The skilled widow is busy farming

Chapter 28 Selling Paintings
There is not much work in the fields these days. Everyone just needs to dry the millet. The second uncle is busy asking the tribesmen to dry the millet in batches. They must quickly dry the grain and put it into the granary. Otherwise, it will become damp and moldy if it rains. All the hard work was in vain. When the day came, the yamen policeman would pull the cart to collect the grain.

If the number is not enough, people will be recruited for military service. This is a fatal matter, and no one dares to neglect it.

The whole village, men, women, old and young, came together, almost in a row. The millet dryers were busy picking the fruits from the trees, while another wave of people began to wash, cut and pickle the fruits.

The Li family also wants to make pickled plum wine and grain wine.

There are things in the house, and there is a room dedicated to brewing and steaming wine. This craft supports the whole family and earns a reputation for studying. Grandpa has really worked hard in his life and devoted all his efforts, so that the two families of the Li family are prosperous today.

Xiuniang helped deal with Qingmei, and the sixth grandmother and other widowed mothers in the village came over to help the Li family, otherwise they would be too busy.

"Our village has had a bumper harvest this year, and we can have a good year. It's almost winter."

"It's still early in the winter for Mao. I have other plans to ask the boys to work for me. The wasteland in my house is still vacant. I have discussed it with my family and plan to find some people to open up the wasteland and grow vegetables. Let it use it first. .”

"If you don't work for nothing, you can get money."

"If you are from a village, what do you want to do? Just give me some food."

Grandma Six spoke very seriously.

"Grandma, I also want to bring everyone together to make money. I have other ideas later, but I have to do it step by step. Let's earn two pocket money from growing vegetables first."

"Yes, there are many boys in the village and they are all quick at work. You can take your pick."

Sister-in-law Baoshan next door also spoke.

After a busy day, everyone took the millet back when it got dark and hung it up in the morning. Otherwise, it would rain at any time. The consequences of laziness would be trouble if it rained in the middle of the night and there was no time to harvest.

After finishing the work, I went home. Grandma also prepared the meal at home, and everyone just took a bite.

Today, my grandma made pea jelly. The peas were ground into powder with a stone mill, and then mixed with water to mix evenly. It should be smooth and even when it is poured out with a spoon to form a batter into a column of water.

Then put the water in the pot and boil it. It doesn't matter if there is more or less water. Pour the batter in and start stirring it with a rolling pin. Otherwise, the bottom will be smeared. You have to keep stirring and can't stop. This is a hard job.

When the batter bubbles and collapses, it's ready.

Find a basin and grease it with some oil. Pour the cooked batter into the basin and put it into the well. After it cools, take it out and it will solidify into lumps. Use a scraper to scrape the jelly into thin strips and set aside.

Then prepare some of your favorite braised vegetables, heat the pan and grease it with oil, wash and cut the wild mushrooms you picked up first, wash and dice the vegetables from the garden, add a few plums and hawthorns, and add some water starch to make a paste , and then put some chili pepper and vinegar separately for whoever likes to eat them.

The sour braised vegetables are just out of the pot and poured over the jelly. It is sour and slightly spicy. It can be eaten in summer to relieve the heat and coolness. Paired with a few yeast white pancakes, both young and old will enjoy it happily.

"Mom, at the market tomorrow, Brother Mao and I will go sell paintings to Xiu Niang. Do you need to buy anything?"

"Buy some sugar and large grains of salt and I'll make the sauce."

"okay."

"I'll come back later tomorrow to take a look at the shops."

"Go ahead and be careful."

Grandpa warned.

"do not worry."

Most of the millet in the village has almost been dried and has been put into the granary. In a few days, people from the Yamen will come to haul the grain away. After doing this, I will feel at ease and be able to do my own thing.

His family's food and clan food have all been put into storage, and there are still some small jobs left that the clan elder and his children can do. He is going to the market tomorrow.

Li Mao got up before dawn the next day, and took his two sons with him to learn how to buy and sell with people, what is the value of doing business with them, and how to deal with Zhongren Dental Shop without being cheated. Take advantage.

"Brother Qun, come with me."

When Li Mao saw his brothers reading there, he asked him to study with him.

"Uncle, should I go too?"

"Aren't you talking about learning your skills? Let's go. Look at your eyebrows and your eyes. Uncle will take you to play."

"Mom." Brother Qun looked at Xiu Niang with a look of longing on his face.

"You can go if you want. Listen to your uncle. Talk less and look more. Don't run around. If you get into trouble, I'll come back and whip you."

"Ai."

The group of brothers happily went back to the house to change clothes.

Xiuniang took some coins and handed them to Brother Jing and Brother Rui.

"I'm going to buy some paper and ink sticks to use back. I don't have any at home. Buy whatever books you like."

"Second Aunt, we can't have it."

The family bought several cows, beef cattle, chickens, piglets, sheep and other things, as well as farm tools for the fields. The family's money has almost been spent, and now they have to use the second aunt's private money to study. They were really embarrassed.

"Take it, we are a family. Studying is important. You are so old and still practicing calligraphy with a sandbox is a waste of time. You are not Brother Chun."

Xiu Niang laughed. The two children were out of ink sticks. They couldn't bear to use up the last bit, so they dragged Brother Chun to practice calligraphy on the sand table. Brother Chun was tired of practicing and avoided his brothers.

"Take it, your second aunt has given everything for you, study hard."

Li Mao sighed and said.

"Hey! Thank you, second aunt."

A few men went to the market to sell paintings. Li Mao packed the paintings in boxes and sent them to the embroidery house. No one wanted them if they got dirty. He held them himself to prevent the children from moving, for fear that the children would be frizzy and fall to the ground.

This is the family's hope for the future. It took Xiu Niang nearly three months to finish it, and she had to do it well no matter what.

Li Mao drove the ox cart and went to the embroidery building with his second uncle and his children.

It happened that the shopkeeper was settling accounts.

"Shopkeeper, I'd like to say hello to you."

"Hey! Man, what do you want to buy? We have everything at our house and I'll give you a good price."

"You're welcome, I want to sell the painting, is that okay?"

"Okay, let me take a look."

The shopkeeper was very interested.

Li Mao opened the box, unfolded the contents and handed them to him.

The shopkeeper took a look, took a pair of white linen gloves from the cabinet, put them on, took the painting and looked at it carefully for a while.

"Excellent craftsmanship. Excellent person. Did your wife make it?"

"My old man made it. He has a lifetime of craftsmanship. Please give me an estimate."

The second uncle took over the conversation with a humble attitude and did not mention Xiu Niang. She was a widow and it was difficult to mention her frequently for fear of getting red eyes.

"Excellent craftsmanship, man, do you have a price in mind?"

"I saw the painting you hung. The last time I asked, it cost 200 taels. My mother's weaving is better than hers. Even a rough guy like me can tell that it's good. It's not even a little bit worse. It's 500 taels. If it's less, I won't sell it."

In fact, the second uncle didn't understand, but after Aunt Xu went back and learned a few words, he probably knew it in his mind. Xiu Niang said that he could ask for 500 taels, and the repayment price should be about the same. It can't be less than 300 taels, otherwise he would lose money.

"It's a lot, man, please give me some, I want it, I need a fine pair."

The shopkeeper could tell at a glance that it was knitted by experienced hands, and the craftsmanship was absolutely top-notch. It was definitely not worth 500 taels in the capital.

"If you think it's inappropriate, I'll go over to the other side and ask."

Uncle Li didn't give in and said he wanted it immediately. He must have taken a fancy to it.

(End of this chapter)