Farmer's Rabbit

I got up late today, and Chang Sheng couldn't get on the villager's ox cart. Fortunately, Changshan Village is not far from the county seat, and Chang Sheng walked quickly, and he walked to the gate of the city in half an hour.

Taking off the bamboo hat, Chang Sheng wiped the sweat off his face.He is now in good health, and he doesn't feel tired after walking a long distance, but it is too inconvenient, and he needs to get a horse if he has a chance.

Today is the day to go to the market, and many families from the surrounding villages took their agricultural products to the West Market to sell.The people living in West Market are ordinary people. Every market day, they would drag their families to the street for a stroll. The whole street is filled with shouts of shopping, bargaining, and children's laughter. It is very lively.

Chang Sheng is going to the East Market which is opposite to the West Market.Most of the people living in Dongshi are wealthy households, and restaurants, inns, silver houses, bookstores, etc. are all concentrated in Dongshi.

Chang Sheng bought wild animals. Many rich and noble families have lost interest in the common chicken, duck and fish. Instead, they are quite fond of all kinds of game. Therefore, instead of going to the restaurant, Chang Sheng went directly to the door and placed two mighty meat. Go to the back door of the big family with the stone lion.

He knocked hard on the door, and after a while, a servant came to open the door: "Who is it?"

Chang Sheng explained his purpose, put down the basket, and the pheasant flapped its wings and croaked.The boy took a look and told Chang Sheng to wait while he called for someone.

After a while, a well-dressed middle-aged man with a mustache came to see Chang Sheng: "Hey, is he really alive?"

Chang Sheng lifted the pheasant, and was about to say that the pheasant was quite fat. Who would have thought that as soon as he lifted the pheasant, he would see a ball of white fluffy huddled next to the hare he caught.

Chang Sheng: "..."

Bai Tutu, who was stepped on by a pheasant several times: "..."

Frowning, Chang Sheng pinched the back of Bai Tutu's neck and lifted him up, then stuffed him into his arms.

The middle-aged man asked, "Is this little rabbit for sale?"

"Not for sale." Chang Sheng lifted the hare, "How about a big rabbit?"

"All of them." The middle-aged man asked the servant to carry pheasants and hares, and gave Chang Sheng a tael of silver, "Next time, if there are any wild animals, they can be sent to our palace."

Farmers in Xishi City buy domestic hens for eighteen yuan a catty, pheasants are more expensive than domestic chickens, and cost fifty or sixty yuan a catty, and a pheasant costs three to four catties, which can be sold for about two hundred yuan.There are four pheasants here, although they are all alive, but the addition of two fat hares is not worth so much.The other party gave this price, it seems that this is a long-term transaction.Chang Sheng nodded: "Okay."

"That little rabbit is very cute. Our lady likes small animals. You can bring two of them next time."

Chang Sheng: "Only ordinary little bastards."

The middle-aged man asked curiously, "Isn't that just an ordinary little brat?"

The ordinary little bastard Bai Tutu hurriedly raised his ears, and a man's thick voice came over: "That's my pet."

Bai Tutu breathed a sigh of relief.The man's voice is calm, he should not be angry!

Of course Chang Sheng wasn't angry, but his doubts about Bai Tutu intensified again.

Leaving Li's mansion, Chang Sheng held him in his arms and carried him away: "Why did you follow?"

Bai Tutu, who was busy looking around with big black eyes, looked up at him, shook his little ears, and said in his heart: "Going to the city is such a fun thing, of course he will follow!"

Chang Sheng didn't expect him to be able to speak, so he carried him to the biggest bookstore in the city.

In addition to selling pens, ink, paper and inkstones, the book shop also sells piano, chess, calligraphy and paintings, and even sells excellent articles from previous imperial examinations, so many scholars patronize the store.

These scholars generally wear elegant long gowns, are thin and thin, and behave in a polite manner. When Chang Sheng, a man with a backpack on his back and coarse cloth clothes, exudes a peasant atmosphere all over his body, he is very eye-catching in contrast. They all looked at him curiously.

Chang Sheng didn't care about other people's strange eyes, and went to find the book boy in the store.The book boy standing behind the counter saw that it was Chang Sheng, and said, "Is that you? The book you asked for last time has just been restocked..."

The familiarity of the book boy's speech surprised the scholars who paid attention.On the one hand, they were surprised by the attitude of the book boy, and on the other hand, they were surprised that the farmer actually came to buy books. Could it be that he is still literate?

"It's work."

The book boy went to pick up the books, and Chang Sheng walked around the store.The bookstore is filled with a faint fragrance of ink, which makes people feel peaceful.

There are books on civil and martial arts on the bookshelf, but Chang Sheng is not interested in these, so he turns his head to look at the pen, ink, paper and inkstone.

Sometimes he has to memorize something and buy some paper.

At this time, paper was expensive, a stack of rough paper cost thirty cash, and a bound book cost fifty cash.Not to mention better stationery such as inkstones, ink sticks, and brushes, you can’t buy them without hundreds of words.

