Chapter 1: People and Things

The rooster crowed all over the place, and the sound of Suo Suo came from the main courtyard. =

The three rooms in the east courtyard are close to the main courtyard, and the lights are lit one after another. On the kang head of the east house, a kerosene lamp flickered, and it seemed that it could be blown out with a single breath from afar.

"It's still early, lie down again!" The man's voice was hoarse with a new awakening, muttered, turned over, tightened the quilt, hissed, and said: "The kang is cold, it's strangely cold! Wear more." ”

"Sleep on yours! The woman took a breath and scolded the man. Quickly tighten the indigo belt again, as if it would warm it up a little more. This is a woman about thirty years old, with a slight wrinkle at the corners of her eyes and eyebrows, but her voice is exceptionally crisp and capable.

This is the third and second son of the Zheng family in Shannan Village.

While the two were talking, there was a noise in the courtyard. The two looked at each other, and both sighed softly. This is how many children have risen.

If you want to talk about Zheng Laosan, Zheng Sanshui, Qian Chun'e, and the two of them, the most proud of them in their lives are their own children.

"Don't lie down, get up! Orange went into the kitchen, and the hot water would be good for a while. Qian put his hair in a bun, fixed it with a wooden hairpin, and went to hand Zheng Laosan clothes.

"Auntie, how can you wash with cold water on this cold day! This hot water will be fine immediately, what if you are sick with frost!" came the voice of the eldest daughter lowering her voice and teaching the younger daughter a lesson in the courtyard.

The two looked at each other and smiled, no matter how hard it was, they were full of energy. The man takes care of himself, and the woman sits on the edge of the kang to clean up the bedding, quietly listening to the sound of a few children busy working, so vibrant, like the most beautiful music, never get tired of listening to it.

"It's okay, it's fresh well water, it's warm. Zheng Qingsong poured the bucket of water into the water tank, saw that the water tank was full, took a broom, and swept the yard. He is the eldest son of the third room, and has a twin sister Zheng Qingju who is one cup older than him.

"You can get used to her. With that, he turned around and went back to the kitchen.

Zheng Qingluan snickered and said, "Big brother, accompany me out in a while." "Although Zheng Qingsong is the eldest son of the third room, he is the third in the family, and everyone usually calls him Sanlang.

Before Saburo could answer, a voice answered, "Where are you going?"

Zheng Qingluan turned around and saw Zheng Qingbai coming back from chopping firewood in the backyard. He was dressed in a gray short kudzu jacket, showing his slender figure, and his whole body was steaming, which showed that chopping wood was really a manual work. He is the second son of the third room, Goro.

"In the temple. Zheng Qingluan smiled mysteriously and didn't want to say more.

Zheng Qingju came over with a scoop of hot water, poured it into the basin, motioned to San Lang Goro to freshen up while it was hot, and answered: "Go and cheat money again!" If you ignore the light in his eyes, you can treat him as a person with a moral bottom line.

Zheng Qingluan snorted and said, "It's vulgar, isn't it? As for the fruit, there is a definite number. ”

"What is the cause and effect? I think it's idle early in the morning!" Qian listened amusedly, lifted the curtain and walked out, and put on an apron as he walked to the kitchen. The mouth kept arranging work, "San Lang Goro went to clear the livestock pen, Luan'er, burned the fire, and cooked with oranges." Pigs and chickens and ducks are fed. After eating, what should you do? ”

The four brothers and sisters answered, laughing and busy.

Zheng Qingluan sat in front of the stove, looking at the fire while peeling the radish. After eating pickles, sauerkraut, and hot and sour shredded radish for a winter, the taste must be good. This was dug out of the soil by Tete after dinner yesterday. Burying radishes in wet soil is an effective way to prevent turnip stalks.

"Sister, let's steam an egg custard for Xiaoba. Yesterday, Hachi saw Shichiro eating eggs, and his saliva almost fell. Zheng Qingluan said distressedly. Xiaoba is the youngest child in the third room and the youngest child of the Zheng family so far, Zheng Qingfeng, who is eight years old this year. Shichiro is the only son of the fifth room, Zheng Qingliu. The two of them are at the end of the previous year and the beginning of the next year. It is said that it is one year old, but it is actually only three months. There is a child in the fifth room, and the food is much better than that of the little eight. Even his head is half a head smaller than Xiao Bagao, so his brothers and sisters in the family love him, and they can eat good food.

