North and South groceries

In late September, frost began to fall in Lishi County. In the early morning of this day, when Luo Yong was brushing his teeth outside the yard with a ceramic bowl and a toothbrush, he saw a thick layer of dead grass on the roadside. hoarfrost.

After a while, I heard Si Niang shouting from the backyard: "Brother, the sauce jar is freezing."

"Is it frozen? Is it thick?" Luo brushed his teeth hastily, and ran to the backyard to find out.

"Not too thick, just a thin layer." Goro held a wooden stick in his hand, stepped on a wooden stool, stood next to a sauce jar, and turned to Luo Yong.

"Okay, let me come, you go to eat first." Luo Yong reached out to take the stick in Wulang's hand, and sent him to eat quickly, and he had to go to school after eating.

In the front yard, Erniang and the others have already made breakfast, which smells like reed stalks boiled. After the weather is cold, the most common vegetables in the house are only reed stalks and cabbage.

Many people from their generation in Lishi County grow vegetables on the kang, so the local people can eat some fresh and tender vegetables in winter, but after all, it is not as good as summer and autumn. All kinds of vegetables can be eaten vigorously. After all, eat more vegetables , you can save more food.

After Luo Yong and Siniang had stirred all these sauce vats together, Wu Lang had already ridden Yan Erfei, and went to school with Lin Rong, Wang Shao and the others.

The weather is getting colder and colder, and Luo Yong is also starting to worry about Goro going to school. It’s okay if it’s not snowing now, but when it snows later, he’ll feel very uncomfortable when a few children ride their bikes to and from school. Don't worry, but this matter of going to school is not good, fishing for three days and drying the net for two days, Luo Yong thought about it, and thought it would be great if they could have a school in Xipo Village, if Du Gou could stay here forever Just go...

Of course, that is impossible. Du Gou will leave for Laizhou in a few days. Luo Yong has already had a mold made according to his foot shape, and he will wait two days for the Eucommia glue to be made and then cast the mold. soles.

There are craftsmen who can make leather boots in Lishi County. At that time, Luo Yong only needs to take the soles of the shoes, spend money to buy the leather processed by the other party, and let him process a pair of leather boots. It doesn't take too much time.

During this period of time, Du Gou learned a lot in Xipo Village, such as peony cushions and oil-paper umbrellas, and he even learned the crafts of making straw paper and hemp paper.

In this era, transportation is inconvenient, and Laizhou is not like Chang'an City, which is the political and economic center of the whole country. Thinking about it, these skills have not been spread there yet. Du Gou can pass these skills on to the local people when he goes back at this time.

In fact, according to Luo Yong's thinking, it would be best if industries such as kelp planting could be developed in coastal areas like that.

It's a pity that kelp doesn't mean that you can grow it just because you can grow it. Wild kelp species have very strict requirements for the growth environment. They can't survive in places where the water temperature is too high, and they can't survive if the water temperature is suitable and lack nitrogen fertilizer.

This is not a problem that can be solved in a short while, Luo Yong reckons, at least it will have to wait until someone has tinkered with the biological laboratory before the new kelp species will have a chance to appear.

After breakfast, Si Niang still stayed in the grocery store with Liu Lang and Qin Niang. Er Niang threw them out after feeding the chickens. Now that I can stay in the chicken coop, I don't say anything outside, and I am afraid of encountering wild animals.

As soon as the beast was mentioned, Luo Yong became a little worried again. He didn't know if Goro and the others had arrived at school.

It is probably because of this that there are rumors that parents are not traveling far. I am really worried. As long as young people go out, they will not hear from each other for a long time. It is also difficult for outsiders to know.

Luo Yong thought about something in his heart, tucked his neck and sleeves his hands, and walked all the way down the small slope in front of his courtyard.

Mrs. Zheng and her daughter were cooking pig food. When Mrs. Zheng saw Luo Yong approaching, she pointed to the two barrels of sauce by the wall and said to Luo Yong, "This is what Mr. Xu's family brought over just now. He said it was leftover pickled courgettes. The sauce under it is very good for cooking pig food, and it looks good to me, but I heard that courgettes are cold, and I’m afraid these pigs will be spoiled.”

"No problem." Luo Yong said to her: "You go to the courtyard and get some ginger to cook together. It happens that the weather is also cold, and letting them eat some ginger can prevent diseases."

"Hey, I'll get it right away." Mrs. Zheng wiped her hands on the apron, told her daughter to watch the fire, picked up the basket by herself, and went to the yard on the slope.

