The village under the mountain is a little dilapidated, and it looks like a ghost in Xiabai Village, which is far inferior to Shangbai Village, which has a better life.

In particular, those who come early can also get the old house (the house of the dead bandits). Those who came late had to build their own huts, and they had to divide their labor to work to earn wages, and the thatched huts they built looked terrible.

"It's very poor here." Mrs. Yan muttered.

She didn't dislike it, she was purely motivated, afraid that it would be detrimental to her grandson's growth.

Zhu Ming said with a smile: "This year is poor, next year will be rich." It only takes one year to catch up with Shangbai Village. Once the cart is built and the canal is dug through, half of the village's paddy fields can be irrigated. Halfway up the mountain, we are still digging a weir pond, digging one this year and two next year, and striving to solve the problem of irrigation in the mountains in three years. ”

Hearing this, Grandma Yan also laughed: "Da Lang has a high spirit, he is doing great things, Shangbai Village has not dug irrigation ditches for many years, and I still dug it once when I first got married." ”

The boat docked, not far from the cylinder car construction site.

Zhu Guoxiang was discussing something with the carpenter over there, and after talking for a while, he came over, and then carried the sweet potatoes up the mountain together.

Back in the village, Dean Zhu handed over a stack of papers.

Zhu Ming took it and took a look, only to see that it was written: Daming Village's three-year development plan (drafted).

The plan is written in detail, even down to each project, how much manpower, material resources, and time are needed, and the general data are all clear.

"Yes, Dean Zhu." Zhu Ming himself doesn't know how to plan, or his personality is more casual, and he has never had the habit of doing this kind of thing.

Zhu Guoxiang said: "I didn't make a detailed plan before, because I didn't have enough understanding of the ancient productive forces. For example, digging a weir pond can be done in a few days with an excavator, but it is not clear how long it will take to rely on manpower. After the specific construction, I found that I was too optimistic, and the actual construction period was longer than expected. After accumulating experience, I dared to make this plan. ”

Zhu Ming sat down and looked carefully, and there was actually a roasted tea project next spring.

There are several tea picking periods in spring, and in Zhu Guoxiang's vision, next year will still be dominated by steamed tea. At the same time as steaming tea, some second-class tea was used to carry out roasted tea experiments, and four or five people were mobilized to do this.

There is also next year's corn and sweet potatoes, and the land where they should be planted is also clearly written.

When new crops are harvested, the whole village will basically achieve self-sufficiency, and two more weir ponds can be dug next year. When you start work, you don't need to engage in forced labor, you only need to pay for your wages with food.

After the summer grain harvest in the third year, a simple wharf can be built by the river.

The villagers along the river let them grow more vegetables and raise more poultry to provide food and lodging services for passing merchant ships. It is half a day away from the county seat, and it takes more than half a day to go against the water, which can just be used as a node for shore supply.

Zhu Guoxiang said: "I haven't written a five-year plan yet, but I already have ideas. Within five years, the whole village will not only achieve food and clothing, but also form a small wharf by the river. Let seventy percent of the merchant ships in the past rest and settle in Daming Village. The wine made from corn and sweet potatoes was not produced enough at the beginning, so it could not be exported and only supplied to those caravan mates. ”

"Haha," Zhu Ming said with a smile, "At that time, I'm afraid that except near the county seat, Daming Village will become the richest village in the county." ”

Zhu Guoxiang said: "There is no government oppression here, Daming Village is richer than the villages on the outskirts of the county, and it must be the richest village in the county." When the time comes, your militia must take shape. Otherwise, the new county magistrate, as well as those officials, will be 100 percent red-eyed, and they may come to clear the acres of land and check the population one day. ”

Zhu Ming said: "I plan to train after the summer harvest next year, but I only train a few dozen elite soldiers. After the autumn harvest, a large number of strong men will be selected and trained in the spare time. I'm afraid this is a bit in conflict with your plan to dig a second or third weir pond. ”

"Then change the plan, and don't dig the third weir pond for the time being," Zhu Guoxiang said, "I can see clearly, in this ghost year, if you are rich, you can only be slaughtered as a pig, and you must be equipped with corresponding armed forces." ”

Zhu Ming once again immersed himself in the plan book, and after reading it, he basically had confidence.

