Rebirth Farmhouse

Chapter 52

Xiuyao hurriedly stepped forward to thank Gu Ning. This person had clear features and eyes, and he was not a country child at first glance. What he said to Zhou Xiaoli that day was also full of momentum. Mature.

And Zhou Xiaoli asked if it was the Gu family from Jinan Mansion, she murmured in her heart, don't be a child of a big family, but be careful, don't offend the big man and cause trouble.Some people in the rich second generation in ancient times didn't like to be ostentatious, and they liked to wear micro clothes or something when they went out.

Xiuyao thanked him for his siege and rescue that day, Gu Ning smiled and looked at her slightly, "It's a little effort, don't need to mention it again." He asked about the sweet potato again.

Xiuyao said: "I got it by accident. Someone got a basket. When I saw it, I exchanged some for some cakes. I will try to plant them when I come back."

Hearing her tone, Gu Ning didn't want to talk about it in detail, so he didn't ask any more, just said: "I have seen this thing before, it is said that it is grown a lot in Fujian, and some people brought it to Jiangsu and Zhejiang, but the people there hate it as a pariah For food, they don’t even care about livestock. So no one goes further north, and I didn’t expect to see it here.”

Liu Hongmu over there suddenly felt uncomfortable when he heard that, leaning on the handle of a shovel, he shouted: "How come our family grows it to be eaten by the untouchables, and what my fourth grandfather grows is the best."

Gu Ning listened to his words a little bit deliberately, and said with a smile: "I mean the land of Jiangsu and Zhejiang."

Liu Hongmu poked his neck, "I don't care about ginger and garlic. He is bullying people by saying that. Why do we eat like pariahs?"

Gu Ning didn't want to argue with him, so she didn't say anything, Xiuyao hurriedly said: "Brother Hongmu, I don't mean that. The land of Jiangsu and Zhejiang is rich, people don't care about this, no one is willing to plant it. The people over there said that the locals, Not about us."

Seeing what Xiuyao said, Liu Hongmu scratched his head, and hehe said: "Okay, it doesn't mean we can do it." Pooh, the little boy talks in many ways, and reading is amazing. People who read are full of flowers, the most unacceptable pay.

Xiuyao also got a few pieces of information from Gu Ning's words, one is that sweet potatoes have become popular in Fujian, but they haven't spread.But it was cut off when it was spread to the land of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and people there were unwilling to plant it.Probably because the land of Jiangsu and Zhejiang is rich, rice and wheat are harvested twice a year, the harvest is very good and there is no shortage of food and clothing, so they don't eat coarse grains such as sweet potatoes.The second is that this Gu Ning seems to have an unusual identity. Knowing these things and having been to the south of the Yangtze River is definitely not something that ordinary people can do.

She asked, "Is there anything else in Jiangnan besides rice and wheat?"

Gu Ning saw that she was curious, so he smiled and said: "Of course there are more, besides rice and wheat, there are also beans, tobacco, etc., and others are similar to us." After a pause, he continued: "However, this year there is another Some people are planting wild wheat, but not many, and farmers in Jiangsu and Zhejiang don’t like it either.”

Xiuyao's heart thumped violently, her blood poured out of excitement and her little face flushed red, Fanmai, Fanmai, isn't that just corn?

There is corn, where is it?There are also Fujian, Jiangsu and Zhejiang?
Since it is also called Fujian, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, is the geographical location also there?

However, I can't go by myself, what should I do, how can I get some corn seeds?
Gu Ning saw that her face was flushed, and her big black eyes were flickering at him, and she couldn't help but feel amused. Liu Hongmu curled her lips over there, with a little white face, she just looked better. If there is anything to look at, buy a New Year picture. It doesn't matter if you don't see it.

Qin Yang was playing with wild flowers, and when he looked up and saw Xiuyao's blushing face, he shouted in fright, "Grandpa, my sister is sick, and her face is red."

When he shouted like this, Xiuyao suddenly came back to her senses, and then saw Gu Ning looking at herself with a half-smile, and now her face was completely red. Although she was thin, her skin was still fair. Red to the ears.

This is a stinky lamb, what nonsense are you talking about, when did you blush, let others see what it is called, such a little girl blush when she sees a good-looking brother, bah bah bah, it's so disgusting!

