I'll Raise Pigs to Support You - Chapter 36
With the experience from the last pig slaughter, Song Yugui’s knife work was precise this time, dividing the pork perfectly.
Shen Xizhi, unable to sleep amid the noise outside, quietly got up and boiled a pot of hot water in the main room. Just as she was about to step out and ask if her wife needed anything, she overheard a few women whispering among themselves, discussing whether Song Yugui had truly changed.
Displeased, Shen Xizhi thought, Of course she’s changed. My wife only has eyes for me now.
Hmph.
“Aunties, would you like to come in and sit?”
The two women, startled by Shen Xizhi’s sudden greeting, turned around awkwardly. Seeing it was Song Yugui’s wife, they forced smiles. “Ah, no need, no need. We’ll just wait out here.”
Shen Xizhi smiled faintly and waited with them.
The pig was soon divided into various cuts, some still steaming, and the bl00d was collected in a large basin—all of it could be sold for money.
Noticing bl00d splattered on her wife’s face, Shen Xizhi couldn’t help but push through the crowd and wipe it off with a handkerchief.
“I’ve boiled hot water. Do you need it now?”
“Uh, keep it for now. I’ll wash up later. The bristles have already been scalded off.”
The boiling water for removing the bristles had already been prepared.
Though she couldn’t cook, boiling water was child’s play.
“Oh, why didn’t you call me?”
Shen Xizhi caught the implication and pouted, her watery eyes fixed on her wife, looking utterly spoiled.
Song Yugui smiled helplessly. “I wanted to let you sleep a little longer.”
Shen Xizhi was about to whine further when she noticed multiple pairs of eyes staring at them. Only then did she remember the courtyard was packed with people. Her face flushed instantly, redder than the evening sky.
How could she act so coquettishly in front of so many people? They’d surely laugh at her!
The redness spread from her cheeks to her ears, now tinged pink.
Flustered, she lowered her gaze, her eyes darting everywhere but at Song Yugui. “I-I’ll wait for you over there.”
“Mm. You can collect the money.”
Seeing her wife shrink back adorably, Song Yugui resisted the urge to pat her head—her hands were still filthy. She’d do it after washing up.
The onlookers, noticing the young girl’s shyness and Song Yugui’s glance, stopped staring and turned their attention elsewhere.
“Niece Yugui, how much for the pork? We’re all waiting. You can chat with your wife anytime, but we need to buy meat and get back to our families!”
A burly middle-aged man called out good-naturedly.
The Song Village was originally one big family, and relations were generally good. Now that Song Yugui had stopped her reckless ways and settled down as an honest butcher, attitudes toward her had softened. Though some women still distrusted her and stayed away, wary of her flirtatious past.
Song Yugui apologized to the uncle with a smile, then announced loudly, “Pork in town sells for thirty-five coppers per catty. Village pork goes for twenty-five. Since this is our own, I’ll knock off another five—twenty coppers per catty!”
This price was already a bargain in the village, just like her slaughtering services—cheap and reliable.
The crowd, pleased with the deal, began offering unsolicited advice, urging Song Yugui to stay on the straight and narrow.
Embarrassed, Song Yugui repeated her reformed speech and quickly redirected everyone to the pork.
Aunt Li arrived early and was given first pick. Seeing she chose the marbled belly cut, Song Yugui set aside an extra piece for her.
Aunt Li, ever the hype-woman, raved about the quality of the meat to the crowd, praising its lean-to-fat ratio so effusively that Song Yugui grew sheepish.
Most had come intending to buy, and with the five-copper discount, they eagerly selected their cuts.
“Give me a rack of ribs.”
“Me too! I’ll take the spare ribs—can you make it cheaper?”
Spare ribs had more bone and less meat, so Song Yugui sold them for fifteen coppers per catty. The woman bought a catty and left.
Though many came, some were just there to see if Song Yugui had truly changed. Since their New Year’s supplies were already stocked, they didn’t buy.
Typically, selling pork in the village left a lot unsold—most villagers were too poor to buy much, just enough for a taste of meat. But today, the leftovers were bought out by a town tavern.
The tavern’s manager, Lanxiang, had promised to patronize Song Yugui’s butchering, and when Shen Cui mentioned it, she sent her kitchen staff to haul away over a hundred catties.
Of the original 220 catties, aside from the forty catties of front leg, four catties of liver, two catties of ribs, and four catties of belly Song Yugui kept, only half a basin of bl00d remained unsold—everything else was gone.
A satisfying result.
As the crowd dispersed, Song Yugui tied up a piece of belly pork and handed it to Shen Xizhi.
“Aunt Li has looked after you. Take this to her.”
Not to mention the taro Aunt Li had given them recently, it was only right to return the favor.
Shen Xizhi obeyed, delivering the meat to Aunt Li’s house.
The aunt refused at first but couldn’t decline the earnest gift. In the end, she accepted and sent Shen Xizhi back with some vegetables.
By the time Shen Xizhi returned, Song Yugui was bathing. She washed the remaining pork, stored it, and fed the chickens with grain from the house.
