August 15, Reunion Day. In this era, there is not so much exquisiteness, that is, the whole family gets together and eats some good food, moon cakes or something, it has not yet appeared. A rich family is a matter of relatives and friends who get together to eat, drink and have fun, give gifts to each other, visit each other, and admire the moon at night. Ordinary people, people in the village, should work or work, but it is just a rare thing to add one or two meat dishes to the dinner table.

For the festival thing, modern people basically don't feel anything, and so does Qingshu. When my grandmother was alive when I was a child, she loved the holidays the most. After her grandmother passed away, a lot of things happened, her parents divorced, and gradually, she was not interested in all the festivals, and she didn't even remember her birthday, let alone celebrate her birthday.

Qing Shu, who originally didn't have any feelings about August 15, saw Xiaojuan and Xiaoyu looking forward to it, and finally raised a little interest, and got up early in the morning and instructed Ding Jiabao, who was in charge of purchasing, to buy 20 catties of fatty meat, 20 catties of pork belly, 10 catties of lean meat, pig trotters, meat bones, pig liver, pig heart, pig lungs, and buy a pig's head. In short, she used a very cheesy way, that is, a way to improve the food, and wanted to make the whole house happy.

Today's festival has a lot of people buying meat, so the two butcher shops in the town killed one or two times more pigs today than in the past. Interestingly, the two butcher shops do not occupy the two ends of the town, but come together, and the two butcher stalls are facing each other. On weekdays, the men in the two stalls are nothing, but if the women of the two families are present, they will keep humming and glaring at each other.

Ding Jiabao walked through the two butcher stalls, and also saw that the people of several mansions in the town were also buying meat. He walked to the stall of Zhao Butcher, who bought meat on weekdays, coughed, and asked loudly: "If you come with 20 catties of fatty meat, 20 catties of pork belly, 10 catties of lean meat, and a pig's head, how much cheaper will it be?" ”

Zhao Butcher slashed the meat chopping knife on the board, and grinned, "Big brother, how cheap you want, just say." ”

The daughter-in-law of the money butcher at the opposite stall heard it and shouted: "Big brother, you buy the meat here, and the pig's head is given to you, and it doesn't count as money." If there are bits and pieces that catch your eye, they will all be given to you, not money. ”

Zhao Butcher didn't squeak, but Zhao Butcher's daughter-in-law stopped doing it and shouted, "The surname is Qian, there is no one like you to do things." Immediately turned around and greeted Ding Jiabao with a smile, "Big brother, don't pay attention to that woman, let's do business, we have to do it right, we have to be real." It's insincere to only give bits and pieces, so you cut the meat on our old Zhao's stall, and then take two catties of fat on you. ”

The money butcher's daughter-in-law was about to shout, but the money butcher glared angrily, she wilted.

Ding Jiabao didn't care about that, and bought meat according to Qingshu's explanation. Twenty catties of fat, twenty wen per catty; 20 catties of pork belly, 17 wen per catty; Ten catties of lean meat, fifteen wen per catty; The big bones on the stall are all more than forty-three catties, and they are forty catties, five cents per catty. Two pig heads, sixteen pig trotters, four pairs of pig liver, pig heart, and pig lungs are given free of charge. Butcher Zhao wanted to give Ding Jiabao two catties of fat according to his daughter-in-law's promise, but Ding Jiabao didn't ask for fat and changed the pig's head. Fat meat is the most valuable and the best to sell, Ding Jiabao is also willing to spend less money, but he doesn't want to treat people badly.

Ding Jiabao counted out one tael of silver and handed the other money to Zhao Butcher. Zhao Butcher's daughter-in-law happily sorted and wrapped the meat and put it into one box, and then packed the bits and pieces into another.

Ding Jiabao thanked him, took the flat shoulder, picked up the two boxes full of things and left.

The daughter-in-law of the money butcher was so angry that she sold so much meat that she hid in the shop and refused to come out.

Ding Jiabao carried the burden, walked back to the house in one go, entered through the back door, and delivered the meat to the kitchen.

Xu Sanniang threw a cloth towel to him, "Wipe your sweat, take a breath, and help me divide the meat." The young lady was going to Zhuangzi later, and she happened to bring the meat over. ”

Ding Jiabao wiped the sweat from his forehead, "How to divide it?" ”

Xu Sanniang looked at the meat bought, and asked Ding Jiabao to estimate that he had cut off about five catties of fat and put it in the kitchen, and all the pork belly and lean meat were moved into the kitchen, and the pig's trotters and pig's heart were all kept, the pig's head was left one, half of the pig's bones were left, the pig's liver was left two, and the rest were all given to Zhuangzi.

