Go back to the Ming Dynasty to be a thousand households

Chapter 36 Crazy land reclamation ([-])
Lunar New Year's Eve, this day is the most important festival of the Ming Empire.On this day, from the emperors and generals to the common people, all kinds of celebrations and entertainment activities will be held to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new year. After this day, the time has also entered the 18th year of Wanli.

Of course, New Year’s Eve is also a big day in Wuzhai Fort. As soon as the day started, the deafening sound of firecrackers rang out all over Wuzhai Fort. Every household was busy changing door gods, pasting Spring Festival couplets, hanging New Year pictures, and pasting window grilles. , full of festive atmosphere.

Thanks to Young Master Huang, this year can be a good year, and everyone in Wuzhaibao is smiling.When they met each other, Dole bowed to each other.And in everyone's topic, they will never forget to thank First Young Master Huang.

The street where the military craftsmen of Wuzhaibao live is also in a festive atmosphere at this time. Everyone is busy changing door gods outside the door, putting up Spring Festival couplets, and cleaning and tidying up their houses.Although the thatched huts where the military craftsmen lived were still dilapidated, all the cracks had been filled with new mud, and with the addition of the newly replaced couplet door gods at the door, and some firecracker scraps on the street, it was quite a New Year's Eve. the taste of.

After more than a month of recuperation, these military craftsmen, no matter whether they are men, women or children, are no longer the sallow, emaciated, and disheveled looks of the past, and their complexions have improved a lot.Many people wore much thicker cotton padded clothes, so they would no longer be shivering in the cold wind.In particular, many children of military craftsmen put on new clothes and played around with some firecrackers. The noise of children kept coming.

While the adults were busy with their work, they smiled and looked at their children from time to time, or chatted with their neighbors.The most talked about is after the new year, how many waterwheel tools I can make, and what monthly rewards I can get from the elder and younger.Everyone is full of longing for the future life.

Amidst the sound of firecrackers outside, Liu Erniu ran into the house bouncing around. It was different from what Huang Laifu saw her that day. Today she was no longer dressed in rags, but in a new cotton-padded jacket. From the new cotton shoes, it can be seen that although her body has not yet grown, she will definitely be a beauty when she grows up.

She looked cheerful and shouted as she ran, "Sister, sister."

Inside the house, Liu Yumei, a military craftsman girl, is busy at work. She stretches her waist and weighs her feet. She shows a graceful curve under her padded jacket. She hangs a few New Year pictures on the wall. These New Year pictures are all painted with some fish and dolls. Waiting for the mascot, meaning the wish to have enough food and clothing.

With a smile on her face, she hung up the New Year pictures and said: "Little sister, you came just in time. Please help my sister to see if these New Year pictures are hung crookedly?" When she got down, her face was much ruddy, and she was not as beautiful as before, and she looked even more beautiful.

Liu Erniu propped her chin, tilted her head, and said crisply: "Well, let me see, well, sister, I think it's hung up, and it won't be crooked."

Liu Yumei clapped her hands: "That's good, little sister, you accompany sister to hang these hangings on the lintel and eaves."

Liu Erniu replied: "Okay, sister, I'll help you." This hanging thousand was a decoration of Daming at that time. It was cut out of red paper. , During the New Year, no matter how much there is in the south and the north!
The two sisters worked together, happily hanging several strings of hangings on the eaves of each house.

The two were busy when their grandfather, Old Man Liu, happily came in with a few pieces of meat, some fish, and a small jar of wine.

As soon as he entered the door, he cracked his toothless mouth and said with a chuckle: "Big girl, second girl, look, what is this?"

When Liu Erniu saw her, she first said happily, "Wow, it's meat and fish." She hugged Old Man Liu and said excitedly, "That's great, grandpa is so kind."

Old man Liu stroked Liu Erniu's head affectionately, and said cheerfully, "I know my Erniu is greedy, and it's the New Year's Eve, so grandpa bought some fish back."

He said with some emotion: "I didn't expect that our poor army craftsman's family could still eat fish. I remember that the last time we ate meat was five years ago... Sigh, it's all thanks to Young Master Huang."

Hearing Huang Laifu's name, Liu Yumei's eyes flashed with some strange expressions.And Liu Erniu said innocently: "Grandpa, are there still vendors selling meat on the street now? Aren't they going back to celebrate the New Year?"

Old man Liu said: "Most of the street vendors have gone back to celebrate the New Year, but some still stay in the fort, saying that they are waiting for the New Year's Eve, so that they can do business in the fort. They said..."

As soon as the old man Liu said this, he heard Liu Zongqi's voice outside: "Is Uncle Liu at home?"

Then Liu Zongqi came in and saw everyone, he smiled and said: "So everyone is here, that's good, my mother-in-law said that if there are few people, it is Chinese New Year, and if there are many people, it is also Chinese New Year. Let you go to my place together."

Old man Liu said: "Big brother, I'm so sorry to trouble you all the time."

Liu Zongqi smiled and said: "Uncle Liu, what are you talking about? I think Brother Liu and I were..." At this point, his face darkened, and then he smiled again: "Everyone knows my mother-in-law's temper. Not much to say, Yumei, Erniu, go, clean up, and go together."

Pushing and pulling, everyone came to Liu Zongqi's house, not far away, just next door. On weekdays, Liu Zongqi took good care of Liu Yumei's family.Let them all come over to celebrate the New Year together today.

