Chapter 44: Yun Zhen Gives Pork to a Kindhearted Person

Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Yun Zhen Gives Pork to a Kindhearted Person

Yun Xiu was utterly baffled. "Half a side of pork is already two hundred catties, so wouldn’t a whole pig weigh over five hundred? How do they even raise them? Could it be an old pig that’s been raised for over a decade?"

Yun Zhen shook her head. "Impossible! Could you even eat the meat of a ten-year-old pig? You saw it yourself just now, Dad. The pork I brought back is tender and glossy, with no blood clots at all. It smells fresh, without the slightest foul odor."

"Perhaps the people of the Immortal Realm have a special way of raising pigs," Yun Old Lady said, trying to rationalize it for her daughter.

Yun Zhen comforted them, "Dad, Mom, don’t overthink it. The pork is supplied by the Shopkeeper’s brother-in-law. I heard from the people in the Immortal Realm that the price of pork has dropped drastically to less than twenty cents a catty. Meat stalls are a dime a dozen over there. He probably couldn’t sell it all, so the Shopkeeper’s brother-in-law gave him twenty pigs to use as a promotional prize for the new store’s grand opening."

Less than twenty cents a catty! The couple was startled once again.

Whether in town or the county seat, even in peaceful years, a catty of pork cost fifty to sixty cents. The prices in the Immortal Realm were shockingly and enviably low.

Through Yun Zhen’s explanation, the old couple now had a thorough understanding of the pork’s origins.

Yun Zhen brought up another matter. "Dad, Mom, I saved twenty-four catties of pork. I plan to give two catties to each of the benefactors in the Immortal Realm who have helped me."

She told her parents about their selfless assistance.

As Yun Xiu and Yun Old Lady listened, they felt grateful that their daughter had met such good people, but they also felt she wasn’t giving them enough meat.

Yun Old Lady said, "How can two catties be enough? Give them a bit more. For the sake of the pork, they’ll continue to look out for you. We’d feel much more at ease knowing you have someone looking out for you in the Immortal Realm."

Yun Zhen explained further, "Mom, there are countless pork stalls in the Immortal Realm, and prices have plummeted. In the eyes of the people there, pork isn’t anything precious. They aren’t lacking this bite of meat. I noticed that many people prefer buying beef, mutton, and fish. Perhaps they find pork too greasy. Besides, they all treat me like a child. If I give them too much, they will refuse or try to exchange it with something of equal value.

"Two catties is just right. It’s not so little that it seems cheap, nor is it so much that they’d feel embarrassed to accept it."

This was all based on Yun Zhen’s experience traveling between the two worlds over the past few days. The people of the Immortal Realm were simply too polite. If she gave them too much, they definitely wouldn’t accept it, or they would offer something of equal value in exchange.

Yun Xiu said, "You’ve seen much more of the world than we have now. I believe you have the ability to handle these matters yourself. Since you say it’s fine, we won’t interfere."

Yun Zhen smiled and said, "Don’t worry, Dad. I know what I’m doing."

Seeing the slight weariness on her face, Yun Old Lady said, "It’s getting late, and you still have to go to the Immortal Realm tomorrow. Go to sleep, and take good care of yourself."

Yun Zhen replied, "You two should rest early as well."

As she headed to the next room, she didn’t forget to turn back and tell her father, "When you make braised pork tomorrow, cut at least fifty catties of meat. You must not be stingy, Dad. Let everyone eat their fill for once. I’ll definitely find ways to earn more money and bring back more meat in the future."

Yun Zhen felt a burning determination in her heart, resolving that in the future, they wouldn’t just eat pork; they would eat beef, mutton, and fish too. Whatever meat the Immortal Realm had, she would buy it.

Yun Xiu agreed, "Alright! I got it. We still have a few sweet potatoes piled up in the house; I’ll stew them together with the braised pork tomorrow."

Only then did Yun Zhen return to her room to sleep, satisfied. Holding Xiaobao’s soft body in her arms, she quickly fell fast asleep.

The next day, Yun Zhen returned to her dormitory.

She first went to the cafeteria for breakfast and forcibly pressed the meat into the hands of the three cafeteria ladies. Then, she took another bag of pork and headed to class.

