Chapter 437: 437: He can't eat the rabbit he himself hunted?
Chapter 437: Chapter 437: He can’t eat the rabbit he himself hunted?
Tong Sanlang held a long sword in his hand, wandering around the forest for an hour. When he emerged, his hemp rope was laden with a variety of game, big and small.
The large game included wild boars, wolves and deer, while the small game featured foxes, rabbits, and pheasants. In short, any game his eyes could see hadn’t been missed by his long sword.
He hoisted a large bundle of game and climbed up Rooster Mountain, where Qiao Xiaomai was waiting for him at the prearranged spot.
Upon seeing the game he dragged along, she couldn’t help giving him a thumbs-up, “Impressive.”
Tong Sanlang just smiled, his eyes shining brightly, “See anything you like?” “Nope, just haul all of it to town to sell. Come on, let’s have breakfast.” The reason she had been waiting on the mountain was to bring him breakfast. After breakfast, the two of them went down the mountain. Tong Sanlang dragged his game back home, and Qiao Xiaomai also went home. They planned to head to town together later.
When Tong Sanlang reached home, the Tong family was having breakfast.
Tong Sanlang was somewhat surprised. It was almost the Si hour; they were having breakfast, quite late…
Seeing him get home, Zhu Hongyun immediately stood up from the dining table, her eyes fixed on the game behind him, “Oh third brother, you’re so capable, bringing back so much game.”
Tong Tiehu also looked over, “Come and eat.”
“No need, I’ve eaten. I’m going to take this stuff to town to sell now,” Tong Sanlang said.
“You already ate? What did you eat?” Zhang asked.
“A roasted hare.” Tong Sanlang didn’t plan on mentioning Qiao Xiaomai.
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhu Hongyun exclaimed, “Did you make your own stash of food? Sanlang, not to criticize you, but you know the situation our family is in now. We can’t even afford white flour anymore. A hare could be exchanged for quite a few cooper coins.”
“He hunted the rabbit, doesn’t he deserve to eat it?” TongTiehu’s face darkened when he heard this.
“It’s not that he can’t eat it, but given the current situation of our family, we owe one hundred taels of silver for our ten acres of land.” Zhu Hongyun emphasized the immense number of one hundred taels.
Meat was never scarce on the Tong family’s dining table in the past.
Even now, they hadn’t finished eating the meat they bought a few days ago.
But Zhu Hongyun, who had grown up in a poor family, cared a lot about food. Despite having been married into the Tong family for several years, this trait hadn’t changed.
Now there was meat on the table, but what about later?
If there is rabbit meat, it should be either shared together or not eaten at all.
Tong Tiehu couldn’t be bothered to deal with her anymore, only telling Tong Sanlang, “Lead out the ox cart and head to the town.”
Tong Sanlang answered, put down the game, and went to the shed to fetch the ox.
Seeing this, Zhang spoke up, “Perhaps we should keep a couple of pheasants.” Although she was dissatisfied with Zhu Hongyun’s nagging at Tong Sanlang, Zhu Hongyun’s point wasn’t wrong, given the family’s current situation, they would soon no longer be able to afford meat.
Hearing this, Tong Tiehu’s expression turned somber, scanning over everyone present. “Sanlang, after you sell your game, go to County Town to buy some land, as much as you can afford. Also, buy some sweet potato seedlings to bring back, we’re planting sweet potatoes tomorrow.”
Truth be told, he had felt guilty towards his family yesterday.
But now, his mindset had changed.
This morning, after feeding the livestock at the new home, he’d returned to the old yard thinking breakfast would be ready only to find cold pots and pans.
Qian said she had a headache and couldn’t get out of bed.
Zhang had gone to bed late the night before and was still sleeping, not awake at all.
Zhu Hongyun, complained of stomachache and had also not gotten out of bed.
The wife of Tong Dalang, Li Rou, was busy taking care of the child and had no free time.
In short, of all the women in the family, none were able to go to the kitchen.