happy old days

Chapter 55

The rain finally stopped at the beginning of June, but the water outside has not receded. Yang Zhenhai went to the field to see, except for the sweet potatoes and potatoes that were planted earlier because they were planted on the hillside, there might be some left. The dishes were soaked.It’s just that sweet potatoes and potatoes don’t know how many are left. He dug some, but most of them rotted, and it would be good to have a tenth of the harvest at most.

Seeing that the weather started to clear up, people in the village began to replant food, no matter what they planted first, otherwise there would be nothing to eat during the winter.Their place belongs to the Blue River area, and the water source is plentiful. The water in the field cannot go down, and many things cannot be grown.

The half-acre lotus root planted in the wetland in front of the yard is not easy to sell, and the price can’t go up. What I grow at home is for my own food. It looks beautiful on the edge of Moon Lake. At first glance, although it didn’t grow much because of the continuous rainy season, But he was still alive, and the sun came out at this time, and it was estimated that he was not far away from the flowers.

Before the ground was dry, Yang Zhenhai took Zhao Tiezhu to plant sweet potatoes in the field, transplanted some seedlings in the field, Jin Niang quietly watered some raw mothers in the sweet potatoes and potatoes, in order to save those who were still alive, she It didn't dilute much once, and it became green within two days.Father Yang saw that he kept talking about where his son would choose, and the half-hillside was not flooded by rain.

Yang Zhenhai transplanted another acre of sweet melon seedlings. After thinking about it for a while, he opened another two acres of land behind his house. Now there is a bamboo forest to the west of their house, and woods to the east. There are firs, poplars, and The locust trees are all tall trees, and there are some walnuts, plums, and other fruit trees inside. There is an open space behind the house, which is basically surrounded by woods on both sides. There is an open space of four or five mu, which was originally not intended for planting, but this time it was opened. Yang Zhenhai always felt that it would be safer.And after the vegetables were planted, he took Zhao Tiezhu to build a bamboo fence around the edge of the forest, so that the bamboo forest was surrounded except for the wasteland.

Jinniang took Mrs. Hui and the boy from the Zhao family to plant radishes and cabbages in the vegetable garden, leaving only a small piece of land to plant eggplants and leeks and other vegetables that they eat on weekdays.

The weather is getting hotter and hotter. After the rain stopped, it never rained again, and the weather is getting drier.Jinniang was actually very surprised that she felt a drought. She had heard that a drought was followed by a flood. How could it be the other way around here?

The weather was really too hot, the windows in the house were all open, and there was no wind at all. Yang Zhenhai went to the county in the morning, and Jinniang wanted him to buy some saltpeter. She remembered that she had heard that saltpeter was used to make ice, and Jinniang wanted to try it too.Although I prepared an ice cellar, I was afraid that the ice would make the cellar damp, so I didn't store it.Now she sincerely hoped that her memory was correct.

Yang Zhenhai came back when the sun was about to set, and brought back bad news, "The Blue River is flooded."

"How could it be? Didn't it mean that the Blue River has never had water?" Jin Niang was a little surprised.Because of the rain, they have been cut off from the outside world, and they are rushing to farm these days, and there is no news.

"It's hard to tell the specifics right now. The south of Yancheng has been hit by disaster."

"Ah—when did it happen? Is it serious?" The cattail fan in Jinniang's hand fell off. "Is Yancheng okay?"

"It's been half a month. The rain stopped on our side and it's still raining on the other side. The dam of the Blue River burst. Yancheng is fine. Parents and the others will be fine." Yang Zhenhai put the saltpeter he bought on the table , took off his clothes, only put on shorts, went to the yard and washed it with well water.

"I'll go to Yancheng tomorrow to see my parents and find out the situation. If the disaster is serious, we have to make some preparations." Taking the towel brought by Jinniang, she wiped her face and said.If it is really serious, the victims will follow.

"En." Jin Niang frowned, she also wanted to go, but couldn't let go of the child.The situation outside is not clear, so don't drag Yang Zhenhai down.

The situation is more serious than expected. This time, not only the Blue River flooded, but the Yellow River also flooded. A large number of disaster victims have already come to Yancheng.

The clan held a meeting and got a certain understanding of the situation of each household. The situation is not so optimistic. The grain stored by each household is enough to last until the autumn harvest. .Every household should also be careful of the victims who will follow. People can do anything when they are hungry.

The victims came after more than ten days. These are from Lin County. They have to pass by them to go to the county seat. They basically entered the village and took the village west road.They were all begging for food from the village and had to go to the county town to wait for porridge or something.Now every household still has some surplus food, and they can get some.

In the evening, Jinniang took a bath, walked out of the small room, and saw Yang Zhenhai fanning the baby with a fan, and the little guy only put a scarf on his stomach.Sleeping face flushed.

As soon as Yang Zhenhai raised his eyes, his eyes touched Jinniang's body and he couldn't leave it. The weather was too hot. Jinniang made several long skirts, and now she is wearing a moonwhite tulle printed long skirt with suspenders. The bottom of the chest is tightened to outline the chest Beautiful curves, loose swing below, very elegant.She has made several similar long skirts. During the day, she wears gauze trousers with a half slanted bezel on top, and the long-sleeved ones are matched with a vest with a collar, or a loose sandy bezel.Like in her own room at night, she didn't even wear the gauze trousers inside.cool.Yang Zhenhai never said anything to her behavior, but sometimes he couldn't grasp it.

