Gu Jinxiu also made a cushion out of burlap and spread it on the stool, Jiang Shi saw a picture of a farmer's cooking smoke on the cushion, and was very surprised: "This picture is really well embroidered, it looks better than flowers." ”

She has seen a lot of embroidered plum blossoms, begonia flowers, and lotus flowers, but she has never seen a picture of a farmer's cooking smoke embroidered on coarse cloth.

On this plate-sized picture, a small farm yard is embroidered, and smoke curls from the chimney; On the fence of the farmhouse stood a rooster crowing; Under the fence is a hen with a flock of chicks digging the ground for food; In the distance is farmland, and beyond is a forest and mountains.

Looking at this picture, Jiang seemed to be in the scenery in the picture, and the whole person was relaxed and happy.

When Gu Jinxiu heard the words of praise, she lowered her head with a slightly red face, turned around and went to the kitchen to get the prepared things to entertain Shang Xiucai's family.

Gu Jinli said: "This is my eldest sister's embroidery, there is a better one, when Aunt Shang goes back, I will bring that embroidered picture back to you." ”

Gu Jinxiu loves to embroider things, and originally planned to embroider to sell them for money, but now that the family is busy, she has no time to embroider, so she will only embroider five small pictures, three of which are used to make cushions and placed on stools, one is hung in the hall for decoration, and one is placed in their room.

Jiang was very happy and gladly agreed: "Then the aunt will accept it." ”

Jiang didn't refuse, she knew that if she shirked it, it would be to push the relationship between the two families away, not to mention that she really liked this embroidered picture.

After a while, Gu Jinxiu came in with a tray and brought in a plate of fried spiced tofu, a plate of bean dregs cake, three bowls of sweet bean curd, and a pot of hot soy milk.

"Shang Xiucai, Mrs. Shang, come and try our home-made snacks." The third grandmother greeted Shang Xiucai and his wife, and said with a little embarrassment on her face: "Countrymen, there are no good things to entertain, don't dislike the two of you." ”

Shang Xiucai said: "The third aunt said that it was funny, your tofu sells very well in the town, and many people can't buy it if they want to eat it, so we have a good fortune today." ”

He also said: "The third aunt can call me Wenyuan, and I can call Wenyuan's daughter-in-law." "Wenyuan is Shang Xiucai's word.

The third grandmother is a simple person, and said casually: "Okay, then the old woman will drag it out, and call you Wenyuan and Wenyuan's daughter-in-law in the future." ”

Jiang nodded with a smile, took the initiative to take a bowl of sweet bean curd, and asked, "What is this?" It looks like half-frozen ice and snow, which is strangely beautiful. "The Gu family's tofu stall doesn't seem to sell this kind of thing.

Gu Jinli said: "This is bean curd, it is something before the tofu is formed, it is sweet, tender and refreshing, and it is very suitable for women and children." ”

"Yes, then Yuan Yuan and I want to try it." Jiang Shi scooped a spoonful with a wooden spoon and ate it, the bean curd melted in his mouth, and there was a hint of sweetness, which was very delicious: "It's really delicious, I've lived for half my life, and I haven't eaten such tender food." ”

"Mother, mother, if you want to eat, you have to eat." Yuan Yuan kept looking up, he had long wanted to eat it, and when he heard Jiang's words, he couldn't help but say.

"You little gluttonous cat." Jiang smiled and scooped a spoonful of bean curd to feed her.

Yuan Yuan fell in love as soon as he ate it, ate a whole bowl of sweet bean curd, and was still shouting to eat: "Mother, I still want to eat." ”

This wooden bowl is not small, and Jiang is afraid that she will accumulate food, so he doesn't dare to give it to her again.

Gu Jinli said: "Yuan Yuan, there will be more delicious things later, if you eat too much now, you won't be able to eat good things for a while." ”

"Really? What could be better than sweet bean curd? Yuan Yuan asked with wide apricot eyes, and couldn't help but swallow his saliva.

Gu Jinli held back a smile, this little doll is still a foodie.

