The Daily Life of Farming and Raising Children in Ancient Mountain Residences

Chapter 236: Pigs

The old nurse replied, “The roe deer leg was brought in early this morning by Cheng An. It was sent by the family that received the books from the master before.”

“Sent books?” Concubine Fan looked at her husband.

“More meat?” Zeng Sanlang was somewhat surprised but then recalled that the people from Daxing Village were involved in the mountains and helped the government with their needs, understanding why they had sent the meat: “Go ahead and prepare it.”

After the nurse left and seeing his wife waiting for his response, Zeng Sanlang walked into the study and said, “Yes, books were sent. The people who sent them were from Daxing Village.”

He then mentioned the yams grown in Daxing Village and briefly explained the state exam process, saying, “This village has only a few dozen households, but many people came for the state exam, and many passed. It’s not easy for commoners to produce scholars, and the Emperor is pleased with this.”

Concubine Fan, though a lady of the inner quarters, was well-informed about court and current affairs, a necessary education for daughters of noble families. Even though the Zeng family hadn’t had anyone in office for decades, she was well-acquainted with such matters.

Zeng Sanlang continued, remembering the origins of Sang Luo, “By the way, the wife of Shen Lie is actually from your hometown, the Sang family from Dongjun. She taught the yam cultivation method, and now the yam seeds distributed to neighboring counties come from Daxing Village and nearby farmers taught by her.”

“Did you hear about the Sang family’s expertise in farming mulberry and silkworms when you were in the inner quarters?”

Concubine Fan shook her head, “I know the Sang family but have only been to Dongjun a few times and had no personal contact. From what I hear, the Sang family is quite generous.”

In those days, whether nobles or commoners, everyone tended to guard their knowledge jealously, wishing to pass it down through generations.

“Indeed, generous,” Zeng Sanlang recalled his visit to Daxing Village with a smile, “When Chu Qichang mentioned the yam cultivation method, he said it was developed by the Shen family. When I asked, it was Shen Lie who told me directly that it was his wife, the Sang family, who taught it.”

“This couple, one is straightforward and honest; the other is kind-hearted. I’m quite happy to send them books.”

Concubine Fan understood. The Shen couple’s good character had clearly impressed her husband. Moreover, with the various troubles and achievements involving the yams, it made sense why her husband had sent them books.

“What books were sent? I remember you didn’t take many with you.”

During the years when Zeng Sanlang served under the King of Qi, Concubine Fan had packed his belongings for every trip.

Zeng Sanlang pointed to the desk, “Those few volumes.”

Concubine Fan glanced through them and her eyes widened slightly, “You sent out Grandfather’s books like this?”

“Do you think Grandfather would mind?”

Concubine Fan thought of the old man’s temperament and laughed, saying with a mischievous tone, “I’m afraid that if Father-in-law knew, he’d be angry for three, five, or even seven or eight months.”

Zeng Sanlang’s lips curled up, “A few months of anger isn’t bad.”

Concubine Fan suppressed her laughter.

…

Outside the governor’s residence, the Gan family and others were choosing poultry.

Sang Luo had underestimated the situation. It wasn’t possible to buy chickens, ducks, and geese all at once and then exchange for geese.

The quantity of poultry safely transported was limited, and some had already been distributed to neighboring counties. Each household could only purchase one.

One, not surprisingly, Shen Ning and Shen Jin chose geese. When Shen Ning bought a goose, other families in the village followed suit, as they were not lacking chickens or ducks and knew that what Shen Ning chose was directed by Sang Luo, so they followed without error.

Each family got one goose. For instance, in the Xu family, Wei Lingzhen, holding the household registration of three families, asked Shen Ning why she chose geese. Upon hearing that they would raise chickens and ducks in the mountains to protect them from rats, Wei Qinghe and the others’ household registration was directly given to Shen Ning: “We have enough with two geese, use this to buy another one.”

Pigs, like cattle, were not in demand. In the state city, raising chickens and ducks was manageable, but pigs required space, which was lacking. Villagers couldn’t afford to buy piglets.

Following the elder sister’s instructions to buy whenever possible, Shen Ning asked the official if they could buy a pig along with the poultry and, without hesitation, bought one. She also bought another for Shen Jin: “If you don’t raise it, it’ll be counted as ours.”

Shen Jin grinned, “Yes, yes, yes, I want to raise them!”

Wei Lingzhen looked at the piglets and was a bit troubled.

