Because of Mingzhu's participation, the living conditions in Yuejiazhuang are much better than before. Now almost every household can eat rice. Many dilapidated houses have been renovated or simply torn down and rebuilt. When the life of Yuejiazhuang became rich, the economic pattern of the surrounding villages also had an impact. Originally, everyone knew that they could get the town or the county seat if they wanted to do business, but now slowly, there is a small market next to the Zhengqi Garden.

Mingzhu and Yan Jinxin walked slowly in this small market, and they both felt very strange in their hearts, the people who came to this small market were only two or three kittens, so what is the meaning of the existence of the market? What's even more strange is that there are quite a lot of stalls, but there are very few people guarding the stalls, what are the people doing?!

So Mingzhu curiously asked an old man who looked very leisurely next to him: "Old man! Where's the guy in the stall next to you?! Why are there so few people in this market?! ”

The old man was bored, and when he saw someone coming to talk, he immediately greeted enthusiastically: "Do the two ladies have taken a fancy to something in this stall?!" You don't have to look for it, this stall is also what I watched. Today is not a market day, of course there are fewer people! When the market day arrives, there will be more people. ”

Seeing the old man say this, Mingzhu and Yan Jinxin were embarrassed to pick and choose in front of the stall. Not to mention, they really picked out two interesting and good things.

Yan Jinxin held a stone bracelet braided with rope in his hand, and said happily: "Hey?!" This is good!! Did your family do it?! The hands are so skillful, and this stone is also beautiful! ”

Seeing the joyful look on this lady's face, as well as her dressing, the old man's eyes flashed, and as soon as he gritted his teeth and stomped his feet, he opened a [sky-high price]: "Madame has a good eye, and at a glance she picked the bracelet that my wife has braided for five days." I won't charge you much, just earn individual money. How about fifteen wen?! ”

Yan Jinxin said happily: "It's so cheap?!" Okay, you take it. ”

As soon as these words came out, the old man suddenly felt that his offer was really low, and when he saw that Mingzhu was also holding something in his hand, his eyes suddenly lit up: "Hey?!" Do you want to buy something in this lady's hand?! If you want, I'll make you cheaper. ”

Mingzhu saw that he was still thinking about taking advantage, so he smiled and said, "Okay, but these six will give you a total of ten cents." If you can sell it, give me another vegetarian purse and help me put it up. If you can't, forget it. ”

A hint of disappointment flashed in the old man's eyes, but the business still had to be done: "Thank you for the care of the two ladies, it is naturally possible." Madame, take it. ”

Yan Jinxin was a little confused?! Who am I?! Where am I?! What did I just do?! Why is it that when it's all about the same thing, mine is so much more expensive?!

Mingzhu held this frugal purse in his hand and said curiously: "I see that you take care of several stalls connected here, and your family is really prosperous." ”

When the old man saw that the business was done, he was willing to talk to them: "Where is this possible?!" This row of stalls is all from our Liu Village, old man, I just help the people in the village take a look. It's not a big market now, there are not many people here, and the extra things that can be sold by every family are put here, and people like us who are too old to walk are here to help them look at the stalls. You see that the location of that piece is from Xiahe Village, and some of the back are from Shanghe Village, and if you look at the one near the door, that is from Yuejiazhuang Village.

Tomorrow is the big set, if the ladies are interested, you have to hurry, or let others pick the best! ”

Mingzhu listened and glanced at Yan Jinxin: "Yes, it's not the right time, let's wait for Ming'er......"

At this time, Yue Xiaozheng's house, Meng Yunxi and Su Jiayao, two little girls, were pestering Grandma Zheng to tell a story: "...... After several efforts, Nuwa finally made up for the heavens, and the peace between heaven and earth was restored, and colorful clouds appeared. Later, we had the Nuwa Niangniang Temple here, which was worshiped for generations and the incense was continuous. ”

Bang Bang Bang! The two little girls applauded very face-savingly: "Grandma Zheng is so good!" I like Grandma Zheng so much! The two little girls touted it, which made the old man smile so much that flowers bloomed on his face.

Then the two little girls started a discussion about the story.

