talk about wine

After going through the most difficult period, their mulberry field has been on the right track.Although Meng Chuxi is no longer working in Yan's house, the two parties have reached a long-term cooperation. Yan Qian saw that they took care of the small courtyard so well, so he still let them live in it.

Time flies faster in the busyness. This year is coming to an end. In the past few months, Meng Chuxi has left a man named Luo Wu from Qiu Yuanzhen's long-term laborer who manages the mulberry garden. In his 30s, he has never studied, but he can read and write well. It is said that he learned it secretly from others.

A person who has been working in the mulberry garden all year round for his livelihood can still study hard. This kind of self-motivation is something Meng Chuxi appreciates very much.And more importantly, he is quite dedicated in taking care of the mulberry garden. He was originally just a handyman who fertilized the mulberry trees and loosened the soil, but unexpectedly knew a little about the maintenance and pruning of mulberry trees, which helped Meng Chuxi a lot.

So Meng Chuxi asked Luo Wu from Qiu Yuanzhen to stay in the mulberry garden.By the way, he left the repaired yard in the mulberry garden for him to live in, and asked him to take over his wife and children and live there.

Luo Wu works as a long-term worker in the mulberry garden, and his annual salary is less than 30 yuan. For a long-term worker like Luo Wu, his annual salary of less than [-] yuan is actually very low. A family of three has to support his father-in-law and his mother-in-law, so life is quite tight. Bar.The old house at home is dilapidated, and it is like a dream for Luo Wu to live in the mulberry garden.

After returning from the mulberry garden, Zhou Qingwu smiled slightly as he thought about the excitement of Luo Wu's family.Seeing her laughing, Meng Chuxi stretched out his hand to hold her and asked her, "What are you laughing at?"

Zhou Qingwu didn't answer immediately, it was already very cold at the end of the twelfth lunar month, her hands were cold, and it was very comfortable to be held warmly by Meng Chuxi.

It took a moment for her to gesticulate: They are very happy, reminding me of our past.

Were they not so happy when they moved into this yard?

Luo Wu and his wife have a very good relationship. Although they are poor, the warmth and happiness of being together as a family cannot be hidden.

"Luo Wu is a very good person. Being able to keep him and train him well will be a great help to us. From a few times of contact, his wife is virtuous and courteous. She doesn't have the philistine atmosphere of a villain, and her family is harmonious A capable man can be of great use." That's why she let their family move here.

Zhou Qingwu nodded and gave Meng Chuxi a thumbs up, which was very powerful.

They went today to send them red envelopes for the Chinese New Year, and they gave them two rounds of money, which is quite a lot for the Luo Wu family.And Meng Chuxi didn't feel bad for it. I went to see the mulberry garden today. There were so many mulberry trees in the mulberry garden. All the dead branches and dead piles were cleaned up according to Meng Chuxi's requirements. Together with the workers, they plowed deeply and fertilized again.

This month, he hardly rested, and the expenses were still within Meng Chuxi's estimate. He thought he was worried about the quality, but Meng Chuxi didn't worry much about it, and the job was done beautifully. She was right.

Because it was almost the Chinese New Year, the streets of Qingyang Town were particularly lively, and the cold winter did not stop them from welcoming the New Year with enthusiasm.

Looking at the red lanterns hanging under the houses on the street, Meng Chuxi laughed: "The New Year is coming soon, let's buy two lanterns, and it will be more lively hanging in front of the yard. Then buy some red paper, and we will write couplets ourselves. OK?"

Zhou Qingwu nodded with a smile, it's the Chinese New Year again.This person by my side has been with me for two years. Last year's New Year's Eve, um, she kissed me for the first time when she was drunk.

At the time, she thought it was the time when she didn't even dare to think about happiness in her dreams, and it was also the first time she felt the New Year atmosphere after her parents left. That year was already good enough for her to remember, but this year their relationship is better, and their lives are more beautiful. alright.Yes, they are getting better and better after having Chuxi.

When Meng Chuxi was buying lanterns, she saw her smiling, and the smile on her face didn't diminish after the purchase. That kind of happy gesture full of nostalgia made Meng Chuxi feel soft and itchy in his heart, and couldn't help but said, "What are you thinking, you smile so sweetly?" .”

Zhou Qingwu took a red lantern and carried it, she just laughed when she didn't answer, Meng Chuxi indulged, and the two of them returned home with the cold wind all the way.

Winter is a leisure time, and the finishing work of the mulberry garden has been done, and it is only waiting for the spring to start preparations for further management.Meng Chuxi thought about this month's spare time, she could... She looked at Zhou Qingwu, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she had already quietly written a letter to Wan Qingyan.