After the distribution, Xu Sanniang beckoned the little girl to make a stove fire, and she was going to cut half of the pork belly to make braised pork at this time. Wait a minute, the young lady and the raw meat will be brought to Zhuangzi together. The seasoning on the Zhuangzi is incomplete, and the two women in charge of cooking do not make braised pork. She made it here, brought it over, and put it on the drawer for lunch to steam it, and then she could eat it when it was hot.

The kitchen is busy here, and Qingshu is not idle. When they came to Kangxi Town, they had already received four gifts, which was equivalent to having dealings with four families. When I was in the capital, there were a lot of dim sum boxes from Fushun Zhai sent by Luo Fu and General Hu's mansion, and the cakes and snacks that were not good to be kept were all eaten before leaving Beijing, and the biscuits that were well preserved were basically not moved, and they could be given as gifts.

Dim sum from the capital is definitely very popular as a gift in this town. Bai Xianfu's mansion, Bai Qingfeng's Bai Mansion, Shi Jia, and Qingshu each prepared four boxes of biscuits. On Feng Yaren's side, Qing Shu prepared two boxes of biscuits.

I want to ask Qingshu why the etiquette on Bai Xianfu's side is not thicker, but it is the same as that of Baifu and the Shi family? The reason is very simple, Qingshu is reminding Bai Xianfu that you don't take care of my Gufu people, let my Gufu people be bullied, I still remember it! If you want me to treat you well, you have to do what I want me to do well with you.

Only four boxes or two boxes of biscuits are given in the capital, which is a gift that can't be thinner, no, it shouldn't even be a gift. But when it was put in Kangxi Town, the value immediately changed. Besides, August 15 is just a small festival, and everyone is a little bit of a matter of saying something to each other, and the critical time is during the Spring Festival.

The gift of the ancient mansion, the housekeeper just took it out, and it has not been delivered to the place, but the gift of Beppu has arrived.

Bai Xianfu's wife, Lin, sent a housekeeper to send a basket of apples, a basket of pears, a basket of oranges, and a basket of crispy dates.

Bai Qingfeng's wife sent a housekeeper to send a basket of apples, a basket of oranges, a basket of melon seeds, and a basket of new peanuts this year.

The proprietor's wife of the Shiji Inn sent someone to send a basket of oranges and a basket of hazelnuts.

I heard that these oranges and hazelnuts, one from the south, the other from the north, in short, there is no in Huizhou, every year by passing merchants bring some over, sell to the local wealthy. Therefore, oranges have become a must-have gift for the wealthy families in Kangxi Town. Hazelnuts, on the other hand, are rarely brought by merchants, so they are not yet a must-have.

Feng Yaren also said that his wife was carrying a basket in her hand and brought her ten-year-old daughter. Half of the basket is oranges and half is this year's new peanuts. It looks like it's been painstakingly prepared. In the local area, this peanut is not as expensive as the fruit, but it is not cheap, and even the skin is weighed for a pound and 12 Wen, which is about to catch up with the price of white noodles.

In addition, those who send a handful of vegetables, those who send a few eggs, and those who send a pack of snacks...... There was everything, and a group of women stood in front of the house and chattered. When encountering this kind of opportunity, it is impossible to formally return the gift, so Su's mother is in charge, basically stuffing an apple in this hand and a pear in that hand on the spot.

Qing Shu and Qing Yang only saw the housekeepers of the three families who mainly established relationships, as well as Feng Yaren's wife and daughter. The three housekeepers said goodbye and left after seeing the ceremony, Feng Yaren's wife and Qing Shu said a few words, and also took their daughter to leave, and did not stay long.

A bunch of women were gathering in front of the house, Qing Shu didn't dare to go out with a scared face, and she didn't dare to go out until Xu Sanniang's braised pork was ready, and the women in the bunch were scattered.

After waiting for more than two quarters of an hour, the kitchen said that the braised pork had been loaded.

