pastoral fragrance

Chapter 45
After the beginning of winter, the sky is getting colder and colder.The wind was cool, as if it could pass through the flesh and seep a bit of cold air into the bones.After the weather got colder, the children didn't go to the woods often.Only occasionally when the weather is good, I go to dig some herbs and come back.

After entering winter, the wild vegetables in the fields and forests also disappeared, only Houttuynia cordata was still standing upright, nodding slightly in the cold wind.The vegetables in every meal at home are just like this Houttuynia cordata, and the Qiulin that I eat has long been tasteless.It's a pity that the family doesn't have half a field, so they can't grow vegetables and eggplants.

No, where can farmers get rid of these things?Qiulin thought about the fact that there was still an open space in his backyard.That was the foundation laid by others before, and then it was abandoned, with some weeds and thorns growing.If it is reclaimed, it will finally be able to grow some vegetables or something.It's not even possible to go to the market to buy these things.

Even though Qiulin was thinking this way, she didn't have the courage to pick up a hoe to plan it because of the cold wind blowing outside the house.Thinking about waiting for the weather to get better before starting work.

Although the south is not as cold as the north, the north is cold but not damp.And the southern wind carries a dampness, which is so cold that people feel that the dampness can penetrate the flesh and seep into the bones.Being born in the south is different from the north, there is no kang for heating, only a large family gathers around the stove to warm up.

Qiulin was afraid of the cold, and everyone in the family would accommodate her, so the stove was lit within a few days after the beginning of winter.In the cold weather, Qiulin didn't go out too much, so he just stayed at home and warmed himself by the fire.

Qiuhe was not afraid of the cold, and went out fishing with the wild children in the village all day long.Occasionally, I can catch a few fish and come back.

Once the weather cools down, there seems to be a lot less work at home.Taking advantage of this winter, Mrs. Han taught her eldest sister how to do embroidery.After the year has passed, the eldest sister will be 14 years old, and it is time to think about her husband's family.If the daughter's family can't do embroidery or something, she will be disgusted by her husband's family.

And A-Lin is still young now, Han was afraid that the little girl would poke her flesh, so she didn't teach her.

Qiuyue is naturally quick-tempered, and this embroidery talk is all about slow work and careful work, so she can't sit still.This is also the reason why Qiuyue still hasn't learned how to embroider at such a young age.

"Mom, we have to learn this. When I pick up this thing, my heart feels as uncomfortable as a cat's scratching." Qiuyue frowned in pain, and her heart was burning hot.

When doing embroidery, I always sit there motionless, sometimes for half a day.Keeping her in the same movement for half a day is really no different from killing her.Qiuyue was extremely aggrieved.

Han said angrily: "Nonsense, my daughter's family has to learn this thing. Ah Yue, you are so quick-tempered, frizzy and hot-tempered, you should also use this thing to hone your temperament."

Qiulin was holding tea and drinking at the side. Hearing what Han said, she couldn't help but raise her head. She didn't expect her mother to know such an advanced education model.

Qiuyue frowned, she really couldn't arouse any interest in this thing.And her temper has been like this since she was a child, and she has grown up so much, can she change it?Moreover, she didn't think there was anything wrong with her temper.

"You're not too young now, you'll be fourteen after the turn of the year. At this age, it's time to get engaged. You have to do the wedding dress, dragon and phoenix quilt by yourself. If the stitches are crooked, why not?" Wearing it out to meet people? If you’re not ashamed, I’ll be ashamed for you!”

Qiuyue's face turned red instantly when Han Shi said it, fighting against the burning fire.Qiuyue shrugged and lowered her head, her voice was more than half lower than before, "Mother, you're so nice, what are you doing with these things? I want to stay by my parents' side for the rest of my life, don't you want to marry or not..."

"It's human nature to marry a male college and marry a female college student. How can you stay with your parents for the rest of your life, you silly child? When you become an old girl, you can't get married, so you don't have to worry about me. Mother?" Han said seriously.Although she also wanted her eldest daughter to stay at home for a few more years, she couldn't accompany her children for a lifetime after all.If you don't find a good husband's family while you are young, it will be difficult to let people go when you are old.

Qiuyue blushed and lowered her head and stopped talking.

This is a heavy topic. As soon as Han shi said this, the room fell silent, and the eldest sister stopped making noise.Only the sound of Qiulin drinking tea and the sound of the wind outside the door were left.

"Xiaofang, are you at home?" After a while, only a woman's voice was heard from outside the house.

Xiaofang is Han's boudoir name, Han raised her head inexplicably, was a little stunned, then put down the embroidery pattern in her hand, and went to open the door.

As soon as the door was opened, a gust of cold wind came into the room, and Han Shi suddenly shivered all over.Squinting and looking out.I saw a tidy woman standing in front of my yard.About the same age as her, she was wearing a pink padded jacket, a felt hat made of rabbit fur on her head, and a snow-white rabbit fur scarf around her neck. Only her eyes were exposed.For a while, Han still couldn't recognize this person, "Where did this big girl come from, but she just called me outside the house?"

Mrs. Qi smiled but didn't speak, and squeezed into the room.It was freezing cold, but it froze her to death.

