112 Raising Pigs on a Large Scale and Becoming Wealthy (Part 2)

In regards to the matter of riding pigs, Shen Tang could offer a couple of cunning retorts.

Previously, during a meal, the topic of pig farming was broached. Discussions revolved around the succulence of castrated pig meat and some considerations for pig husbandry. Shen Tang presumed it would end there—perhaps one day she might impulsively decide to raise a few piglets. However, the following day, as the sun's rays penetrated through the windows into the room, she rose from her bed with half-closed eyes. Lin Feng, that girl, brought water for washing, her face barely concealing her excitement.

"What good tidings do we have today?" Shen Tang rinsed her mouth, wiped her face, jesting, "The corners of my mouth are almost reaching my ears."

Lin Feng, clearly elated but feigning composure, deliberately lowered her voice to sound more mature. "Mr. Chu forbids me to speak. He says the surprise will only be revealed when the master personally witnesses it."

Shen Tang was perplexed, but still managed to coax Lin Feng out, tidying the disheveled hem of her undergarment and changing into clean attire. She combed her hair into a bundle with her fingers, using a wooden comb to arrange the unruly strands, a hair tie clenched between her lips as she walked out, binding as she went.

Lin Feng could barely contain her excitement. "Master, hurry."

"Don't pull, I'm already here, aren't I?" Rarely did Lin Feng, burdened with filial piety, reveal the innocence befitting her age. Shen Tang felt a twinge of amusement, gesturing, "Let's go, let's see how surprising this 'surprise' prepared by Wu Hui truly is."

Then—

As she gazed upon the twenty or so piglets enclosed by a fence, she fell silent. The pungent odor assailed her nostrils, the noisy grunts assaulted her ears.

Unlike her silent contemplation, Lin Feng seemed to be seeing live pigs for the first time, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. If not for fear, everyone would want to reach out and touch.

These piglets had been meticulously cleaned, devoid of mud and filth. Most were black-backed with pink hooves, from a distance resembling figures draped in black blankets, the black extending from their backs to their faces, noses, and mouths, hence called "black-faced lords," while the rest were entirely jet-black.

Shen Tang swallowed nervously.

Not out of greed, but out of intimidation by Chu Yao.

So quick to act? ???

"Captured from the mountains?"

Chu Yao replied, "No, purchased from farmers."

Shen Tang inquired curiously, "Are there still people who can afford to raise pigs?"

Weren't they saying people couldn't even feed themselves?

Chu Yao responded strangely, "Why wouldn't there be? In this world, there are always those dripping with wealth, as well as those destitute, barely clothed. Even in times of prosperity, there are families so impoverished they resort to selling their children. The difference lies in quantity rather than existence."

Shen Tang persisted, "Truly not venturing into the mountains to hunt wild boar?"

Chu Yao chuckled, "I don't have that kind of energy."

Why bother risking encounters in the mountains when you can spend money to buy?

Wild boars are not to be trifled with. In this bandit's den, apart from Gong Shuwu and Wu Lang, who can confront wild boars head-on?

Not to mention Qibu Shan. He hasn't returned yet!

As Shen Tang gazed upon the group of piglets, a longing arose within her. "Which one shall we slaughter tonight? I heard that local pigs grow slowly, with less lean meat and more fat. I wonder how suckling pig tastes when roasted... It must be thoroughly cooked, and I wonder if these pigs have cysticercosis..."

Unexpectedly, Chu Yao replied with profound implications. "Who said they're meant for eating?"

Shen Tang was taken aback. "...Not for eating, then, are we raising them?"

"Yes, for raising."

Shen Tang's brows furrowed, her mouth drooping with disappointment, but she quickly rallied, patting Lin Feng's shoulder. "Raising them is fine too. If we slaughter them now, you won't get to taste it. By the time you're done with mourning, the pigs will have grown larger. We'll slaughter a few then and have a grand feast!"

Lin Feng hesitated for a moment before nodding.

Chu Yao added, "Wu Lang, you'll raise them."

Shen Tang's expression instantly froze, bewildered. "Huh?"

Who's raising them???

"The wealthy refuse to eat, the poor fail to understand cooking, how lamentable! Contemplating day and night, every word Wu Lang uttered yesterday was reasonable. I believe it's worth a try. If we can indeed provide the people with inexpensive livestock meat through castration, the achievement will last for eternity." With a hint of uncontrollable amusement on his face, Chu Yao spoke lightly, "Perhaps Wu Lang might even earn the title of 'Master of Black Gold.'"

