The days with the sun in the winter in the south are still relatively warm, and when it comes to rainy days, it is cold and cold everywhere, and there are more things to do in Ziqing, so we have to prepare a fire basket for Shen's family, (that is, there is a small ceramic clay pot in the bamboo basket, put some charcoal in it, and there is a barbed wire lid on it, and the old ladies in the countryside in the south almost have one.) I also have to help Shen dry the washed clothes with a fire basket, and washing clothes has become a chore, cold and cold, and I have to put on thick clumsy wooden soles when I go out, which is still left over from Zifu's wear, not very fitting, walking is similar to a penguin, no less wrestling, Ziqing's resentment in her heart is not ordinarily deep, because there are mostly rainy days in the winter in the south, and Ziqing doesn't remember how many times she has fallen.

Zifu has a pair of boots that are said to be muntjac skin, which is very light to wear on rainy days, Zilu said that it was given to Zifu by the deceased old man Xiao, and it is very inconvenient to see Zifu go to school on rainy days, and Zifu has been smart and studious since he was a child, and he won the favor of the old man, so he gave him a pair of boots, and it is warm to wear in winter. When he earns money, the first thing he does is to buy himself a pair of lightweight boots, so in order to walk without wrestling, Ziqing must also find a way to make money quickly.

Ziqing was worried about how to find a way to make money, Zilu came over and said that he was going to the bazaar, the two dragged Zifu, the three brothers and sisters walked around in the bazaar, Ziqing found that there were more New Year's goods sold, all kinds of dried fruits, peanuts, melon seeds, jujubes, dried longan, pecans, etc., as well as bacon, duck, chicken, and all kinds of game jerky, but there is no sausage, maybe the people here will not deal with casings. There are also those who sell cloth flowers, colored silk, firecrackers, etc., Ziqing always feels that something is missing, and after turning around, it turns out that I don't see those selling couplets and red lanterns.

"Big brother, why didn't you see someone selling couplets?" Ziqing asked.

"Silly girl, the readers are very high-minded, usually the bookstore spends money to hire someone to write and then sell, our town is small, there is no bookstore, we have to go to Anzhou City to buy. Or just take something and ask the people in the village to write it, you forget, our father has to help others write a lot every year? Zifu said.

The thought in Ziqing's heart flashed, "Big brother, do you want to help the family earn a little money." Zifu's eyes lit up, and he obviously thought of it.

When she got home, Ziqing ran to Shen's room, "Mother, can you lend Qing'er a hundred yuan?" I promise I'll pay you back in a few days. ”

"A hundred wen? So much, children's families, what do you want to do with such money? ”

"Mother, you can borrow it, my brother said that he was going to sell couplets, but he didn't have the money to buy red paper, so he didn't dare to come and ask his mother."

"You just make it up, you must have picked up your eldest brother, what couplets will your eldest brother write?"

"Isn't there still Daddy? Don't worry, I promise I'll pay you back. ”

"I really can't grind you, call your eldest brother." Shen took out a string of money from the box. Ziqing simply whispered a few words to Zifu and dragged him over, Shen gave the money to Zifu after a few words, Ziqing pulled Zifu and went straight to the small grocery store on the street.

"Qingqing, how do you say that the wind is rainy, and the hair is frizzy. But you can actually ask for a hundred yuan from your mother, which impresses me. Zifu said

"Mother, look at your face, I gave my mother a package ticket, and I will definitely pay her back. Brother, what do you think, it's the tenth day after tomorrow, it's Daxu, you have to hurry up and write more couplets, there are only a few days left before the New Year. ”

The two rushed to the grocery store, and Ziqing knew that ancient paper was really not cheap, and a piece of intact red paper actually cost ten yuan, which was equivalent to the price of two catties of early rice, and a piece of red paper could also write two couplets.

"Boss, can it be cheaper, I'll buy more." Ziqing asked.

"This really can't be cheap, but there are five cents a piece here, but some places are broken, there are holes, and it's still okay to cut a pair of couplets on a piece of paper. Look at it, and discuss it. ”

Ziqing and Zifu opened the damaged red paper and looked at it, some of them could cut out a pair and a half couplets, and the worst ones could write a few more blessing words, the brothers and sisters picked twenty sheets, Ziqing and the boss sent two broken brushes and a piece of ordinary ink, as soon as the two got home, put things into Zifu's house, Ziqing was going to cut the paper, Zifu didn't dare to let her do it, for fear of breaking it.

"Big brother, don't cut them all, you can write one first, and then you will cut it when the ink is dry, won't it save time?"

"The little girl is quite smart, brother listens to you. But what do we write? ”

"Just write about the festive point, if you want to, you can ask your father, or find out if there is anything in our father's book?"

Ziqing began to browse the books on the shelves, this time she can read the books generously, after all, Zifu has also taught her more than 100 words these days, although she can write as much as she can recognize, fortunately, Ziqing does not have high requirements for herself, and it is better for a country girl not to pretend to be a talented woman.

Ziqing found a copy of "Miscellaneous Notes on Daxia Customs", Ziqing opened it and saw that there were couplets, lantern riddles, famous rivers and mountains in various places, Buddhist and Taoist resorts, and even snacks and crop planting in various places. It's a really useful good book.

Just as he was about to start writing, Zeng Ruixiang came in, "I heard what your mother said, you are going to sell couplets, Fu'er, do you think your characters can be written in couplets?" ”

When Zifu heard this, his face was full of shame, Ziqing hurriedly said: "Daddy, the eldest brother didn't plan to write it himself, the eldest brother was just cutting paper, and we were ready for Daddy to come and write." My eldest brother and my second brother and I are in charge of selling. ”

Maybe Zeng Ruixiang felt that there were too many places at home that needed money, and he was quite pleased with the children's understanding, so he picked up the pen very happily, Ziqing was very glad that his father was not a pedantic person. With the help of his father, he finally wrote twenty-eight couplets before dark, and Zifu cut the remaining wider paper into a diamond shape and wrote the word "Fu", and the narrower one into thin strips, and wrote "Open the door and be lucky" and "Six animals are prosperous".

After breakfast on the tenth day of the first month, Ziqing eagerly took a basket and put the couplet, Zifu brought a small handful of straw, asked Shangzilu to go out, and went to the bazaar to find the most lively place, Zifu spread out the straw, put the couplet on the tablet, and soon someone came to ask. Because Zeng Ruixiang had previously explained that the couplets in ordinary bookstores sell for ten yuan a pair, and they only need to sell eight or nine yuan. When everyone saw the three children selling couplets, they all felt a little strange and began to talk about it.