happy event

Chapter 70
The more Dong Rong looked at it, the happier she was, and racked her brains to give it a new name, Guoguo, which means there will always be fruit to eat.This is indeed the best name for a hedgehog that eats fruit.

The young couple were having fun talking and joking around Guoguo, and Dong Ping came back in the night that had just fallen.Dong Rong immediately threw Guoguo over and asked her younger brother. Dong Ping didn't want to disturb her sister's interest, so she said that Niu was going to hold a banquet to receive gifts, but he turned him down, and didn't mention anything else.

Dong Rong guessed that Mrs. Niu only had money in mind and nothing serious would happen, so she put the trouble behind her head, turned her head and called Shazhu to help find a wicker basket, and gave it to Guoguo shop happily Nested.

Silly Zhu and Dong Ping stood together, looking at the woman who was busy like a little girl, they laughed at the same time, their hearts were full of warmth.If she can be so happy and carefree forever, no matter how much effort they have to make...

Just after dinner the next morning, Guanshi Zhang hired a carriage to pick up Dong Ping.Dong Rong helped her younger brother sort out his luggage again, making sure that he had brought all the commonly used cold medicine pills and sore medicine, and then pinched the silver leaf sewn into the corner of his jacket before sending him out.On the contrary, those few boxes of precious fruits were simply thrown to Guanshi Zhang and the matter was over. Guanshi Zhang was so panicked that he held the box tightly, fearing that it would fall and damage the treasures inside.

Seeing this, Dong Ping felt extremely sour, and persuaded in a low voice, "Sister, don't worry about me, I will go back early."

Dong Rong sighed, hugged her younger brother vigorously, and said, "Sister won't say anything unnecessary. You just need to remember that you are the only family member of your elder sister in this world. No matter what happens, your life should come first. Do you understand?"

Dong Ping nodded heavily, and finally waved goodbye to his sister and jumped into the carriage. Xizi hurriedly followed with her luggage.

Steward Zhang carefully placed the wooden box in a solid mahogany box, and when he saw this, he walked over and said with a smile, "Don't worry, my master, I will take good care of the second young master."

Dong Rong saluted deeply, and said seriously, "Please take care of me along the way."

"Don't dare, my boss is too small." Steward Zhang hurriedly stepped aside, and finally nodded at Shazhu vaguely, then jumped on the shaft and told the driver to go on the road.

Seeing the carriage kicking away, Dong Rong hugged Shazhu's arm and complained for the first time, "Zhuzi, it would be nice if you were just like ordinary people. Then I don't have to be trapped in this small county town, and I can go out and see Look at the world. Even if I encounter danger, I will just hide behind you. Of course, Brother Ping doesn’t have to go on a long journey at such a young age..."

Murong Huaide's complexion darkened, and the regret in his eyes became more intense. When he was about to respond, Dong Rong sighed and said, "Forget it, I am too greedy. If you are an ordinary man, how could you let me show my face like this?" Do business, be the master of the family, and say what you say. Maybe I can't stand the control, but I will leave you first. So, there is no perfect thing in the world. "

Murong Huaide choked back all the words he was about to say, which almost hurt him internally, and finally shook his head with a helpless wry smile.Why every time he wanted to tell the truth, she always gave him a reason to shut up?
"Okay, okay. Sister-in-law Liu said this morning that we haven't finished harvesting the corn, and we can't get involved in the work on the left and right mountains. Why don't you go home and help in the afternoon." Dong Rong regretted that she shouldn't have poked him when she saw Shazhu's appearance. When he was sad, he hurriedly changed the topic, "There is still a piece of meat in the stove, and some steamed buns with thin noodles. Take them with you later, so that your mother won't scold us for free food."

After discussing with each other, the young couple went to change into coarse cloth and old clothes, packed up delicious food and put them in the basket, and then went down the mountain one after the other.

Zhao Qingshan was instructing a few handymen to brush the trunks of fruit trees with brooms dipped in lime water. When Dong Rong came down, he took a wooden bucket and asked her to check it.Dong Rong stirred the lime water and saw that it was neither thick nor thin, and pig blood, loess, coarse salt and other ingredients were mixed just right, so she praised it a few words.Zhao Qingshan grinned happily, and loudly yelled at the handymen to continue "beautifying" the fruit trees.

Dong Rong and Sha Zhu left the orchard and ran all the way to the Cao family's five acres of dry land in the west of the village.Originally, it was the busiest time for every household, and they wished that there was no time for a meal, but at this time, the villagers gathered in twos and threes to gossip, and their expressions were a little bit bad.Some of them greeted Dong Rong and Sha Zhu walking by, but their eyes were full of envy.

Dong Rong was puzzled, and when she finally met a little daughter-in-law whom she was familiar with, she asked in a low voice, "Sister-in-law Xiulan, what's the matter with everyone? You should be happy about the big corn harvest, why are you so sad?"

The little daughter-in-law named Xiulan also didn't have a smile on her face, and sighed, "You probably haven't heard of it on the mountain, just now the county sent an official, saying that the south is out of production and wants to transfer the grain from our side Disaster relief, so the food tax has increased by another [-]%."

"Another [-]% increase? That adds up to [-]%. It's really too high. I'm afraid everyone will be hungry." Dong Rong also frowned. Originally, she was just guessing, but she didn't expect it to be a prophecy.