Shen Tang: "..."

She felt her current expression matched that of a black-faced lord. What in the world was "Master of Black Gold" (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻

Hmph, obviously they were just teasing her because she was young.

They thought she was gullible, tricking her into raising pigs!

Shen Tang really wanted to refuse, but as she looked at the enclosed piglets, and thought of their meat, and then thought of braised ribs, braised trotters, sweet and sour pork loin, Mei Cai Kou Rou... she shamefully swallowed saliva, muttering, "Self-reliance, self-reliance..."

The more she thought, the hungrier she became.

Shen Tang lifted her chin proudly under the temptation of delicious food. "Hmph, if I can afford to raise people, surely I can raise a few pigs, can't I?"

There was one thing she had to admit.

She had a weakness for piglets.

Chu Yao smiled benevolently, suddenly remembering something. "Can Wu Lang transform blades?"

"Yes."

Why ask such a thing?

Chu Yao twirled his beard satisfactorily. "Very well, very well. Then there's no need to specially commission blades."

"What's so good about that? Being able to transform blades?"

"The piglets are to be castrated, aren't they? Castrating pigs naturally requires blades. Ordinary swords and knives are forged from ordinary iron after thousands of hammers and hundreds of flames, inevitably tainted. But the blades formed by the spoken word are condensed from the qi of heaven and earth, clean, and should be more suitable."

Shen Tang: "...Ah, I see..."

"The Compassionate Mother Sword": "..."

"Recently, I've gained insights into the culinary arts," Chu Yao said with a kindly smile, "If the young piglets don't survive the castration, they can be stewed to replenish Wu Lang's vitality. While the world believes that 'all meats are beneficial, except for pork,' I disagree. Pork can also be nourishing."

Shen Tang: "..."

After some thought, she found it acceptable.

Of course, she wasn't planning to use the "Compassionate Mother Sword" to castrate the piglets. The sword was too long and unwieldy for such precision.

She sought help from Gong Shuwu.

Gong Shuwu, a master of martial arts, could manifest various weapons, including very small knives...

Gong Shuwu widened his eyes. "Now?"

"Of course not now. It's not advisable to wield blades on these piglets in their new environment; it could affect the success rate! My suggestion is to let them acclimate to the new environment, exercise for a few days, and then proceed with the operation. Also, we need to study the anatomical structure of these pigs, or else cutting in the wrong place wouldn't be ideal..."

Gong Shuwu: "..."

As he watched Shen Tang, who was prattling on about pig meat earnestly, he truly worried that Master Qi Shan would strangle Mr. Chu Yao upon his return. Shen Tang was very earnest, taking the piglets to heart.

As she poured the ground "feed" mixed with water into the trough, she pondered how to perform surgery on the pigs.

If performing surgery, pigs are similar to humans, right???

What preparations are needed for human surgery???

"Before surgery, they definitely shouldn't eat... Lin Feng, make a note to starve the pigs for two meals, no, three!" Shen Tang ruminated aloud, instructing Lin Feng to jot down her insights before continuing, "...and also, they need to be shaved, and they need a bath?"

Lin Feng puzzled, "Do we really need to do that?"

"Because we're castrating pigs, cutting into their flesh. If not cleaned thoroughly, contaminants could enter the wounds, causing illness and potentially death, just like with humans. Make a note... Also, it should be done around sunrise and sunset..."

Lin Feng, bewildered, asked, "And why is that?"

"Cooler temperatures, no heat, no sweating. I detest the smell of sweat."

Lin Feng: "..."

What does that have to do with pigs again???

"And they can't be sick."

Lin Feng: "Not even a minor illness?"

"No, they need to be healthy, preferably lively and energetic."

Chu Yao: "???"

He wondered if Wu Lang had worked in a silk chamber before...

Black-faced Lord: It's just another term for pigs, as most local pigs are black.

Black Gold: Also a refined term for pigs; "Master of Black Gold" is teasingly addressing Shen Tang.

The wealthy refuse to eat, the poor fail to understand cooking, and "as cheap as mud": All are quotes from the Pork Ode by Su Dongpo.

Silk Chamber: In reality, it's a prison where castration was carried out as punishment. Wu Lang's "self-taught" understanding of this was discovered by Wu Hui.