On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, the entire Zhao Family was up a little after five in the morning. After a quick breakfast, they divided up the chores and got busy.
Zhao Youcai was at the stove chopping scallions and preparing other ingredients, while Wang Meilan drew water to wash the bowls and chopsticks. Zhao Youcai had borrowed all the dinnerware from the canteen and had to return it when they were done.
Zhao Jun, meanwhile, took Hua Xiao'Er and Daqing out for a walk around the courtyard before leading them to the storeroom. By now, the two dogs' wounds had healed and scabbed over. They would probably be fully recovered in a few more days.
Zhao Jun tied them up securely. If left loose in the storeroom, the two dogs might go after the three sheep. The Zhao Family was hosting a banquet for friends and relatives today; they couldn't very well treat the two dogs to mutton.
