It was already dark, and only father and son and the child were left in the courtyard.

Shen Erniang's daughter's name is Shen Yourong, her parents are there, and she has two elder brothers.

Bai Qi is a posthumous son, and his father died before he was born. In his impression, if a man comes to the door at home, he will always be beaten and scolded by his grandmother with a stick.

But the two men in front of them, not only were they not beaten and scolded, but they were actually left to eat, and it seemed that they had to sleep at home at night.

It's amazing!

Especially the big brother, who can write a lot of words, and his mother is very happy, he should be a great talent like his father.

Bai Qi was a little introverted, and sat with his head bowed throughout the whole process, but his eyes secretly looked at the father and son. Then, he saw an outrageous scene, the big brother who was very good at writing, picked up a grain of corn on the table without a trace, and stuffed it into his mouth with lightning speed.

Zhu Guoxiang said with contempt: "Are you as for it? ”

Zhu Ming smacked his lips and recalled the taste of millet porridge: "I didn't eat enough." ”

"It's enough, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law didn't eat much, and the food all went into our belly." Zhu Guoxiang said.

Zhu Ming actually picked and choose: "If this millet can be shelled, it will definitely taste better." ”

Zhu Guoxiang said with disgust: "Don't say that you are my son in the future." ”

Bai Qi suddenly interjected, and expressed his opinion with a serious expression: "I have eaten husked corn porridge, it tastes very fragrant, and I always remember it." ”

"Haha, the hero sees the same thing," Zhu Ming stretched out his slap and teased the child, "Come, give me five!" ”

Bai Qi heard a question mark in his head, he didn't know what it meant, and in the face of the big brother's expectant eyes, he subconsciously stretched out his little hand weakly.

Syllable!

The high-five was successful.

Maybe it was nervous for half a month, but at this moment he finally relaxed, Zhu Ming let go of himself a little, and wanted to do something to have fun: "After high-five, I want to say yes." Follow me, yay! ”

Bai Qi stupidly said: "Yay! ”

Zhu Ming began rehearsing again: "Now let's have a full set." I said Give me five, let's give me a high-five, and after a high-five, we say yes! ”

"Remembered." Bai Qi felt that he was learning some kind of high-end etiquette.

Zhu Ming smiled even more happily: "It's started, Give me five!" ”

Bai Qi, the kid, was very perceptive, and hurriedly clapped his palms and shouted seriously: "Yay! ”

Zhu Guoxiang sat next to him, holding his forehead with his hand, he couldn't bear to look at it directly, it was too naïve.

Suddenly, there was a sound outside the courtyard.

Zhu Guoxiang thought there was a visitor, but when he turned his head, it was the thin horse in the arch, and the courtyard was lively and wanted to come in.

The more Zhu Ming played with the child, the more energetic he became, and he was about to sing: "I teach you a children's song, do you want to learn it?" ”

"Yes." Bai Qi showed expectant eyes.

Zhu Ming said with a smile: "This children's song is called "The Lonely Brave", which is very famous in my hometown, and a three-year-old child can sing it. Come, follow me sentence by sentence......"

The corners of Zhu Guoxiang's mouth twitched, what did he raise?

When Shen Yourong made the bed and came to the courtyard again, he heard a beautiful children's song: "I love you walking alone in the dark alley, and I love the way you don't kneel......"

Seeing Zhu Ming stand up again, he said to her son, "Don't sit and sing, put on a few poses, and have some accompaniment." Move times, move times, yo yo yo, Chek trouble! ”

Bai Qi was like a ghost, standing up in a daze, and learning to sing and dance seriously: "Move times, move times, move times, yo you, Che Ke trouble!" ”

Zhu Ming smiled evilly: "I learned very well, I will teach you a little chicken dance step another day." ”

In this small courtyard of a farmhouse in the Northern Song Dynasty, the ancient pastoral painting style quickly collapsed.

Mrs. Yan stood under the eaves, her face was a little anxious, and she whispered to her daughter-in-law, "This Zhu Dalang, is he suffering from hysteria?" Looks crazy. ”

Shen Yourong took the initiative to excuse Zhu Ming: "Auntie, don't panic, she is very good at things, and high-ranking people often have unconventional behaviors." ”

"I'm afraid that he will bring Brother Qi badly." Mrs. Yan said worriedly.

