The peasant family had a hard life, and these small fruits had long been pinned on high hopes, and as soon as they were ripe, they would pick a basket and sell them in the city, and the thirty or fifty copper coins would be enough for the family to spend on oil and salt for a month. Of course, after half a month, when the fruit of every family is ripe, this thing will become a cheap thing, and children can climb the tree and eat as much as they want.

On this day, Dong Rong saw that someone was selling wild strawberries on the street, so she bought half a basket and came back, planning to teach everyone to make fruit shaved ice. I didn't want to, but Sister-in-law Qiu smiled and brought a bowl of brightly colored cherry shaved ice to her. Dong Rong was surprised and secretly sighed that the wisdom of the working people was infinite, and then she raised the salary of Sister-in-law Qiu very happily, and by the way, she called Silly Zhu to help move out the things prepared earlier.

A few days will be the Dragon Boat Festival, and there is a custom of steaming fragrant rice dumplings near the left of this Qingxian County. The leaves of the local specialty are picked by the river, and the rich people wrap glutinous rice and various fillings in them, and the poor families change them to sticky yellow rice and dried dates, and steam them in a basket full of them, and the old and young gather around to eat a full meal, even if it is a celebration of the festival.

Dong Rong is not mean and stingy, and in modern times, she is used to giving benefits during the holidays, so she ordered a hundred catties of glutinous rice and a few cans of dates in the grain store a few days ago, and just waited for this time to distribute them to everyone to have a good time.

Sister-in-law Liu saw the glutinous rice and sweet dates of the white flowers, and she was so happy that she rubbed her hands and didn't know what to say, of course, the master who didn't know where she was was grateful again. At the end, the people went out to sell more diligently, the men pushed their wheelbarrows fast and steadily, and the women also pulled their necks and sang loudly and melodiously.

Since the Buddha's birthday, the people of Qingxian County have been accustomed to hearing the sound of selling in the streets and alleys, and it has become a rule to wake up from a nap and eat a bowl of shaved ice to dissipate the heat.

As a result, Dong Rong's ice cube business is becoming more and more prosperous day by day, and sometimes she has to count copper coins until the second half of the night, which has become a veritable cramp when counting money.

But despite being tired, Dong Rong still smiled with joy, for no other reason, the money to buy the orchard was finally enough.

That night, she left all the chores behind, happily scooped two bowls of fine noodles made of fresh wheat, beat an egg and half a bowl of warm water to knead and roll into thin slices, and cut into thin strips with the clanging of kitchen knives. When the water in the pot rolls over the flowers, it will be sprinkled in, boiled vigorously and elastic, and finally scooped into the blue and white porcelain bowl, and then with the blanched tender wild vegetables and the half-burnt meat sauce, at a glance it is really white, green and tender, and it is fragrant when you smell it. Silly Zhu couldn't talk about eating, even Dong Ping forgot about Sven, rolled up his sleeves, and praised him again and again.

For chefs, the best compliment is the empty bowl of diners. Dong Rong saw that the two people closest to her in the world ate so sweetly, and she also had a great appetite and ate a full bowl.

After the meal, the three of them picked up the dishes and chopsticks and sat under the big tree in the courtyard with their round stomachs to enjoy the shade. Silly Zhu Xu was tired of carrying ice cubes during the day, and he snuggled on the back of the chair with half-squinted eyes and took a nap. Dong Rong gently shook the pu fan to chase away mosquitoes for him, and occasionally turned his head to whisper a few words to his younger brother.

Dong Ping raised his head, feeling the evening breeze blowing on his forehead, only to feel that he had never had such a comfortable day since he was sensible. He couldn't help but sigh comfortably and said, "Sister, if only the days could be like this forever." ”

Dong Rong chuckled, touched his shoulder pityingly, and said, "Don't worry, with my sister here, the future can only get better and better." ”

When Dong Ping heard this, a trace of worry and deep thought flashed in the depths of his eyes. The corners of his mouth moved, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he said, "Okay, as long as the eldest sister is happy." ”

Dong Rong was thinking about asking Liu's sister-in-law to send some food to the Cao family tomorrow, and she didn't pay attention to her brother's strange appearance, so she instructed again, "I have prepared five catties of japonica rice and a piece of fat meat for our family's festival, you can help me send it back tomorrow." If the Niu family finds fault, don't pay attention to her, and send you to the academy after this month, and then the ears will be completely clean. Also, Aunt Cao treated me well and gave her a gift. Help me ask again, if Cousin Lu and Sister-in-law Du Juan have free time, let them also come and earn some wages. ”

Dong Ping heard his sister talk about his stepmother, but he remembered the "borrowed" capital, and hurriedly reminded, "Eldest sister, should I return Erniang's silver?" ”

Dong Rong was stunned, slapped her forehead at the end, and secretly laughed at herself if she was really born a thief and forgot about such an important matter.

"Of course, you have to pay it back, you can stay at home for one night tomorrow night, and quietly put the silver back while it is dark."

"Okay." Dong Ping was still a little afraid that his sister would have some strange ideas, but when he heard this, he was relieved and responded with a smile.

The two sisters and brothers were talking lively, and no one noticed that the stupid pillar on the side turned over and gestured to the corner of the courtyard. There seemed to be a dark shadow moving in that place, but it was soon restored to its original state.

After gossiping for a long time, the night was dark. Dong Rong yawned and told her younger brother not to study too late, and then coaxed Silly Zhu to go back to the wing room and fall asleep together.

