The mulberry life of a small peasant girl

Chapter 13

With a new house, there are more things to buy.

The original table, chairs and benches at home were bought by my uncle's parents when they were alive, but now these things are dilapidated. Since the family has more than 60 taels of money, it is not troublesome to buy a set of tables and chairs.

When the new house is occupied, as usual, a few familiar relatives are invited, and two sets of wine and dishes are set up until the family's inventory is exhausted.

The first month is the new year, and it is now the first ten days of December, and various new year activities have been actively carried out in the village.

Feeling the fresh and festive atmosphere of the festival, Nuan Bao couldn't help thinking of getting out of the house and taking a look at Longqing City.I heard from my uncle that Longqing City is a large town in the north. It is the military center of the neighboring two countries, and it is also the intersection of the economies of the two countries.The country where Nuanbao is located is Yong State, which occupies a large territory, with fertile southern plains, vast western plateaus, and rich eastern forests.In the north, there are large and small tribes inhabited, and these tribes belong to a country called Yi.The Yi people make a living by herding sheep and cattle. Most Yi people can weave wool cloaks, wool felts, wool coats, etc. and sell them to Yongguo.It can be said that Longqing City is a good place for north-south trade.

Moreover, because it is close to the country of Yi, the folk customs are open, women and girls can go to the street, and even open a shop to do business.

Nuan Bao heard the introduction from her little uncle, and immediately agreed to go to Longqing City for a stroll tomorrow.

Maybe it's because the family has more money, the uncle has become a lot more cheerful, and said with a smile that he would borrow a bullock cart to take Nuanbao and Xiaofu two children.

When Xiaofu heard it, he croaked loudly, clamoring to take Erniu with him.Nuan Bao felt that Xiaofu and Erniu had gotten too close recently. Although they were young, they would inevitably be talked about by caring people. The reputation of the girl's family was still more important here. If she was too open, she would lose the respect of others.

"Xiaofu, besides Er Niu, don't you have any other good friends?" Nuan Bao began to pay attention to guiding Xiaofu.

Xiao Fu rubbed Xiaoguai's fur, and said defenselessly: "Others say that I am a child without a father and no mother, and Xiao Fu doesn't like to play with them."

Nuan Bao was stunned, she had never heard anyone say that in front of her, so she didn't think of this question at all.But she has never met a friend, so how could someone laugh at her like that.

"Didn't that Er Niu say that to you?" Aren't children all childish?They don't even realize that their words hurt others.

Xiao Fu shook his head, "No, Er Niu is fine, he will do whatever I ask him to do."

Ok.It's not good for Nuanbao to express more opinions.As long as Xiaofu can hold on to Er Niu all the time, this is really a good marriage.It's just that neither of them know it now.

The next day, the little uncle borrowed an ox cart and came back. Nuanbao was going to carry a quilt and put it in the ox cart. The country road was very rough, and it was cold. Without a quilt, he would have been frozen and his legs and feet would be numb.When she approached the bullock cart, a ten-year-old boy suddenly jumped out of the carriage. The two were intimidated by each other, and they were stunned for a while.

"Xiao Nuan... why are you standing here? Hurry up and get in the car, don't blow the wind." The uncle said to Nuan Bao while holding the bullwhip.

Xiao Fu came out from behind Nuan Bao, poked his head out, pointed at the person in front of him and said, "Little uncle, who is this little brother?"

Zhang Dehan smiled, "I forgot to tell you, this is Blacksmith Zhao's youngest son, named Xiaohu. Uncle went to borrow a car from their house, and took Xiaohu to play in the city along the way."

Zhao Xiaohu said with a smile: "Your name is Xiaofu, right? I heard that Mumu and the others said you, my name is Xiaohu, and you can play with me in the future." .

Xiaofu said eagerly: "I know I know that your house has a lot of wooden toys, such as ponies and small fishes. I have told me about the wooden toys. When will you take them out for me to play with?"

Zhao Xiaohu's eyes lit up, "Then you wait at home tomorrow, and I will come to your house."

Xiaofu clapped his hands and said yes, he got into the bullock cart and dragged Zhao Xiaohu all the way to ask him what other interesting things he had at home.

With Xiaofu's laughter and laughter, the one-hour journey came soon.

