Four catties of meat, three mussels and a piece of tofu, not counting the tide, all six people ate it, and they all sat on the chair and didn't want to move, and they smacked their lips.

"Third child, are you still going to the dock?" Zheng Haishun shouted outside the door.

"Go." Qi Laosan stood up and walked out.

Haizhu looked at the rest of the people, "Who washes the dishes?" ”

"I'll wash it, and if you don't let me cook, then I'll wash the dishes." Grandma Qi got up and picked up the dishes and chopsticks.

Haizhu gave Dongzhu and Fengping a look, the sisters and brothers hurried over to help, and Chaoping also held a bowl and sent it to the kitchen when he saw it.

Haizhu scooped a scoop of water to extinguish the sparks, lifted the stove to the wall and put it away, and said, "Second uncle, I'll go out to buy something." ”

"Okay."

"I'm going too, sister, wait for me." Dongzhu jumped out as soon as he slipped through the smoke, and Fengping followed.

The three sisters and brothers ran out of the door, Chaoping stumbled out, looked at the person who ran away, and cried again.

Haizhu went to buy rice, noodles and oil, bought glutinous rice and took it to the stone mill for processing, and when he went back, he went to the pottery shop and bought two pots and five palm-sized jars.

When she went back, she washed and dried the crockpot, filled three cans of fried peanut soybeans and sesame paste, sent one can to Wei Jinhua, and the other two cans to the Shen family.

When I went to meet a New Year's gift, Shen's second sister-in-law packed one for her to take back.

Haizhu took the things back and asked Dongzhu and Fengping to choose leeks at home, she had to go out to cut leeks with a basket, and the point she found in the morning was not enough.

Leeks grow luxuriantly in mud and sand, all year round, and their seeds can grow tenaciously in the cracks of rocks. When Haizhu took scissors to cut leeks, she dug up the roots and brought them back when she encountered a dense one, and she also dug up the roots of wild onions and wild garlic, and she planned to plant some by the wall.

If she moves here next year, she will open a small vegetable garden and plant one.

Chapter 38: Qin Jingniang

At dawn, the rooster crows.

People are old and young, and Grandma Qi is the first to push open the door and get up to cook. The sky is dark, and there are scattered footsteps outside the courtyard, all saying that the people who fish and support the boats are hard, and it is not easy for those who have no boats and no jobs in the town, and they have to go to the dock to squat before dawn, waiting for the employer to pick someone to send work.

The courtyard door was slammed, and Grandma Qi added a piece of wood to the stove, and came out and asked, "Who?" ”

"Old man, do you want to buy water? Two pennies and a load of water. ”

"Don't buy it."

The footsteps outside the door were gone, and there was a knock on the door of the next house.

Qi Laosan yawned and came out in a cotton jacket, looked at the sky and said, "It's not good today, it looks like it's going to rain." ”

"It's even colder when it rains, and I can't wash my clothes in this damn weather." Grandma Qi poured the hot water from the jug into the basin, took the basin out and handed it to her younger son.

Qi Laosan took the hot water basin and entered the house, first put on a padded jacket for his second brother, pushed up the bed board and stuck it with a wooden strip, and pulled the board under his buttocks away.

The two silently and skillfully cooperated with each other, scrubbing and opening the windows for ventilation, Qi Laosan rushed to take out the dirty things and dig a pit and bury them before Haizhu and Dongzhu got up.

"Coming back? When the water is boiled, you wash it first. Hearing the footsteps walking into the yard, Grandma Qi changed a basin and went out with water, "The water tank is bottoming out, you pack up and go to the river to pick up two loads of water and come back." ”

The old lady was old, and Qi Laosan was afraid that she would be dazzled and took the wrong pot, so he picked up the wooden basin and held it above her head.

"It's not Haizhu's, the sisters' basins didn't take out in the house." Grandma Qi took a scoop and scooped water into the jug, which was heated for the four grandchildren to wash their faces and rinse their mouths.

Hearing a sound in the house, she added two handfuls of firewood to the stove, blocked the stove with bricks, patted the ashes on her hands and went into the house to dress her little grandson.

Qi Laosan pushed his second brother out of the house, and he picked up the flat pole and carried the bucket to call Zheng Haishun to carry the water together.

Next door, Wei Jinhua had already cooked the brown rice porridge, and she went into the house and woke up her two sons who were pouting and sleeping lazily, "Go and cook the rice, the porridge is boiled and the three of you eat the steamed salted fish, I will go to work." ”

When she opened the door and saw Qi Laosan coming with a bucket, she shouted into the house: "Dad, the third child is coming to you." ”

"Sister-in-law, go to work so early?" Qi Laosan asked idly.

"I'm afraid I'll be late, so let's not talk about it, I'll go first." Wei Jinhua hurriedly trotted up.