Liu Zongqi's mother-in-law, Qian Shi, was busy in front of the stove. The pot was sizzling and the meat was being fried, and there was a burst of aroma, which made Liu Erniu salivate.Seeing everyone entering the house, Qian said enthusiastically: "Finally here, Mr. Liu, I have prepared a lot of good dishes today, just waiting for you."

Old man Liu said: "I'm going to trouble Mrs. Qian again."

Liu Yumei said, "Sister Qian, let me help you."

Qian said with a smile, "My Yumei is hardworking."

She "go and go" drove away the two children of her family who were swallowing saliva around the stove, and asked Liu Yumei to come and help.

The women were busy, while Old Man Liu was sitting and talking with Liu Zongqi. It could be seen that both of them had smiles on their faces, and it was obvious that this year made them feel at ease.

After the meat over there was fried, Qian wiped her hands as if remembering something, and said with a smile, "Look at my memory." She went into the back room, came out quickly, but took out a piece of floral cloth, and said: "Yumei, when I went to the street two days ago, your sister-in-law saw that this piece of cloth is not bad, so she pulled it for you. You can try it to see if the color suits you."

Liu Yumei hurriedly gave way: "Sister-in-law Qian, I can't take it."

Qian Shi said: "Why are you being polite to me? If you keep pushing, your sister-in-law Qian will be angry."

Liu Yumei had no choice but to ask Qian to gesture in front of her.

Qian Shi sighed: "A girl who is so juicy, I don't know who will be lucky enough to ask my Yumei to be my mother-in-law in the future."

Liu Yumei was shy and shy: "Sister-in-law..." Qian said with a smile: "Our Yumei is shy. Speaking of which, my Yumei is also old, and your sister-in-law knows a lot of people. Would you like to find a wife for you? A good family?"

Liu Yumei looked shy, but blushed and refused.

Liu Zongqi stood up and said, "Okay, okay, don't embarrass our Yumei anymore. Damn it, hurry up and prepare the New Year's Eve dinner, everyone is waiting."

Amidst Qian's and Liu Yumei's busy work, and Liu Zongqi's gossip with Old Man Liu, a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner was ready.

After Liu Zongqi went out to set off firecrackers, amidst the sporadic sound of firecrackers outside, everyone sat around the table, laughing, eating fish and drinking rice wine. Never showed up.

Liu Zongqi and Old Man Liu took a sip of wine, looked at everyone's laughter, and suddenly said with red eyes: "I didn't expect such a prosperous day. If Brother Liu and Sister Liu were here... I don't know how happy they will be."

Liu Zongqi had good friends with Liu Yumei's father, Liu Dafu, but ten years ago a plague killed Liu Yumei's parents. At that time, hundreds of people died in Wuzhaibao. People shudder.

Hearing what Liu Zongqi said, everyone fell silent.The children didn't dare to speak anymore.

After a while, Qian Shi scolded him and said, "Look at you, you are still talking about such a disappointing thing. I don't even want to see that Yumei and the others are still there."

Liu Zongqi forced a smile and said, "Yes, I made a slip of the tongue."

Old man Liu said: "Brother, you and Young Master Huang are close, tell me, after the new year, will we still have such a good life like now?"

After the death of Yumei and Erniu's parents, the life of this family was all supported by old man Liu. In order to raise these two little babies, old man Liu didn't know how much effort he had put in and how much suffering he had suffered.

For a long time, the life of the family has been very difficult. Although Liu Zongqi will help out from time to time, Liu Zongqi also has to support his family. His monthly rations are also meager. His family is very sad, and the help is always limited. .

Life changed after Huang Laifu hired them. Although the old man Liu was over sixty years old, he had good skills, and his body was tough, and his diligence was no worse than that of young people. , no matter who saw it, there was no second word, and was greatly appreciated by Huang Laifu.

At the end of the year, in addition to the designated monthly rations, old man Liu was also rewarded with a stone of rations from Huang Laifu. After life has hope, he always hopes that this hope will be maintained.Although Huang Laifu signed a contract with them to employ them for two years, old man Liu always felt as if he was in a dream, and he was afraid that such a good time would disappear when he woke up.

Of course Liu Zongqi understands Old Man Liu’s concerns. In fact, these days, some military craftsmen often come to ask and confirm the same thing as Old Man Liu. The land will only require more manpower and tools, at least in the past few years, we don’t have to worry about not having enough work and getting the monthly rations, but we have to worry about being too busy.”

Old man Liu heaved a sigh of relief, stroked his snow-white beard and said cheerfully: "It's okay to be busy. We hard-working people are not afraid of heavy and tiring work. As long as we can eat enough after working and the children are safe, we will be satisfied."

Liu Zongqi smiled and said: "Eldest Young Master Huang said before that everyone who works for him can eat and wear clothes, and it is true. After a few months, Young Master Huang will replace thousands of households. Our days are only going to get better. Come on, let's all have a drink."

Everyone raised their bowls, Qian said in a low voice: "You said this person is really strange. We all know what kind of person this Young Master Huang was before. Why did he suddenly change his gender?"

Mr. Liu glared at her: "Don't speak ill of others, we are living a good life now, thanks to you."

Qian immediately changed his mouth: "May the merciful and compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva bless the young and old with a long life, so that we will have a good life in the future."

Liu Zongqi said again: "Come on, let's toast!"

"Dry!"

Even the three children in the house raised their bowls, accompanied by laughter.

※※※

As soon as Huang Laifu returned to Qianhu House from Datianzhuang, a strong smell of the New Year came to him immediately!

(End of this chapter)