Chapter 676: Dragon-Tiger-Phoenix Soup

The Fatty's wife, smelling the aroma as the Dragon-Tiger-Phoenix Soup was about to be ready, also climbed out of bed.

"You few really know how to eat, really know how to enjoy food; you've cooked all the good things into one pot."

"If you didn't cook it all in one pot, you'd only be able to drink the water used to rinse the pot."

She raised an eyebrow, and the Fatty immediately backed down, smiling as he quickly served her a bowl, "Come, come, look how thin you've gotten from being so busy lately; drink this to nourish yourself..."

Thin?

The four of them sized up the Fatty's wife from head to toe, top to bottom; her round figure was like a load-bearing beam—how could she be thin?

"Is this leopard cat good to eat?"

"You try it and see for yourself."

The Fatty's wife scooped a few times with a ladle, "The two children were crying over there just now, asking if we could not eat the kitty?"

"Can you listen to children? This is a wild beast, not a cat; how can it be raised? If we keep it, the dogs and chickens and ducks at home will all be bitten to death; one dog we caught from Dongzi's place has already been bitten."

Ye Yaodong interjected, "What's your son doing? Can't bear to kill the leopard cat?"

"When we were killing the leopard cat earlier, both of them were still awake, squatting there with snot and tears streaming down, begging me not to kill it, wanting me to keep it and raise it at home to catch mice."

Ah Guang laughed, "Whether it can catch mice, I don't know, but it can catch children; this kind of wild beast is very hard to tame; better to stew and eat it for nourishment!"

In an era where clothes and food were scarce, who would complain about having too much meat? Only a fool would release it; this is fragrant meat that can also nourish the body.

"Hurry up and eat while it's hot; after eating, divide the rest, and each person take a bit home; it's already late at night, so going back is perfect for sleeping and digesting."

"Eat, eat, eat, everyone eat more..."

Ye Yaodong, eating leopard cat for the first time, felt the meat was a bit tough and a bit old; other than that, did it feel much different from dog meat?

While they were slurping up the soup, a small yellow dog was darting back and forth at their feet, under the table, occasionally barking twice, "Woof, woof."

Because every bark was rewarded with a bone being thrown, it turned this way and that.

When they were eating until their bellies bulged and let out a satisfied burp, it also stretched out its long tongue to lick the corner of its mouth, looking completely satisfied; it must have eaten its fill and had a small nourishing meal too.

Right at Ye Yaodong's feet, he casually patted the small yellow dog's head, "You made a big profit today."

The small yellow dog lifted its head, stretched out its long tongue to lick his palm, which was wet and slippery; he then wiped his hand on its body.

"Full and happy, go home!"

Each of them packed a bowl; afraid the soup would spill while riding bicycles, they left the bikes at the Fatty's house and walked back slowly under the moonlight on their own two legs.

Lin Lin Xiuqing had already gone to sleep, but not deeply; when the door opened, she immediately woke up.

When Ye Yaodong turned on the light, she also came out wearing her outer jacket.

"Why are you back so late? Luckily I didn't leave the light on waiting for you; there's still rice in the pot keeping warm, but it's probably cold now; I'll heat it up for you again..."

"No need to bother; I'm already full and happy; come quickly and drink the soup to nourish yourself."

Lin Lin Xiuqing looked at it curiously, "It smells like herbs; is this the Ten-All-Nourishing Soup you usually eat?"

"Hehe, lucky us; our Ten-All-Nourishing Soup today has an extra ingredient; there's leopard cat inside too; hurry up and eat while it's hot; it's not too hot now, just right to eat."

"Leopard cat? What is that?"

"A kind of wild beast and wild game; just eat it, don't ask so many questions."

"Such a big bowl, how can I finish it? Just pack a small bowl; for the rest, let the old lady heat it up and eat it tomorrow."

"Mm, you handle it; I'm going to sleep; I'm exhausted; I haven't slept all day."

"You went out all afternoon and only came back now; what were you busy with? Catching snakes until past 12 o'clock at night?"

"Hehe..." Ye Yaodong smiled sneakily and shared with her what good deeds he had done that night.

Hearing this, Lin Lin Xiuqing was surprised.

"So there's still a snake in their house?"

"Exactly!"

"Then how can they sleep at night?"

"I don't know; it's none of my business."

"200 yuan is gone; there's probably more trouble tomorrow."

Ye Yaodong snorted disdainfully, "Who knows if it's truly gone or just pretending? A thief crying thief, cursing themselves for a bit of money without any bottom line, isn't unheard of."

Lin Lin Xiuqing disagreed, "That shouldn't be the case; who would be so cruel to curse and swear and revile themselves? If they were truly a thief crying thief, a little acting would suffice."

"Don't worry about them; you eat yours; just listen to the fun tomorrow."

"Mm, then you go sleep first; you got up before 12 o'clock last night to catch a thief, didn't sleep for a few hours, then traveled all day, came back from the city and went to catch snakes again, staying awake until now for a whole day and night; hurry up and sleep."

"Okay."

Ye Yaodong truly felt tired; a whole day and night without closing his eyes, sustained only by excitement; after eating and drinking his fill just now, he was already extremely sleepy; luckily his body was young and could endure it.

As soon as he returned to the room, he tucked the child's blanket, kissed her pink tender cheeks, lay down beside her, and as soon as his head touched the pillow, he immediately fell asleep and even started snoring.