Chang Sheng took a look, and finally picked out two stacks of rough paper and an ink stick.He doesn't know how to write with a brush and doesn't need a brush and an inkstone. He just turns the ink stick into ink at home and finds a goose feather to get a goose quill.

In order to carry things conveniently, Chang Sheng stuffed Bai Tutu into his arms.The man's chest was broad and warm, and exuded a pleasant smell. Bai Tutu was so comfortable that he rolled twice in his arms before he picked up the skirt of his clothes, revealing a small head.

The little rabbit, with its big black eyes rolling around and its little ears up and down, is so cute!

As soon as the book boy looked up, he saw such a cute little thing, his eyes lit up, and he said cheerfully, "You rabbit is so cute!"

Chang Sheng looked down, touched Bai Tutu's small head, and said "hmm".

Bai Tutu rubbed Chang Sheng's palm like a tabby cat, looking cute.

The book boy liked it more and more: "Can I touch it?"

This book boy is also a teenager. The first time Chang Sheng came to the book store to look for books, he didn't neglect Chang Sheng because he was dressed like a farmer, but asked Chang Sheng in a good-tempered manner what books he needed to buy. , is a nice guy.

If it was an ordinary rabbit, Chang Sheng might have agreed, but this rabbit might be mature, and he didn't treat it like an ordinary bastard, so he shook his head: "It's afraid of life."

The book boy was a little disappointed, but he didn't force it. Looking at Bai Tutu, who was full of aura, he asked Chang Sheng: "This little rabbit is so cute. Do you still have rabbits at home? Can you sell me two? Next month For my little sister's birthday, I want to give it to her."

Chang Sheng: "..."

This is the second person who wants to raise a rabbit when he sees Xiaobai.

Chang Sheng replied again: "Only ordinary little bastards."

Shutong: "Okay, please bring them here. One male and one female."

"Okay." Chang Sheng agreed, took the book he wanted, and prepared to give money.

At this time, a tall and thin young man with rich clothes and a servant came forward, and opened the folding fan in his hand with a "wow", blocking Chang Sheng behind him.Throwing a few books towards the counter, the young man said to the book boy, "Check out!"

The book boy frowned: "Everything is first come, first served. I will settle the account with this elder brother first. Please wait a moment."

Under the eyes of everyone, this is a book store again, not a nearby shop for business. The young man is not easy to lose his temper, so he gets angry with Chang Sheng and gives him a dissatisfied look: "Tsk, a farmer also came to buy books?" After seeing Chang Sheng clearly What I bought were two stacks of rough paper and the cheapest ink sticks, and the disdain in my eyes was even worse.

Without changing his face, Chang Sheng took out a tael of silver and a sling of copper coins from buying pheasants and hares to the book boy.

"Use copper coins to buy books? It really is a poor ghost!" The young man looked contemptuous, waved his folding fan, and urged impatiently: "Quickly count!"

Chang Sheng's expression was calm, as if he didn't hear the young man's words, but the white picture on his chest stopped. He pricked up his ears, wrinkled his little nose, glared at the young man, and cursed in his heart: "Irreverent bastard!" !

Yuxue's cute little rabbit is still very cute even if he puts on a vicious look, the young man he was staring at closed his fan with a "wow" and raised his eyebrows: "Rabbit?"

The little rabbit, with its black eyes wide open, its pink nose wrinkled, its three-petal mouth tightly closed, and its small ears pricked up, is so cute no matter how you look at it.

Girls will love this little thing!The young man patted the folding fan in his hand, remembering a certain lady, and asked Chang Sheng: "Hey, farmer, how do you sell this rabbit?" The young man stretched out his fan to poke Bai Tutu's little head.

One hand blocked his fan.

"Do not sell!"

Chang Sheng's tone was cold and his gaze was like a sword.The young man was taken aback by him for a moment, and said with an ugly expression, "Not for sale?"

"Not for sale."

Perhaps it was Chang Sheng's cold refusal that aroused the young man's competitive heart. He slightly raised his head to look at Chang Sheng: "I will pay ten taels of silver!"

Bai Tutu's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly looked up at Chang Sheng.Ten taels of silver, not to mention buying a rabbit, is enough for a farmer's fancy for two years!

Chang Sheng ignored it, and put the wrapped books, paper and ink into the basket.

Bai Tutu breathed a sigh of relief, and looked at Chang Sheng with happiness.

It's good that the man didn't sell him for ten taels of silver!

The young man got angry and stood in front of him: "20 taels!"

Bai Tutu: "..."

This man is so annoying!

Chang Sheng ignored the young man, put his back on his back, and prepared to leave.

Bai Tutu's high-pitched heart dropped.

The young man scolded angrily, "You don't know what to do, you want to sit on the ground and raise the price, don't you?"

"Okay!" The young man pointed his fan at Chang Sheng and shouted, "Do you want to sell it for 100 taels?!"

