The mulberry life of a small peasant girl

Chapter 5

Walking back to the village from the creek, Nuan Bao thought of going to Er Niu's house to pick up Xiao Fu home, but seeing his water-stained clothes, he couldn't help standing by the roadside and thinking whether to go home to change or go directly to Xiao Fu.

At this time, Xinghuaniang just came out of the yard, and saw Nuan Bao Shi Da Da standing alone, she hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Nuan girl, why did you get covered in water, go home and change your wet clothes, what are these things?" You should be suffering from wind and cold soon."

Nuan Bao hurriedly said to Xinghua Niang: "Auntie, I want to pick up Xiao Fu, but I'm afraid of being rude."

"Hey, it's not easy. I'll go to Erniu's yard and call for you." Nuan Bao thanked Xinghuaniang with a smile, and Xinghuaniang said directly that this was not a big deal and it wasn't worth anything.

After a while, I saw Xinghua Niang in gray and linen leading Xiaofu, but Xiaofu's chubby body staggered as she walked, which was very joyful.

After Nuan Bao asked Xiaofu to say goodbye to the aunt, she grabbed her pocket with one hand and led Xiaofu home with the other.

When I got home, my uncle had already filled the water tank with water, cut the firewood and stacked it against the wall, and tied up many fallen fence bamboos with hemp rope. Although the house was still dilapidated, the atmosphere of life But rich and long.Sure enough, there is a labor force at home, the situation is different.

Zhang De trimmed the fence and was busy tending the small vegetable garden in the backyard.

The vegetable garden was abandoned a long time ago, and the size of the land can vaguely show the original tomato shelf and sweet potato withered vines.Zhang De pulled up all the bamboo frames that had been brittle in the sun and threw them aside to make firewood. These frames made a "bumpy" sound when they were pulled up, which showed that they could not be used.

I have to tidy up the vegetable field by tomorrow, otherwise I will go to the city to do odd jobs, and the two little children will not have vegetables to eat on weekdays.What's more, Chinese cabbage should be planted before winter.

Thinking of this, Zhang De exerted even more force. The soil had already hardened in the sun. If he waited for it to recover slowly, he did not know how long it would be.Or to fish some pond soil and fertile land.Uncle He's fish pond is estimated to have a pond of fish before winter, so please ask him to bring some black soil.

Sprinkled the ground with water, plowed all the lumps of soil, and the whole land was much softer than before.

Zhang De took care of the vegetable plot and put away the hoe, which can be said to be one of the most valuable things in this family.Looking back, I saw Nuan girl busy in the stove, afraid that she would be burned, although I knew that girl cooks like this on weekdays, but I didn't see it.Now that I am at home, how can I let the little man do it again.

"Xiaonuan, what are you doing? Leave them alone and let uncle come." The little man's head is not much higher than the stove, and the child of a poor family is really in charge of the house.

"Uncle, fry this small fish and chili, it's very fragrant." Nuan Bao handed the rice shovel to Uncle, she was also afraid of being splashed with oil, it would be very painful.

Zhang De saw that the little fish was no bigger than his own finger, even if it was delicious, there was no meat to eat.Knowing that the girl is gluttonous, I thought about picking up more work next time, buying half a piece of pork for the Chinese New Year, even though I was full.

The small fish is added with chili, pepper, and wild pepper, which is really numbing and spicy, and it can be mixed with vegetables.This meal caused Zhang De to eat a few more buns.

After lunch, Zhang De went to Uncle He's house to visit. Every year when the fish ponds were built, many people rushed to ask for the mud. If he went late, it would be gone.They are all from their own village, and it is not good to give it to anyone. Uncle He simply said that it is first come, first served, so there is no need to fight.

In the early years, Zhang De went to the city to do odd jobs through Uncle He, and Uncle He was very close to Zhang De's father, and he was willing to help his hardworking and impoverished nephew.Uncle He's original name was He Sheng, and he was originally a farmer. In his early years, he did odd jobs at Chen Yuan's family. fish culture.The fish pond has been carefully served by Uncle He, and it is promising, so the family built a brick house, which can be regarded as a relatively wealthy family in the village.

