Seed dealers in ancient times

It was much faster for Zheng Jiang to stop and loosen the letter. He thought it would take two days for the letter to reach Jincheng. After he ate some food, he recovered a lot. He was fine in the house, so he thought about going out for a walk. change.

The courtyard was quiet in the early morning. When Zheng Jiangting pushed open the door, there were two elderly people working outside. The elderly people had little sleep and woke up early.

Zheng Jiangting saw the old man bending over his basket and small shovel, as if he was about to go out, so he went up to have a chat.

"Take advantage of the early hours, let's go out to dig some wild vegetables, and cook some porridge and stir-fry some vegetables. We can't do much heavy work and tiring work when we are old. It's shameless to just eat with our mouths open, thinking about doing something. Do the math."

Zheng Jiangting was very embarrassed when he said this, he clearly came to be a hostage, but he was given preferential treatment for sick people: "Why don't I go with the two of you."

The two old men looked at each other, they were embarrassed at this moment, if someone ran away on the way, they would have nothing to do.

Xiaoqiu, who was in a stalemate and brought breakfast, said, "If you want to come with me, that's all."

Zheng Jiang stopped shutting his mouth, and didn't really want to go out this morning.

"Morning is the best time to hunt and dig vegetables. Let's go together!" Zhen Sheng's voice broke the silence in the yard: "With me around, you don't want to run away."

After a few days in the cottage, it was the first time for Zheng Jiangting to leave the yard. After he went out, he found that the cottage was quite large, as if dozens of families gathered together to build it.

There is a courtyard dam outside, and some people are preparing to dry the autumn harvested millet. The temperature on the mountain is lower than that on the downhill, and the crops mature later. Jincheng has already harvested the autumn, and Dongshan is still harvesting the grain and returning to dry it.

Seeing Zheng Jiangting staring at Guzi, Zhen Sheng stuffed a small hoe into his hand: "What are you looking at, I haven't seen Guzi before."

"How's the harvest this year?"

Zhen Sheng shrugged: "Generally, it's not as much relief food as you sent to Chunlai County."

"I see that there are a lot of people in the village, and I'm afraid there won't be enough food until the New Year."

"Eat salty radish and worry about it, I want you to take care of it."

Zheng Jiangting was choked up and didn't answer. He followed several people to the woods to dig wild vegetables.I was also poor when I first came here, but the Zheng family is also a resident of Jincheng, and when they were the poorest, they didn't go out to dig wild vegetables.

In the mountains, as long as they are non-toxic and can be fried, they are called wild vegetables, such as mother-in-law ding, which is already a very popular dish, and many weeds with bad taste will be dug back, anyway, they can fill the stomach That's all right, Xiaoqiu was straightforward, and even ate bark during the most difficult time in the cottage. After the farmland was reclaimed, life improved a little.

Even before it rains, the forest is still wet in the morning. The wild vegetables are fresh with dewdrops, but the water drops from the trees from time to time, and the taste of dripping on the neck is not much enjoyment.Several people have been busy all morning, and everyone has more or less gained something in their baskets.

"It's best in spring, when wild vegetables are easy to dig."

"It's okay in autumn and summer. Some come to dig. When winter comes, everything will wither. At that time, there will be no wild vegetables to eat."

"Then we have to dig more wild vegetables while we still have them, so that we can eat some vegetables in winter after drying them."

Zhen Sheng and Xiao Qiu kept their mouths together all the way, and the empty forest didn't look lonely.

Two days later, Zheng Jiangting's letter did not arrive at home, but Ren County Magistrate's letter arrived in Jincheng first.

Half a month later, it's time for Zou Yun to go to the nunnery for a short stay. Chu Xianzhi is in the house and supervises the construction of the family's engineering team. Now he has a general appearance, and it's just a little bit of meticulous work. Construction during the day It's not noisy at all, Chu Xian waited at home and couldn't wait for the letter from Zheng Jiang at home. Recently, he always had nightmares and couldn't sleep. He simply packed up early in the morning and prepared to go to the nunnery to bring Zou Yun home. .

Chu Xian pressed his temples, drank the lean meat porridge brought by Xiaoju, and took two mouthfuls without interest. Recently, he slept a lot, but he always dreamed, and he was very flustered. He didn't believe this at first, but now Zheng Jiang stopped in Chunlai County for several days, and he should have arrived according to the itinerary, so he had to reply to a letter anyway, and this quietness made him think wildly. Words are also sensitive and infinitely magnified.

"Master, the carriages and horses are all ready."

Xiaoju came in from the outside, and seeing Chu Xian's complexion was not very good, she was very distressed. A few days ago, the master was still at home, and the husband was still juicy, and this man's complexion turned yellow after only a few days away.

Chu Xian responded, thinking that he would have to go out of the city in a carriage later, it was a long way, and he had to eat more or less, but when two spoonfuls of porridge entered his stomach, he felt greasy and panicked, and couldn't help but feel nauseous .

Seeing this, Xiaoju quickly followed Chuxian's back: "Is the master all right? But this porridge doesn't suit your taste?"