"Hey, you're freezing right now, come here to warm yourself up and get rid of the cold." Seeing that this man is well armed, he doesn't look like a bad guy, so he doesn't feel so wary.He quickly turned around and went to the stove to bring a bowl of hot tea.

"Big sister, don't you know me?" Qi Shi loosened the rabbit fur scarf, revealing a fair-skinned, well-maintained face.Looking at the face, it's about thirty or forty years old.

Qiu He called out first, "It's Aunt Qi, hehe, it's freezing cold, why did you come to our house?"

When Qiuhe called, everyone in the room was startled.Qiuyue Qiusong stared carefully at the middle-aged woman in front of her. Isn't this the kind aunt she met on the way to the market?

The most surprising thing was Mrs. Han, she stared wide-eyed at the bright-eyed woman in front of her, and her heart seemed to have overturned the five-flavor bottle and became mixed.She never expected that this woman was the Qi family who played well back then! "It turned out to be sister of the Qi family. How are you doing now? Why do you have time to come to me today?" Counting the years, the two of them hadn't seen each other for more than ten years.

Thinking of all the things in the past, Han burst into tears first.

Isn't Qi's just like her, I didn't expect someone who hadn't seen each other for many years, but once they met, the relationship was exactly the same as before, without any change.The two finally hugged each other and cried bitterly.

After a while, the two of them stopped.Qiuyue wrung out the face-washing veil and walked up to Mrs. Qi, "Auntie, you are so dusty, wash your face first."

Mrs. Qi turned her face sideways and looked at Qiuyue carefully. In the past few months after parting, she seemed to have grown better. Her originally dark face has now become rosy, white and shiny, and her face is also plump compared to that meeting. .Full of joy, Qi took the handkerchief and wiped away the remaining tears on her face.Then he said: "Big sister, you children are really sensible, and people are envious. Especially these two girls, they all said that their daughters are the caring cotton jackets of their parents. This is really true. "

Han Shi nodded with a smile. Her greatest pride now is these children. "Hey, it's all because I'm useless, otherwise I wouldn't have suffered a few children." Han's heart felt sour, and she almost burst into tears again.Ah Yue, the eldest in the family, is only 13 years old now, but now he has become the pillar of the family.The work outside the house is basically done by her and A Song.But they are still half-old children, every time they see their busy figures, Han's heart feels sour.

There was sympathy in Qi's eyes, "I've also heard about your family's affairs. At first, I thought you would suffer in front of those sisters-in-law. But I never thought that these people are really nothing. Originally Born from the same root, why rush each other? It's thanks to them that they can do this kind of trouble!"

Han remained silent and didn't say anything more.

Mrs. Qi hated iron for nothing, and was anxious for her, "Where in the world are there such relatives, big sister, don't be stupid again in the future! They don't have your family in their hearts, otherwise they will ignore you." Are you still robbing your family's land?"

"Sister Qi's family, I understand all these now. I am more concerned about those people now, I just want to draw a clear line with them, so that the well water does not interfere with the river water." Han stared at Qi for a while, and said slowly .

Those relatives on the side of the head of the family, she can see through their faces.It is purely that he wants his family to use them as free labor, and then kick them away after using them, regardless of life or death.If she takes a step back, others will advance a foot.After so many things, she will not be stupid again.

Mrs. Qi was slightly stunned, took a breath and said, "If you want to think so, it's okay. Anyway, the past is in the past and will not change. The most important thing is the future." Seeing Mrs. Han figured it out, Mrs. Qi was very relieved.

The Qi family hadn't visited for more than ten years, and Qiulin's family had always been hospitable.Han took half a penny from the cabinet and gave it to Qiuyue, "Your aunt Qi came to our house after a lot of trouble, you and Si'er go to the butcher's to cut some meat, and then go to the grocery store to buy some mushrooms and so on. The dry goods come back." Then he ordered Qiu Song to kill a rooster to make soup for drinking.

Mrs. Qi waved her hands again and again, "How did this happen? I'm not picky, so I can just make do with it. How could it take so much trouble?" And with their family's current situation, how could Mrs. Qi let Mrs. Han What about spending money?

"Sister Qi, it's hard for you to come here. We haven't seen each other for more than ten years. How can we be careless? These are nothing, and they won't cost much money. You can rest assured." Han naturally knows Qi's I wanted to help her save money, but these sisters who haven't seen each other for more than ten years, how can they be perfunctory?
Seeing her insistence, Mrs. Qi didn't say anything, just took out a piece of broken silver from the purse at her waist, "In that case, let me pay for the money, your family is having a hard time, how can I Is it embarrassing to let you pay for it?"

Mrs. Han fought against Mrs. Qi, and Qiulin looked at Mrs. Qi and Mrs. Han for a while, and she was a little confused.

"It's okay, our family still has a few taels of silver every month. These things don't cost a few taels of silver, so you don't have to worry about it. It's better to take back the money." Han said Qi's The hand pushed back.

Mrs. Qi was dubious when he heard this, and he received a few taels of silver every month. How could there be such a good thing in the world?After Qiuyue led Qiulin out, Mrs. Han pulled Mrs. Qi to sit down, and told Mrs. Qi what had happened in the past few days.Mrs. Qi couldn't get enough of what she heard, she didn't expect Qiu Lin to have so many ideas, she is really convincing at such a young age!
(End of this chapter)