Upon closer inspection, the chickens were almost old enough to lay eggs.
With so many happy things piling up, Shen Xizhi hummed a tune as she walked, her eyes crinkling with joy. After feeding the chickens, she took out several heavy pouches and went inside to count the money.
When Song Yugui finished bathing, her wife was nowhere in sight. Entering their bedroom, she found the girl sprawled on the bed, her cute bottom in the air as she counted coins.
“How much? Finished counting?”
Hearing her wife’s voice, Shen Xizhi paused, her lips curling into a smile. “Sister Yugui.”
She spread her arms, her voice sweet and soft. “Hug~”
She adored hugs, and with her delicate, pitiable appearance, how could Song Yugui refuse? She hurried over and enveloped her in her arms.
Shen Xizhi nuzzled against Song Yugui’s neck, the familiar warmth and scent calming her restless heart.
“Sister Yugui, you earned so much today.”
“Oh? How much?”
But at this question, Shen Xizhi froze, then gasped. “Ah!”
She pushed Song Yugui away, her delicate face scrunched in complaints. “It’s your fault! I forgot where I was in the count.”
Song Yugui: “…”
Well, that’s on me.
“Keep counting then. I’ll take the sow to mate.”
They had two sows at home. Village sows were typically taken to specialized boar breeders for mating. Song Yugui had inquired earlier and settled on a price—thirty coppers per session. Today was the day.
Shen Xizhi, preoccupied with counting, showed no reluctance, resuming her position on the bed. “Go ahead, Sister Yugui.”
Once Song Yugui left, she focused on the coins.
So much money!!!
Shen Xizhi had never seen so many coins before. And her wife trusted her enough to let her count it alone—this trust filled her with joy.
Song Yugui drove the sow to the breeder’s farm, left it there for the day, paid the fee, and returned.
At home, Shen Xizhi had neatly bagged the coins and set them on the table, waiting obediently.
A pot of meat simmered on the stove, the rich aroma wafting through the air—leftover pork from earlier.
The winter chill preserved meat well, freezing it quickly if left outside.
The moment Song Yugui stepped inside, the meaty fragrance nearly overwhelmed her. My wife is the best—beautiful and a great cook.
This was the last half-catty of meat, to be finished today. Thankfully, they’d just slaughtered a pig, so there was plenty more.
“Finished counting?”
Song Yugui softened at the sight of her primly seated wife, her face thawing from the cold.
Shen Xizhi nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling. “Mm! Two thousand nine hundred and twenty coppers.”
“That much?”
Song Yugui was stunned. No wonder ancient households raised pigs—the profits were substantial, though the labor was grueling.
“Your prices were low, so almost everything sold.”
Adding the remaining one hundred and seventy coppers she’d been hoarding, the total was three thousand and ninety coppers.
If butchering was this profitable, why didn’t the original host do it? Song Yugui lamented having to start from scratch.
Shen Xizhi packed the coins into three old pouches, each bulging and heavy.
Song Yugui hesitated, then sat down to discuss selling pork in town after the New Year.
Shen Xizhi’s eyes lit up. She had no objections. Unlike working at a tavern, selling pork wouldn’t exclude her—bringing family to help at the stall was common.
She could go too, right? Right?
Blushing, she glanced at Song Yugui and nodded demurely. “You decide. I’ll follow your lead in household matters.”
So obedient.
Song Yugui mentally scolded the original host again.
“But… can we still use the old suppliers?”
Most butchers sourced pork from farms rather than raising their own. Earlier, while arranging the sow’s mating, Song Yugui had negotiated a supply at twenty-eight coppers per catty. Selling in town at thirty-five meant a profit of seven coppers per catty—a fair margin, given the labor and risks of raising pigs.
Villagers had limited purchasing power, so selling locally risked spoilage.
She dreamed of starting her own pig farm, but with only two pigs at home (now one), it’d take forever.
“Sigh.”
The thought made her sigh.
Shen Xizhi tensed, biting her lip nervously. “What’s wrong? Do we… need new suppliers?”
Song Yugui shook her head. “No, that’s settled. I’m just worried about other things—like whether we can handle more pigs.”
Seeing her wife’s genuine concern, Shen Xizhi pursed her lips, determined to contribute. “We can manage. I’ll gather more fodder.”
She could make multiple trips daily to fatten the pigs.
Eager to share the burden, Shen Xizhi hated being idle at home.
So sweet.
Song Yugui ruffled her hair.
“Good. We’ll raise more when we can.”
The earnings from today’s sale would fund post-New Year stock, so Song Yugui stored it all away.
Dinner was taro stew again—Shen Xizhi noticed her wife’s fondness for it and recreated the dish, though with less meat this time.
As the stew simmered, Shen Xizhi started an egg drop soup in another pot. The warm broth would ward off the winter chill.
At the table, Shen Xizhi sipped her soup and broached another topic. “The chickens are grown.”
“Should we get more?”
A single chicken laid only one egg a day, no matter how well fed. Half an egg per person wasn’t enough—better to have more, so each could have a whole one.
