North and South groceries

Luo Yong not only bought all the pears from Nashen's grandparents, but also paid a small deposit, agreeing to let them transport pear seedlings to Xipo Village next spring.

Several baskets of pears were piled on the donkey cart, and there was no room for him to sit, so he had to walk with the five couples. Fortunately, the snow stopped after a while, but the wind was still blowing, bringing The howling chill swept across this desolate land.

There were also a few villagers from Xipo Village, who also thought that this day would be sunny, so they went to the city to sell tofu with confidence.

Because tofu can't stand the bumps, most of these people carry their loads out, and it's easy when they go back. They stack two empty baskets together, hang them on one end of the pole, pick them up behind their shoulders, and press them down with their arms in front. Some, it is very light to walk.

"The weather is cold enough, so we should be able to make frozen tofu." A villager said happily.

"Is your family going to do it tonight?" Another person asked with a smile.

"Do it tonight?" Luo Yong also asked, when they returned to Xipo Village, it would be dark in the morning.

"Saburo doesn't know? A few merchants from Chang'an City told me and others a few days ago that they wanted to buy frozen tofu from our village," said the villager.

"I've heard of it too." Luo Yong had also heard of this.

"First make tofu tonight and freeze it, then put them on the kang tomorrow and the next day, dry them on the kang, and finally make the frozen tofu, which can be sold for a penny for two yuan." Tell Luo Yong.

Those two pieces of tofu cost less than one liter of beans, but after their processing, they can be sold for a penny. In the eyes of the villagers, this is a great thing.So when the cold wind blows today, everyone is very happy. This cold day must be able to freeze the tofu hard.

I was anxious to go back to making tofu, and my pace subconsciously quickened. Fortunately, the five pairs of physical strength were also good, pulling a few baskets of pears, and they were able to keep up with the large army without falling behind.

As we walked, the sky darkened. It had just snowed today, and the white snow reflected the night light, but we could still see the road clearly.Walking in this wilderness, they were afraid of nothing but encountering wild animals. The group of people didn't speak any more, just buried their heads in the road, and when they entered the entrance of Xipo Village, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Luo Yong said goodbye to other villagers, drove the donkey cart up the small slope outside his courtyard, walked to the gate of the courtyard, reached out and patted the gate twice.

"Who is it?" Erniang's voice quickly rang out from inside.

"It's me." Luo Yong said out loud.

The courtyard door opened with a creak, Erniang came out wrapped in a rabbit fur jacket to help Luo Yong lead the donkey cart, the light was still on in the grocery store next to the courtyard door, and when Siniang and Wulang saw Luo Yong coming back, they went He looked at him sleepily, and asked, "Brother, have you bought pears yet?"

"I bought it, I bought a lot." Luo Yong said with a smile.These little ones must have been waiting at home all day, just waiting for him to bring pears back.

"Why do you buy so many pears? This thing will go bad after a long time." Er Niang also saw the baskets of pears on the donkey cart at this time, and was very surprised.

"Don't be afraid, pick up some good ones and put them away, and freeze the rest. I heard people say that frozen pears are also delicious." Luo Yong said.

"Really?" Erniang had never heard of pears being eaten this way, but it was normal. She had lived in this small village since she was a child, and her knowledge was limited.

"Brother, do these pears taste good frozen?" When Luo Yong bought so many pears, Si Niang was overjoyed, and ran to the yard with her old cloth shoes to look at the pears.

"I heard it's delicious." Luo Yong said.

"Then how much do we want to freeze?" Goro also ran out, looking at the cart full of pears, he was so happy that they ate all the pears two days ago, and they tasted really good, much better than the pears on the mountain. The wild fruit is much more delicious, sweet and juicy.

"Do you want to send some to my sister and brother-in-law?" Er Niang asked.

"Yes." Living in this village is all about frequent visits.

"So many pears, how much did you spend to buy them?" Erniang felt sorry for the money, while carrying a basket of pears to the grocery store.

"320 Wen." Luo Yong also started to carry the pears.

The grandparents of the Shen family offered a price of two Wen for one pear. If they bought a lot, it would be five Wen and three. , This is also why Luo Yong didn't bargain with them much.

These pears are rarer than the persimmons and dates in their area, but they are not considered expensive. There are many people who grow pears in Pingyi, and in their area, a pear usually costs around a penny. This is why in the past few years, there are traders from the surrounding area to buy from them. If no one buys, the price of pears will naturally be cheaper.

When the pears from Pingyi County are transported to Lishi, there are very few pears worth less than a penny. After all, the transportation is difficult in this era, and there will inevitably be some damage on the road.It started to snow now, and the pears brought by Shen's grandparents were also relatively large. Luo Yong spent 320 renminbi to buy them all. On average, it was about seven or eight pears for ten renminbi.

First, he moved a few baskets of pears to the grocery store, then Luo Yong unloaded the cart for five pairs, fed them some bean paste and wheat grains, and then put some soybean meal in the trough, and told them to slow down in the barn. Chew slowly.