Zheng Qingju hesitated for a moment and picked up a big one from the jar.

After feeding the pigs, Qian was about to go to the kitchen to scoop water and wash his hands, when he heard the words of the little girl, his heart was sour, in the end, he lost the child's mouth and hurt his body. I heard the eldest girl say: "Are you reluctant to give me an egg?" is not an old lady in the main courtyard, and it is more serious to collect eggs when she comes to the door, and I don't want to talk to her. ”

If you want to talk about this Zheng family, Zheng Manchu is undoubtedly an important and huge branch of the Zheng family in Shannan Village. It is said that Zheng Manho's father went to Guanwai to pan for gold when he was young and earned this hundred acres of fertile land and four acres of homesteads. The courtyard is a regular rectangle, long from east to west, and narrow from north to south. Sitting in the north and facing south, lined up along the east-west direction, a large blue brick house was built. Enter through the main gate, and there is a gatehouse on the left and right, which acts as a utility room. Five or six steps further, five meters wide and three meters high, the wall photo engraved with the Five Blessings Gate obscures the view and blocks the way. There is a stone road in the east and west directions, leading to the east courtyard and the west courtyard. There are two houses in each of the two courtyards, and the flower wall surrounded by half-human high blue bricks in the middle is opened. Each main house has three rooms, the hall and the east and west two rooms, and the two rooms next to the east and west, which are two ear rooms. There are three bedrooms and four bedrooms in the east courtyard, and five bedrooms in the west courtyard. Behind the wall is the main courtyard, the main courtyard is slightly larger, more wings are built, the rest are the same, even the livestock shed in the backyard, the vegetable yard in the front yard are like taking a ruler to measure the general, neat and tidy.

In the upper room of this main courtyard, there are Zheng Manchu and Zhao Taohua. This old lady in the main courtyard is talking about the Zhao family.

The Zheng family is a half-divided form. Although the Zheng family is prosperous, all the 100 acres of land are tenants and receive 60% of the rent to the tenants. The fields were all in the hands of the old man and the old lady, and the rent was collected, and half a catty of grain per day for adults and three taels of grain per day for children were distributed to each house. Each house fires on its own, and if it is not enough, it earns money to fill it. In addition, each daughter-in-law had to pay a purse a day, and each family had to raise two pigs, ten chickens and five ducks. Because every ten days the old lady came to collect forty eggs and twenty duck eggs. A chicken has one egg in two days, five eggs in ten days, fifty eggs for ten chickens, and the old lady only collects forty, and the rest is left for you, isn't it? After deducting the cost of buying piglets from here, you can save more than ten catties of meat, which is just enough for the New Year. This also depends on the pigs and chickens to lay eggs and grow meat without disease and disaster, plus the money to buy rice bran and the time to beat pigweed, which properly gives the old lady the rhythm of long-term work. The old lady pressed down with filial piety, and she couldn't help but bow her head.

Zheng Qingluan thought of the old lady's various actions, and sneered: "It's okay, I've been preparing for more than three months, and today's harvest won't be small." I bought some meat when I came back and stewed it in the evening. ”

Zheng Qingju breathed a sigh of relief.

Qian Shi entered the kitchen, scooped a scoop of water, gritted his teeth and said: "Beat two more eggs, fry a plate with green onions, kill and kill gluttony, San Lang and Luan'er will go a long way after eating, and bring the hot two nests." ”

After washing his hands, Qian went to tell Xiaoba to get up.

In the hall, Zheng Sanshui carefully put away the two pages of the manuscript that had been copied, went to the courtyard to freshen up, and asked, "Are you going to Baohua Temple?" ”

Zheng Qingluan answered vaguely and shouted "It's time to eat". Saburo Goro also washed his hands and entered the hall.

Millet porridge, with chopped dried wild vegetables in it, and chopsticks and pickles sandwiched between it, a bowl of rice is salty. A bowl of scrambled eggs with green onions, Qian Shi dialed it into the bowls of the five children and urged: "Eat quickly." ”

Xiaoba saw that there was an extra bowl of egg custard in front of him, his eyes lit up, and he was sensible to divide the egg custard, and finally everyone picked a piece the size of a fingernail with chopsticks and ate it. He pursed his lips and smiled, and ate very satisfied.