Longqing City is really extraordinary, there is a wide moat in front of the city gate, there are bridges on the river, there are painted boats in the river, and there is a lot of traffic on the bank, bustling scene.The word "Longqing" inlaid on the forehead of the city gate is majestic. The streets and alleys in the city are covered with uneven bluestone bricks, and the restaurants and shops on both sides of the street are lined up.

Zhang De drove the ox cart to the livestock management office, and then led the three little dolls looking around to start shopping for new year's goods.

As soon as the twelfth lunar month arrived, the streets were crowded with people who bought New Year’s goods. Zhang De looked at the crowded market and didn’t know where to go. Fool it.Nuan Bao pulled the little uncle's cuff, "Uncle... let's buy light things first, and then buy heavy ones before we leave."

Zhang De felt that Nuan girl was really smart, so he let her lead the way.

Nuan Bao has long seen vendors selling New Year pictures and Spring Festival couplets. The walls of the new house are covered with white paper, one for brightening and the other for keeping out the cold. Wouldn’t it be nice to paste the word “Fu” on the snow-white walls?And I have to buy window grilles.The Spring Festival couplets were sold by an old lady and daughter-in-law. Seeing the three fair and cute babies with their chubby little faces, they couldn’t stop being curious. When they heard that Nuanbao wanted to buy New Year pictures, they picked out many different kinds of lucky dolls holding big fat fish. Nuan Bao also thinks that this painting is really beautiful, and folk art is really not built.

After buying ten New Year pictures, two window grilles, and a pair of couplets, they went to the fruit shop to buy candies.The farmers are not rich, and when the children of other families come to ask for profit during the Spring Festival, basically no one gives copper coins. They all grab a handful of melon seeds, peanut candies and put them in the cloth bag on the baby’s chest. other home.The sweets in ancient times were caramel, sweet winter melon, sweet lotus root slices and candied lotus seeds. All kinds of warm treasures cost five catties.

To wear flowered clothes for the New Year, Zhang De took them to a cloth shop and pulled two pieces of printed cloth. Nuan Bao took the opportunity to ask the shopkeeper for a lot of rags. These rags are good for shoe soles, and others don’t care much about them. Can't see it either.Zhang De walks frequently, his shoes wear out quickly, and he is reluctant to use new cloth to make shoes, which can save a lot.

The last thing to buy is the big head, buy pork stewed vermicelli, you must eat it in the winter, and you will be warmed up after eating it.Close to the country of Yi, there are a lot of mutton and beef here, and there is a faint tendency to surpass pork. The cattle and sheep from Yi are fresh and tender, and a large grassland can raise many cattle and sheep, so beef and mutton are cheaper than pork.However, the people of Yong Kingdom don't know how to cook, so they always feel that the meat has a strong smell.

Nuan Bao begged his little uncle to buy half a veal and half a lamb, and later asked Zhao Xiaohu's father to get an iron plate, so that he could roast the meat on the stove without going out for a day.Or put a small earthen pot, simmer the soup slowly, cut a few slices of meat and put it in to brush when you are hungry, what a wonderful life...

Seeing Nuan Bao's crooked eyes, Zhao Xiaohu felt that Nuan Bao was really pretty, and it would be great if he could marry her as his wife in the future!

Zhang De has stayed in Longqing City for a long time, so he naturally knows that the wool coats sold by the Yi people are very warm. A few years ago, the Yi people only sold wool, and the Yong people bought their wool and processed it into clothes, and the profit was tens of thousands. However, after the Yi people found out later, they no longer sold wool, and the price of ready-made clothes was much more expensive. If he hadn't been rich this year, he would be reluctant to part with it.

I bought a cloak for Nuanbao and Xiaofu respectively. The light yellow wool took advantage of Ruyu's skin, and Zhao Xiaohu was stunned.

In addition to those who sell goods on the street, there are also jugglers catching up with the New Year. Xiaofu and Zhao Xiaohu couldn't take their eyes off them. Slashing with knives is even more frightening.Zhang De was afraid that it would be unsafe on the return journey after dark, so he didn't care about the two of them acting coquettishly, and squeezed out of the crowd with the two little children.

On the way home, I met a few women from the same village, and they were all talking and laughing loudly on the road with their New Year's goods on their backs.Although the women in the wild land are more bold and forthright, they are still timid outside.Seeing this, Zhang De quickly pulled the reins, stopped the ox cart and called them to go home together.

Nuan Bao hugged Xiao Fu and squeezed aside to greet them, and the ox cart continued to drive towards the village.

(End of this chapter)