Bai Tutu: "!!!"

QAQ, too bullying the rabbit!Why do you want to have a hard time with him a rabbit?

The little rabbit with erect ears clutched Chang Sheng's skirt and stared fiercely at the young man, and let out a cooing sound from its tightly pursed mouth.

The young man next to the young man almost fainted when he heard this, and hastily pulled him back to persuade him, "Young master, let alone rabbits for 100 taels, you can buy rabbits made of jade. Don't be confused, young master!"

The young man couldn't hold back his face, and angrily said: "I want you to care!" He has already said this, so he must not take it back, otherwise where will he put his face?

Everyone in the book shop looked at him in shock, and the young man bit the bullet and shouted: "Give me that rabbit, 100 taels will be yours!"

Chang Sheng didn't seem to hear the young man's words. He patted the little rabbit's head and walked out of the bookstore.

Bai Tutu looked at the man's firm chin, watery eyes, red nose, and was moved.

He decided to stay temporarily because he was moved by Chang Sheng's kindness and care. Although Chang Sheng treated him very well, he still felt that he was dependent on others, so he envied the big cat.But now Chang Sheng told him with his actions that he didn't treat him as a beast, a commodity with a high price, and he would not sell him!

The lonely and helpless heart that has been wandering for many years seems to be held in the palm of someone's palm and cared for. It is so warm that he almost cried.

The young man looked at Chang Shengyuan's tall figure in disbelief, and gritted his teeth: "Isn't this farmer a fool?"

The scholars who heard the conversation between the two in the book shop were all talking.Some people praised Chang Sheng for his backbone, while others said Chang Sheng was extremely stupid.

A trace of disgust flashed in the eyes of the thin young man in a blue gown, he put back the new book that had just arrived in his hand, and said in a low voice: "Stupid!"

The young man's companion asked curiously, "Is that man just now... your elder brother?"

The young man frowned in disgust, and said in a cold voice, "It's not the eldest brother, he has severed ties with our family. Such an unfilial and unrighteous person has nothing to do with me!"

There was a surprised expression on the companion's face, and he thought to himself, no wonder you just saw him keep a cold face and didn't call for anyone.

Thinking of the rabbit worth 100 taels, the companion said enviously: "That rabbit looks quite aura, but it's 100 taels, and it's hard to get along with silver..."

"He won't sell it. He is a man who works with animals and treats animals as his life. How could he sell them?" the young man sneered.

……

Leaving the bookstore, Chang Sheng took Bai Tutu to the cloth shop.

Few of the original owner's clothes were good. Now that spring is beginning and summer is coming in the blink of an eye, he has to buy two bolts of wear-resistant cloth and ask someone to make two sets of clothes.

After coming here for more than a year, Chang Sheng has already gotten used to such a poor life. He does not have high requirements for food, clothing, housing and transportation. He does not seek beauty but comfort, so he picked two bolts of azure linen and one bolt of light gray fine cotton.

The fine linen is soft, comfortable, refreshing and wear-resistant, while the fine cotton is sweat-absorbent and breathable, so one is used for outerwear and the other for inner clothing.

Bai Tutu, who was on his chest, looked at the beautiful cloth in various styles in the cloth shop, and remembered the moon white brocade robe he wore when he became a human last night, and decided to change his clothes into different patterns next time he became a human. , the pattern of flowing clouds, stars and moon on the brocade is very beautiful...

After leaving the cloth shop, Chang Sheng went to the West Market.

The streets of the West Market are not as tidy as those of the East Market, but they are much more popular than the East Market.

Bai Tutu, with Chang Sheng's lapel open, looked at the pedestrians on the street with his small head in his mouth. His attention was attracted by the peddlers, and his big round eyes looked at the windmill for a while, and the oil-paper umbrella for a while. Yes, full of excitement.

It's been a long time since he visited the bazaar in the world, it's so lively!

A big man with Yuxue's cute rabbit in his arms is very eye-catching. Many passers-by look at it curiously. Some children even tugged at the corner of their mother's clothes and asked if they could buy a little rabbit to raise.

Hearing this, the coldness on Chang Sheng's face eased, he patted Bai Tutu's little head, and walked into the seed shop.

I bought rice and vegetable seeds at the shop, then went to the spice shop on the corner of the street to buy a few catties of coarse salt, and a jar of soy sauce and vinegar.I saw a pork stall on the street and bought another two catties of pork belly and one catty of pork bones.On the road, I met someone buying chickens and ducklings, so I bought three pairs...

This trip to the city cost Chang Sheng more than four taels of silver.

Fortunately, the money will be plowed in spring soon.Chang Sheng put the remaining dozen or so Wen into a purse, and went home with the fully loaded pannier on his back.

The big black eyes of Bai Tutu on his chest flickered as he clutched his clothes tightly, feeling both excited and worried.

The man is so poor, but just now he gave up 100 taels of silver...