Gu Ning said with a smile: "It's a bit late to plant the sweet potatoes in this solar term, but it's still there. Remember to dig after the frost. It can't be too early, otherwise the fruit will be smaller."

As he said that, he took two steps forward as if he was going to find the old man, then turned around and said, "By the way, this sweet potato can be used to irrigate the cracks in the ground with manure in midsummer and early autumn. To a certain extent, remember to pick the heart and turn the vines.”

He made a gesture, Xiuyao looked half a meter away, he smiled at her again, then took his leave and left.After he passed, the old man in the silk shirt immediately bid farewell to Old Liu, and accompanied Gu Ning to leave with a few people.

Xiuyao didn't expect that a person like him could know how to grow sweet potatoes?It's really a rare thing, and besides, this sweet potato is not popular, how did he know?Xiuyao asked: "Grandpa, who are they?"

Old Liu said: "That's Ren Lizheng, who came to inspect the embankment." Xiuyao hummed, stood on the ground and looked over, and she saw them go down again, pointing along the embankment, then It is clear that Ren Li is accompanying Gu Ning to watch.

He is so young, he looks like he is only thirteen or fourteen years old at most, how can he do this?
Liu Hongmu worked very quickly, the hole was almost dug, he said to Old Liu, "Grandpa, I don't think that little boy is a good person."

Old Liutou reprimanded: "Don't talk nonsense, he is a scholar, a scholar."

"Ah?" Liu Hongmu's mouth grew wide in shock, enough to stuff several eggs, "Master Xiucai? How is it possible?"

You must know that the local people respect and even awe the squires, especially those squires who have passed the imperial examination.Although a scholar cannot be an official yet, his lintel is already three inches higher than that of ordinary people, and most of the corvee and miscellaneous taxes are exempted. This is a great honor, and even Li Zheng's family cannot have such a big preferential treatment.

No wonder Fourth Grandpa was so respectful to that kid just now, he turned out to be a scholar.

Although Xiuyao knows some knowledge about imperial examinations, she just didn't live here since she was a child, so she doesn't have such a deep feeling for scholars in her heart. In her perception, she thinks that those who are young and middle-aged scholars may be similar to their modern college entrance examination champions. Bar.

Everyone will be envious and admired, but not so in awe.

Lao Liutou dug a pit that was one foot square and half a foot deep, and repaired the walls of the pit to be smooth, and then waited for the time to pull all the manure over and retting it, adding grass and trees to it on weekdays. Leaves and plant ash or something.

After it was repaired, the sun was almost setting, and the night came lightly, with a kind of hazy greenness.The surface of the river is covered with a layer of veil-like water vapor, and the willows swaying gently in the water vapor are poetic and picturesque.

Xiuyao stood on the edge of the ground and looked at it from a distance. It would be great if it was always like this at Grandpa's house in such a busy and happy day.I only hope that I can create a family business with my own hands, live a prosperous life, and be safe and happy.

Qin Yang stood beside her, narrowed his eyes slightly, and put on a pretentious posture: "Ah, it's so beautiful, my beautiful homeland!"

Xiuyao chuckled and slapped him, "Little brat."

Qin Yang said with a smile: "Sister, I thought you were happy here, and I'm here to be happy too."

Liu Hongmu also came over, he was carrying a hoe, his honey-colored face reflected the sunset, and he smiled innocently, "Let's go, let's eat some money."

As soon as Qin Yang heard this, he immediately rushed over to urge him to hurry up, Xiuyao went to the back and walked with her grandfather, Lao Liutou was pushing the cart, smiling, with a contented and kind face, "Girl, let's save some money , come here to build a mill.”

On the second day, Lao Liutou led Xiuyao and Qin Yang to work as usual.In the evening, the three of them walked home in the afterglow of the setting sun. Grandpa said that he would cut some roast meat for them to improve, so he turned a corner and walked the other way.He just stayed without any money, and asked his grandson to send it over another day. Everyone in the neighborhood knows the basics and knows that he is not a cheating person, so it is natural.

On the way back, Xiuyao passed by an ancestral hall, and heard children reading books inside, and the sound of the books was very pleasant.She couldn't help but yearn for it, and involuntarily stood still and looked inside.

