A ragged cub at the beginning

The next day, Dong Wanwan went to buy meat early. She wanted to try the recipe at home first and get the best taste before setting up the stall. Fang Yuanqin went to order a large ceramic pot and some oil paper for wrapping the braised meat. The car could be used by Tang Xu before, and there was no need to order another one.

When the time comes, you can braise the meat at home and put it in a clay pot, and push it or set up a stall or shout along the road. You should also bring a cutting board and a kitchen knife on the car. If there are customers who need to cut, you can help cut.

So for the next two days, they had braised meat every day. Tang Xu was tired of it, and Tang Ling refused when she heard about it. But her wounds had not healed yet, so how could she not eat? Tang Xu could only cook a separate dish for her.

The medicine was painful, but it was very effective. With Tang Xu's help, Tang Ling's wounds no longer tore repeatedly, and now they were all closed and scabbed. I believe they will be healed soon.

Tang Ling opened the window. There was a damp smell in the air, as if it was going to rain. The sound of children chattering could be heard in the yard. It seemed that Fang Zijun had dug up a small stone in the soil. Several children were amazed and said that the stone was really beautiful. Tang Ling leaned against the window frame and felt a sense of peace and stability. The sound of children playing and shouting would not make people feel irritated, but more peaceful. Does her sister like this kind of life? She seems to like it too, very comfortable.

Fang Yuanqin packed up his load, said hello to Dong Wanwan and went out. He first bought a few steamed buns and some vegetables. He went to the small courtyard that Tang Xu had told him to stay in, knocked on the door, put the steamed buns and vegetables at the door and left.

In the yard, four girls pushed each other, and finally pushed out a slightly older girl. Her name was Qi Qing, and she was one of the girls Tang Ling rescued. She was the oldest, but she was only sixteen years old this year. She covered her face, sneakily opened the door, quickly took the things in, and locked the door.

"Xiaoye, is there anything to eat?" Lu Xiaoye asked. She had a round baby face and a pair of dimples when she smiled. However, there were a few faint pinch marks on her neck, which looked a bit scary.

"There are steamed buns." Qi Qing put the steamed buns on the table, and Lu Xiaoye came over, picked them up and ate them.

Wang Yun was a girl who looked weak and frail. "It's been several days, and the girl hasn't shown up. We don't know where Zaozao and Xiaoyu were taken by her. What should we do?"

Lu Xiaoye chewed a steamed bun and said vaguely: "Didn't you say to send them to the embroidery building? They can do embroidery and are more useful than us."

"Xiaohong, don't you want to eat?" Qi Qing looked at Wang Xiaohong and handed her a steamed bun.

Wang Xiaohong sat by the window, her chin resting on her hand, her sleeves slipping down to reveal the bright red marks on her wrists. When she heard the question, she shook her head and refused.

"Eat something." Qi Qing looked at her thin face and frowned, "Could it be that you have forgotten what that girl said?"

Wang Xiaohong raised her lips when she heard this. Before she could say anything, she heard Wang Yun say, "That girl is too cruel. She wants to humiliate us even after her death." As she spoke, she wiped away tears. She looked pitiful, biting her lips, but she was the one who was injured the most and the most seriously among the four.

Hearing this, Lu Xiaoye frowned and looked bitter, and stopped eating the steamed bun.

Wang Xiaohong suddenly spoke. She had barely eaten in the past few days and spoke very little. Her voice was a little hoarse. "The girl is just afraid that we will commit suicide. Her kindness is taken for granted. If you want to die, go ahead. I promise she won't hang you."

Wang Yun was stunned, and suddenly covered her face and cried, "Who asked her to care? My parents don't care about me."

Lu Xiaoye and Qi Qing were stunned. When they heard the words "father and mother", they lost interest in eating.

