Embracing the ancient times with roses

After Lixiu left, he was busy making candles. There were places and molds. The molds were two days ago. Da Zhuang made them according to his wishes. In addition, the weather was cold, and the paraffin liquid solidified very quickly. It is quick and easy to make, just melt the paraffin wax, the cotton thread used for the candle has been kneaded two days ago, it is a big ball, it is completely enough and there are many people, it will be done soon Come out a batch.

Lixiu didn't hide this candle from the Qin family. He thought that sooner or later someone would research it. Now he was thinking of making these paraffin wax at home, and then let the shopkeeper help him sell it. Given a suitable opportunity, he will sell this method and get a sum of money. Even if he doesn't sell it now, sooner or later that person named Feng will raise the price on the spot, saying how expensive paraffin is, and then he will have to lose money. .

When Da Zhuang came back, he saw that Li Xiu and the others were very busy, even dealing with lunch and dinner, so he didn't say anything, and let Li Xiu go to rest. He went to the house with Tong Xiaobao in his arms, went to the kang, and then fell asleep. He didn't even know that Da Zhuang came back in the middle of the night, and fell asleep until the next morning.

The family had breakfast and started to work again. The paraffin wax was melted in a pot separated by water. In order to speed up its melting, Lixiu ordered two iron buckets from Liu, the blacksmith in the town. Now It came in handy.

In one day, I made hundreds of catties of candles, which made Lixiu scratching his head. In modern times, machines are powerful, and this ten thousand catties of paraffin is just a few days' work, but it can't work here, let alone Several stoves in the house are now in use, and Li Xiu is afraid that if he burns the dishes in the east room, it will be a waste of effort. In the end, he only made one thousand gold, which exhausted the whole family.

On the morning of the fourth day, when shopkeeper Feng came, he saw packs of candles in the wooden boxes in the yard, of which there were packs of ten candles, thick and thin, neatly stacked.

Shopkeeper Feng and Wang Zhang felt novelty when they saw it. It was the first time they had seen this thing. Li Xiu asked Da Zhuang to light one and put it on the table, and then drew the curtains. People can see the brightness of the candles there at a glance, and there is no peculiar smell and oily smoke, which was researched by Lixiu not long ago.

Shopkeeper Feng was very interested and said, "Brother Xiu, how do you sell this?"

Li Xiu thought for a while and said: "I don't have this thing in the entire Tianyao Dynasty, so it won't be very cheap. This pack of candles costs [-] Wen, and each candle costs [-] Wen on average, but this is the retail price. If you buy more, it will be cheaper. I think everyone knows that oil lamps have a smell, which is very unpleasant, and there is oily smoke. Not only does my candle have no smell, but it is also brighter than oil lamps. Now rich people have it, and anyone can To keep the house clean, buy these candles.

Although it has just been released and everyone is not familiar with it, in time, it will completely replace the oil lamp in this world, and it may become a tribute and enter the palace. "

Shopkeeper Feng nodded, he agreed with Li Xiu's words, people in this world, those who want to get promoted and get rich, can do anything, so he nodded and said: "Okay, I'll order less, try Let’s sell it, if it sells well, I’ll come back before the Chinese New Year.”

Li Xiu nodded. He knew that this candle was a new thing. It would not work if no one recognized it. Now that shopkeeper Feng dared to be the first person to eat crabs, he was also very grateful, so he ordered it according to Shopkeeper Feng's request. goods, and gave a [-]% discount, this time the treasurer Feng is very happy, and said that they will definitely give them a publicity.

Li Xiu was very happy, and asked his family to help him load the car. This time, shopkeeper Feng took away a carload of goods, 300 taels, and more than half of Li Xiule's capital was returned.

Wang Zhang saw that shopkeeper Feng pulled away a cart, so he also asked Da Zhuang to drive a donkey cart to deliver ten boxes to his shop, first to help sell it, and if it was good, he could continue to sell it on behalf of him.

After these people had left, Li Xiu and his family were not idle, and continued to work. He wanted to make all the paraffin at home into candles for storage. I helped to do it, and after working like this for ten days, I finally finished all the work and stored it in the warehouse in the east courtyard.

At this time, the caravan ready to go to the west is also assembled. There are ten households in the village who are going to buy cattle this time, and two donkeys. In addition, Da Zhuang's family is going to buy two cows and one horse. Twelve cows, one horse and two donkeys formed a large team at once. Da Zhuang was going to bring the three masters of the Qin family this time, and Qin Jun was left to look after the house. Three days later, the sixth day of the tenth month of the lunar calendar.

