Eighth year of Chongzhen

Chapter 212 Trivia
"My son, where did such precious things come from? We are a good family for generations, so we dare not rob other people's things!"

Old man Zhao doubted the origin of these jewelry.Although he has never seen the world, but the exquisite pattern on the bracelet and the delicate shape of the gold hairpin, one can tell at a glance that it is not something ordinary people can have.His son has been in the army for many years, and the reputation of the Ming army is not very good.

When Zhao Wu came to his lips, the words were changed into other words: "Father, how could the child do such dirty things! This was rewarded by the superior after the war when I beheaded a big bandit leader when we were fighting intruders in Shouzhou. !"

If it is said that it was seized from a thief, old man Zhao will definitely know that it was obtained by murder and looting by bandits, and he would not let his family wear such an object stained with other people's blood.

After Zhao Xiaomei and sister-in-law took the jewelry, they held it in their hands and looked at it carefully under the dim light, feeling extremely happy in their hearts.

"Second brother, you have sold your life for the imperial court for eight years. Although you have been paid, you should pay back your love for these eight years. This time, let's stay at home and don't fight anymore! Parents are both old and young. We are growing up, so many years we have been terrified every day, lest you might make a mistake, God has eyes, second brother, you have come back alive! If you die outside like Zhao Song, then how can you call us father and mother? good?"

Zhao Song also joined the Tianxiong Army with Zhao Wu and the others. He was killed in the Battle of Shouzhou, and his ashes were sent home by the government.

"Brother, I won't tell you this truth, as long as I tell you a rule of the military camp, you will know: those who fail to return without reason, beheaded!"

Zhao Wu knew that if he told his family what the commander-in-chief said, they would not understand at all, and they would not know what it means to serve the country and the people and serve the grace of God.

The vast majority of the farmers in the village lived in this corner for generations. A trip to the county town is considered to have seen the world, which can't catch up with the scenes he has experienced in the past eight years and the broadening of his horizons.

Hearing his younger brother's word chopping, Zhao Wen was too frightened to speak out, and the old man Zhao also let go of the idea of ​​letting his son stay at home.

While talking, Zhao's mother came in from the house with a plate of fried chicken, and then deliberately put this plate of meat dishes on Zhao Wu's side: "My son, eat it while it's hot! Your father and your elder brother are already half full. You ate all the chicken pieces!"

Zhao Wu agreed with a smile, and Zhao Xiaomei handed the jewelry to the sister-in-law, turned around and ran out of the house; "I'm going to get the chopsticks for the second brother!"

Mrs. Zhao Wen handed the table and gold hair pins to Zhao's mother: "Mother, the second uncle just took it out and said it was for each of our three mothers! I thought I'd better give it to mother, and give it to whoever she wants. !"

Although some words are insincere, Zhao Lishi still understands the rules of the family.

Zhao's mother saw such a valuable thing, so she opened her mouth to ask suspiciously. The old man Zhao said impatiently: "This is a reward from Shangguan Xiaowu! It's very expensive! Let the three of you share it! This golden hairpin is given to you!" Xiao Hua, tell her to put it away and make it a dowry when she gets married!"

Zhao Xiaomei rushed into the house in a gust of wind, listened to her father's words, handed a pair of chopsticks to Zhao Wu's hands, snatched the gold hairpin with joy on her face, and ran into the back room, Zhao Wu and Zhao Wen laughed.

Zhao's mother smiled and shook her head: "Nizi, you can hide such valuables well, and never show them to others!"

"Mom! I know!"

Miss Zhao thought to herself: Third Sister Zhao's father bought her a copper hairpin from the county seat, and she played with it in front of me for several days, so I will bring the gold hairpin to her tomorrow!This is Nobile!My second brother got meritorious service by killing a thief!There are many pieces of that copper hairpin that can be exchanged for her!
Zhao Wu picked up a chopstick of chicken, caught a glimpse of a pair of nephews and nieces staring at the meat dish in his hand, and then smiled: "Tie Dan, you two take this plate of chicken to the back room to eat, the second uncle is in the military camp every day. I’m already tired of eating big fish and big meat!”

Seeing that his family was about to say something, Zhao Wu chewed on the bread, and then checked it out in the huge rucksack: "Look at my memory! I also brought some military rations back, but I forgot to take them out! It is said that it is Long Live The Lord personally decreed to release something made of silver!"

The family's attention was distracted by his words, Tie Dan finally couldn't resist the temptation of delicious food, picked up the fried chicken and ran into the back room with his sister.