Zheng Qingluan finished eating in two bites, entered the house and picked up a small package of blue flowers, and saw that San Lang had already put the basket on his back, and Qian was putting dry food in it, and said, "Take care of your sister, don't get lost." He fumbled for the corners of his clothes and took out five pennies, "Take it, in case you need it." ”

Zheng Qingluan didn't answer, pulled San Lang and left, took a small back basket, which was also prepared last night, threw the package into the back basket, and left on his back.

At this time, it was not yet dawn, and the whole village had just woken up, and there were no pedestrians on the road. The cold wind blew on his face, and Zheng Qingluan shivered from the cold. Seeing that San Lang was going in the direction of the official road, she hurriedly grabbed it and said, "Don't ask yet, follow me." ”

This brother is the most taciturn, and his mind is the most transparent. He didn't ask anything, and then walked towards the bottom of the mountain. This mountain is called Qifeng Mountain, it is two or three hundred meters high, undulating for dozens of miles, and it is Yunchi County Town over the mountain. Nanshan Village belongs to Guanshan Town, Yunchi County, is located at the foot of Qifeng Mountain, a quarter of an hour to the south, it is Guanshan Town, and to the north over the mountain beam, it is the county seat. If you take the official road to the county seat, you have to walk twenty or thirty miles more.

There was nothing to say all the way, and when he reached the foot of the mountain, Zheng Qingluan pulled San Lang to keep walking around in the bushes, but after a cup of tea, there were no miscellaneous trees and dead grass in front of him, and a huge stone wall blocked the way. Saburo looked at his sister with a focused expression suspiciously, but saw her detour to the east side of the stone wall and disappeared. San Lang was in a hurry and hurriedly followed.

"Big brother, don't worry, give me your hand. Don't be afraid, this is the gossip of the five elements, and I will lead you away. ”

Zheng Sanlang answered, and let Zheng Qingluan pull him through the darkness. After walking about 100 steps, it suddenly became clear that this was an irregular basin of only half an acre, and a small mountain stream drilled out of the crack in the stone passed through the basin and disappeared into the mountain crevice.

"There should have lived a person who was proficient in the gossip of the five elements, either to hide from the enemy or from the war. Zheng Qingluan felt San Lang's nervousness, and said slowly, "I found it by collecting firewood in the mountains a year ago. ”

Zheng Sanlang nodded and said, "If you run to the Taoist temple all day long, you will learn the gossip of the five elements." ”

Zheng Qingluan pursed his lips and smiled, but did not deny it. She can't say that she learned it from an old professor majoring in archaeology in her last life. "We'll walk from there in a moment. Zheng Qingluan pointed to a craggy boulder.

Zheng Saburo nodded, although in his eyes, the boulder was connected to the mountain.

"I cleaned up this half acre of land a year ago, sprinkled vegetable seeds, and thought that the basin was surrounded by mountains on all sides, and it was surrounded by mountains, which was warmer than outside, so I sprinkled vegetable seeds and covered it with thick withered grass, and now it should be able to grow some. As he spoke, he put down the basket and broke the dead grass that was covered. Sure enough, I saw tender spinach growing on the ground, because of the lack of sunlight, the leaves of the vegetables were not heavy dark green, but yellow-green delicate color.

Zheng Qingluan took out the small shovel and sickle in his back basket and handed it to San Lang, who was responsible for picking up the grass on it, Zheng Sanlang dug the vegetables, picked the longer ones and dug the larger ones, and then gently covered them with dry grass after digging. Spinach was harvested for more than ten catties, leeks were only one turn long, and four or five catties were cut, not so much leeks as leeks. The leaves of the small rape are also extremely slender, only the length of an adult's finger, and they are only three or four catties.

The two of them worked hard for half an hour before they finished it. "These can be fetched at a good price. San Lang said while washing his hands with stream water, "I can still harvest a few stubbles, and I have to come and make up some seeds when I am empty, and with these harvests, I can survive for two months." He seemed relieved.

Last year, there was a plague of insects, the harvest was reduced by half, and the winter was carried out, and this green and yellow February and March were the most difficult.