Shen Yourong was silent for a few seconds, and said quietly: "Brother Qi hasn't been so happy for a long time. ”

Grandma Yan was stunned when she heard this, looked at her grandson, who was becoming more and more lively, and immediately stretched her brows: "That's right, the doll should make a fuss." The one who can have fun with the doll must not be a bad person...... These two men are very down, they are sloppy and stinky, you go to boil some bath water, and I will go find two clothes to change clothes. ”

Before the bath water was boiled, Mrs. Yan had already come out with her clothes.

Mrs. Yan held the clothes and said: "Zhu Xianggong, Zhu Dalang, this is the clothes that my son often wore before his death, if the two gentlemen don't dislike it, they can take a bath and change into improvisation." ”

Zhu Ming was playing with the child out of tune, and when he heard this, he immediately became serious, and arched his hand: "How dare you dislike it, the old lady has a heart!" ”

Zhu Guoxiang also stepped forward to thank him, and took the clothes from Mrs. Yan's hand.

While waiting for a hot bath, Zhu Ming asked, "Old lady, can you borrow some salt?" The beast outside the door hadn't eaten salt in months, and had to get some salt water for him to drink. ”

"Yes." Mrs. Yan went to get salt again.

After a while, he brought a bowl of salt water and carefully handed it to Zhu Ming.

Zhu Ming put the thin horse into the courtyard, the horse stuck out his tongue and licked it, he was extremely excited to taste the salt, and he buried his head and didn't lift it again.

Shen Yourong came quietly and whispered, "Auntie, the water is boiled, there is not much left in the tank, I will go and pick some back." ”

The father and son were watching the horses drink salt water, but they didn't notice that Shen Yourong went out in the dark with a bucket.

After serving the beast comfortably, Mrs. Yan said, "The bath water is boiled, which of you will wash it first?" ”

Zhu Guoxiang said: "You go." ”

Zhu Ming was not humble and followed Aunt Yan to the bathing place. The bath water was a little hot, and he had to scoop some cold water to mix it, and Zhu Ming soon found that the water tank was about to bottom out.

He ran back to the courtyard and said to his father: "There is not enough water in the tank, and Mrs. Shen is not there, so I guess I have gone to fetch water." ”

"I see, go take a shower." Zhu Guoxiang nodded.

Zhu Ming went to take a hot shower, and Mrs. Yan turned around and went back to the house.

The tables and stools in the courtyard had not yet been cleaned up, and the oil lamps had been lit. Mrs. Yan came out with a needle and thread, sat by the dim oil lamp, and buried her head in the soles of her shoes.

Zhu Guoxiang pulled the child into the dark and asked, "Where do you usually fetch water to drink?" ”

Bai Qi replied: "In the river." ”

Zhu Guoxiang instructed: "You go back to your grandmother, don't run around." ”

"Hmm." Bai Qi nodded obediently.

Zhu Guoxiang estimated that he was walking towards the river, which was quite far away, at least a mile. And it is longitudinal and horizontal, and there are a few miles and a half.

There is a crescent moon hanging in the sky, stars are dotted, and visibility is less than a meter at night.

After walking for a while, Zhu Guoxiang finally heard the movement, and Shen Yourong gasped and returned with water.

"Shen Niangzi, let me come." Zhu Guoxiang said.

There was a sudden sound in the darkness, which startled Shen Yourong, and when she heard that it was Zhu Guoxiang's voice, she hurriedly said, "No, it's almost there." ”

"Let me come, I have strength." Zhu Guoxiang blocked the path.

Shen Yourong had no choice but to put down the bucket and said embarrassedly, "Thank you." ”

The two buckets of water weigh dozens of pounds, and after the crossing, his physical fitness improved, and Zhu Guoxiang picked it up very easily.

Shen Yourong followed behind, seeing that his movement of carrying water was very quick, obviously he had done farm work, and he couldn't help but be more curious about the origin of the father and son.

There was nothing to say all the way, and when he returned to the outside of the hospital, Shen Yourong hurriedly stepped forward to open the door.

When Mrs. Yan heard the sound, she looked up and saw Zhu Guoxiang carrying water in, put down the soles of her shoes and went over to help, and counted down her daughter-in-law and said, "How can you let the guests do it?" ”

Shen Yourong smiled and didn't say anything.

Zhu Guoxiang said: "It's us who are causing trouble, and it doesn't matter if we pick up buckets of water." ”

Zhu Guoxiang carried the water and continued to walk inside, quickly unloaded the burden, poured one bucket of water into the water tank, and the other bucket of water into the cauldron. He took the initiative to sit in front of the stove and add firewood to the stove that had not yet been extinguished, and this pot of bath water was boiled for himself.