Jinniang put the baby on the cot next to the bed, "When will it be cool this day? I can't take it anymore." She patted the baby twice.She turned around and sat down at the dressing table, combing her hair into a big braid.

"It's hard to say, the weather is abnormal this year." Yang Zhenhai took off his clothes and fanned Jin Niang a few times.Looking at the clothes on her body fluttering with the breeze, the curves of her body are looming.

"Dad's ice basin changed?"

"It's changed, your method is really good, it really makes ice."

"Hehe, I didn't expect it to be so easy." It's just that their son is too young to use it at night.

"By the way, tomorrow—" Yang Zhenhai was talking when he suddenly heard a thud in the courtyard to the west.

Jinniang heard it too, and turned to look at Yang Zhenhai.

Yang Zhenhai gestured with his hand to prevent her from being born, and pointed to the child.He stood up and turned off the light, and the room was dark.

Yang Zhenhai walked out quietly, and after waiting for a while, Jinniang could see the situation in the room clearly, reached out and touched a short gown and gauze trousers to put on, and then picked up the baby.Listen carefully to the sounds outside.She heard absolutely right, someone entered the yard.Two people came in, and not long after that, two muffled groans were heard.People are packed.Jinniang didn't hear Yang Zhenhai's footsteps at all, he was so fast, she somehow felt a sense of security in her heart, she was really strong as a man.

Jin Niang went out with the child in her arms, and saw two tattered men lying in the yard, and Yang Zhenhai took out two knives.

"A refugee?" Jin Niang asked quietly.

"It used to be, but now it should be a robber. Look at this knife, it is not something that ordinary farmers can have." Yang Zhenhai gestured twice with the knife, and Jin Niang seemed to feel the chill.

"What should we do now?"

"Tonight, let's do this first, and send it to the clan tomorrow, so that the clan leader can let it go."

Jin Niang nodded. Although she heard that there would be robbers every time refugees passed by, she never thought that there would be two robbers so soon, and how many there would be in the future.

The two were sent to the clan the next day. Jinniang later heard how many county yamen they were sent to and what punishment they were sentenced to, but they were sure that they would not starve to death.

There are more and more refugees. From time to time during the day, some people come to the Yang family compound to beg for food. Jin Niang and Mrs. Hui make a lot of wild vegetables and steamed buns every day, and distribute them to them. It is just that after a month, when a large number of refugees arrive, the Yang family The courtyard did not dare to open the door.

Life in the village also began to become difficult.The replanted crops have almost no harvest. Everyone has to prepare for the coming year. They have removed the seeds and set aside rations for next year, so they tighten their belts to live.

The three members of the Zhao family have moved to the Yang family compound. The family lives in the upside-down room to the south of the main house. It is a bit chaotic now. The two families can have a caregiver when they are together. The old house is not idle, and it is rented to the third uncle's family A relative of my family, this family, also escaped, but their family had some money, the house was flooded and could not live in, and this year they couldn't build a house, so they came to live with San Auntie for a year.

In this way, the three of Zhao's family can move back when the days are better next year. The house does not dare to be empty now, and there are many people who think about it.

"The third sibling is here?" The sun was setting, Jinniang was playing in the yard with the baby, the little one's first birthday had been a few days away.He was already able to walk and run, and it was even more troublesome to look at him.

"En. Pei Yu will leave. It's really fast." The third daughter-in-law said a rare word of flattery.

"That's right, since the meeting is gone, running all over the yard, I can't even look at it."

Cold field——

"What's the matter with the third sibling?" Jin Niang had to ask.

"Well, our family can't open the pot now, so I need to borrow some food from you."

"Is there no food at home?" Jinniang was quite surprised, how could there be no food?

"Well, yesterday's one is gone."

Jinniang felt her head popping out. The third family had a lot of grain storage. Yang Zhenhai went to see it before, and the food storage of several families was quite enough. There was no need to ask them to help.Where did the food go?Could it be sending her to her natal family?

"Do you listen to your daughter-in-law like this? They said that the grain should be kept. How are you? You sold it... just for the little money. Now let's see, how many buckets of rice can you sell with that money? If you have money, there is nowhere to buy it. Right? It's a fucking thing." Old Man Yang blushed angrily and pointed at the third child who was kneeling on the ground with a thick neck and scolded.

The third child knelt and did not dare to say a word.

"Tell me what to do. This year's grain was confiscated. What do you eat? Your brother and sister-in-law have so little grain in their home that they can hardly support the whole family. Why do you still support you?" Since the disaster, food prices have been rising. The third daughter-in-law was jealous, thinking that the food at home had been replanted, and there would be food until the autumn harvest. Who would have thought that this year's frost fell early, everything was frozen in the ground, and there was basically no harvest.

The youngest blushed with embarrassment.

"Go, let your daughter-in-law go back to her mother's house. Didn't she be able to dump things at home in the past? You let her ask for it, borrow it. She will definitely get it from her side-don't come to me. Or Both of you are going to eat at her mother's house, it's time for them to support you."

The third child grimaced.

"I said, are you listening? Bring me Fatty today. He will live with me for a while, and you and your wife will get the hell out of here—" He didn't care about the old couple. where to go.

(End of this chapter)