The peasant's daughter-in-law of crossing

Chapter 42

Yingniang carefully took the food out of the basket, and then handed the gourd filled with water to Bo Ming, "You're thirsty, drink up."

Bo Ming was indeed thirsty, so he took a few swigs from the gourd Gulu Gulu and gave it to Zhongping.

Yingniang uncovered the bowls holding the food one by one, and Bo Ming and Zhong Ping smelled a strong meat fragrance at the same time.

Zhong Ping smiled, he loves meat the most.As long as he has eaten meat, he can improve his work a little bit more.He took a closer look and found that it was still pork with pickled vegetables, "Sister-in-law, why did you come home so early today? You must have made this meat, right?"

"When I got home, Zhaodi had already made it. I taught her twice, and she learned it. Try it, what she makes now is even more delicious than mine."

Zhongping stretched out his chopsticks to pick up a few pieces and ate them, "Well, I didn't expect Zhaodi to be able to cook pickled meat with preserved vegetables so well. Recently, our family can eat meat every now and then, and she has also developed her skills."

Originally, meat was not very attractive to Birming, but recently the family has bought more meat, and Yingniang always cooks braised pork, braised pork with preserved vegetables, and sweet and sour pork ribs.This made Birming, who was not very interested in meat and had abstained from meat for ten years, inevitably fell in love with eating meat.

The two brothers ate with gusto, while Yingniang was talking about what happened when her mother and Zhuzi came to the house just now to ask for money.After hearing this, Bo Ming stopped and said, "You talk too much to your mother, but don't let others think that you are ungrateful and don't want your mother's family."

Yingniang shook her head and said she was fine, she didn't do anything wrong so she didn't care what others said.

Zhong Ping sat beside him and listened, eating Zhaodi's braised pork, and suddenly remembered Zhaodi's natal family.Zhaodi has a big belly, and her parents don't even know about it.Now that it's autumn, her natal family will still stay in the county to beg for food, maybe they have already returned to Qishan's hometown?Zhaodi is always hesitant to talk recently, could it be that she also wants to talk about her natal family?
Thinking of this, he couldn't help blaming himself for being too confused. He had been with Zhaodi for so long, and he had neglected her natal family.Although she was bought by the Xue family with money, she is now her own mother-in-law, and she was born by her parents anyway, so it is impossible for her to never see each other again in this lifetime.

Zhongping looked at Boming and hesitated for a moment, then said, "Brother, after the soybeans are harvested, I want to go to Qishan."

As soon as Zhongping's words came out, Yingniang and Boming were awakened.

Boming said guiltily: "I am so careless as the eldest brother, and even forgot such a thing, how wronged Zhaodi must be." In fact, the main reason is that Zhaodi never mentioned her natal family, her natal family It's far away, and there's been a lot of family affairs recently, Bo Ming and Ying Niang really didn't think about it.

Yingniang was even more blushing, Zhaodi didn't have much conflict with her natal family, she should be thinking about her natal family very much.Although her natal family sold her to the Xue family, it was also so that she could have enough to eat.Even if her natal family treats her badly, with her temperament, she probably doesn't care about it.

"Zhongping, it's all due to me and your brother being negligent, you must not be unhappy in your heart. When I go back, I will apologize to Zhao Di."

Zhong Ping smiled, "How can I blame you, even I almost forgot, I just wronged Zhaodi. Can I...bring some money? It's not much, just a few dozen coins That's enough money." Zhong Ping thought about how little money his sister-in-law gave to her natal family, so of course he couldn't give more to Zhaodi's natal family.

Yingniang hurriedly said: "This is naturally to be given. It is the first time you go to Yuezhang's house, and the return ceremony is also indispensable. Zhaodi is pregnant, so she can't walk so far with you. You go alone, Zhaodi will have to wait until the baby is born."

Zhong Ping nodded with a smile, feeling a burst of joy in his heart, he knew how happy she would be if he told Zhao Di about this.

