Chapter 9 Daily Life
Before Chen Pingan walked into the courtyard, he smelled bursts of fragrance.
"Nanny, I'm back."
"Brother, you're back~ Come on, drink some water and moisten your throat."
Chen Erya greeted him from inside, holding a bowl of water in his hand.
Chen Pingan took the water and drank it in one gulp.
"Ha~ I'm still considerate!"
Chen Ping'an was talking to Chen Erya while taking off his official uniform.
It's not too hot right now, so he doesn't sweat much. If you take off this official uniform, you can wear it again tomorrow.
If you wash it every day, it will not only be troublesome, but also cause a lot of wear and tear on your clothes.
He only had two pieces in total. If it was broken, he would have to pay some money himself to get another one from the Department of Finance.
"Nanny, have you eaten well today!?"
"Eat! I listened to my brother's words. I even ate beef for lunch."
"Yeah. Not bad."
Chen Ping'an even went to the kitchen to take a look at the beef situation.
Um.
Looking at the beef that was not much different from what he packed up yesterday, Chen Ping'an's face sank slightly.
"Eat? Why are there so many left!"
"Oh"
Chen Erya laughed and wanted to get over it.
However, Chen Ping'an didn't agree.
In the end, Chen Erya could only explain it obediently. She did eat it, just a small piece.
"I just want to give it to my brother. He is out there, making money to support the family, and consumes a lot of money. This beef is suitable for him to eat and replenish his body."
"If I want to eat, I can just buy it! Besides, there is no conflict between my eating and your eating!"
Chen Erya didn't answer. But Chen Pingan knew what she was thinking.
It’s nothing more than a matter of money! If you have enough money, there is no need to be so careful.
Although Chen Ping'an said that he had thought of a way to repay Mr. Hu's fourteen taels of silver from the Hutou Gang, Chen Erya also believed his brother. But the matter is not resolved, it is always a worry.
With this concern, Chen Erya naturally had to make careful calculations in everything.
"Brother told you yesterday not to skip lunch. You didn't listen! Are you trying to make me angry? And..."
The little girl didn't say anything, blinking her big eyes and just looking at him.
"You."
When Chen Pingan saw Chen Erya's pitiful look, he couldn't bear it and let out a long sigh. What I wanted to say can no longer be said. He gently tapped Chen Erya's forehead with his finger, unable to bear the blame any longer.
After all, his monthly salary is too little!
“Did you buy the pork thigh meat yesterday?”
"I bought it! I also bought pig's trotters and stewed them to replenish my brother's health. My brother is now practicing martial arts and needs to eat more meat."
Chen Erya said with a happy smile.
In the early days, they didn't eat like this. Every meal is full of meat and vegetables, and that's why Chen Ping'an specially ordered it for the past two days.
Chen Erya had already cooked dinner for the evening. Although this girl is only nine years old, she is very proficient in housework. Even his cooking skills are not inferior to Chen Pingan's.
The two communicated and worked together to bring the food to the wooden table.
Today’s dinner: a bowl of stewed pig trotters, a bowl of braised pork thighs, a plate of scrambled eggs with green peppers, a bowl of mushroom soup, and two bowls of white rice. luxury!
What a luxury!
If I had this kind of enjoyment every day, I wouldn’t trade it for a god!
I am afraid that the owners who open shops in the streets will not be able to serve dinners of this quality every day.
You know, there are many people around who can't even eat the white rice cooked with this polished rice, not to mention meaty dishes. The only option is to eat coarse rice mixed with rice husk, which is very rough. What's more, the family has a large population, a small labor force, and no special skills. Even eating coarse rice is difficult, and the only option is to eat some wheat bran.
Compared with them, Chen Pingan and Chen Erya are undoubtedly happy.
After all, as a sergeant of the Zhenfu Division, he would not starve to death no matter what, and he could still eat meat occasionally.
This is why Chen Ping'an's father is almost exhausted. He has to spend all his efforts, use up his family's savings, and even borrow money to find a temporary servant status for Chen Ping'an.
With this status, no matter how precarious the life is, I will only say goodbye to them. After all, the days of the two of them are becoming more and more promising as time goes by.
However, what Chen Pingan needs to solve is the fourteen taels of silver owed by the Hutou Gang.
"Nanny, don't worry about the fourteen taels of silver you owe. My brother didn't joke with you yesterday. He really has a solution."
During the meal, Chen Pingan looked into Chen Erya's eyes and said seriously.
"Well, I trust my brother and I know he is not joking."
"Then you have to treat yourself well. Don't eat a small piece of beef for lunch like today. If your family is short of expenses, just tell your brother. When you pay back the fourteen taels of silver, With my brother’s salary, our life will finally get better and better. We can relax a bit in terms of food and clothing at home.”
Chen Ping'an spoke seriously, and Chen Erya also listened seriously.
"Brother, I know. But I thought, even if I pay back the fourteen taels of silver, there are still big things to do at home, and there are a lot of places where money should be spent. I still want to save as much as I can. Some down."
"What big thing hasn't been done?"
Chen Pingan asked curiously.
"My brother is about to marry a wife. My brother is also nineteen. Wait until next year, which will be the year when he is weak. I have asked Granny Wang in Changqiao Nong. If I want to marry a daughter-in-law, I will have to pay for it in various ways. At least ten taels of silver are needed!
And it’s not okay for my brother to marry an ordinary wife just because he is so good. Therefore, ten taels of silver is not enough, so the family must prepare at least 20 taels of silver for my brother’s wife. Two pieces of silver. My mother died early, and there is no one in the family to help my brother think about it, so I am the only one."
Chen Erya spoke clearly and clearly, and it seemed that he had thought it through carefully. But what she said almost made Chen Pingan spit out the mushroom soup he just drank.
"You girl, you are as big as a brat!"
Even so, Chen Ping'an felt warm in his heart.
"My sister-in-law, of course she must be gentle and beautiful. So, even if I owe money, my brother has a solution. We still have to save money at home!"
Chen Erya said with his chest held high and his head held high.
"Okay, okay!"
Chen Pingan looked helpless.
He didn't argue with Chen Erya either.
Since Chen Erya was hiding this matter in his heart, no matter how much he said, it would be useless. Rather than saying that, it is better to prove it with actual actions.
After dinner, Chen Pingan did not clean up with Chen Erya this time.
The latch of the courtyard door was still held up by a stick, and he needed to get a suitable stick. During the day, he patrolled the streets and found nothing suitable. Since there was no suitable one, he would make one himself.
I happened to have an uncut piece of wood at home that could be remodeled.
In the yard, he was holding a hatchet and processing wood. In the kitchen, Chen Erya was washing the dishes.
During the break between work, the two of them would have eye contact from time to time. For just a moment, both of them felt extremely at ease in their hearts.
It feels so good to have my family by my side!
This feeling is priceless!
(End of this chapter)