Li Xiu packed up the things for Da Zhuang to travel early, and specially made a few pairs of knee pads, a pair of leather pants, and a dog fur hat, and prepared a hat and collar for him, without even a cap Falling down, of course the people of the Qin family kept warm and did a good job. Li Xiu prepared frostbite ointment for them in case of emergencies.

On the morning of the sixth day of October, Lixiu endured the pain in his back and got up to help Da Zhuang cook. This was the first time he was separated from Da Zhuang after he came here. Before Da Zhuang left, he felt a little bit reluctant , Da Zhuang tormented him so much yesterday, he endured it, he was afraid that Da Zhuang would be suffocated along the way, even Tong Xiaobao was sent to Jiang Feng by him early on, even Jiang Feng's ambiguous eyes, he Didn't even blush, went home early, turned off the lights with Da Zhuang early, and that night, Da Zhuang tossed him until the cock crowed, and then hugged him to sleep, he was almost begging for mercy at that time, Da Zhuang still Regardless of wanting him regardless, he almost passed out in the end, so he gave up.

Da Zhuang and his wife had a hearty breakfast in their own room, and then left Xiu to pack the things Da Zhuang and the others needed to bring on the road before letting them go. This time they went to three carriages in total. Da Zhuang's family A single car, the car was hired by the car and horse shop in the town, and half a car of candles was carried in the car, which was going to be sold on the road, and then exchanged for some supplies needed on the grassland. They did not go alone this time, but Those who went with a caravan going to the grassland were afraid that the road would be unsafe. Besides, there were guides in the caravan, so they would not get lost on the grassland. This was introduced by Shopkeeper Feng.

Li Xiu watched Da Zhuang and his shadow getting smaller and smaller, and felt uncomfortable. It seemed that there was an empty space. Da Zhuang looked in the direction of home in the car until he could no longer see him. Closing his eyes, he said to himself: "He is not going to play, but to make Lixiu live a better life. He will go and come back quickly, and he will never delay on the road. He will definitely come back a few years ago. Li Xiu will also be waiting for him at home."

Lixiu didn't know Da Zhuang's thoughts. Since Da Zhuang left, his heart was empty. He waited for Da Zhuang to come back every day, and Tong Xiaobao at home also started to think about Da Zhuang. Every day he said there: "Ah! Why hasn't dad come back?"

Lixiu touched the child's head and continued to knit a sweater. This is a new one he knitted after Da Zhuang left. Anyway, there is nothing to do, so let's pass the time. I bought a book for children on the Internet to teach Tong Xiaobao to recite poems, just stay in the house, and Qin Jun will help look at the living things in the house, so he doesn't have to worry about it. The one that Da Zhuang and the others got back last month The wild boar is no longer made. When it was first brought back, it jumped up and down in the pigsty and wanted to go out, but was starved by Li Xiu for a few days, so he became honest.

Among the remaining living creatures, those chickens have recently started to lay eggs, and Li Xiule gives the chickens extra meals every day, just to make the chicks lay more eggs. They became domestic chickens and laid eggs honestly. Qin Mengshi said that after the new year, they would let them incubate eggs in the beginning of spring. At that time, they would raise more chickens, which would be even better.

Li Xiu nodded and said, "Yes, then everyone's life will be easier. If we ordinary people want to live a life of sufficient food and clothing, we have to do it ourselves, otherwise this family will not be able to live without saying anything."

Qin Mengshi also echoed: "Yes, we brothers, in this life, we don't want to be rich and rich, just want to live comfortably."

Li Xiu agreed with Qin Mengshi's words very much, and took care of everything at home with all his heart. Although there was no tiring work, but at night, when he touched the big and strong pillow, he felt uncomfortable, and he didn't know where this man was. up?

On this day, Lixiu hugged Tong Xiaobao, sat on the kang, picked up a doll that had just been made and handed it to Tong Xiaobao to play alone, while he continued to make a jade pendant that he had researched recently. First of all, it was carved out of peach wood, and then according to my own preferences, I finalized the shape and carved a piece of jade pendant for Tong Xiaobao to wear. The leftover material from Zhuang carving was just enough to make a jade pendant for his son, and he made a small jade hairpin for Tong Xiaobao with a few leftovers, and put it on the child's head. Touch and play.But he was very obedient, if he didn't take it off, he was afraid of breaking it, and Ah Mo was angry.

