บท 13: 13. Trying to help but earning trouble
Mina was standing over a huge amount of intestines and internal parts. Putting aside internal organs she sighed as she looked through the intestines and smile then. They looked healthy so she quickly entered the house, but the old looking dress took the big bowl from the kitchen and rushed out.
Just when she was about to start cleaning all up she heard a slight knock on the main gate. Somehow she had the feeling who that is and she was right.
Ko Mea stood in front of the door and smiled. "Miss Leng, l... could you maybe teach me how to prepare insides? I have no money to pay you but I can come and help you with things you might need."
She looked around but saw everything clean so her thin shoulders scrunched. "There is nothing..."
Mina chuckled and pointed at three buckets. "I will wash inner organs and you clean first insides from dirt. After that, I'll show you what else we have to do. It's lots of work."
Ko Mea just rose her sleeves and went to the water well. "Where should I throw the dirt?"
Mina pointed at one wooden bucket and then stood in front of guts not knowing where to start. She saw Mina taking knives and cutting off part of it and then squeezing dirt out and putting it in a smaller bowl with clean water.
After washing throughout she threw the water into another bucket. In few movements, she turned the guts inside out, rubbed it with coarse salt and stared scraping all the strange thing from inside. After that, she put in huge bowl with clean water and smiled at her. "The guts need to be clean. As soon I finish cleaning the organs I'll continue cleaning guts as well, can you to it the way I did?"
Ko Mea nodded. "It's not hard. Lots of work but not too complicated. I'll start now."
Mina just nodded and started cleaning organs. Heart, kidneys, liver everything looked so tasty. She already had so many recipes in her head that Luckily her mother taught her.
As it was just two baskets full that meant it was pair of each so she was fast done.
But as she turned her head she saw the whole bunch of insides already cleaned. With wonder she saw Ko Mea swift moves and realized that she would have needed a whole day to clean this much, but now...
She brought out one more big bowl added clean water. "I will wash the ones you are done. You are indeed faster than me. I will wash the guts few more times. The slime around it needs to get out as well. Watch me."
She washed again and again and then threw water at nearby wall opening. Then she washed it again and changed water so many times until it was completely clean. Then she added one more time salt and rubbed the guts throughout and squeezed until they were inside out squeaky clean.
Her hands were by now completely red from cold water so she just sighed. "You finish the rest. I'll turn fire as we need to prepare this fast. " In passing, she saw the pig head and rolled her eyes. "Forgot the pig head. I'll cook hot water for him. We need to clean the bristles and ears on his head. Then we can use it all."
Ko Mea was stunned to hear that. She just let the head cook on light fire so she could cut out just take out meat parts she needs. Luckily she let it on low fire and when she comes back, she might be able to salvage something. She came closer and explained.
Mina nodded. ''Are you far from here?''
Ko Mea shook her head. ''Actually, I live on another side of the village but I can go and pick it up quickly.''
Looking at finished intestines Mina nodded. ''I will take care about the second batch of intestines until you come back. They can't sit still too long. We need to fry them soon...'' But suddenly a knock could be heard on the gate. Mina stopped talking nd opened gate and saw bunch children standing outside the gate.
''Is our mother here. She needs to go home and cook dinner. Neighbours said we should go home, they won't feed us.'' The oldest was a boy was around his early teens. He looked at her with despising expression that made Mina raise her eyebrows. How rude...
She looked at him coldly and shook her head. ''Your mother is working today for me. You are old enough to work for yourself. Go home and bring pig head heard. We will cook it here. And bring few Salkmo roots.'' When she was about to close her gates he started arguing with her with a loud voice.
''How can our mother work for other people? She must first feed us. That pig head... I threw it out of the house as it smelled nasty. She must give us proper meals. That is her duty...'' But suddenly felt pain and in astonishment saw his mother standing there while shaking like leaves on a strong wind. ''Mother... how could you... I am your son...''
''I don't have rude children in my household. Did you throw away the pig head? Good... good... Then you go eat grass and dirt as I spent my last money to buy that. If your father knew how you speak he would turn in his grave. Who thought you such nasty way of speaking? Are you planning to become ruffian? If that is the case let me beat you to death. I lost all my face now. How could you speak to me in this manner? And the rest fo you? Feel the same'' She looked at the teenage girls that just turned their heads away from her. her heart dropped. ''Good. tomorrow I will bring you to the city all and sell you for good money. People in the city always need servants. You will have clothes on back, food on the table but not me. I will take the money and go to some other city and live calm new life!!!'' She screamed while punching her chest. She hoped that it will scare them enough to get clear about other life but the boy just snorted.
''I will just run away. Who can catch me?'' He turned around and rushed inside the forest while the rest of the children looked at mother that just threw up blood and fainted on the floor.
They got scared. If she dies who will take them? They already lost their father, if they lose her as well what will happen to them. The oldest girl started screaming at Mina. ''You made my mother overwork herself and now she will die!''
Mina just rose her eyebrow and chuckled. ''She came to my house just short while ago. She is on roll since this morning. Trying to find food for you lot here and there. I am just a bit older than you and live alone. You can't even help your mother around the house? Look how grey her face is. When did she eat proper food last time? Soon you girls will marry. Remember this moment in future. Now take your siblings home and bring Elder Kang here if you do not wish for your mother to die. Hurry!''
Her sudden outburst made the girls jump and they picked up the younger siblings and rushed away while Mina looked at Ko Mae and pocked her face. ''They are gone. Stand up. I need to talk to you. This life if you want your children to live proper life... you must listen to me.''
Ko Mae opened her eyes and emotionlessly stood up and looked at a bunch of blood on the floor. Mina patted her hand and pulled her in. ''That was your anger that gathered for a while. Come, lay down. You anyway look sick, it won't be even lying if I say you are sick. Look at your complexion.''
She had few servants in her household that overworked themselves and she knew all signs.
Mina put her in the side room where the big pots are and one unused bed. ''You stay here. Knowing Elder Kang she will be here in no time. I think this will be bothersome for me.''
Involving herself with other people business was never her intention but this woman made her think of her mother. Those children had not even tiny bit fo respect to there won mother, and she had no understanding for that. Reluctance and anger could be seen on her face and Ko Mae felt truly ashamed.
''Child... I... '' But suddenly stopped as she saw her icy eyes.
''I am not your child. To you, I can only be miss Leng. I wanted to help you and your children to survive, but I am not foolish to accept such intimacy. Now listen to me, Miss Ko. I will help you this time, but what happens after this is not my problem. Next time go to Elder Kang's home. She is Head of the village, not me. Rest a bit until Elder Kang comes. After that, I will show you how to cook the intestines and inner organs and what you do with that knowledge is your own problem.'' Mina's voice resounded in the room as she stood by the door.
Ko Mae felt angry but realized that she is angry at wrong person so she just pressed her lips and nodded. ''Than I will thank you miss Leng. I am sorry about this situation...''
Mina just shrugged and left the room. ''If I accept her as my friend and she doesn't respect herself, I will just ask for further troubles. Am I a bad person?''
Suddenly a voice could be heard through the still open gate...
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