Struggle in Ancient Times

Liao Tingyu looked at his family members who rarely ate good foods. He thought he might as well buy things outside and let it be sent over.
He nodded and said, “That’s it. You can ask the cleck for water, if the doctor asks you question, remember to answer them honestly. I will be leaving first.”
Mother Deng waved her hands, “Go, go, go quickly. I don’t need you to nag at me, an old woman.”

Liao Tingyu walked to the nearest shop that sells buns. If you want to buy buns and pancakes you could take it away but other foods must be finished inside.
He brought eight buns and some pancakes; he handed it to the doctor and let him passed the foods.
Liao Ming was very surprised when he saw the foods, “Doctor, these are…”

“These are from Liao-xiucai. He said it was inconvenient for you to go out. I also have water here. You drink this while eating.”
Mother Deng didn’t eat much this morning, she was a little hungry. Nevertheless, after the doctor left, she counted the foods and calculated the money her youngest son spent for this.
That prodigal son actually bought meat stuffing! It was nice to have meat but this one bun cost ten wens! You could buy one pound meat for twenty wens!

Liao Ming admired his youngest son. It was rare for a family to have such generous child.
He felt that he should advance the marriage plan so this young man wouldn’t live so lavishly without anyone in charge,
How could their small family live so grandly? They usually drink a lot of water to fill their empty stomach.

.
Since there were still other class, Liao Tingyu thanked Teacher Zhou after he was done teaching Liao Tingyu’s class.
“Thank you so much, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t know what to do.”

“It’s okay. We are the teachers from the same school. We should help each other. Next time, I will ask you to help me instead.”
“Okay. I will treat you a drink next time.” Liao Tingyu said.
After lunch in the cafeteria. He sneaked into the kitchen, “Cook, could you please fry me a bowl of meat with green peppers? I want to take it back.”

The cook in charge looked at him weirdly, “I don’t remember you like spicy food? If you want it, just come tomorrow. Why do you ask it for today?”
Liao Tingyu smiled at him, “I just wanted to eat it. Make it for me, I will eat it tonight. Besides, I have something this afternoon and I don’t have any class tomorrow morning. I won’t return here until noon. Then, I wouldn’t be able to eat your fried pork with green peppers.”
The cook nodded, “Okay, just wait. I will cook it for you. If you have another request, just tell me. I make the best fried pork with green peppers; you kid didn’t know anything at all.”
Liao Tingyu smiled shyly, the cook’s fried pork with green peppers was indeed his specialty, no one could match the taste.

But people who didn’t like spicy foods would stay away, no matter how delicious it was. But strangely, he remembered that his parents and da-ge actually liked spicy foods very much.
“Cook, please make me a pound of meat. I have to take it home for my family to eat.”
The master held the big iron pot and asked his apprentice to light it, he nodded at Liao Tingyu.

“Just one pound of fat meat for you. This fried meat with green peppers needs to taste oily. You can use this jar but remember to bring it back.”
“Okay, how much should I pay you?” Liao Tingyu asked.
“Just give me sixty wens.” The cook said, “I didn’t charge you much, this meat is expensive. Not counting the green peppers.”

“Although, I never bought vegetables. I know that your price must be real. Your skill wasn’t bad at all, these sixty wens were quite cheap.” Liao Tingyu held the jar that the cook pointed.
The jar was clean. After all, the things at the school were very affordable, there were many teachers who would take things back. But they always washed it well, before giving it back for others to use.
The fire kept burning and the huge iron pot were constantly turned over by the cook. The unique smells of pepper hit his face.

Liao Tingyu rubbed his nose and sneezed, “Cook, you are really powerful. I was choked by it but you didn’t change your face at all.”
“You will feel comfortable after cooking for so long. When I was an apprentice, I was constantly deals with it. This pepper smells pungent just like an onion.” The master said proudly, “Do you know onion? I used to study in the Fucheng. Those onions are rare things, even more pungent than this. It was as big as my fist and the skin was purple. I tasted it secretly before, it was spicy but when you fry it, it was sweet like a sugar. One dish with onion would cost several teals.”
“Cook, why don’t you stay in the Fucheng? I heard that place was prosperous.” Liao Tingyu asked curiously.

“My hometown is here. Since I came back, I got married here. But my wife loves to read and my son followed him too. The problem wasn’t about the book price but finding the right teacher.” the cook showed a happy smile.
“So, I got a job in this academy. When my son gets older, I will let him study here.”
“Turns out the little baby I saw last time was yours. I said it, the baby is smart and cute.”

“You have seen him? my son is so cute. Since he is still young, I occasionally take him to play to your class, so he could learn the literary style and admitted in this school.” Liao Tingyu nodded his head.
Someone needs to study since they were young to nourish the talents.
As they chatted, the meat cooked quickly.

“Thank you, cook.” Liao Tingyu handed him the jar in his hand. Because they had a good talk just now, the cook even scoped out the oil from the iron pot into the jar.
Liao Tingyu hugged the heavy jar and left the school with a smile in his face.