Ye Ye Xiaoxi seemed to find her father a bit noisy; she frowned, twisted around, kicked off the blanket that had just been tucked in, and threw her little fist to the side.

Ye Yaodong slept deeply, feeling nothing at all.

The next day, the sun hung high in the sky; the glaring light shone through the window from outside; uncomfortably, he rolled over, pulled the blanket over his head to wrap himself up, and continued sleeping.

Not knowing how long he slept again, until the talking outside grew louder and louder, he vaguely pulled the blanket off his head and looked out the window.

What is so noisy outside?

He perked up his ears and listened carefully; the more he listened, the more awake he became.

It turned out that Wang Wang Lizhen's husband's family and her own family were fighting over 200 yuan; Old Wang, tormented by the snake all night without sleep, was so angry that he pushed his in-laws, causing his waist to hit the edge of the dining table, spraining it, and took the opportunity to beat them up...

Wang Wang Lizhen's man, lying in bed upon hearing this, also went over; then, on the way, because the dirt road was slippery going uphill, he rolled down the slope, hit the back of his head on a rock, bled all over the ground, no one knew, and he died.

Hearing the outside conversation growing louder and louder, Ye Yaodong sat up directly.

In his past life, he didn't know which year this man died, but he remembered it wasn't this soon, because his Second Uncle's wife cursed him every other day, saying he still wouldn't die...

Who would have thought 200 yuan would become his death warrant!

Good thing Brother Brother Asheng paid up early and cut things off with that woman in one stroke. Now that the man's dead, he doesn't have to take her back either—peace at home!

Spending 200 yuan to buy peace for the rest of his life is worth it, especially since that woman never bore him a son afterward.

Most importantly, the 200 yuan didn't end up in any of their pockets, yet it made them kick up a tremendous fuss.

Hahahaha, that little thief did a beautiful job yesterday.

Ye Yaodong slept beautifully and woke up to another story, swept clean of fatigue. Refreshed, he got out of bed and got dressed.

He picked up the watch he'd taken off on the table and put it on, glancing at the time. It was already nearly ten o'clock—no wonder the neighbors on both sides had gathered to chat about gossip.

He went out and saw the women had indeed brought their vegetable baskets and sat at the doors of his eldest brother's and second brother's houses, picking vegetables while chatting. Lin Lin Xiuqing was also there with the two sisters-in-law, digging open the pickled vegetables.

The old lady stood beside him, a string of prayer beads in her hand, rolling them nonstop. "Lunch is coming up soon, and I didn't know you'd slept so long. The porridge in the pot has gone cold. Let me reheat it for you, or I could heat up the soup you brought back yesterday—eating that would be fine too…"

"There's soup left?"

"Yes, yes, I'll go heat it up for you."

The old lady wound the prayer beads twice around her wrist before walking to the table. She lifted the bamboo-strip cover and carried a small half-bowl of soup to the stove.

"You haven't eaten?"

"No. At my age, what's there to replenish? Your father drank a small bowl this morning too, and there are still two pieces of meat and a bit of soup left. I'll heat it up for you—just eat it up."

Ye Yaodong frowned as he looked at the two lonely little pieces of meat at the bottom of the bowl—having to give way over such a tiny amount?

"I won't eat it. I ate a lot last night; if I eat more I'll get a nosebleed. Heat it up and eat it yourself. I'll just have the porridge."

"It's just a little…"

"It's just a little, so just eat it."

"Then save it and give it to your mother tonight."

Ye Yaodong looked at her, caught between tears and laughter, as she carried the bowl back to the table. He said nothing more—let her eat it or not, as she pleased.

After he finished his porridge, the chatter at the neighbors' door was still going strong.

He pushed out the bicycle Fatty had delivered that morning and called out to Lin Lin Xiuqing, "Don't cook lunch for me, I just ate."

"Where are you going? It's almost mealtime…"

"I'm going to the county town, won't be back for lunch."

Lin Lin Xiuqing had wanted to ask him what he was going to the county town for, but the words circled on the tip of her tongue and she swallowed them back. She figured he must be going to the shipyard.

A few days ago he'd told his father he'd find time to visit the shipyard, but he could never get away. Now that he said he was going to the county town, he must be heading to the shipyard.

Ye Yaodong paid no attention to anyone else's reactions, swung onto the bicycle, and rode off.

"Hey, what's Ah Dong going to the county town for?" Ye Ye Dasao asked curiously.

Lin Lin Xiuqing gave a slight smile. "I don't know either. I didn't get a chance to ask him before he hopped on the bicycle and took off. Busier than anyone all day long—never even catch a glimpse of him, can't even see him at meals or bedtime."

"As long as he can earn money, what does it matter? Who cares where he goes? So long as he can earn money, that's fine. If he weren't earning, just lounging around the house all day, I'd find it annoying too."

"True. As long as he brings money home, who cares where he goes."

"That won't do. Men go bad once they have money. You have to keep a close eye on them—keep a close eye. Can't just leave them be without asking."

Lin Lin Xiuqing nodded and chuckled. "Sister-in-law speaks sense."

Ye Yaodong rode his bicycle through the village, still able to hear the freshly baked, piping-hot gossip of the day. Many people were saying Ye Yaosheng had called off that engagement just in time.