Chapter 27: Personal Mindset

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Ning Dalang entered the room and asked, “Has the water boiled yet?”

“It’s boiling.”

Ning Xin was overjoyed; this meant they were about to slaughter the pig.

She stuffed food into her mouth, chewing a few bites before swallowing, ready to go out and hold down the pig.

But obviously, it wasn’t her turn.

Her father was there, along with several uncles, her paternal cousins, and a whole group of other relatives.

She had to stand on a stool just to see.

Some even climbed ladders.

After a few desperate screams from the wild boar, it fell lifeless. Then came the scalding with boiling water and scraping off the bristles.

Ning Xin wanted to help, but it wasn’t her place.

The gutting and opening of the carcass, also not her task.

Cleaning the smelly intestines and the pig’s stomach was done by Third and Fourth Uncle.

“...”

She didn’t like running errands delivering meat.

But Ning Kui and Ning Zhuang did, waiting at the village entrance for officials.

They sighed regretfully, having missed the pig slaughter.

“Dalang, how will the pork be divided?”

Ning Dalang and Mrs. Meng had discussed it long ago.

“The four legs should be plump, not too thin; the rest can be divided into two or three-pound chunks.”

They took a piece to the kitchen to cook.

What could be kept was really just the pig’s head and the offal.

After the meat was divided, the village chief and the local official arrived; seeing the meat on the board, a glimmer of joy shone in their eyes.

“Village Chief, local official, please sit.”

Ning Dalang invited them in, while Ning Nuan served tea.

Today’s gathering was much more formal than yesterday’s.

Onlookers were reluctant to leave. Ning Dalang already knew which families were to receive meat and had it sent directly.

Even Ning Wulang was given a portion; the extra piece was a gift to honor their parents.

With so many eyes watching the pig’s slaughter, it would have been improper not to distribute the meat.

“Father, father, officials from the government have arrived—the magistrate is here!” Ning Kui and Ning Zhuang ran back quickly, shouting as they ran.

The two government clerks were surprised upon seeing the meat on the board.

The four leg pieces stood out remarkably.

Ning Dalang stepped forward first; the village chief and local official hurried after, bowing respectfully.

They welcomed the officials into the courtyard. The gate was left open, but no one dared enter, and the children quieted down.

A wooden table was set up outside. After serving tea, the two clerks sipped before asking, “Where is the land you want to buy? Let’s go have a look first.”

The group then set off in a grand procession.

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After all, buying wasteland to build a house was quite an event.

Watching the empty doorway, Ning Xin had wanted to go, but Mrs. Meng caught her.

“What are you going to do? Go back to your room and sleep. We’ll call you when the meal is ready.”

“Mother...”

“No arguments. Go back to your room.”

Mrs. Meng’s stern tone silenced Ning Xin immediately.

So she went back to sleep.

She wasn’t actually tired, but once her head touched the pillow, she quickly fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.

Mrs. Meng gently pushed the door open, saw Ning Xin sleeping soundly, pursed her lips, and closed the door quietly.

She returned to the kitchen to prepare the meal.

She had already borrowed two pottery cauldrons from Fourth Brother’s family; otherwise, the time would not have been enough.

As for the iron pot Ning Xin had bought, she was reluctant to use it.

She wanted to save it for when they moved into the new house—one pot for daily use and one as Ning Xin’s dowry.

She knew which families had given pork, having kept track all along.

One was an elderly widow without children, who had given them a secret remedy that saved Ning Xin during her illness.

Another had lent money to the family during Ning Xin’s sickness.

Mrs. Meng remembered these kindnesses well.

She instructed Ning Kui and Ning Zhuang to deliver the meat promptly.

She needed to hurry with the cooking, so when Ning Dalang and the others returned, the meal could be served.

With Ning Nuan and Ning Huan assisting, chaos was avoided.

At the foot of the mountain, the atmosphere was lively.

The land they planned to buy was truly vast, but this kind of rocky wasteland was cheap no matter the size.

The clerks from the government didn’t care how much land was bought; what mattered was how much they could pocket.

So when Ning Dalang said how much he wanted, they just measured and calculated.

“This big a piece, how many years will it take to clear? Ning Dalang really is unrealistic.”

“Have you thought carefully? With Ning Xin around, she can do the work of three people. If it were you, wouldn’t you want to stay longer to get this land prepared and then marry her off?”

“Exactly. Ning Dalang has five sons, after all.”

Ning Dalang hadn’t really thought about it that way.

He simply knew the family had many mouths to feed.

Ning Kui and Ning Zhuang ate a lot; Ning Wen and Ning Wu had big appetites too.

Once the land was enclosed by a courtyard wall, they wouldn’t pay taxes on whatever they planted.

Smallfolk always had to hustle, counting every mouth to feed.

After calculations, the land measured about three acres, not counting the edges and two large pits in the middle.

Ning Dalang estimated it to be about four acres, maybe even more.

Two taels and seven qian silver—it was a good deal.

The contract clearly described all the land, marking the pits and edges as excluded.

If Ning Dalang’s family later filled the pits, that would be their own matter.

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Wherever there was a large tree or a big rock at the boundary—such markers could not be removed or disturbed.

Afterwards, they would take the documents back to the county office for stamping, and the house and land deeds would be issued.

They could start construction on a favorable day at any time.

When Ning Dalang and his group returned, Ning Kui and Ning Zhuang hurried to fetch water and wash their hands.

The table was set in the courtyard, and they ate outside.

Only the village chief, local official, two clerks, and Ning Dalang were present.

They first cracked some sunflower seeds and peanuts.

The wine remained untouched, but once the dishes arrived, the snacks were tossed aside as they drank wine and ate.

“Sister-in-law, these dishes are well made.”

Ning Dalang poured wine and invited everyone to eat.

Ning Xin was called up; they all ate in the kitchen with plenty of meat and rice.

“Sniff, sniff, Mother, I want to eat white rice every day from now on.”

Ning Xin found the food exquisitely delicious.

Her younger brothers and sisters nodded in unison, fully agreeing.

Mrs. Meng laughed aloud, “Just once in a while is fine. You mustn’t be too greedy.”

Likely, the two elders were still waiting for Ning Dalang to invite them.

Ning Dalang was truly busy and had forgotten.

She remembered but pretended not to.

No matter how they nagged her at other times, she endured.

But for such a big matter as buying land and building a house, the experienced father even sent someone to formally invite them.

Was this still a father’s role?

The main household was filled with joy and harmony.

The second household lived close by, and Mrs. Wu felt drowned in bitterness.

Although they also got two or three pounds of meat, what did that count compared to the big feast next door?

Luckily, Ning Dalang didn’t have Third or Fourth Brother stay for the meal, or there would have been trouble again.

Mrs. Wu nudged Ning Erlang, “I’m talking to you.”

“What will happen to the main house’s current home after they build the new one?”

Ning Erlang said nothing.

His mind was filled with thoughts of whether Ning Xin could get wild boar in the mountains, and if she’d be willing to take him along.

“I’m talking to you,” Mrs. Wu kicked Ning Erlang again.

Ning Erlang snapped back, “How would I know?”

“Ning Erlang, don’t forget, you have three sons. Look at the main house—they’re building a mansion. When will you start thinking about your sons? Waiting until they get married?”

“Look at how small our house is. Where will the daughters-in-law live? Who would want to marry into this?”

Ning Erlang grew angrier, “What can I do? Steal? Rob? Father and mother favor the youngest son, big brother has the capable Ning Xin, and the third and fourth brothers stick together...”

Ning Erlang’s grievances only grew as he spoke.