Early in the morning of the second day, before the sky was bright, Sister-in-law Liu and others rushed to the small courtyard. It turned out that they brought back japonica rice and dates yesterday, and they won countless envy and jealousy from their neighbors. The old people in the family are all kind-hearted, and they are also instructed to work hard, so that they are worthy of the favor of the Lord's family. So, after discussing it, everyone went out half an hour early, thinking that it would be okay to help clean up the ice cellar.

Everyone is kind-hearted, but Dong Rong is in trouble. Where is there an ice cellar in the backyard to pick up, and each box of ice cubes is made by her and Dong Ping in the middle of the night. But she couldn't tell the truth, so she racked her brains to find some small work to carry water or clean the yard. Everyone has seen that Dong Rong is doing things well and can write and calculate these days, and they are very convinced of her, and they have no objections to her assignment, so they laugh and pick up the flat broom and get busy.

Dong Rong secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and without waiting to raise her hand to wipe the cold sweat on her forehead, she remembered another headache. Since everyone in the village knows that everyone has received the festival, but Mrs. Cao and Sister Cao have not seen half a grain of rice, with the temperament of their mother and daughter, they can't kill them immediately?

As the old saying goes, bad people and bad things are the most unbearable. Dong Rong was thinking like this, and the two wooden doors in the small courtyard were photographed with a "clang" sound. Sister Cao's sharp voice came in through the crack in the door, "Open the door, open the door!" What are you doing with the door closed so tightly in the morning? Is there anything unsightly? ”

Dong Rong rolled her eyes fiercely, waved her hand to stop Sister-in-law Liu, who wanted to come forward, and then walked to the door in person and pulled the latch. Sister Cao was very happy to come with her mother to find trouble with her brother and daughter-in-law, and she worked very hard to slam the door, not wanting the door to be opened suddenly, she stumbled and fell into the yard, and fell into the yard with a sturdy.

Sister-in-law Liu and the others didn't like her lazy but bragged about her family's rich temper everywhere, and when they saw her making such a fool, they laughed and mocked, "Yo, eldest sister, you said you would come, why do you kneel and kowtow when you meet?" This is not a New Year's Day, and everyone can't afford it. ”

"That's right, I don't see that the eldest sister is such a person who understands etiquette so much, could it be that she married her brother and daughter-in-law who is knowledgeable and has also been touched with aura?"

Sister Cao's face turned red in annoyance, and she scolded, "You don't look at what you are, and you deserve me to kowtow to you!" Let's all hurry up and work, our Cao family's wages are not given for nothing! ”

Everyone was so choked that they were all annoyed, and they wanted to refute a few words, but when they turned their heads to look at Mrs. Cao, who also walked in from outside the courtyard with a black face, they felt that it was not good to cause Dong Rong more trouble. So they were busy picking up carts and other things, and quickly hid out.

Sister Cao consciously drank away from the crowd very majestic, her chin was raised so much that she couldn't go up to the sky, swaggered to the stone table and sat down and shouted, "Sister Rong, hurry up and make some good food, my mother and I haven't had breakfast yet." ”

Dong Rong ignored her, bowed her head and saluted Mrs. Cao, and greeted, "Mother, why are you and your eldest sister here?" But what's going on at home? ”

Mrs. Cao snorted coldly, pouted and said, "Why can't I come?" If you don't come to see it, my son will be ruined by you if he finally earns some hard-earned money. ”

Dong Rong frowned, she was really impatient in her heart, but she barely endured it without having a seizure. After thinking about it, she went to the stove room, brought breakfast warm in the pot and brought it to the stone table. As soon as Sister Cao saw the big white steamed bun, she immediately reached out and grabbed one and bit it hard, choking so much that she almost rolled her eyes. Seeing this, Mrs. Cao scolded Dong Rong, "What are you doing standing stupidly, hurry up and serve a bowl of porridge to your eldest sister." ”

Dong Rong gritted her teeth and stepped forward to add porridge for their mother and daughter, and just after putting down the spoon, Dong Ping and Silly Zhu, who were busy in the backyard, also rushed over to hear the movement. Dong Ping bent down to say hello to Cao Pozi, and reluctantly got a cold snort, and Zhu Zi didn't know what kind of temper he had, so he just stood beside Dong Rong stupidly, and he didn't have the idea of saluting at all.

Sister Cao munched on steamed buns while counting down her younger brother, "Look at your stupid appearance, why don't you know how to salute when you see our mother?" It used to be better, why are you getting more and more stupid these days, is it because someone has taken it badly? As she spoke, a pair of dead fish eyes swept over Dong Rong's sister and brother, and the meaning was really self-evident.

Dong Ping was so angry that his face darkened and it was difficult to deal with her, but Dong Rong was unwilling to endure it anymore. The mother and daughter clearly came to the door with a weasel, and they didn't have a good heart. Even if she respects and offers, she won't be able to get good, and maybe they will think that she is a bully. Besides, Sister-in-law Liu and others have gone out to sell ice bowls, except for their younger brother, they don't have to worry about the reputation of being unfilial and disobedient.

Thinking like this, she also had a cold face, and reluctantly suppressed her temper, and waited until Mrs. Cao and her mother finished their breakfast like a storm, and then stepped forward and said, "Say, what is the matter with you coming today?" If it's a matter of gossip, we don't have to gossip, we still have work to do! ”