Before the Chinese New Year, they checked their accounts. Thanks to the sharp rise in the price of silk this year, even autumn silkworms with relatively poor silk production have made them a lot of money.Taking away the 300 guans given by the Yan family, not only did I get back the money I paid for the mulberry flowers, but I also got more than [-] guans.

These three hundred guan may not be worth mentioning to those rich men or well-established businessmen in Qingyang Town, but for the two who are just starting out and are still poor and poor, it is already extremely rare.

According to the agreement, half of it will be given to the Yan family. Yan Frame, who got the silver deed, looked at the above accounts and couldn't help laughing: "It's amazing, a dead end was forced by her."

Yan Qian also laughed: "This is also thanks to the generosity of the master. Without your support, they would be in trouble."

"It's convenient for others and convenient for myself. I read it right. Eight hundred guan went out for three months, which is [-] more guan. It's a good deal." Yan Frame couldn't hide his smile, and ordered Yan Qian to take Yin Qi under his command.

Meng Chuxi was still thinking about the jade pendant that Zhou Qingwu had pawned. Zhou Qingwu had pawned it for six months, and when it expired, it would be dead.Including interest, the redemption is now at least [-]% higher. Zhou Qingwu is in charge of the accounts of the mulberry garden. She will not let Meng Chuxi use the cash to pawn it now. .

The New Year's Eve is here, and in the first three days of the New Year, Qingyang Town has a few snowfalls, which is not as heavy as last winter, so the snow in the yard has long since melted, only the osmanthus trees remain With some white snow, the sweet-scented osmanthus tree looks like it is wearing a hat.

The weather is fine today, the sun has risen from the east, and the only rooster in the yard has crowed many times dutifully, and is now leading a group of hens to look for food in the yard.And Wuwu has already stretched out from the hole specially left for it.

The current Wuwu is stable and majestic, with smooth and shiny brown hair, and a big tail curled up to stare out of the yard. Then, probably a little bored, he half-sat on the ground, with a mighty and upright posture.

Until the door creaked, a person in a light purple shirt stepped out, well, it was its owner who opened the door.The man stretched out his hand to beckon it, and the calmness and solemnity of Wuwu disappeared in an instant, and he rushed forward quickly, wagging his tail, and shouting happily.

But this call lasted only once, and its owner immediately knelt down and made a gesture of silencing it, so the second call was just a weak bark and he was forced to swallow half of it.

Its owner was amused by its appearance, and let out a low laugh. In the morning sun, she seemed to be given a soft light, which was particularly beautiful.Wuwu tilted his head and looked at her. Although his expression was a little aggrieved and puzzled, his tail was still wagging leisurely.

But the master quickly touched its head gently, pointed to the room, and signaled it to be quiet again.Wuwu is very smart, and its owner has told it so in the early morning more than once, so its tail wags more freely, and it is very obedient.

Wuwu has been following the owner, watching her feed the chickens, open the gate, and sweep the yard lightly.

Everything was extremely quiet, and then a lazy and misty voice came out from the room: "Qingwu."

The tranquility was broken.

The corner of the called person's mouth couldn't stop twitching. He walked into the room, looked at the person huddled under the quilt to hide from the cold, and gestured softly with a smile: Do you want to get up?

Meng Chuxi is afraid of the cold, and getting up in winter is like a punishment for her. If there is something urgent, she will not delay getting up very early, but as in the days when she has nothing to do recently, she has to lie in bed for a while almost every day, Wake up too late.

Seeing Zhou Qingwu's hand gestures, she muttered in a slightly nasal voice: "It's too cold, I don't want to get up."

Zhou Qingwu pampered her very much, and continued to smile and gesture: Then sleep for a while, and I will cook.

After she finished speaking, she was about to get up, but a white hand came out from the warm blanket and grabbed her.

Shocked by the cold air, Meng Chuxi hissed and pulled Zhou Qingwu's arm in, and said coquettishly, "Shouldn't you coax me up?"

Although she loves to stay in bed, she loves Zhou Qingwu very much. Most of the time she doesn't want her to cook breakfast alone, so she will call her over every now and then, asking Zhou Qingwu to bring her clothes and coax her to get up like a rogue.

At this moment, Meng Chuxi's age seemed to be sealed by the cold winter, she was very childish, and loved to be coquettish, but Zhou Qingwu was especially fond of this, always frowned every time, letting her make trouble.

