Chapter 24
“!”
Ji Yangzong’s eyes widened. He took a deep breath and said, he said it!
Could a man not understand another man’s thoughts? He had a feeling something was off about this young man, but his wife and he insisted on not believing it.
After just a few words, the young man actually dared to admit it!
Regardless of whether Huo Shu would be angered, Ji Yangzong immediately said, “No!”
“Why?”
Ji Yangzong replied, “It’s just no.”
“If the village head has any objections, you can raise them. Anything can be discussed.”
Ji Yangzong knew that Huo Shu was a man of few words. If he was so persistent, it seemed this was not a jest but a serious intention.
Recalling how Huo Shu had looked out for Xiao Taozi several times, he paused and patiently said, “Please forgive me if what I say is unpleasant.”
“My wife and I are not blessed with many children. Xiao Taozi is our only son, and he is not in good health. Finding him a good family is the greatest consideration my wife and I can make for his future. I know you are capable, but you are an outsider after all. Who knows when you might suddenly decide to leave for another land. Xiao Taozi’s mother absolutely cannot bear to see him go far away.”
Ji Yangzong had, after all, spoken euphemistically, not mentioning that Huo Shu had no property or livelihood locally.
But Huo Shu understood.
“I have money. If I need to buy land and settle down, I can.”
Ji Yangzong said, “He is clumsy and not in good health, so he might be a burden to you with household chores.”
“He won’t be a burden. If the village head is worried, he can live at home.”
Ji Yangzong retorted, “If he gets married and lives at home, will you move in?”
“If he wishes, that is also acceptable.”
Ji Yangzong’s eyes widened again upon hearing this. Looking at Huo Shu’s serious, not-joking face, he was suddenly speechless.
After a long while, he exhaled a breath through his nostrils, “Nonsense.”
With that, he turned and walked away quickly, hands behind his back.
“Village head, I am not one to make empty promises. I will definitely do what I promise.”
“I will respect his wishes. If he is unwilling, I will not pester him or cause him distress. If he is willing, I say again, we can discuss whatever the Ji family wants.”
Ji Yangzong frowned as he heard Huo Shu’s words behind him. He stopped and asked, “Does Xiao Taozi know your intentions?”
“Not yet.”
Ji Yangzong sighed, “Very well. I will not stop you from seeing him. However, there is one thing I hope you will remember your words: if he is unwilling, do not interfere.”
“Okay.”
…
There was more than one butcher in Mingxun Village, but the most skilled was the one surnamed Qiao.
The butcher trade was considered to involve heavy karma, but it also earned a lot. A butcher like Qiao Tuzi, known throughout the region, was naturally a wealthy household in the village.
However, the Qiao family’s house in the village was not much better than the Zhao family’s.
The current Qiao family butcher was of the same generation as Ji Yangzong. The previous generation of the Qiao family gambled away all their family property and was accidentally killed by debt collectors, leaving behind an orphan and a widow.
The gambling house people compensated Qiao Tuzi and his mother with a small amount of money, but it was not enough to buy back the land. Having no other choice, Qiao Tuzi had to learn a trade.
To support his family, Qiao Tuzi became ruthless. With the disposition of a butcher, he went further and further down this path.
He now earned a lot of money and had a shop in the city. For convenience, he also bought property in the city as a residence. As a result, his house in the village was not renovated and remained as it was before, looking rather dilapidated and worn, making it seem like he was not a well-off family at all.
When Ji Yangzong and Huo Shu arrived at the Qiao family’s house, they saw several men standing in the yard from a distance.
Seeing that they looked unfamiliar, Ji Yangzong did not recognize them and assumed they were outsiders.
“Old Qiao, busy?”
Upon reaching the outer wall of the yard, Ji Yangzong poked his head in and shouted into the yard.
“Village head.”
A middle-aged man stood by the stone bridge in the yard. He was not tall but was visibly robust.
He was sharpening a knife at the moment. The man looked up at the sound and flicked his chin, “You’re here. Come in quickly and have a seat in the yard.”
With that, Qiao Tuzi put down his knife and strode forward to greet them.
“It’s quite lively.”
