Chronicle of Farming in Muxianfu

Chapter 39 Household
Xia Zhi straightened the quilt, and instead of going out from the small hall on the left, she opened the wooden door without taking the trouble, and entered the washroom by detour.Mu Ai saw that she was pushing and pulling the wooden door with curiosity like a child who got a new toy, and the corners of her mouth could not help but curl up slightly.

This house was designed by her alone, especially the four rooms in this small courtyard, she is the most meticulous.Facing the main entrance of the house is a small hall, where tables, chairs, low couches and other things are placed, reserved for entertaining guests or taking a break on weekdays.On the right side of the small hall is a study room, in which there are some tables, chairs, antique racks and the like. Calligraphy and paintings are also hung on the walls according to the occasion, and the decoration is elegant and elegant.On the left side of the small hall is her bedroom. Two sliding doors are designed in the middle of the bedroom, which can be connected to the washroom inside and become a large living room.There is also a small door in the bathroom. Once the sliding door is closed, the two rooms become a separate space.Moreover, floor heating is installed under each room, so it is very comfortable to live in winter.This is a very common decoration method in modern times, and it can even be said to be simple, but here, everyone who sees it is surprised and loves it.

Xia Zhi collected the towels and water basin, came out of the small door of the bathroom, and poured water into the ditch at the corner of the courtyard. Watching the still warm water flow into the ditch outside the wall along the fine copper mesh, he knew that the water would flow smoothly. The canal went around to the dark ditch in front of the door, and finally the dirty water from every household in the village was slowly collected and flowed into the lower reaches of the mountain stream.There are also the main room, the east courtyard, and the wing room in the madam’s bathroom. There is also a trench like this. Every night after the madam takes a shower, as soon as the cork is pulled out, the water will flow out along the sink in the bathroom. A few of them lifted and fell, which is convenient and labor-saving.I heard that the drainage and geothermal kang were researched by Madam and a master architect in the city. Every time she came out to pour water, she couldn't help admiring Madam's extraordinary wisdom, and she was even more fortunate to be able to follow her. Serve by your side.

Qiufen is staring at the fragrant rice porridge in the casserole while stirring it in a daze. Although she has been in the small kitchen for more than a month, she is still curious about these strange ingredients.It turned out that when Guan Shi didn't return to Xiao's residence, she also asked a few words, and he solemnly told her that the fragrant rice cost ten taels of silver a catty.She was so frightened that it would take a rich family to afford it.The four sisters, sometimes unable to sleep at night, hid in the room and secretly talked about it. They all thought that Madam was definitely not an ordinary person. Let’s not talk about how she earned such a large family business as a widow. Uncle Xiao is also one of the best businessmen in the city. He usually calls Madam and Sister, but every time he talks to Madam, he is not respectful.At last night's banquet, the village head and the clan elders were full of praise for his wife.Aunt Guo from the outer courtyard also said that when Madam went to buy them from Ren Yazi, she only picked the old, weak, sick and disabled poor people to buy them. Uncle Xiao persuaded them anyway, so she bought Ah Da and the other five strong laborers. Ah Da also offended his wife at that time, but his wife didn't even punish him at all, she was as kind as a bodhisattva.Wen Bo is so old, no one is willing to buy it, but Madam bought him back, saying that it is to guard the gate and pass the news, but in fact it is for him to take care of the elderly. I really have a big job to do, but I eat and drink, and I grow stronger and stronger...

"Autumn Equinox, are you ready?" Xia Zhi's words awakened Qiu Equinox, she looked at the porridge under her hand, it was sticky and soft, just right.He hurriedly took the thick cloth and took the casserole off the stove, turned around and asked with a smile, "Madam, are you awake?"

"I woke up. I was pestered by so many women for a long time last night. I was so exhausted that I didn't sleep much. And you, didn't sleep well? What were you doing just now? Wait a little longer, and the porridge will be boiled dry Already." Xia Zhi asked while helping to put the side dishes on the tray nimbly.

