The twenty-fourth day of the lunar month, the day of sweeping dust; On the twenty-fifth day of the lunar month, paste the window. Because Situ Yan's house was a newly built house, on the twenty-fourth day, everyone did not clean inside and out, but simply plastered and swept the floor, but cleaned the front yard and the horse shed inside and out. Situ Yan also asked Wu Jin to take people to pull a few ropes in the front yard, Wu Jin thought that the rope was for drying clothes, but he didn't want Situ Yan to hang lanterns on the 30th night.

After a simple tidy-up, the house looks a lot cleaner, after all, so many people live together, it is inevitable that some people will accidentally pile things up and put things in a mess, although Situ Yan and Wu Jin's house is not allowed to enter, which can be regarded as clean, but other houses, especially the houses of a few boys, are not so placed.

After these two days, it is the twenty-sixth day of the lunar month, killing pigs and cutting New Year's meat; On the twenty-seventh day of the lunar month, the day of slaughtering chickens and catching up with the big gathering. Since there are no pigs at home, and the house can't go out, it is even more impossible to go to the market, Situ Yan asked Wu Jin to take everyone to make lanterns, this lantern is still used in Xinchang County, when the cloth village was burned, the broken gauze was bought, and some were taken to make mosquito nets to prevent insect disasters.

"Xiao Wu, where did you get this cloth head, why is it still broken when I look at it?" Lu Ming looked at the obvious traces of repairs on these cloth heads, and even saw the holes burned by the fire, so he asked curiously.

"When I was in a hurry, I happened to see a cloth village on fire, and the owner lost a lot of such cloth, I looked okay at the time, so I picked it up, except for making some mosquito nets or window screens, and the rest were not willing to throw away, but I didn't want to use it at this time!" Wu Jin has been paying attention to Xiaomei and Lu Ming, afraid that they will get too close and let others gossip, after all, Xiaomei will be ten years old next year, and if she is in Beijing, she can start to discuss marriage.

"Yan'er, I see you brought two boxes with these things. And where is there a place for your clothes? Listening to the little sister's words at this time, Wu Jin felt a little sad in his heart, in order to let him live a good life, the little sister had nothing but food and other household items. He brought a total of two boxes, but he didn't want to have many of his own things in them, and he still put these things to use to get by, and he had already noticed that the little sister's clothes were all like those two. Even if some parts were broken, they were just sewn and mended, and no new clothes were made. But he and the bolt also got two new clothes made by Situ Yan.

In fact, Wu Jin really wronged Situ Yan, her clothes are not a lot at all, they were all made by Cui Ping before, but unfortunately, before she got on her body, she was already small, and she didn't throw it away. It's all in the ring. And the clothes she wore were all bought from the clothing appraisal shop on the road, not to mention that there were several boxes of cloth robbed from corrupt officials in her ring at this time, but she didn't dare to make cloth, otherwise she couldn't explain the source of these cloths to Wu Jin.

"It's good to be able to cover the body and keep warm, but it's not convenient to work if you wear silk and brocade. And it's not the time to pay attention to it! ”

Wu Jin glanced around and saw that everyone was concentrating on making lanterns, so he asked in a suppressed voice, "But you made several pieces for your brother a few days ago, and even there are plugs." Why didn't you do something of your own? Wu Jinyuan didn't agree with the little sister to make clothes for the plug, which was not in accordance with the rules, but the little sister insisted, and he didn't say that he made it when he gave the plug. only said that he bought it in a ready-to-wear store, so Wu Jin could feel at ease. In fact, how did Wu Jin know that Situ Yan not only made clothes for the plug, but also made a dress for Lu Ming, which Lu Ming is wearing now.

"I had time to take care of the horses every day. To distribute food, but also to keep vigil, where is that free? Wu Jin is right to think about it, my little sister has been busy these days, and she really doesn't have much time to make clothes out of cloth, so she figured it out, so she didn't ask anymore.

Situ Yan saw that she had escaped again, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief in her heart, this Xiucai really didn't have Lao Bao to worry about, thinking that the four brothers of the Li family were much easier to deceive than Wu Jin.

Situ Yan is busy here for the New Year, but Duanmu Xuan's side has already burned his eyebrows, seeing that the New Year is over, the relief food of the imperial court has not yet arrived, and the slaves of the powerful and rich businessmen on weekdays are nothing, but for the New Year, if they can't make up for the food of these powerful and rich businessmen, I am afraid that these people will make trouble again.

