The mulberry life of a small peasant girl

Chapter 26

Seeing the wheat ripen, Zhang De was the happiest.

The sun was too strong at noon, so Zhang De always went to inspect the fields before the sun came out, checking the saturation of the wheat grains every day. Some wheat ripened quickly and needed to be cut off first, otherwise his family would not be able to wait until the whole wheat field was ripe. Sufficient labor to cope with sudden weather changes.

Early this morning, Zhang De was walking around the wheat field as usual, and there were many footprints of wild animals near the foot of the mountain. With so many footprints, he could tell that no less than three wild animals were foraging nearby.Unfortunately, although there was a protective fence around the perimeter, there was not enough time to repair it at that time, and the fence might not be able to stop three wild beasts running at the same time.

Sure enough, a corner of the guardrail was smashed, and a hole was broken in the continuous and complete protection. The golden wheat stalks inside were crushed and crushed to the ground, scattered wheat grains fell to the ground, and the low-hanging straws were covered with wild beasts. Tooth marks.

Zhang De picked up the hoe, slid sideways into the broken fence, and looked for the traces of the beast with light steps.

There were not many destroyed wheat stalks, estimated to be only one-tenth of the size of the field, and the beasts could not be found, maybe they escaped after eating.

But if there is one, there are two. The previous owner sold the land because he couldn't bear the harassment of wild animals. Zhang De expected that the wild animals would visit again tonight, so the guardrail had to be fastened, so he hurried home to get tools to repair the guardrail.

Zhong Caixin was very angry when she knew that Maizi had been bitten by a wild animal.This was the first time she worked hard to farm the field seriously, and she couldn't let the wild beast destroy her hard work at the last moment, so she also rolled up a pile of hemp rope and followed behind Zhang De.

Nuan Bao remembered that she once said that she wanted to plant some thorny plants to cling to the guardrail, but she was delayed because her little uncle got married, and then she forgot about it, but now, the harvest of the year will be eaten by wild animals. Her heart was bleeding, and she still remembered the feeling of being hungry.

The three of them lifted up the fallen wooden stakes and tied them together tightly with hemp ropes. Zhang De told them to avoid them.

The three of them spent the day repairing the guardrails. When it was dark, Zhang De went home to eat, packed his bedding, lit a torch, and planned to watch the wheat in the wheat field at night.Nuan Bao handed the little uncle a hoe and a sickle. It is still unknown what kind of beast is attacking.

At night, Nuan Bao tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep, and when she heard the sound of walking in the main room, she also got up and opened the door.

The little aunt was sitting on the stool, the dark night covered the expression on her face, and the light behind her was deep.

"Auntie" Nuan Bao leaned against the door and called anxiously.

"Why are you up? Go back to sleep. Your uncle will be back at dawn."

"Auntie, why don't we go find little uncle? I'm really worried." Those thick footprints must be wild boars, right?Or a beast bigger than a wild boar?
"We can only add to the chaos if we go, and it's late at night now, how can any woman or girl go out at this time, even if they are not afraid of that thing, they will have a reputation of being uncomfortable if they are discovered." Zhong Caixin didn't want to go, It's just that if he really meets a wild beast, he will be a burden.

Nuan Bao also just wanted to express her small emotions, and when she heard what her aunt said, she obediently returned to her room and closed her eyes.

One night my head was groggy, half asleep and half awake, I seemed to hear the sound of sighing, the sound of the teapot pouring water, the sound of birds singing at dawn, the sound of cooking...

Its daybreak!
As soon as Nuan Bao got up, he heard the sound of rainwater dripping down the eaves. Is it raining?That little uncle didn't bring a coir raincoat!

She lifted the quilt, picked up the hair rope on the side of the kang, wrapped it around twice, tied up two buns and ran outside the door quickly.

My aunt had been away for a long time, the coir raincoat in the utility room was gone, and the breakfast was still hot in the pot.

It wasn't raining heavily, so Nuanbao changed into straw sandals, held up her umbrella and walked to the field.

Walking halfway, seeing Zhang De and Zhong Caixin walking towards each other, Nuan Bao stopped, "Uncle"

Zhang De shouted loudly through the drizzle, "Little girl likes to worry about everything, go home quickly."

On the road, Nuan Bao walked side by side to Zhang De, "Did uncle have any beasts last night?"

"Why not? It turns out it's really a wild boar. I thought it was when I saw the footprints earlier, and there were no more, no less, three."

Wow, how could that fragile guardrail stop three wild wild boars, "Uncle, are you not injured?"

Zhang De raised the torch in his hand, "With this thing, they didn't dare to approach it. They were frightened by me a few times, and they all ran back to the mountains."

Zhong Caixin said worriedly: "Are you staying there every night? How can the sun have the energy to work again?"

Zhang De sighed, "I can't help it. Let's wait until this season's grain is harvested. The guardrail needs to be clamped again. It's better to add another layer of protection."

The three of them couldn't sleep well last night, so they went to catch up on sleep after breakfast, and stayed in the field to watch again in the afternoon.