When the family tasted the new military rations made by the Ministry of War, and the dried meat and milk that Sihai Trading Company brought back from outside the Great Wall, they all took small sips and praised: "Xiao Wu! Is this what you eat in the military camp? It's really good." Eat! This must have added a lot of oil, salt and sugar? The emperor is really rich! I heard that the emperor used gold hoes to farm the land!"

Zhao Wu didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Father, Lord Long Live is busy with state affairs every day, how can he have time to farm? Don't listen to other people's nonsense!"

"Ah? I also thought that the emperor's family has too much land, and he is busy farming every day!"

"By the way, father, when I came back, I saw that the wheat in the field was growing strong! The harvest should not be bad in the past few years, right?"

"Hey! I don't know why this government official showed kindness. In the ninth year of Chongzhen, he sent people to drill several large wells in the fields of our village and the neighboring villages of Fushui and Zhangzhuang! We have installed waterwheels and repaired canals. Although it has not rained or snowed for a long time, the well is full of water! Our ten acres of land have been fully watered. Do you think the harvest will be good? Our family last year Apart from paying the land tax, there are twelve stones left over from Xiaqiu Liang! This year looks like another bumper year!"

Mentioning the food at home, Old Man Zhao smiled wryly.There is more food in the family, so I dare to eat thick noodle pancakes. In the past, the two meals a day were thin, and the busy farming was hard to make one thin.

"Father, I heard from the Commander-in-Chief that there is a severe drought in several provinces, and the Lord Long Live has issued an order to exempt the affected counties from three years of money and grain; Yes, or else I have never seen the government treat the people so kindly before!"

"My son, don't talk nonsense! How can the grand lord of the official government be a fool like us! Hurry up and eat, Daddy still has something to ask you!"

Hearing that his son's tone was disrespectful to the government, the old man Zhao was so frightened that he quickly changed the conversation.

Zhao Wu burped after eating five noodles.

In the past eight years in the military camp, in the first few years, I ate the steamed and dried rice issued by the Ministry of War. When eating, I needed to soak it in water and eat it with pickles. There is no day, so I can only fight and march hungry.

In the past few years, the imperial court's rations have begun to be supplied in a timely manner, and the new military rations taste good and can last for a long time, but they have long been tired of eating every day.

The steamed cakes at home are still delicious, with the taste of grain.

"Xiao Wu, come home now, father is going to tell you about your marriage. She is the second daughter of Zhao Fu's family in Dongtou. She is twenty-eight years old and has a strong body; father also overheard while listening to people chatting. This little girl runs the house. Good hands, many people are thinking about it! It happens that you have returned home, and you will stay at home for a long time to hear your voice. Then father finds an auspicious day, buys gifts and goes to the house of Wang Matchmaker in the village, and troubles her to come to ask someone for a As long as the horoscope matches, you are ready to get engaged and get married!"

"Father, let's talk about this later, I'm tired, go to bed first!"

Zhao Wu didn't think about getting married.

One is that he doesn't want to harm someone else's daughter, and he has to go to battle himself. There is no eye for swords and guns on the battlefield, and he might die in battle one day. Doesn't he have to make him a widow for the rest of his life?
The second is that he has been in the army for many years. The governor once said that if he wants to have a good future in the army, he must not only be brave in battle, but also be able to read, write and have a strategy.Therefore, in his spare time, he also learned a lot of words from the clerical experience in the army. He thought that he would have to become a guerrilla general in this life, then his parents would become masters and wives, and he could give the Zhao family Guangyao The lintel is over, it would be great to find a well-educated and reasonable lady to marry.

"You son, how disobedient! Daddy doesn't care if you agree or not, I will go to Wang Matchmaker's house tomorrow!"

The old man Zhao said angrily.

In desperation, Zhao Wu could only speak clearly: "Father, eldest brother is married and has a son, and the incense of our Zhao family cannot be broken. My son wants to gain a future in the army, and in the future let others call you and mother." Master and Madam! If the child becomes a general, he will marry a famous lady in the future! Think about it, how glorious is that? It’s better than just getting married now, right?”

These remarks made old man Zhao completely dispel the idea of ​​letting his son get married. Thinking of his son becoming a general in the future, old man Zhao seemed to suddenly become ten years younger: "Xiao Wu, you are also an official now, go to the government frequently Inquire, as long as the imperial court has a letter, hurry back to the camp! Your eldest brother will be at home!"

　In order to thank the book friend Xinghui: Spirited Away for the generous reward, a new chapter is added.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)