Old Liu said: "That's the private school of Ren Lizheng's family. Children in the village go to his house if they want to study."

After Xiuyao listened to a few words, those children were actually reading Analects?So, there is also Confucius here?She scratched her head, it was really hard to explain such a mysterious thing, and she didn't know what kind of historical river she was in.

"Girl, studying is for rich people, it has nothing to do with us." Seeing her interested look, Lao Liu was quite helpless, not to mention her mother disagreed, even he would not agree.

She has nothing to eat, and he can give it to her, but studying is not that simple. Besides, a girl should learn more from female celebrities.

Xiuyao smiled and was fair to everyone: "Grandpa, it's good to study, let Xiao Zhengzheng study." She looked at Qin Yang and said, "Grandpa, please persuade my parents and my grandparents to read." Mama, let the little sheep study too, if we don’t study, our family will always be common people.”

Old Liutou was very surprised, what was going on in this little girl's head?She can even think of such things as reading?

Xiuyao bit her lip and said firmly: "Grandpa, I went to the opera with my brothers and sisters. In the opera, it is said that there is a golden house in the book, and it is also said that the learned arts and martial arts are sold to the emperor's family. Only by studying can you get ahead and honor your ancestors. Look at those scholars, even if they are scholars, we all respect them like immortals. If we, Xiao Zheng and Xiao Yanger, also study, we will be selected as scholars in the future, wouldn't it be a good thing?"

Old Liu was taken aback by what she said. He had never heard of the golden house in the book, but he had a deep understanding of the scholar. He was both envious and respectful of the scholar on weekdays. If you see it from afar on the road, you should hurry to salute.Don't talk about scholars, even Tongsheng, even a scholar who didn't win anything, is very respected.

What if you have a talent in your own family?
Old Liutou didn't think about it at all, and he still wanted to raise people?I dare not even think about it.

He frowned, bit his lip, raised his beard, and murmured: "Let me think about it, let me think about it." That's not bad, but he still fantasizes about studying and standing shoulder to shoulder with those country gentry and elders. This is not as simple as eating dumplings and roasting pork.

It's a question of wanting to squeeze into the upper class, will he be ridiculed by those gentlemen, and ridiculed by the neighbors and call him wishful thinking?

He had to go home and settle things with his wife, old brothers, and son.

Seeing her grandpa like that, Xiuyao knew that he was tempted, so she stopped pressing her, and said with a smile, "Grandpa, even if you don't win the prize, you can read and write. In the future, our family's mill will grow bigger, and our business will also grow bigger and bigger. If we open other shops, there must be someone who can keep accounts and deal with the government, right?"

This—Old Liutou really didn't think about it, such a long-term thing, and—it's okay to be so good, he didn't think about it, he was used to how much rice he had to cook, and he never overspend.

Because I was thinking about things, I was silent on the way back, and when I got home, I was waiting for them to eat.

Lao Liutou was also very silent during the meal, Mrs. Li glanced at him, and the uncles also looked at each other, not knowing what was going on, and the normally cheerful father suddenly fell silent, with a serious expression on his face.

Liu Xu winked at Xiuyao, and silently asked her what was going on, but Xiuyao just laughed.

Seeing this, Qin Yang giggled, "I know, my sister told me to go to school with Xiao Zhengzheng, and my grandpa would look like a donkey." He pulled his cheeks and laughed loudly.

Lao Liu's face was a little long, and when he was serious, his face would be longer, but when he was always laughing happily, it didn't look so long.Now that Qin Yang said it, Xiuyao realized that it was true, and couldn't help but also laughed.

Mrs. Li also pursed her lips in joy, Liu Xu couldn't help it even more, the uncle coughed twice, everyone shut their mouths and didn't dare to laugh anymore, the uncle said: "Father, I don't think reading is very reliable, Not to mention Shu Xiu's problem, no one in our family has ever gone to study, it would be a joke if they went suddenly."

The second uncle and others also echoed.

Although scholars are respected by others, they are scholars from others. If people like them go to school for generations, it will only make people say that they are delusional. They are not respected but ridiculed. .

Originally, Old Liutou still had this concern and couldn't make up his mind, but now when the eldest son said it, he became hardened, and he said: "I think reading is a good thing, it's not as blind as we are. The child reads the book, Even if you don't take the exam, it will be of great use." At that moment, he decided to let Xiaozheng go to school when he was older.