Ji Yangzong glanced at the men of various ages in the yard and then turned to the butcher with a somewhat broad face, joking, “You have great influence. Look, they’ve sent another one to you, letting you choose a good apprentice.”
“Huo Shu, this is Qiao Liyie, our village butcher. He’s a renowned and skilled butcher far and wide.”
“You always say such things.”
Qiao Tuzi laughed and then looked at the unfamiliar man who had nodded to him in greeting.
“Is this the adopted son of Master Zhao? I wasn’t in the village some time ago, so this is my first time seeing him.”
“Yes, he has already settled in our village and is looking for a proper livelihood. I thought you mentioned not long ago that you wanted to recruit apprentices, so I brought him here to have a look.”
Huo Shu’s build was similar to the butcher’s, but he was tall and straight, making his physique particularly upright and imposing.
Unlike the butcher, whose physique was shorter, Huo Shu’s strong and broad build made him appear powerfully built with a broad back and a sturdy waist.
Qiao Tuzi had to tilt his head slightly to see the tall man approaching. When he looked up, his eyes met Huo Shu’s three-white eyes, and he felt a slight tremor in his heart.
He had started learning the butchering trade at fifteen or sixteen and had been at it for almost twenty years. He had handled countless livestock with his knife, and others said he carried an aura of ferocity from years of killing.
He admitted that he was indeed more ruthless than ordinary people. He did not expect to encounter a young man ten years younger than himself today and be somewhat intimidated by his gaze and cold demeanor.
“I heard you were someone who returned from the front lines?”
Huo Shu replied affirmatively.
Qiao Tuzi nodded and asked, “How many years were you in the army?”
“About ten years.”
Qiao Tuzi’s brow twitched. No wonder.
He led them to the side and said, “Sit down.”
Seeing that everyone was present, Qiao Tuzi said, “A while ago, I went to another town to slaughter livestock and bought some back. Today, they all need to be slaughtered and taken to the city market tomorrow.”
He introduced the five young men who had come to learn the trade: “It’s good that you’re here to try your hand with the knives. If you have the disposition, you can follow me from now on. Once you’ve mastered the skill, you can go solo if you wish.”
Seeing Huo Shu arrive, the young men held their breath. They knew that not all of them would be kept, and they were all secretly competing.
Everyone in this trade knew that it paid well and was respected. However, since it involved killing, families who were doing well generally would not send their children to learn this trade. Only families with meager fortunes were willing to come.
But willingness to come did not mean they were suited for the trade. Many young people dared not wield knives to slaughter livestock. They were fearful and unstable in their temperament, making it impossible for them to do it.
Even the butcher’s own children did not necessarily have the disposition to follow in their father’s footsteps, let alone others.
Qiao Tuzi had three children, none of whom were suited for the trade, which was why he thought of recruiting two apprentices to pass on his skills.
Ji Yangzong sat to the side, preparing to watch the show before leaving.
Shortly after, Qiao Tuzi brought out two pigs and two sheep and penned them in a corner of the yard, in a space slightly larger than a typical chicken coop.
He took out the knife he had just sharpened and said to the young men, “Each of you slaughter one. Who wants to go first?”
The young men looked at the livestock penned inside and hesitated, “One by one? Won’t someone help to hold them down?”
Qiao Tuzi replied, “Then I can hold them down.”
The young man who spoke shut his mouth sheepishly. A slightly sturdier young man stepped forward and said with confidence, “Then I’ll go first.”
Qiao Tuzi handed him the pig-slaughtering knife. The young man took the knife and stepped into the pen, heading straight for the adult pig in the corner.
However, before he could even touch the animal, the pig bolted to the other side with a grunt. The young man chased it around the small pen, agitating the livestock inside, causing them to scatter in a panic.
The charging livestock bumped into him several times. He had intended to be the first to slaughter a pig and impress everyone. But what looked easy was actually difficult. Not only could he not bring himself to see the blood, but he couldn’t even touch the pig.
After chasing for about fifteen minutes, the young man was sweating profusely from anxiety.
Seeing that if they continued chasing like this, the pens in the yard might be knocked down by the livestock, Qiao Tuzi
He flipped himself in, quickly and precisely grabbed a pig’s ear, and pulled its front leg when it was unprepared, pinning the animal to the ground. “Come.”