After another moment, Su's mother came in wiping her sweat, "Miss, everyone has been sent away, and you can go." ”

Qing Shu saw that Mother Su was tired enough, and said helplessly: "Mother Su, if there is such a thing in the future, you will show the style of everyone's housekeeper, blow away what should be blown away, ignore what should not be ignored, don't talk so well again." This person, most of them are bullying the weak and afraid of the hard, your politeness and good temper have become easy to handle and fool in the eyes of some people. There are few people in the world who know how to advance and retreat, and there are many people who kick their noses and faces, so don't let people look down on them and treat the entrance of our house as a vegetable market. ”

Obviously, she was preached, but Su's mother did not have the consciousness of being preached, but smiled, "Miss is becoming more and more sophisticated, which is a good thing, a good thing." Today's matter is as simple as the old slave thinks. I thought that since I was a newcomer, I had to build a good relationship with the locals, so I was a little kinder. Unexpectedly, when I met a few women who didn't open their eyes, they were endlessly clinging, and they were thinking about the benefits. Miss rest assured, the old slave has a long memory now, and he will definitely not give those women who just want to take advantage of the opportunity to stick to it. ”

Since Mother Su knew it in her heart, Qingshu didn't mention it anymore, "Mother Su, the pig's trotters and pig's head are handed over to you." "This time, she only eats the marinated pig's trotters with Qingyang, and she doesn't have to worry about being looted.

Su's mother agreed.

Qingshu took Qingyang out and got into the carriage. Xiao Juan, who was carrying half a basket of fruits in her hand, looked not far away and sighed.

"What's wrong?" Qing Shu in the car asked.

Xiaojuan put the basket into the car and said, "Miss, there is an old woman standing over there, holding a basket in one hand and a two- or three-year-old child in the other. ”

Qing Shu listened and didn't speak. Xiaojuan got into the carriage and told Li Dalang that he could go.

The horse wheel rolled, and Xiaojuan lifted the corner of the curtain to look out.

"What are you looking at?" Qingyang asked curiously.

Xiao Juan turned around and said in a small voice: "Young master, the slave is looking at the strange old woman she just said." ”

Qingyang was curious, leaned over to look, and turned back to say to Qingshu, "Sister, the strange old woman is crying, she wiped her tears and pulled the child away." ”

Qing Shu patted him, "Sit down, wait until it turns your buttocks, don't cry out in pain." Seeing that he obediently came back and sat down, he said, "I probably encountered something sad, so I cried." You don't have to be so curious, you cry when you're sad, don't you? ”

Qingyang lowered his head embarrassedly and muttered in a low voice, "I won't cry." ”

With the sound of wheels turning, their carriage went far away. At this time, Ding Jiabao, who was following the back of the car with a burden, suddenly said: "Miss, that's Ning Si's mother." When she came to the mansion to ask for her son the day before yesterday, she also stood in the position just now, hesitating and not daring to approach the mansion door. It wasn't until the housekeeper left the house that she stepped forward and said something to ask for her son. ”

Qing Shu didn't make a sound, neither blaming him for talking too much, nor letting him continue to speak. But I was thinking in my heart, is Ding Jiabao interceding for Ning Si? Why?

When he arrived at Zhuangzi, Ding Jiabao took the burden directly to the kitchen, and by the way, conveyed the meaning of Qingshu, the braised pork was eaten hot at noon, and the rest was distributed to lunch and dinner in the kitchen.

Ding Jiabao put down his burden and saw that Qingshu didn't give him any instructions, so he went to the front and followed Wu Langtou to rub the sorghum head.

Early this morning, the sorghum head in the field was pinched. At this time, Cai Tieniu took a few people in the field, three people tied the sorghum straw, and one person loaded the bundled sorghum straw onto the ox cart. When it was full, Cai Tieniu drove the ox cart back to unload it into the open space in front of Zhuangzi. After a few days of wind and sun, these sorghum straws will be almost dry, which can be used as firewood to burn, and can also be used to build a shelf for vegetables and fruits in the coming year.

They were busy here, and Qingshu and Qingyang went to the vegetable field. Of the forty acres of vegetable land, cabbage occupies thirty-five acres, radishes and radishes occupy four acres, and green onions occupy one acre. With so many dishes, what to do? Bai Qingfeng said that only by planting wheat can he sell it for a few more money, but when he harvests wheat in summer, the only ones that can pick up the stubble are cabbage and radish. After thinking about it again, he gave up the idea of planting 70 acres of wheat and planted 40 acres of wheat instead, so he had these vegetables.

Bai Qingfeng also said that in a Kangxi town, there are no less than six granges around, and the people themselves will grow some vegetables, so the sales of cabbage and radish, which are the staple vegetables in winter, are not good in this town. In previous years, he would sell a small part of the town and sell the rest to merchants, or take it to Jinyang City and sell it to big families or restaurants in Jinyang City. In short, it is a piecemeal transaction, selling half and throwing half, without losing money, and not making a few dollars.