The first two years belonged to the construction period, and the funds were obtained by selling tea and collecting grain, but most of them had to be used for village construction, and there was basically not much grain left.

The third year is the development period, which can free up manpower and material resources to build a wharf.

Moreover, it belongs to the black wharf, and refuses the government to send people to set up a column (tax dispatch agency). Once the government intervenes, half of the pier will be destroyed, and force may be used at that time.

Zhu Ming closed his eyes and thought, he had more thoughts.

After surviving the third year, Daming Village must have enough money and food. At that time, it is possible to cooperate with passing merchant ships, so that they can recruit poor people along the way, and continue to absorb immigrants in small quantities.

Only 100 new people need to be added every year, so that they can open up wasteland by the river and continue to develop downstream. In a few years, Zhu Ming's actual control of the territory is estimated to reach 15 square kilometers. At the confluence of the tributaries and the Han River, a T-shaped waterside force is formed.

It can even go upstream and swallow the other side of Xiabai Village. The cultivable area is small and the population is extremely sparse, but once occupied, it can be connected to the upper and lower white villages.

At that time, the Zhu family belonged to an absolute situation household, and the new magistrate had to treat them carefully, no matter how angry they were.

Once it is difficult, the county will be broken in minutes!

Thinking of this, Zhu Ming said with a hippie smile: "Dean Zhu, you are really my Kong Mingye." This planning book can be regarded as the rural version of "Longzhong Pair". ”

"What a mess!" Zhu Guoxiang was too lazy to talk nonsense with his son, so he got up and went out to accompany his wife.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were tidying up the room, and Meng Zhao's wife Yu Shanwei also came to help.

and Yao Fang's widow Jiang Erniang, who has gradually adapted to the "new environment" and lives in the same house as Zhang Guangdao. This widow has a heart of admiration for Zhang Guangdao, and it is also mixed with the psychology of attachment to the strong.

It's a pity that Zhang Guangdao is very wooden in terms of feelings, and has always treated Jiang Erniang as a sister-in-law.

Bai Sheng's wife Li Youniang also came, she was originally Bai Sheng's sweetheart, and was robbed of being a concubine by Xiao Bai's son. Bai Sheng snatched it back again, and didn't care about anything, he got married in the second month, and even adopted Li Youniang's son (the grandson of Xiao Bai).

A three-year-old child doesn't know what a fart is, and raising a good child is no different from his own son.

"There is a well on the east and west sides of the village," Yu Shanwei said while busy, "It's very convenient here, but it's very tiring to go down the mountain." Some mulberry trees are also planted on the mountain, and silkworms can be raised in spring. ”

Shen Yourong said with a smile: "The third sister came early, and she will take care of me more in the future." ”

Yu Shanwei said: "I have only been here for a month, thanks to Jiang Erniang's care. ”

Jiang Erniang flattered: "It's lively when there are more people, don't say who takes care of whom." ”

Li Youniang has been silent, only burying her head in helping with the work. Because she was born quite handsome, she was robbed of her concubine by the rent, and she was oppressed by the eldest woman in the little white man's house, and her courage became smaller and smaller.

Although he remarried Bai Sheng with his son, his temperament is still weak, and he usually doesn't talk much.

A group of little women were busy, but Mrs. Yan was idle. She looked at the house carefully and felt very satisfied: "There are nine rooms here, although they are not magnificent, but they are also very open, which one used to live in?" ”

Jiang Erniang hurriedly introduced: "It is the house of the thief Xu Da, his family used to be the tenant of the owner of Yang Zhai, and two generations have been thieves here. There were even bigger ones in the stockade, all of which were burned down. ”

Mrs. Yan went out to wander around and found that there were burnt ruins everywhere, and she felt a pity in her heart.