The young man hurried over and fumbled for the knife. He had always thought that he had handled killing chickens and ducks at home without issue, but when it came to large livestock, his hands began to tremble.
Trembling, he hesitated to strike.
In the end, Qiao Tuzi, unable to watch any longer, took over.
Then, the others mustered up their courage. The youngest among them, who looked thin and weak, turned out to be the only one who dared to actually wield the knife. However, his strength was not precise. The animal, after being cut, even broke out of the pen, causing chaos throughout the yard.
This was the first time Ji Yangzong had seen such a scene. Usually, when someone needed to slaughter livestock, they hired experienced masters who were quick, precise, and ruthless. It was nothing like this chasing and herding; it was both infuriating and amusing.
In the end, no matter how amusing the commotion was in the middle, they had all tried their hand and tested their skills.
Ji Yangzong saw that the four young men who had arrived had all taken their turns, but there were only four animals in total. Only Huo Shu had not yet tried.
He glanced at the young men, who were all panting, tired, and a little scared. They were resting on one side. He went to Qiao Tuzi, who was washing his knife with a stern face, and said, “There are five people and four animals, and Huo Shu hasn’t gone yet. I’m not forcing him on you, but you still need to be satisfied.”
Qiao Tuzi, however, waved his hand and said, “He doesn’t need to try.”
Ji Yangzong’s eyelids narrowed. “What?”
Qiao Tuzi lowered his voice and said, “Others say I have a heavy aura of ferocity, but this young man has even more. Where does my aura of ferocity come from? It’s nothing more than slaughtering too many animals. This young man isn’t a butcher, so where does his come from?
“He kills people. Slaughtering animals must be as easy as cutting radishes for him. Whether he tries or not, he can do this. It’s just a matter of practicing the butchering techniques.”
Ji Yangzong gasped. That was indeed true.
When the young men were about to slaughter the animals earlier, he had to look away, but this young man, Huo Shu, remained expressionless, as if watching a performance.
Even the butcher feared him, so how could ordinary people not be intimidated?
“The village head recommended him, so his character should be fine. As long as his character is without fault, seeing him is enough.”
Ji Yangzong gave a wry smile. “Thank you.”
“Village head, what are you saying? I should be thanking you for recommending an apprentice who can be taught without effort. Let’s have a drink together in a couple of days.”
“Deal.”
The two exchanged pleasantries.
Ji Yangzong had come with a heavy heart and left with an even heavier heart.
He wondered why Xiao Taozi had attracted such a formidable presence without a word, truly a hot potato.
If he didn’t betroth Xiao Taozi to this young man in the future, would he hold a grudge? If he did, would he become angry and beat his father-in-law?
Ji Yangzong shook his head as he went back, his mood exceptionally heavy. Day after day, nothing went smoothly.
Qiao Tuzi ended up keeping only two people: the young man who dared to wield the knife, and Huo Shu.
He told them to start learning the trade the next day.
Huo Shu parted ways with Ji Yangzong at the fork in the road. Before leaving, Huo Shu looked at Ji Yangzong, who was walking back with his hands behind his back, and said, “Village head, if you need anything in the future, just call me.”
Ji Yangzong did not look back, only gestured with his hand in silence.
Huo Shu looked at the man who seemed to be in a rather unhappy mood, and his brow furrowed.
Was he really some kind of monster that made Ji Yangzong so worried?
Huo Shu did not chase after him to say more, fearing he would frighten the elder. So, he turned back.
He pondered all the way to the entrance of the Zhao family’s courtyard, only to hear laughter from inside the yard: “Greedymouth, you wouldn’t even let me touch you a few days ago, but now that you’ve brought grass, you’re willing?”
Huo Shu pushed open the door and saw his big black colt with its mouth stuffed with switchgrass. It usually chewed its food with its head held high arrogantly, but today, for the first time, it was burying its head to eat.
The principle was to make it convenient for the person crouching and feeding it grass to pet its head.
Huo Shu looked at the young man squatting beside it with a smile, feeding it a handful of grass and patting its head, looking very happy.
The furrow in his brow, which had been there all the way, finally smoothed out. “Is your knee better?”
