Nongmen Shenjue

At the end of the twelfth lunar month, the Chinese New Year was about to come, and the cargo ships basically stopped. Coolies such as Guo Yong no longer guarded the ferry and waited for work, and went home to be busy at home.The ferry was quiet, and all the shops were closed, so it was very deserted.

Mu Qingyan gave Mu Wen and Mu Wu a holiday a few years ago, and sent the two of them home.

Mu Qingyan went back when he was young, but didn't stay at home, and he didn't go back until New Year's Eve.He wanted to celebrate the New Year with Wen Jixue, but it was not easy to use it well, and he couldn't bring people back to Mu's house on a day like New Year's Eve. After all, his identity was a bit sensitive.Even if it's not about the two of them, the two of them are friends on the surface, and they don't go to other houses to celebrate the new year.

"I will come back as soon as possible." After the new year, close people in the village have to invite each other to drink, so it is not good for him not to go with the whole family.Fortunately, he didn't have a family, and the guests at the banquet were all from Mu's family, so he didn't need to make arrangements.

When he went to Qingshan Village, he took Gao Chun Gao Dong with him, and left the He family behind, so that they could celebrate the New Year together.

No matter the poor or the rich, the Chinese New Year must be lively and lively.

As soon as I entered the village, I heard children playing. There was a snowfall two days ago, and the main road in the village was cleaned, so it was not a problem to travel by horse-drawn carriage. Those children were playing snowball fights around the threshing ground.Today is New Year's Eve, the cleaning of each house has been completed long ago, and the preparations for the New Year's dishes are also complete. When I am free, I also gossip with the neighbors.

Mu Qingyan was sitting in the car, outsiders couldn't see him, but when he saw Gao Chun driving the car, he knew it was his family's car.

"It's the second kid of the Mu family."

"I don't dare to call you 'Second Boy'. He has the ability now, and all the gentlemen in the city call him 'Mr. Mu'. I heard from my child's father that the second child of the Mu family is famous now, and many people from other places come here." Invite him, please pay a lot of money, otherwise the Mu family can build such a magnificent mansion."

"No, the Mu family is really blessed. If they hadn't adopted him back then, they wouldn't have such a good life."

"This is the kindness of the Mu family, and now they have received a blessing! For those who are short of money to buy candy during the Chinese New Year, don't be so bitter. Besides, the second brother of the Mu family is capable, and they are also people from our village. Let's follow suit, right?"

Listening to the gossip all the way, I got home.

"Second brother is back!" Mu Xiu was the first to spot him.

As soon as Mu Xiu yelled, Mu Wen and Mu Wu ran out, moved the threshold of the gate, and restored the threshold when the carriage came in.The gate is ajar, the farmhouse is not like in the city, the gate is usually not closed when there are people at home.However, now that the Mu family's house is big, it gives people a different feeling. Except for those who are very close, no one will usually come to the door.

The yard was cleaned very clean, and all the snow was shoveled out.

"Second brother, come into the house quickly, there is a brazier in the house." Mu Wen greeted, and took off the baggage he put in the car. Inside were two changes of clothes and some trivial items.

Mu Lin and Mu Wan were all in the kitchen, but they didn't come out after saying hello.

Mu Qingyan turned around and saw that Mu Lin was killing a fish, and that fish weighed two or three catties.Li Qing'e was cutting bacon and preparing various dishes, while Mu Wan rolled up her sleeves and stirred the batter and meat stuffing. There was chopped lotus root next to it, ready to make lotus root clips.Even Mu Wen, Mu Wu, and Mu Xiu were not idle. There was a big wooden basin outside the kitchen, filled with warm water and filled with plates and chopsticks. The three young ones had been cleaned with plant ash.

Mu Qingyan was not a guest, so he rolled up his sleeves to help.

Mu Lin hurriedly stopped him: "Second brother, don't do anything, you'll be done."

Mu Qingyan ignored him and knelt down to help the three little ones wash the dishes.The Mu family didn’t have many bowls, chopsticks, and plates before, but these were added when the days got better. Usually, many of them were not used, and they were kept in ashes. When it comes to Chinese New Year, they have to entertain guests almost every day, and there are also many bowls and plates for their own meals, so It is convenient to clean these all up.

"How many days will the elder brother rest?"

Mu Lin laughed and said: "Seven days, every yamen is the same. Our family has no relatives, we just walk around in the village, so I took a vacation at 26, and went to the yamen on the third day of junior high school. The yamen is also free for Chinese New Year. , can go home."

While talking, Mu Lin finished handling the fish, and Li Qing'e took it.

Mu Lin washed his hands and greeted him to go to the main room together. Two aunts and sisters-in-law are enough in the kitchen.

After rinsing the bowls, chopsticks and plates for the last time, Mu Wenmu Wu cleaned up the rest, wiped his hands, and walked quickly into the main room.The hand stove I brought back earlier was placed on the table, and I felt warm in my hand.

"Is it cold? The tea is hot, drink some." Mu Lin said while moving the brazier closer.

"It doesn't matter, wear more." It was true that he was not cold, he took off his cloak when he came in, but his hands felt a little cold after touching the water.

Mu Lin saw that his face was still good, and he hadn't been sick for several months, so he was no longer worried all day like he was at first.After taking a sip of warm tea, Mu Lin chatted with him: "Last time I told you about the death of two vagrants, do you remember?"

Mu Qingyan nodded: "Have you found the murderer?"