Song Yugui nodded indifferently. “Up to you. If you want, we’ll pick up chicks at the market after the New Year.”
Minor decisions like this didn’t faze her. Right now, the stew was delicious—she needed another bowl!
The New Year period was the village’s most relaxed time. The next day, after retrieving the mated sow, Song Yugui settled in for the Spring Festival.
Tonight was New Year’s Eve, and the village would be lively. If necessary, she’d stay up all night to join the festivities.
As her first ancient New Year, it warranted more celebration, but the original host’s poverty meant tightening belts. Thankfully, with meat and neighbors’ gifts, it wasn’t too bleak.
That evening, Song Yugui remembered the two bundles of firewood gifted by the male lead, Song Xingchuan. Without them, winter would’ve been harsher, forcing trips into the cold mountains for fuel.
Not one to owe favors, she cut a few fatty-lean pounds from the front leg and delivered it to Song Xingchuan’s house amid the village’s revelry.
Song Xingchuan lived with his mother, the novel’s antagonist who disparaged Shen Xizhi for “seducing” her son.
The thought soured Song Yugui’s mood. How dare she call my wife shameless? Her son’s no saint—he’s the one who led the innocent widow astray!
Song Xingchuan seduced her! He’s the disgrace!
Recalling the plot fueled her anger. Returning the favor with pork severed ties—no further interactions.
Madam Shen, Song Xingchuan’s mother, answered the door, surprised to see Song Yugui.
“Niece Yugui? What brings you here?”
She ignored Shen Xizhi behind her. Older generations disapproved of same-s3x relationships.
Song Yugui’s polite smile faded slightly. “My cousin kindly gathered firewood for me. Since we slaughtered a pig yesterday, I brought some for you to try.”
Madam Shen understood—this was thanks for her son’s help.
“As cousins, it’s his duty. No need for gifts.”
“Please take it. Otherwise, I’d hesitate to ask for his help again.”
Her tone was light, but she’d never seek Song Xingchuan’s aid again—she wanted nothing to do with the main plot.
Madam Shen reluctantly accepted.
Song Yugui reached back. “Wife, the meat.”
Shen Xizhi obediently handed over the tied pork.
Song Yugui, feigning enthusiasm, passed it to Madam Shen.
The term “wife” forced Madam Shen to acknowledge Shen Xizhi. “This must be your wife. Quite lovely.”
Obviously.
Song Yugui preened.
Shen Xizhi hid shyly behind her, blushing at the praise.
“Yes, my wife. She’s shy around strangers.”
“Women are often reserved. It’s natural.”
Song Yugui agreed but had no interest in small talk. “We’ll take our leave. Wishing you… a happy New Year in advance.”
Unsure how to address Madam Shen, she improvised, relieved when no offense was taken.
Walking home, Shen Xizhi lingered on “my wife,” cherishing the phrase.
Suddenly, a strong tug pulled her forward. Steadying herself against Song Yugui, she blinked up in confusion. “Sister Yugui, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. You seemed lost in thought back there, so I pulled you closer to ask.”
Shen Xizhi’s face burned—her earlier musings were too embarrassing to share. “N-Nothing! I wasn’t thinking anything!”
Song Yugui smirked but didn’t press. Instead, she ruffled Shen Xizhi’s hair. “Alright, let’s go home.”
“Mm!”
Home—another word Shen Xizhi adored, reinforcing their bond.
Behind them, a voice called, “Cousin!”
Song Yugui grimaced, quickening her pace.
Shen Xizhi, too wrapped up in her happiness, didn’t recognize Song Xingchuan’s voice and followed her wife home without a glance back.
Another successful stroll.
That night, Song Yugui collapsed onto the bed, exhausted. Shen Xizhi boiled water and soon called her to bathe.
If not for the New Year, she’d skip—undressing in the cold was torture. But her wife would pester her relentlessly, so she complied.
“Coming.”
By the time Song Yugui painstakingly dried her hair by the stove’s residual heat, Shen Xizhi was already in bed, naked beneath the covers.
Her shy, alluring gaze and slender arms peeking out from the quilt were a breathtaking sight.
Yet Song Yugui frowned, tucking the exposed arms back in. “What are you doing? You’ll catch a chill.”
Shen Xizhi’s face fell, glaring at her oblivious wife.
How can someone be this dense? After all this time, can’t she tell what I want?
Where’s the passion between women?
Huh?
Get to it!
Unaware of her wife’s frustration, Song Yugui climbed in, pulling Shen Xizhi close and instinctively cupping a soft br3ast.
Shen Xizhi flushed, her eyes watering as she glared at her clueless wife before burying her face in Song Yugui’s chest to sleep.
Fireworks lit the town sky—expensive luxuries villagers rarely bought, but the distant bursts and cheers were audible.
It was New Year’s Eve, so complaints were pointless. Noticing Shen Xizhi burrowing into her, Song Yugui covered her ears, hoping to muffle the noise for her.
Shen Xizhi bit her lip, touched by the gesture but grumbling internally, Using the same hand that groped me to cover my ears…