Tao Yu heard the sound and poked his head out from beside the tall horse, only then seeing that Huo Shu had returned.
He put down the horse grass and stood up. “Yes.”
Yuan Huiru heard the sound and came out of the house with a smile. She said, “Ah Shu, this horse is very unusual. I usually feed it, but it doesn’t eat much and looks intimidating with its eyes wide open. It only responds to Ah Shu’s calls. Today, it even made snorting sounds when it saw Tao Yu. I thought it was going to bite, but then Tao Yu offered it grass, and it stopped. Tao Yu is so close to it, and it didn’t even kick, and it even let him pet it.”
Huo Shu looked at Tao Yu. “Aren’t you afraid of horses? Why did you come to feed it?”
“Today, when I went to the medicinal field, I saw some fresh switchgrass in the ground. I remembered that it carried me back a few days ago, so I cut some to reward it.”
Huo Shu raised an eyebrow at this and suddenly patted the black colt in front of him.
Yuan Huiru said, “You two talk for a while. Brother Tao, I’ll make you some tea.”
“Thank you, Madam Yuan.”
Huo Shu brought a chair from the yard for Tao Yu to sit on.
“I heard from Father that Master Qiao has returned to the village. How did it go when you went to see him today? Did Master Qiao keep you?”
Huo Shu replied, “He told me to go and learn starting tomorrow.”
Tao Yu nodded with satisfaction. “That’s great. From now on, you won’t have to… be idle anymore.”
“You read well and know how to congratulate people.”
Tao Yu smiled and raised his eyes.
Seeing that his complexion was ruddy and his eyes were bright, it seemed he had been doing well these past two days.
Huo Shu said, “You’re so happy. Has the person who was fixing the fish pond come again?”
Tao Yu was startled. He wondered what fish pond repair he was talking about, and then he suddenly realized that Huo Shu was referring to Zhou Zheng from the neighboring village.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, stuffed some grass into the big black colt, and said, “Once the fish pond is repaired, we can raise fish and shrimp. Then we’ll have a lot of fish to eat. Of course, I’m happy.”
Huo Shu’s brow moved at this.
“If you need any help, you can call me.”
Tao Yu tilted his head to look at Huo Shu. “Brother Huo, are you that enthusiastic? You won’t ask me for wages, will you? Or will you want to scam some medicinal ointment and invite me to a meal?”
“I’ll be getting paid every month by Master Qiao. Once I have money, I won’t extort you.”
Tao Yu pursed his lips and smiled. “Is that so? But I heard that apprentices don’t get much pay.”
Huo Shu responded, “Yes.”
“You only get five hundred wen a month before you master the skill. It’s indeed not comparable to fixing the fish pond.”
Tao Yu’s smiling face immediately drooped again. He glared at Huo Shu secretly.
This person looked upright and taciturn, but he was a sarcastic person.
Seeing that Tao Yu’s pursed lips were about to pout, Huo Shu stopped teasing him and asked, “What are you planning to do these days?”
“I’ll read medical books and make some medicine. Since there’s less to do at home during the farming off-season, I might stay at Grandpa’s medical clinic for a couple of days, help organize medicinal materials, and learn medicine.”
“That’s good.”
Tao Yu clapped his hands and stood up. “I’ve fed the horse, and it’s getting late. I still need to go back and cook. I’ll be leaving now.”
“Brother Tao, have lunch here before you go back. The village head kindly led Ah Shu to Qiao Tuzi’s place. You should thank the village head properly.”
Yuan Huiru came out at the right time to ask him to stay.
“Look, you haven’t even had any tea.”
“We’re all neighbors in the same village. It doesn’t matter.”
Tao Yu said, “There will be plenty of opportunities to eat together in the future. Madam Yuan, I’ll be leaving now.”
Yuan Huiru quickly said, “Ah Shu, walk Brother Tao out.”
Huo Shu watched Tao Yu put on the small empty basket that fit him perfectly and reached out to open the courtyard gate for him.
Tao Yu said, “It’s just a few steps back, no need to walk me.”
Huo Shu replied, “Go ahead.”