Yun Zhen waited for Mr. Gao in the hallway ahead of time.

"Yun Zhen, it’s time for class. Why aren’t you in the classroom?" Mr. Gao asked in confusion upon seeing her at the stairwell, glancing at his watch.

Yun Zhen held out the two catties of pork toward him and said, "Mr. Gao, I happened to come across a supermarket’s grand opening when I went out yesterday. I got lucky and won half a side of pork in their raffle. I had someone help me sell the rest, but I saved this for you. It’s not much, just a small token of my appreciation. You must accept it."

Mr. Gao suddenly found his arms full of pork. He exclaimed in surprise, "Yun Zhen, you really have great luck to win a supermarket raffle!

"Selling half a side of pork would get you a few thousand yuan. Remember to keep the money safe, and don’t give it to anyone who asks for it."

Yun Zhen nodded. Holding up the bag of pork, she said, "I understand, Mr. Gao. Please, take the meat."

Mr. Gao politely declined, "Yun Zhen, I know you are a good child, but I can’t accept this meat. You should take it and sell it for cash along with the rest. You’ll have plenty of places to spend money in the future."

Yun Zhen’s tone was persistent. "The money I got from selling the rest of the meat is enough to last me a long time. This little bit of meat was saved especially for you. You are teaching me how to read and write; honoring my teacher is only right."

Ultimately unable to withstand Yun Zhen’s stubbornness, Mr. Gao adjusted his glasses, a glimmer of touched tears in his eyes. "Good child, with such fine character, your future will certainly be bright!"

He took the meat and weighed it in his hands. He thought to himself, "It actually weighs around two catties. I should help this child however I can in the future."

Seeing Mr. Gao accept the meat, Yun Zhen let out a sigh of relief. Feeling relaxed and cheerful, she followed him back to the classroom to practice reading and writing.

After class ended at ten o’clock, Mr. Gao pulled three books out of his desk drawer.

"Yun Zhen, you must have had some foundational learning before. During class, I noticed you recognize quite a few characters, though your handwriting isn’t very good and your stroke order is a mess. These three books are extracurricular fairy tale reading books for elementary schoolers. I’m giving them to you. Try to see if you can recount the stories in them completely.

"It doesn’t matter if you can’t write well yet. Just take your time learning from me, and you’ll get it eventually. Besides, you already have a foundation."

Yun Zhen had never expected such a surprise; Mr. Gao had actually gifted her three books. In her world, books were incredibly precious items. Not only were they extremely expensive—with a single book costing at least half a tael of Silver—but they could even serve as family heirlooms.

Taking the books, she thanked him sincerely, "Thank you so much, Mr. Gao!"

Mr. Gao nodded with a smile. "Head back now."

On her way back, Yun Zhen checked the titles of the three books: "The Seven-Colored Flower", "Andersen’s Fairy Tales", and "The Magic Paintbrush".

Flipping through the pages, she saw large swaths of bright, eye-catching, and remarkably lifelike illustrations, with only a few lines of text. Compared to the box of storybooks she had taken back home, there were slightly more words.

Upon returning to her dormitory, she pressed the green button on her communicator.

BEEP BEEP BEEP!

Zhao Peng had just caught a moment of free time when his phone suddenly rang. He was one of the heads of the agency’s minor division. He had a dozen or so children under his charge, and their communicators could only contact him.

He glanced at the ID number: 666. It was Yun Zhen! He remembered her as a diligent and studious girl.

He answered the call, "Hello, Yun Zhen. Is there something you need?"

Adopting a "give it a try" mentality, Yun Zhen felt a little nervous about reaching out to Brother Zhao for the first time. She called out, "Brother Zhao."

Zhao Peng replied, "Yes, it’s me."

Yun Zhen got straight to the point. "I passed by a newly opened supermarket yesterday and won two hundred catties of pork in a raffle. I had someone sell the rest for me, but I specifically saved two catties for you. Where do you live? How should I get it to you?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Peng was instantly jolted into a panic. He asked her, "What did you say? You won two hundred catties of pork? No, the main point is that you had someone sell it? Who did you sell it to? Are they reliable? Could that person have scammed you?

"Stay right there and wait for me. I’m coming over immediately!"