Mrs. Yan watched Zhu Guoxiang busy and muttered, "There should be a man in the family." ”

"What did my aunt say?" Shen Yourong asked.

Mrs. Yan pulled her daughter-in-law to the back room: "In the past few years, I have also suffered you." ”

Shen Yourong said: "Aunt don't say this. ”

Mrs. Yan sighed: "The orphans and widows at home are inevitably memorable. I don't have much ability for this old woman, so I can only beat away those scoundrels. There are more than one or two matchmakers who come to the door, and you don't even give them a good look......"

"What does my aunt want to say?" Shen Yourong interrupted.

Grandma Yan was still going around in circles: "When your uncle (father-in-law) was alive, we still had eighty acres of land at home. My unblessed son, who spent a lot of money on studying, sold land for money every year, sold several tiled houses, and died outside in the end. Now, my family's land is only about 20 acres, and there is no man in the family, so I can't support Brother Qi'er for a few years. ”

Shen Yourong would be wrong, and swore an oath: "Aunt don't worry, my daughter-in-law will never remarry, even if she begs for food, she will raise Brother Qi." If you don't count your words, let Lord Yama cut his tongue when he dies! ”

"I didn't mean that," Granny Yan pointed to the kitchen, "I'm afraid this father and son are also from a big family, and they have drunk ink in their stomachs." I saw that Zhu Xianggong, who worked very well, should have been depressed in recent years. They were left in our village, and they didn't even have enough to eat, and I am afraid they had nowhere to go. It's not as good as ......."

"Why not as good as what?" Shen Yourong asked.

"It's better to recruit more," Mrs. Yan said openly, "That Zhu Xianggong, who looks very upright, and his age is not too old, is quite a match for you." ”

Shen Yourong didn't have this in mind, but when his mother-in-law said it, he instantly blushed, and couldn't help but think about Zhu Guoxiang's appearance. The more I thought about it, the more ashamed I became, my face turned red, and I lowered my head and muttered: "Others only learn with a belly, and they have great abilities, how can they want to marry a widow?" ”

Mrs. Yan made a good calculation: "No matter how knowledgeable you are, you will starve to death." You can tell him in advance, only half of the money. ”

"Half of the money?" Shen Yourong didn't understand.

Mrs. Yan elaborated on her plan: "He moved to live in my house, without changing his name and surname, and gave birth to children with you, and he can also be surnamed Zhu in the future." But Brother Qi'er is still surnamed Bai, and he has to pull Brother Qi up. The two of them are knowledgeable, and they can also teach Brother Qi to read, which can save a lot of tuition. There are two more men in the family, and they are not afraid of being remembered anymore. If there is no man in charge of the house, the 20 acres of land in our hands will be occupied by the villagers sooner or later. ”

Shen Yourong remembered Zhu Guoxiang's appearance again, and couldn't help but glance at the kitchen a few times, this pretty widow was obviously moved.

Mrs. Yan continued: "The land in the east of the village was occupied last year, and Bai Fude, who killed him that day, moved all the ridges. I went to ask the old white staff to comment, but Bai Fu refused to admit it, relying on the fact that there were many men in the family, so he wanted to bully our two widows. When you have a man, you won't have that kind of bag! ”

"But ......" Shen Yourong was happy and nervous, with a little hesitation and worry.

Aunt Yan is still saying: "The men who beat you in the past didn't have any good intentions. This father and son are different, although they just met today, but the eyes are very right, and my wife is right to see people. That Zhu Dalang can still play with Brother Qi. That Zhu Xianggong knows that helping you carry water will also hurt people. Don't be afraid of remarrying, Brother Qi will be bullied by his stepfather. My wife is not stupid, I hold the deed in my hand, can he still take it away from the two foreigners? My family's more than 20 acres of land are not afraid of being remembered by outsiders, but afraid of being snatched by the local people in this village! ”

Shen Yourong thought about it carefully, in terms of land alone, outsiders are indeed more reliable than people in this village.

Mrs. Yan suddenly sighed again: "It's really not good to have no men in the family, so those tenants have to be evil." I have to support Brother Qi'er to study, and I can't hold it even if I sell all the land, and the old woman really has no choice. ”

Shen Yourong clenched his hands into fists and held the cloth skirt, tight and loose, loose and tight, bowed his head shyly, and said as thin as a mosquito: "Auntie, I am willing to marry." It's just that...... I am a widow in the countryside, and I am afraid that I will not be able to enter the eyes of Zhu Xianggong. ”

Mrs. Yan said, "Stay with them for a few more days, and I'll go to find out the wind first." ”