Watching him walk away, Yuan Huiru hurried forward and chided him,
“You silly boy, Brother Tao rarely comes over. Why aren’t you walking him out? Men should be more forward. Just because he said not to walk him, you really didn’t? You’re too honest.”
Huo Shu remained silent. Doing so would be too deliberate, and being too clingy might be counterproductive.
However, he still said, “I know.”
Yuan Huiru sighed with a hint of regret, then comforted Huo Shu, “But it’s okay. The first time is unfamiliar, the second time is familiar.”
“It’s a good thing that you were accepted by Master Qiao today. We’ll have stewed meat and cabbage for lunch to celebrate.”
Huo Shu replied. After Yuan Huiru entered the house, he quietly slipped out and walked in the direction where Tao Yu had just left.
He did not leave until he saw the man safely enter his own courtyard gate in the darkness.
The next day, Huo Shu went to the Qiao family’s house early in the morning.
Qiao Tuzi was going to load the livestock slaughtered the previous day onto the cart and take them to the butcher shop in the city to sell.
Most of the houses in the village were now occupied only by Tuzi and his wife. Most of their children spent most of their time in the residences they had purchased in the city, and only returned when there was a family matter.
Huo Shu arrived early and helped Qiao Tuzi load the livestock onto the cart, and the two of them drove the cart to the city together.
The donkey cart ran fast. Upon entering the city, they turned directly into Xiaoxijie, passed through a memorial archway, and stopped at the entrance of Zhenglu Lane.
The Qiao family’s shop was located at the intersection, with a sign that read Qiao Family Fresh Meat Shop.
As Huo Shu jumped off the cart, a thin, pale young man immediately greeted him from the shop steps, “Master.”
He respectfully called out to Qiao Tuzi and casually looked at Huo Shu, greeting him indifferently, “Brother Huo.”
This person was the other apprentice that Qiao Tuzi had kept yesterday, named Fang He.
He had known yesterday that this young man, who looked no more than twenty years old, was not from Mingxun Village. He guessed he had come from his own home and had waited for a long time.
Huo Shu nodded to him as a greeting. Then, while Qiao Tuzi went to open the shop door, he went to the cart, picked up two halves of pork, and carried them on his shoulders, one on each side. As soon as Qiao Tuzi opened the door, he followed and carried the meat inside.
“Just put them on that cutting board.”
Qiao Tuzi glanced at Huo Shu. Seeing that although he always had a stern face, he was not arrogant, was diligent, and was willing to work, he was very satisfied.
Turning to arrange the meat in the shop, he saw Fang He trying to imitate Huo Shu and carry two halves of meat inside. He almost twisted his back and dropped the meat.
Fortunately, he didn’t force himself. He put down the pork and picked up half a sheep.
“Slow down.”
Qiao Tuzi said.
If it weren’t for the fact that this young man was the only one among them who dared to wield a knife, he would definitely not have kept the one with the thinnest arms and legs to teach.
The three of them moved all the meat into the shop in two trips.
The Qiao family’s meat shop was not large, nor was it a front shop with living quarters behind. It was just a storefront, unlike other storefronts that could be used for business and residence. However, the storefront was in a prominent location, and the foot traffic was high.
The interior of the storefront was also simple, with two long cutting boards and many iron hooks hanging above for skewering meat.
When a butcher opened for business, they would usually cut whole halves of pork into strips and pieces, such as loins, ribs, belly, etc., neatly hung on hooks by the cutting boards for customers to choose from.
“Usually, we open half the meat first. When half of it is sold, we open the other half to prevent spoilage. The weather is cool now, so it’s fine, but in the hot months, meat spoils very easily. Our shop absolutely does not sell spoiled meat.”
Qiao Tuzi wiped the hooks and, while speaking, demonstrated to his two apprentices how to cut a whole fresh piece of meat into pieces.
“These animals seem different, but they are only different in size. They all have a head and four legs. As long as you learn how to butcher one type of animal, the rest are all the same principle.”
“You two watch carefully. First, take out the tenderloin under the spine, then cut it at the second joint. The smaller side remaining will be the hind leg meat.”