The room was extremely quiet for a while, with only Wang Yun's sobbing as the only sound. She had gone back home the day she was rescued, but her father kicked her out, saying that they couldn't have a girl who had been abused by others in the family, and that it would be embarrassing for the family. She came back crying, knowing that someone had been left behind after returning home, and she hid in her quilt and cried all night.

No one paid attention to what happened in this small courtyard, but the fragrance from Dong Wanwan's house finally made the neighbors in the alley unable to sit still. Every day, what kind of family is eating meat all the time. The children at home are clamoring to eat this meat.

Mrs. Zhang couldn't stand her grandson rolling on the ground any more, so she picked him up and went to Fang's house with the bowl. She met several other neighbors with their children and bowls, and they looked at each other and turned their heads away in embarrassment.

Dong Wanwan opened the door and saw a group of people standing outside. She was surprised and said, "What's going on? Everyone is here."

"What wind are you talking about? The aroma of your meat is almost filling the alley with fragrance." Mrs. Zhang said with a smile.

"My child is almost going crazy because of his greed. Look at his saliva. He can't even change his clothes." Another woman joked and pushed her son who was sucking his fingers out.

Several people chatted with each other, and finally asked what kind of meat was being cooked, and whether it could be shared a little so that they could buy some for their children to satisfy their cravings.

Dong Wanwan was delighted and immediately thought this was an opportunity to introduce her own stewed food. She invited everyone in and explained, "I am preparing to start a small business. I have been researching food and seasoning it these days. It will be ready soon. I will serve you a little later. Please help taste it and see how it tastes." To be honest, Dong Wanwan was tired of eating meat these days. She had lived for so many years and had always been craving meat. She ate it every day and couldn't say she was tired of it, for fear that people would think she was arrogant.

Several children had already crowded into the kitchen. After smelling it for a while, they came out and asked the adults at home to eat it and asked them to give them money to buy it.

Seeing their mouths watering with greed, Dong Wanwan lifted the lid of the pot and took a look. She felt that it was almost done. She picked out a large piece of pork head, cut it with a knife, and each child took a piece.

"Mmm, it's delicious! I want more! I want more! Grandma! Buy it!"

"I want it too, I want it too! Mom! I want to eat it! I want to eat it! Buy it!"

Several children rushed to shout, as if they were afraid that they would not get any food if they spoke too slowly or too softly. Their voices were louder than each other, and the adults closed their eyes in pain.

"Eat, eat, eat. Stop yelling. My head is going to explode. Ouch, what an ancestor." Mrs. Zhang rubbed her forehead. "Wanwan, how do you sell this?"

Dong Wanwan and the others had discussed the price. Fang Yuanqin found a familiar butcher. If the quantity was large and stable, the price of pork belly was 12 wen per jin, the price of pig head varied from 40 to 60 wen depending on the size, and the price of pig trotter was 15 wen each. The price of braised pork belly was 22 wen per jin, pig head meat was 12 wen per jin, pig ears were 15 wen, and pig trotters were sold individually at 30 wen each. The price was not cheap, but it was time-consuming and laborious.

Dong Wanwan quoted the price she had prepared. Except for Mrs. Zhang, everyone else was hesitant. One person even dragged her child out. Seeing this, she quickly said, "We are all neighbors. I haven't officially sold it to you yet. I'll give you a lower price. If you don't want a full pound, I'll sell you half a pound."

"I'd like a pound of pork belly and a pig's trotter." Mrs. Zhang's son runs a grocery store, and the family lives a relatively comfortable life. Even though her grandson is crying with greed, she is not stingy.

"Okay." Dong Wanwan smiled and took the scale, which was newly bought by Fang Yuanqin. She put a piece of oil paper under the scale before putting the meat on the scale. One catty, she showed it to Mrs. Zhang, the tail of the scale was slightly tilted, it was exactly one catty.

"Okay!" Mrs. Zhang paid the money readily.

"Have I cut it for you? I can also cut the pig's trotter into small pieces for you." Dong Wanwan asked.

"No need, I can cut it myself when I get home." Mrs. Zhang said.