Raising chickens and ducks was manageable, and she had learned how to do it over the years. But raising pigs? Wei Lingzhen really had no idea. Not to mention her, even the elderly lady at home hadn’t dealt with pigs for over a decade or two.

She stared at the household registration papers in her hand and at the piglets for a while, feeling that this task was beyond her. Turning to Shen Ning, who was eagerly picking out pigs with Shen Jin, she stepped over and asked, “Ah Ning, are you buying pigs too?”

Shen Ning nodded, “Yes, we’re buying them. My sister-in-law said to buy whatever we can.”

“Alright then.”

Wei Lingzhen handed over the household registration papers, “Three piglets, do you want them? If so, I’ll use the registration for your family.”

“Yes, yes, yes!”

Shen Ning replied repeatedly.

She and Shen Jin were indeed like siblings.

Wei Lingzhen laughed and handed over the papers, then asked Shen Ning, “Have you brought enough money?”

“Enough, enough. Thank you, Auntie.”

Shen Ning cheerfully went off to buy the piglets with the Xu family’s registration papers.

The pig herder, seeing the two children asking for five piglets, looked astonished at Shen Ning, “How many?”

“Five,” Shen Ning said, showing the registration papers. “I’m also buying for the neighbors.”

“Neighbors let such a young lady buy pigs for them?” The pig herder was skeptical about buying for five families.

The pig herder didn’t believe a word.

Shen Ning pointed to Wei Lingzhen, “Look, she’s my aunt. I’m just here to pick pigs.”

She pointed at a distance, “See over there? The ones buying wheat and oxen, that’s my brother, my neighbor Uncle, and my neighbor Grandpa!”

The pig herder: convinced.

“Alright, pick the ones you want.”

Shen Ning and Shen Jin walked around the pen full of squealing piglets, carefully choosing despite the stench. They made their selections and had Shen Jin watch the five piglets while calling for Mrs. Chen from afar to help with the final choice.

The pig herder finally believed that this was indeed a group of relatives handling the purchase.

Mrs. Chen, who had experience raising pigs, saw that four of the selected piglets were good, but one looked weaker, so she pointed out another to replace it.

Afterward, she asked quietly, “Did your sister-in-law really ask you to buy so many?”

Shen Ning confidently nodded, “My sister-in-law said, buy whatever you can!”

“Alright, if your sister-in-law said so, it must be right.”

…

Daxing Village had a bumper harvest.

One ox, eight piglets, and nine geese were bought. Every household also got their share of wheat seeds, so no one was left empty-handed. They attracted many envious glances on the way back.

Shen Ning was so happy her eyes turned into crescent moons as she looked at their geese and pigs, feeling immensely satisfied. She listened as the adults discussed using the original cattle shed in the village to raise the ox and taking turns caring for it.

Yes, the ox was also a part of their share.

Having hidden in the mountains for years and eating wild boar meat regularly, Shen Ning felt as if their family had become a wealthy household at this moment.

Cattle, sheep, chickens, ducks, pigs—what more could they possibly need!

So content.

…

When they returned to Daxing Village, the Lin family’s household registrations had been processed. Thanks to Chen Dashan’s influence, the registration was not far, about five miles from Shezhou City, forming a village with a few other households who had returned with the governor’s wife.

Shen Lie and his siblings came home, and Sang Luo was astonished to see Shen Lie carrying one cage of piglets in each hand, while Shopkeeper Xu, Chen Youtian, and Zhou Cunzheng each helped carry one as well.

“So many pigs?”

Shen Ning: …

“Sister-in-law, you said to buy whatever we could.” She pointed to one of the piglets, “This one is for Xiao Jin.”

Shen Lie and the others laughed. The little girl had been so ambitious in the city that Shen Lie had run out of money and had to borrow a bit more from him.

She was indeed a bit timid.

To avoid disturbing Sang Luo with the smell, they placed the pigs in a spot farther from the house.

Sang Luo looked at the group of squealing piglets and nodded, “You did well buying these. How did you manage to get so many?”

Realizing the answer, she said, “Auntie Xu gave you the registration papers.”

Shen Ning nodded with a smile, “Yes, Auntie also gave us a share of the registration for the geese.”

Sang Luo guessed as much and thanked Shopkeeper Xu.

Shopkeeper Xu waved and said with a smile, “No need to thank us. No one in our family knows how to raise them either.”

After dropping off the items, they left with Chen Youtian.

Sang Luo’s gaze lingered on the piglets.

Pigs were indeed valuable.