The two brothers were eating, when their third uncle Xue Jiafeng passed by pushing a cart of corn cobs, "Bo Ming, Zhong Ping, your family eats meat as a meal these days!"

Bo Ming hurriedly greeted: "Third Uncle, come quickly and taste a few pieces."

Xue Jiafeng came over and sat on the ground stalk. After tasting a few pieces, he praised that this was the best meat he had eaten in so many years.However, he sat down because he had something important to say to the two brothers, not just to come and eat.

"Boming, sorghum will be harvested in a few days. The grain grown this year will be put into the warehouse. Your soybeans will have to be harvested in twenty days, right? We have started digging a large reservoir, and then digging a small river along the front of our Xuejia Village, all the way to Yang Town, both for drainage and to relieve drought. This matter was decided by the new magistrate, and the magistrate even came to see it in person. place."

"Really?" Bo Ming and Zhong Ping asked in surprise with one voice, and both were overjoyed.If there is a reservoir and a small river in front of the door, there will be no more worries about drought in the future. Usually, carrying water to irrigate the fields is the most tiring job.

Xue Jiafeng sighed straight away, "It sounds good, but each family gets two laborers! The magistrate guessed that the new official took office three times, and wanted to make some political achievements. Digging out such a large reservoir and several canals With the small river, the dozen or so towns nearby will no longer have to worry about water every year. I heard that a small river has to be dug into Qishan Mountain, Zhongping, and your husband’s family won’t have to go out to beg for food when the drought comes. "

Zhong Ping was overjoyed when he heard this, and then frowned again, "Each family gets two laborers, isn't that too much? We have to go after seven days, and our soybeans are still confiscated!"

Yingniang and Boming also lowered their heads and thought about this matter. It is a great thing to dig a reservoir to open a river, but the soybeans at home are more important.Bo Ming raised his head and asked sadly, "I don't know how long it will take? Can we dig before the Chinese New Year?"

Xue Jiafeng shook his head, "It's too bad, I'm afraid it may not be finished in the next spring. My family plans to let your third aunt and Fuzi go there. After I collect the corn and sorghum, I have to work in the mill to earn a little money. The whole family But you have to eat and dress!"

Bo Ming was quite surprised when he heard this, "The third aunt is a female labor force, and Fuzi is only 14 years old, is that okay?"

Xue Jiafeng raised his eyebrows and said: "Why not? Who is willing to use heavy labor to work for the public? Your family can just let Shuchang and Ji Wang go. They don't earn much food at the landlord's house, and the work they do is not light. Province."

After being reminded by the third uncle, Yingniang and Bo Ming looked at each other and thought it was okay.Boming asked again: "Third Uncle, in the past, when doing this kind of corvee, can we change people halfway? After the grain and soybeans are harvested, Zhongping and I will not be so busy. Can we replace Shuchang and Jiwang?"

"It should be possible. Six years ago, when the prison was built in the county, I saw many people replace it. Don't worry, digging a reservoir will not be as tiring as working in Landlord Ge. You can still talk while working, and there are more people. And there will be no one guarding behind his buttocks. If he is tired, he will sit down and rest. As long as he is not too lazy, no one will care. Anyway, there is no wages, just one lunch. The control is too tight, afraid that someone will ask for it. There's trouble."

Six years ago, both Bo Ming and Zhong Ping were still young, and Bo Ming was still in the temple, so naturally they didn't know much about it.Hearing what the third uncle said, they were relieved, as long as they went there without suffering, it seemed that their large population was also a good thing.

At this time, Boming suddenly thought of something again, "What about Liang Zi's house? The youngest is only seven years old, so he must not be able to go. They still have a lot of land in their house, and the second uncle can't spare time at Landlord Ge's house." .”

Xue Jiafeng sighed, "I guess we'll have to pay someone to go for them at that time."

Zhongping was stunned, "Is it still possible?"

