come over whenever you want when I start selling wine in town."

We finished our meal and talked about most of the things we needed to discuss.

Cheng's parents wanted Xu Chunsheng to stay overnight, but he refused.

"Uncle and Auntie, we won't stay overnight. I'm thinking of asking someone to help me check on Uncle Li's old sow tomorrow."

"When you have some free time, come over to my house for a visit."

When Xu Chunsheng arrived home, the whole family was sitting in the courtyard enjoying the cool air, with the eldest sister fanning herself to swat away mosquitoes for her youngest sister.

A table fan swayed, sending a breeze through the group.

"I'm back."

The youngest sister, who was sleeping in her eldest sister's arms, sat up groggily upon hearing Xu Chunsheng's voice:

"Second brother, why are you only coming back now? I haven't seen you all day!"

The youngest sister stretched out her hands towards Xu Chunsheng, muttering:

"You can only have me as your sister, no other sisters allowed, hmph."

Even now, Yaomei's attitude towards Cheng Runshu is still somewhat conflicted.

Because she always felt that Cheng Runshu was trying to take her brother away from her, but Cheng Runshu often brought her little sister small things, such as pretty hairbands and clips.

So the youngest sister had very complicated feelings.

"You're definitely my only sister." Xu Chunsheng picked up his youngest sister, rested her head on his shoulder, and patted her back to lull her to sleep.

When Xu Chunsheng returned, the family chatted briefly before going to bed.

They only now learned that Xu Chunsheng was planning to buy an old sow, and said they wanted to find out more about the pig: how many piglets it had in its first litter, how many years it had been raised...

Xu Chunsheng agreed to everything. To reassure his family, he added:

"I'm going to see Uncle Liu tomorrow and ask him to take a look. Don't worry, I won't buy anything indiscriminately."

Only then could the family relax and go to sleep. They supported Xu Chunsheng's decision, but they were worried that he might be deceived because he didn't understand the sow's situation.

The next day, after having breakfast, Xu Chunsheng figured that Uncle Liu had finished his work, so he took a bottle of wine and some peanuts from home and went to his house.

"Uncle Liu, Uncle Liu, is he home?"

Xu Chunsheng stood in the courtyard, carrying his things and calling out.

"Coming home! Chunsheng, have you eaten yet?"

"Uncle Liu, I've already eaten. I brought you a bottle of homemade liquor; please try it."

After saying that, Xu Chunsheng handed over what he was holding.

Uncle Liu didn't refuse, reached out and took it, and readily asked:

"Hey Chunsheng, just say what's on your mind. You even brought something."

Xu Chunsheng smiled and said:

"Nothing can be hidden from Uncle Liu. I'd like to ask you to look after an old sow for me today, if that's alright."

"I want to prepare a few breeding pigs for the pig farm. It would be too much of a loss if we had to buy piglets every time."

Uncle Liu poured Xu Chunsheng a bowl of tea:

"If you feed a lot of piglets, buying piglets will indeed cost a lot of money. It's cheaper to raise your own sows and have piglets, and they're less likely to get sick."

"Okay, wait for me a moment, I'll lock the door and we'll go together."

"Yes, thank you, uncle. I'll go back and get my car first, then we'll drive there."

Uncle Liu waved his hand, signaling him not to go and drive:

"Let's hurry, we'll be there in an hour. Instead of going back to get the car, you might as well go back and take the money with you."

"If the pig is really good, we can just bring it back on our way and avoid having to make a second trip."

After saying that, Uncle Liu explained to him:

"The road is terrible, the old sow can't withstand the shaking, we have to lead her back slowly."

After listening to Uncle Liu's explanation, Xu Chunsheng nodded, went home to get the money, and called his father. The three of them went to Laoshuijing Village together.

After finding Uncle Li's house, Xu Chunsheng immediately explained his purpose:

"Uncle Li, I heard you're selling your old sow. I'd like to take a look."

Uncle Li glanced at the group and said with a hint of smugness:

"Come on, come and take a look. If my son hadn't said he wanted to take me to enjoy a life of luxury, I wouldn't have been willing to sell this pig."

"I gave birth to my first litter of twelve in March this year. They're all very well-behaved, and I take them out for walks every day. They're also in good health."

After they finished speaking, the group stood by the pigsty. Xu Chunsheng and his father couldn't figure out what was going on, so they both turned their attention to Uncle Liu.

"Uncle Liu, could you please take a look at this pig for me?"