Chapter 89: Purely Handmade Woodwork

Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Purely Handmade Woodwork

As soon as the food was set on the table, Yun Zhen leaned in and took a sniff. "I could smell it while I was talking to Aunt Cui Lan earlier! It’s fragrant noodles cooked in meat broth, topped with chunks of meat and spare ribs, and seasoned with braised pork spices. It smells so much better than what we had before!"

Her face was full of sheer amazement, and she couldn’t wait to take a bite. Even though she had already eaten, the mouthwatering aroma whetted her appetite all over again. Her father and the village chief’s cooking skills were absolutely incredible.

"Thank you for bringing the food over for my mother, Xiaobao, and me," Yun Zhen said, making sure to express her gratitude to the village chief’s eldest daughter-in-law.

"What are you saying, Goddess? It is my blessing to be able to deliver meals to you," the eldest daughter-in-law quickly replied.

She was the eldest daughter-in-law of the Li Family. Her father-in-law had tasked her with bringing food to the Goddess because he valued her, so she was more than thrilled to do it.

Yun Zhen turned to Li Cuilan and the daughter-in-law. "Aunt Cui Lan, you two should go eat as well. Today, everyone is having fragrant noodles cooked in meat broth. It’s practically a housewarming banquet for the entire village! Today is a great day of celebration!"

Li Cuilan and the daughter-in-law left together, their faces beaming with bright smiles. "Goddess, we won’t disturb your meal any longer."

"Mother, Xiaobao, hurry and eat." Although Yun Zhen was craving the food, she had already eaten at the cafeteria. Afraid that overeating would keep her awake at night, she gave her portion to her mother—who hadn’t eaten yet—and picked out two chunks of meat for her daughter.

Yun Duo basked in the warm air of the room. Knowing that the whole village was eating fragrant noodles cooked in rich broth, complete with bones and meat, she beamed from ear to ear. "These good days feel like a dream."

Xiaobao placed a piece of meat in her mouth. "Mother, Grandmother, it’s so delicious!"

Yun Zhen handed her a small wooden spoon. "Eat more, Xiaobao, so you can grow tall, fair, and chubby. Remember to drink all the broth, too."

She thought of the children she had seen in the Immortal Realm. Each one was fair and chubby, with plump cheeks, large eyes, and sturdy limbs. She made a mental note to ask Li Mei tomorrow how the people in the Immortal Realm raised their children. She was determined to raise Xiaobao and the other children in the village to be just as robust, fair, and chubby.

Yun Zhen sat eating with her mother and daughter as the joyful chatter of the villagers drifted through the air from outside. The sound of their laughter was lively yet peaceful, painting a picture of tranquil contentment.

A heavy snowstorm raged outside, but the villagers were dressed warmly in cotton-padded clothes and shoes. Holding their steaming bowls of noodles packed with meat and bones, they felt no trace of the biting cold. They simply enjoyed the harmonious atmosphere, talking and laughing together.

At the entrance of the kitchen, Zhou Dashan kept his head down, shoveling rice into his mouth. He took a sip of the thick broth, feeling a comforting warmth spread through his entire body. "These noodles are absolutely delicious!"

Tian Ergou took a bite of his food and let out a sigh of pure comfort. "I remember when Hu Zi’s father and I went up the mountain with a few others to strip tree bark. We smelled this incredible aroma of meat and grease coming from Brother Yun’s house. We thought he had gotten lucky and caught a rabbit. Even though I felt a rabbit couldn’t possibly smell that good, we didn’t know any better back then, so it was our only guess."

He shook his head. "Now I know that Brother Yun and the others weren’t eating rabbit at all. They were eating this type of noodle that smells as good as meat. Especially this broth—one sip, and it’s rich, oily, and has such a unique fragrance."

Someone else chimed in. "It’s all thanks to the Goddess that we have such good days. Even the wealthy folks in town don’t eat this well during a famine year! Those rich families have definitely never tasted noodles as fragrant as this!"

The villagers were bursting with pride and satisfaction, their hearts overflowing with gratitude for the Goddess’s blessings. Not only had she allowed them to survive the famine year, but she had also ensured they ate well, dressed warmly, and lived in clean, windproof houses equipped with heating stoves.

Looking at the lively, animated faces of the villagers, the village chief couldn’t help but let the corners of his mouth curve upward.

It was truly wonderful! During a famine year marked by heavy snow, hunger, and bitter cold, their entire village was holding a housewarming banquet. They were eating fragrant noodles, drinking rich broth, and gnawing on meat-covered bones. If they told anyone, no one would even believe it!