"I found it. Guess what's going on, those two people are actually playing fairy dance, specifically to cheat people's money." Mu Lin shook his head: "There are three of them, except for the two who died, and a woman with them. They go all over the world, wander around, seduce some men by the beauty of women, if they are fascinated by women, they will set up a trick for men to cheat, and then extort money, if no one is fooled, women will be prostitutes, earn some money for them to eat .”

"So, this is revenge?"

"Yes. The woman pretended to be a woman from a good family and lured a man to come to the door. The other two pretended to be brothers and caught rape. If they didn't give money, they would be sent to the government. Ordinary men are either afraid of losing face, or they are afraid of seeing officials or being known by their families. In the end, I can only admit that it was bad luck. The man only had a broken piece of silver, which was less than half a tael. How could the three of them be willing? Instead, he lost his life."

"What about that woman?"

"I don't know, let's run away. The yamen has posted portraits, but it's useless. Those kind of people are used to wandering around, and they have their own ways."

Mu Qingyan investigated a lot of cases, and he knew very well that slipping through the net is sometimes unavoidable, especially in the current environment, so he just nodded.

On New Year's Eve, the Mu family's dinner table is rich in dishes, including fish, meat, chicken, and sheep. Vegetables include potatoes, cabbage and pumpkins in the cellar, homemade soybean sprouts, and garlic sprouts grown by the stove.Fried sausage with garlic sprouts.This year, the Mu family welcomed a newcomer, and life was booming again. Everyone was very happy for such a New Year's Eve dinner.

Mu Lin opened the wine, and everyone poured a glass except the youngest Mu Xiu.

Mu Wen and Mu Wu lit the firecrackers, and the village burst into cheers, and the New Year's Eve dinner began.

Mu Qingyan thought of Wen Jixue who was alone at the ferry, and faint thoughts spread in his heart.

You can't sleep late on the first day of the new year, post couplets, go out to pay New Year's greetings, and greet visitors.Especially when the Mu family had a bride, Mu Lin led Li Qing'e around the village, and the Mu family also had many children, Mu Qingyan and Mu Wan entertained them together.Suddenly remembered something, gave Gao Chun a command, and called Mu Wen, Mu Wu, and Mu Xiu to him.

"Second brother?"

"It's Chinese New Year, I'll give you lucky money." Mu Qingyan took the box from Gao Chun, grabbed a few silver coins from inside, and gave two to each of them.

Mu Wan was startled when she saw it: "Second brother, this, this is too..."

No matter how delicate and beautiful things are, they are also real money!

"The ones given by others are all for New Year's Day rewards. The eldest sister will take two to play with, and I will give two to my sister-in-law later." What Mu Qingyan gave her was a golden scorpion.

Mu Wan looked at the beautiful golden scorpion in her hand, and felt that it was as hot as fire.

He looked at Mu Qingyan, thought for a while, and had to say: "Let's forget about Chinese New Year now, let's not take it as an example." After that, he told the three younger ones, that Mu Wen and Mu Wu don't have to worry too much, only Mu embroidery is smaller, and they have never taken it so precious. I have to keep things for her.

Mu Wan suddenly sighed sadly: "The second younger brother gave me the New Year's money instead, and the eldest brother knows that he is going to laugh at me."

In fact, Mu Wan was worried about how to "return the gift", she couldn't bring out any valuables, and he didn't lack clothes, shoes and socks.Ever since Mu Qingyan became independent, she has been receiving benefits and feels guilty.

Mu Qingyan could naturally see what she was thinking. Although Mu Wan acted neatly, she was actually very thoughtful.This is also because the parents of Mu's family died early, so they have to worry about inside and outside of running the family, and they have to calculate oil and salt, and they can't live without meticulousness.She had always been the one who took care of her younger siblings, but suddenly she was taken care of in reverse, and she couldn't feel it for a while.

In the afternoon of the third day, Mu Qingyan was going back to the ferry.

Both Li Qing'e and Mu Wan tried to persuade him to stay: "It's a big Chinese New Year, it's so lively at home, not to mention it's only the third year of junior high school, and the shop is not doing business."

"Someone in the city treats them to New Year's wine." Mu Qingyan found an excuse.This is not a complete lie, for example, the Ge family and the Zheng family have posted a post years ago, and they have already set a time to eat New Year's wine.Naturally, he also had to return the table. Fortunately, the two of them knew each other, so it was fine to invite them together.

Everyone knows that he has a relationship now, and since he said that, don't stop him at home.

Mu Qingyan told Mu Wen and Mu Wu to go to the ferry after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Back to the ferry, at dusk.

The two lanterns in front of the Qinghe Inn have been lit, and the bright red couplets add a bit of color to the bleak and cold winter day.After sending Gao Chun and Gao Dong home, Mu Qingyan went straight into the inn with the hand stove in his hand, the shopkeeper was not surprised to see him, he hurriedly asked the staff to prepare hot water for tea, and led him to the backyard.

Wen Jixue was not afraid of the cold and opened the window, flipping through the book in her hand in boredom.

"I'm back." When Wen Jixue saw the person entering the courtyard, a small smile appeared on her calm face, warm and moving.

"What's there to eat tonight?" Mu Qingyan didn't seem to notice the flash of loneliness on his body, and only asked homely questions.

"What do you want to eat? The kitchen is well prepared with ingredients, so it's convenient to eat whatever you want." Wen Jixue threw away the book, opened the door, and dragged the person in.

Because the windows were always open in the room, even if the brazier was lit, it didn't get much heat, but for Mu Qingyan who came in from the outside, the temperature was still different.

"Let's eat hot pot..." Before you finished speaking, the ending was swallowed by the other party.

We haven't seen each other in just three or four days, and we are missing each other.