“Next, cut into the spine and slice off the ribs. The meat from the belly is the belly pork. Cut it in two. What remains is the foreleg. Cut off the front shank, and what is removed from the sliced meat is the fan bone…”
Qiao Tuzi spoke while butchering the meat, his movements so quick and smooth that in just a few sentences, half a side of pork was neatly sectioned.
“This skill is neither simple nor difficult. In short, it’s just meat, and it can be cut with a knife. It’s just a matter of the speed of movement and whether the meat can be cut neatly and beautifully without damage.”
If good fresh meat was ruined due to the butcher’s poor knife skills, it would affect its appearance and thus its sales and price.
This was why there was a saying about craftsmanship.
“Today, I’m not expecting you to know anything. For now, just follow along and watch. If your hands are clumsy, you can practice slowly, but you need to be quick-eyed and learn to see first, then your hands can follow.”
Fang He was already mesmerized by Qiao Tuzi’s masterful knife skills and was filled with admiration.
“Master, how can you achieve such skill without ten or eight years of practice? It’s truly beautiful.”
“Don’t flatter me. I don’t fall for that.”
Qiao Tuzi pierced a hole in the portioned fresh meat. “Hang these on the hooks.”
Huo Shu did not say a word and hung the pork and lamb on the hooks of the two cutting boards.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the meat shop officially opened.
Qiao Tuzi stood at the entrance and shouted, “Fresh meat, fresh pork and lamb!”
His voice was full of energy, even louder than the breakfast stall’s.
Fang He also joined in, calling out on the street, inviting people to come in and choose fresh meat.
Huo Shu, however, stood by the cutting board in the shop. He could do things, but shouting was impossible.
The Qiao family’s meat shop had been open for quite some time. People in the vicinity knew there was a meat shop here and would usually come to browse. It had been closed for a few days recently, but today, seeing it reopened, they came in groups to choose meat as soon as they heard the calls.
“The two young men look unfamiliar. Did Master Qiao hire new people?”
“Two new apprentices. They’re rather inarticulate. If there are any shortcomings in the future, please bear with us.”
Qiao Tuzi greeted the customers. “The usual, two catties of belly pork?”
“Yes, belly pork.”
The woman buying groceries, with a basket in her arm and her hands tucked in, looked at Huo Shu a couple of times and said, “Both are strong young men. Master Qiao really knows how to pick people.”
Qiao Tuzi laughed and said, “We’re just looking for now, to see if they’re capable.”
“Master Qiao, you haven’t opened for a few days.”
“Oh, there’s lamb today.”
“Do you still have hind leg pork? Give me one.”
Within a quarter of an hour, many people had come and gone. Not all of them were buying things; some were just asking and looking around. This was typical for people buying groceries in the morning.
But Qiao Tuzi was so busy he couldn’t stand still. He had to greet and answer people and cut meat at the same time.
Fang He was quick-witted and immediately helped to greet people who came to look at the meat, which eased Qiao Tuzi’s workload, although he still had to weigh and cut the meat.
“Oh dear, I’ve asked three times for lamb, but are you selling it or not?”
Today, they were selling two types of meat, and there were many customers. The butcher Zhou Zhan couldn’t manage everything.
Pork was affordable and was the meat most commonly chosen by ordinary people. Lamb, although good, was more expensive, and fewer people bought it. Qiao Tuzi mainly attended to the pork cutting board.
Huo Shu stood to the side. When people came in, they saw him looking like the King of Hell and dared not approach him. They directly bypassed him and looked for Fang He.
Seeing that Qiao Tuzi was still busy cutting pork for several customers, he went to the lamb cutting board himself. “How much lamb do you want?”
The man who had been waiting impatiently raised his eyebrows and glanced at Huo Shu, then immediately lowered his head. He cleared his throat, and his tone immediately became much more gentle:
“Um, give me half of the whole lamb chops.”
Upon hearing this, Huo Shu took out half an uncut lamb from under the cutting board. Qiao Tuzi turned his head to glance in Huo Shu’s direction, preparing to say that he would be right there.
However, before he could open his mouth, he saw Huo Shu take out his knife, cut the lamb leg at the second joint, and then smoothly slice off the lamb chops with one stroke.
Qiao Tuzi’s brow twitched at this. This young man learned things too quickly.
He closed his mouth and looked away, continuing to attend to his own work.