She said, "Yes, there will be something even more delicious later, much better than sweet bean curd." ”

"Wow~" Yuan Yuan's eyes were shining, and he immediately said: "That Yuan Yuan won't eat it, it's better to eat it with his stomach." ”

While talking, Lao Luo, Ah Jiu, and Peach moved the thank you gifts they brought to the courtyard.

The Shang family sent a lot of things, including six pieces of cotton cloth, a bag of white rice, a bag of white noodles, a fan of pork, four live chickens, two baskets of eggs, a jar of wine, a jar of meat oil, two catties of sugar, two catties of salt, two pots of fresh sauce, two large iron pots with a diameter of half a meter, a complete set of farm tools, and a chariot.

The third grandfather was really shocked to see so many things in the yard, those cloths, rice, noodles, meat and vegetables are okay, but the two big iron pots, a complete set of farm tools, and the cart wheel are really a big gift.

Gu Dashan said uneasily: "Shang Xiucai, this gift is too valuable, we can't accept it." ”

The two big iron pots cost at least eight taels of silver, and there was a complete set of farm tools, in addition to shovels, hoes, firewood knives, sickles, and iron plows, which cost at least fifteen taels of silver, and then the wheels.

In addition to the mules and horses that pull the cart, the most valuable thing for a chariot is the chariot wheel, which costs ten taels of silver in the market.

Shang Xiucai said: "Brother Gu, your little fish saved my family Yuanyuan, this is a life, no matter how much we give, it is nothing, you can accept it with peace of mind, if you don't accept this gift, our husband and wife will not have the face to come to your door in the future." ”

"This ......" Gu Dashan was very embarrassed.

The third grandfather said: "Dashan, take it, this is Wenyuan's heart." And these are all things that we need to use. ”

They are clearing the wasteland, and they can use the farm tools and iron plows, as well as the wheels, with which they can make carts, and in the future, they don't have to carry tofu to the town, they can directly pull it.

After hearing this, Gu Dashan no longer insisted, and after thanking Shang Xiucai, he accepted this generous gift.

"Yo, third uncle and third uncle, why are there so many things in this yard." Chen's high-pitched voice came, and she carried a basket containing two cabbages and a few eggs, and came to the door with Gu Dexing, Gu Yumei, Gu Dewang, and Gu Defa.

Chen is a self-acquaintance, after saying this, he looked at Shang Xiucai and his wife, and immediately said: "This is Shang Xiucai and Mrs. Shang, right?" Look at this appearance, at first glance, it is an official family, which is different from us farmers. ”

praised Shang Yuanyuan again: "This little doll is the daughter of the old man Xiucai, I also saw it on the day of the Lantern Festival, it is really annoying." ”

After Chen finished speaking, he pushed Gu Dexing and Gu Dewang over, and said: "This is my eldest nephew and eldest son, both of them studied and read when they were in their hometown, but the gentleman in his hometown is not as knowledgeable as Shang Xiucai, so I will bring them cheekily today, and I want Shang Xiucai to point out and see if I can knock on their elm heads and go to the test to come back." ”

If she had just fled the famine, the Chen family would not have dared to have this idea, but now that she has made a living with tofu and made some money, she also started the dream of being a lady, thinking that Gu Dexing and Gu Dewang would follow Shang Xiucai to study for free, and wait for a few years to take the exam before coming back, so that she could be majestic.

When the third grandmother heard Chen's words, she was very angry, and smiled at Shang Xiucai: "Wenyuan, don't pay attention to her, she is here to help cook." ”

As he spoke, he secretly glared at Chen and pulled her to the kitchen, Chen didn't make a fuss, he just gave Gu Dexing and Gu Dewang a look, and asked them to ask Shang Xiucai for advice.

As for Gu Yumei, it was brought to Mrs. Xiucai, in short, they all worked hard for her one or two, don't waste this great opportunity.

Gu Dashan was very embarrassed, looking at Shang Xiucai apologetically and worriedly, for fear that he would blame.

Shang Xiucai didn't care, but said: "It turns out that you have also studied, that is rare, go into the house, I will take the school examination for you." ”

Gu Dexing was very happy, and pulled Gu Dewang to follow Shang Xiucai into the house.

Gu Jinan also followed, carrying a thousand-word essay he had written overnight last night in his sleeve.