Si Niang was frowning at a piece of wood at this time. Brother said that after a while, he would make a pair of rubber-soled leather boots for each of the brothers and sisters in the family. happy.

Brother also said that Siniang has been very sensible recently and has helped the family a lot. This time, I will make the first shoe for her first, and ask her to carve a mold for her sole, preferably with patterns.Si Niang was so happy, she was thinking about this pattern right now.

"Si Niang, where is the ginger? Your elder brother told me to put some when cooking pig food." Mrs. Zheng entered the yard at this time.

"It's in this room." Si Niang put down the wooden board in her hand, quickly got off the kang, walked to the innermost corner of the grocery store, opened a wide-mouthed pottery urn about three feet high, and stretched out her hands to pull it out. A few gingers came out.

Ginger is not a good thing. Every household has to plant some ginger these days. It is cold in winter, and I am afraid it will be damaged by freezing outside, and I am afraid that the place near the kang in the house will be damaged, so I put it in a pottery urn and put it In the corner, fill it with fine sand and sprinkle some water, and it will not be damaged after a whole winter.

Mrs. Zheng had already brought the basket over at this time, Si Niang put those few gingers into the basket, thought for a while, then pulled two pieces out of the urn to add in, and asked, "Is this enough?"

"You can take a few more." Zheng said with a smile: "That pig feeds in a big pot, and you can cook several pots for one meal. With just these few, those pigs may not be able to taste it."

"That's right." Si Niang also laughed. According to human appetite, these gingers are indeed quite a lot, but those pigs are different. A pig can eat a large bucket of ginger in one meal.

"These should be enough." Seeing that the ginger in the basket was almost ready, Mrs. Zheng said, "Your elder brother said it was to prevent disease, so I will put more ginger today to make it taste stronger."

Carrying half a basket of ginger out of the yard, Zheng also breathed a sigh of relief. It is not always easy for people like them to get something from the master's house. , I have to say a few words.

Fortunately, the Luo family is not like that. If Erniang was at the grocery store today, Mrs. Zheng would have asked Mrs. Zheng to dig ginger out of the pottery urn. Erniang is usually frugal, so she can trust people, whether it is for Peng The second is the new Zheng mother and daughter, they are very kind and can trust them.

It's not that Si Niang doesn't believe them, it's probably because of her personality. She is already very smart and capable at a young age. She is seen selling things in the grocery store all day long, but she has never heard of anything wrong with her. Things, she always has in mind.

Speaking of which, the youngest daughter brought by Mrs. Zheng this time is also called Si Niang on weekdays. She is still a silly girl who doesn't understand anything. Then Mrs. Luo's family is only one year older than her own daughter. Mrs. Zheng dealt with her However, she had to be a little careful when she was talking, but fortunately, Luo Siniang was also reasonable, so she usually just asked a few more questions, and would not be mean to her for no reason.

On this side, Mrs. Zheng continued to cook the pig food. On the other side, Luo Yong went to check the sinks where Eucommia leaves were processed and the situation of the cement factory, and then went to Xu's guest house.

Recently, the autumn harvest ended, and many more people came to work in their cement factory. The size of the entire cement factory has nearly doubled, several new earthen kilns have been built, and some stone rollers have been added. Production continues at this rate. In addition to the cement that is sold every day, there should be some leftovers. It is time to put road repairs on the agenda.

Luo Yong thought about raising funds and donations earlier, and the main targets were merchants and big households in the city, but when things came to an end, he didn't know how to speak up. He couldn't just ask them to ask for it. How embarrassing it is.

Luo Yong was worrying these days, and then Ma Jiu came back. Ma Feiyang has been wandering outside for almost half a year. He just returned to Lishi County these days, and after staying at home for a few days, he went to Xipo Village He came, saying that he wanted to visit the cement road and Luo's cement workshop, and he was living in Xu's guest house at the moment.

When Luo Yong passed by, Ma Feiyang had already woken up and was having breakfast in the hall.

I haven't seen him for more than half a year. This guy has grown a lot taller, and he looks stronger than before. He still has red lips and white teeth. Yesterday Luo Yong saw his heroic aura when he came riding a horse, and he felt that this kid must be It's not a fuel-efficient lamp, and I don't know how big a map is installed in my heart.

"Sanlang got up early today." Seeing Luo Yong, Ma Feiyang greeted him with a smile. In his impression, Luo Yong's body was a bit weak, and he used to sleep until the sun was up.

