As Zisu said, all the provinces are familiar with the rules of "sweeping the dust" over the years, and they all have plans to deal with it, but the only thing is the same, cooking has to be done by the main family.

While Jinghua Xie Yuqi and Zisu were cooking together, the wives of other mansions led the girls to be busy with this matter.

The old lady took a break, and when she woke up, she asked Zhu'er what time it was, and Zhu'er said truthfully: "It's too late." ”

So Zhu'er and a few other big girls served and got up, went outside to rest for a while, used some refreshments, and suddenly heard the big dragon bell standing on the side "oh" ringing twice.

The old lady said, "Has anyone come to invite you?" ”

Zhu'er replied: "Beifu came first, sent Guiyuan to invite, and then the eldest girl from Dongfu came in person." I just replied that the old lady was resting, and Mrs. Xifu came by herself, and I replied like this. ”

The old lady sighed: "Nanfu is backward every year, I said that you don't have enough helpers to add a few more people, and I always said that I don't need to." Among these mansions, the most withered is Nanfu. If you put them outside, I can't compare to the big ones. But it's also good that a pure person has no troubles, and it is beneficial to fight before and after, but the benefits are not worth the troubles. I think she's an understanding person. ”

Zhu'er smiled slightly, and helped the old lady change a thick cushion to wipe her forehead. She knew that at this time, the old lady would definitely go to their house to take a look. It's cold outside, and the scalp is easy to freeze when you wipe your forehead, so you do it carefully.

Therefore, Zhu'er asked, "Where will the old lady go first this year?" ”

The old lady closed her eyes, and only then did she snort and laughed, "I'm thinking...... What do you think? ”

Zhu'er didn't want to reply, thought for a while, leaned over his face, and said with a smile: "Jinghua Xie is close to us, the old lady will be there in a step, move first, and if you have strength in your legs and feet, you can go wherever you want." ”

The old lady raised her head, raised her hand and twisted Zhu'er's earlobe, and said with a smile: "You have clever ears and mouth, and you speak thinner than a needle." The girl just came, and my first family went to her, and others thought I was too loving. It's supposed to avoid suspicion. I see that the east, west and north mansions are coming one after another, and they must have been prepared, and there is nothing to see in this kind of cover-up. If not, let's go to Nanfu first this year! Look at how they're doing right now. ”

At that time, Meier was adding a stove outside, and while holding the stove sleeve and sealing it, she walked in. When I got to the old lady, I handed the stove to the old lady and hugged it.

The old lady didn't answer, and glanced at Mei'er in disgust: "You don't know the days yet?" In the old days, I was poor, and I didn't have a soup woman to warm my hands, so I didn't have to go out to work? Take it down! ”

Mei'er was reprimanded and blushed, so she quickly took it down.

Zhu'er saw Mei'er's embarrassment, so she said to the old lady: "She is also worried about the old lady's cold." It's hard for her to have this hard work. ”

The old lady said, "That's what she doesn't understand." ”

This happened to be heard by Mer. She came out of the curtain with the stove in her hand, and she could hear it clearly, her face was red and hot, her eyes were red again, and big tears flowed down.

Less.

The old lady put on her old cotton robe and carried the wooden stick, and walked out of it trembling and dangerous. There are Zhu'er and Lan'er behind him, and the little girls don't let them follow. Originally, I wanted to call Mei'er and ask Lan'er to look around, but Lan'er replied that there was no one. So let Lan'er top.

The old lady said: "Mei'er girl went with me in previous years, I'm afraid I'm tired of my legs and feet, and I don't like to move around." Lan'er, you take care of the cooking, go for a walk, see how the food is cooked, you give comments, and they are convinced. ”

Therefore, the three of them went out to the courtyard, and in the courtyard, the old lady still stopped and looked back at the door of the courtyard, sighed, and then went out of the middle mansion.

Just walking on the Tongfu trail, the sky began to fall a little snow, first sporadically, like the dust foam that burned the paper, and then walked a few steps, the snow covered with a thin veil.

