Outside the courtyard gate, on the ridge in the distance, a big and strong man walked with a burden. At each end of his burden was three thin bamboo cages stacked on top of each other, with a large hat at the top. He held the rope at both ends in his hands and walked like a fly.

Soon, the man walked into Dujiagou and rested his burden in the open space outside Du Mei's courtyard, he didn't have time to wipe his sweat, so he shouted at the top of his voice: "Sell duck seedlings, sell duck seedlings, head nest duck seedlings, big and strong." ”

Du Mei, who was in the kitchen, heard the cries of the duck sellers, and saw that both pots were boiling, so he withdrew the fire and let the porridge and sweet potatoes slowly simmer.

At this time, the duck dealer had already opened the flat cage one by one, and the yellow and fluffy ducklings were huddled together.

Du Mei picked up a small sweet potato in the pot, it was too hot, she tossed her hands upside down, went out of the courtyard, squatted in front of the duck stall and ate and watched.

Wei walked out while wiping his hands on his apron, and the duck dealer greeted him warmly: "Auntie, this year's duck seedlings are particularly large, buy a few." ”

"Dazi, it's not that my aunt doesn't want to buy it, it's still in the wax moon, and the duck seedlings are not frozen." Wei glanced at the duck seedling lightly.

"Auntie is right, it's not the New Year yet, but this winter is not cold at all, no, it's all spring, and in the future, it will only get warmer and warmer." Qian Maoda is a native of Chenqian Village on the other side of the Sheshan River, and he has been doing duck business all year round, selling them in the streets and alleys of ten miles and eight towns.

Wei squatted down, grabbed a duck seedling, turned over to look at the duckling's buttocks, and weighed the weight again. "Well, it's pretty good." ”

"My aunt is really a knowledgeable person, my ducks have been raised at home for ten days, all of them have clean butts and large appetites, they are all good seedlings." At this time, everyone in the village was cooking breakfast at home, and no one came, and Qian Maoda tried his best to make Wei's deal.

"How do you sell it?" Wei Shi planned to kill the two old ducks at home who only ate and did not lay eggs during the New Year, although the duck meat was not delicious, but it was better than nothing, and the duck nest was just vacated to raise new ducks.

"Two pennies a piece." Qian Maoda held out two fingers.

"Huh! It's so expensive, you're robbing it raw. Wei raised his voice.

"How can it, auntie, I have to pay a penny and a half of duck eggs in this county, so I'll earn a lot of money." Qian Maoda wiped the sweat off his forehead and threw it on the ground.

"Seeing that the New Year is coming, the cost here is big, you are cheaper, I will buy 10." Wei wants to keep the price down again.

Qian Maoda laughed: "Auntie, don't joke with me, in the surrounding villages, who doesn't know that your family is solid, and there is a talent in the family." In this Dujiagou, if you want to call the second, who dares to call the first? In this way, the first purchase in the morning, you buy 10, and I will give you one! ”

Qian Maoda's fart was just right, and he said it with pride, and Wei was happy when he heard it. She squinted at Du Mei crouching to the side, teasing a duckling with the little sweet potato skin she had left, and the other ducklings cowered together.

Wei immediately sank his face and raised his hand to hit Du Mei on the back of the head: "Dead girl, you know how to play all day long, why don't you hurry up and get the basket!" ”

Du Mei hurriedly hugged her head and ran back to the courtyard, and Wei selected the duck seedlings one by one.

Wei finally bought 10 duck seedlings and took out 20 yuan from his personal purse. Du Meiquan heard the conversation between Wei and Qian Maoda, she looked at the little duck she was playing with just now, and asked timidly: "Uncle, can you send this one?" ”

Qian Maoda looked at Wei, and then looked at the girl in front of him with white skin and willow eyebrows and almond eyes, although she had not yet grown, she was already a beauty. Especially those big eyes, shiny, people can't bear to refuse.

"Okay!" Qian Maoda slipped out of the duckling that Du Mei fancied, and Du Mei hurriedly caught it with both hands.

As soon as he returned to the courtyard, Wei scolded Du Mei in a deep voice: "I know that I am lazy, I don't want to serve the meal quickly, what are you still doing with it!" ”

Du Mei had no choice but to put the duckling in his hand into the basket, and saw that it was carried away by Wei. She thought that she and her sisters would feed these ducks anyway, and that they would have time to play with them.