Zheng Haishun came out with a bucket, and when he saw that there was no movement in the next room, he put down his flat shoulder and went into the house to lift the quilt of the two sons who had slept again, and said in a low voice: "Get up and burn the fire, I will come back later, the porridge has not been cooked yet, you two will be hungry today, don't eat." ”

After that, he hurriedly picked up the bucket and went out, passing by the next door and glancing into the yard, Chaoping stood next to Qi Laoer's leg and beat his leg.

His breathing immediately became heavier, Qi Laosan looked over, Zheng Haishun shook his head with a wry smile, "My eldest lang and second lang are not sensible, I want to exchange them with your children." ”

"That's not possible, your eldest Erlang is the right time to eat."

Zheng Haishun glanced at him and choked, not knowing if he really didn't understand or pretended not to understand.

Yongning Wharf also has a river into the sea, which is wider than the river that enters the sea in Qijiawan, the water level is also deep, and the water flow is turbulent and navigable, that is, it is two or three miles away from the wharf. In order to make it easier for the people in the town to use water, the government arranged for people to dig tributaries along the main stream, and the tributaries branched out like fishing nets to the villages and towns, and the people living here took water by the river every day.

The water sellers would fetch water from the upper reaches of the river and sell it in the town, and the more discerning people would buy their water for the main family.

Qi Laosan and Zheng Haishun couldn't look down on the stagnant water in the river, and the two were not afraid of being tired, so they walked three miles from home every morning to the Zhuhai River, and then went to the upper gulf stream along the river to get water. The two buckets of water were used for eating and drinking, and the water was drawn from the river for washing hands and laundry.

Qi Laosan went back with water, Haizhu was cutting leeks and meat in the yard to adjust the filling, he asked: "I look like it's going to rain today, and I still go to set up a stall?" ”

"Go, the face is ready." Haizhu looked at the sky and said, "I just hope it will rain later." ”

Leeks, pork and oysters are piled up in wooden pots, and Haizhu sprinkles salt, pepper and green onions, and goes into the house to burn a scoop of hot oil and pour it down.

Haizhu took out a shovel and tossed the filling evenly, pinched two slices of leeks to taste, and covered the lid with a salty and light taste.

Dongzhu cut the oiled paper, went into the house and took out cotton gloves, and said, "Sister, it's all done." ”

"The porridge is not hot, drink half a bowl to fill your stomach before leaving." Grandma Qi took out three bowls of thin porridge and said to her youngest son, "Third child, you send them over and come back for dinner." ”

Feng Ping was afraid that he would be left behind, so he also carried a small bench when he served a bowl of porridge.

There were too many things, and Qi Laosan couldn't finish it after two runs, so he called Zheng Haishun over, one serving the basin and the other serving the filling basin. Haizhu carried the small tandoor, Dongzhu carried the pan and the oil can, and Fengping walked out at the end with the bench and the oiled paper.

Second Uncle Qi grabbed his son's collar and said with a smile: "It's cold outside, you play with your father at home." ”

Grandma Qi came out with a bowl of porridge and said, "Come and eat, I boiled eggs for you, your brother and sister don't have any." ”

Chaoping said no, pointing his finger at the closed door, meaning that he would also go out.

"Eat first, and let your milk take you out to play after eating." Second Uncle Qi spoke, and he said to the old lady: "I'll be at home alone, and you can take Chaoping out for a walk after the house is cleaned up." ”

Chaoping understood this, stopped instantly, and took the egg and nibbled on it.

The street is already lively, the morning shops on the long street are full of people, and the wide open kitchen windows are constantly emitting white smoke, and the smoke carries the smell of rice. The couple who set up a stall to steam rice cakes were shrouded in heat when they unveiled the steamer, and when they passed by, Haizhu took a deep breath and was sweet.

The tavern had just opened, and the first thing the man who had been instructed to do when he opened the door was to move out the tables, benches, and buckets in the backyard. ”

"Where can I take a boardwalk?" Haizhu wanted to pay for Dongzhu to buy rice cakes, she looked left and right, and said with a smile: "Stupid, I didn't take the cash box." ”

Qi Laosan put the wooden basin on the table and said, "There is still a pot of noodles and a pot of stuffing that has not been served, and your uncle and I have to run again, and we will bring it to you by the way." ”

The man selling duck eggs opposite shouted: "Little boss, I want two pancakes, I'll get them when they're done." ”

When the business came, Haizhu called out to the firewood seller in the alley, "Send me a bundle of firewood." Turning her head and carrying a bucket to the tavern with her fellow to fetch half a bucket of water, she was short of everything, she should have made a wooden cart, otherwise she would have lost it in a hurry early in the morning.

She inquired with her fellow carpenter with a good reputation, and said, "I'll go and see after selling the bread." ”

The fire in the stove was burning, and the flames were so high that the smoke was gone, and Dongzhu put the pan on it, scooped a spoonful of oil from the oil can, poured it inside, and shook the oil away with the handle.

