Chapter 30: Simple and Honest

Madam Meng thought of her grandchildren and let out a sigh. Meng Jiacai, on the other hand, was quite pleased.

"Old woman, since we have glutinous rice, why don't you make some fermented rice wine? We can send some to our daughter later; it’s all the same."

"Are you sending it to our daughter, or are you just craving it yourself?"

Meng Jiacai chuckled. It was true, he was indeed craving it. Although they had some farmland, the family had long since separated. Yet, their grandchildren often ate at their place, and they always had to keep some supplies on hand to support their daughter. If their daughter’s family truly ran out of food, they couldn't just stand by and watch the children starve.

Madam Meng didn't dwell on it. Thinking of the large family, she decided to soak all several pounds of glutinous rice to make fermented rice wine. That way, everyone could have a share and enjoy something good to satisfy their cravings. Salt was a precious commodity—it gave people strength, yet it was expensive. Rock salt was the cheapest, followed by coarse salt, while refined salt was the most expensive, costing several hundred wen per catty. The fine salt Ning Xin had brought back this time also cost about a hundred wen per catty. Madam Meng calculated carefully, determined to be fair so as not to slight any of the children.

As Ning Xin headed down the mountain, she walked even faster now that her hands were empty...

Ning Dalang had already found someone to calculate the dates; the fifth day of the fourth lunar month was an auspicious day for breaking ground and starting construction. With that in mind, there were only about ten days left. He hadn't yet decided whether to prioritize building the house or clearing land for crops. The spring planting season was almost here. The corn seeds had already been cultivated, and the sweet potatoes had sprouted. The rice seedlings were growing; once they were a bit larger, it would be time to plow the fields and transplant them. The odd corners of the land would be used to grow melons and beans.

"Dalang."

Ning Dalang looked at Old Man Ning and replied in a flat, indifferent tone, "Father."

It wasn't exactly affectionate, nor was it particularly distant. However, Old Man Ning could still sense that Ning Dalang no longer held him in the same high regard as before.

"What did the authorities say about the deeds for the house and land?"

"It’s all settled."

"When will you go to collect them?"

"Tomorrow."

"So fast?" Old Man Ning was shocked. How much money must have been spent on bribes for the officials to make it so easy?

"Yes. The date for breaking ground is set for the fifth of next month."

Normally, he would have discussed these things with his parents, but Ning Dalang felt that he could manage quite well on his own without their supervision.

"That's only a few days away."

"That’s right, Father. I’ll head back now; I have work to do."

Ning Dalang was thinking about going home to sharpen his chisels, fit new handles to his hammers, and fetch water. Even though they didn't wash their hair or bathe every day, there were many people in the house, and laundry required a fair amount of water. The chickens also needed clean water. He was a busy man.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt pressed for time. He urged Old Man Ning to head home early while he hurried back himself.

Madam Meng was busy preparing a pig's head. She planned to wrap the pig brains in cabbage leaves and steam them for the children to enjoy as a special treat once Ning Xin returned. Supper was essentially leftovers from lunch, perhaps with an added cabbage, while the pig's head would be salted and eaten in a few days. In the countryside, there was no habit of eating meat every day.

When Ning Dalang told Madam Meng that they would break ground on the fifth of the fourth lunar month, she was delighted.

"Hui-niang, do you think we should build the house first, or clear the land?"

"No matter what we do first, we need to level the ground."

Ning Dalang agreed and went off to fetch water.

Ning Kui and Ning Zhuang returned carrying grass. Once dried, this grass provided plenty of ash for the fire, and when mixed with chicken and human manure, it made excellent fertilizer, making the crops grow remarkably well. Though the adults claimed to look down on these weeds, saying they weren't useful for cooking, they secretly had their children go to the riverbanks and forests to cut and carry them back.

Ning Xin didn't particularly enjoy cutting grass. Most of the time, Ning Nuan, Ning Huan, Ning Kui, and Ning Zhuang did the cutting, while she was responsible for hauling it back and forth. They had even earned a little money doing this over the past two years. The five siblings would cut and haul grass for the local landlord; ten loads, or sixty bundles of grass, earned them fifteen wen a day, plus lunch. After working for a month, they earned four hundred and fifty wen, which made the siblings incredibly happy.

As Ning Kui sipped his slightly sweetened water, he said with some hesitation, "I wonder if we’ll still be cutting grass for Landlord Mou this year."

"Probably not, since we have to clear the land and build the house," Ning Zhuang replied. Thinking the day was still young and they had time for one more trip, he gulped down his sugar water, grabbed his brush hook and hemp rope, and urged Ning Kui to hurry.

"Coming, coming!" Ning Kui finished his drink and rushed to follow.

When Ning Xin arrived home, Madam Meng quickly asked, "How are your grandmother and grandfather?"

"They looked quite well, no different from before."

Madam Meng felt relieved. "And your uncles?"

Ning Xin froze. "I forgot to ask."

Madam Meng didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She knew her daughter was a bit simple-minded; if she didn't give her explicit instructions, she would surely forget.

Ning Xin asked where Ning Kui and the others were.

"They went to cut grass."

Ning Xin prepared to go join them, but Madam Meng caught her. "You stay home and rest, and play with A-Qi and the others."

"Alright."

Ning Xin didn't particularly like visiting neighbors, and she liked going into the village even less. She watched with great interest as her three younger brothers played in the mud.

Supper was the leftovers from lunch, but fearing the children wouldn't be full, Madam Meng cooked a little millet porridge. After the family had finished eating, Madam Meng said she had something to discuss.

"The first thing is that we have more than enough money to build the house now. Do you have any thoughts?"

Ning Xin raised her hand. "Mother, I want my own room. A-Kui and A-Zhuang grind their teeth, snore, and talk in their sleep."

The two brothers, being criticized, immediately turned their ire on each other, accusing the other of the same habits. Both insisted on having their own rooms. Ning Nuan and Ning Huan said they wanted a room together. The three youngest had no say and had to follow the adults' arrangements.

Madam Meng said, "I’m thinking we should build seven or eight rooms. A main hall, a storage room, a larger kitchen, and a shed attached to the side of the kitchen so we can eat under it in the summer and work without being exposed to the sun or rain."

"We'll pave a yard with stone slabs so it's convenient for drying things."

"We must have a pigsty, and we’ll raise a pig or two, along with some chickens and ducks..."

Ning Xin and the others had no objections. Whatever their parents decided was fine. They just needed to work hard and follow their parents' lead.

"There is one more important thing. From today on, the money your eldest sister earns will not be brought home—meaning she won't hand it over to me, but will save it for herself."

"..."

"..."

Ning Xin’s eyes widened in confusion. "Mother, why?"

"A-Xin, you’ve already brought home plenty of money. From now on, one thing you must learn is to be kinder to yourself."

"But I’m already very kind to myself! I eat my fill, stay warm, and I’m happy every day without a single worry."

This was Ning Xin’s heartfelt truth.

Madam Meng shook her head. "A-Xin, you are already fifteen. Your father and I will only have you for another year or two. With your personality—too straightforward and sincere—if you marry into a family with many siblings-in-law, you will suffer."

"What I want to teach you next is not how to make money for the family, but how to learn to love yourself."

Ning Xin listened, feeling confused and muddled. But she trusted that her mother would never harm her.

"I’ll listen to you, Mother. Once I earn some money, I’ll buy myself a mule first."

"..."

"..."