"Yes! The family has enough food for half a month. Zheng Qingluan sighed, pointed to the small hole in the stone wall and said, "Third brother, look." The entrance to the cave is not big, but it is very spacious inside. There is no shortage of stone beds, stone tables, stoves, pots and pans. I'm afraid we'll have to come here often, and I won't be able to clean up this land. It is also convenient to enter the city in the future. As long as the family knows, don't tell anyone. In the event of a natural disaster*, there is also a place to hide. ”

"Well, no one will say anything. As he spoke, he picked up the basket and said, "Let's go, take advantage of the freshness of the vegetables, sell it quickly, maybe you can catch a morning market." Zheng Sanlang weighed his weight, thinking that according to the price of meat, he could exchange it for a small two hundred Wen.

"Don't rush the morning market. Zheng Qingluan smiled playfully, "I inquired, Zhang Dahu's wife will have a birthday tomorrow, and the county lord and squire will be invited to the banquet, let's slaughter the big family." ”

As he spoke, he pulled Zheng Saburo and left. Sure enough, after going around the stone wall and walking a hundred and ten steps in the darkness, I heard the sound of the murmuring of the stream, and after walking dozens of steps, there was a faint light coming through from nowhere, and the small branch of the underground river passed through the belly of the mountain, and the water flow was very small, and I walked along the bank of the stream for half an hour, and there was no way out. Zheng Qingluan pulled Zheng Sanlang and walked another hundred and ten steps in the dark, and the light outside pierced the person who couldn't open his eyes. They appeared at the foot of the mountain, only two or three hundred meters away from the official road. Less than a mile away along the official road, it is the most prosperous south gate of the county.

"There we are. Zheng Saburo was dumbfounded. Immediately saw the pedestrians coming and going on the official road, afraid that others would see their brother and sister suddenly appear, and they were a little nervous.

"People think we're going to get rid of it. Look back!" Zheng Qingluan shook San Lang's hand and said.

Zheng Saburo turned his head, and sure enough, there was a stone wall behind him that didn't even have a hole. He instantly relaxed, and secretly thought: There are indeed masters in the world.

"Let's go. Zheng Qingluan untied the burden in his basket and covered the green vegetables on San Lang's back, and then walked towards the county seat with satisfaction.

In the south gate, the morning market is very lively. Zheng Qingluan and San Lang did not stay, and went directly to Xicheng, where Zhang Dahu's house was located.

At the door, there are two small servants cleaning the bluestone pavement. Zheng Qingluan whispered to San Lang: "No matter what I say later, don't make a sound, big brother, don't show it." ”

Zheng Saburo hesitated, nodded in response, and added, "Don't go too far." ”

He knows this little sister, and since he was sick for two months half a year ago, it's like a different person. Last winter, she stayed in the Taoist temple all day, and when she came to ask for a fortune plan, she could always fool someone to dig out a few copper plates. There were even two women who asked for a child and it was fulfilled. She also has more than a dozen yuan a day to supplement her family.

I saw Zheng Qingluan running over, patted a little guy on the back, and said viciously: "Call your master, my friends in Fucheng know that the old lady is too old, and I have sent a congratulatory gift." As he spoke, he uncovered the wrapperskin on the basket, revealing the tender greens.

The little guy took a leap and looked at the two and a half grown boys.

Because the family conditions are really difficult, Zheng Qingluan is wearing Wulang's old clothes, although she is only eleven years old, she has grown to a height of about 1.65 meters, and she is not as slender and weak as the girl's family. Although Zheng Qingju is the eldest sister, she will be 1.6 meters, and she is the body shape of a weak willow Fufeng, and her clothes Zheng Qingluan can't wear. Maybe the Zheng family was born tall, and the Qian family is also rare among women, and the genes of both parents make them tall. Zheng Qingluan was impatient with braids, and always tied his hair into a ponytail first when he went out, and when he entered the mountain, he was afraid that the branches would hang his hair, so he wrapped the ponytail around the top of his head and tied it with hemp rope, which was not much different from the man's hairstyle.

I saw the dust on the two of them, obviously they had come from a long way. "Wait a minute." And he ran to the door.

After half a cup of tea, a middle-aged man in his forties walked quickly, looked at the two of them carefully, saw the appearance of the two of them, and their eyes were clear, so he nodded, and then saw a basket of green vegetables, with a smile on his face, and asked: "Dare to ask the little brother, your master's surname?" Seeing Zheng Qingluan looking at him with questioning eyes, "I am the housekeeper of Zhang's Mansion." ”

Zheng Qingluan smiled embarrassedly, his face was honest, and when he saw that there was a bucket of water at the door, and the water had bottomed out, he poured the water in the bucket by himself, divided half of the three dishes from the back basket into the bucket, and said, "Okay." He smiled innocently again, and said to San Lang: "Brother, let's go!" and pulled San Lang away.