But he had no choice, right now he was asking Duanmu Xuan to lead the troops to rob it, and he didn't know where he could find food. The city was almost scraped to him, and even the animals outside the city were hunted to extinction by his soldiers. You can't find a little bit to eat.

But there is always a way to solve it, Duanmu Xuan sat in the study, listening to the return of the guards such as Mo Feng and Mo Yu, "Young master, there is really nothing to dig in this city, and even those plum blossoms have been eaten up." The subordinates have sent people to the southeast to try to see if they can get out of this snow and find something to eat, but they haven't replied yet! ”

"You can't just point at these people, you have to think of another way." Duanmu Xuan felt that Mo Feng had done his best, and he himself had to think of a way out.

Mo Feng thought for a moment, and then replied to Duanmu Xuan's words, "Young master, there are still some wheat bran, chaff and the like that were originally intended to be fed to livestock in the city, add some to the porridge or paste that is boiled every day, at least it can last a few more days!" ”

"Mo Feng, how can those things for livestock to eat?" Where did Duanmu Xuan know that those things were commonplace for many people, and those things were simply things that could not be eaten in the homes of people like them.

"Young master, those big families have never eaten these things, but the subordinates remember that when the subordinates were young, the family went through a famine, and they all ate this thing, and the people would not dare to eat it because it was for livestock, on the contrary, as long as they could survive, they would eat everything, and even if there was really nothing to eat, some people would eat Guanyin soil!"

"You can eat dirt too?" Duanmu Xuan didn't think about it, "Since it's feasible, let's try it?" Anyway, all the livestock have already been slaughtered, and it's useless to keep the forage, but try to add a day first, and if the people react too much, forget it! ”

In fact, what Mo Feng said is not wrong, there is a lot of wheat bran in the black noodles, ordinary people don't eat it yet, they just want to have a stutter, as for what they eat, it doesn't matter anymore.

After trying for a day, not only did they not make any noise, but because of the addition of wheat bran, the porridge became thicker, and many people thanked the officers and men again and again. It's just that the victims are happy, but where can those big families stand it. It only took a day before someone came to the door. It's a pity that looking at the people who couldn't stop thanking the government, these people didn't even say a word. retreated again, after all, the anger of the people at this time must not be committed, otherwise there will be those who will not die, and they will be knifed.

Duanmu Xuan also saw such a thing for the first time. Even the face that had always been playful was put away, and he put on a serious expression that even Mo Feng was a little overwhelmed.

"Those poor officials should really be allowed to live like this for the people, maybe there will be fewer people who are greedy for ink in this world, and there will be more clean officials who think about the people!" Duanmu Xuan sighed here. Who can know that corrupt officials in this world have not sprung up like mushrooms after a rain. After all, where there are people, there will be selfishness, there will be injustice, and with injustice, there will naturally be corruption, although this cycle is not the way of heaven, but it is deeper into human nature than the way of heaven.

"Young master, in fact, the people don't want much, as long as they have clothes to wear and food. Those who can afford to support their mother-in-law and children are the ones who can afford them. But that's it, there are still a lot of people who can't eat enough in this world! Mo Feng was also very emotional.

Mo Yu looked at Mo Feng like this, and he was not in a good mood, after all, his father and mother were starving to death.

Duanmu Xuan's master and servant are sighing for the people, Situ Yan is busy celebrating the festival here, but Li Dalang's house is deserted, and there is no holiday atmosphere at all. Li Dalang went to do the New Year's goods early in the morning, but at this time he was not even in the mood to change the window paper. But the four of them had a tacit understanding to clean the inside and outside of the house where Situ Yan lived, and even the window paper hanging shed was replaced with a new one. They are waiting for their little sister to come home for the New Year.

"Big brother, do you think my little sister will come back for the New Year?" Jiro is not in the mood for anything these days.

"I don't know, but I think that no matter when my little sister comes back, we will have to clean up the house. Little Five loves to be clean! ”

"Well, what the eldest brother said is right, I will clean it every day in the future!" Saburo chatted with his brothers while pasting window paper.

"What do you still say, it's you and Xiao Si who sweep the diligence, I looked at you and Xiao Si yesterday and swept it again!" As soon as I mention this. Li Dalang thought it was funny, Shiro came to Xiaomei's house yesterday and just swept it, and San Lang swept it again immediately after.

"How do I know that Xiao Si has swept it?" Saburo blushed a little, didn't turn back, and continued to paste the window paper.