Zhu'er was a little worried and wanted to speak, but the old lady interrupted: "It's okay. "Keep walking.

At that moment, at the fork in the north, east, and west, a few figures flashed, and the old lady saw it, and laughed out loud, but she didn't see it.

Along the way, the old lady said to Zhu'er and Lan'er, intentionally or unintentionally: "It's too hard, what's so good about this." When I was in the palace, I saw that the Queen of Heaven waited so hard every day in order to return the heart of the Emperor. But what? Frequent annoyance of oneself, excessive worry, a person's body is the same as its heart, if the body is not good, it is not good, this heart is not good, no matter how strong the body is, what is the use? It can be seen that people's hearts are peaceful, and it is also beneficial not to follow the crowd. ”

Zhu'er and Lan'er didn't know the meaning of the old lady's words, so they didn't dare to squeak, and only followed behind in sync.

It took a long time for the master and servant to reach the outer gate of the South Mansion.

Nanfu is an old house separated by Zhuang Mansion, if you talk about Zhuang Mansion Dingji homestead, Nanfu is the capital, Zhuang Mansion extends and grows today, it should originate from Nanfu. It belongs to the land of the ancestors. But looking at Nanfu now, it is not as rich as the other three mansions. The old lady said that the southern mansion withered, and looked at the door of their mansion to respond to the scene of this sentence.

Outside the gate of Nafu, it is the same as the homely courtyard, and there is no auspicious stone carving and jade building of the town house. The eaves above the door are longer than those in other houses, reaching out of the steps, and if it rains or snow outside, hiding under the door is no different from holding a big umbrella on top. On the steps, facing the door, with agarwood, not yet close, faintly fragrant, but the façade is simple, and no rivet decoration, the door is on both sides of the corner door, is also agarwood matching, all without lacquer, it looks extremely simple *. On both sides of the gate, there are two plaques hung, the inscription on the right is "the east and west do not see the waves of the long river in the west and the east", and the inscription on the left is "the north and south are the streams that smell the north and the south and the broad sea". The plaque at the top of the house is written in black ink, with the title: "Nanfu", without gold border depiction.

At this moment, the door is open.

Zhu'er wanted to push the door first, but the old lady insisted on a wooden stick in front of her and did not allow her to open it. So, the old lady approached slowly by herself, stretched out her hand and pushed away.

The door is a big courtyard, the courtyard has been cleaned up, plain, no green plant life, the center of the courtyard is erected nine large water tanks, the tank is full of water, the edge of the water tank, there is a layer of white velvet snowflake foam. The huge courtyard was surprisingly silent, and no one went in or out to serve.

After the old lady entered the door, she went down the steps, walked around the water tank on the left side, and went straight to the second gate of Nanfu.

Entering the second gate is another yard, slightly smaller than the front yard, but a little more angry than the front yard, there are willow trees planted on both sides of the passage, because of the cold season, the willow tree has passed the green period early, and the bare willow is still hanging still. The ground was flat and well-planted, and the leaves grew exceedingly luxuriantly.

When the old lady walked by, she looked at it a few more times and sighed: "The reason why I don't like to come here the most is that there is no vitality here, and it is bare and uncomfortable." It's better to have some colors, and the six girls and the seven girls are getting older day by day, so why don't you cultivate some good colors for them. How many years have passed, and I still can't let go of that heart. It can be seen that people's hearts are deep, and even a little color must be hidden. ”

Zhu'er said: "I look good." The lady in this house ......" Zhu'er coughed twice, looked at the old lady's face, and said, "The wife likes it, and the master likes it too." But they live by themselves, and the old lady is a reasonable person, so she doesn't care about this. They were comfortable, and so was the old lady. Isn't it good to have both? ”

The old lady nodded. At that time, I was approaching the hall, and I saw one or two girls coming from under the porch with brooms.

