The pork butcher is smoother than a pig butcher!

Chapter 24 Zuo Yiyi and Zuo Yiyi
Gan Minglan continued to coax her son:
"Didn't you say that the black steamed buns the officials have been giving out these past few days are even worse than the ones in prison? Why don't you share some of your buns with your aunt?"

Fatty immediately shook his head like a rattle drum:
"Mom is still pregnant with my little sister. I'll save what I can't eat for her, and Mom will help her eat it!"

Gan Minglan: Although the child is young, one should still be able to discern the closeness or distance between relatives.

I was just about to praise him.

Fatty excitedly said:

"If there are no steamed buns, then let's give Auntie some salt water! It's salt water that Mom makes, it'll give her a boost."

Gan Minglan: This brat is a spendthrift!

My water bag, filled with high-quality salt water, is far more valuable than the black steamed buns the officials give out.

But I have to admit, Fatty's idea was better.

Sending this mother and child a bag of water every two or three days is much more discreet than lending them money or giving them steamed buns.

Fatty felt satisfied and continued to climb onto his mother's back.

Today they have completely left the territory of Daming Prefecture.

Heading from the plains towards the hilly terrain.

The official road also became rugged.

The same fifty li (approximately 25 kilometers) took a quarter longer to travel than before.

As night fell, they spent their first night out in the open on this trip.

In the desolate wilderness, the officials worried that someone might cause trouble.

The group then formed three circles, following the order in which they had walked.

They should not be allowed to gather as family units.

A fire was lit in the center of each circle for lighting and to ward off wild animals.

Men, women, young and old, no longer cared about their manners and sat down on the ground without getting up.

They couldn't replenish their food and water supplies until they reached a post station.

Those who have no surplus food are both tired and hungry at this time.

The officials, who had been frowning for days, finally smiled.

Their chance to skim profits has come again:

"Ten steamed buns for one tael of silver! A bucket of water for one tael of silver! We don't do small-scale business. You'd better find a good person to raise the silver yourselves before you come back."

These prices are the highest in the country!

It's still an exclusive business.

Someone muttered under their breath, "Half a string of cash can buy a stone of flour, how many steamed buns can that make?"

The spaces for steamed buns and mule carts are different.

One is a necessity of life, and the other is a luxury.

The outrageous price naturally drew criticism.

The officers glared angrily:

"You think it's too expensive? Then go hungry! None of us have ever walked this road before, who knows what tomorrow will bring? We've only brought a limited number of steamed buns!"

The message is clear: buy it or don't!

Those who can't stand the hunger will naturally spend money to fill their stomachs.

There are quite a few people with this ability.

They were worried that if the officials sold out the steamed buns, there wouldn't be any grain to distribute tomorrow.

Gan Minglan had no intention of being taken advantage of.

She filled her chubby son's stomach with a super-powered energy drink and stuffed a handful of fresh mulberries into his dinner.

The little guy only knew that the fruit was bought by his uncle.

Who would have thought that the fresh fruit hadn't spoiled even after being kept in the bundle for several days? That's quite unusual.

Anyway, his mother told him that from now on, whatever she gave him, he should just eat it quietly without making a fuss or asking any questions.

The answer was: "A talkative child gets nothing good to eat!" Gan Minglan managed to fill the little brat's stomach.

Just as she had made a nest for him on the ground with the clothes from her bundle, Madam She squeezed in front of him with Zuo Chixia.

The two men bowed to her solemnly:
“Auntie, I can’t thank you enough. Uncle Gan saved my life a few days ago, and you have saved me again today. If my son and I ever need anything in the future, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

Zuo Chixia patted her chest and assured him:
“Auntie, I have already memorized the Three Hundred Characters and the Thousand Character Classic. I can teach my little brother Jun to read in the future. I can also teach him when the little brother in your belly comes out.”

Gan Minglan quickly helped the mother and son to their feet:

"Sister-in-law, it's just a matter of a word and a sip of water, no need to be so polite! Xia'er is really amazing, from now on Auntie will be counting on you to teach Jun-di and the baby in Auntie's belly to read!"

Mrs. She was surprised by her response.

After carefully observing her expression, he asked hesitantly, "Auntie, are you... are you all better?"

Gan Minglan had to explain again: "Well, it was a blessing in disguise. I went to prison and even broke open some old blood clots."

Mrs. She clapped her hands and laughed, "That's wonderful, wonderful! They say good people are rewarded, and your whole family are good people, so you're sure to have great blessings."

“Sister-in-law, we are all blessed. No matter what, we must live well! I think your Xia’er is an extremely filial child. You will definitely enjoy his blessings in the future.”

"Yes, yes, I hope you'll take my good wishes. I also hope I can watch him grow up and find him a good wife."

Both of them had sons, so they could find common ground.

Afterwards, Gan Minglan said she would continue to send her salt water to drink.

The gratitude of the She mother and son goes without saying.

Fatty, however, was not in high spirits. He looked up at the sky and sighed, "I'm only four years old! My dad only started learning to be a duck at seven!"

His bitter and resentful little expression made the others both laugh and cry.

Zuo Chixia: "Jun-di, Uncle Wenkang is a scholar, and you are his own son!"

Fatty: "I'm also my mother's own son. After I turn five, I'll learn to slaughter pigs from my mother!"

The little guy really has some psychological aversion to reading.

Gan Minglan smiled and said to the stunned Zuo Chixia:
“Your younger brother Jun once saw his father shaking his head to recite a book, so he shook his head too for a while. In just a short time, he shook himself dizzy. After that, he would see a book as if it were an enemy.”

Everyone burst into laughter.

Zuo Chixia has no intention of giving up on her younger brother.

She even enthusiastically pulled the fat boy along, wanting to teach him to write his own name.

"Jun-di, your full name is Zuo Chijun, and the first two characters are the same as mine!"

By the light of the fire, Fatty watched his cousin write for quite a while before he finally finished writing his full name.

I glanced at the name on the ground.

He turned to Gan Minglan and said, "Mother, I don't want to be called by this name."

Gan Minglan asked impatiently, "So what name do you want?"

The little guy scratched his head in frustration, then turned to ask, "Brother Xia, of all the characters you've learned, which one is the easiest to write?"

Zuo Chixia thought carefully for a while before saying, "One, B, done."

Fatty urged, "Then write it down for me to see!"

After you can see clearly that the other person has written a character in one stroke.

Fatty's happiness returned, and he excitedly announced, "Let's name that nest 'Left One One'!"

Gan Minglan was amazed by his idea: "Perhaps you could ask your father; he might have some objections to this name."

The little guy said nonchalantly, "If Daddy doesn't agree, I'll call myself Zuo Yiyi!"

Zuo Chixia was dumbfounded. Could someone really change their own name?

And the changes were made so simply and casually!

He had one small question: "Why not call him Zuo Liao Liao?"

Fatty looked disgusted with the name:
"Liao Liao sounds like she needs to pee, this name doesn't sound good!"

A name that sounds bad, even if it's easy to write, is still unacceptable!
(End of this chapter)