A small soldier of the frontier army in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 38 Private Farms
Everyone entered the hall, and several red fires were burning in the hall, and a wave of warmth greeted them.

Among the several fires, two of them were set on an iron frame, one was boiling hot wine, and the other was burning a tea pot. Mrs. Zhong went to the kitchen with a smile, and made some delicious food for everyone.Xie Xiuniang looked in front of the tea pot, poured a cup of hot tea for everyone, and went out to clear the snow and refill the water.

When pouring tea, Han Chao and the others stood up and said, "How dare you work on your little lady."

Zhong Tiaoyang also stood up and said, "I'm sorry for my cousin's wife."

Zhong Zheng sat still with an old-fashioned look. He looked at Xie Xiuniang's figure and smiled: "This girl is also smart, but she is a little thinner."

Then he said to Wang Dou: "Nephew, your status is different now, you should consider taking on a concubine and passing on to your heirs."

Wang Dou said lightly: "Let's talk about this in the future."

Xie Xiuniang's figure paused, and after hearing Wang Dou's words, she lifted the warm curtain and went out.

Wang Dou asked Zhong Zhengxian again: "Uncle came to Baoan Prefecture this time, why?"

Zhong Zhengxian sighed. It turns out that the Zhong family now has a large population and few fields. In addition, the fields are dry, and life is becoming more and more difficult. Hearing that his sister's place is developing well, his nephew has also raised the general flag and built a fort. With his son wanting to seek refuge.

Zhong Zhengxian said: "Your uncle is nothing. He has also learned calligraphy for a few years. My nephew can find a clerk for me to write and do calculations! It's your cousin who needs to trouble my nephew."

Zhong Tiaoyang stood up and bowed to Wang Dou, then sat down silently.

But Wang Dou knew that this cousin was just like himself. He practiced martial arts and calligraphy since he was a child.

He stood up, smiled at Zhong Tiaoyang, and said, "I know that my cousin has learned good fists and kicks since he was a child. Are you interested in playing two tricks?"

Zhong Tiaoyang's eyes lit up, and he said, "Okay, I'll ask my cousin to give me some pointers!"

When the two came to the courtyard, several people from Han and Chao rushed out to watch the excitement.

Zhong Tiaoyang put on a fist, and said steadily: "Cousin, please!"

His hands are covered with calluses, and it looks like he has practiced for many years.Then look at his right foot stepping forward, his eyes are level, and his two fists are ready to strike. They are the orthodox Taizu Changquan.

Wang Dou said: "Cousin, please!"

Without saying much, he made a fist gesture and rushed out with all his strength, attacking Zhong Tiaoyang's face.

The fist was struck, and there was a sound of "Wow!"

Zhong Tiaoyang had a solemn expression on his face. He pressed down his whole body and blocked with his left arm. The two fists and arms intersected, making a huge sound of flesh and blood.

Zhong Tiaoyang pressed his body into a lunge suddenly, and at the same time he stretched out his right hand, and kicked each other in a series of kicks.

In the blink of an eye, the two hit each other several times, hard against hard, making a crackling sound.

Both of them are attacking fiercely, Wang Dou's fists go straight in and out, wide open, it is the "Pi Hang Fist" in the army, and it has always been famous for its fierceness.

Zhong Tiaoyang's boxing skills are also bold and powerful, while his routines are rigorous and his movements are stretched. The two fought each other many times, but they still couldn't decide the outcome.

After all, it was not a life-and-death battle, the two fought for a while, and then separated at the same time.

Wang Dou laughed loudly and said, "My cousin is really good at it, I admire him."

I felt Zhong Tiaoyang's boxing technique was powerful, with long strikes and short strikes, strong explosive power, very powerful in melee combat, but well-regulated, lacking the fierce and murderous aura of the army.

Zhong Tiaoyang showed a smile on his face, clasped his fists and said, "It's my cousin who gave up."

Zhong Zhengxian was already on the sidelines, grinning from ear to ear, he walked up and said: "You two brothers, don't give in to each other."

He looked forward to Wang Dou and said: "Nephew, can your cousin's skills help you? Not only is he good at fists and feet, but he is also very good at spears and sticks. He also has archery skills. He is far and near among us." Famous hunter."

Wang Dou smiled and said, "Uncle, you're being polite. I can't wait for a talent like my cousin. It just so happens that I'm short of a team leader. Let him go."

Zhong Zhengxian was immediately overjoyed, and the Han and Chao people beside him also admired it. It is indeed not easy for Zhong Tiaoyang to persist for so long under Wang Dou's fierce offensive.

Zhong Tiaoyang also thanked him, and at this moment he heard Zhong's voice: "Ah, why did you two brothers fight when they saw each other? Hurry up and have dinner."

……

There is a large table in the hall, with a charcoal fire in the center and a pot of boiling mutton soup on it.There are several dishes on the side, including fish and eggs.In addition, there is a large bowl of white flour steamed buns next to it, and a large bowl of ramen noodles.There are also cloud cakes, red dates, chestnuts, miscellaneous sugar and other snack foods.Hot wine was scalding on the fire not far from the table.

Seeing such a sumptuous meal, Zhong Zhengxian's mouth watered.

Everyone sat down, and when they sat down, Wang Dou suddenly remembered something: "By the way, mother, Xiuniang, when I went to Zhoucheng to buy new year's goods that day, I bought some gifts for you."