After everyone finished their meals and let out satisfied burps, they washed their own bowls. Following their usual two-person rotation, the pair assigned to wash the pots cleaned the large cauldron and swept the kitchen spotless.

Yun Zhen sought out the village chief. "Village Chief, if you’re free, let’s discuss the new livelihood I’ve found."

"I’m free, completely free, Goddess! Let’s go to the meeting room!" This was exactly what the village chief had been waiting to hear. The village was about to get another source of income, and he was both nervous and full of anticipation.

He cleared his throat and called out to the villagers, "The Goddess is going to discuss a new livelihood with us in the meeting room. Anyone who doesn’t have work to do should come and listen."

Upon hearing this, the villagers eagerly squeezed into the meeting room. A small stove was burning inside, and the village chief removed the fire cover to let the flames grow higher. With so many people packed into the room alongside the roaring stove, it quickly became uncomfortably hot, prompting them to open the windows to let out the heat.

Seeing that everyone had gathered, Yun Zhen cut straight to the chase. "The new livelihood I found is probably something only Uncle Zhao and Uncle Wang can do. Uncle Zhao is the village carpenter. As for Uncle Wang, although he is a hunter, I previously saw him use a small knife to carve a string of wooden beads to make a bracelet for his child. The work I found is quite similar to woodworking."

Carpenter Zhao and Hunter Wang exchanged glances. They were absolutely thrilled! It was woodworking! That was their specialty!

Carpenter Zhao went without saying—his family had passed down woodworking skills for generations. As for Hunter Wang, despite his rough-hewn appearance as a hunter, he was incredibly dexterous. He knew how to use a small knife to carve wood and animal bones into beautiful bracelets.

Carpenter Zhao hurriedly asked, "Goddess, is this new livelihood you found in the Immortal Realm about making bracelets and collars? Although I’ve only made beds, cabinets, chairs, and tables, I’m highly skilled at woodworking, and my carving isn’t bad either. I can definitely learn to make small trinkets very quickly."

"I’ve always loved using a small knife to carve little things out of wood and animal bones since I was a child. After having kids, I also enjoyed carving wooden cats and dogs for them. If it’s about making small trinkets, I’m completely up to the task," Hunter Wang said. He was delighted to be valued by the Goddess and overjoyed that his craftsmanship could bring income to the village. It was exactly what he had wished for.

"Goddess, is woodworking very popular in the Immortal Realm?" the village chief inquired. He was already considering whether he should have his four sons learn woodworking from Carpenter Zhao and Hunter Wang so they could help the village earn money.

Yun Zhen explained, "The friends I made in the Immortal Realm all said that small trinkets carved from wood are very popular. Just like the crocheted dolls, they must be extremely exquisite to make money.

"The woodworking we need to do includes wooden hairpins and small wooden ornaments," she continued, recalling the advice from Su Yue and Li Mei. "By small ornaments, I mean little trinkets—like cats and dogs carved from wood. It’s best if they are about the size of a fist, with intricate patterns carved into them. The more interesting, the better. A puppy carrying a bone in its mouth, or a kitten holding flowers and plants. In short, the trinkets must be delicate, and the carvings on them must be incredibly fine and exquisite.

"As for the wooden hairpins, they just need some simple patterns carved into them. They don’t need to be too complicated. In fact, the simpler they are, the more highly sought after they are by the people in the Immortal Realm. A single wooden hairpin can sell for fifty to a hundred cents.

"The small wooden ornaments aren’t sold individually. If we attach a magnet to the back of a small ornament, it becomes a fridge magnet. People in the Immortal Realm love sticking them onto various appliances in their homes."

Wooden hairpins? Small wooden ornaments? A fridge what?

Listening to the Goddess’s words, everyone wore expressions of half-understanding.

"Goddess, a single wooden hairpin sells for fifty to a hundred cents? That’s too expensive! I remember that a carved wooden hairpin in the county town only costs five cents, and the most expensive ones don’t exceed ten cents." Tian Ergou, who frequently visited the county town, was astonished that a wooden hairpin could fetch such a high price in the Immortal Realm.

While he marveled at the exorbitant price of wooden hairpins in the Immortal Realm, he was also bubbling with excitement. If Carpenter Zhao and Hunter Wang each carved one wooden hairpin, wouldn’t their combined earnings equal the price of a crocheted doll? Furthermore, with their skills, it was impossible for them to only make one wooden hairpin a day!