The ruins have been cleared, and the usable timber has been moved to the bottom of the mountain to build a cylinder.

The joy of housewarming was a hearty meal that night, and Zhang Guangdao, Bai Sheng and others came to celebrate. Zhu Ming attached great importance to Deng Chun, Deng Xia, and Shi Biao, and invited their whole family to dinner.

In the evening, Jiang Erniang held the child and went back with Zhang Guangdao.

The two of them live in the same house, but they sleep in separate rooms, and there is a room in the middle to avoid suspicion.

"San Lang, can you come in and talk?" Jiang Erniang stood at the door of the bedroom and said.

Zhang Guangdao was a little embarrassed: "It's inconvenient for me to go in, sister-in-law, you should rest early." ”

Jiang Erniang could only tentatively turn around the corner: "San Lang is not too young, is there a favorite girl, I will help be a matchmaker." ”

Zhang Guangdao said: "I haven't thought about it yet. ”

"How's that going to work? When a man gets married, he should also get married and pass on incense. Jiang Erniang said.

Zhang Guangdao has been pondering about rebellion, afraid of affecting his family, shaking his head and saying, "If you are not in a hurry, you will talk about it in a few years." ”

"Alas!"

Jiang Erniang sighed.

Zhang Guangdao asked, "What's wrong with my sister-in-law?" ”

Jiang Erniang said: "Brother Yao is gone, my mother's family is all thieves, and I was escorted to the government." Leaving me as an orphan and widow will have a hard time in the future. ”

Zhang Guangdao said: "I take care of it, sister-in-law should not be afraid." ”

It's no wonder that Jiang Erniang is not afraid, she has no relatives except for her son, and only Zhang Guangdao can rely on. hinted many times before, but Zhang Guangdao was elm's head, and at this moment he simply let it go: "San Lang, I miss a man." ”

"Huh?" Zhang Guangdao couldn't keep up with the rhythm.

Jiang Erniang said: "I miss a man and want to remarry." But other men are unreliable, afraid that he will not be good for Brother Yao's son. I've thought about it for a long time, it's better to marry Saburo. ”

"This, this, this...... How can this be done? Zhang Guangdao was already panicking, he hadn't touched a woman yet, and his emotional experience was blank.

Jiang Erniang said: "Remarry San Lang, San Lang will be good to me." Isn't it? ”

"Brother Yao's son, I must be my own son, and my sister-in-law is the same whether she marries or not." Zhang Guangdao hurriedly said.

Jiang Erniang completely let go, threw herself directly into Zhang Guangdao's arms, and hugged her arms with open arms.

Zhang Guangdao stiffened and lost the ability to think.

When he regained his senses, his sister-in-law's soft body had already caused him to have a physiological reaction, so he was so shocked that he hurriedly pushed Jiang Erniang away, and hurriedly ran away and said, "I'll go to sleep, and my sister-in-law will rest early." ”

"Idiot!" Jiang Erniang was so angry that she stomped her feet.

Zhang Guangdao is an old virgin for more than 20 years, lying in bed only to feel hot and dry, tossing and turning and unable to sleep in the middle of the night, as soon as he closes his eyes, he remembers the appearance of his sister-in-law.

It was almost winter, Zhang Guangdao lifted the bucket in the middle of the night, hit a bucket of well water and poured it directly on his body.

I shivered with cold, but I was finally completely awake.

After the two got along, they didn't even dare to make eye contact, and Jiang Erniang regretted that she was too impulsive that night.

The effect is still there, Zhang Guangdao occasionally peeked at his sister-in-law, and the more he looked at it, the more he liked it, he had never had this idea before.

Yu Shan was slightly delicate and clear, and he had a lot of ideas, so he quietly said to Shen Yourong: "Zhang Sanlang is quite valued by the village chief, and he has never had a family. I saw that he and his sister-in-law were in love, and the second sister might as well come forward to match, Zhang Sanlang must be dead set on the village chief! ”

The social atmosphere of the Northern Song Dynasty was open, not to mention that the relationship between the two was not really an uncle and sister-in-law.

