Chapter 57

"Time to divide the pork."

"Xiaojuan, quickly get a basket to divide the pork. Your dad killed a big wild boar."

A few children ran around the village shouting, and without the need for a bell, everyone knew that a big wild boar had been killed and the pork would be divided at the village entrance.

It had been a long time since there was such excitement. Even those who had gone to bed got up and ran to the village entrance.

Xiaojuan was delighted but also a bit worried. She knew her dad well; he was lazy and gluttonous. How could he have taken the initiative to hunt a wild boar? It must have been a lucky shot.

"Please don't get hurt."

Xiaojuan was a bit worried. Even a lucky shot could lead to injury. She ran to the village entrance with her basket and saw Li Dong boasting about his hunt, gesturing wildly. She sighed with relief when she saw he was unharmed.

Her unreliable dad had actually done something big this time. Xiaojuan suddenly thought of their new kitchen knife. She hoped it wasn't damaged.

"Dad."

"Xiaojuan, you're here."

Li Dong smiled proudly. This was the first time he had brought such honor to the village. Before, he had only brought shame.

"Quick, look at the wild boar Dad killed. Isn't it big?"

Xiaojuan thought it was a small boar, but when she saw how large it was, she realized she would need to divide it. She wondered if her basket was too small.

"It's big, really big."

"Dad, I'll go get another basket."

"Ah, why do you need another basket? This one is enough."

"But it's half a boar."

"What half a boar? Dad will give you twenty pounds."

Li Dong thought to himself, this little girl may be small, but she has big ideas. She shouldn't be too greedy.

Xiaojuan pouted, thinking her dad was trying to trick her. Li Dong laughed. "Alright, what do you need so much pork for? If you want more, Dad can buy it for you later."

"Dad, you forgot. We need to build a new house and provide meals."

Xiaojuan thought her dad was still unreliable. Now, the generous half a boar was reduced to twenty pounds. She pouted, looking disappointed, which made Li Dong laugh even more.

"It's still early. Wait until Dad brings back a big fat pig."

Li Dong wasn't exaggerating. With his ability to carry items, getting half a pig wasn't difficult.

Xiaojuan rolled her eyes, thinking he was boasting. Li Dong teased her, finding her increasingly bossy.

While Li Dong was teasing Xiaojuan, almost everyone in the village, including women and children, had gathered. Even a few women with babies came. It was a rare sight in Han Village.

"Light the gas lamp."

Han Guofu shouted, and the children clapped excitedly. The gas lamp was only lit on special occasions like movie nights, harvest festivals, or New Year's.

Li Dong had seen a gas lamp in a museum but had never seen one lit before. It was similar to a lantern but larger. After pumping it up, it was very bright, almost like an electric bulb, much brighter than a lantern.

"Uncle Guofu, how will we divide the pork?"

"First, boil water. Guoqiang, you come over."

Han Guofu called out to a middle-aged man. Li Dong thought it was a bit strange.

"Uncle Guoqiang is one of the best butchers in our village. One cut, and the pig won't get up."

The most feared part of butchering is if the pig gets up after being bled, which wastes blood and is considered unlucky. People prefer experienced butchers.

"Uncle Guoqiang is not only a great butcher but also very precise in dividing the pork, not a gram off."

"Uncle Guoqiang, I'll help."

Li Dong finally remembered why it felt strange. The last time Xiaojuan was sick, the barefoot doctor who treated her was also a butcher. It was hard to believe.

They set up a large pot to boil water, and the women started to clean the pig's hair. Li Dong wasn't interested in this. "Keep the pig's head and bones for me as a souvenir."

"The pig's head is for you."

Everyone knew Li Dong had killed the wild boar. Han Guoqiang laughed. "That cut was deep. You have strength, and the knife is good."

"Hehe."

The knife was made by an old blacksmith using the best iron, costing about 200 yuan. It was thick and could easily chop bones. "Can I borrow the knife?"

"Sure, use it."

While Li Dong was talking, he felt Xiaojuan tugging at his shirt. He looked down and saw her pouting. He slapped his forehead. "Xiaojuan, just this once. Dad won't borrow it again."

"Hmph."

Xiaojuan didn't believe him. Li Dong smiled awkwardly. Why do girls these days want to control their dads? It's so hard.

After about half an hour, the pig was cleaned, and everyone gathered around the wild boar on the door panel, ready to divide the meat.

Even though wild boar wasn't the best, it was still meat. It would satisfy their cravings. In those days, wild boar meat was gamey and lacked fat, so it wasn't expensive. In the black market, domestic pork could sell for 1.5 to 1.8 yuan per pound.

But wild boar meat was only a few cents per pound. It was gamey and lacked fat, so no one wanted to buy it. It was like mutton; people preferred fatty domestic pork. In the future, when there was more fat and seasoning, people would prefer lean wild boar meat.

Li Dong thought about this as he watched Han Guoqiang skillfully divide the wild boar. The head and body were cut open, and the stomach was given to Li Dong. Other organs were usually given to the butcher.

