Wen Mu originally wanted to send the money to Xue Sanniang as soon as possible, but the team was about to leave, and there were still miscellaneous trivial procedures to do, although there were not many things, but there were many people waiting for repatriation in the barracks, and there were few people doing things. Lunch was a general meal arranged by the barracks, and he patiently drank a bowl of wine and ate something, so he hurriedly went to find an acquaintance, and asked the man to lead him to the logistics to buy ten catties of flour, fifty catties of buckwheat and a few lumps of salt, and took out one hundred and eighty wen to buy a large jar of vegetable oil, and put the grain and salt and more than ten copper coins left over from the purchase of things, put them in a large sack of linen cloth and carried them on his shoulders, and then he carried the clay pot out of the camp with one hand and the other hand.

This time he did not enter the market town again, but first went around the barracks to the river, and then followed the path on the side of the river ditch to the south end of the town.

Although he was carrying dozens of pounds of things, he did not walk slowly. He didn't bother to pay attention to the crops and seedlings on the slopes that had become dry and gray due to lack of water, nor did he pay attention to the weeds on the banks of the river on both sides, and he didn't pay attention to the surprised eyes of several farmers who were carrying water to water the ground when they looked at him, and just walked with his head buried.

He soon saw the rows of willow trees on the south side of the town.

He made a bend at the edge of the wheat field and carefully descended the river beach along a steep ladder that a man had stepped on. After walking a little further from here, and crossing the low earthen embankment not far away, you can see the thatched house that Xue Sanniang borrowed.

Seeing that he was getting closer and closer to the embankment, he didn't know why, and he suddenly became nervous for some reason.

He stopped, pulled his sleeve and wiped his forehead and cheeks, which were actually not sweaty, and took two deep breaths, trying to calm down his messy mood as soon as possible. Fuck it! He cursed in his heart. He said to himself: You're just repaying the favor, don't fucking think about it! But the more he told himself not to think about it, the more the hellish thought swirled uncontrollably in his mind...... There was no way, he had to be busy delivering things one by one to calm down his emotions first! He took the sack off his shoulder and pestled it on the ground, and stood in front of the embankment with the end of the rope in his pocket, looking around at everything around him.

There was nothing to see around, except for the grass and trees, and the little ditch that was about to turn into a thin hemp rope. Since the beginning of spring, there has not been a single rain in Yanzhou, and now there is not much water left in this small river ditch. As the river shrinks day after day, the riverbed near the shore has been exposed, and large and small pebbles have paved the riverbank. A group of half-sized children were carrying stones and catching fish and shrimp in the pond with their bare butts, and they were all covered in mud. There were also a few women by the river, all with their sleeves rolled up high, squatting on the stones to wash their clothes.

It's another year this year!

He sighed in his heart. Yesterday was the solar term valley rain, but God obviously has not heard of the saying "the valley rain does not rain and then cry the rain", so I forgot that it should rain on this day, so that people who are eager for a good harvest can have hope. Alas, the calamitous Yan Shanwei has just suffered a military disaster, and encountered such a year, if it continues to be like this, I don't know how the Zhuanghu people should live this year......

He sighed, threw the sack over his shoulder, lifted the clay pot of vegetable oil again, and shook his head. He was about to step uphill when he suddenly heard someone on the slope speak:

"Ah, isn't this the eldest brother of the Wen family? What are you doing here? ”

Someone here knows themselves? He looked up in surprise. Yes? It's Xue Sanniang!

Xue Sanniang walked down with a large wooden basin full of filling, and asked him as she walked: "Are you going to the town to catch the market?" How did you get here? Behind her, she was followed by a group of aunts and aunts in rough clothes and ugly skirts, all of whom copied wooden pots and barrels, and followed Xue Sanniang's words to look Wen Mu up and down with their eyes.

Wen Mu said: "I was saying that I was going to look for you." One by one, I got you some grain, oil, and salt. I originally said that I would come back in a few days, but I received the military order yesterday evening, and the team will start tomorrow, and I am afraid that I will never have a chance to repay you for saving your life in the future, so I hurried over. ”

Xue Sanniang avoided the road, let the mother-in-law and aunts behind go first, and said to Wen Mu: "What is not gracious, the little thing of raising your hand, where is the need for you to worry so much?" It's just a kitten and a puppy that no one wants on the side of the road, and if you can give up a bite of food, you have to give up a bite of food, after all, it's also a life. …… How much more about individuals? She glanced at the big pocket on Wen Mu's shoulder, shook her head and said, "I can't take these things, you can take them back." Even if you want to repay it, you have enough money for yesterday. It is not easy for you people who eat food and become soldiers, and it is not easy to save some money......" he said and was about to leave. Wen Mu had something in his hand that didn't fall short, so he had to take a step and block the road, and said solemnly: "Sanniang, you think this is a trivial matter, but in me it is a matter bigger than the sky, if you don't save me at that time, there will be no me in this world." To tell the truth, I can't repay the favor with this money and food, but I will go back to Shangjing tomorrow, and I may never come to Yanshan again...... You can't make me worry about this and never sleep well for the rest of my life, can you? ”