Meng Yunxi: "No wonder Mr. said that fighting can't solve the problem, you see Zhu Rong and Gong Gong two, and when they fight, they beat the sky into a hole." Fortunately, there is still Nuwa Niangniang, otherwise we wouldn't be able to live in the water now?! ”

Su Jiayao's little tail immediately agreed: "Yes, yes, yes!" Yunxi is right, we can't fight! ”

Meng Yunxi was proud in his heart, and then shook his head and said, "But isn't that big turtle a little too pitiful?!" It didn't do anything, it stayed at home, and because it was too big, it was innocently cut off by Nuwa Niangniang. Shouldn't we also put a big turtle next to Nuwa Niangniang as a commemoration? ”

Su Jiayao had a different opinion: "I don't think so." Think about it, aren't the chickens, ducks, cows, sheep, fish, shrimp and crabs you usually eat innocent?! Could it be that we don't eat it? If you want to erect statues for them, you won't have enough space to put them! What's more, when the sky falls, the big turtle won't be crushed,?! Therefore, instead of being squashed and eaten, it is better to be used by Nuwa Niangniang to mend the sky! ”

Meng Yunxi thought about it and felt that it made sense, but he thought about it again: "You said that such a big turtle has no legs." The rest can also be stewed in a big pot, right?! I don't know if it's delicious or not......"

Su Jiayao licked her lips and muttered, "I don't know if Nuwa Niangniang has eaten it, if she eats it, it will be braised and delicious?!" Or is it delicious and tender in stew? You can't finish a meal, right?! ”

Meng Yunxi said curiously: "Grandma Zheng, have you ever eaten a turtle?!" Is it delicious?! ”

Grandma Zheng smiled and shook her head: "I haven't eaten it, but I think it's about the same as a turtle, right?!" ”

Meng Yunxi and Su Jiayao: "Turtle?!" Is it tasty?! ”

Yue Xiaozheng on the side said: "It's the king eight turtles." It just so happened that yesterday my Uncle Zhu caught a big one, saying that he wanted to keep it for sale when he was in the market. If you want to eat it, you can buy it from him in advance and try it. ”

Oh yes! When the two little girls heard this, they got off the kang and ran out: "Grandma Zheng, you wait for us to bring back delicious food!" ”

Now their familiarity with this Yuejiazhuang is not much different from their own. Although it was inconvenient to come for the first time, everyone only stayed for three days. But every summer after that, the children will stay for at least half a month. Each family also became familiar with the children.

"Uncle Zhuzi! Uncle Pillar! Uncle Zhu is not here?! Meng Yunxi began to shout from afar.

Aunt Chunhua looked out and immediately smiled: "It's Yunxi and Yaoyao?!" Come in, come in! Your Uncle Zhu went up to the mountains to hunt. What are you looking for him?! Can you tell me about your aunt?! ”

The two little girls ran out of breath. "Hello Aunt Chunhua!"

Su Jiayao, who was the first to breathe, said sweetly: "We heard from Brother Xiaozheng that Uncle Zhu caught a soft-shelled turtle yesterday?!" ”

As soon as she said this, Aunt Chunhua was so happy: "Yes! It was also your uncle's luck that when he was passing by the river yesterday while hunting, he happened to see a soft-shelled turtle basking in the sun, so he picked it up. This soft-shelled turtle is a good thing, delicious and nourishing. If you take it to the city, I don't know how many people rush to buy it! This one of ours is big, and I guess it can be sold for a few taels of silver. ”

Meng Yunxi listened to it and said, "Aunt Chunhua, can you take us to have a look?!" We haven't seen a live soft-shelled turtle yet! ”

"That's fine! Come and see, but I can tell you, don't dare to reach out and touch it, such a big soft-shelled turtle, one bite can bite your fingers off. Aunt Chunhua led them into the kitchen as she admonished.

"You see, it's in this vat."

The two little girls approached curiously, and the soft-shelled turtle was frightened and shrank into the carapace at once.

"It's interesting! You see it's afraid of us. ”

"I'm so timid that I can't bite anyone in my shell." Su Jiayao thought it was very interesting, so she reached out and prepared to touch it.

This made Aunt Chunhua, who was staring at them on the side, jump, hurriedly pulled her hand away, and said, "The little girl's family, don't dare to touch it!" If I bite my finger off, I can't afford it. ”

Seeing the little girl's look of disbelief, Aunt Chunhua took an ugly branch the thickness of her little finger from the pyre. And dangle the head of the soft-shelled turtle with a branch.

[squeak], this soft-shelled turtle is really fierce, and it bites off the small branch in one bite.

Hiss - the little girl was startled, and she was a little scared.

"It's so powerful, why is it so fierce?!"

"You see its mouth is small, pointy, and it must have a lot of teeth in it."

"It scared me."

"Then let's eat it."

