While the sun had yet to set, Xu Changqing went outside to wash the used cloth diapers and hang them to dry, then ran over to the pigpen to check on her family's two pigs.
These two were some lucky pigs. For the past few months, she had been secretly sneaking them extra food, so they were living quite comfortably and had visibly fattened up.
Her mother said this year was a good one. First came the boy-girl twins, then Xu Changqing found a good match, her father got a promotion, their grain stores were fuller, and even the pigs were fatter than in years past.
It was true.
In years past, they barely had enough grain for themselves, so who would spare any for pigs? The animals subsisted on grass and vegetable scraps. Even after a full year of careful tending, a pig would be lucky to top two hundred pounds.