Shen Yourong was said to be moved, she wants to be a virtuous helper, she can't manage the affairs outside, but her subordinates' marriages can help, so that the men don't have to distract the family.

She called Zhang Guangdao over and asked, "I think Jiang Erniang is an orphan and widow, and her life is not convenient, and I am going to tell her that the matchmaker will remarry, what does Zhang Sange think?" ”

In the past, Zhang Guangdao didn't care about this, he was only worried about Brother Yao's son. Now he was a little reluctant, his heart was empty, and he stubbornly said, "It's better to live in two years." ”

Shen Yourong felt that there was a play, and said with a smile: "It's so decided, let Second Sister Jiang remarry Third Brother Zhang, and you can take care of each other." ”

"This ...... How does this work? Zhang Guangdao was suddenly overjoyed, but he behaved even more twisted, his heart beat wildly when he thought of his sister-in-law, and he felt sorry for the dead Brother Yao.

But if you think about it again, it seems to be the best solution, otherwise the sister-in-law will remarry one day, which will be very unfavorable to Brother Yao's son.

Twisting and pinching, hesitating, not at all like Zhang Guangdao, who is arrogant and free on weekdays.

Shen Yourong took the initiative to help arrange the marriage, and Zhang Guangdao finally married his sister-in-law, completely without worries, and he could do things with peace of mind in the future.

Immediately afterwards, Shen Yourong began to contact other family members again to straighten out the situation of the big and small leaders in the village.

She found that the father and son were quite important to Shi Biao, and Shi Biao was not married, and there was only an old mother and a young sister at home. So he called Tian Er and Tian San and asked for suitable candidates, who must be honest and reliable women.

Within a few days, I found one in the village.

The two sides met quickly, and Shen Yourong also took out some money to help Shi Biao give a dowry.

The woman was average-looking, even a little ugly, and had a cyan birthmark on her forehead. But Sheng is diligent and steadfast, went to Shi Biao's house, and has been helping with work.

Shi Biao likes this very much, he is stupid and clumsy, and he can't say intimate words. But when there are any good things, I think about my wife first, and I can't wait to offer my wife as an ancestor.

The old lady was also very happy, she liked her daughter-in-law here too much, and she was as willing to work as she was when she was young.

The old lady said to Shi Biao: "Zhu Xianggong and the village chief are good people, they took us in, and they also begged for your family." In the future, you have to work hard, and you have to listen to Zhu Xianggong and the village chief. ”

Shi Biao touched the back of his head and kept smirking: "I must be obedient, I will do whatever I want, and I will do everything that kills my head." ”

Shen Yourong not only arranged the marriage, but also went to the construction site to offer condolences and help deliver food and water to the workers.

Gradually, if the women in the village had any disputes, they also began to come to Shen Yourong for mediation.

These things are all Meng Xiucai's wife, Yu Shanwei, who is helping Shen Yourong come up with ideas behind her back.

"Dean Zhu, your female apprentice is not simple." Zhu Ming has been silently observing and has not interfered in these things.

Zhu Guoxiang said: "At the construction site over there, I asked Meng Zhao to help keep an eye on it, and it was also this Yu Shanwei who was helping her husband come up with ideas. When the riverside wharf is built, Yu Shanwei can manage the inn. ”

Because his wife was too good, Meng Zhao became an incidental addition.

In the Tang Dynasty, women could not live alone, but in the Song Dynasty, there were female households, and there were a large number of female heads of households in the country.

These female heads of households have some assets, because it is difficult for women without money to survive independently.

It was not uncommon for female householders to take care of their families, manage their fields and shops, and even manage large businesses.

The Northern Song Dynasty is far more open than imagined.

(Regarding sweet potatoes, it may not be clear.) Sweet potatoes are cut into cubes and planted in the ground to grow vines. A pound of sweet potatoes can be cut into 50 to 100 potato seedlings and taken to cuttings. ）

(End of chapter)