The housekeeper was in a hurry, why did he leave?" ”

"I'm in charge of giving gifts. Just be polite. As he spoke, he took a few more steps, and the butler hurriedly grabbed him.

"I said, you have to tell me who gave it to you? The housekeeper felt that he had met a dumbfounder.

"You ask this. The young master of a big family in Fucheng asked people to pick it from the glazed conservatory, saying that he had moved and planted more than a dozen bachelors of Mrs. Tai. After speaking, he nodded affirmatively.

The housekeeper looked at this kid's smart face, but he didn't expect him to be stupid. "Whose young master is that, do you know?"

"Yes. The proprietor's house. After speaking, he looked like he was about to be praised. Zheng Saburo looked at the housekeeper choking, almost didn't hold back, and laughed out loud. Busy lowered his head.

"The young master said, two fools, you give half of the green vegetables to the Zhang family, and congratulate the old lady on her birthday for me. Although it is a one-sided relationship, it is rare to have business contacts in the future. The other half of you go to Baohua Temple to give it to the abbot, and say that this is half a year's sesame oil money. Don't be stupid and give gifts with a big frame, divide them first and then go, so as not to offend the young master again. Alas, not stupid greedy, not greedy stupid, do you say young master I am easy?" Zheng Qingluan said with a sneering face. After speaking, he was stunned for a moment, and cried: "You give me the food, and I will divide it and send it again." You shall not see me. ”

As he spoke, he was going to get the food in the bucket. The housekeeper was a little crying and laughing, he probably understood the reason, this person is a businessman whom the old man met in Fucheng, and he has a fate, and occasionally hears that the old lady is celebrating her birthday, and she gives gifts, and it is not strange that many people will meet in the future. Among the subordinates of the family, these two stupid brothers are stupid, but they are loyal and righteous, and they are entrusted to come. The housekeeper consciously figured out Guan Qiao among them, and hurriedly said, "We won't blame your young master." People say that sending goose feathers for thousands of miles is light and affectionate. Not to mention such a rare thing. ”

"Really?" Zheng Qingluan asked with a crying voice, and when he saw that the housekeeper nodded, he said, "You are a good person like our young master." He hesitated again and said, "Do you have enough food?"

The housekeeper's heart moved, and he said, "Then you sell the rest to me?" I thought in my heart, this thing is rare this season, and I have to give the county official a gift of half a catty, which is a rare dignity.

Zheng Qingluan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and said secretly in his heart: What I am waiting for is your words. Zheng Sanlang also understood at this time, his face became more and more impassive, and he looked a little stupid.

I saw Zheng Qingluan shaking his head and said, "Don't sell it! The young master confessed. Zheng Sanlang's heart was pinched, and the money of sesame oil in Baohua Temple for half a year was twenty taels of silver.

Twenty taels of silver, for the Zhang family, it is really not expensive, the housekeeper was secretly happy, and said: "It is convenient for others and for yourself." Our master is a friend of your young master, and I will take twenty taels of silver, and it will be the same if you go to add sesame oil. If your young master was here, he would have agreed. Seeing that Zheng Qingluan had a hesitant look on his face, he said, "Your young master didn't let you not sell, right?"

Zheng Qingluan nodded and said with difficulty: "You are a good person, and good people will not lie to me." I believe in you. ”

The housekeeper was overjoyed, and hurriedly took out four small ingots of five taels and handed them over. Then I saw the boy throw him into the basket without looking at it. I thought to myself, this is really a fool. He took out a small silver horn of half a tael, and said, "Ask your brother to go on a trip, this silver, go and have a cup of tea." ”

Zheng Qingluan glanced at the housekeeper and smiled more and more honestly, "I don't want silver." I don't know how to use money, and others always lie to me when I buy things. Give me the copper plates, and I will count the copper plates. ”

The housekeeper was stunned, smiled and took back the silver, handed the purse on his waist, and saw that the boy happily took it, carefully carried it in his arms, carried the basket on his back, pulled the dumb brother, bowed to them, and left