The two little girls saw that they were almost over, Meng Yunxi turned around and said, "Aunt Chunhua, will you sell this to us?!" ”

Aunt Chunhua was even happier when she heard it, she never bargained when buying things in the Zhengqi Garden. Now you can save having to take it to the stall: "Okay, I'll catch it now and send it to you." ”

While speaking, Aunt Chunhua took a thick hemp rope from the side, and just like that, she wore it around the soft-shelled turtle, and after a while, the soft-shelled turtle was sturdy.

"In this basket are soft-shelled turtle eggs, which your uncle picked up by the river and gave them to you. Let's go. Aunt Chunhua said and carried the basket of armored fish eggs in one hand and the ten-pound soft-shelled turtle in the other. I took the little girls to the Righteous Qi Garden.

In the pavilion in front of the gate of Zhengqi Garden, Shao Qi and Gao Yi were chatting over tea.

"Mr. Shao! Mr. Shao! You see I bought a soft-shelled turtle! Let's eat in the evening! ”

Shao Qi saw that the little girls were sweating, so he handed over the handkerchiefs specially prepared for the children. "Aunt Chunhua."

Aunt Chunhua said crampedly: "That, Yunxi said that you want to accept this soft-shelled turtle." "Although everyone has been familiar with it a lot in recent years, the awe for [big shots] has long been engraved in their bones. This is also the way of survival of ordinary people, and they will never dare to forget it.

Shao Qi's eyes lit up when he saw this turtle with a large basin: "It's really good, how much do you plan to sell it?!" ”

"Well, we don't know. The character of the gentlemen is visible in our entire Yuejiazhuang, you just look at it. ”

Shao Qi thought for a while and said, "In this case, I don't know much about the market price on your side. Then let's count it according to the capital. Such a big one, I'm afraid it has to be about ten pounds! ”

Aunt Chunhua smiled and praised: "Mr. has good eyesight, ten catties and two taels, let's count it as ten catties." ”

"Twenty taels, what do you think?!" Shao Qi tried to ask.

Hearing this offer, Aunt Chunhua's heart suddenly missed a beat, since the family finished building a house, she has never taken any big money in her hands. Even if you earn some occasionally, you will pay off the debt of building a house first. Every family is like this, and he is used to it. If you can really sell this money, not only will the family be able to pay off all the debts, but there will also be a lot left. However, she shook her head and said, "Where do you want so much?" Previously, the next village also sold a soft-shelled turtle, a little smaller than my family, although I don't know the specific price, but it is certainly not more than ten taels. Even if I'm older, it's only ten taels. ”

Hearing this, a flash of appreciation flashed in the eyes of both gentlemen. "Aunt Chunhua doesn't know, this soft-shelled turtle is a little bigger or smaller, but the price gap is very big. After all, the bigger the year, the longer the year, just like ginseng, you know?! The price difference between ninety-year-old ginseng and hundred-year-old ginseng is dozens of times. You say, can this be explained?! The same is true for soft-shelled turtles, twenty taels is the market price. Speaking of which, we took advantage of it, because it is said to be the market price, and it is very difficult for you to find such a large soft-shelled turtle with money. ”

Aunt Chunhua was a little shaken when she heard this, but she still shook her head. At this time, Gao Yi on the side suddenly said: "You have soft-shelled turtle eggs in this basket?!" If Aunt Chunhua feels that she can't go, I will be cheeky and say, these eggs should be given away, just like me. ”

Fortunately, Aunt Chunhua was not entangled, so she said with a smile: "Sir, don't say that, I told the two girls before I came out, and the soft-shelled turtle eggs were originally given." Is it really money?! In that case, then twenty taels will be twenty taels. Do you want me to clean it up for you?! ”

Shao Qi was also polite: "Then there will be Aunt Lao Chunhua, just help us chop it open." When Mr. Pearl returns, she might be interested in doing it. ”

So, the group took the soft-shelled turtle and walked to the kitchen of Zhengqi Garden.

At this time, Aunt Chunhua entered the kitchen of Zhengqi Garden for the first time, and after entering, she had a feeling that she had nowhere to put her feet. It's not because things are too messy and full, but it's too clean and tidy!

I saw a series of five stoves, covered with white porcelain plates, and the light could shine on people. On the other side of the stove are a series of five vegetable sinks, also covered with porcelain plates. In the middle of the sink and the stove is a long side dish table, still covered with porcelain plates. There are a dazzling array of bottles and cans on the side dish table, which is simply dazzling Aunt Chunhua's eyes!

At this time, Shao Qi took out a large piece of the board from the cupboard on the side, and a bone chopping knife, and said: "This is a board specially used to kill fish, you can just clean it up here, I'm sorry for you." ”