Seeing the old lady, the girl hurriedly came over to salute.

The old lady waved her hand and asked, "What about your wife?" ”

The girl replied: "I just finished cleaning up the small courtyard inside, and the sixth girl was lively, and overturned the ink altar on the seventh girl's case, and poured black ink on the ground." My wife won't let us wipe it, so we'll wipe it there by ourselves! It's okay, and I rushed to the kitchen to make a fuss. ”

The old lady was surprised: "Where are your six girls and seven girls now?" ”

The girl replied: "The seventh girl is helping her wife's hand in the kitchen, and the sixth girl and Qimeng go to the back of the small yard to pick vegetables." ”

After hearing this, the old lady was full of joy and praised: "Look, this is the human touch." It's a pity that they are also two daughters. Let's go to the kitchen and have a look. ”

Zhu'er asked the girl, "What is your wife doing in the kitchen?" ”

The girls smiled at each other and pursed their lips without answering.

The old lady turned her hand and took Zhu'er's hand and said, "You love to ask people again." Since we are here, everyone knows that we should be surprised. No need to ask, let's go see. ”

So, the three masters and servants turned left and right, passed through several courtyards, and arrived at a courtyard. From a distance, I saw blue smoke billowing from the tiled roof, and I faintly heard the sound of coughing coming from the house.

Lan'er was shocked and said to the old lady: "Old lady, there is smoke in the house, otherwise I will go first to invite my wife." Wait a minute. ”

The old lady waved her hand, which roughly did not mean it.

Therefore, several people walked slowly towards the kitchen.

When I arrived at the door, a thick smoke blasted out, filling the entire inside and outside the door.

The old lady and the others squinted in, and it was pitch black, and no one could be seen.

I only heard my aunt's voice say, "Seventh girl, go out!" Go sit outside for a while and see if your sister comes back. ”

The seventh girl laughed and said, "Mrs. is afraid that I will be smoked." I'm not afraid. The sixth sister went with Qimeng, and if she came back, she would have heard their footsteps early. My sister's footsteps are like thunder, and I know she didn't return without looking. ”

Aunt Mi smiled: "Then why don't you go out and have a look." ”

After a while, I saw the seventh girl Zhuang Yao come out with her mouth open. Suddenly, she saw three people standing outside the door, and after fixing her eyes, she saw that it was the old lady, and she trotted out in surprise to hold the old lady's hand.

The old lady looked at Zhuang Ming's face and clothes, and she was as dirty as a child in the village outside.

The old lady said distressedly: "Ouch, where did this village girl come from!" I'll see. ”

Hold Zhuang Ying first, and take a closer look. Zhuang Ying was very embarrassed, and her face rubbed on the back of the old lady's hand. When the old lady was about to take her hand and enter the kitchen, Zhuang Ying stopped her: "Old lady, don't go in, it's smoky." I'll go in and call my wife out!" ”

didn't wait for Zhuang Ying to stop speaking, and the aunt covered her mouth and coughed to greet her. I saw her wrapping her head in coarse cloth, braiding her big braids, and holding her hair in a bun thickly, and the red head rope was hidden in the bun and entangled together; He was dressed like everyone else, and it was the old clothes of ordinary people.

Aunt Mi's hand wiped back and forth on her body, and said embarrassedly: "Why is the old lady here?" I'm not ready for this! ”

The old lady smiled and said: "In previous years, after twenty years, you told me to go to their house first, I would be surprised, you are the last in the house, and you do the same thing?" I'm here this year to see what you're up to. Now I see it, it should be like this. I love it. ”

Without managing the aunt to stop it, the old lady went in.

When my aunt saw the snow outside, she exclaimed, "Ouch, it's snowing." He turned around and followed the old lady.

Inside the kitchen.

The old lady was so smoked that she could barely open her eyes, and she touched the stove in a daze, and saw that there were sparks in the hole of the stove.

The old lady squatted down and picked the stick in her hand, only to see her pick and choose, and after a while, the fire in it was ignited.