The soybean meal was left over from the oil extraction last time. Originally, the people in the oil extraction workshop in Xiaohe Village said that the wages for oil extraction are not necessary, as long as the soybean meal is left to them. Luo Yong thought that he still had a donkey at home. In the end, he gave the money and brought back the soybean meal and the squeezed soybean oil.

Soybean meal tastes better than bean dregs, and the five couples prefer to eat bean dregs. After eating bean meal, it doesn't like bean dregs very much.

"Pick out the bumpy ones and eat them first. If you can't finish them and freeze them, just pick up the best ones and keep a few fresh ones, and freeze the rest." The Luo family has no cellar, so it can't be stored for a long time. It's a pity if it goes bad for a pear.

"You bought too much." Erniang felt sorry for the money again, 320 Wen was enough to buy a bolt of silk, but he bought this pile of pears with it, and it was nothing to fill his stomach. food……

"Brother, how about we steam two to eat first?" Si Niang can't wait now, and Wu Lang is also anxious, but he is also a little used to having Si Niang in everything, Luo Yong thinks it's okay Not very good, thinking about when to separate the two of them for a while.

"Steam two more." Luo Yong said, one pear for each person.

Siniang and Wulang happily went out to wash four pears in their hands, and came back happily after washing. They lit the fire and put the pot on the pot, and soon steamed the pears.

Liulang and Qiniang were already fast asleep at this time, and they were on the side of the kang, the children slept soundly, they were so noisy, and the two of them didn't wake up.

Maiqingdouli was alert, and crawled out of her nest when she heard the sound. After running back and forth in the yard, she was now guarding the steaming steamer, looking forward to Si Niang Wu Lang and the others can save a few mouthfuls of food for the two of them through the gaps between their teeth.

After sorting the pears, put the ones that should be frozen outside to freeze them, put away the ones that should be harvested, and burn the kangs in several rooms. After eating the pears, the brothers and sisters went to sleep separately.

On the second day, Erniang got up early in the morning, and after breakfast, she led Siniang and Wulang to cook pig food. Luo Yong was a little tired after walking so much yesterday, so he went to bed late, waiting for him to eat. After breakfast, when I went to the Lin family with a basket of pears, every household in the village was already active and busy making tofu.

The gate of the Lin family's courtyard was wide open. Luo Yong stepped across the threshold carrying a basket, and saw several brothers of the Lin family grinding soybean milk.

"But do you want tofu?" Luo asked with a smile.

"Saburo is here."

"Come in and sit down."

"If you don't come, we will invite you later. It's the first time to make tofu, and I don't know if it can be done decently."

"He even brought pears here."

The Lin family has a large population, and when they are busy with work, the yard is very lively. People like this kind of atmosphere these days. Like the Luo family and the Lin family, they are families with many children. Very envious.

At the beginning, Lin's father and Lin's mother were able to look at Aunt Luo because of this factor. Since the mother is fertile, she should not be bad as a daughter.

"We have heard in the past few days that some merchants from other places have come to the city. The frozen and dried tofu can be sold for a penny for two yuan, so we also want to make some and sell it." The aunt smiled and took it. The basket of pears that Luo used said in his mouth, "Why did you bring so many?"

"I went to the city yesterday and happened to meet them, so I bought some more," Luo Yong said.

"Let's save it for the little ones at home." Father Lin was also in the yard at this time.

"There are still some at home." Luo Yong said with a smile.

The Lin family was preparing to make tofu that day, and Luo Yong just came over, so they asked him to point out the physalis for tofu, and they had already ordered some from the villagers.

Aunt Luo and Lin Wulang both helped Luo Yong before, and they also made tofu, so they became the main force at this time.

"Why do you have chilblains?" While working, Luo Yong saw several chilblains on Mrs. Luo's hands. The fingers that were not white and tender were red and swollen one by one.

"Nothing, it grows every year." The aunt rubbed her hands and said with a smile.

"I will ask Erniang to weave you a pair of gloves out of cashmere some other day, and you will wear them when you are not working." In Luo Yong's eyes, Aunt Luo is just a teenage girl, and winter has just arrived , Her hands are like this, and she doesn't know how it happened in previous years. He was also careless, and he didn't pay attention to it last year.

"..." The aunt originally wanted to say, when there is no work, let him not spend those cashmere knitting gloves for himself, and sell the socks after knitting, a pair is only a hundred yuan.But thinking about it, Mrs. Weng was there, and when she said this, it seemed that the Lin family had treated her harshly, so she just smiled and didn't say anything.

This scene was seen by the two sister-in-laws of the aunt, and she felt a little uncomfortable in her heart.

They are also married daughters-in-law. Aunt Luo's natal family is like this. She even cares about a few chilblains on her hands. How come the two of them don't have chilblains on their hands? Although the life of the Lin family is not bad, but what should be done There is always work to be done, cooking and washing dishes, weaving and making vinegar... Only their natal brothers can't do it like Luo Sanlang.