Xiulan's sister-in-law nodded, and took a last glance at Dong Rong, half complaining and half jealous, and replied, "Isn't it? If I knew this earlier, it would be good to turn over two more wastelands and plant a few more rows of sweet potatoes. It's a pity that no one reminded me." ..."

Dong Rong guessed that perhaps Sister-in-law Liu and the others had made preparations after listening to her words. At this time, she inevitably expressed her gratitude, which aroused the jealousy of other villagers, and finally inevitably blamed her.

"Sister-in-law, don't be dissatisfied. You didn't go outside the city to have a look. Those refugees are almost eating tree bark and grass roots. It's extremely pitiful. At least we still have rations for the winter. I went to the city before and saw that the situation was not good, so I talked too much." But I don’t dare to say it everywhere, in case everyone panics, it would be strange if the government didn’t charge me with spreading rumours first and throw me into prison.”

"It's the same thing." Xiulan's sister-in-law nodded, and finally said, "It will be fine until spring, and eating wild vegetables can also fill your stomach."

Dong Rong smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, don't be so pitiful. My orchard has a few acres of sweet potatoes. Whenever the family doesn't have enough food, just go to me. You can't let the children go hungry together."

"Oh, thank you so much, big sister." Sister-in-law Xiulan completely let go of the little awkwardness in her heart, and kept holding Dong Rong's hand to thank her.

Dong Rong chatted with her a few more times, and rushed to Cao's dry field with Zhuzi.Mrs. Cao's stingy temper, now that she knows the news of the tax increase, she may not know how to cry.

Sure enough, before the two of them reached the end of the field, they heard her cry from a distance, "Oh, it's really impossible to live. There is not much ration left at the end of the year, and the government has to go to more than half of it. It is to starve to death!"

Second Sister Cao persuaded the old lady while crying with her mother, "Mother, don't cry. There is always a way, none of us will let you suffer when we are hungry..."

Sister Cao was half leaning on the corn stalks, without any worry on her face.Although her family only has two acres of land, Chen Laoer's absence saves a lot of food, which is enough for her and the children to eat.Even if it is not enough, you can still go to my mother's house to eat.She doesn't believe it, are her parents willing to kick her out?
Old man Cao's subordinates were busy tying the corn stalks, they didn't comfort the old woman or sigh, but their faces were not very good either.No matter whether the farmers are rich or poor, they always hope that when autumn comes, the warehouse will be full of grain.Now suddenly more than half of it is missing, and no one can be happy.

Granny Cao was crying and crying and suddenly saw her son and daughter-in-law walking in from the ground, she turned her eyes and raised her voice three minutes, "Oh, people can still count on their son, but when we are old, our son is still seduced by his wife Now, what is there to look forward to in life?"

As expected, old man Cao and second sister Cao have lived under the same roof with Mrs. Cao for many years, and they are too familiar with her temperament.Hearing this, he quickly turned his head and looked around, and soon saw Dong Rong and his wife coming from afar.

The two men looked at each other, and Second Sister Cao quickly went up to meet her. She stretched out her hand to hold her sister-in-law and said in a low voice, "Sister-in-law, mother is a little angry today...don't take it personally."

Dong Rong smiled and patted the sensible sister-in-law, and replied, "Don't worry, my sister-in-law knows it well."

The two of them came to Mrs. Cao while they were talking, and old man Cao also came over and said, "Aren't you busy on the mountain?"

Dong Rong and Sha Zhu saluted first, and then said, "Father, the work on the mountain is almost done, Zhu Zi and I are here to help the family."

Old man Cao's expression softened again, and he said with a smile, "You don't have to worry about your family..."

"Don't worry about anything, the family is going to starve to death, and they are still living a happy life on the mountain." Granny Cao interrupted loudly, afraid that Dong Rong would not know, and shouted, "The government has increased the food tax, and the rations at home must not be enough. Already, what do you say?"

Old man Cao glanced at Silly Zhu, hesitated for a while, but still didn't speak up to stop the old woman from making noise.Dong Rong just heard the news and thought of a countermeasure. She had promised to share [-]% of the income from the orchard to the Cao family. Firstly, it was considered as pension money for the elderly from their husband and wife, and secondly, she could move out of Cao's house with peace of mind. Live an unrestricted life at home.Now that this happened, I just pushed the boat and settled the money.

"Father and mother, don't worry. Although there is not much food left, but Zhuzi and I don't eat at home, we will always save a few loads of corn than in previous years. In addition, I have planted a few acres of sweet potatoes in my orchard. When the land is plowed Send a few more baskets home."

Old Man Cao and Second Sister Cao breathed a sigh of relief when they heard this, and said with a smile, "Fortunately, you have some preparations, otherwise you will really starve."

But Mrs. Cao refused to give up, and shouted, "How can you just fill your stomach? Winter will be over soon. If you don't sew cotton clothes and prepare oil and salt? There is no surplus food for copper, what do you use to live?"

Dong Rong frowned, and slowly said as if it was extremely difficult, "Father, you must have heard that my orchard has not sold a penny of fruit this year, and I am really not generous. How about ... How about this, I will bring back five taels of silver first, which can be regarded as the [-]% of the income distributed to the family this year."

(End of this chapter)