Qin Chengyi picked up a dying fox in a large trap near his home in the morning. The trap was dug extremely deep, and there were many traps under it, which were used to catch large prey and prevent the prey from breaking into his home.This mechanism used to be able to catch wild boars. As long as some wild sweet potatoes and wild yams were planted near the trap, the wild boars would fall into the trap along with the rations. Qin Guan came up with this recipe and used it for decades.But recently, the wild boar disappeared. After waiting for more than ten days, I only got a little fox, and its fur was shattered by the mechanism underneath, so it couldn't be sold at a good price.

This wild boar must hit the trap and die a few every year, even if it is not for hunting, it is also to limit the number of wild boars on this mountain.The wild boars are not dead now, and they will reproduce more in the coming year, so his house will be in danger.So he stopped hunting and went to the wild boar forest to find out where the wild boars had moved recently.

Following the footprints left by the wild boar on the mountain, Qin Chengyi walked down the mountain.

It was strange how the wild boars would go down the mountain. There were no homes and no food at the bottom of the mountain, but going down the mountain was still dangerous. If the villagers saw them, they would gather to hunt down the wild boars and even die.

Qin Chengyi was surprised to find that the foot of the mountain was full of wheat at some time, it was golden, and his eyes were shining brightly.

The wheat at the edge of the field covered the backs of the bent and busy people, and Qin Chengyi asked aloud, "Who is farming this field?"

Zhang De took off his wide-brimmed straw hat, showing his dark face, and walked up to the edge of the field, "What's the matter, brother? My name is Zhang De. I have bought this place for more than half a year."

Zhang De?Is it the Uncle De whom Uncle mentioned?Is it the family who adopted Nuan Bao?Qin Chengyi couldn't calm down anymore, and just about to ask in detail, he heard a girl's soft and delicate voice, "Is that brother Cheng Yi?"

The girl in the wheat seedlings straightened her back, staring at herself through the gap in the wooden fence.

Zhang De turned around and asked, "Know Xiaonuan?"

"Brother Cheng Yi is Uncle He's nephew. Last time he helped Uncle He carry pond mud to our house, and he also helped us grow vegetables."

Zhang De thanked through the wooden fence, "Last time I was in the city, I really troubled you, come to my house for a meal today, and ask your uncle to come too, I haven't had a drink with Uncle He for a long time."

Since he invited his uncle at the same time, he couldn't refuse, so Qin Chengyi nodded and agreed.

Zhong Caixin learned that Zhang De's respected elders came to eat at home, so she did her best to cook a table of delicious food to entertain the guests.

After drinking and drinking, He Sheng patted Zhang De on the shoulder, "Ah-de finally got married. I couldn't see the bride when I got married last time. This time I finally saw the bride. This lady is nice, and A-de has vision!"

Zhang De's face was flushed by what He Sheng said, and as soon as he smelled of alcohol, he also put aside his dull temperament in the past, and began to chatter: "I don't know, I like this lady, but I don't dare to think about it. Hehe... Now I I am also satisfied, just wait to find a good home for the two little ones, and I will feel at ease in this life."

He Sheng looked at the girl who was chewing slowly, and then looked at his nephew, "It's easy for you, the child is good, and I guarantee that the family will have a daughter. It's just that my child is giving me a headache... This year's ten It's six, I can't afford it, alas!"

Zhang De looked at Qin Chengyi's familiar face, "Is it the child of Sister Lianhua?" He vaguely remembered that when he was a child, there was a kind-hearted big sister who was very kind to him. She had a big braid and bright eyes. He told stories and would take her to play by the stream. Later, the elder sister got married and he never saw her again.

"It's my poor little sister... If she can be stronger and get over it, how can my son bear such a reputation now? Sigh... But I don't blame her, she is also suffering..." He Sheng drank the wine intermittently. I don't know what to say, and what I say is wrong, but I feel uncomfortable in my heart.

Zhang De also fell silent. This reputation was spread to ten, ten to hundreds, and finally it was unrecognizable. After hearing about it, no one in the neighborhood dared to marry their daughters. A good life was delayed by rumors.

He Sheng vented his years of resentment and anger by drinking, and fell asleep comfortably lying on the table. Zhang De and Qin Chengyi each lifted a shoulder, and they sent He Sheng home.

On the way, Qin Chengyi asked, "Why did Uncle De buy the land there? I just saw the wild boar's footprints today. This land is a bit troublesome."

Zhang De also nodded, "It's a little troublesome, but I didn't have a choice at first. I didn't have enough money to buy the field. I just hope to strengthen the fence to keep the wild animals out."

Qin Chengyi has dealt with wild beasts for many years, so he naturally knows that this method can only be delayed for a while, and if he does not take measures to make the wild beasts feel fear, he will have no peace for a day.

"Why didn't Uncle De set some traps at the foot of the mountain? Dig a long hole around the foot of the mountain and bury some traps. Whenever a wild animal comes down the mountain, it must pass by the foot of the mountain. Unless it can jump over, it will definitely fall into the trap."

When Zhang De heard it, he thought of such a good idea. Firstly, it would protect the crops, and secondly, selling the prey would add some money to the family.

However, he doesn't know how to do that mechanism, and regretfully said: "Little brother, this method is good, but making a trap is not easy, and you can't do it if you are not a skilled person."

Qin Chengyi said with a smile: "If Uncle De doesn't dislike it, I'm willing to try it. I think it will have some effect."

(End of this chapter)