clang farming notes

In the next few days, while slowly adding pots, pans, tables, chairs and benches, the Du family went out of the house to learn about the situation in the village.

It turned out that this village was called Qingniu Village, and there were two or three hundred soldiers who had disarmed and returned to the fields.Perhaps because the houses were built by soldiers, the whole village looks really flat and vertical, and it couldn't be more orderly.There are several wells drilled in the village, and there is a river passing by the village in the southeast direction, so although it is in the north, there is no shortage of water.

In the center of the village, there is a large open space and a few old trees. It is said that in summer, they would like to go there to cool off the heat. He was born weighing eight catties.Zhao Bajin's voice was a bit convoluted, everyone called him Zhao Bajin, he lived in the west courtyard of Du's house, he was regarded as a neighbor.

Living with Zhao Ba is said to be his life and death brother named Fang Sheng.In the past few days, they have helped the Du family a lot, so the relationship between the two is very good.After staying with him for a long time, I realized that Zhao Bagao was tall and strong, but he talked a lot, and he had a lot of gossip, but Fang Sheng, who had studied medicine with Dr. You Fang for a few days, was a bit gentle and didn't talk much.

There are not many married wives in this village, there are only a few dozen families, and the rest have one person as a family, and some like Zhao Ba, two good brothers live together.According to Mrs. Wang, this is because she has only settled down for two years. After waiting for a long time, with such good conditions in the village, she will naturally not worry about marrying a daughter-in-law.

Du Zhongping found that Sister-in-law Wang was very popular. Her natal family was local, and many daughters-in-law in the village were matchmakers that she helped to arrange, so those who were not married were particularly flattering to her, probably because they wanted her to help find a wife.

After everything was tidied up and the house looked good, Duan started to tidy up the yard and dig a vegetable cellar, so Zhao Ba went to help.

Fang Sheng and Du Zhongping looked at Jin'er in the room while studying a medicine book.Fang Sheng only learned superficial methods for treating trauma, and when he knew a few herbs, Du Zhongping gave him the medical books he had, but he knew that he was illiterate.In the past, I wanted to study medicine because I was illiterate, so I failed to learn it. I only learned a few things by rote memorization.Du Zhongping half wanted to be a good teacher and half wanted to build a good relationship, so he had to teach him, and came to learn a few words when he was free.

The reason for studying medicine books at the moment is because Fang Sheng said that after the autumn harvest, the village will organize people to go up the mountain, and he will also go to pick a few herbs for preparation, and sell more to the medicine shop in the city for some money.Du Zhongping moved his mind and wanted to go with him to collect some medicinal materials to subsidize the family, so the two of them flipped through the books to make up for it these days, wanting to memorize a few more, so that they can go up the mountain when the time comes.

In the evening, Du An discussed with Du Zhongping that the vegetable cellar at home had already been dug, and there was no way to farm in the north at this time, so they had to get everything in the house ready before the weather turned cold.In the past few days, I heard Zhao Ba and others say that after ten days and a half months, the autumn harvest will be over, and after the autumn harvest, we will go up the mountain, so that some mountain products can be sold to Jinyang City for some money, which happens to be the next year's harvest. Seeds, food and vegetables for the winter, cotton-padded clothes and charcoal are all ready. Snow will fall after October, and it will not bloom until March in the next year. During this period, the weather will be cold and the roads will be slippery, making it difficult to go out.

Du Zhongping said: "Tomorrow I will go to Lizheng to see how the land is allotted to us so that we can buy seeds. Our family has no land this year, and we have enough food, so let's buy some vegetables in the village and save it." Brother Sheng and I discussed going up to the mountain to collect herbs. This place is not as prosperous as the south, and it is not convenient to seek medical advice in winter. There is a small one at home, so I don’t feel panic when I prepare some herbs. The extras are sold in the city, and we It’s better to have a fat year.”

Then he said in a low voice: "When I first arrived, I was afraid that there would still be military service here, so I didn't dare to change your paperwork. At least I have a reputation, and even my family members don't have to serve. I have made it clear in the past few days. The soldiers are also those who are disarmed and returned to the fields. I have already said to Li Zheng, so I will also leave your household registration here, so I just took the opportunity to change my slave registration."

Duan was a little surprised: "Li Zheng actually agreed?"

"I talked a little bit about the Du family's affairs. Even though the son never said anything about his father's faults, he couldn't care less about it at this time. Lizheng heard it and said that you have been a righteous man for helping his master who has no power all these years. Words, I did exactly what he meant, so it didn't take a little effort."

"The people here are as forthright and loyal as the young master said." Duan narrowed his eyes slightly: "Since you said it a few years ago, you have been thinking about it all the time. You are more anxious than me, a servant. I just didn't expect it to be so easy. It’s done. So I thought you came to the north just as a gamble, and it’s only when you come here that you know you’ve already planned.”

Du Zhongping said: "I've thought about it a long time ago. There's no use in being angry with the Du family. Besides, we are a family, but it's just a title. Since I said I would quit your citizenship, of course I will do it." Yes. Although you don’t care, after all, a good family background is enough. Besides, I am in a hurry to get a foothold in this unfamiliar place. My brothers are always more capable than my family, so I am in a hurry to divide the land. , where did you miss it?"

Duan saw that he was talking more and more anxiously, and his ears were slightly red, so he knew that the young master was a little bit ashamed, so he quickly changed the subject: "Listen to Zhao Ba, Wang's sister-in-law's natal brother built a good wall of fire, and burn more on the stove. , the whole house is warmed up. We just came here, I’m afraid we can’t stand the winter, so why don’t we build one too.”

"It's good, it's just that it's not good for people to help for nothing."

Du An said: "That's true. It just depends on Mrs. Wang's temperament. If you give money, I'm afraid you will be annoyed."