Han Chao brought a package to Wang Dou, Wang Dou opened it, and inside were some brocade clothes, jewelry, rouge and pollen for women, etc.

Wang Dou took out an emerald green silk slanted jacket, a brocade wool cap, a silver hairpin, some pollen, and a pair of crested shoes with gold flowers on the shoe, and gave them to Xie Xiuniang.I took a white silk bijia, a red back, and a few hairpins to my mother.

Both Xie Xiuniang and Zhong Shi were surprised and delighted, Xie Xiuniang took it shyly, and said happily: "Thank you brother."

Zhong looked left and right with the bijia and the hairpin, and said: "You child, you have a heart. I didn't expect that my mother is getting old, but you can dress so nicely."

Then she complained happily: "It must be expensive to buy these things?"

Wang Dou smiled and said, "It's not expensive, I just bought it when I saw something good."

In fact, Wang Dou didn't buy these things, he ordered Qi Tianliang and his wife Tao Shi to go to Zhoucheng to buy new year's goods that day, so they bought them by the way.As a woman, Dow naturally knew what women liked, and her sharp eyesight allowed her to see the size of Xie Xiuniang's shoes.

Sure enough, both of them were very happy.

It took Zhong a long time to put the things away carefully, and she greeted everyone: "Let's eat, everyone eat while it's hot."

Zhong Zhengxian had been watching enthusiastically from the sidelines, and at this time he also said: "Yes, eat, everyone, hurry up and eat while it's hot."

Both of his father and son were voracious, especially Zhong Zhengxian, who was eating white flour steamed buns with great gulps, while constantly scooping up meat from the pot.

It's rare, it's rare that it tastes so good. For a long time, the Zhong family has been eating black flour steamed buns and black flour baked pancakes. The white flour steamed buns, white noodles, and these meats seem to have a long history.Even this New Year's Eve, it's not easy at home, Zhong Zhengxian thought to himself: "It's better to live here with Fourth Sister. Fortunately, I came here, and I will stay here forever."

Han Zhong and Gao Shiyin also drank wine and ate meat in big gulps, and they were not polite at all.These two people have already regarded Wang's family as their own.

The swishing sound outside, the snow had stopped before Wang Dou and others entered the villa, and now it started to fall again.

In the end, it got bigger and bigger, like a flurry of pear blossoms.

Looking at the heavy snow outside, everyone is eating hot food and wine on the roof, but they are happy and happy.

……

"Mother, you work hard every day, do you want my child to buy some servants and maids to serve you?"

During the meal, Wang Dou talked about it.

Zhong Zhengxian was full of approval. He was about to speak, but Zhong quickly dissuaded him: "No, don't talk about the money, your mother can't afford to work all her life, and she will be sick all over when she is free."

Wang Dou nodded. He knew that a person who was used to being busy would be at a loss if he asked her to rest, and would easily cause problems all over her body.Anyway, the heavy work at home is supported by myself, and the mother and young wife are unlikely to be too tired in the future, so let's forget it for the time being.

Then he talked about another matter.

"What, Dou'er, are you planning to buy land?"

Hearing what Wang Dou said, Zhong was very surprised, Xie Xiuniang and the others also looked at Wang Dou.

"Yes, mother." Wang Dou nodded, "I'm going to buy some land to build a farm, so that I can support my mother in the future. Don't worry about money."

It was Wang Dou's idea to establish his own private farmland. Several people in Han and North Korea agreed and were willing to join. The establishment of Tunbao was actually an official business on the surface. The result is unknown, and the private farmland was completely controlled by Wang Dou himself. Moreover, it is easy to acquire and merge land, which is another way to develop strength.

Wang Dou needs to prepare with both hands.In addition, Wang Dou also had another idea. The military households settled in the fortress, and each person was assigned a certain amount of land, and finally collected rent and food.As for this kind of private farmland, he plans to use hired labor to cultivate it, similar to the farms and villas of later generations. Wang Dou wants to see which of these two methods is more superior.

Along the west bank of Dongfang River to Xinzhuang area, the land there belongs to the official land of the people, some of which are cultivated fields, and some of them are wasteland.With the current land price in Baoanzhou, an acre of good land is about 12 taels of silver, and no one is willing to sell it. The wasteland is much cheaper, and an acre of land is only a few taels of silver.

Wang Dou first planned to buy some wasteland, even if he didn't plan to cultivate it for the time being, putting it there would be a nail for the future.

After hearing Wang Dou's plan, Zhong sighed: "You child, now I don't understand what to do for mother, but mother always supports you."

At the same time, she is also happy. When the Wang family was prosperous, there were more than 100 acres of fertile land, and only 20 acres of Susukida were left in the backward family. Now that her son is promising, she knows that she will buy land and build farmland. She is also gratified to have such a son .

Zhong Zhengxian has been listening, his eyes are shining.

……

Two days later is New Year's Eve, Tian Wangdou had a happy New Year, and the seven years of Chongzhen finally passed.

Within a few days of the first month, Wang Dou was busy with New Year greetings again, especially Xu Zhongjun and Zhang Guina, he sent rich gifts.

On the fifth day of the first lunar month in the eighth year of Chongzhen, Wang Dou approached Jiang An, the head of the village, to discuss the purchase of land.

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Old White Bull: There is another chapter tonight, and it will be released before twelve o'clock.

(End of this chapter)