The uncle hurriedly said: "Father, he is only so young, and it is too early to study, let Xiaofei go, he is just at the age to study."

Liu Fei hurriedly said: "Master, I don't want to go, I want to grind at home."

The uncle reprimanded: "You only talk about worthless things, your grandfather said that studying is good, why don't you go."

Liu Fei lowered his head and said nothing, but he was still unconvinced, and turned his eyes to look at his parents, wanting to ask for help.

She was happy to allow Yao to let her son study, but she was afraid that her son was not that kind of material, so she hesitated and said: "Father, brother, Xiaofei is stupid, I'm afraid it won't work."

After making up his mind, Old Liu was not so entangled. He took a sip of the wine slowly and said, "We don't expect him to be the number one scholar. It's just that he doesn't know how to read a few words so he can't open his eyes. There is no one in the family who can read. Yes, you have to hire people for everything, and there are always mistakes in keeping accounts."

As he said that, he handed the wine cup to Liu Fei, "Boy, you are also an adult, do you dare to study?"

Liu Fei hesitated, Xiuyao hurriedly seduced him and said, "Third brother, if you go to study, you can earn cheap money. You see, if you go to study, you will pay a share of the study money, but you will come home and take your money." If we teach our brothers and sisters what we have learned, we can make a lot of money."

After what he said, everyone felt that it was a good deal.

Qin Yang giggled and said, "Brother doesn't dare to go, I'll go!" He put his hips on his hips, puffed his cheeks, as if he was about to fight.

Everyone laughed, Liu Fei blushed, his elder brother Liu Sheng reprimanded: "What are you doing so useless, you are usually very arrogant, why don't you dare."

Liu Fei muttered, "Then why don't you go?"

Liu Sheng slapped him, "You kid, what nonsense, if I was 12 years old, I would have gone."

Liu Fei snorted, "You're not 12 years old, anyway, just talk."

Liu Sheng picked him up again, Liu Fei didn't dodge and let him pick him up, Mrs. Chen hurriedly said: "I think what Dad said is right, our family must have a student, the business of this mill is getting better and better, it has been changed to a stone mill. In the future, there will be no need for so many people, and it’s just a matter of time to spare people to study.”

Liu Fei still wanted to argue, but Old Liu turned his face down, "Aren't you so cheeky? You asked Grandpa to toast you?" He never lost his temper, and he was always smiling, but it doesn't mean he won't , when he gets angry, his face is really long and smelly.

Liu Fei was so frightened that he quickly took it with both hands, and drank the wine dry with a tilt of his neck. He drank it quickly and quickly, and because he didn't know how to drink, he coughed and his face turned purple.

Mrs. Yao hurriedly stepped forward to give him a thump, but Old Liu made a final decision, "That's it, you go to study and come back to teach others."

Liu Fei felt as if he was being put on shackles, not to mention how uncomfortable it was.

Yao shi comforted him and said, "It will take some time to study, now it's summer time, and the students are all going home to work, so you don't have to hurry."

Just as Liu Fei breathed a sigh of relief, the old Liu said again, "Other people are busy at home, and you just go to study, so that the husband will have the energy to teach you, and learn everything you didn't know before. Besides, when others go home, they are busy in the summer. Children don’t need it, you just follow along.”

Liu Fei disagreed and had no right to speak, so he had to accept it aggrievedly.

Liu Shengxun said to him: "You don't need to work to study, and you can still wear decent clothes. Others don't want to go there, but you are still very wronged, as if you are going to be punished."

Liu Fei stopped talking, Liu Qi smiled and said: "Don't scare him, Xiao Fei, read well, our family depends on you. Look at the mahogany in the third grandfather's house, there is no chance to study."

Liu Fei didn't believe it. Liu Hongmu said every day that people who read books are all fools, and that they don't want to read because they have too many fools in reading. My elder brother is lying, thinking that he doesn't know.

Having decided Liu Fei's fate, the old Liu Tou seemed very happy and relaxed, and said to Li Shi: "Old lady, you can give me some money tomorrow, and I will personally take Xiao Fei to apprenticeship."

Mrs. Li basically listened to the old man on major matters, and readily agreed.

(End of this chapter)