Everyone was pleasantly surprised.

Zhu'er and Lan'er praised: "The old lady has snow and fire, and there is snow when she goes out, and she can make a fire to warm the house when she enters the door." No wonder our house is thriving day by day, rising every year. ”

The old lady coughed slightly, waved the smoke in front of her with her hand, and said, "Okay! If it is on fire, it will not be smoked. ”

The aunt brought a low stool for the old lady to sit on. The old lady said again: "It can be seen that you have no life as a wife, this fire is the same as a person, it has a heart and a shape." If you don't open its heart, how can its form be revealed? ”

My aunt smiled embarrassedly.

Lan'er continued: "The old lady has a long life and is well-informed. It's not like it's a firefight. ”

Zhuang Ying tilted his head and asked, "What is the fire heart?" ”

Lan'er said with a smile: "Firewood and grass are piled up on the sparks, and the hot one in the middle is the fire heart." When the heart of fire is blocked, it can't be ignited. That's why the old lady picked up the fire and let it burn. ”

Zhuang Ming's "oh" is clear.

Aunt Yi said: "If you don't say that the old lady understands life, let us remember the bitter and sweet, do it ourselves, have enough food and clothing, and have a long life experience, but if we go out in the future, at least it is not a problem to make a fire to keep warm." ”

The old lady nodded her head again and again.

So, the old lady was responsible for helping to light the fire, and the aunt was busy cooking with ease and joy. There are all kinds of vegetables and fresh meat on the side dish table, which is the same as what is eaten in the house on weekdays.

The old lady said, "You don't have to do everything, you can make me one and taste it." ”

My aunt looked at the dishes on the case, and it was difficult for a while. At this moment, the sixth girl, Zhuang Jue, came back with the girl Qimeng carrying the basket, but before anyone arrived, the footsteps sounded.

In a blink of an eye, Zhuang Jue came in laughing and said, "Madam, I'm back." I pinched all the cabbage sums in the small yard. ”

Aunt Mi hurriedly went to take the basket and let Qimeng out.

When the girl went out, the aunt handed the basket to the old lady, and said with disgust to Zhuang Jue: "You have finished picking it, what will you eat later?" Didn't you just have to pick a plate? ”

Zhuang Jue said: "Pick a little more today, you don't have to go tomorrow." Go every day, blame the laborers! ”

The aunt smiled at the old lady: "Old lady, you see, people are still clever and know how to cherish people." ”

The old lady grabbed Zhuang Jue, held her cold hand, gave warmth, and said kindly: "You should have such a heart." If you have been kind to others, they will be kind to you. I see that the sisters in the house are not as good as you. The old lady hurts you the most. ”

Zhuang Ying was angry, turned his face and moved a stool, sat on it and sulked: "That's the old lady who treats me as a dish on the table, don't like it?" Just pick one and you're done. ”

After everyone heard this, the old lady couldn't help laughing, and beckoned her over again, and loved her well.

When it came to cooking, Zhuang Jue stupidly pointed to a single stove standing in the corner, and a small soup pot was placed on the stove. At the moment it is warm and on fire.

Zhuang Jue said: "Why does the old lady only eat vegetables and not taste soup? The seventh sister also told me that everyone loves meat and vegetables, and the clear soup ......"

Seeing that she couldn't go on, Zhuang Ying continued: "The clear soup is bland, and it is the essence." We live at home, coarse tea and light soup, we should know that we are satisfied, and we can be happy. It's not what I said, it's what my wife taught us a few days ago. ”

The old lady glanced at her aunt in surprise, and was moved and distressed by the two children, so she hugged them tightly.

The old lady said to her aunt, "Don't be busy, bring me a bowl of soup." ”

The aunt despised the child while looking for a bowl and spoon to serve the soup.