Chu Xian waved his hand. It had nothing to do with the porridge. He knew it was the reason why he hadn't had a good rest these days: "Forget it, don't eat, get ready to go."

Xiaoju helped Chu Xian up. Just as the master and servant left the house, there was a rush of footsteps in the garden.

Chu Xian frowned.

"Master... master husband."

The two looked at Zheng Huan who rushed in panting, and Xiao Ju asked in surprise, "How did you come back so soon?"

Zheng Huan didn't answer, Chu Xian's breathing was slightly stagnant, and he had a premonition that something was wrong.

"You said, but something happened."

Chu Xian didn't even realize that her voice was trembling with coldness.

"We met bandits on the road, master, the master was taken away by the bandits. I went to Chunlai County with Ren Guanbing and helped to find the master, but the whereabouts of the master has not been found. The magistrate Ren had to write to the Jincheng government for help, hoping that the county The master sent troops to assist the bandits to find the whereabouts of the master, and the slave came back with the officers and soldiers who delivered the letter."

After speaking, Zheng Huan was sobbing.

For a moment, like a thunderbolt from the blue, Chu Xian intuitively felt that her body was staggering and she couldn't stand firmly, and she almost fell down. Fortunately, Xiaoju was behind her to help her.

"Go, go to the yamen."

Chu Xian almost spat out these words with all her strength.

"Yes."

The carriage that was going out of the city turned and drove towards the county government at high speed. The carriage was bumped violently, and Chu Xian's stomach was writhing violently, but he didn't care about managing his body, and the knuckles of his fists were turning white.

It had been two days, and Zheng Jiangting hadn't heard from him for two full days. He had heard that the bandits in Xifeng were powerful, so he didn't dare to think whether Zheng Jiangting would survive if he fell into the hands of the bandits.

The carriage drove to the entrance of the county government office, and Chu Xian stumbled out of the carriage. The officers and soldiers of the county government office had already lined up two rows outside, as if they were about to go out. Not only that, but also the county magistrate's master wearing a black gauze hat, but at this time The county master is a young face.

Chu Xian knew that this was the newly appointed magistrate. There were still many people watching the excitement on the day he came, and Chu Xianxian also looked up at him on the street that day when he was free, but he is no stranger nowadays.

"Are you from the Zheng family?"

Chu Xian hurriedly greeted her: "Exactly."

Before Chu Xian could say more, the county magistrate was also very anxious. This was his first case since he took office, and it involved food disasters. The local well-known merchants, magistrates of other counties, and bandits were of great importance. He takes it very seriously.

"The letter from the county magistrate Chunlai has made it very clear. This officer has roughly understood the facts of the case. Before sending people to look for Zheng Shang, this officer has to arrest the culprit first."

Chu Xian didn't know why, but the county magistrate didn't explain much, and took the officers and soldiers to the east of the city.

Seeing that Chu Xian was in a hurry, a yamen servant walking in the team secretly left the team: "Don't worry, little husband, this trip is to catch the thief who borrowed food from the messenger bandit. After he is captured, he will immediately set off to search for him." Boss Zheng, take it easy."

It was Tang Haixin who was talking. Back then Zheng Jiangting often invited these yamen servants to eat and drink. Everyone remembered his friendship. Now that something happened to someone in the court, everyone was more concerned.

Chu Xian gritted her teeth and nodded quickly: "Thank you, sir."

Knowing that someone deliberately sent a letter to the robbers, which led to Zheng Jiangding's arrest, how could Chu Xian not feel resentful, he was anxious to know the result, but he didn't dare to delay the yamen's errands, waiting for the people in the yamen to leave After a while, he immediately ordered the carriage to follow.

There was a lot of battle in the yamen, and the magistrate and master personally dispatched it. Jincheng hadn't seen such a scene for many years, and there was a lot of discussion in the market for a while.

"What happened?"

"What's the situation?"

"Go, follow and have a look."

For a while, the crowd surged, and they followed the yamen team from far or near to the East Street, and then followed into the most affluent alley in Jincheng. After such a toss, there were more people watching the excitement. Let's see which big family is going to be unlucky.

Chu Xian knew that Zheng Jiangding's business rivals might have tripped her up here.

"Why is there such a noise outside today?"

Inside the Chou family's mansion, Qiu Lin was pouting and teasing the pigeons that were being fed in the cage.

The little pigeon was well fed and its hair was shiny: "By the way, there is a reply over there. It has been a few days."

The old housekeeper waited by the side: "Those people have always been a bit tempered, and it will take some time to deliver letters every time they come and go."

Qiu Lin didn't move his face, only heard the door suddenly slamming, the master and servant looked at each other, the door was opened by the servant, and the county magistrate and the yamen servants rushed in through the door.

"Officer, what is this?"

The county magistrate raised his hand and said, "Arrest the gangsters!"

Qiu Lin's expression changed suddenly, and the yamen servant quickly detained him.

"Master County Magistrate, I'm afraid there is a misunderstanding in this."

"Are you questioning the official's ability to handle affairs?"

"Grassmen dare not."

"take away!"

Qiu Lin was escorted out of the mansion, and crowds of people had already gathered outside to watch the fun.

