Struggle in Ancient Times

Fortunately, he anxiously managed to return home. Wen Xiuer was cooking in the kitchen while mother Deng went out to pick vegetables. She saw that brother-in-law was carrying something with his clothes, she asked,

“Brother-in-law, what’s wrong? Are the clothes damaged? I will mend it for you later.”

She went to take Liao Tingyu’s clothes, before touching she saw it was wriggling around like something alive. Liao Tingyu opened the clothes and revealing the three pheasants.

Wen Xiuer instantly focused to the three lively animals, she was surprised. Thinking about the egg yesterday, she looked at Liao Tingyu excitedly.

As expected, Liao Tingyu said, “Sister-in-law, you take this. Let’s eat chicken today.”

Wen Xiuer smiled happily, took the pheasants and kept nodding her head. She couldn’t wait to kill the pheasant and stew it in the pot. Mother Deng always ate frugally, anything good was better to be sold and saved as money.  But knowing that mother really loved brother-in-law, they would eat this pheasant. Although she might not be able to eat the meat, she could drink the soup, Wen Xiuer was really happy.

She looked at the sky and wished that mother Deng came back soon.

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When mother Deng finally back, she listened to Wen Xiuer and felt a little strange, “How could er-ye catch these pheasants?”

But she didn’t think too much, then saw Wen Xiuer greedy face. Mother Deng kicked the pheasant to Wen Xiuer and said, “What are you doing? Go cook this soon, so you want to have dinner or not?”

Wen Xiuer wasn’t angry, she looked at the pheasant and happily stroked it with a knife. She tried to find a way to kill it without letting it suffer too much.

Mother Deng suddenly remembered something and rushed into the kitchen. Wen Xiuer already killed one, “Don’t kill it yet, how many was caught by your brother-in-law?”

“Three, there are two over here.” Wen Xiuer pointed at two frightened pheasants.

Mother Deng looked at the two pheasants and nodded, “Okay, kill one today, you clean it and stew it. I will find some red dates, add them to the soup would be delicious.” Wen Xiuer nodded.

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There was a commotion at the village entrance gate, villagers who worked in the town finally came back. The clothes on Liao Ming’s body were completely dirty and couldn’t see the original colour. Big brother Liao wasn’t much better, the two of them drove the ox cart slowly. When they got home, they smelled delicious foods, both swallowed their saliva. They whispered in surprise.

“Oh, why is there good smells here? It’s like chicken soup. Hum, it smells so good.” Big brother Liao already sniffed hard; Liao Ming was sighing beside him.

“Don’t you feel shame? It looks like you never eat chicken soup.” Liao Ming patted his eldest son head. Big brother Liao pursed his lips as he was being scolded.

Finally, they arrived and stared blankly at the chicken soup in the dinner table. Mother Deng came out of the kitchen and saw the father and son stupid looks; threw them both to clean themselves and changed. She went to call the youngest son to eat.

Liao Tingyu was studying the books he borrowed, mother Deng gently knocked on his door, “Er-ye, the meal is ready. Come out and eat.”

Liao Tingyu put down the book and slowly clean up his desk. He walked to the dining room with mother Deng, “Er-ye, how did you catch the pheasants? Why didn’t I know you are so capable?”

“Mother saying that I was never capable?” Liao Tingyu teased his mother.

“No no, my son always capable. In these ten miles and eight towns, no one could compare with you.” Mother Deng quickly replied.

Liao Tingyu said, “It was written in a book about how to make a trap. I didn’t believe at first, so tried it today. Although I can’t catch bigger prey, but I was lucky enough to catch small things. I’ll teach da-ge about this trap, he can go make two or three in the mountain. This will improve our food at home.”

“That’s good, you focus on your study. Let your da-ge do these things. Mother still waiting for you to be a scholar and raise our status.” Mother Deng thought a bit and add, “Don’t waste time on small things, anyway your da-ge have the time.”

Liao Tingyu didn’t say anything, he knew from memory that mother Deng always partial. During busy planting season, the family always went out early and came back when the moon appeared. Even so, mother Deng still took care of him while the original body never help with field works. It could be said that mother Deng really spoiled her youngest son.

It’s a good thing that the whole Liao family were literate. The father and big brother could read ang write, their job was better than others. The payment also good, that way the original body never complained and teaches his family on his spare time. 

In the dinner table, mother Deng first picked up a chicken leg for Liao Tingyu and another one for Liao Ming. Liao Tingyu watched his sister-in-law ate chicken breast and said,

“Didn’t I bring back three? Why only cook one?”

Mother Deng raised her head, “Let your father sell the rest tomorrow, our family only have five members, we didn’t need to eat much. One is enough for us, come here eat this meat.” Then she turned to his eldest son,

“Later, your er-di will teach you how to make a trap. Pay attention, your er-di going to take exam soon. This catching prey will be your job.”

Big brother Liao swallowed the meat in his mouth and nodded, “Okay, mother I will learn it.”

Liao Tingyu ate the meat in his bowl slowly, to honest there was only salty taste and no other flavour. It was dry and tasteless. But this meal was comparable like Chinese New Year for the Liao family, everyone expect Liao Tingyu ate deliciously.

After eating, Liao Tingyu took big brother Liao to the place he made trap, he explained about the trap and some precautions. Then he made a trap and asked big brother Liao to the same, he fixed some error in his big brother’s trap. Once done, they made sure the trap was hidden and went down from the mountain.

On the way, big brother Liao said, “Er-di, I don’t know why but it feels like you are a little different, much better than before.”