It's New Year's Eve, you have to wear new clothes.Because of their busy schedule, Meng Chuxi and Zhou Qingwu bought new padded clothes, but Zhou Qingwu made the close-fitting clothes stitch by stitch.

Brought the clothes to her, warmed the middle coat for her and handed it to her, Meng Chuxi endured the resistance all over her body, shivering in the cold air and getting dressed.

Sleeping warm hands are already cold, and Zhou Qingwu's hands can't get much warmer, so he can only gesture: go to light a fire, it will be warm.

After a simple breakfast, the two of them carried the baskets, brought the bought incense paper cannons, and then brought the food and wine to Zhoujia Village.It's the Chinese New Year, and it's time to go to the grave, and they are going to pay respects to Zhou Qingwu's parents.

Zhou Qingwu's father and mother were buried together, and the tomb was repaired fairly well. It was buried with the help of the Xu family. The names of the couple were engraved on the square stone tablet. The weeds were cleaned up very cleanly, and Zhou Qingwu would come here to have a look when he came.

After burning the incense paper, Meng Chuxi lit the firecrackers. The sound of firecrackers in the mountains and forests was particularly ethereal and deserted.Zhou Qingwu knelt in front of the tomb and kowtowed, then looked at the tombstone quietly.

Meng Chuxi also knelt down beside her and kowtowed three times, but she didn't say anything.The two of them didn't want to pay attention to worldly views, but as Zhou Qingwu's parents, she still had to worry about it.

They would be happy that Zhou Qingwu is doing well now, but from a rational point of view, Meng Chuxi thinks that they probably won't be happy that Zhou Qingwu likes her.

Zhou Qingwu turned his head to look at her, reached out to hold her hand, she smiled and raised their hands to the tombstone, and kowtowed three times again.

Without any words, Meng Chuxi already knew it very well, her eyes were slightly hot, and she also kowtowed.

The two left holding hands, and Meng Chuxi whispered until the tomb was out of sight, "I will treat you forever."

Zhou Qingwu was stunned for a moment, then laughed and compared: Me too.

This year, they have a lot of money in their lives, so they have already prepared their new year's goods at home.Killed a chicken yesterday, bought a fish from the fish market and even got lucky with some tripe.

Five days ago, a family of cattle in Qingyang Town happened to die in an accident, so they reported to the government to sell them.

At this time, the price of beef is extremely high, and it is forbidden to kill cattle, unless the cattle themselves die accidentally or die of old age to share the food.Therefore, common people basically have no chance to eat beef in their entire lives, even wealthy people who live a good life do not have the financial resources to eat beef.

Meng Chuxi and Zhou Qingwu didn't try to buy either. Only nobles can afford beef and mutton, and they can't afford it now. Although the price of beef tripe is lower, the price is still prohibitive compared to pork.

Only the hairy tripe in the tripe is firewood and tasteless, and many of them will not be sold at all, but discarded as waste. But Meng Chuxi took a fancy to it, discussed with the owner, and asked for that part of the tripe , the left is only a few pennies.

After Meng Chuxi and the two came back, they prepared the New Year's Eve dinner.It was still a New Year's Eve dinner for two people, so the food didn't need too much. Meng Chuxi decided to have a dish of white taro balls and chicken soup with dried morel mushrooms as in previous years. The other thing was the hot pot that Meng Chuxi wanted Zhou Qingwu to try.

The small piece of butter that I bought perfectly provides the most important raw material for the hot pot at this moment, which is something that cannot be met. In addition, this year's chili is the soul of the hot pot in this New Year's Eve dinner.

With hot pot, the preparation of some ingredients is simple, and the most important thing is to cook the bottom of the hot pot.

Meng Chuxi bought a big bone and boiled the big bone and chicken bones slowly. This broth will be the soup base for the hot pot later.The bottom of the hot pot is relatively complicated. After the chili, butter, ginger, garlic, peppercorns and spices are fried in hot oil, red chili oil is added, and the broth is added. The rich aroma comes out, and the bright red makes people look Just drooling.

Although Zhou Qingwu didn't know what hot pot was, he was still looking forward to it.Follow Meng Chuxi's instructions to prepare the ingredients for shabu-shabu.Frozen tofu, cabbage, radish, spinach, wax gourd, and homemade sweet potato powder, thin slices of fish, plated tripe, sliced ​​pig blood, meatballs and taro balls, the shelves are always filled with bits and pieces.

And Zhou Qingwu lit the charcoal stove early, and only waited for the soup to be boiled and put it on the stove.

Although he had never eaten this way before, Zhou Qingwu found it inexplicably interesting, and it seemed rather novel.