Xianghua saw that Ying'er was really sharp-toothed, so she deliberately said: "Then since you are my person, you should naturally listen to my orders, you can do whatever I ask you to do, why do you need money?" ”

"I'm selling myself into slavery for you, and I won't take a penny for helping you do things. It's just that your name isn't written on this soup pool, and the money is not yours, and even these things were not originally done by you, can't I collect a little money from you? ”

The girl with fragrant flower fabric has such a sharp mouth, she was speechless for a while, so she was silent for a while, and coughed lightly: "You are a crooked-mouthed monk chanting scriptures and talking crookedly." It's just that our family has always been kind and generous, and others have given money for help, and you are no exception. According to the rules, those who enter the mountain during the peak season will have 80 yuan for adults and 20 yuan for children, and the money you will be given will be calculated according to the number of people, and one person will give you two yuan. ”

Ying'er asked: "The money calculated for me is not divided into adults and children?" ”

Xianghua said: "No distinction." ”

Ying'er looked at her again and said, "Okay, I agreed." ”

Xianghua thought about it, in the peak season, the passenger flow of the soup pool on the mountain is about three to five hundred people per day, and it can earn about forty taels a day, and it is more than two thousand taels in one or two months, which is almost enough to dredge the Qingshui River once.

When the Qingshui River is dredged, the flooding in this area will be greatly reduced, and large quantities of non-perishable things such as preserved eggs and chili powder and chili sauce will be transported out by water.

"By the way, Ying'er, what is the terrain of Huangni Village? Is it the same as our Castle Peak Village? ”

Ying'er shook her head.

"We don't have so many mountains there, just a few small hills and a big river. In the middle of the river is a mountain peak divided into two halves, and the river does not flow well, and the yellow mud is silted all over. ”

Xianghua thought about the terrain she said, it was indeed peculiar enough, and asked, "Haven't you thought about moving away?" ”

Ying'er smiled: "Sister, we are penniless, we have a place to shelter from the wind and rain in Huangni Village, if we really run out, we still can't eat enough, and we may freeze to death." My mother said that as long as your hands are still there, you are not afraid of starvation, and you can always stutter if you are diligent. ”

Xianghua nodded. Ying'er only mentioned her mother twice, once this time, and last time she said that her mother had no money to bury her after she died.

“…… You don't want to go back to see your mother? ”

Ying'er lowered her head and remained silent without speaking.

Looking at this little look, it is clear that he wants to go back, but he just doesn't want to say it.

Xianghua smiled: "I have something to go to Huangni Village these days, if you are willing, go back with me." ”

Ying'er looked up and said in surprise: "Are you alone?" ”

Xianghua said: "Lord Zhixian will walk with me." Want to be together? ”

Ying'er looked at her hesitantly, and when she saw that Xianghua was looking at her with a smile, she nodded slowly.

The county magistrate was busy, and the agreed time was postponed for several days, and finally the time was finalized, and he took a carriage to pick up the fragrant flowers.

Ying'er has done a good job of collecting money, she is clever, although she is not very good at writing, but she can already use orthography to remember how many people there are, and the money handed over is not bad. It's just that if she wants to go out, she can only be on top of Lin Chang, which is still persuaded by Xianghua's good words.

The clattering horse's hooves were getting closer, and there were two official brothers accompanying the prefect.

Seeing that Xianghua was still carrying a little girl, the magistrate asked, "What is this?" ”

Xianghua said with a smile: "This is Ying'er who temporarily lives in our house, her family used to be in Huangni Village, and it is more convenient for her to lead the way." ”

The magistrate smiled and said: "Xianghua, you are really friends all over the world." Let's get in the car! ”

When Xianghua and Ying'er got into the car, the magistrate smiled and apologized, saying that he shouldn't delay the time again and again.

Xianghua said: "I still think that if you don't come this year, you can only wait until after the fifteenth day of the first month of the new year." ”

The magistrate smiled and said, "No, no." I am the parent official of this Taiping Town, and the affairs of the people are big, and no matter what, I will squeeze out time. ”

Xianghua asked, "What have you been busy with lately?" ”

The magistrate whispered: "The border is fighting again, and the top is worried about this matter." ”

"Fighting again?" Xianghua was surprised. Taro didn't have any letters during this time, and I don't know what to do.

The magistrate said mysteriously: "Now the court is divided into two groups, one is the main battle, and the other is the main peace, and they are arguing. ”

Xianghua knew that it was inconvenient for her to inquire about the affairs of the court, and she was worried about the safety of the taro, so she was worried all the way, and soon arrived at Huangni Village.

It took most of the day to get there.

Ying'er got out of the car first, and then Xianghua and Zhixian also followed.

When Xianghua saw the scene in front of her, she immediately understood why Ying'er had such a cold temperament.

The desolation and coldness of this Huangni Village is far beyond imagination. The few small mountain bags in Ying'er's mouth are all bald, like a few bald little novices in the howling north wind. A dozen or so black-tiled roofs are scattered in between, and when it is time for lunch, there is no smoke in sight.

Further afield, there is a large area of gray-yellow and gray-yellow sediment, and the only few acres of land are built up with high ridges, carefully protected.

Ying'er walked forward familiarly, Zhixian and Xianghua followed, and the two officials walked last.

"Xianghua, look, it's not that I don't care, I really don't know where to start. How to deal with that large piece of yellow sand, how to solve this situation of more people and less porridge, my master and I also racked our brains and couldn't think of any way. ”

Fragrant flowers while walking.

The land here is indeed not suitable for cultivation, but it is more suitable for fish, crab and shrimp farming. Next time, invite Yan Gou too, and let him take a closer look.

"Ying'er, do you know how many people are in the village now?"

Ying'er thought for a while: "There are four or five people in each family, and there are sixty or seventy people." ”

Xianghua was suddenly shocked. How can such a poor village afford so many people?

Zhixian shook his head and sighed: "Let's get to the village chief of Huangni Village, you will know what is going on as soon as you ask." ”

The rumored village chief is a sallow-faced farmer, although he claims to be about the same age as Cheng Fugui, but Cheng Fugui is a beautiful man compared to him.

The village chief knew Ying'er, and after her father led her and her sister out of here a few days ago, she didn't know her whereabouts, and only when she asked today did she know that her father was gone.

When Xianghua finished greeting him, she asked the sixty or seventy people in the village how many adults and how many children there were.

The village chief said, "There are only about 20 adults in our village, and the rest are children, and every family here has two or three children." ”

Xianghua was shocked and asked, "Do you have to eat?" ”

"Well, I've always been short of food. Adults eat two more bites, small ones eat two bites less, and the family's things are so little all year round, and they eat evenly. If there is land at home, and if the adults can starve, the children can feed a few more, otherwise they will be born every year and will not be able to feed them every year. ”