"Master, I didn't expect the enemy's family to do it."

Chu Xian's eyes closed slightly. He should have known that it was the Chou's family. It was always the Chou's family that Jincheng had the most trouble with the Zheng family, but he never thought that the Chou's family would be so frantic that they would secretly collude with bandits to rob Jincheng of food for the victims.

The Qiu family was taken back to the Yamen and imprisoned under the eyes of everyone. The news spread like wildfire overnight, and the story of the gangster's fornication also spread. Many merchants went to condolences to the Zheng family. They went to the Yamen to order Qiu Lin to be executed. There are quite a few, and the people are terrified. The merchants in the city have colluded with the bandits. Now they can block people's goods with the same letter.

But the culprit was still in Chunlai County, and the two sides couldn't hold an interrogation for the time being. Qiu Lin could only be temporarily detained in prison. The next day, the yamen sent people to Xifeng to look for Zheng Jiangting.

"Master, the terrain around Xifeng is dangerous, you must not go there."

"Aren't you going to sit at home and wait to die? Don't talk about it, just pack up and set off with the people in the yamen. Besides, don't tell the old lady about the master's affairs, just say that I am unwell, and wait for the master to come back in two days. Pick her up."

After a few days of calculation, Zheng Jiang should have arrived in Jincheng long ago, and if Chu Xian received the letter, he would be worried that he would not be able to sit still, but the village is quiet now, and he couldn't help but start to feel a little worried.

"Zhen Sheng!"

Zheng Jiang stopped to go out, and happened to meet a hurried person.

"What for?"

"Have you received a reply?"

Hearing this, Zhen Sheng folded his hands and snorted softly: "That girl Xiaoqiu said that you are hurting your right hand so you can't write letters, you have to rest and recuperate, and there is no reply to your letters."

"What did you say! I didn't receive the letter." Zheng Jiangting's face changed when he heard the words: "I wrote the letter the day I woke up, and Xiaoqiu took the letter and said it had been handed over to you."

Zhen Sheng scratched the back of his head: "Huh?"

Zheng Jiang stopped feeling angry, and grabbed Zhen Sheng's collar: "What do you guys want!"

Zhen Sheng waved Zheng Jiangting's hand away: "Where did I think, that girl Xiaoqiu has taken a fancy to you, and protects you everywhere, you are kind, it's fine if you don't appreciate it, and blame it instead."

Zheng Jiangting said coldly: "What kind of love do you want? I'm already married!"

"Ah? Are you married?"

Zheng Jiang stopped short of breath and asked with a smile: "I don't seem to be married?"

"Oh." Zhen Sheng waved his hand: "It's useless for you to tell me these things."

Zheng Jiang calmed down his mind, and there was nothing he could do right now. It was a foregone conclusion that the letter was useless to send out. The most important thing now was that he had to leave here.

"Didn't you want my family to send the ransom?"

Zhen Sheng pursed his lips: "I really want to, but that girl Xiaoqiu won't let her go. She is the daughter of the village master."

"How about I make a deal with you?"

Zhen Sheng looked at Zheng Jiang and stopped: "What deal?"

"I don't think you intend to be a bandit in your cottage, but you have to do it because of food shortage. I went out with you these two days and saw that the land in the mountains is more suitable for growing a kind of grain. This kind of grain has a high yield. If the cottage If it is planted here, it will surely solve the food problem.”

"What you said is true!"

Zheng Jiangting nodded seriously: "I started my business by selling this kind of grain. If you let me go, I can give you [-] catties to the cottage and teach the people in the cottage how to grow it."

Food is the biggest problem in the Shanzhai. If this problem can be solved, then their Shanzhai will not have to go out to hijack cars and take risks. A few days ago, they lost two brothers when they robbed grain. That is a fresh life. Zheng Jiang The proposal to stop is indeed extremely attractive.

But others are not stupid: "What you said sounds good, what if you run away and don't bring food back?"

The problem is here. At that time, Zheng Jiang didn't bring any valuables with him when he stopped going out. There was no token to exchange with others. At this time, he could only improve his character.

"Why don't you write a letter, this time you give it to me directly, and I will send it to your home as soon as possible. One day, one day will definitely arrive."

Zheng Jiang stopped to glance at Zhen Sheng, and he didn't want to wait for a moment. Chu Xian must have got the news of his disappearance at this moment, so he might be so anxious.

"Oh, do you want to write it or not! Otherwise, you can leave it to Xiaoqiu to be the husband of the village."

Zheng Jiang paused to sigh, and cast a sideways glance at Zhen Sheng: "Wait, I'll write another letter right now."

After burning a stick of incense, Zhen Sheng hid the envelope in his arms: "Don't worry, I'm quick on my feet, and I will use my horse when the time comes, and I will definitely deliver the letter to your husband tonight."

Zheng Jiangting nodded: "Tell my husband that I am fine."

"Thank you."

Zhen Sheng rubbed his nose in embarrassment, Zheng Jiang's worried expression made him feel guilty about breaking up the family: "Don't say that, I will tell it for you."

The author has something to say: This article will not be too long, and it will be over soon!The next book opens the mermaid.