Dong Wanwan cut some more and let them all taste it before buying.

Mrs. Zhang took two pieces from Dong Wanwan's bowl and stuffed them into her mouth. Yes, they were delicious. She stuffed two more pieces into her grandson's mouth. Feeling that she had gotten a small advantage, she left with her grandson contentedly.

After tasting it, the others gritted their teeth and bought it. They had to buy it, or else the kids wouldn't be able to leave today.

After finishing all these, Dong Wanwan counted the money happily. Seeing that it was time for lunch, she cooked two more dishes, left some for Tang Xu, and took care of the children while they ate.

She also wrapped some braised pork rice balls, which was also taught by Tang Xu. After wrapping the rice balls in oil paper, Zhao Yunniang stuffed them into her arms and slipped back home. Mrs. Zhao was eating her own meal in the kitchen. When she saw Zhao Yunniang coming back, she rolled her eyes and said, "I didn't cook for you! You don't do any work, but come back at mealtime..."

Zhao Yunniang pretended not to hear and went into her parents' room and locked the door.

"Yun Niang, you're back." Yu Xiaotao is now well and is sitting by the bed sewing clothes for her little daughter. Seeing her eldest daughter coming back, she quickly came over and said, "Have you eaten? I'll make it for you."

Zhao Yunniang glanced at the door and whispered, "Mom, I've eaten. You should eat quickly." She took out the oil-paper bag from her arms, happily stuffed it into her mother's hand, and urged her.

"Why did you bring food back again? Who gave it to you?" Yu Xiaotao frowned. As soon as she opened the paper package, she could smell the aroma of meat. "Meat again! Yunniang, didn't mother tell you not to take it again? Now that mother can move, she can cook for herself."

Zhao Yunniang pouted, "It was given by Aunt Wan, and grandma didn't let you enter the kitchen, so how can you cook..."

Yu Xiaotao's eyes were red, and she choked up and said, "But how can we afford it?"

Zhao Yunniang moved her mouth and tears fell, "But, but what if Mom dies? I'm so scared, without Mom, what will happen to my sister and me? What about Dad?" She didn't dare cry loudly, for fear that her grandmother would hear her and scold her mother again. She just opened her mouth and cried silently.

Yu Xiaotao covered her mouth with one hand and hugged Yunniang with the other hand, "I'm sorry, it's my fault..."

"mother……"

The mother and daughter hugged each other and cried for a while. Zhao Yunniang looked at the rice ball and asked with sobs, "Mom, should we still eat?"

"Eat!" Yu Xiaotao wiped her face and smiled as she split the rice ball in half. "You eat too."

Zhao Yunniang shook her head and said, "I'm so full."

"Then eat it."

After dinner, Mrs. Zhao smelled something in the house, the smell of meat again. She swallowed her saliva, pointed at the Fang family and cursed: "You bitch, you eat meat all day long! You are afraid that others don't know you eat meat! The whole alley is filled with this smell! Bah! How can a peddler who sells junk stand your eating? Haven't you eaten meat before? You eat it every day! Sooner or later, I will divorce you..."

"Yunniang, hurry up, go, while grandma is scolding and has no time to deal with you." Yu Xiaotao pushed her daughter. It's not that she didn't want her daughter to stay at home. It's just that when Yunniang is at home, her mother-in-law insists on ordering her to do some work. She does it, but she can't say a single good word, and scolds in a roundabout way. It's better to stay outside, so that she won't be tortured and become tempered at such a young age.

At lunch time, Tang Xu asked Dong Wanwan to look after the shop while he went to deliver the paintings to the Zhou family. She shouldn't have come at this time, but she was really busy. After leaving the things at the doorman and giving a few instructions, she took a detour to Xiaoping Lane. She knocked on the door and shouted, "It's me, open the door." She wanted to call the name of the person inside, but found that she didn't ask. She said her own name. She didn't introduce herself at the beginning, so she could only say "it's me".