"As long as you are willing to spend money, what can you do? Don't worry about his family, your second uncle will find a solution." After Xue Jiafeng finished speaking, seeing that it was already dark, he hurriedly pushed the cart away.

At this time, Bo Ming and Zhong Ping had also finished their meal. Bo Ming put the bowls and chopsticks into the basket, and urged Ying Niang, "It's getting dark, you should go back quickly, go to bed early in the evening, and don't do your hair. Also, Discuss with Shuchang and Jiwang to see if they are willing to go, and make it clear to them that Zhongping and I will often replace them after the soybeans are collected. They have never worked in corvee, so don’t scare them.”

After Yingniang returned home, Shuchang, Jiwang and Zhaodi sat at the table and waited for her. They were afraid that the dishes would be cold, so they kept the dishes away.Yingniang washed her hands and quickly sat down, "Why don't you guys know how to eat early, why are you waiting for me?"

Ji Wang immediately replied: "The second sister-in-law made us wait. In the past... when the parents were still there, the whole family had to wait."

"Father and mother will naturally have to wait, and I don't need you to wait. Zhaodi, our family is not allowed to make so many troublesome rules. The whole family should get along with each other freely. I'm not a father and mother, what's the matter?" It’s been a long time, I won’t allow this in the future, remember?”

Zhaodi, Shuchang and Jiwang all nodded with smiles.Ying Niang uncovered the bowl and brought them food, "Hurry up and eat, you must be starving."

The two brothers were indeed hungry, so they ate quickly, not to mention the pickled pork with pickled vegetables, they ate with great vigor.While eating, Yingniang told them about the corvee and asked them if they would like to go.

Unexpectedly, the two brothers were very happy when they heard it.Ji Wang beamed and said: "Sister-in-law, my third brother and I can hardly continue working in Ge Landlord recently. Since the fight with those four people, they have often made trouble for the two of us and played tricks at every turn. The third brother and I have been scolded by the housekeeper several times. If the second uncle was not there, he would have already broken his head. And during this period of time, not only those four people, but also many other people said that our family is so rich now. Why do you do this job? Anyway, they are ridiculed, jealous, and against us everywhere. The third brother and I are not feeling well these days."

After hearing this, Yingniang felt sore again, "Why didn't you tell me and your elder brother, if you knew this, you would have told you not to go, and you suffered all this for nothing."

Seeing that his sister-in-law felt sorry for them, Ji Wang immediately said: "Actually, it's nothing. If you don't go to Landlord Ge's house, you can't stay at home and play. Wouldn't it be a good time to go to work as a corvee?"

They were talking, and Zhou Li was walking into the yard of their house.He also happened to come to talk about corvée, so Shuchang and Ji Wang eagerly signed up.

Zhou Li just recorded his name and went to Liang Zi's house. Not long after, Liang Zi came over with a sad face.

Yingniang held out a chair for him to sit on, "Liang Zi, don't worry, I heard from my third uncle that you can spend some money to hire someone to go to your house."

Liang Zi sighed heavily, "That's what my father said, but the family has two laborers, and it's too expensive to pay for two. Although my family is better off, I don't have that much spare money. I heard that it takes more than half a year to work. Go, calculate how much it will cost! I was thinking about hiring only one person, and I can dig the reservoir myself. It’s just that the family is busy collecting grain these days, and the youngest and I are too busy to keep up, so ..."

Before he finished speaking, Yingniang understood what he meant.He wanted Bo Ming and Zhong Ping to help collect them. There are so many people to work hard. They rush to collect them in the past few days, and they can be collected within seven days.

Yingniang said: "I also know your family's difficulties, but as a woman, I can't make up my mind casually. You can go to the field to discuss with Bo Ming and Zhongping, and see if you can help collect your family's grain first. Take it from our own house."