Uncle He is diligent himself, so he naturally likes Zhang De's diligence and honesty. Hearing that Zhang De wanted pond mud, he agreed to send a copy to his house when he started the fish pond without saying a word, and also said that if Zhang De didn't come back that day It doesn't matter, let a few sons help him apply the pond mud to the vegetable field.Zhang De thanked him again and again, saying that his uncle helped him too much.

After Zhang De left Uncle He's house, he went to the back mountain to pick some wicker to make a basket.There are not many utensils in the house. Except for water tanks and dustpans, the rest are packed in sacks.During the Chinese New Year, I must buy some groceries and weave a few baskets to look good and practical.

Nuan Bao and Xiao Fu sat on the sidelines and watched the uncle weave the basket and found it very interesting.It was the first time for her to see purely handmade utensils without machines.I saw my uncle's five fingers flying, and he could weave a basket almost without thinking and relying on instinct, which was fast and strong.Yes, besides dexterity, craftsmen also have familiarity with their hands. Masters are honed out with time. Where can there be geniuses who get something for nothing?

It was night, Nuan Bao coaxed Xiao Fu to sleep, and saw that the little uncle was still making things, and tomorrow he had to walk to the city early, so what if he didn't rest.Nuan Bao walked up to his uncle, wanting to persuade him to rest early. Seeing Xiao Nuan, Zhang De said in a low voice, "Nuan girl, come and sit down." A string of copper coins, "Here are 100 copper coins. Uncle will go to the city tomorrow. If uncle can't come back this time, you can spend the money if you want, but don't let anyone know it. Do you hear me?"

Nuan Bao waved his hands again and again, "You don't need to give it to me, uncle can keep it, you don't need a few extra money when you go out."

"It's okay. I still have money, and I plan to go to the city to buy you some cotton for the winter. Besides, I have to do one more job a year ago, so I have money."

Nuan Bao thought that since that was the case, then she would accept it, not to mention that she still wanted to find a blacksmith to make a carving knife, the money came just in time.

The next morning, Nuan Bao woke up and found that his uncle had already left. He was very annoyed, why he was so sleepy, he should get up earlier and make some breakfast for his uncle to take with him on the road.

She patted herself on the head, what an idiot.It just didn't help. She thought of the copper coins her uncle gave her last night, so she hurriedly finished her breakfast and went to Blacksmith Zhao's house. She couldn't wait all day.

Zhao Tiejiang's family lives on the outskirts of Zhangjia Village, and he is one of them.It is said that he escaped famine and came to Zhangjia Village in his early years, and survived with the rice noodles from the village chief. Later, he saw that there were no blacksmiths in the village, so he simply settled here.Everyone in the village knew that Tiejiang Zhao was grateful for the kindness of the village head and would not deceive the villagers, so they were all willing to go to his place to make farm tools.

Nuan Bao walked around the village, Zhao Tiejiang's house was at the entrance of the village, and the house was also a brick and tile house. It can be seen that his business is very good, and he can earn this property after so many years.

"Hello, Uncle. But Blacksmith Zhao?" The other party was bare-chested, sweat was already dripping down his body, and his face was reddened by the fire, so masculine.

"I'm Tiejiang Zhao. Little boy, what's the matter?" The other party wiped his sweat with a cloth towel, and asked curiously when he saw the short little man in front of him.

"Uncle, I want to make a carving knife with a wooden handle and a sharp point. Can I do it?"

"Yo, that's easy. But it's what your parents want?"

"Uncle, my name is Nuan Bao, and I live at my uncle's house. My uncle's name is Zhang De. The things are what he wants."

Tiejiang Zhao thought for a while, and it turned out that it was the adopted child.Everyone in the village knew that Nuan Bao was adopted by Zhang De. At that time, the villagers praised Zhang De for his benevolence.

"Okay, you can come and get it in a day. I won't charge you expensive ones, just give me 40 copper coins."

Nuan Bao knew that Blacksmith Zhao must be sympathetic to what happened to her, otherwise she would have charged 50 coppers for the carving knife, and she had inquired about the price a long time ago.So I quickly said thank you, handed over 40 coppers and went home.

Nuan Bao happily returned home, unaware that after she left, Zhao Tiejiang's youngest son was staring at her back in a daze.As early as when she was inquiring about the price, he found a little girl in the inner room, she was very beautiful and fair, and when he heard that she was the poor child who lost her parents, he suddenly had a desire to protect her desire.

(End of this chapter)