Qing Shu sighed, squatted on the ground, staring at the cabbage radish that was growing well, I really didn't know whether to praise Bai Qingfeng's vegetable planting well, or to scold Bai Qingfeng for only caring about the upper stubble and ignoring the lower stubble.

Qingyang looked here and there in the radish field, and suddenly waved his hand and called Qingshu, "Sister, come on, what a big radish, come sister." ”

Qing Shu agreed, walked into the radish field next to him, walked over slowly, and saw the big radish that Qingyang was referring to. Qing Shu admitted that this radish is indeed very big, and it is stupid and stupid. Its leaves are still green, with only a few leaves that are yellowish and showing signs of wilting. One-third of the radish is exposed to the soil, so you don't have to pull it out to know its size.

Xiaojuan glanced at it, "Miss, this big radish, this head, to say the least, will cost five catties." ”

Qing Shu couldn't tell how many catties it was, "Pull it out, take it back and stew radish soup at night to drink." ”

Xiaojuan muttered in her mouth, she must pass the scale first when she takes it back, so she bent down to pull it out.

Qingyang stopped doing it, "This is mine, I found it, I pulled it out." As he spoke, he squeezed Xiaojuan away, and grabbed the radish leaves with his two little hands and refused to let go.

"Young master, let the slave come, don't dirty the young master's clothes."

"Don't, what I found, I'll pull it myself." Qingyang is very persistent.

Qingshu's face is black, isn't it just a radish, pull it out and grab it? "Okay, okay, don't rob it, you love to pull it, then one person pulls out a few more, take it back to the house and eat it slowly, not afraid of being bad."

"Hey." Qingyang happily agreed, and pulled the radish leaves, but the leaves were broken, and the radish was still buried in the soil.

"Hey." Xiaojuan happily agreed, and pulled out a big radish as soon as she pulled it out.

Qingyang jumped to his feet anxiously, "Sister, sister, why doesn't it come out?" "I grabbed a leaf and dragged it, and it broke again." Sister, why is it so bad, it bullies Xiaoyang. ”

Xiaojuan hugged the radish and laughed, "Haha...... Young master, no, haha...... It's not like that, haha......"

Qingshu also wanted to laugh, but her brother was about to cry, she couldn't hold back her laughter and patted Xiaojuan's head, "Laugh again, don't give food at night." ”

Xiao Juan's laughter came to an abrupt end.

Qing Shu cleared his throat, "You can't grab one leaf or two leaves, you have to grasp a few leaves with both hands, and then pull them hard." Then he glared at Xiao Juan, who was trying to hold back a smile, "You pull out another one and show it to the young master." ”

Qingyang twisted his face, "I don't want her to teach, I want my sister to teach." ”

Well, it's rare for her younger brother to make an awkward fuss, so she naturally wants to be coaxed as a sister. So he pointed to a small radish next to him, "Let's try this." Come, grab the leaves with both hands, and grab as many as you can in your hands. "Yes, that's it, come on, pull it out."

Qingyang tried it with a serious face, and the soil around the radish loosened, but it didn't come out. He looked up at Qing Shu.

Qing Shu smiled encouragingly, "Yes, that's it." You pull harder, harder than just now, and it comes out. ”

Qingyang nodded, the expression on his face was more serious than just now, and he pulled hard, the soil around the radish was loose again, he dragged it again, and finally, the radish was out of the soil. He was stunned for a moment, then jumped up happily holding the radish, "Sister, sister, Xiaoyang will pluck the radish." ”

Xiaojuan was about to laugh again, but Qingshu stepped on Xiaojuan without a trace, and said to Qingyang, "My Xiaoyang is the most powerful, and he learned it so quickly." ”

Qingyang held the radish in his arms and spun around in place several times, and soon remembered the largest radish again, stuffed the small radish in his hand into Xiaojuan's hand, and stared at his target in circles.

Xiaojuan touched her nose and didn't dare to laugh anymore.

At lunchtime, Qingshu and the others finally rushed back to the ancient mansion in the town. Ding Jiabao, who picked meat when he went, picked a big radish when he came back.

After entering the house, Qingyang first told the housekeeper that he had plucked a big radish today, and then when he saw Su's mother, he said it again.

When eating, Qingyang ate in a big gulp, and ate half a bowl of rice more than usual. He said that he should eat more, grow his strength, and grow up quickly