Chapter 185: A Father is Still a Father

Young people all love this sort of thing, so the Four Tigers all crowded around, insisting that Fifth Tiger teach them how to ride the motorbike. What they were really thinking about was: just how much money does Old Five actually have?

But when they heard how much it cost, the Four Tigers said, “I’d better save up to get married instead.”

Honestly, they regretted it—if they’d known earlier, they should have gone into business with their brother-in-law too.

Having a bike really was convenient for Fifth Tiger. When he was at home, he could travel back and forth between the county and the village, come home for dinner every day. Plenty of families came to propose marriages for him, but none of them were the right kind.

Wang Cuixiang saw right through it. None of the girls being suggested for Fifth Tiger were decent.

People thought her son was up to no good outside. You can imagine how frustrated Wang Cuixiang felt—she scolded and drove away several matchmakers who came to the door.

Every time she saw that old bike, it just made her more upset. If it ended up ruining Fifth Tiger’s marriage prospects, it would all be that stupid thing’s fault.

But to be fair, the kid really was doing honest work. The bike just made things easier. When Fifth Tiger needed to hire people, he could quickly give them a ride on the bike. Whatever he needed to do, he could get there in time.

Wang Cuixiang wanted to scold Fifth Tiger, but even she felt guilty—she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Still, it really had made it harder for him to find a match.

The main thing was, the bike put pressure on Oldest Fang. It was obvious that the brother-in-law and Fifth Tiger were doing well together—otherwise, how could they afford to spend money like that?

Fifth Tiger riding around the village on his bike was basically saying, “I’m doing better with my brother-in-law than with Oldest Fang.” After all, things never got this good when he was working with Oldest Fang.

These days, Oldest Fang was a little irritated. Whenever he heard the distant puttering of a motorbike, his face would fall.

Second Fang’s butcher shop had Fang Daleng helping him buy and slaughter pigs, and business was going well.

And just like Second Fang said, even though there were more people buying meat, it hadn’t cut into Fang Daleng’s business at all.

Second Fang’s wife had a sharp tongue, but she was clever and knew how to hustle. In the past, pig’s blood was just given away, but now she sold it for money.

Their reputation wasn’t the best, but you couldn’t deny that father and son worked well together. After a while, people just got used to it.

After all, there were only two butchers in the village, and they were father and son.

Second Fang shamelessly suggested to Fang Daleng, “Dad, why don’t you just focus on slaughtering pigs and leave the selling to me?”

Fang Daleng was nearly furious. He complained to Wang Cuixiang, “Is he trying to push me out of the business? I feel like giving that brat a beating.”

Wang Cuixiang was even tougher than Fang Daleng: “What’s the point of getting mad? Not worth it. Teach him a lesson.” Even your own son needs to be put in his place, or he’ll get too cocky.

Fang Daleng was at a loss: “How do I teach him? Really hit him?” He couldn’t bring himself to do it—it was his own son, after all.

Wang Cuixiang shot him a glare. “Is hitting all you know? You’ve been helping him for nothing all this time, working yourself to the bone. If he wants you to help buy pigs, charge him for it. From now on, you get paid for slaughtering pigs.”

Fang Daleng was stunned. “Isn’t that a bit much? We’re father and son. I don’t think it’ll work.”

Wang Cuixiang snorted, “Even if you’re father and son, you need to draw the line. Let him know his old man isn’t so easy to mess with.”

Fang Daleng could only listen. He wanted to feel sorry for his son, but when he thought about it, the boy really wasn’t all that lovable—he deserved a lesson.

Wang Cuixiang didn’t bother discussing it—she just went straight to Second Fang’s wife and said, “If you buy the pigs and have your dad slaughter them, you pay him five yuan per pig. If you want your dad to help buy pigs, that’s another five yuan per pig. Your dad’s getting old, and slaughtering pigs is hard work. That’s how it’s going to be.”

Second Fang’s wife, of course, wasn’t happy, but there was nothing she could do—Wang Cuixiang had made up her mind.

Just like that, Second Fang was completely tamed. Forget about selling meat—now he and his wife were both busy helping slaughter pigs.

But Wang Cuixiang still collected the money, thinking to herself, “You little brat, you think I can’t handle you?”

In private, Second Fang’s wife grumbled to her husband, “Do you think Mom’s just greedy for money?”

Second Fang shot her a look, and she quieted down. Whatever Wang Cuixiang said, that’s how it was—she didn’t dare hope for any favors anymore.

But the couple got smarter, too. They realized that if they didn’t learn the skills themselves, they’d always be at someone else’s mercy. So they had to master the trade.

Second Fang started going out to buy pigs himself and slaughtering them on his own. Wang Cuixiang just watched them struggle, calm as ever.

Slaughtering pigs was easy to learn—his own father had taught him almost everything already.

But buying pigs was a skill, something that came with experience. Two pigs of the same weight could yield very different amounts of meat.

Sometimes, after a couple days’ work, the couple would still lose money. That’s when Second Fang understood what “your father is still your father” really meant—there was no arguing with that.

Second Fang’s wife complained, “You’ve watched your dad slaughter and sell pigs since you were a kid—how come you never learned?”

What could Second Fang say? His wife was exhausted these days, so he let her complain. After all, he really hadn’t learned the skill.

They still had to ask Fang Daleng to help buy pigs and pay him five yuan each time.

Wang Cuixiang mocked her second son: “Your dad is still your dad—don’t think paying him a little money is a waste.”

Second Fang’s wife was obedient now, agreeing with whatever her mother-in-law said—she’d learned her lesson.

Fang Daleng was pleased to see his wife standing up for him, putting their son and daughter-in-law in their place.

In private, Wang Cuixiang said, “If the two of them really learn the skill, even if they lose money, it’s worth it.”

Fang Daleng sighed, “Then I really won’t have any secret skills left.”

Wang Cuixiang scoffed, “When that time comes, we’ll just raise pigs ourselves—we’ll still have the upper hand. Don’t worry, we’ll make sure he’s filial to you.”

Fang Daleng was delighted by his wife’s words. To be honest, this whole ordeal was really her way of standing up for him.

Fang Daleng said, “I’m getting old, I don’t count on anyone anymore. Let’s just live well together. You take care of yourself and don’t get upset.”

Wang Cuixiang replied, “Then you need to stay healthy—otherwise, who will I count on? Drink less, smoke less. When there’s heavy work, let Second Fang do it. You just supervise.”

Fang Daleng was a little reluctant: “You’re really willing to make your own son work? He’s your flesh and blood.”

Wang Cuixiang said, “I’m old. Besides you, I can’t count on anyone—not even my own kids.”

Fang Daleng, always thinking about daily life, grinned from ear to ear: “Then let Second Fang do more.”

See, both husband and wife were willing to make their son work.

Fang Daleng had figured it out—he handed over the pig slaughtering to his son and just went out to buy pigs when he felt like it. That job was easy, it just took experience.

He really started taking care of his health for his wife’s sake—otherwise, who would she rely on in the future?

With Wang Cuixiang helping out at the meat stall, Fang Daleng had the easiest life of all—he was living carefree.

Of course, he still taught Second Fang, just like his wife said. If Second Fang learned the trade, that was a skill to support the family. As a father, he didn’t mind.

Anyway, with a clever wife, there was always a way to keep their son in line."