No one wanted to open the door when they heard the knock. But when they heard someone outside, Wang Xiaohong stood up first and walked to the door. Sure enough, it was the girl who saved them.

"Good afternoon, have you had lunch?" Tang Xu walked in and looked around, "Is there anything I need?"

"Miss, what are you going to do with us?" Qi Qing recognized her and mustered up the courage to step forward and ask.

"If you have any ideas, you can tell me. I will save people to the end and send Buddha to the west." Tang Xu asked back.

Now no one spoke.

Tang Xu introduced himself first. "My name is Tang Xu. I have a shop on Guixiang Street. I may need a clerk. Is there anyone willing?"

"What kind of shop is it? What does it do?" Wang Yun asked.

"Our painting shop needs to entertain customers. Does anyone here know how to write?" Tang Xu asked.

Qi Qing stepped forward, "I can write, but I..." She wanted to say that she was a girl and it was not suitable for her to be in the limelight, but when she thought about how she was already... what did it matter? She smiled bitterly, "I am willing to go."

"Okay, tomorrow..." She glanced at the marks on her neck. It wasn't just her. She found that every girl had marks on their necks. The marks of strangulation and pinching were enough to prove that Zhu Tou was a mentally ill pervert. "Did you put medicine on your necks?"

All four of them shook their heads.

"Tomorrow, I'll ask Brother-in-law Fang to bring you medicine. When you're healed, come find me on Guixiang Street. My shop is called Keep the Moment." Tang Xu said.

"Thank you Miss Tang." Qi Qing knelt down and saluted. She didn't look like a girl from an ordinary family. Tang Xu looked at her twice, but didn't ask her about her affairs. It's not that she wasn't curious, but everyone had their own sufferings, and she was not good at comforting people.

"What about us?" Lu Xiaoye asked nervously.

"Can you cook?" Tang Xu asked.

"Yes." Lu Xiaoye said.

Wang Xiaohong and Wang Yun also nodded.

"I've found a job for you. My sister is going to sell some food and teach you then. I'll pay you wages every month. I'll rent this yard for you first. After you get paid, you can continue to share the rent or live separately. It's up to you. When you make money, you can decide what to eat and what to buy."

"Thank you, Miss Tang." Qi Qing was extremely grateful. A stranger had already done her best to help them to this point.

The other three also thanked him, feeling relieved. It was better to have something to do than to be locked up in this yard all day. When they heard that there was money to be made, they couldn't help but feel a little excited.

Tang Xu had been secretly observing their expressions, and saw that they were just a little sad, without the previous dead air, "Then let's talk about it after your injuries are healed. If there is anything you need, tell me now."

"I, I want a comb." Wang Yun blushed. They didn't have a comb, so they just combed their hair with their hands these days.

"Okay, four combs. Are there any more?" Tang Xu continued to ask.

"I need a basin to wash up." Qi Qing said.

"Four basins."

"I don't have shoes. Although I can't embroider, I can make clothes and shoes. Can you buy some cloth and needles and thread so I can make them myself?" Lu Xiaoye showed her bare, black feet.

"it is good."

Wang Xiaohong didn't want anything, they told her what they were missing. Miss Tang said they wanted four of the same. She couldn't help but look at her again. How could someone be so nice to a few strangers?

"That's all, right? I have something to do this afternoon, so I'll leave first. My sister will come tomorrow, so you can open the door then." Tang Xu waved his hand, walked to the door and stopped, looking back, "People should live for themselves, their bodies are their own, their hearts are their own, we should like ourselves first and make ourselves happy. Others are just passers-by, if you don't like to hear them, just treat them as dogs barking. When you make money in the future, if you want to get married, you can get married, if you don't want to get married, you four can live together and take care of each other. You don't have to give birth to children and take care of the elderly, and the men and women of the whole family do the laundry and cooking. Isn't that happy?"

After saying that, she left.