The soup is a small bowl of red melons that are idle after winter. The old lady looked at it, there was no oil drifting, the spoon scooped up a spoonful, blew it cold, and said, "It's still sweet." It's just lighter. If there are bones, first enter the bones, wait for the taste to come out, and then add the melon, the soup that comes out at that time is sweet and fresh, delicious and healthy. Eating this bowl now is like a person fleeing from the famine. ”

The aunt was about to take the soup bowl, but the old lady avoided it and said, "I think it's delicious." It's just that children must eat less, no meat will not grow meat, and children can not lack their bodies. He also said that he remembered the bittersweet memories and did a very good job. I said that, but my heart was really satisfied. I'm done drinking it and I'm going to have a bowl. ”

The aunt was very happy, and several people watched the old lady drink it all and added another bowl.

After eating, the old lady said, "Sit down for a while, and then I'll go to Beppu." Go ahead and get it! ”

Under the words, the aunt didn't stay, only nodded her head.

After that, the mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, children and grandchildren talked about homely things, saying what dishes were made in several houses in previous years, and what tastes they were, and the old lady commented on them one by one. Aunt Mi listened to it and concluded that the old lady was not very satisfied with the dishes in Beifu.

The old lady said, "It's not good in other houses, that's it, only she is as greasy as people." If I had eaten this soup in that house, I wouldn't have been able to swallow a spoonful. I didn't even use chopsticks in previous years. It doesn't matter what the mood of the people watching on the side is. Maybe it's good to change your knowledge this year. I'm such a person, I may not be willing to say anything when I see it, it must be extremely annoying. ”

Later, the old lady got up and said that she was leaving, because she saw that the snow was falling a little heavily outside, the aunt deliberately found a word to stumble the old lady, and asked Zhuang Ying to find the girls to find an umbrella.

When the umbrella came, the old lady didn't refuse, let Zhu'er take it, and the aunt and others sent it outside the gate.

When she got to the door, the old lady sighed meaningfully: "No matter how snowy it is, it will melt for a day." Look at the beauty, who thinks that the inside of the beauty is the cold of the cone! As long as you believe in the warmth in your heart, you will not be afraid of no matter how cold the day is. Don't you think? "I looked at my aunt deeply.

The aunt pursed her mouth and hooked her head.

The old lady sighed a few times, and then moved down, Zhu'er and Lan'er wanted to help, but the old lady didn't give it, and still walked by herself with a wooden stick. It's just that Zhu'er has an extra umbrella on the side.

On the trail, Zhu'er said: "The snow is heavy, I'm afraid that the old lady's feet will slip, otherwise I will go and say a word to the prefectures, and let the finished dishes be served one or two." ”

The old lady said: "Isn't the dust sweeping an empty arrangement?" It's all here, don't go to their courtyard, and say I'm biased. Anyway. ”

Next, the old lady went to Xifu.

Because a girl was visiting outside beforehand, I saw the old lady coming, so I went to report it first. The old lady approached the gate, and the county lord led Aunt Fengxian, Zhuang Yu, and Zhuang Yu out to greet her. Looking at their dress, they are all like people in the village, but their temperament is still fresh.

When they got inside, the county lord poured tea himself, Zhuang Yu and Zhuang Yu worked together to carry the charcoal brazier, and the rest of the four looked at it a few times, which was no different from usual. Therefore, the old lady said, "I think you have all the food you have eaten." ”

Because he couldn't see Zhuang Pu, he asked Zhuang Pu: "What about your second brother?" ”

Zhuang Yu couldn't explain that his second brother was injured by his father and is now lying in the house.

The county lord said: "He is a wild day, and he can't control his legs and feet when it snows outside." The old lady still cares what he does, and he runs by himself. ”

The old lady believed it and didn't ask. After a while, the county lord went down to serve the food, and Zhuang Yu borrowed the opportunity to sneak outside.

The people inside also knew that Zhuang Jue was going to the mirror at the moment.

Because, when he went to see Yu Qi the day before, he made a promise to go over to help sweep the dust today. Now, the promise is gone.