Situ Yan didn't know that the four of them were living so lightly now, and even in addition to mentioning her, the four of them had less topics to chat about. And she is here to prepare things for the Chinese New Year's Eve sacrifice.

The tombstone carved by Sun Dabeard is almost completed, calculating the time, it will be all carved by twenty-nine at the latest, and she discussed with Wu Jin, planning to erect the monument on the day of the Chinese New Year's Eve sacrifice, so that these living people can have a place to kowtow and worship. And for the sacrifice, she also prepared a lot of incense candles and paper money, which were originally placed in the warehouse, but did not arouse Wu Jin's suspicions.

Lu Ming has taken over all the work of feeding the horses in the past few days, allowing Situ Yan and Wu Jin to concentrate on preparing for the New Year, but after all, there are many people who help them, but they don't feel tired, but looking at Situ Yan, who is busy coming and going, he always feels that he is very useless.

The snow wolf was happy a few days ago, and went to the backyard to tease the horses, but after a long time, the horses seemed to know that this wolf-like dog would not hurt them, but was less afraid, and the snow wolf saw that the horse was not afraid of it, and began to get bored again. In fact, the best thing to eat in the whole family is it, Situ Yan's ring has stored a lot of meat for it, some of it was caught along the way, and some of it was bought for it when Situ Yan passed by the county, and he didn't starve it this winter, and because he couldn't run around, he nested at home every day, and the snow wolf was still fat.

It's just that except for Situ Yan, even Wu Jin doesn't want to get close to it. Sometimes when the children are in the mood and want to make a fuss about it, it will chase the children all over the yard until they make people cry. For the sake of Situ Yan, she didn't stop her, whoever let these children have nothing to do and didn't suffer a little hardship, they wouldn't be able to learn well.

And the carrots at home are better than those war horses, at least its rations have not been reduced at all, they are all prepared for it by Situ Yan alone, and even the shack where it lives is built for it alone. For this, even Wu Jin laughed at his little sister, "Mistaking fish eyes for pearls!" But Situ Yan just does her own thing, in her heart, these war horses together are not as intimate as her carrots, after all, everyone who goes south and north points to it.

Busy and finally looking forward to the Chinese New Year's Eve, Wu Jinxian led people to the cemetery with the tombstone, more than a dozen people erected the monument together, and filled the grave with soil, then put on the sacrifices, recited a few words of mantras, and asked everyone alive to put a pillar of incense for the dead relatives and burn a handful of paper money.

Situ Yan saw that everyone had already put on the incense, so she stepped forward and lit a bunch of incense, but she didn't speak, just glanced at the first name on the stele, where it was Wu De's name engraved, or Wu Jin helped to say on the side, "Father, Yan'er has forgiven you, and you can rest in peace!" ”

After the incense, Situ Yan reminded Wu Jin in a low voice and asked him to tell these people the location of the names of each family on the tablet, after all, there are few literate among these people. And when these people came to worship later, they only knew where their deceased relatives were. This action really caused a lot of shock, and these people all flocked to the monument to carefully remember the names of their relatives, and some even used their hands to caress the names of the ancestors on the monument and cried quietly.

Situ Yan pulled Sun Dabeard, "Uncle Beard, you and Brother Sun Wang have worked hard these days!" ”

Sun Dabeard was already shy, but after all, he had been with Situ Yan for a long time these days, and it was somewhat better than when he first met, "What's this?" The big guy can have a thought now, and I also feel that I have done a good deed, so I should be blessed by my girl! Speaking of Xiaoman, Sun Dabeard also wiped away tears with these people. If his poor girl can be saved, those who follow Situ Yan will not suffer much.

"Sister Xiaoman has a grandchild to take care of in the sky, don't worry too much about the bearded uncle!" Although Situ Yan didn't like that Xiaoman, she had a good impression of Sun Dabeard's father and son, so she couldn't bear to see him sad, so she persuaded him twice.

"Yes! Now that Xiaoman can be taken care of by her mother, maybe she is enjoying happiness in heaven at this time? ”

"Exactly!" Situ Yan whispered a few words of persuasion, and it was up to them, after all, compared to her, an outsider, these people have really lost their relatives, and crying is also a kind of remembrance of the ancestors.

The morning ceremony ended with a cry, and when they came back at noon, everyone did not make any noise to eat, and Situ Yan did not let the two aunts prepare, but went directly to the stove room to start preparing the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner. (To be continued.) )