Du Zhongping clapped his hands and said: "Yes, we just said that in order to congratulate you on getting out of citizenship, we will hold a table of wine and only invite a few acquaintances to eat, and then beg him, and invite him to drink again, without deliberately. There is Zhao Ba who can help."

The two discussed it, and each of them washed and rested.

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The next day, Du Zhongping really went to invite someone to have a drink at night.

Duan had no choice but to put down the cleaning of the yard, and asked Zhao Ba to take him to the village to buy all kinds of vegetables, and bought a few jars of shochu made from Baogu and went home, so he started to make dinner for the evening.

Zhao Ba is also a warm-hearted person. These days, he helped Du An dig vegetable cellars and worked together, and his relationship became even better. Hearing about Du An's divorce, he was also very happy for him.So he called Fang Sheng over to help Du Zhongping take care of the children and be a companion, and he helped Du An kill chickens and rabbits.

While Zhao Ba was busy, his mouth was not idle: "Li Zheng is really accurate in seeing people, saying that your little scholar is a good one, and he gave you off his status as soon as he was settled. He is really affectionate. You are not in vain. Worry about him."

Duan said: "We are milk brothers. He has never put on airs in front of me since he was a child. He always thinks of me when he is good. The first few years were difficult. No one dared to make things difficult for the master, but he played for me openly and secretly. Stumbling, I asked the master to punish him once. He kept it in his heart and always thought about it. It was difficult to do in the south, and it failed after several attempts. I have already put it down. Who knows what he will It's done here."

He sighed and said, "I'm just afraid that someone will use this excuse to make things difficult for him. Those who know will say that he values ​​friendship, but those who don't know will say that he wants more land in my name and takes advantage of it."

Zhao Ba laughed: "This is because you think too much. We value loyalty here the most. How many people here rely on their brothers to climb out of the dead? Your little scholar As soon as this was done, people said that he valued friendship and was worth paying for. Don't worry, you can only praise him, and there is no gossip. "

Hearing what Zhao Ba said, Du An let go of his heart and put all his mind on cooking.

Du Zhongping and Du Zhongping in the back room were not idle either. Fang Sheng was sitting on the kang with a book in his hand, but most of his thoughts were on Jin'er beside him.

Jin'er sat firmly on the side, with a plate in front of him, with some dried fruits on it, Jin'er was eating one by one, as if he was doing something important.

Du Zhongping was arranging the many dried fruits and preserves he bought along the way on the ground, letting Fang Sheng taste them from time to time, and Fang Sheng agreed, he would put some on a plate and save them for later drinking.

Fang Sheng said: "Your Jin'er is really obedient, she doesn't cry or make trouble, but don't worry."

Du Zhongping said: "Jin'er has suffered a lot with me, and followed me from south to north at a young age. I only hope that I will have some skills in the future, so I won't hurt him."

Fang Sheng was careful, and thought about the meaning of the words, this Du Zhongping was from everyone, but his father was partial, so the three of them depended on each other, and went to Yanbei to make a living in the bitter cold land, which was not easy at such a young age.Therefore, seeing some sadness in his words, he hurriedly talked about some medicinal materials and so on, and how to collect herbs at that time, and some mountain products can be picked. If there are mushrooms that are just dried in the sun and stewed with fat chicken, they are the most delicious, etc. .Knowing his kindness, Du Zhongping followed him to talk, and gradually became happy.

As soon as the sun set to the west, Lizheng was waiting for someone to come, and someone brought some dates, Shanlihong and so on.When all the people arrived, Du An and Du Zhongping set up the big round table they had just bought a few days ago, and put it in the east room.Everyone sat in a circle, Du Zhongping held Jin'er and talked with him, and Du An made arrangements to serve the food.

One could say that this village is richer than those in the other villages, but it is not as particular about food as in the south, so Duan's craftsmanship has been praised a lot.

Du An and Du Zhongping poured wine for everyone, raised their glasses together and toasted everyone: "I never thought that our brother can live so well, it is because of everyone who takes care of us that our brother is today, thank you all in the wine. "Speaking, both of them drank in one gulp.

Everyone said: "Happy!" And they all did it.Then they talked and laughed and ate wine.

During the dinner, Du An took advantage of the conversation to ask Li Zheng's brother-in-law, Brother Li, to come and build the fire wall in two days, and Brother Li readily agreed.

Lizheng asked them to get ready again. He would take them to see the fields tomorrow, and he would take them up the mountain in the next few days.The two thanked each other hurriedly, and offered another round of toast.It was getting dark, and all the talents broke up happily.

After seeing off the people, Du Zhao Ba and Fang Sheng stayed to help clean up.Zhao Ba loves to talk, and after drinking, he kept praising Du'an for his good craftsmanship, and Du Zhongping for being kind, without the sourness of a scholar, and saying that such a kind person can stay at ease, etc.Seeing that Fang Sheng had done almost everything, Zhao Ba couldn't keep his mouth shut, so he hurriedly left and carried Zhao Ba away.

Jin'er went to bed early, Du Zhong spread out the bedding, undressed him and put him to sleep, then went to the kitchen to help Du An clean up the leftovers.Du Zhongping is like Guan Gong whose face turns red when drinking, but he can drink a lot. Although he drank a lot, his mind is clear.

While busy with light hands and feet, he talked to Duan: "It seems that we have hit the right track today. It seems that we are no longer regarded as outsiders suddenly, unlike before, it seems that we are always separated by a layer."

As he said that, he felt that this was the case, so he became proud: "Sure enough, young master, I have a good character."

Duan saw that he had drunk the wine, his red face looked a little silly, and his heart softened: "God is watching, good people will always be rewarded, you have suffered so much, God will make up for you in the future Come back."