Qin Sang looked at the two rabbits caught in the trap, one white and one gray. Aside from the rope marks from being tied up, they had no other wounds. An idea suddenly struck her:
"Can I have them both?"
Hunter Xu was taken aback:
"Sister-in-law Tian, it's so hot these days. Your family won't be able to finish eating these three rabbits in a day or two, will you? They won't keep in this weather."
It wasn't about not being able to finish them. In these times, which farming household would be so wasteful?
Qin Sang waved her hand:
"No, I want to see if these two live rabbits can be raised. If they don't survive, then we'll eat them. By the way, these two look like females. Next time, if you catch a male rabbit, Hunter Xu, please be sure to keep it alive for me."
Only then did Hunter Xu feel relieved:
"Alright then, I'll sell them all to you. Let's call it ten jin."
Qin Sang estimated that each of these four rabbits weighed at least three jin. Since he was being generous, she wouldn't be stingy either:
"Alright. Si Jin, go to my room and measure out ten jin of rice for Hunter Xu."
Hunter Xu quickly said:
"Aunt Tian, Millet is fine, no need for rice."
In the town grain shop, one jin of Millet cost seven wen, while rice cost ten wen. With the current drought, grain prices had risen. Millet now cost ten wen, and rice was even more expensive, costing fifteen wen per jin. That's why Hunter Xu, knowing that grain prices had gone up and Qin Sang was buying so much, felt that if he exchanged it at the old grain price, Qin Sang would lose out. So he had suggested counting it as ten jin.
Qin Sang waved her hand:
"We don't have much Millet left at home, only rice. Rice it is. I haven't had a chance to thank your Hu Zi for looking after our Si Jin last time. Si Jin, have you measured it out?"
Tian Sijin had already come over carrying a bag of rice:
"Mother, ten jin."
Qin Sang handed the rabbits to Tian Dazhuang and stuffed the rice into Hunter Xu's hands.
Hunter Xu couldn't very well refuse. Holding the rice in one hand, he took a string of sparrows from Hu Zi with the other:
"Alright then. These sparrows were shot by Hu Zi for fun while practicing his archery. Don't mind them, they don't have much meat."
Of course, Qin Sang didn't mind. She took them, praising without pause:
"Hu Zi is quite something! He has the potential to be a Master Archer, hitting such small sparrows."
Her stream of praise actually made this teenage boy blush.
After seeing off Hunter Xu and his son, Qin Sang arranged for the Tian Dazhuang brothers to move stones, cut bamboo, and build a hutch:
"Let's raise these two rabbits. Next time, if we get a male rabbit, they can have a litter, and then we'll have a steady supply of rabbit meat."
Although Tian Dazhuang and Tian Sangui didn't quite believe they could eat rabbit often, they didn't dare question their Mother. Obediently, they went to find stones.
The other two shot rabbits and the sparrows were given to the Eldest Brother's Wife to handle. Qin Sang couldn't do this kind of work. If she really had to bleed and skin them, she wouldn't be able to eat them:
"Eldest Daughter-in-law, these chicks were fine after eating that melon at noon. Boil some of that melon tonight, just plain boiled water is fine. Don't make it taste bad and waste oil.
For these sparrows, stew one tonight. Add a few slices of cut Millettia root. It's good for blood circulation and is good for your health."
After giving instructions, Qin Sang spoke seriously to Third Son's Wife:
"You shouldn't eat the sparrow. Blood-activating things might cause a miscarriage. You eat the rabbit meat."
Third Son's Wife had been somewhat dissatisfied at first, but hearing the last part, she smiled and hummed in agreement.
Tian Sijin and Eldest Girl watched over the two live female rabbits, occasionally reaching out to carefully stroke them. When they managed to touch one, they would giggle. Si Jin even cut a small piece of the Pumpkin Qin Sang had brought back at noon and tried feeding it to the female rabbits.
Tian Dazhuang came back carrying a basket of stones, and Tian Sangui returned carrying three bamboo poles. Qin Sang then directed the two of them to first build a large bamboo cage.
The bamboo was free. They needed to weave it tightly. Then, they should leave an opening for a door on the side and the top for easy feeding and cleaning.
Third Son's Wife also came to help. Her family were carpenters, so she was very skilled at making this sort of thing. Of course, she was also thinking that since Mother-in-law said these rabbits could be raised, rabbit meat in the future would surely not be lacking for her, a pregnant woman. So she worked with extra care.