It’s been like this for about a month, and now it’s winter, and the Chinese New Year is just over a month away. Half of the candles at home have been sold, and the ones that were consigned by Wang Zhang last time have been sold out. He pulled half of the car and left. Shopkeeper Feng sent someone to pull away two more three days ago. Now there is only half of the family left. I have to keep the rest at home. I am afraid that the rest will not be available until the Chinese New Year. It will be sold out. According to Wang Zhang, their candles are now famous far and wide. Many people have come to inquire about the franchise rights to buy their candles, but they are all blocked by Wang Zhang. They made a joke on themselves. Where to make money.

In this way, the days passed quickly. This day, Li Xiuxiu was making a newly drawn jewelry, which is actually not unusual. In modern times, it is very easy to see the Miao headwear, as well as pectorals, earrings, rings and so on. , The material he used is also silver. This thing has been made for more than half a month, and it will be ready soon. The headdress is not so exaggerated, but he made it into a rose pattern, and it is tightly connected together, very It’s pretty, it’s almost like Fengguan, it’s finished now, and it’s being put into a box. He’s going to go to town in the afternoon and ask Liu Ziran if he’ll accept it. The Chinese New Year is coming soon, and he also wants to have some new income. , and he has to buy some presents for his family.

Even the Qin family's red envelopes for the Chinese New Year are ready. He has to prepare them all before Da Zhuang comes back. The Chinese New Year is less than a month away, and he doesn't know when Da Zhuang will come back. He really wanted to be strong, but he was better during the day, he sighed at this thought.

While he was thinking wildly, Qin Mengshi knocked on the door and came in. After Li Xiu put the box in his hand away, he heard Qin Mengshi say, "Master, someone is here."

Li Xiu stood up, fiddled with his clothes, found nothing wrong and said, "Who's here?"

Qin Mengshi said: "I don't know him, but the man said that they moved to the village today and lived in Zhang Laocai's house. That house was bought by their family. Today they came to visit the village chief."

Li Xiu thought for a while and said: "Then, let me go out and have a look, let him wait in the main room, I will come in a while." After speaking, he put on thick clothes for Tong Xiaobao, he did not dare to leave Xiaobao for too long, so he I'm afraid that if something goes wrong with the child, it will be over.

When he came out with the neatly dressed Tong Xiaobao in his arms, he saw a couple sitting on a stool in the main room, probably a husband and wife. They were both in their 30s, but they looked good. The first impression was good. , not like a bad guy. Of course, Li Xiu also knew that the word "bad guy" wouldn't be written on his face, and he was dressed very cleanly, and the material was also very good, so he knew he was not an ordinary person at a glance.

Seeing Li Xiu coming out, those two people stood up, and Li Xiu hurriedly said: "You're welcome, sit down, there are not so many rules here."

The two looked at Da Zhuang, especially as a big brother who was very good at talking: "Fulang, the village head, I'm being polite here." After speaking, they gave a salute.

Li Xiu said: "You're welcome, our place is not a big mansion, it's just a rural place, so you don't have to be polite. We will live in a village in the future. If you have any unfamiliar things, you can tell us. Although our family is big Zhuang is not a big official, but he is still very familiar with this place, and he can help if there is anything, but it is a pity that he is not at home recently."

The eldest brother said with a smile: "Then thank you, Mrs. the village head. Our couple escaped from other places. Our surname is Huang, and my name is Mrs. Huang. I am the head of the family. This is my man. His name is Huang Wu, and he was a scholar in the past, but he has not won the exams all these years, and his hometown was hit by a disaster, so he had to flee famine, after this, please take care of him from the village chief." After finishing speaking, he said: He put a box in his hand in front of Li Xiu.

Li Xiu knew that the things in it might be valuable, but he didn't want it, but pushed the box over: "You're welcome, we'll be a villager from now on, it's good that you don't need these vain things. It’s too late, besides, my family doesn’t let me collect things indiscriminately, I appreciate your kindness.”

Huang Wu and Huang Shi nodded to each other and said, "You're welcome, don't take this little gift to heart. If you don't accept it, I'll be really embarrassed. Do you think it's too small?"

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Huang said: "Yes, yes, you can accept it, otherwise we are really uneasy, hehe."

Li Xiu had no choice but to accept it, but he didn't collect things for nothing. He called Qin Mengshi, "Brother Meng, go and get a few packs of candles for Brother Huang, our family doesn't have any good things."

When the couple heard this, they realized that this brother was really good at dealing with human affairs, and no one was disadvantaged by this kind of courteous reciprocity. . . . . .