Liang Zi got this sentence, thanked him happily, "I will send a load of food to your family at that time!" He began to worry that Yingniang would disagree, so he thought of coming to talk to her. Zhongping should readily agree.

Liang Zi trotted out to talk to Bo Ming and Zhong Ping.Looking at Liang Zi's back, Zhao Di sighed to Ying Niang: "It's really difficult when there are fewer people in the family. Every time he has something, he has to ask for help. The second aunt will not be able to go home for more than two and a half years. It's been a rough day!"

Yingniang sighed, "Isn't that right? I heard that someone saw that his family was in a good position, and they already wanted to find a good girl for him. We can make an appointment in the spring of next year, and we should marry him back in summer and autumn."

Yingniang looked at Zhaodi, and remembered talking about her natal family with Zhongping in the field, "Zhaodi, just now Zhongping said in the field that after the soybeans are harvested, he will go to your natal home to visit your parents and younger brother. Are you happy?"

Zhaodi looked at Yingniang in surprise and joy, not knowing what to say.

"Boming and I are also confused. We even forgot about it. It's Zhongping who loves you and thinks about you. You won't blame me and Boming, right?" Yingniang looked at her apologetically.

Zhaodi was so excited that she burst into tears, "I can't blame you and elder brother. In fact, in my situation, I shouldn't have more contact with my mother's family. I bought it in the first place, and I didn't get married in a serious way. Yes, my natal home is far away. My parents didn't expect me to go back to visit, and I don't know what to do if you think about my natal home..."

Yingniang persuaded: "Okay, since it's a happy thing, why are you crying? Zhongping has your mother's family in his heart, which means he cares about you very much. It's great. When you give birth in the first month of the next year, after the month is over, You can also go back to your mother's house."

Zhao Di was so happy that she burst into tears, "When Zhong Ping goes, as long as he knows that his father, mother and two younger brothers have returned home, don't just stay outside and beg for food."

"Don't worry, they won't. Now that the drought is over, they must go home. And I heard that the river will be dug to reach Qishan Mountain, so your natal family may not have to flee famine every year in the future."

Zhaodi quickly wiped away her tears and nodded happily.

In the next few days, Bo Ming and Zhong Ping were really busy and dizzy.First they helped Liang Zi's family collect grain, and then collected their own. And these days, in order to keep the soybeans, they never went home once.Zhaodi and Yingniang sent even the change of clothes. They jumped into the pond to wash when they wanted to take a bath. Now it was almost Mid-Autumn Festival, and the water was chilly.After more than ten days, both of them lost some weight.

Landlord Ge forced Shuchang and Jiwang to do corvée work for a few more days, which was not counted as wages, so he let them go.Since the two of them went to dig a reservoir at the foot of Nanshan Mountain, they went home happily every day. It seemed that it was indeed easier than working at Landlord Ge's house.

A few days later, Bo Ming and Zhong Ping started harvesting soybeans.They kept more than 100 catties for seed, because they wanted to leave some for Yingniang's natal family, and they wanted to send some to Zhaodi's natal family, so they kept more.In addition, they also kept two bags for their own food.

The remaining 1000 catties were all sold, but Laowu Qiu gave them a total of [-] Wen, plus the [-] fixed money given last time, they earned [-] Wen.

On this day, Bo Ming and Zhong Ping dismantled the hut and went home, and Ying Niang bought a lot of snacks and meat and fish and went home to celebrate.

The whole family was lively for a while, and Boming poured out half a bag of soybeans from the bag he was going to leave for his family to eat, "Ms. Ying, Master told me to go to the mountain to have a look. I couldn’t go. I’m pretty busy now, I want to bring some soybeans and potatoes to stew for Master and fellow apprentices.”

Yingniang was still eating cakes, she squatted beside Birming and watched, "Bring them some cakes too."

Boming nodded and said, "Okay, they must also like cakes." Then he called Zhongping again, "Zhongping, hurry up and get some potatoes out of the cellar."

(End of this chapter)