Han Guofu, Han Guobing, and Han Guohong prepared the scales. They weighed the pork, including the small wild boar, which totaled 180 pounds.

"Three and a half pounds per family, the rest goes to Li Dong."

"Agreed."

Han Village wasn't very big, with about thirty to forty households. In total, Li Dong would get more than twenty pounds.

Just as Li Dong was about to say something, Xiaojuan tugged at his shirt. "Dad, I'll cure some of the pork for building the house."

Her voice was loud enough for everyone to hear. They laughed, not minding the twenty pounds Li Dong mentioned earlier. If he was building a house, he might invite the children to eat meat again. Everyone knew Li Dong was generous.

The pig's head and about forty pounds of pork, all lean, made everyone even happier. Who wouldn't want more fat, even if wild boar meat didn't have much?

Han Guofu and Han Guobing finished dividing the pork, and Han Guoqiang started cutting. He didn't even need to weigh it, which amazed Li Dong.

"Really that precise?"

"Kid, weigh it yourself." Han Guoqiang threw a piece of meat to Li Dong.

Li Dong caught it and weighed it, surprised to find it was exactly three pounds and one ounce.

"It won't be off by even a gram."

"Hehe, Uncle Guoqiang's skills are famous for miles."

"Amazing."

Li Dong had to admit, the cuts were precise. He weighed two pieces, both around three pounds and one ounce.

Impressive, no wonder everyone was happy and didn't ask for a weighing. Li Dong was truly impressed by his skill.

The pork was divided amidst the excitement, lasting until nearly eleven. No one felt bored, waiting for their share. They were eager to eat meat, which they hadn't had in a long time.

In the countryside, especially in production teams, people worked for points and rarely went to the commune for years. Buying meat was impossible. Except for the team's pig slaughter or raising their own pigs, few families bought pork from the commune.

First, they lacked meat coupons, and buying them cost money. A pound of pork cost over a yuan, which few could afford.

That's why Li Dong's frequent meat consumption caused a stir in the village. The children wished they could be born into his family.

"Done." Han Guoqiang wiped his hands.

Each family had their share, and Li Dong had nearly forty pounds of pork, five pig heads, and five sets of organs, including trotters and bones. "What to do with all these organs?"

"Why don't you take them all?"

Han Guoqiang got one set of organs, and the others couldn't take more.

"Why don't you, Uncle Guofu, Uncle Guobing, and Uncle Guohong, divide them?"

Li Dong didn't know how to handle the organs. He only wanted the stomach, which was valuable in the future, especially from a wild boar.

"No, that's not right."

The village leaders waved their hands. Xiaojuan tugged at Li Dong's shirt. "Dad, I can't handle these. Taking them would be a waste."

Seeing the leaders refuse, Li Dong said, "How about this, I'll cook a pig organ soup tomorrow morning and invite everyone."

They looked at each other, surprised he didn't want the organs.

"Will it be enough?"

"There are still a few pig heads. Uncle Guoqiang, can you help? I only want the skull."

Li Dong didn't want the heads, which he couldn't handle. He would take some pork and the stomach.

"Alright, leave it to me."

"Uncle Guoqiang, I have some seasonings at home. I'll bring them to you."

"What seasonings?"

"Cinnamon, Sichuan pepper, star anise, and five-spice powder."

"Great, we have everything."

Han Guofu patted his chest. "You'll see, the whole village will smell the meat tomorrow."

"I look forward to tasting Uncle Guoqiang's skills."

"I'm afraid you'll eat too much, hahaha."

The leaders agreed, and Li Dong went home with his basket, bringing the seasonings to Han Guoqiang. It was a large package with various seasonings, which Han Guoqiang praised.

"With these, you'll eat until you're full."

Li Dong thought Han Guoqiang was boasting, but the next morning, he was woken by the commotion outside.

"Uncle, get up."

"Dad, it's time for the pig organ soup."

"So early."

Li Dong quickly got up, dressed, and saw a long line at the village entrance. Almost everyone was there with bowls.

A large pot was set up under a big tree, left over from the communal dining days.

It hadn't been used in years, but now it had a purpose. The fire was burning brightly with logs.

The soup in the pot was boiling, and the aroma filled the air. Slices of organs were thrown into the pot, and the soup was ladled into bowls. The smell made Li Dong's mouth water.

"Xiaojuan, get a big bowl."

"Also, steam some steamed buns."

The pig organ soup with steamed buns was a feast. The village entrance was filled with slurping sounds. It had been at least two years since the production team had a communal meal. The elders reminisced about the communal dining days.

The soup was delicious. Li Dong had to admit Han Guoqiang's skills. The soup was fragrant, and the organs had no gamey taste. His skills were impressive. Li Dong thought he could learn and open a pig organ soup restaurant in the future.

"Should I set up a large pot in my farm?" Li Dong thought, planning to ask Uncle Guoqiang for a secret recipe later.