Several mothers-in-law and aunts didn't go far, they all stood not far away and listened to them, and at this time, even Meng Daichai heard six or seven things, and one of them, who was obviously the leader, came over to persuade: "Sanniang, what this old army said is also reasonable, you have to accept this gift from him, if you don't repay it, you will be poked in the backbone for a lifetime." ”

Xue Sanniang saw that Wen Mu was very sincere, and his companions were all helping him speak, so he reluctantly nodded. She handed the tub to the woman who spoke, and came over to pick up the pocket on Wen Mu's shoulder. How could Wen Mu let a woman do these stupid things, but this road was narrow, and there were dirt slopes on both sides, he felt that it would be indecent if he really argued with Sanniang over this, and said "I'll come" in his mouth, so he couldn't avoid it for a while, so he let her snatch her pocket. But after all, it was dozens of pounds, and he was a little worried that she wouldn't be able to lift it, so he quickly reminded her: "Be careful, that thing sinks!" ”

With the help of her two companions, Xue Sanniang put her pocket on her shoulder, held the bag with both hands, and said with a smile: "You are all carried out of the mountain by me, maybe this thing can be more dead than a big living person?" Then he said to his companions, "Go ahead and get busy, for I have a guest in my house." ”

Wen Mu hurriedly said: "I still have errands in the barracks, so I have to rush back immediately." ”

"That's not going to work." Xue Sanniang is a happy person, and when she heard Wen Mu say it, she immediately shook her head, "There is no reason in the world to drive away people who come to give gifts, even if my family is poor, there is always a mouthful of cold water to quench my thirst." You carry the oil and help me bring the wooden basin and sit at home first. ”

Wen Mu had to help her send her things back first.

The shabby hut, which seemed to be blown down by a gust of wind, was soon there.

Now, he sat by the door and watched Sanniang boiling water and brushing pots on the stove under the house wall. Can a stove made of three stones be considered a stove? A stoneware pot on the stove is their pot?

He turned his gaze to the hut.

Because there were no doors or windows, and the half-linen curtain at the door was only rolled up one corner, the room was unusually dark. Sitting by the door, I could see the sunlight outside penetrating through the cracks in the surrounding walls, and the condensed pillars of light reflected bright spots on the uneven mud floor. Then by these lights, he could barely see what was going on in the room: the sack he had brought with him was placed by the door; Further inward, in the corner of the wall, lay a mat with a thick layer of hay, and a patched cloth of unsightly color covered the hay, on which lay a ball of cotton wool. The cotton wool has probably been taken care of by Sanniang, but it is so bad, it is said to be "stacked", maybe it should be "wrapped" one by one, it can only be wrapped into a ball and placed in the middle of the floor. There is also a burden on the bed, and the mother and son probably use it to make pillows, and there is a thick wooden stick against the wall next to the baggage, which is used to prevent thieves......

He sat in horror on the only low wooden bench. The stool seemed to be even more dilapidated than a hut, and if it had not been for the thick hemp rope that had been tightly tied around it, it might have fallen apart at any moment. He could only be careful not to move.

Tuwa followed his mother's side, staring curiously at Wen Mu, an uninvited guest. Wen Mu had just come here two days ago, and he still had some impressions, so he wasn't too afraid. But he was not friendly to Wen Mu. Wen Mu beckoned to him, but he didn't pay attention to it.

Sanniang was probably frightened by the "heavy gift" sent by Wen Mu, and she didn't speak. Wen Mu didn't know what to say, so he had to watch Sanniang busy.

There is only one clay pot in this house, in order to boil water for Wen Mu, Sanniang raised the fire to boil water to wash the jar and wash the dishes for a long time, and when the water was boiled, the sun was already to the west.

Wen Mu drank a bowl of water, but he couldn't sit still. This time, he didn't accept Sanniang's retention, but insisted on leaving, and he had to pack up his things tomorrow......

He walked out of the ditch into the wheat field to meet the tiny light and shadow that came through the cracks in the branches and leaves of the willow trees. At this time, the wheat field is also lively, and many adults and dolls are clustered here like a market to watch the excitement. There seemed to be some people standing in the middle of the wheat field, and a dozen horses, the sound of the horses snorting and the whispers of the people around them were mixed with the whispers of the people around them, and it was impossible to hear what was being said. He was so preoccupied that he didn't bother to look around and inquire, but just walked with his head down; Besides, this excitement has nothing to do with him, most of it is the troupe invited by someone in the market town to do a happy event......