Haizhu washed her hands and sat on the bench and began to pull the bread filling, and a guest came to ask, and she asked Fengping to quote.

"Don't squeeze on the edge of the basin, don't spit on." She tilted her head and said.

With her words, she invited a few more guests from the road, and the first one told the later: "Don't go to the side of the basin, as soon as you speak, your spitting star bursts in, how do you let us eat?" ”

The first pot of pancakes was cooked, and two were left for the man who sold duck eggs opposite, and the remaining six sea pearls were wrapped in oiled paper and sent to the tavern, four for Boss Chen, and two for the buddy.

"I came here after eating, and you can sell it for money." The tavern owner said a few polite words.

Haizhu waved his hand, "Don't say it, I still have guests waiting." ”

She trotted back and continued to pull the bread filling.

When Qi Laosan and Zheng Haishun sent the basin and stuffing, the first pot of noodles had already gone halfway. He saw that there was nothing he could help with, so he put down the basin and went to the dock with Zheng Haishun.

"Haizhu, this girl is capable, your family is not worried." Zheng Haishun felt inexplicable, "If your eldest brother knows, he can rest assured." ”

Qi Laosan is not comfortable in his heart, the children of poor families are in charge of the house early, and they are forced to be sensible, how can a child with a father and a mother sharpen his head and think about making money. On the street where they lived, the little girl who was about the same age as Dongzhu would only shout and play, while his children would set up a stall in the morning to make money, and in the afternoon they were busy cutting leeks and selecting leeks.

"It's coming." Someone shouted.

Qi Laosan quickly came back to his senses and ran towards the dock quickly, rushing to grab the job.

The sky was gloomy, there were fewer people rushing to the market to sell goods than yesterday, and the people who went to the street to buy things were also in a hurry, and the hawkers who shouted could not call out to the customers, and they were somewhat anxious. Haizhu was busy with the most guests for a while, and she was also idle, so she asked Dongzhu to grab the copper plate and buy rice cakes.

Dongzhu bought rice cakes and brought the proprietress who sold the cakes, and the sister-in-law with a sweet fragrance returned the copper plate that had not yet been warmed, "Get me six pancakes, I wanted to buy them yesterday to taste, but unfortunately your business is too good, I can't find anyone after I am busy." ”

"Sister-in-law's steamed cake, I'll give you more filling." Haizhu cut more noodles, and scooped a spoonful of filling, she saw that Dongzhu was going to help, and said, "You eat first, I'm not busy at this time, I can get it alone." ”

"This is your brother and sister? Just the three of you sisters and brothers to set up a stall? What about the adults in the family? The cake seller asked

"The adults are busy, and the money we make from selling cakes is our own." Haizhu smiled and said calmly, she picked up a shovel to turn over the pancakes, covered the pot, and said, "How many years have my sister-in-law sold rice cakes?" ”

"It's been almost five years."

"No wonder, I was passing by and smelled the heat coming out and got the idea of buying and eating."

The woman was glad to hear this, and said, "Go and buy it tomorrow morning, and I will cut you one more." ”

"If you sell cakes, do you want to buy tofu?" A grandmother brought her grandson over, with old tofu stacked in a basket in her hand, "You buy my tofu, I buy your pancakes." ”

It means exchanging tofu for cakes and bartering things for things. Haizhu was curious about this way of trading and readily agreed, and she exchanged two cakes for two pieces of tofu.

"Girl, do you want to buy duck eggs?" The man on the other side shouted, "I see that the rain is about to fall, and I am afraid that your bread will not be sold." ”

Haizhu exchanged four cakes for ten large duck eggs.

In addition to the stalls on the street, there were only a few sporadic customers, Haizhu baked two pots of cakes, wrapped in oiled paper, she took them and shook them on the street, and exchanged two catties of dried vegetables and one catty of dried kelp with others. I went to the bookstore and wanted to exchange a brush with someone, but the guy refused, so she went back and asked Dongzhu to buy the brush back for five cents.

The pork guy came from the streets, and the stagnant market came to life in an instant, and the vendors were shouting for pork with him.

Haizhu also made fun: "Uncle, do you want to change the pancakes?" Freshly made and eaten, even if you take it back for lunch, you can eat it by steaming it hot on top of the steamed rice. ”

She is new to this stall, and the pork guy took a look twice and agreed to exchange it with her, and exchanged more than one pound of ribs for ten cakes.

After changing around, the basin on the table bottomed out, and the sky was as gloomy as dusk.

Haizhu stacked the pots together and put the things in the pots, and she carried the table, bench, and bucket to the backyard of the tavern.

"Sister, I'll go find the third uncle and come back." Dongzhu said.

"Okay, it's going to rain, it's time to go back." As soon as he raised his eyes, he saw Qi Laosan and Zheng Haishun hurrying over, Haizhu was just about to laugh, when he turned his eyes and saw a familiar and naïve woman following behind the two.