By the time it got dark, the large bamboo cage was finished. Qin Sang had it placed against the wall in the courtyard. They laid stones flat on the bottom of the cage, trying to make it as level as possible, and also built up the sides. A rabbit's teeth could easily chew through a bamboo cage.
The two brothers were very capable. After finishing, they put the two female rabbits inside, placed a small earthenware bowl for water, and fed them a handful of grass and vegetable leaves.
Tian Wenmo stood by the doorway until dark, watching his Mother, brothers, sisters-in-law, and sister busy in the courtyard. His stomach growled with hunger, his vision grew dizzy and dark, but he never showed any intention of starting to work.
Only when Eldest Sister-in-law brought a large earthenware basin of rabbit meat to the table, and Tian Wenmo smelled the aroma of meat, did he feel even more painfully hungry. His feet unconsciously moved towards the dining table.
"I said, no work, no food."
Qin Sang's voice sounded mercilessly behind him.
Tian Wenmo's face flushed bright red, his small hands hanging tightly clenched at his sides.
He really wanted to rush forward and grab it, but he knew deeply that if he really did such a thing, and his tutor or his schoolmates found out later, he would truly have no face left to go back to the Private School.
"Fine, I won't eat then."
The Pumpkin and stewed sparrow were placed on the table. After the rice was served, Qin Sang, before starting the meal, gave out rewards as she had yesterday:
"Today, Eldest and Third did well. Each gets a reward of three wen. Eldest Brother's Wife, Si Jin, and Eldest Girl also worked hard. A reward of two wen each."
Third Son's Wife listened through the list, but her name wasn't called:
"Mother, what about me? I wasn't idle today. I washed the bowls this morning, stewed the soup at noon, and made the bamboo cage at dusk."
Qin Sang knew she couldn't hold back. She counted out two wen:
"You did show improvement today. A reward of two wen as well. Keep it up. Let's eat."
Only Tian Wenmo got nothing.
Tian Wenmo was now truly certain: Mother had money, but she wouldn't give him any.
Wuwu... Mother has really changed. Wuwu... Mother doesn't like me anymore. Wuwu... I'm so hungry and thirsty. Wuwu... The rabbit meat smells so good...
At the table, everyone ate happily. Qin Sang said meaningfully:
"I'm the oldest. Today, I'll eat this melon first. If anything happens, I've lived long enough."
The others all worriedly called out 'Mother' or 'Grandma,' but Qin Sang didn't stop her chopsticks, eating three or four mouthfuls of Pumpkin in one go.
After eating rabbit meat for a while and feeling about seventy or eighty percent full, Tian Sangui, seeing Qin Sang eat the Pumpkin with a calm expression, and acting on the principle of not wanting to miss out, also picked up a piece and put it in his mouth. He took a tiny bite, and his eyes widened as he tasted it:
"Wow, this melon is so sweet! And so soft and glutinous. It's delicious!"
Qin Sang nodded approvingly. The first person to eat a crab was brave:
"I think it tastes good too. Don't rush to eat it. Wait until tomorrow morning when Third and I have nothing to do, we'll make more then."
The others had rabbit meat, so their desire for Pumpkin wasn't as strong. They all agreed.
Zhou Dahua carefully drank the sparrow stewed with Millettia root that belonged solely to her.
The taste of fresh meat mixed with the slight bitterness of the medicinal herbs had a unique flavor.
As she drank, she felt a warmth spreading through her body. She didn't know if it was the immediate effect of the medicine or the warmth she felt from her Mother-in-law's special care and favoritism.
So this is how good it feels to be favored. Little Uncle used to be so happy.
She suddenly felt a bit sorry for Little Uncle. What should she do...
Zhou Dahua cautiously stole a glance at Tian Wenmo and saw him also constantly swallowing his saliva.
To avoid drooling and being laughed at, Tian Wenmo turned and went to the Woodshed.
Out of sight, out of mind.
If he couldn't see or hear it, then the rabbit meat was smelly, foul, and disgusting.
Tian Dazhuang, watching his younger brother go to the Woodshed, grew concerned:
"Mother, Little Five is still young. Going hungry and thirsty and sleeping in the Woodshed like this..."