The vernal equinox, autumnal equinox, summer solstice and winter solstice, these four are the maidservants sent by Xiao Heng to Mu Ai. At the beginning, Mu Ai didn't bother to come up with any meaningful names, thinking of being in a farm house, she simply named them after the solar terms.After all, the four of them have undergone professional training, and they are very prudent and measured in their actions and speech.Among them, Chun Equinox can read a lot of words. According to her, her father worked for a school in the city to repair the house two years ago, and she secretly followed her for a few days when she went to deliver meals every day.Mu Ai likes that she is conscientious and eager to learn, and often teaches her while reading and writing. As a result, in the past more than a month, the spring equinox has recognized all the words in the Enlightenment Three Character Classic, and started to learn simple arithmetic again.

The daily life is well managed by the four maids, and Mu Ai is finally freed from the busy chores, and can have more time to practice spiritual power.Modern people have the habit of paying attention to privacy and liking independent space, and Muai is no exception. They are always not used to being surrounded by too many people, so they did not arrange the spring equinox and the others to live in their own courtyard, but divided them in the west wing. Two rooms come out.There are four big girls in spring, summer, autumn and winter, and three rough girls in one room.The beds of the autumn equinox and the summer solstice are next to each other, and they often have a few crazy fights with each other at night, and they talk freely without any taboos.

Qiufen smiled slightly, with a hint of emotion in his tone, "I didn't think about it, I just suddenly remembered, if we hadn't been bought back, what should we be doing now? The more I think about it, the more scared I become."

Xia Zhi also stopped her hands and sighed, "Who is not afraid? I go to bed every night and pray to the gods. I pray that this is a beautiful dream. I also hope that I will never wake up. We can follow Madam. It is a blessing. Not to mention eating enough every day, the wife is kind, and she never said anything serious about us, but she used to be at Mrs. Wu's place, she was not a serious master, and she beat her a few times from time to time. Now thinking about it, it hurts so much Panic. If my mother has a spirit in the sky and knows that I am enjoying such a blessing now, she will be very happy!"

The autumn equinox was also sore in her heart when she said it, but she slowly smiled very gently on her face, and her parents who had been kind to others all their lives must be very happy.

Xia Zhi was helping her find the celadon bowl and ebony chopsticks that Madam used to put on the tray. Seeing her smile, she asked, "Why were you in a daze just now, and now you're laughing again?"

Qiufen took another tray and filled it with vegetables and porridge as before, and glanced at her with a smile, "I just remembered that when we first met Madam, Madam was wearing men's clothes, and you secretly told me that looking at this young man She is very handsome, and it would be nice to be a concubine in the future."

Xia Zhi patted her angrily, "You know how to laugh at me, and you, don't you worry, we have been locked up in that small courtyard since the day we were bought, and taught so many rules, who knows what's going on? , I am afraid that I will be sold to that dirty place, isn't it much better to be a concubine than to be something like that."

Autumn Equinox also smiled, but there was a hint of bitterness in the smile.Both of them changed the topic tacitly and started talking about some happy things. When Dong Zhi came in to say hello, they each carried a tray into the small hall.

Mu Ai changed into a quilted dress with a water blue background and embroidered magpies climbing plum patterns. These are home-made clothes just made for her a few days before the winter solstice. They fit well and are comfortable.

"Has the food from the old lady been delivered? What's the food in the big kitchen today?" Mu Ai watched them set the meal, and rolled up her snow-white cuffs.

Autumn Equinox was stunned for a moment, why did Madam suddenly ask about the food in the big kitchen, and quickly replied, "Go back to Madam, the food in the west courtyard has just been served during the winter solstice. Breaded cereal porridge and pancakes."

Mu Ai took the chopsticks handed over by the spring equinox, and frowned slightly. It was too busy for a while, and Xiao Fu went back to Xiao's mansion. The things bought at home were consumed by yesterday's banquet, and they should be almost used up. I'm afraid the kitchen There is not much food.He bowed his head and took a sip of porridge, and said, "You all go down to eat, if there are any extra dishes in the kitchen, you can eat them too, and the housekeeper will come to the lobby with the account books in half an hour."

"Yes." The spring equinox brought the summer solstice and the autumn equinox, they bowed in agreement together, and quietly exited the room.

(End of this chapter)