"The early bird gets the worm." Luo Yong walked over with a smile, took off his shoes and got on the kang, and Ma Liuer sat opposite him. Ma Feiyang had to start with this fundraising and donation matter.

"I look at you like you want to eat worms, but maybe you want to eat meat." Ma Feiyang grinned at him and smiled.

"How can it be, early in the morning." Luo Sanlang didn't feel embarrassed at all when his thoughts were exposed, and continued to talk to him: "You also visited our cement workshop, how is it, do you have any suggestions, after all you He is also a person who has gone out to see the world and has seen a lot.”

"Can I have any suggestions." Ma Feiyang took a sip of corn porridge and said vaguely: "Didn't I tell you all yesterday, after passing Suyang Hangzhou, you will be poor if you go south. The Jiangnan area is good, but it is not as good as Chang'an City It’s still incomparable, since you’ve already been to Chang’an City, that’s the best.”

"It's a pity." Luo Yong joked: "I still think you are a knowledgeable person, and I plan to make friends with you."

"Why did Saburo say that? Could it be that our relationship is not good enough?" Ma Feiyang couldn't figure out what Luo Yong wanted to say, so he continued with a smile.

"It's good, but it's not so good that I want to give you a pair of rubber-soled leather boots. The first batch of eucommia gum is probably only enough to make a dozen pairs of soles. Apart from my brothers and sisters, even I Those disciples don't exist for a while." Luo Yong sighed and said regretfully.

"What rubber-soled leather boots?" Ma Feiyang immediately became interested. He knew that Luo Yong was tinkering with something new recently, and he wanted to seize the opportunity.

"..." Luo Coffin Baner smiled and said nothing. If you want leather boots, you have to see if you are worth the price. There is no free lunch in the world. If you don't give him some effort, you want it leather boots?

"Hey, don't you just want some advice? Let me think about it." Ma Feiyang changed his tone immediately. Although this girl used to be ignorant, she came from a merchant's family after all, and his father and brother's training for him can also be called Careful, besides, he was originally a smart and transparent person, not a worthless rich second generation.

Regarding what he saw and heard about going south this time, he didn't plan to tell others more. After running outside for so long, he has gained knowledge with great difficulty. If he tells others, he will not be at a disadvantage. Everyone knows, so how can he appear to be more knowledgeable than others in the future?What's more, there are still many business opportunities hidden here.

But what Luo Sanlang wanted this time was obviously not the news from the south, his focus was still on the cement workshop.

Ma Feiyang thought for a while, and said to Luo Yong:

"I think cement is really good, but if you just use it to build courtyards, the amount used is relatively limited. Not enough people buy it, and how can you make enough money? But if someone is willing It’s different if you spend money to buy cement to pave the road. I’ve also seen the path paved in your village, and it’s really very good.”

"People who have traveled abroad are different. They are really well-informed, and what they say is very reasonable." This direction is right, so Luo Yong quickly encouraged him to continue talking.

"It's better to pave a cement road from Lishi County to Xipo Village first. After that, everyone will know the benefits of this road after seeing and using it." There are rubber-soled leather boots, how can I hold them without jumping off.

"This plan is brilliant!" Luo Yong clapped his hands and said loudly, but he sighed again when it was over:

"The idea is a good idea, but how much cement is needed to get from Xipo Village to Lishi County? It’s still not paid off.”

"This..." When it comes to money, Ma Feiyang, the second generation of Shang, is not so straightforward. It is obviously a loss-making business to exchange the money for a road repair, so he was vague Said: "Otherwise I will return to the city in two days to help you ask."

"So, thank you, Brother Ma!" Luo Yong cupped his hands gratefully and said, "If this road is completed, I will definitely ask someone to build a merit monument for you. It will be erected on the side of the road!"

"Hi, hi, no need for that."

"I want what I want."

"That's so funny."

"Don't be embarrassed, I will let people engrave the names of those who have made great efforts."

"..." Ma Feiyang was stunned for a moment, and suddenly the spiritual barrier flashed to his heart. It turned out that the coffin board didn't want to take money from him, but asked him to take money from others. There is nothing embarrassing about it. Immediately patted his chest and promised: "Sanlang don't worry, this matter will be taken care of by me!"

"So, it's all thanks to Brother Ma's help!" Luo Sanlang smiled immediately, the money for the road construction can be regarded as secured.