“All five will be kept in the old sheep pen for now, and Xiao Jin’s piglet will be settled there too.” She instructed Shen Ning and Shen Jin, “Find a spot behind the house to keep the geese separately for a few days. Once they’re in good condition, we’ll put them together with the chickens and ducks.”

…

Lunch was simple and light. Before their afternoon nap, Zhao Silang arrived with the blueprints drawn by Sang Luo.

He was astonished at the addition of five piglets and wondered how much it must have cost.

“Madam, shouldn’t we clear out some of the land here for planting vegetables instead of just digging pits for trees and building chicken and duck pens?”

The sheep pen was built, and Zhao and his brother moved on to the chicken and duck area. They could read the blueprints and work now, but they didn’t understand the details. The fence looked the same as before, even finer, and they could recognize the fruit trees, but there seemed to be no space for vegetable plots.

As a farmer, it felt odd to see empty land. Zhao Silang said, “If you’re worried about the chickens destroying the vegetables, you can put up an extra layer of fence inside. It won’t stop the chickens from roaming outside.”

Sang Luo smiled and said, “Uncle Zhao, we have plenty of land. Let’s leave this area for now. You can work on other plots. In a few days, I’ll have Shen Lie go into the mountains to find some grapes for transplanting or cuttings. Once the fence and chicken coop are finished, we’ll set up a small area for the chickens to stay. Once the grapes are established, the chickens can roam freely in that area. They will naturally loosen the soil, and after a few months, the land will be enriched. When we move the coop and fence, we’ll use another plot for the chickens to till. By then, we can prepare the land for vegetable planting.”

The combined total of fields and mountain land was over seventy acres. Relying solely on manual labor to plow and cultivate, along with other farming tasks, would be quite strenuous for a year. Instead, it was better to utilize the chickens’ natural digging instincts to loosen the soil and fertilize it.

“Oh, so that’s how it is!” Zhao Silang’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

Chickens could indeed be put to work.

“This is great! This is great!”

He carefully folded the blueprints once he confirmed the location for the vegetable plot was in the large area between the sheep pen and the chicken coop, and then he went back to work in the mountains.

Shen Jin returned home, wrote an IOU, and brought it over. Having heard the entire conversation, he was also thrilled, “Sister-in-law, can we do the same with our chickens and land?”

The three brothers were too young, and cultivating thirty mu of land was already a significant challenge for them. The ten mu of mountain land had originally been abandoned, just used for gathering firewood. They hadn’t expected it could be put to use like this.

“Yes, you can. If you want quicker results, you don’t need to enclose too large an area. Just clear some shrubs and enclose a plot about a ten feet long and a ten feet wide for the chickens. Do your farm work while the chickens dig up the soil. It will save you a lot of effort compared to doing it yourself. This method will be sufficient for growing vegetables and raising chickens, ducks, and sheep. As you open up more land, you can even sell some in the city.”

Speaking of chicken and duck feed, Sang Luo paused, recalling something, especially now that they had five new pigs.

Pig manure is indeed a good fertilizer, but it has another use as well. It doesn’t interfere with making compost and is beneficial for raising chickens.

She suddenly asked Shen Jin, “Xiao Jin, are you afraid of insects?”

Shen Jin was taken aback by the sudden change in topic. “No, why would I be afraid? I catch insects to feed the chickens and ducks every day.”

He didn’t just feed his own chickens and ducks; he also helped catch insects for his sister-in-law’s birds with Shen Yin and Shen Tie.

Sang Luo clarified, “I mean, lots of them.”

Unable to describe in detail, she admitted her own fear of insects, and Shen Ning wasn’t much better.

Shen Jin shook his head, “No, Sister-in-law. What do you need me to do? Don’t worry, just tell me.”

He thought it might be cleaning the latrine, which was particularly dirty and infested with insects.

Shen Jin knew that his sister-in-law was very clean, especially afraid of insects and snakes. Shen Ning, too, had a similar fear. Over the years, his older brother and Little An had taken on the dirty and heavy work, never letting their sister-in-law or Shen Ning get involved.

Seeing Shen Jin’s unafraid demeanor, Sang Luo smiled and beckoned him over, “Xiao Jin, come here. I’ll teach you a method that will save a lot on vegetables and grain for the chickens, and they’ll grow especially well, gaining weight quickly and laying more eggs.”

She described it in an enticing manner.

Then she shifted the topic, “However, in exchange, you’ll also help supply the chickens we raise. How does that sound?”